Chris Best - Councillor for Lewisham ( Sydenham)

Councillor Chris Best

 Labour and Co-operative Party  Sydenham

Email: chris.best@lewisham.gov.uk

Council: Lewisham

Council Profile: View on council website

Committees: Council (Committee Member) Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee (Chair) Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Committee Member) Health and Safety Committee (Committee Member) Pensions Investment Committee Sydenham Assembly Strategic Planning Committee Community Housing Task and Finish Group Public Accounts Select Committee (Guest)

Activity Timeline

Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.

38 meetings · Page 1 of 8

Health and Safety Committee Committee Member

Health and Safety Committee - Wednesday, 17th December, 2025 6.30 pm

December 17, 2025
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Committee Member

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 16th December, 2025 7.00 pm

December 16, 2025
Council Committee Member

Council - Wednesday, 26th November, 2025 7.30 pm

The Council of Lewisham met on Wednesday 26 November 2025, addressing community safety concerns, celebrating achievements in planning and parks, and approving the annual accounts. The council also discussed petitions, public and member questions, and motions related to recognising the contributions of British West Indian service personnel and the Latin American community in Lewisham.

November 26, 2025
Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee Chair

Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee - Wednesday, 12th November, 2025 7.00 pm

The Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee met to discuss budget equalities monitoring, resident engagement and consultation, and the committee's work programme. The meeting was also scheduled to include declarations of interest from committee members.

November 12, 2025
Council Committee Member

Council - Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 7.30 pm

Lewisham Council met to discuss a range of issues, including increasing councillor allowances, the use of substitutes on committees, and motions on childcare and public ownership of Thames Water[^2]. Councillors agreed to increase their basic allowance by 3.2% to £13,201 per year, and approved the use of substitutes on certain committees to ensure meetings can proceed even if some members are absent. A motion supporting the Labour government's plan for 30 hours of free childcare was passed, as was an amended motion calling for Thames Water to be brought back into public ownership.

September 24, 2025

Decisions from Meetings

68 decisions · Page 9 of 14

Pay Policy Statement

From: BUDGET, Council - Wednesday, 5th March, 2025 7.30 pm - March 05, 2025

...to approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

Recommendations Approved

Appointment of Young Mayor and Deputy

From: BUDGET, Council - Wednesday, 5th March, 2025 7.30 pm - March 05, 2025

...to approve the appointment of the new Young Mayor and Deputy, following speeches from the outgoing office holders and the signing of acceptance documents.

Recommendations Approved

Council Budget 2025/26

From: BUDGET, Council - Wednesday, 5th March, 2025 7.30 pm - March 05, 2025

... the Council of Lewisham approved the Council Budget for 2025/26, including a General Fund Budget Requirement of £312.515m, a 4.99% increase in Lewisham's Council Tax element, adjustments to various specific grants, an approach to setting 2025/26 fees and charges, the Dedicated Schools Grant allocation, an increase in dwelling rents of 2.7%, the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan, the Treasury Management Strategy, the Capital Programme, and the Climate Budget.

Recommendations Approved

Lewisham Local Plan - Main Modifications Consultation (Regulation 24 Independent Examination)

From: EGM, Council - Tuesday, 11th February, 2025 7.30 pm - February 11, 2025

... to release the proposed Main Modifications to the new Lewisham Local Plan, along with its accompanying Integrated Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment, for public consultation.

Recommendations Approved

Summary

Meetings Attended: 38

Average per Month: 1.9

Decisions Recorded: 68