The Council is really hitting its stride; yesterday’s council meeting was exceptionally busy.

The Council voted, for the first time since 2010 to increase the councillor allowances, rejecting the more expensive proposal but leaving Lewisham as one of the more frugal councils; it must be remembered that the allowances are to ensures that nobody is barred from being a Councillor and taking part in our democratic process due to lack of resources.

The Council passed five motions, the first on Windrush, where they committed to publicly oppose the mistreatment and criminalisation of Windrush individuals and families by campaigning against the hostile environment policy, advertising the Compensation scheme, calling upon the Government to properly fund advice agencies, demanding a public enquiry and celebrating the contributions of the Windrush generation on Windrush Day – 22nd June

A motion on Youth Service funding highlighting the Tory Government’s cuts and calling for funding restoration was passed. A motion was carried  which called on the Council to adopt the Co-Operative Party’s Charter against modern day slavery which sets out various steps the Council should take in respect of their procurement practices, including, training, whistle-blowing and referral of suspect contractors to the National Crime Agency.

The 4^th motion called for a People’s Vote on the terms of the Brexit deal with an option to remain in the EU. 70% of Lewisham residents voted to remain, and the divided and incompetent Government have been disastrously mishandling the negotiations.

Motion 5 was an emergency motion concerning the recent announcement that Arriva Rail London and TFL are planning to close ticket offices at a number of stations. These include several in and around the borough, namely Anerley, Honor Oak Park, Penge West, Rotherhithe and Surrey Quays. The council called upon the GLA and TFL to reconsider the proposals.