Lewisham Council is weighing whether to discontinue funding for ward assemblies, a move that could save £203,025. The proposal was discussed at a Housing Select Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, as part of a broader effort to address a £30 million budget shortfall.
The proposed saving, identified as PLACE-001, involves ending funding for the council-run Assembly Programme. According to meeting documents, Councillor Edison Huynh was scheduled to be consulted on the matter. The report pack acknowledges that while the Assemblies offer a structured process for consultation at ward level, they may not be representative of Lewisham's diverse communities. Alternative engagement programmes can be developed, but there will be a gap between the assemblies programme ending and alternatives considered.
The Housing Select Committee was scheduled to review draft proposals for budget reductions for 2025/26 and 2026/27. The report pack indicates that £29.250 million of general fund savings and £4.784 million of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) savings have been identified.
Other proposed savings discussed at the meeting included CR10, involving One Oracle Archive, which could save £35,000 in 2025/26 and £40,000 in 2026/27. Another proposed saving, P02, involves centralising back office functions Libraries and ALL, and could save £100,000 in 2025/26 and £111,472 in 2026/27. Another proposed saving, P05, involves a reduction to the main Grants Programme, and could save £217,000 in 2026/27.
The Housing Select Committee also reviewed minor amendments to the Housing Allocation Policy and discussed priorities for the 2025-26 municipal year. View the full meeting details on the Open Council Network.
