Organisation

Lewisham Council

87 stories · discussed at 5 council meetings · 4 councils

Lewisham Council is currently addressing significant financial overspends, making key service policy changes, and navigating major planning decisions.

In October 2026, Lewisham Council's Licensing Sub-Committee B granted a premises licence for The Railway Tavern, but stipulated that a Designated Premises Supervisor must be appointed before trading can commence. This follows the Strategic Planning Committee's refusal in September 2026 of planning permission for the former Lewisham College site redevelopment, citing heritage and urban design impacts, while Greenwich Council deferred its decision on the cross-borough project.

The council is also addressing significant financial pressures, with a projected £10 million overspend on its high needs block for SEND services and a £6.5 million overspend driven by parking contract costs, as heard by the Public Accounts Select Committee in September 2026. Concurrently, the council insourced mental health social care services and launched a 'cash-first' Crisis and Resilience Fund for residents in September 2026.

Additionally, in September 2026, Lewisham Council agreed to review its parental leave policy to introduce a minimum of six weeks' fully paid leave and approved an £83 million investment in housing repairs. The Mayor and Cabinet also approved plans to refurbish and operate a 5-6 bed children's home at 200 Kirkdale, Sydenham, bringing it back under direct management.

Key facts

  1. Lewisham Council's Licensing Sub-Committee B granted a premises licence for The Railway Tavern in October 2026, but requires a Designated Premises Supervisor to be appointed before trading. Source
  2. Lewisham Council's Strategic Planning Committee refused planning permission for the former Lewisham College site redevelopment in September 2026. Source
  3. Lewisham Council faces a projected £10 million overspend on its high needs block for SEND services, as heard in September 2026. Source
  4. Lewisham Council officially insourced its mental health social care services in September 2026. Source
  5. Lewisham Council agreed in September 2026 to review its parental leave policy to introduce a minimum of six weeks' fully paid leave. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 7 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 7

  1. Lewisham Council Tax to Rise for 2026/27 Lewisham Council is set to increase its Council Tax for the 2026/27 financial year, following a decision made at a recent Council meeting. Lewisham 31 January 2026
  2. Lewisham Council to increase council home rents by 4.8% next year Lewisham Council is proposing a 4.8% increase in council rents for the upcoming financial year, which would raise the average weekly rent by £5.95. The current average weekly... Lewisham 17 January 2026
  3. Lewisham Appointments Committee Elects New Chair and Vice Chair, Discusses Executive Director Appointment The Lewisham Appointments Committee convened on Friday, 19 December 2025, to elect a new chair and vice chair for the upcoming municipal year. Lewisham 23 December 2025
  4. Lewisham Council Appointments Committee Appoints New Executive Director of Children and Young People Lewisham Council's Appointments Committee convened on Friday, 19 December 2025, to discuss the crucial appointment of a new Executive Director of Children and Young People. Lewisham 23 December 2025
  5. Lewisham Pension Fund Assesses Investment with Schroders as Part of LCIV Real Estate Pooling Lewisham Council's Pensions Investment Committee is evaluating a potential investment with Schroders through the London LGPS CIV's (LCIV) Indirect Real Estate Pooling (IREP)... Lewisham 22 December 2025
  6. Lewisham Defibrillator Locations Unmapped by Council Lewisham Council is currently unable to map the locations of its 18 public access defibrillators due to data format issues, the Health and Safety Committee heard on Wednesday,... Lewisham 21 December 2025
  7. Network Rail Considers Refurbishing Catford Bridge Station House Network Rail is exploring options to bring the north bound platform station house at Catford Bridge Station back into use. The agency is working with Lewisham Council and... Lewisham 21 December 2025
  8. Lewisham Council Considers Removing Ward Assemblies Reference and Deputations from Constitution Lewisham Council is considering removing references to Ward Assemblies and deputations from its constitution. The proposal, part of a review of the council's governing document,... Lewisham 13 December 2025