London Borough of Lewisham
Lewisham Council is focusing on improving children's services with a new home, addressing complaint handling, and reviewing renters' rights.
Lewisham Council opened its first council-run children's home in September 2026, as announced by Councillor Rotimi Skyers. This initiative aims to keep vulnerable children closer to their support networks and reduce reliance on the private market. The council had previously secured £800,000 in grant funding for a home in Sydenham, projected to save £700,000 annually.
The council paid £49,185.24 in financial remedies for upheld complaints during the 2025/26 financial year, according to a Draft Annual Complaints Report. The report, presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, indicated that response targets were missed, with 87.5% for Stage One and 56% for Stage Two complaints. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman upheld 87% of 52 complaints.
Lewisham Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed in July 2026 to review the implementation of the Renters' Rights Act. This review is part of a broader effort to scrutinise housing provision and maintenance across various sectors, including council housing and the private rented sector. The committee will also examine landlord performance and tenant satisfaction measures.
Key facts
- Lewisham Council opened its first council-run children's home in September 2026. Source
- Lewisham Council paid £49,185.24 for upheld complaints in the 2025/26 financial year. Source
- Lewisham Council's Planning Committee B deferred a decision on two semi-detached dwellings at Silk Close in August 2026. Source
- Lewisham Council's Planning Committee B granted McDonald's a one-hour late-night opening extension in August 2026. Source
- Lewisham Council's Licensing Sub Committee D imposed additional conditions on the House of Flavours licence in July 2026. 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 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.