Director of Finance
Lewisham Council is currently addressing a projected £6.5 million General Fund overspend for 2026/27, driven by parking and school transport costs.
Lewisham Council is currently addressing a projected £6.5 million General Fund overspend for the 2026/27 financial year. In September 2026, Katharine Nidd, Director of Finance, presented the Period 3 financial monitoring report to the Public Accounts Select Committee, explaining that the overspend, which increased by £3.4 million since May, is primarily due to rising costs in the parking contract and increased school transport expenses.
The Director of Finance, who heads the finance department at Lewisham Council, also reported on a £2.5 million overspend in the dedicated schools grant's high needs block in September 2025. This followed the Appointments Committee's decision on a new Director of Finance in September 2025, when it voted to exclude the press and public from discussions regarding the appointment.
Key facts
- Lewisham Council faces a projected £6.5 million General Fund overspend for the 2026/27 financial year. Source 1 Source 2
- The projected overspend increased by £3.4 million since May 2026. Source 1 Source 2
- The overspend is primarily attributed to rising costs in the Parking contract and increased school transport expenses. Source 1 Source 2
- Katharine Nidd, Director of Finance, presented the Period 3 financial monitoring report on 17 September 2026. Source 1 Source 2
- Lewisham Council's Appointments Committee decided on a new Director of Finance on 18 September 2025. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. 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.