Lewisham Democracy Review - "A democratic and open Lewisham"

Closed 27 Jan 2019

Opened 2 Oct 2018

Results updated 23 Jul 2024

In July 2018, we set up a Local Democracy Review as part of our corporate strategy, to make the Council even more democratic, open and transparent.

We consulted residents, businesses and other members of the community and produced a final report that listed 57 recommendations for change. The recommendations include:

  • developing an open data approach to improve transparency
  • exploring the possibility of a people’s panel to improve public influence in decision making
  • a more flexible system of scrutiny and policy development to improve effective decision-making.

You can read the full list of recommendations in the report:

Local Democracy Review report

Local Democracy Review report appendicies

Work on fufilling the recomendations has already started with Local Democracy Working Group co-ordinating.

Overview

During the 2018 Lewisham Mayoral election, the new Mayor Damien Egan promised to ‘launch a review that will make our Council even more democratic, open and transparent’.

In July 2018, the Council agreed to establish a Local Democracy Review Working Group. As part of the review, we want to hear residents’ views about how we can strengthen local democracy for everyone. Councillors will be attending local events and visiting community groups across the borough, and we have also set up this online survey so that all residents have an opportunity to share their views, even if they are unable to meet a councillor in person. The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete and the information you provide will help us to develop a set of recommendations to create an ‘open and democratic Lewisham’.

You can find out more about how the Council currently makes decisions by visiting the Lewisham Democracy website. The website also contains more information about the review, including local events that councillors will be attending. If you have any specific questions about the review or this survey, then you can contact democracy@lewisham.gov.uk.

Thank you for participating!

The closing date for this survey is 27 January 2019. 

What happens next

The consultation will run until 27 January 2019.

The findings and recommendations of the working group will be reported to the Council in the Spring of 2019. The Council will then decide on any changes it wishes to make to strengthen local democracy as a result of the review.

Areas

  • Bellingham
  • Blackheath
  • Brockley
  • Catford South
  • Crofton Park
  • Downham
  • Evelyn
  • Forest Hill
  • Grove Park
  • Ladywell
  • Lee Green
  • Lewisham Central
  • Perry Vale
  • Rushey Green
  • Sydenham
  • Telegraph Hill

Audiences

  • General public
  • Lewisham residents
  • Service users
  • Children and young people
  • Voluntary and community groups
  • Professional stakeholders (e.g. teachers, GPs, police etc.)
  • Carers
  • Staff

Interests

  • Civic participation and democracy
  • Equality and diversity