LEWISHAM Council’s Mayor and Cabinet met yesterday to discuss the second phase of cuts to the borough.

The council needs to save a total of £88m over four years. Below is a summary of some of the key decisions made at the meeting.

Council Tax has been frozen at its current level.

Council housing rents are to rise by £3.88 per week (4.99 per cent).

Changes will be made to fees and charges, generally reducing the amount by which the council subsidises services. These fees and charges will be brought closer to London averages and include:

• Increasing parking charges, which are currently significantly lower than in most other London boroughs. For example, the cost of an annual resident’s permit will be doubled to £120

• Increasing the charge to parents for a primary school meal to £1.60, to £1.80 in 2012/13 and £2 in 2013/14.

• Increasing secondary school meal prices by the rate of inflation

• Reducing in subsidies for council run nursery places from between 20 and 40 per cent to an average of 15 per cent per place.

• Reducing subsidies for a number of highways services including dropped curbs, skip and scaffolding licences that can be provided commercially. For example, a skip licence which used to be free will now cost £60.

• Increasing the late return fee in libraries from 10p to 20p a day and an increase in charges for CD and DVD hire from 50p to £1.25 and £2.50 to £3 respectively.

• Increasing some pest control charges - rat removal will remain free.

Amersham Early Years Centre will close in August this year.

A formal consultation will begin with staff at the three remaining Early Years Centres (EYCs) at Honor Oak, Ladywell and Rushey Green

• Proposals were made for Rushey Green EYC to be run by a private or voluntary sector organisation.

• Options will be explored for the delivery of council provided child care at Ladywell and Honor Oak EYCs to secure the continuation of specialist provision for children with complex needs.

A consultation will begin on the proposed priorities for expenditure of the new Early Intervention Grant.

Grant funding or service agreements will cease or be reduced by 20 per cent from March 31, with the exception of:

• Funding for Working With Men is not to be reduced by £43000

• Funding for St James Family Learning Project will not be reduced by £45500

• Funding for the Metro Centre will not be reduced by £21000 • Funding for VAL (Connections Grant) will not be reduced by £40000

• A reduction in funding of 20 per cent across various youth projects, saving £40000, was rejected.

The contract with Babcock for Connexions IAG was not renewed or re-let.

Blackheath, Sydenham, Crofton Park, New Cross and Grove Park will close on May 28 and officers have been instructed to find proposals for asset transfer to deliver community library services in the affected areas.

Recommendations from the Fairer Charging consultation for adult social care services were accepted including:

• Increasing the charge for meals-on-wheels from £3 to £3.50 from April.

• Increasing the maximum weekly charge for services from £290 to £395 in April.

A protest dubbed the ‘Carnival Against Cuts’ against is being held at various location across the borough tomorrow.

Demonstrators will gather outside the Town Hall at 1pm to march past Lewisham Hospital and the Ladywell Leisure centre, finishing with a rally on the grassy area on the corner of Lewisham High Street and Rennell Street.