AFTER endorsing around £3.8m in fresh cuts last week, Lewisham’s mayor is again looking at getting rid of council-owned property.

At a mayor and cabinet meeting on Wednesday (Feb 22), councillors will discuss the closure of Lewisham’s town hall building, with those working there potentially moved into neighbouring Laurence House.

The future of places including the home of Lewisham Arthouse in Lewisham Way and Deptford’s Parker House, where the Lewisham Refugee Network charity is currently based, will also be discussed.

Lewisham’s approach, which has already seen five libraries taken out of council hands, is aimed at shaving £1m off the authority’s £9.5m revenue costs.

Last week, Sir Steve Bullock put off a decision on the closure of three early years centres until a later date, after deciding he did not have enough information.

However, that did not stop a group of mothers speaking passionately in the centres’ defence.

Rushey Green mum Emma Timmins said: “If the nurseries close the effect will be devastating.”

And Lewisham unison secretary John Collins said: “We’re about to dump 78 people, highly-qualified, motivated staff on the dole.”

He added: “I just implore you - withdraw this, it’s madness.”

Cuts agreed last week were just the latest in a planned £88m of savings which the council has blamed on coalition government austerity measures. They have seen 457 redundancies so far.

New measures include increases to garage rents and hostel charges, along with savings from a new waste management contract.

Councillor Paul Maslin told the meeting the savings were far smaller than last year, when cuts sparked a riot at the town hall.

He said: “This is not by luck. It’s by good planning and good management.”

The budget will be decided upon at the next full council meeting on February 29, when campaign group People Before Profit is expected to stage a protest.