Agenda and minutes

Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Community Council - Wednesday 4 December 2013 7.00 pm

Venue: Links Community Centre, 353 Rotherhithe New Road, London SE16 3HF. View directions

Contact: Tim Murtagh, Constitutional Officer 

Items
Note No. Item

1.

Introduction and welcome

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    Minutes:

    The chair welcomed residents, councillors and officers to the meeting.

2.

Apologies

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    Minutes:

    There were apologies for absence from Councillors David Hubber, Mark Gettleson, Eliza Mann  and Lisa Rajan; and for lateness from Councillors Anood Al-Samerai, Paul Kyriacou and Nick Stanton.

3.

Items of business that the Chair deems urgent

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    The chair to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

     

    Minutes:

    The chair announced that a late report - Community Council Fund Reallocation, had been accepted and circulated as part of Supplemental Agenda No. 1.

4.

Disclosure of Members' interests and dispensations

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    Members to declare any interests and dispensation in respect of any item of business to be considered at this meeting.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

5.

Minutes

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    To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 2 October 2013.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 October 2013 be agreed as an accurate record of that meeting, and signed by the chair.

6.

Deputations / Petitions (if any)

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    The chair to advise on any deputations or petitions received.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

7.10pm

7.

Community Announcements

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    -  Launch of Community Council Fund 2014/15

    -  Healthwatch Southwark, Alvin Kinch

    -  Millwall FC working with Big Local: Leadership Programme, Marc Elliott

    -  Bede in the Blue Youth Project

    -  New Transition Bermondsey

    Minutes:

    Community Council Fund 2014/15

    This year’s community council fund was now accepting applications. Community groups could bid for amounts between £100 and £1,000 for fun days, festivals, outings and activities. The closing date was 13 December 2013.

    Contact: gill.kelly@southwark.gov.uk or Tel. 020 7525 4928.

     

    Millwall for All – The Leadership Project

    Marc Elliott, Millwall for All, explained that the leadership project worked with 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, training or employment. The range of activities available included: leadership skills and organisational training, work placements and curriculum vitae building. The project, which had been running for about three years, was about getting young people on the right path. During that time about 150 people had taken part, and many had returned to college or secured jobs. Three young people from the project described how the courses had enhanced their lives with new opportunities. The project was open to men and women and provided general sports training. Contact: melliott@millwallplc.com

     

    Transition Network for Bermondsey and Rotherhithe update

    The chair read out a statement from the group who had presented at the previous community council meeting in October. The network had met twice and their first goal was to create a map of all the eco-projects taking place in the area. It would cover a wide range of projects, including wildlife conservation, community food banks and recycling. The aim was to build better connections between groups. There would also be some outreach events in the spring. Contact: transition.b.and.r@gmail.com

     

    Bede in the Blue Youth Project

    FokrulMeah, Bede House Association Youth Project, explained that he had helped run youth projects on the Blue Estate since April 2013. The work had started following complaints from shopkeepers, councillors and residents about anti-social behaviour in the area.

     

    Sinitta, Bede House Association Youth Project, said they had spoken with young people gathering in the area to find out about them and build trust and understanding. Some of the young people hanging around the Blue lived locally, although others travelled in from Dulwich or the Elephant & Castle. The young people taking part in anti-social behaviour activities, often chose this lifestyle, because they did not think they had better options available.

     

    Fokrul added that it was important for the young people to have a positive steer away from the dangerous path in their lives. The project workers had emphasised the need for respect and had helped several of them attend job interviews and secure part-time jobs.

     

    The chair thanked Fokrul and Sinitta for their presentation.

7.30pm

8.

Police and Community Safety Update

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    -  Safer Neighbourhoods Teams

    -  Summary of Stop and Search procedure

    Minutes:

    Inspector Bernard Hayton, Grange Safer Neighbourhoods Team, explained that under the new police model, 17 extra officers had been brought into the area. The extra officers had additional responsibilities including executing drugs warrants.

     

    Recent police activities included:

     

    • An operation in September 2013 to target robberies around Bermondsey tube station which led to 10 arrests

     

    • On Fridays and Saturdays a police minibus regularly travelled to local crime hotspots where patrols took place

     

    • Plain-clothes officers on unmarked bicycles patrolled certain areas

     

    • A drugs premises had been closed down which had led to the seizure of Class-A drugs and £3,000 of drug money

     

    • A meth drug-lab had been closed down and drugs valued at £20,000 had been removed.

     

    There had been a large amount of non-residential burglaries among small businesses in the Riverside area. Officers were currently following up on a number of suspects.

     

    In response to questions, Inspector Hayton made the following points:

     

    • Motor vehicle crime fluctuated depending on the arrest or release of serial offenders. Residents were encouraged to add a second lock to deter criminals

     

    • Insp. Hayton favoured arresting drug dealers over trying to reach out to them and change their habits, but did recognise there were merits in the outreach work undertaken by the Bede House Association.

7.45pm

9.

Crime and Safety: Building a Stronger Community

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    Written questions will be put to the panel along with additional questions from the floor.

     

    The panel will consist of about half dozen representatives from local organisations (including the police and council) to discuss building a stronger community and related issues including age concern, family focus and drug misuse.

    Minutes:

    Under the theme of the community council meeting, a panel of community members and officers were assembled to take questions. The members of the panel were:

     

    Marc Elliott, Millwall for All

    Avril Jones, Consultant to the Met Police

    Jonathon Toy, Head of Community Safety and Enforcement, Southwark Council

    Ryan Lang, Southwark Intergenerational Network

    Rebecca Walker and Iain Gray, Southwark’s Alcohol Strategy / Young Persons Substance Misuse Team

     

    In response to questions the panel made the following points:

     

    • It was important to focus on people with behavioural problems as individuals rather than labelling them as being members of a particular gang. Over many years that had proved to be a more effective approach

     

    • Alcohol often was at the centre of behavioural problems and violence but Southwark’s treatment centre at the Elephant Castle had proved effective in carrying out court orders related to alcohol problems

     

    • School exclusions were a big problem. If a child had special educational needs for example they were nine times more likely to be excluded. There were often complex factors that led to the sort of behaviour behind school exclusions

     

    • If someone was concerned about a neighbour or elderly person in the community, over the holidays, there was a contact line they should call – 020 7525 3324. This was a dedicated phone number about social care needs for the vulnerable

     

    • Restorative justice was one method of bringing about closure by bringing together the victim and the offender. The offender would then apologise to the victim for their behaviour. It was often a lengthy process but could be quite powerful and effective when the perpetrator fully appreciated the consequences of their actions

     

    • Disproportional stop and search was still an issue with stop and search actions by the police. This was because the police were responding to calls from witnesses about suspects relating to a particular crime. There were about 1,900 stop and searches per month in Southwark. The public were broadly in favour of stop and search, as it tended to put fear in the mind of criminals in possession of something illegal

     

    • There would be a stop and search workshop for young people with the Bubble Theatre at Millwall F.C. on 1 February 2014. There would be some football sessions on the same day and also a chance to see the Ben Kinsella knife crime exhibition.

8.45pm

10.

Cleaner, Greener, Safer - Change Control Report

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    Note: This is an executive function

     

    Councillors to consider the recommendations contained in the report.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Note: This is an executive function.

     

    Members considered the information contained in the report.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    That an under spend of £41,350 from the Cleaner Greener Safer programme 2013-14 be reallocated to the following applications:

     

    ROTHERHITHE

     

    Proposal          Amount

     

    The big Tower Bridge Road clean up        £10,000

     

    Spa Park outdoor gym         £31,350

     

11.

Community Councils Highways Capital Investment 2013/14

8.50pm

12.

Local Parking Amendments

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    Note: This is an executive function

     

    Councillors to consider the recommendations contained in the report.

12.1

Non-strategic traffic management matters

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    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Note: This is an executive function.

     

    Members considered the information contained in the report.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the objection against the installation of double yellow lines detailed in the appendices to the report be rejected and that officers be instructed to install the traffic order

     

    2.  That the following non-strategic traffic management matters, detailed in the appendices to the report, be approved for implementation subject to the outcome of any necessary statutory procedures:

     

    ·  Rolls Road and Catlin Street – implement traffic signs for the extension of a 7.5 tonne weight limit

     

    ·  Lynton Road – formalise the existing 2.2 metre width restriction near No.195 Lynton Road.

12.2

Parking changes resulting from the Silwood Phase 4B development

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    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Note: This is an executive function.

     

    Members considered the information contained in the report.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the following local parking amendments, detailed in the appendices to the report, be approved for implementation, subject to the outcome of any necessary statutory procedures:

     

    ·  Silwood Street – The relocation of existing residents’ permit parking bays and introduction of double yellow line waiting restrictions.

     

    ·  Debnams Road – The removal of one short stay bay. The relocation of existing residential permit bays and provision of three additional residential permit bays. The introduction of double yellow lines.

     

    ·  Corbett’s Lane – introduction of double yellow waiting restrictions.

     

    ·  Corbett’s Lane (south) – provision of four new resident permit bays and introduction of yellow line waiting restrictions at the junction with Silwood Street.

     

    MEETING BREAK:

    During the meeting break there was a performance of festive songs sung by the Rotherhithe and Bermondsey Choral Society Choir.

8.55pm

13.

Public question time

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    A public question form is included on page 40.

     

    This is an opportunity for public questions to be addressed to the chair.

    Residents or persons working in the borough may ask questions on any matter in relation to which the council has powers or duties.

     

    Responses may be supplied in writing following the meeting.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Gary Magold said that a Cleaner, Greener, Safer award from a few years ago had restored the Bermondsey Boer War memorial and it had now been installed in St. James Church. There would be a rededication service around the 16 February 2014. He added that this year’s poppy appeal had raised £6,550.93 for the Royal British Legion.

     

    A vote of thanks was given by councillors to all those involved in the 2013 poppy appeal.

9.05pm

14.

Community Council Question to Council Assembly

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    Each community council may submit one question to a council assembly meeting that has previously been considered and noted by the community council.

     

    Any question to be submitted from a community council to council assembly should first be the subject of discussion at a community council meeting. The subject matter and question should be clearly noted in the community council’s minutes and thereafter the agreed question can be referred to the constitutional team.

     

    The community council is invited to consider if it wishes to submit a question to the ordinary meeting of council assembly on 22 January 2014.

    Minutes:

    The community council decided not to put a question forward to the next council assembly meeting.

9.10pm

15.

Festive Quiz

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    Local ward based teams of residents and councillors to answer questions on a range of topics. The questions will be asked by Councillor Jeff Hook.

    Minutes:

    Councillor Jeff Hook was quizmaster as Bermondsey took on Rotherhithe in a multiple choice quiz.

16.

Community Council Fund Reallocation