Agenda item

• Overview from the Cabinet member for Transport, Environment and Recycling and officers from the recycling team

• The Friends of Burgess Park – information stall

• Veolia Environmental Services: How much do you know about recycling?

• Update on this year’s Winter contingency plans

• Update on Burgess Park – a short film

The chair introduced the theme for the meeting, environmental issues and recycling which was from the list of priorities that were agreed at a previous community council meeting in September 2012. 

The top three themes were:

• Older people: Activities, services, support and community engagement
• Environmental issues including recycling
• Children and young people

The chair welcomed the following stalls that were at the meeting:

• Friends of Burgess Park
• The Burgess food project
• The Friends of Peckham Rye
• First Place Nursery (based in Burgess Park)
• Taru Arts members
• Veolia Environmental Services
• Southwark Civic Society
• Safer Neighbourhoods Team

Presentation from Councillor Hargrove

Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling gave an overview of his portfolio which he said was an extensive area.  He agreed to focus on recycling and give a snap shot on the environment and transport.

Councillor Hargrove outlined the following during his presentation:

• Central Government’s decision for all local authorities to have a flood defence in place in conjunction with the Environment Agency.  Officers within the flood assessment team would work with local residents on this.

• Confirmed the council secured funding to ensure local schools have clean air quality around them.

• With regard to the borough’s tree maintenance, the council awarded contracts to employ tree wardens to help deal with tree maintenance and contribute to environment improvements of the area.

• Civil enforcement officers would continue to be responsible for general enforcement of parking in the borough.

Councillor Hargrove requested through the chair an agenda item on “street wardens” at a future meeting in order to identify problems in their local area.

• Record number of “green flags” in the borough.
• Increased level of recycling – the council had seen a 30% increase.
• Introduce food recycling and improve recycling in the area.

In response to a question concerning trees that were chopped down as a result of an increase in crime, Councillor Barrie Hargrove explained that the council undertook a tree strategy consultation in 2011 which received very little response.  The council decided to adopt a more systematic approach to the maintenance of trees which was pollarding, a type of pruning system in which the upper branches of a tree are removed to maintain the life of the trees. 

He mentioned that the council would continue to work closely with the group, Southwark cyclists which have over 800 members and has met with them regularly.

During his presentation, Councillor Hargrove spoke about:

·  Looking at safer routes.

·  Looking at safer junctions, which is the responsibility of TfL which he requested they bring forward their review of junctions.

·  People take up offer of cycle training in the borough.

·  Carbon reduction – introduction of retro fitting wall insulation solar energy so Peckham becomes a low carbon area.

·  Connecting up cell chip which is not in the borough but would be done in agreement with Veolia to deliver clean energy in order to cut down on carbon omissions.

In response to questions, Councillor Hargrove addressed matters about residents people who leave their wheelie bins on pavements, people should be encouraged to look at the properties in question and write to Veolia so they could instruct residents not to leave bins on pavements.

It was noted that there were no reported incidents or signs of ‘chalara’ - ash tree disease of trees in the borough. 

Osprey Road Residents Association mentioned that they used to meet regularly with the Street Wardens; which had not happened of late. Councillor Hargrove said he had not received a community audit but would look into this.

TARU Arts

At this juncture there was a five minute musical interlude from TARU arts, a non profit arts organisation which delivers fun and exciting activities to children, young people and communities.  For information visit website www.taru.org.uk

Veolia Environmental Services 

Ian McGeough from Veolia talked about the recently launched recycling quiz.  The meeting took part in the quiz (split into wards) and the results of the quiz (mostly recycling related questions) put Livesey in third place, Peckham /Peckham Rye, second place and Nunhead/ The Lane in first place.  Ian provided goodie bags for the winners and thanked everyone for taking part.

Winter Contingency Plan update

Mick Lucas from Public Realm introduced this item and outlined the delivery for this would be until the end of February 2013.  This would involve clearing /gritting of carriageways, pre winter review and contacting schools about gritting.  He mentioned that there was an adequate supply of salt (300 tons) at the borough’s depot.

Mick also stated that people could request grit bins with 35 tons of salt and everyone in London should be able to utilise each other’s salt supply.

There would be treatments on frost susceptible roads where certain roads would be prioritised and updated forecasts would be given on a daily basis.

All relevant information would be available on the Southwark website.

Questions were asked about the clearing of pavements which could be lethal and dangerous particularly for older people.  The officer explained every effort would be made by the council to clear pavements however priority had to be given to clearing major roads to ensure the bus network kept moving.

Councillor Hargrove confirmed that pavements would be cleared of ice and gritted.  He said the council had an obligation to ensure pavements were cleared particularly access to health centres.  Although he did acknowledge certain areas were not done.  Local resident, Eileen Conn said residents had a responsibility to clear snow outside their homes.

The chair thanked everyone for their contributions to the meeting.