Agenda item

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.

A public question form can be found on page 93 of this agenda pack.

In relation to the previous item about the Neighbourhood Forum, a resident commented that the Rockingham Estate should get a new community centre. Communities operated best as villages, and therefore a new market square was needed at the Elephant. Furthermore, the Lawson Estate and the buildings around the northern roundabout at the Elephant and Castle should not be excluded from the forum area. The chair invited the resident to submit these comments to the cabinet member.

In response to a public question about the West Indies United Cricket club, the chair responded that this group was based in Southwark, and that most players were Southwark residents.

In response to a query from a resident about a question regarding fire safety, which had been raised at the community council meeting in February, the chair responded that this question had been asked at the Council Assembly meeting on 27 March 2014 and had been responded to by the leader of the council. The council continued to campaign to reverse the cuts to the fire service in the borough made by the Mayor of London. Councillors discussed the chair writing to the Mayor of London about this issue on behalf of the community council.

RESOLVED:

That the chair write to the Mayor of London on behalf of the community council, regarding the issues of fire safety and fire station closures in the borough.

In response to a public question raised about some shop keepers in East Street placing rubbish bags in the street in the evening after the collection has taken place and so making the street unsightly, Councillor Lorraine Lauder said she would be taking up the issue of general cleanliness of East Street and the butcher’s shops.

In addition, the following public questions were submitted in writing:

1. “What is the criteria for the use of a garage? At this moment in time the garage to the rear of [address withheld] Old Kent Road, SE1 is a kitchen. The garage to the rear of [address withheld] Old Kent Road is a self-contained office. The garage to the rear of [address withheld] East Street, has someone living in it.”

2. “Integrated care and parking at Kings College Hospital. As part of the integrated care package with Lambeth, can this be extended [so] that Lambeth recognise the Southwark AD badge in the four small roads around Kings College Hospital ... It is stressful anyway visiting or attending a hospital, but many Southwark residents attending Kings College Hospital think they are in Southwark, so it is ok to use the AD badge. Then get a shock to find they have to pay a fine of £135 or £65, if paid within 14 days. Remember the AD scheme is brilliant, because it stops people having their windows broken to get to the AD badge, as the AD badge has the car owner’s details on it, so [it] is no use to anyone else! Also, remember you must own a blue badge to get an AD badge. Not suggesting law changes or costly signage, simply [that] parking wardens accept the AD badge around Kings College Hospital, because it means these people, must always have a blue badge, as well.” 

 The chair thanked everyone for attending.