- Volunteer Centre Southwark
- Blooming Southwark
- Youth Community Council / Young People’s slot
- Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) update
Minutes:
Volunteer Centre Southwark
Sean from the Volunteer Centre Southwark (VCS) explained that the aim of the VCS was to encourage local people to get involved in their community and to make volunteering easy. During the last year VCS had worked with hundreds of charities in the borough. Charities registered volunteer vacancies with VCS and local people were able to apply for those positions. VCS is based at the Elephant & Castle shopping centre. Contact Tel. 020 7703 4205 / email: info@volunteercentres.org.uk
Bloomin’ Southwark
Kirsten Downer, a green mentor at Bloomin’ Southwark, explained that the project was for residents in the area and was funded out of the Southwark Cleaner Greener Safer fund. Bloomin’ Southwark was aimed at people interested in growing their own fruit, vegetables, herbs or just making an area look a bit more colourful. Whether starting from scratch, gardening at home or in need of support with an existing community growing space, the Bloomin’ Southwark project, based at Surrey Docks Farm could help. There were workshops at the farm as well as outreach activities to community groups. Contact: kirsten@surreydocksfarm.org.uk
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 update
The chair outlined that the community infrastructure levy (CIL) and section 106 would feature at the September community council meeting. Ideas were being sought to go on the community infrastructure project list (CIPL) for local publically accessible improvements that could be funded by S106 or future local CIL.
Youth Community Council
Members of the Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Youth Community Council had submitted the following question to be read out:
“With so many large redevelopments in the pipeline such as Harmsworth Quay and Rotherhithe New Road, we are concerned that there will be less for us and other young people [to do] who live in the area. The sort of things we would like to see included are:
· a local cost gym
· keeping youth clubs in the area
· more sports facilities
· we don’t need flats, we need entertainment
· more pet stores.”
A resident commented that there had been a redevelopment of the Docklands Settlement in Surrey Docks, due to open in September which would provide a range of facilities indoor and outdoor for young people.
Councillor David Hubber added that there had been considerable work done on the adventure playground in Trident Street funded by Cleaner Greener Safer money.
In response to a question about rumours of closing the bowling alley at Surrey Quays and replacing it with flats, Councillor Hubber said the planning application several years ago had envisaged replacement of the cinema and other facilities in the same area. He added, following a further public question that the Odessa Street youth centre would be replaced in part by the Docklands settlement which would include youth facilities.
Councillor Leo Pollak said that he would report back, to a future meeting, on the progress of the new youth centre at the Blue. Councillor Al-Samerai asked for information on the hours of the outreach youth worker at the Blue.
Rotherhithe Festival
Gary Magold, a local resident, thanked the sponsors, the council and all who attended the recent Rotherhithe Festival. The event raised £1,406 (£1,000 of that would go to the University College cancer campaign).
War remembered
Gary Magold explained that on 4 August 2014, it would be 100 years since the outbreak of World War One. A candlelight vigil was being organised in Southwark and across the country.
Southwark Park
Gary Magold, reported that new tennis courts were about to become available for use along with the athletics track and cricket facilities.
Brunel Museum
A resident announced that the Brunel museum was organising its thirteenth annual summer play scheme for local children. It was a free play scheme. The Brunel museum had recently been designated a national historic landmark partnership site.