Agenda item

Public Question Time

This is an opportunity for public questions 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.

 

Minutes:

The following public questions were submitted in writing:

 

  • “Is it necessary to enforce the Heygate Street bus lane 7 days a week for 12 hours a day? This slows up traffic for cars wanting to turn left and go along Walworth Road. Those signs are wrong. It should be 7-10am Monday to Friday and no more. The one bus would not be held up, if the enforcement was only at the peak time in the morning.”

 

  • “Article in the Evening standard, Mon 27 June 2011: Southwark failed to collect £6 million in council tax. How are you going to rectify this problem?”

 

  • “Southwark Play Rangers - Can the council tell me about the cutting off the grant for this group. As it’s used by many local children in the area. It's particularly used when it comes to the local park. The grant is due to be cut off in November.”

 

  • “All neighbourhoods had targets in rent collection put together. Are we getting a good return to enable us to do repairs to housing as you indicated.”

 

  • “Has the printshop on the corner of Browning Street/Walworth Road put up too much advertising? On 15 June 2011, they covered the outside of four windows next the entrance of York Mansions with large advertising boards.”

 

  • I am a tenant in Darwin Court, Barlow Street and some of the questions relate directly to that area and the green space there:

 

  1. Why does the council use large grass cutting machines on this area which are too large to cope with undulations in the ground and consequently scrape off the surface down to the mud? And will you rectify this.
  2. Why does the grasscutting etc follow a timetable regardless of the need. It has been cut at times of no growth - in very dry weather - to the detriment of the grass - and at a needless cost presumably?
  3. Could some areas be left free to grow? Flowers grow then, and wild flowers could be encouraged.
  4. Not all residents have been properly consulted about all developments in the past. If there are to be any future changes, of whatever kind, will you make sure they are [consulted] in the future.
  5. What are you doing about light pollution?
  6. There is a surplus of street lighting?
  7. Has the luminosity in Darwin Street been changed or increased recently?
  8. If any more large tower blocks are planned can everyone in the entire area be consulted as they affect a wide area and not simply the neighbouring streets? (Frankly we have enough. They are intrusive, dominant and - as it happens - of no particular merit)

 

ACTION: Relevant officers to respond to the above questions.

 

 

A resident complained about the time it took to receive parking permits, which caused the old permits to expire, before the new ones had arrived. Councillor Garfield responded that residents could leave their old permits in the car, if the new ones had not arrived. Attendants would honour the old permits as they could see on their systems that new permits had been issued. He urged people to get in touch with their councillors, if the system was not working. The chair said officers from the council’s parking section would be invited to a future meeting.

 

ACTION: Officers from the council’s parking section to attend a future meeting to inform residents about  parking/permits.

 

In answer to questions from the floor, the chair explained that the process of allocating the community fund budget had been an open and transparent dialogue, and that members had carefully considered all applications.

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