Minutes:
The following community announcements were made:
Elephant Amenity Network
Elephant Amenity Network had held a workshop for residents and local green groups to give their views about what they wanted to see for the area, as a result of which a document was produced. Attendees were encouraged to pick up a copy and to feed back to the group about the regeneration of the area.
Council Assembly
The chair announced that as part of the first phase of the Democracy Commission, themed debates had been introduced at Council Assembly meetings as a way to make these meetings more relevant, responsive and accessible to local people. The Council Assembly meeting on Wednesday 6 July would involve a themed debate on Sports and Young People, and would take place outside the Town Hall for the first time – at the Walworth Academy. The chair encouraged attendees to email their views on themed council debates to the Democracy Commission and to raise questions or deputations on the theme of Sports and Young people. He invited them to also come along to the informal session at 6pm before the debate, which would feature contributions from young people sharing their experiences and vision for sport in Southwark. He also invited residents to stay on and listen to the debate during Council Assembly which started at 7pm.
Democracy Commission Phase 2
Councillor Abdul Mohamed, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Community Engagement explained that the Democracy Commission was a cross-party group of councillors tasked with bringing the council closer to residents and making it more accountable to them and connected with their concerns. The second phase of the Democracy Commission, which started in May 2011, involved a review of the eight community councils that would include: looking at ways to make savings, discussing what community councils currently do, how this could be improved and identifying what residents particularly value about community councils. The Democracy Commission was seeking the views of local people as part of this review. Councillor Mohamed encouraged residents to fill in the questionnaires provided and to return their responses to officers at their local community councils by Monday 29 August 2011, email their views directly to the Democracy Commission at democracy@southwark.gov.uk, or speak directly to officers at their local community councils. The next Democracy Commission would be on Friday 8 July 2011 at 7pm.
Green Spaces / Open Spaces network
The chair said that the first meeting of the green spaces/open spaces network had been held recently. This group was distinct from the Elephant Amenity Network which mainly looked at planning applications. He explained that there were many plots of land and green spaces which needed to be preserved, as they were part of Walworth’s heritage. The group could be a precursor of a Walworth Society modelled on the Camberwell Society. The next meeting of the network would be on 14 July 2011 at 7pm in Browning Community Centre. He encouraged attendees to contact himself or Councillor Merrill, if they had further questions, and went on to say that the group hoped to influence important issues and have involvement at several levels.
Topics for future agendas
The chair encouraged attendees to fill in the green sheets indicating which topics they would like to see discussed at future community council meetings.
Libraries consultation
Ashoke Chaudhry, Area Manager in the Libraries service, informed the meeting that a public consultation about libraries was being conducted over the next two months. Residents would be asked to help the council to think through how to maintain a high quality library service within the context of the council having to make savings of £60m in this year’s budget and further savings in the years ahead.
Residents would be able to complete a survey at their local library. This asked about the way people currently use the library service and then went on to ask people to give their opinions and preferences for various options which could potentially save money. The survey also offered a chance for people to give their own ideas on ways the council could make savings. This survey would be available at all libraries except Peckham for 3 weeks from 27 June until 17 July, and at Peckham Library from 8 to 28 July (due to the by-election in this ward on 7 July). The survey would also be available on line on the council’s website for 3 weeks from 27 June. Details of all the consultation meeting dates and times are available on the website and at the libraries. The meeting at Newington Library would be on 14 July and started at 7pm. Officers would attend the September community council meetings to report back on the review. A formal report would be presented to Cabinet in November 2011.
The chair encouraged people to participate in the survey, as libraries were a very important service.
Other events
Councillor Garfield informed the meeting of the following events:
Southwark Community Games are running summer activities for young people aged eight to 16 years old.
Football Sessions:
· @ Fusion Elephant and Castle Leisure Centre, Elephant & Castle, SE1
Date:28 July; 4 and 11 August Time: 4pm to 6pm
· @Aylesbury Wolverton Football Pitch, Thurlow Street, SE17
Date: 26, 29 July; 2, 5, 9 and 12 August Time: 3pm to 5pm
Multi-sports:
· @Kinglake Cage, Opposite Surrey Square Primary School, SE17
Date: 26 July; 2 and 9 August Time: 12pm to 2pm
· @Faraday Gardens Playing Cage, Portland Street, SE17
Date: 28 July; 4 and 11 August Time: 12pm to 2pm
· @Wendover Cage, Aylesbury Estate, Off Thurlow Street, SE17
Date: 27 July; 3 and 10 August Time: 4pm to 6pm
· @Gayhurst Cage, Off Portland Street,SE17
Date: 29 July; 5 and12 August Time: 12pm to 2pm
50+ IN SE17 JULY 2011
For more information on the following 50+ events, contact Julia on 020 7708 4556 or at julia.honess@southwarkpensioners.org.uk
Four Corners Exhibition
An invitation to Four Corners Exhibition of Work by over 50s and Caribbean Food Tasting
Date: Monday 11 July 2011 Time: 11.30am-1pm
The Elephant and the Nun
5 to 14 August 2011
Southwark's new creative indoor festival with events and activities over 8 days. For more information call Southwark Events: 020 7525 3422
Email: events@southwark.gov.uk
Art in the Park
Chumleigh Gardens, Burgess Park, SE17
Free event. Call Art in the Park on 0207 277 4297 to book a space
Well-Being Workshops - Chi Kung
Tykes Corner, Unit 7 Thurlow Street, SE17 2UZ
Date: Wednesday 6th, 13th, 20th July Time: 6pm-7pm
£2 contribution for each session
Keep Fit
Pembroke House, 80 Tatum Street SE17
Date: Fridays Time: 10am-11am
£1 contribution for each session
Creation Event
Blue Huts, 1 Thurlow Street, SE17 2US
Date: Thursday 14th July Time: 3pm-7pm
Events and activities to let residents know what is on offer in the area and to put the new Creation office on the map. Please note that new members must live on the Aylesbury Estate or in SE17 to take part in activities and advice sessions.
Councillor Coyle informed the meeting that Pullens Yard was hosting an event that weekend which included pottery, books, and arts and craft on this fantastic, historic site.
On Saturday and Sunday 16/17 July 2011 Pembroke House in Tatum Street would host an event around the “Wonderful Walworth” theme which would showcase local groups and activities.
A resident asked whether the South American festival which normally happened in Burgess Park would be moved to Brockwell Park, while the former was being renovated, and whether the festival would it be coming back next year.
ACTION: Parks/events team to report back on where the Carnival del Pueblo will be held this year, and next year.