- Youth Community Council
- United St. Saviour’s Charity at the Bede fun day
- Bermondsey in Bloom update
- 2015/16 budget process
- Cllr Michael Situ: a petition for more police officers in the borough
- Charter of Principles (new council homes) consultation
- Any Community Announcements?
Minutes:
New co-ordinator / community councils online forum
Marian Farrugia, community council co-ordinator, introduced herself to the meeting. Marian had recently swapped community council areas with Gill Kelly and had previously worked in the Bermondsey and Rotherhithe area. She encouraged residents to fill out the monitoring and evaluation forms that had been placed on seats. Contact marian.farrugia@southwark.gov.uk or Tel. 020 7525 1780.
A new online forum had been launched that enabled residents to discuss items from community council meetings and begin new conversations and debates. See https://forums.southwark.gov.uk/
The chair thanked three local young people - Abu, Sam and Nellie for all their help in arranging the publicity for tonight’s meeting.
Youth community council
The chair announced that he and the vice-chair, Councillor Evelyn Akoto, would be meeting soon with FarhanGhafoor, and others involved in the local youth community council. This was to raise their involvement in future community council meetings.
United St. Saviour’s charity
Matthew Allgood, United St. Saviour’s charity, explained that the charity did two main things. They gave grants to community organisations and ran alms houses for older Southwark pensioners. Any community group in North Southwark and Bermondsey with an idea or plan aimed at improving the lives of local residents and bringing the community together could contact the charity for assistance with the plan. Tel. 020 7089 9014, email: Matthew.Allgood@ustsc.org.uk
Bermondsey in bloom
Councillor Eliza Mann, explained that she had previously been in charge of the Bermondsey in bloom project and it was now being managed by the Salmon Youth Centre (SYC). Young people had put up 50 posters in the area advertising the Bermondsey in bloom competition and a panel had decided the winners. Representatives of the SYC explained that the project was about recognising gardens of various types including estates gardens, window boxes and public houses. Certificates were awarded to the category prize winners.
2015/16 budget process
The chair outlined the forthcoming budget process. Southwark Council was having to make savings in its budget. Over the last 4 years about £90 million of funding had been lost. In the short-term about £20 million of cuts were required, with further cuts expected after that. As in previous years, there would be consultation with residents at a series of events including community councils. Residents would have the opportunity to tell the council where they thought the savings should be made in the budget.
A petition for more police officers in Southwark
Councillor Michael Situ, cabinet member for community safety, explained there was a campaign in Southwark to lobby the Mayor of London to increase police officer numbers in the borough. The replacement of the safer neighbourhoods’ teams with local police teams had reduced the amount of officers dedicated to specific wards. For further details of the petition see: www.southwark.gov.uk/policenumbers
Charter of principles for new council homes
Jessica Leech, community participation team, explained that Southwark was currently conducting a consultation exercise. It was about a charter of principles on making decisions surrounding delivery of 11,000 new council homes. This was the first stage of the process and was about setting up a framework for future working.
Contact Tel. 020 7525 5853 or Jessica.Leech@southwark.gov.uk
London Bubble theatre company
Claire Sexton from the London Bubble, explained that ahead of the May 2015 elections, the theatre was looking at the voting system. Interviews on various aspects of the process including people voting, not-voting and also candidates’ perspectives were being turned into theatre. A launch event was taking place on 2 October 2014, and all were welcome to take part. Contact: admin@londonbubble.org.uk or Tel. 020 7237 4434
Southwark carers
Ruth Samuel, carer’s health worker, explained that Southwark Carers was an organisation that helped informal carers. Ruth helped carers in the Bermondsey and Rotherhithe area including those involved with home visits and GP surgery visits. Contact: ruth.samuel@southwarkcarers.org.uk or Tel. 020 7708 4497
Petition on extension to Bakerloo line
Councillor Anood Al-Samerai highlighted a local petition that residents could support that promoted the idea of the Bakerloo line coming down the Old Kent Road.
Bert’s coffee morning for Macmillan cancer support
The chair highlighted the forthcoming coffee morning at Silverlock TRA Hall on 26 September 2014, in aid of Macmillan cancer support. All were welcome.