Lambeth Budget Consultation 2008/09

Some Larkhall residents took part in the Budget Consultation in November 2007, which helped shape the council's priorities for the 2008/09 budget. The findings are to be presented next week, and all are welcome to attend.

The meeting will take place in Lambeth Town Hall from 6.30 – 7.30pm on 7 February 2008. Refreshments will be provided.

OPM, the independent research company who carried out the research, will present the results of the consultation. Councillor Jim Dickson, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Mike Suarez, Executive Director of Finance and Resources, will be present at the meeting to introduce the event and answer any questions you may have.

If you would like to attend please ring 020 7926 0865 or email consultation@lambeth.gov.uk

More information on the budget consultation can be found at http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/CouncilDemocracy/Consultations/BudgetConsultation.htm

Landor Road: Suspected Crack Dens Raided By Met

Two all-night cafes in Larkhall have been closed down by Lambeth Police who believed they were being used as crack dens.

Armed police officers executed search warrants in Landor Road in Larkhall on Saturday 26th January at 6am. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the unlicensed venues had been "associated with drugs, firearms and other serious criminality". A substance thought to be crack cocaine was found and 16 people are in custody over drugs and immigration offences. About 130 people were in the cafes at the time of the raids.

Ch Supt Sharon Rowe, Borough Commander for Lambeth, said: "This morning's activity demonstrates the commitment we have to tackling those who bring harm and misery to Lambeth's communities. We have acted on intelligence that these two venues, and those who visit them, have substantial connections to drugs and guns."

A temporary police station was set up to help with the inquiry and to reassure Larkhall residents. Landor Road and Clapham Road were temporarily closed, but are now open again.

Employment Workshops and Job Fair at 110 Union Road

Interested in gaining new skills? Looking for employment? Thinking of starting your own business? Need help with writing your CV?

In February, March and April there will be employment workshops and a Jobs Fair at the Springfield Community and Health Centre at 110 Union Road (dates below) - contact Wendy On 0207 819 4422 for details or to book a place.

CV WRITING
Wednesday 27th February 10-2pm

INTERVIEW SKILLS
Thursday 28th February 10-2pm

CELEBRATION OF PARENTS
Wednesday 5th March 10-2pm

DEBT MANAGEMENT
Thursday 6th March 10-2pm

GOAL SETTING
Tuesday 11th March 10-2pm

BUSINESS START UP
Thursday 13th March 10-2pm

BUSINESS PLANNNG
Friday 14th March 10-2pm

CV WRITING
Thursday 10th April 10-2pm

INTERVIEW SKILLS

Friday 11th April 10-2pm

JOB FAIR
Tuesday 15th April 12-6pm

FREE Young Vic theatre tickets for Lambeth residents

Larkhall residents can apply for Free And Discounted Tickets for some performances at The Young Vic Theatre between February and May 2008 thanks to the Two Boroughs Ticket Offer.

How The Two Boroughs Ticket Offer Project Works:

All Lambeth and Southwark residents can join the Two Boroughs Project at the Young Vic. The project is aviable to anyone, but in particular they try to ensure that they reach people who may not have experienced theatre before.

If you have not yet gained free tickets to the Young Vic you can book 4 free tickets (Please mention FREE Offer when booking). If you have already gained a free ticket you can take advantage of our £5 offers. (Please mention £5 Offer when booking)

Please note: All guests MUST be from Lambeth or Southwark and proof of address is required.

TO BOOK TICKETS Call the Two Boroughs Hotline on 020 7922 2861 or email twoboroughs@youngvic.org (Tickets are subject to availability)

These are the productions taking part:

PRAYER FOR MY DAUGHTER by Thomas Babe
1am on a steamy summer night. A grubby police office in downtown NYC. Two cops and two crooks battle with wits and fists to uncover the truth about a crime
Contains strong language and nudity - age guide 16+
FREE TWO BOROUGH TICKET DATES:
Eve performances: Friday 1, Thursday 7 and Thursday 21 February 7.30pm
Matinee performances: Saturday 16 and Wednesday 27 February at 2.30pm
£5 TWO BOROUGH TICKETS:
Thursday 7 February 7.30pm and Saturday 16 February at 2.30pm

THE GOOD SOUL OF SZECHUAN by Bertolt Brecht
This new translation with new songs stars Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous BBC)
The gods visit earth to find out if humans are living up to their high moral standards. Shen Te, a good-hearted prostitute gives them shelter. They reward her with money and she opens a tobacco shop. But how can good people be good in a world full of want and cruelty?
Age guide 14+
FREE TWO BOROUGH TICKET DATES:
Eve performances: Thursday 8 and Tuesday 13 May, Fri 6 and Mon 9 June 7.30pm
Matinee performances: Saturday 17 May at 2.30pm
£5 TWO BOROUGH TICKETS:
Thursday 8 May 7.30pm and Saturday 17 May 2.30pm

TfL Announce Further Victoria Line Annoyances...

Larkhall residents will not be happy to learn that TfL have decided they need to close the Victoria Line early again on weekdays (see below for details...).

I have previously raised complaints from residents in Union Road and elsewhere about the disturbance caused by the replacement bus services - please let me know if this affects you by emailing Cllr Pete Robbins

The Victoria line Upgrade is one of London Underground’s (LU) largest investment projects and part of Transport for London’s £10bn Investment Programme. When complete, average journey times will fall; journeys will be more comfortable, frequent and reliable, using new trains conforming to the latest safety, security and accessibility standards.

In order to do this, LU must renew the track, upgrade the power supply and install new signalling and control systems. To allow these upgrade works to take place, the programme of work on the line which started previously will continue in 2008.

Services on the Victoria line will finish early Monday to Thursday evenings between Monday 4 February and Thursday 20 November 2008.

Weekday early closures

Between 4 February and 20 November, the last weekday services from central London will depart shortly after 22:00, and the service will terminate by 22:50. Customers should aim to embark on their journeys by 21:50 or use alternative routes via other Underground lines, existing local bus and National Rail routes or by two dedicated replacement bus services at either end of the line.

As an indication, the following last train times will apply:

Oxford Circus
22:17 southbound all stations to Brixton
22:23 northbound all stations to Walthamstow Central
22:33 northbound all stations to Seven Sisters

Brixton
22:11 northbound all stations to Walthamstow Central
22:21 northbound all stations to Seven Sisters

Weekday evening early closures may be cancelled in line with any major planned events, such as football matches, taking place near the line. Details of changes to the early closure programme will be published closer to the date.

Weekend engineering works

Work is also scheduled on the following weekends during the first quarter of 2008:
Walthamstow Central to Brixton
Saturday/Sunday 23/24 February
Saturday 29 March
Highbury & Islington to Brixton
Sunday 30 March

Rail replacement bus services will be in operation between Brixton and Victoria...

...and, for illustrative purposes only, here's a typical Vicky line customer:

Gawd bless 'er...

Environmental Fund Grants available

Want to organise environmental works? Know a local group that needs extra funding?

Western Riverside Environmental Fund Grants are available for projects that work with local communities to promote environmental improvements and deliver biodiversity conservation in the London Borough of Lambeth.

Grants are available for:

• The provision, maintenance or improvement of a public park or public amenity where it is for the protection of the environment e.g. pocket parks and seating areas, play areas, open spaces on housing estates, churchyards, community gardens and community facilities


• Delivery of biodiversity conservation for UK species habitat

Grants are usually offered in the range of £5,000 - £25,000 with the flexibility to approve higher amounts in exceptional circumstances.

There are 2 funding rounds per year with current closing dates of 29th February 2008 & 28th August 2008

For further information and an application pack please contact:

WREF Programmes Officer
Groundwork Regional Office

18-21 Morley Street

London SE1 7QZ
Tel: 020 7922 1230

morleystreet.reception@groundwork.org.uk

Holocaust Memorial Day

Lambeth are hosting an event for Holocaust Memorial Day on Sunday 27th January, 3 – 6 pm:

“REMEMBER – REFLECT – REACT”

at the Assembly Room, Lambeth Town Hall, SW2 1RW

Featuring photographic exhibition;

A holocaust survivor sharing her experience;

Film, discussion and presentations;

Kosher food provided.

All are welcome.

Contact Dinah-Mary Allotey for more info: dmallotey@lambeth.gov.uk

New Street Lighting in Larkhall

Many residents have indicated that they would like to see improved street lighting across Larkhall and Stockwell, to provide a more secure environment and reduce crime. Lambeth has already started to install new lighting on many streets, and will soon be upgrading the street lighting in many parts of Larkhall.

If you wish to learn more about when the lighting on your street is due to be upgraded, and what you can do to help decide exactly where to sight the new lamp posts, then you can attend the consultation meeting on Thursday 24th January at 7.00pm – 9.00pm at St Michaels Church Hall, Stockwell Park Crescent.

If you cannot make the meeting but wish to report a dark spot, or have ideas about where lighting should be sited on your street then please email Cllr Pete Robbins on probbins@lambeth.gov.uk

Have Your Say on the future of healthcare in Lambeth

Larkhall people can tell the local NHS what could be done to develop world-class healthcare services for London at a drop-in public event in the Assembly Rooms at Lambeth Town Hall on the afternoon of Monday, 14 January.

The event is part of a three-month London-wide consultation process entitled Healthcare for London: consulting the capital. Local people can drop-in at any time from 2pm until 8pm, giving residents, workers, shoppers and commuters alike a chance to have their say.

Staff from Lambeth PCT will be on hand at the town hall on the day to meet with visitors and answer their queries. It’s the first of more than 30 such events that will take place across London over these next few weeks.

The consultation aims to give everyone with an interest in London’s health services (including patients, residents, commuters, representative groups, staff, unions and elected representatives) a chance to comment on proposals set out last year for the capital’s strategic health authority, NHS London, by the renowned surgeon, Professor Lord Ara Darzi.

Lambeth PCT chair Caroline Hewitt said: “London is a world-class city. It needs and deserves world-class health services. We want to hear from local people to help us decide how we can provide such a system and hope that our drop-in event makes it easier for local people to have their say.”

People who can’t drop-in on the day can find out more and get involved by visiting http://www.healthcareforlondon.nhs.uk/

Pay Your Rent By Direct Debit

Tenants and leaseholders of Lambeth Housing can now choose to pay their rent and service charges by Direct Debit.

It is efficient, simple, safe and covered by the Direct Debit guarantee. There is also a chance to win £100 if you switch to pay by this method.

Read more here.

Stockwell Park High School - Success Continues!

Congratulations are due to staff and pupils at Stockwell Park High School, who have been awarded Higher Performing Specialist School and Training School status. The school is already rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted following their inspection in 2006.

Akin Alabi, Chair of Governors at Stockwell Park High School, said:

“This is our sixth successful year. This is a wonderful accolade for the hard-working staff and pupils at Stockwell Park High School. Stockwell Park High School will now train teachers, develop fully accredited courses with universities for our pupils, parents, and the local community. We will be one of the few Training Schools in south London."

"The school is dynamic, innovative and given the tenacity of the Headteacher Ms Tapper and our committed staff, I know that this is just the beginning. The school continues to improve year on year. It is a pleasure to be a Governor at Stockwell Park High School”.

Heathrow Expansion - Your Views Sought

A Larkhall resident has alerted me to the consultation on the expansion of Heathrow Airport. We will all be aware that Larkhall sits directly under the main flightpath into Heathrow, so you may well have opinions on the expansion, and resulting increase in flights...

You can learn more about the consultation here:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/heathrowconsultation/

Or you may prefer to attend one of the series of exhibitions regarding the proposal:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/heathrowconsultation/nextexhibitions/exhibitions

The nearest one is on the 25th/26th January at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3EE. Opening hours: Friday 25 January: 10 am - 8 pm.Saturday 26 January: 10 am - 6 pm.

Do You Use Heathbrook Park?

Heathbrook Park is just outside Larkhall ward boundaries, on the western side of Wandsworth Road, but I know a few people in Larkhall who use it to walk dogs etc.

Groundwork has been asked by Wandsworth Council's Parks Department to look into the possibility to engage the local communities around Heathbrook Park and to gauge if there is potential for setting up a "Friends of" group or similar in Heathbrook Park (similar to the very successful Friends of Larkhall Park)

As a first step they are organising an open community meeting, to introduce Groundwork and talk about how they can help anyone who may be interested in getting involved with the park.

The meeting will take place on Wed the 30th January at 7.30pm in the Tenants and Residents Hall in Amesbury Tower on Westbury Estate. Everyone welcome.