Lambeth Living goes live today!

Lambeth’s new housing ALMO, Lambeth Living, goes live today (30th June 2008)!

Lambeth Council made the decision to set up an ALMO, as it was the only way to lever in much-needed government investment. Once Lambeth Living is up and running we hope to announce investment of over £200 million to bring all homes in Larkhall ward up to the Decent Homes standard.

The Lambeth ALMO was agreed in a ballot of residents in 2006. Larkhall Labour Party also held a public meeting in Larkhall to help residents make their decision.

Lambeth Living is not a private company, it is a Council-owned company and is therefore, bound by housing policies decided by the council. Lambeth Living will be responsible for the housing management and maintenance services to tenants and leaseholders.

Engagement with residents will continue to be carried out through Tenants Council and Leaseholders Council which all councillors are welcome to attend.

The Board of Lambeth Living comprises 16 elected board members: 6 tenant members; 2 leasehold members; 4 independents and 4 council nominees including Councillors Jackie Meldrum and Kirsty McHugh. The Board is chaired by Asuman Ozkan who is a tenant from Brixton.

The Board of Lambeth Living will hold open meetings and you are welcome to attend. The dates of meetings will be put on We Love Larkhall.

All service requests should still be made to the Lambeth Service Centre 0207 926 6000. This ensures that your call will be answered as office staff are not always at their desk, and more importantly the service request will be properly logged.

Multifaith Cricket Tournament on Clapham Common - 13th July 2008

The Clapham and Stockwell Faith Forum are holding a multifaith cricket tournament on Clapham Common on Sunday 13th July (12 noon – 6pm) . It follows on from a series of cricket coaching sessions for young people held at venues throughout Lambeth.

The afternoon will include:

A league-style tournament for six-a-side youth teams (all abilities welcome)
Adults interfaith matches
Nets, bowling and batting coaching on the day
Delicious summer tea including halal and kosher food
Prizes for participants; and a chill-out tent

Kindly supported by Surrey County Cricket Club and Lambeth Council. Register your youth or adult team now (multi-faith teams particularly welcome) and find out about coaching from Rebecca on 07958 353 652 or email info@csff.co.uk

Oasis Children's Venture Open Day - Saturday 19th July 2008

Oasis Children's Venture is a charity providing play, social and educational opportunities for children and young people in and around the London Borough of Lambeth.

Oasis are holding an Open Day on Saturday 19th July 2008.

Oasis manages three sites in the Stockwell area: a go-karting track, a cycle and active play centre and a nature garden. Come along and find out what happens at each of these unique places for children and young people. Oasis have exciting plans for the future and would like your ideas and views on proposals.

There will be sponsored activities and fun at each of the three projects.

2 p.m Tour of sites: Oasis Children’s Nature Garden, Oasis Cycle Project and Adventure Playground and Oasis Karting Project (meet at the Nature Garden)

3 p.m BBQ at Oasis Cycle Project and Adventure Playground

Oasis also provides local children with the chance to enjoy holidays outside of London, a tradition maintained since its earliest days. Call 0207 720 4276 for any queries.

Clapham and Stockwell Faith Forum - AGM 2008

Clapham and Stockwell Faith Forum - Annual General Meeting and Celebration

Tuesday 1st July 6pm – 8pm, at 110 Union Road

The evening will include:

· Displays and presentations on the work of CSFF over the past year
· Speakers from different faith communities
· Presentations by young people on Football and Youth Round Table events
· Election of new Management Committee
· Opportunities for finding out more about how you can get involved

· Delicious halal, vegetarian and kosher food
· Henna decorating for hands and feet
· A chance to catch up with old friends and meet new
· Creche for young children (book in advance)

Stockwell Partnership invite all residents to lunch

Please join the Stockwell Partnership on Saturday 28th June at a drop in event at the Springfield Community and Health Centre at 110 Union Road where you can find out about the emerging findings of the Stockwell STEP evaluation project.

For the last five months a team of Stockwell resident community researchers and consultants have been carrying out research in to what’s good about Stockwell and what needs improving. Do you agree with the findings or have they missed anything out? Come and have your say!

There are other good reasons to come too:

FACE PAINTING
The kids can get their faces painted while you give your views

HEAD & FOOT MASSAGE
Relax and have a massage on us

FOOD
Come and enjoy some Portuguese tapas

Girls Football In Stockwell - summer update

Lambeth has made providing more sports and recereation actiities available for young people one it's main prioirities. As Labour councillors we pledged to improve youth facilites in Lambeth.

Due to the lack of structured girls football within Lambeth, Lambeth Council's Sports and Recreation Unit has worked intensively with its partners in providing more opportunities for girls.

There are girls only football sessions at Larkhall Park (Monday from 5pm-7pm) and Ferndale Sports Centre (Saturday 10am-1pm).

For the most talented girls in the borough there is an invite only session at Kennington Park which runs every Tuesday (accept school holidays) from 4-6pm.

For further information on the girls invite only sessions please contact Lambeth Council, Community Football Coach Adam Lawrence on 07982 705 411 or email alawrence@lambeth.gov.uk

Could you be the voice of London’s transport users?

Fed up with congestion on the roads or overcrowding and cancelled services on the Underground? Feel like you’re forever waiting for a bus or a train? Are fares fair?

If you are a regular user of public or private transport in and around London, this is your opportunity to represent the views of your fellow travellers, improve the service they receive - and get paid for it.

The London Assembly is currently recruiting the Chair and seven new board members for London TravelWatch. Being a member of London TravelWatch means representing your fellow travellers to secure improved services and influence the transport policies of central government, the Mayor of London, Transport for London and transport operators. London TravelWatch represents all transport users in and around Greater London – whether they are travelling by car, taxi, train, tube, boat, bike, motorcycle, bus, tram or on foot.

People from all walks of life who are frequent users of transport (both public and private) are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates would work between 2 and 5 days per month, depending on how much time they can dedicate to the job, earning from £2,865 to £7,163 per year plus expenses (Members).

Valerie Shawcross, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said: “London TravelWatch is committed to improving conditions for people travelling in and around London and making sure they get a fair deal. I encourage anyone who wants to be part of that to apply.”

For more information visit: http://www.london.gov.uk/jobs.jsp or phone 020 7983 4143 (minicom 020 7983 4157). The deadline for applications is the 23 June (Board member) 2008.

12th July - Children and Family Day at PAPA Playground, Pulross Road

Pulross Area Play Association (PAPA) are holding a 'Children and Family Day' on the 12th of July 2008, between 12pm and 9pm.

Everyone in Lambeth is welcome - all ages and backgrounds! The day includes a FREE LIVE CONCERT with: Richie Longomba , Heaven Blessing, Congolese Youth Band, Brixton Culture(BC) and Black Reggae Hip-Hop & Rap and Domino.

There will be basketball and football tournaments, as well as Errol's BBQ.

VENUE AND CONTACT: PAPA Playground , 10-17 Pulross Road Brixton London SW9 8AF (next to Zak's Tyres). Tel: 0207 7338700

Lambeth 'State of the Borough' Report 2008

Lambeth's first ever 'State of the Borough' report has been produced by Lambeth First, our local strategic partnership which includes Lambeth Council, Lambeth PCT, the Metropolitan Police.

The report provides all the latest statistics about Lambeth and will be updated on an annual basis. Download the Lambeth State of the Borough Report here. The report details:

· crime, employment, health and education statistics,
· Mosaic customer profiling information,
· perceptual data from national, regional and local surveys,
· administrative data from Lambeth Council,
· census information,
· ward level data (to help aid neighbourhood working and support councillors)

Do You Have Broken Bins On Your Estate?

Labour councillors are launching a blitz on all broken & unusable 'paladin' bins on estates over the next few weeks. Broken bins can make it easier for pests to get at rubbish, and are unsightly too. We want to make sure there are no broken bins in Larkhall - Springfield estate, Fenwick estate, Stockwell Gardens estate, Clapham Road estate or any other estate!

If you see any broken palladins on your estate please report the damaged bins to us - Larkhall councillor contact details are here. We'll get them replaced quickly.

Local Older Persons' Relaxation Group - Places Available

Stockwell Partnership and Age Concern have been jointly supporting an older persons’ relaxation group at McCall Close Sheltered Housing Scheme in McCall Close.

The group meets once a fortnight, every Thursday, between 2 and 4pm. The next session takes place on 19 June and then fortnightly from then.

There are around 6 spare spaces available to anyone who is interested. You can just turn up or contact Jacky Nai at Takethymeout@aol.com for more information.

Tabletop sale at St Johns Church - Saturday 28th June

Come and hunt out some bargains at a table top/car boot sale at St Johns Church (Clapham Road) on SATURDAY 28TH JUNE between 2.30pm and 5.30 pm.

If you fancy clearing out your garage and finding some items of your own to sell, then you must book a space in advance - contact Roz on 0207 9782878.

(£5.00 per space, £3.00 extra if you need to hire a table)

Lambeth Agrees To Boost Car Club Bays in Larkhall

Larkhall councillors recently asked for suggestions for new Car Club bays for Larkhall from residents. Lambeth listened to your ideas and will be consulting on three more bays for our local area.

The new bays will be licensed to existing reputable car club companies such as Streetcar or City Car Club, and are proposed for Stirling Road, Voltaire Road (near Clapham High St station), and Portslade Road (near Wandsworth Road station). There are maps of the proposed sites below.

Larkhall councillors are strong backers of the scheme, as car clubs reduce unnecessary car trips, cause less vehicle pollution due to fewer trips and well maintained vehicles, and reduce parking stress - each car club car can replace 4 or 5 privately owned vehicles. It's an important part of our sustainable transport strategy, and will hopefully lead to more Larkhall residents giving up their cars.

If you live near the sites you'll soon be receiving a consultation letter and questionnaire. Please do respond with your views. I'd be interested to hear any more suggestions for other locations in Larkhall. Email me at probbins@lambeth.gov.uk