Lambeth Living board meeting - 3rd December 2008

The next public meeting of the board of Lambeth Living is on: Wednesday 3rd December at 7pm. It will be held in: 2nd floor Lecture Theatre, International House, Canterbury Crescent, Brixton SW9 7QE (MAP).

Lambeth Living is Lambeth’s new housing ALMO, which was set up by Lambeth Council to run Lambeth's council housing.

Lambeth Living is responsible for the housing management and maintenance services to tenants and leaseholders, and is run by a Board comprising 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.

Lambeth tenants and leaseholders are all welcome to attend.

Lambeth Budget Consultation 2009 - how should they spend your money?

Lambeth Council operates a budget of more than £1 billion a year, and has responsibility for schools, streets, housing, rubbish collection, parks, care services, libraries, lesiure centres, and planning to name just a few. It is important that Lambeth spends this money in line with what residents want, and every year Lambeth consults with local people over their priorities for the next year.

The first stage of the budget consultation started in August and has now ended. This first stage asked residents where the council should focus its resources not only next year but in the future. It involved workshops, focus groups and a number of public 'drop in' sessions for residents to ask questions and give their views to the consultation team. Thanks to everyone that attended. Your priorities and other findings from the first stage have been used to inform the second stage of consultation which has now begun.

Lambeth is now entering the second stage and is consulting residents, businesses and stakeholders through an online and street questionnaire with 500 residents from a representative sample across Lambeth.

If you would like to get involved you can either fill out the online questionnaire for residents or if you are responding on behalf of a business you can fill out the business questionnaire.

Santa Claus Is Coming To (Clapham) Town - 1st December

Lambeth’s Christmas lights will be switched on across the borough on Monday 1st December.

Lighting displays and Christmas trees will feature in all areas of the borough.

To celebrate Christmas in Lambeth this year, there are a series of events linked to the lights being switched on next Monday 1st December.

The Streatham Festival Association and Vauxhall City Farm have helped us to develop the plans for the evening.

Activities include carol singing, lantern making, local entertainment and presentations.

Time Place
3.45 The Oval, at Clapham Road
4.15 Clapham behind Clapham Common tube
4.45 Brixton, alongside the Library
5.30 Herne Hill, opposite the main entrance to Brockwell Park
6.15 Norwood, St Lukes open space
7.00 Streatham Odeon

The Christmas lights will be switched on with the help of Santa, who will arrive on our illuminated Christmas Bus. He will have some helpers travelling on a Festive Float that has been created by community volunteers.

The lights will go on in the trees, there will be a number of presentations made, and seasonal messages given before the Christmas bus heads off to complete the tour of the borough.

Larkhall Safer Neighbourhoods Panel - next meeting 17th December 2008

The next meeting of the Larkhall Ward Safer Neighbourhoods Panel will take place on Wednesday 17th December at 7pm in St Johns Church, Clapham Road SW4.

The Safer Neighbourhoods Panel, which consists of local Larkhall resident representatives, meets every three months to discuss local policing issues and to decide what priorities the local Safer Neighbourhoods Police Team are to follow for the next quarter of the year.

The Chair of the Panel, Toby Riley-Smith, is very keen to involve as many local people as possible, and is encouraging new residents to attend.

The Larkhall Safer Neighbourhoods Police Team are all based at the Clapham Police Station in Union Grove and spend all of their time tackling issues in Larkhall ward. The officer in charge of the Team is Sergeant Graham Williamson.

The Team is a permanent fixture in Larkhall, not a 'quick fix' brought in to respond to local changes in crime and disorder. They have been working in Larkhall ward since 2006. The Team’s priorities are decided by the ward’s Safer Neighbourhoods Panel, who put forward their three top local priorities for local officers to tackle.

Double murder on the Springfield estate (Croxteth House)

A murder enquiry has been launched after two people were found stabbed to death in Croxteth House, on the Springfield estate, in Larkhall ward.

Police discovered the victims, a 53-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman, in Croxteth House, on Thursday 27th November. They were both pronounced dead at the scene in the early hours of the morning.

The South London Press reports that police believe they know the identity of the victims, but are waiting for confirmation that all next of kin have been informed before formally naming them. Post mortems are due to take place.

If anyone heard or saw anything suspicious in the vicinity last night, they are asked to get in touch with the incident room on 020 7321 9251, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if they wish to remain anonymous.

2nd Annual Lambeth Black History Lecture - 10th December

The annual Lambeth Black History lecture was inaugurated in 2007. This years lecture is taking place at Brixton Library on Wednesday December 10 at 7.00 pm.

This years lecture will be given by Dr. Carole Boyce Davies, Professor of Africana Studies at Cornell University and author of the recently published biography of Claudia Jones, Left of Karl Marx.

"Panafricanism, Feminism, Journalism: Claudia Jones and the Black Radical Intellectual Tradition"

Claudia Jones lived in Lambeth in the 1950s and 60s where she not only set up and edited Britain's first black newspaper, The West Indian Gazette, from offices in Brixton, and went on to found what became the Notting Hill Carnival. In this, the 50th anniversary year of the founding of The West Indian Gazette, it is timely to reflect on Claudia Jones' legacy.

Bus services in Stockwell and Clapham - have your say

We Love Larkhall has been contacted by local resident Nick Biskinis, who has been interested in local transport issues for a number of years. We have previously asked We Love Larkhall readers for their views on changes to local bus routes, and now Nick would like to hear from you, ahead of a meeting he has with Transport for London on 4th December.

Nick has been putting ideas forward for both Clapham and Stockwell.

These include:

1) A new bus route from Clapham Common via Stockwell onto London Bridge and Aldgate

2) Clapham Common-Stockwell-Southwark-Moorgate. These 2 routes would give Stockwell direct bus links to the City and London Bridge

3) Rerouteing the 88 to run via Victoria and to Euston/King's Cross, so giving Stockwell bus access to Eurostar

4) Extending the 87 to Euston

5) Creating a new bus route from Stockwell to Hammersmith via Clapham Common, Clapham Junction, Wandsworth, Putney. This takes the pressure off the 345 (at Stockwell) and the 37 (at Clapham)

Nick also agrees with Larkhall councillors that our ward needs a bus route linking Wandsworth Road and Clapham Road via Larkhall, and has suggested a route between Victoria and Nightingale Lane.

TfL is reviewing services in Lambeth for 2010, and Nick has put these ideas forward. Nick is meeting TfL on the 4th December to talk about bus services. He is interested in hearing your ideas or suggestions. If you'd like to get in touch with Nick his email address is CTUG1@aol.com

Stockwell and Vassall Area Housing Forum - Tuesday 9th December

Stockwell & Vassall Area Housing Forum is on Tuesday 9th December at 7pm. It will be held at the Pedlars Acre Hall (rear of 91 Kennington Lane SE11 4HQ).

The Area Housing Forum is a chance for Lambeth Living tenants to meet housing officers and elected tenant representatives to discuss Lambeth housing issues. The Forum is made up of representatives sent by estate Tenants and Residents Associations, but any tenant or leaseholder can attend. Larkhall councillors also attend whenever possible.

As well as the usual business, the main item for consideration will be a report on rent setting for 2009/10.

Licence application: UPEN News, 91-93 Jeffreys Road

Larkhall councillors have been notified that UPEN News, on Jeffreys Road, have applied for a licence to sell alcohol. If you want help in objecting to this application please contact your Larkhall councillors.

Here are the full details:

A new application for a Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of the below-mentioned premises was received by the licensing authority on 12th November 2008

Applicants Name:
Mrs Pamela Srinaguleswaran
Premises Address:
UPEN News - 91-93 Jeffreys Road London SW4 6QA
Activities/times requested:

Supply of Alcohol
Monday - Saturday 08:00 - 20:00
Sunday 10:00 - 20:00

Prior to determining this application, the licensing authority may accept written representations from Responsible Authorities and Interested Parties on the likely effect of the grant of this application in relation to the licensing objectives, which are:

· Preventing crime and disorder;
· Public safety;
· Preventing public nuisance; and
· Protecting children from harm.

Representations will be disregarded if they are deemed to be vexatious, frivolous, or irrelevant, or if they are received later than the 22nd December 2008.

Open Evening at Sport Action Zone - 1st December

There is an Open Evening at the Sports Action Zone at the old Lilian Baylis school on Monday 1st December from 6pm-9pm.

The aim of the evening will be to showcase what is currently done on site and what SAZ hope to do there in the future. The Sports Action Zone is promoting sport across north Lambeth and Southwark. Last summer, the site was home to many summer activities, providing things for young people to do during their summer holidays.

The evening will begin with a short presentation in the Assembly Hall by Brian Dickens MBE and Kate Hoey MP.

Films and tours around the school will be available. Partners will be present and will have their areas open and accessible to explain what they do and the young people they help. There will also be opportunities for guests to take part in some of the activities.

There will also be display of partners’ work and projects in the assembly hall.

Refreshments will be available in the lobby area.

Please RSVP by Monday 24th November 2008 to either Nilgun Direncay
(Nilgun.direncay@southbanklondon.com) or Sonia Oscar (sonia.oscar@thesportactionzone.org)

Every Pound Counts - are you getting the benefits you're entitled to?

Larkhall councillors are urging local residents to beat the credit crunch by having a benefits check.

Millions of pounds have been left unclaimed by Lambeth residents who do not realise they are eleigible for extra help from the Government. For instance, Cllr Pete Robbins arranged for Mrs C, a resident of the Fenwick estate, to have a visit from a Lambeth Benefits adviser in September, who advised her that she qualified for Pension Credit and Disability Living Allowance. She has now been awarded an extra £117 a week, which has completely transformed her life.

Now Larkhall councillors are urging any Larkhall resident who thinks they could be eligible for more help to contact them and arrange a benefits check. Either email Cllr Robbins on probbins@lambeth.gov.uk or call him on 0207 207 4372.

There is more information on the Lambeth Every Pound Counts website here.

Keep up to date with your local Labour councillors on Twitter

Twitter is a social networking service that helps people communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

Larkhall councillors are now Twittering at the We Love Larkhall Twitter - so you can find out what we're up to on your behalf.

Follow us at http://twitter.com/WeLoveLarkhall

Or you can see the most recent updates in the sidebar on the right of this page =>

Larkhall Labour councillors walkabout - Chelsham Road, Larkhall Rise, Gauden Road - 1/11/2008

Labour Councillors for Larkhall ward Pete Robbins, Neeraj Patil, and Tina Valcarcel hold street and estate walkabouts every month across the ward in order to spot problems which the Council should be addressing. We are also grateful to local residents who take the trouble to alert us to problems.

Every month we hold special street surgeries, so that residents can tell us ab0out issues that are particularly important to their street. We held a walkabout on Chelsham Road, Gauden Road Larkhall Rise, and Larkhall Lane on Saturday 1st November - we are very grateful to all those residents that took the time to fill in our survey or meet with us.

The main issues residents reported were speeding cars (the Larkhall 20 mph zone should help reduce this), the poor state of roads and pavements, and problems with community safety. Many residents praised the improved cleanliness of the streets.

Councillors reported some flytipping, some damaged paving stones, and graffiti too - which they have already reported and has been removed. If you think we should hold a walkabout on your street then please contact Cllr Pete Robbins to arrange it.

Clapham and Stockwell Faith Forum - Women's Multifaith Arts Group

The Clapham and Stockwell Faith Forum runs a Women’s Multifaith Arts Group at Stockwell Resource Centre, Thursday lunchtimes 12 - 3.30pm on 20th November and 18th December.

These sessions are open to women of all faiths and none, offering a chance to be together, eat together and create together. Each day includes a free lunch and crèche facility.

Thursday 20th November - Arts Workshop on 'The Ritual of Tea-Making' with Amanda Miles.

The ritual of making tea is something common to all the cultures of the world. This will be a chance to share your own culture of tea-making and create your own tea ritual, a really fun and peace-making activity for women of all faiths. Please feel free to bring along a sample of your favourite tea, otherwise all materials will be provided.

Thursday 18th December - CSFF Multifaith Women’s Outing to Dulwich Picture Gallery

The day will include a led workshop, tour and art-making based on the current exhibition ‘What Are You Like?’ See http://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/ for details. 10am meet-up at Stockwell Community Resource Centre for departure at 10.30am

Please contact Rebecca on 07958 535 652 or email mailto:info@csff.co.uk%20/ rebeccadotb@yahoo.co.uk to reserve a space if you would like to attend either the workshop or the outing.

Lambeth to appoint Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Co-ordinator

Local Labour councillors have made crime and community safety the number one priority in Lambeth, and Lambeth Council has now signed up to become a new neighbourhood crime and justice pioneer area.

The council will appoint a Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Co-ordinator – to ensure that Community Payback in the local community is visible and tough, that victims of crime are supported to reduce re-offending and that the public know the rights that the new national Policing Pledge gives them.

Lambeth’s new Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Co-ordinators will be a powerful force to give the public a greater say in the way their streets are policed and how offenders are dealt with.

They will work to let Lambeth residents know their entitlement in the new Policing Pledge - so that they know their rights, know who their neighbourhood policing team are, how they can hold them to account and the minimum level of service they should expect – and open up the criminal justice system so that there are clear and public consequences for criminals that the public get to know about, including more visible Community Payback. They will also ensure that services and support for victims and witnesses like separate seating arrangements at court are up to scratch.

Lambeth Labour Councillor Pete Robbins said: “Larkhall residents repeatedly tell us that community safety is their most important issue. They want to see the local policing and justice system listening to them and acting on their priorities. Lambeth’s new Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Co-ordinator will be dedicated to acting on the public’s behalf to make sure that justice is done and seen to be done in Lambeth.”

Lambeth Mediation Service AGM - 11th December 2008

You are cordially invited to attend the 18th Annual General Meeting of the Lambeth Mediation Service:

“Young People and Conflict: Strategies for Resolution” with guest speaker Luke Roberts, Standards and Inclusions Officer of Lambeth Council

Date/time: 11th December 2007 at 6.30pm

Location: Benn Library, Stockwell YMCA, 40 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9ES

R.S.V.P. to 020 8678 6046 or admin@lambethmediation.org.uk

Application for license variation - The Clapham North

Larkhall councillors have been notified that The Clapham North bar, on the corner of Landor Road and Clapham Road opposite Clapham North tube station, have applied for a variation to their licence that will see them extend their license to cover a dining room on the second floor - all other timings will remain the same.

If you want help in objecting this application please contact your Larkhall councillors. Here are the full details:

LICENSING ACT 2003 – Premises Licence Application

A Variation application for a Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of the below-mentioned premises was received by the licensing authority on 31st October 2008

Applicants Name: Swap Bars Limited
Premises Address: The Clapham North - The Clapham North 409 Clapham Road London
Activities/times requested: No Changes to the times and activities below from the current licence. Only change to the plans to include a dining room on the 2nd floor.

Prior to determining this application, the licensing authority may accept written representations from Responsible Authorities and Interested Parties on the likely effect of the grant of this application in relation to the licensing objectives, which are:

· Preventing crime and disorder
· Public safety
· Preventing public nuisance
· Protecting children from harm.

Representations will be disregarded if they are deemed to be vexatious, frivolous, or irrelevant, or if they are received later than the 28th November 2008. If you want help in objecting this application please contact your Larkhall councillors.

Larkhall 20 mph zone - campaigning pays off

Local Labour councillors have been campaigning for better road safety measures in Larkhall ward - and their hard work has paid off, with work set to begin this month.

15 extra sets of traffic calming measures (either road humps, cushions or tables) will be installed in the roads between Wandsworth Road and Clapham Road, along with extra signage at key junctions. Lambeth carried out a consultation with local residents to find out exactly which measures will be most appropriate to them.

20 mph zones help reduce road deaths and accidents, and Larkhall Labour councillors have been pushing for all local residential roads to be included.

Roads covered by the zone include Union Road, Gauden Road, Chelsham Road, Bromfelde Road, Sibella Road, Larkhall Rise, Albion Avenue, Smedley Street, Union Grove and Killyon Road. Residents of several of these roads have reported that they are plagued by rat-running - the extra measures should help put an end to this.

If you want to see a map of the whole scheme then please email Cllr Pete Robbins probbins@lambeth.gov.uk for a copy.