At a recent meeting of Lambeth Council there was an update on progress to establish a Portuguese community centre for Lambeth’s many Portuguese speaking residents.
As councillors in Larkhall ward we have been campaigning and working with the community to establish the centre. Along with Stockwell ward, Larkhall has one of the highest concentrations of Portuguese people in London. Labour has guaranteed £500,000 worth of funding to establish the centre when the community has found a suitable site. Lambeth consulted with 150 Portuguese people, of whom 93% support the idea of a community centre. The community are now looking at 3 options for a centre that will best meet their needs.
The proposals will provide a centre where the community may gather for cultural activities, social support, and public information and access community services. The centre will be owned by a charity in the form of a company limited by guarantee and run by a management committee formed of representatives from the Portuguese community.
Sadly, the Lib Dems have attempted to hijack the project. At a speech in the town hall, a Lib Dem councillor from a different part of the borough said he wanted to force the community to set up the centre by next April, come what may. Well Labour disagrees – it is up to the Portuguese community, not Lib the Dems, to decide when the centre is established and where. Sadly, the Lib Dems have have refused to confirm they would offer a the same level of support to our valued Portuguese community should they win back power.
A full report on Lambeth’s work with the Portuguese community is here:http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/moderngov/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=18298
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