From 2006 to 2010, I was a councillor for Lee Green ward in the London Borough of Lewisham. During that time, I blogged regularly and in 2009 I won the Tim Garden Award for the Best Blog by a Liberal Democrat Holding Public Office. My blog posts from my term of office are archived here in case they prove of use to former constituents, or to those who share my annoyance with faulty street furniture
One event I was really sorry to miss while I was away were the celebrations to mark the transfer of Leybridge and Newstead Estates to new landlord Broomleigh.
The transfer had been some time in the making, with residents working with the Council for over three years to get the right deal for their estates. As local councillors, we were strongly supportive of the transfer. We knew residents were fed up with years of poor maintenance of their estates, and wanted a real change. Residents worked extremely hard, first to find the right landlord for them, and then to make sure Broomleigh’s offer contained everything they wanted.
I’m proud to have played a small part campaigning for the transfer, and spoke at the Full Council meeting where we approved the transfer. In particular, I wanted to thank a number of people – residents and staff at the Council and Broomleigh – who’ve worked really hard to make this happen. They know who they are.
Though I wasn’t able to make it, my colleagues Paul and Pete were there, and are pictured with one of the new signs Broomleigh have already erected at Leybridge.
Of course, the transfer doesn’t stop residents approaching their councillors if they do have any problems with their housing, and I’ll continue to hold my monthly advice surgery at Leybridge Court. Next one on the 21st November at 10am.
