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.

We’ve been working with the local assembly to establish a youth club in Lee Green Ward.  Back in May, we secured £20,000 to help make it happen.  The youth club will launch in September (details here as soon as they’re finalised) but in the meantime, the youth service have arranged for some summer youth activity in the ward.

On Monday next week (17th August), there’ll be youth activities on the Newstead Road (Stoneycroft/Wildwood Close) estate (12.30 onwards)

Next Tuesday (18th August), the Rolling Sound Bus will be on the  Leybridge Court estate again – three sessions of game design and music production from 12 til 2;  2.30-4.30 and 5pm until 7pm.

Next Wednesday (19th August), there’ll be sports activities on the Newstead Road estate (12.3o  onwards)

There’ll also be a day trip on Thursday 20th – turn up to one of the sessions earlier in the week for details.

There’ll be further activities the week after (w/b 24th August) – Rolling Sound will be on Leybridge on Tuesday 25th running the same sessions as on the 18th.  

Finally – a quick request – we’re looking for volunteers from the community to serve on the management committee of the new youth club.  Anyone can help, but we’re particularly after people with a passion for youth work, a potential treasurer, or someone with charity experience.  Let me know if you’re interested.

Just a quick note that the Rolling Sound Bus will be back at Leybridge Court this Tuesday  from 12noon until 7pm offering 3 games design courses, starting at noon, 2.30pm and 5pm.

The last visit was a big success, so do get along.

I’ve  spent the last two evenings stuck in the Town Hall, so thought I’d explain what I’ve been up to.

On Wednesday, I attended a meeting of Mayor and Cabinet. I don’t make a habit of going to these, but there were three things I was interested in on the agenda.

Firstly, the Mayor was (finally!) agreeing the rent increase for 2009/10. This was delayed as the Government announced – very late in the day – some extra money for rents. This has caused chaos as Lewisham had already announced the rent rise, and so has had to freeze rents til July while they work out what to do. The Government has also managed to exclude thousands of tenants across the borough, who won’t benefit from this cash at all. Not their finest hour. Anyway, the final increase is 3.84% and should come in from July 6th.

Secondly, the Mayor agreed the waste strategy, which (amongst other things) will see a garden waste drop-off point set up during weekends, probably in the Blackheath Station Car Park. A bit nearer than the Landmann Way site for people in Lee Green, but still no good if you haven’t got a car (can’t see many people pushing a wheelbarrow that far!).

Thirdly, the Mayor rubber-stamped the £5,000 the local assembly allocated for community consultation and activities at the Leegate Centre. Excellent news.

After work on Thursday, I met with the Executive Director for Customer Services to discuss various housing issues. The good news is, the Lee stock transfer is still on-track for approval in June/July – can’t come a moment too soon for me or the residents on the stock transfer estates.

Then I was off to housing committee, which was considering the draft homelessness prevention strategy. I was pleased to get the document amended so that councillors will get regular reports on how the strategy’s progressing. It’s one thing having a good strategy (which I think we now have) but it’s another thing making sure it’s implemented.

Once housing committee concluded, I was straight into the Sustainable Development Committee, where they were already half way through taking evidence from Sutton, Islington and Greenwich Councils on home insulation. Always good to hear what some Lib Dem-run councils are up to – and Islington and Sutton do seem to be setting the pace. After that we discussed the new parks management contract (currently held by Glendale). This gave me a chance to put in another plea for a park keeper for Manor Park. I was also pleased to learn that some of the investment cash for this contract will be targeted at smaller parks – so there’s a chance we could get some improvements to the little-known Edith Nesbitt Gardens, Lee Green’s third park.

Thankfully the weekend’s a bit more Lee Green focussed – I’ve got my monthly advice surgery at Leybridge Court, and am planning to drop into the Lee Manor Society Plant Mart and the St. Margaret’s Victorian Fair. Late on, I’m attending a meeting with residents regarding 87 Old Road, and then I’m sitting back to watch Eurovision.

I dropped by Leybridge Court after work last night and was really pleased to find the Rolling Sound bus full of young people trying their hand at music production.

It’s the first time I’ve been on the bus, and the transformation from London bus to state-of-the-art studio is amazing.

The bus is back at Leybridge tomorrow and then hits Manor House Gardens on Saturday.  Full details of the sessions in Lee Green here.

A quick reminder that it’s my surgery this Saturday at Leybridge Court from 10am until 11am.  Do feel free to drop by the McEwan Centre if there’s anything you think I can help with.