Just a quick reminder that the next Local Assembly meeting is on January 19th from 7.30pm at Northbrook School (at the former Ennersdale School site on Leahurst Road).  Flyers should be hitting doormats across the ward this week.

On the agenda will be the usual assembly priorities:

• Manor Park – with an update on the propsed work on the Manor Park building and bridge (more details on Paul’s blog)
• Leegate – we’ll be launching our residents’ survey on how local people would like to see Leegate change in the short and longer term
• Youth provision – an update from the youth service on how they’re propsing to spend the £20,000 we’ve provided for youth work in Lee Green
• Parking – a member of staff from highways will be on hand to tell us how the Mayor’s responded to our statement of community views on parking

Should be a good evening – and it’s our last assembly until May/June, so do brave the cold if you can!

Just back from Mayor and Cabinet, where they were discussing the response to the Assembly’s ’statement of community views’ on parking.   You may remember that this went to Mayor and Cabinet back in May - tonight’s meeting received the report requested then (quite why it’s taken six months is anyone’s guess, but hey-ho).

The report being considered tonight responded to our statement by making three recommendations to the Mayor:

• That all residents in Lee Green ward who aren’t covered by existing Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) will be consulted on the potential introduction of parking restrictions (including the option for a two hour zone where appropriate).  This will happen by April 2010.
• That existing CPZs will be retained on their current hours, and that if funds are available in future, hours of operation can be reviewed.
• The Hither Green East CPZ which was brought in last year will be reviewed by the end of this year, and the extensions to that zone and the Old Road/Bankwell Road zone that are currently being installed will be reviewed after one year of operation.  The original Old Road/Bankwell Road zone will also be reviewed at this point.

All the reviews and consultations will include questions on:

• If you’re in a CPZ, do you wish to retain it?
• If you’re not, would you like one?
• If you’re not in a CPZ, and you don’t want one, would you like safety works like yellow lining on corners to be carried out?

I spoke at Mayor and Cabinet and made the following points:

• It’s good that the assembly’s views have been considered, and that money’s been found to ask the rest of the ward about parking all at once (so as to hopefully avoid the piecemeal solutions we’ve had in the past that have simply moved the problem around)
• However, the assembly didn’t call for more CPZs – we called for CPZs with different hours, and other solutions like homezones and car clubs, to be explored.  Crucially, the concept of car clubs needs to be explained by the Council – it’s no good just asking people if they want one – we need to explain the concept and benefits (the Sustainable Development Select Committee report does a good job at this!) and this is something I’ve already raised with the Deputy Mayor at a meeting of the Full Council.
• The key word in our original motion was parking solutions - not just restrictions, as the Mayor’s report seems to assume.  A small change, but an important change of emphasis. The last thing we want is the assembly’s work being used as a trojan horse to push through more 9am-7pm CPZs where they’re not wanted.

I said I hoped officers would take that on board and ensure the consultations and reviews are carried out in the spirit of the assembly’s statement.  In particular, that third question about safety works should also ask about other solutions like homezones and car clubs.

I also asked that officers to prepare an update for the Assembly on 19th Jan explaining the decision that’s been made and where they’re up to with each of the recommendations.

Finally, there was some amusement about the Mayor’s interview in the NewsShopper, where he admits to owning no less than three cars himself (not including the ones the Council gives him use of).  He assured us this doesn’t colour his judgement when it comes to parking..!   In the same spirit of openness, I guess I should declare that I share a Ford Fiesta with my partner, which we sometimes manage to park on our own street.

Last night’s local assembly was our 5th since we started back in June 2008.  Time really has flown.  Once again, a good turn-out and plenty of discussion.  A quick report back from the Chair’s eye view:

Manor Park

The assembly heard from Sam Kirk of the Council’s environment team, who explained about the new dog control orders that will be coming in soon.  Dog fighting in our parks, and poor management of animals by a minority of dog owners was a real concern at the last assembly. The assembly thanked Sam for her report and agreed to consider this again if the new measures don’t prove successful.

The assembly also voted to allocate £22,500 towards bringing the old building in the park back into use.  We’re hoping to do this in conjunction with the parks department and the new parks contractor when they’re appointed.  The intention is that up to three members of staff would be based in the building (including a gardener) and the building would also be available for community use.

Finally, the Assembly agreed in principle to support the concept of a bridge to provide a new access to the park from Longhurst Road, though they noted that this is subject to planning permission.

Youth provision

Muhammad Rahmani from the Council’s Youth Service updated the Assembly on the summer schemethat took place and explained that we are still looking for a permanent venue for our youth club (though we were delighted to learn that the New Testament Church are interested in discussing this with us).   Muhammad also outlined the extra funding he’s been able to attract to add to the £20,000 we’d already allocated to this project.  Special thanks to Muhammad for popping in during his week off, and for all his hard work on this to date.

Leegate

The coordinating group updated the assembly on progress to date, and the good news that we’ll soon have our own town centre manager (shared with Crofton Park and Ladywell).  The assembly agreed to allocate the remaining £2,500 of the Mayor’s fund to Leegate.

Parking

I explained that we’re still to hear back from the Mayor on our ‘Statement of Community Views’.   I also updated people on the Hither Green East and Old Road/Bankwell CPZ extensions, which should be implemented soon.   Residents in those areas should have received a permit application form by now.

Locality Fund

This was the major item.  This year, we’d decided to ask the assembly to prioritise the bids received.  Each table was asked to choose five projects from the twelve bids, with the intention that we’d produce a prioritised list and fund them in order of priority.  This worked pretty well, and the results are as follows:

1. Lee City Safe – £1,300 to extend the CitySafe project across the ward and develop the skills and self confidence of children and young people in Lee Green
2. The primary transition project in Manor Park – £2,385 for fencing and pond improvements so students can use the park safely for study
3. Lee Green youth forum – £1,400 for two days of workshops for young people to find out their views on the ward
4. Lee fair share time bank – £400 for trips to the coast and purchase of a digital camera
5. Manor House Gardens User Group – £1,235 to reprint the ‘History and Wildlife of Manor House Gardens’ leaflet
6. FUSS – £1,000 to refresh their planting on Staplehurst Road
7. St Winifred’s Junior School – £1,000 for a Peace Garden and vegetable beds

After those projects were funded, we had £1,280 left.  As there was a tie for the next most popular project, we’ve agreed to discuss with Northbrook School (£500 for a bench on Staplehurst Road) and The Users and Friends of Manor House Library (£1,000 for a heritage board) how we can reduce/amend their proposals to fit the budget.

All in all, a really positive, productive meeting.  Next one on January 19th.

Lee Green residents should have received a flyer through their door by now (I got mine today) but just a quick reminder that it’s our Local Assembly on Monday at the New Testament Church of God, 370 Lee High Road from 7.30 – 9.30pm.

On the agenda:

• Youth provision – an update on the summer scheme and Lee Green Youth Club
• Leegate – update on work so far and an opportunity to join in
• Manor Park – a proposal to improve the derelict building in the park
• Consultation on the ideas we’ve received for spending the 2009 £10,000 locality fund

Hope you can make it – refreshments are provided and the meeting should be over by 9.30pm.  Buses 178, 122, 321 and 261 stop practically outside and there’s full disabled access.

We’re pleased to announce that once again we have Locality Funding of £10,000 to spend on improvements or activities in Lee Green ward and we would like to invite you to take part in the consultation process which runs until Sunday 27th September. Applications or suggestions for how to spend this money should directly benefit the local neighbourhood. All funding must be allocated and spent by the 31st March 2010, and the project be completely delivered by 30th November 2010.

To give you an idea of the kind of thing we are looking for, in previous years funding has been spent on projects including:
• a community board at Hither Green station
• match funding for the sculpture in Manor Park
• installing litter bins and planters at Leegate
• start-up funding for the Friends of Hither Green Triangle and Manor Park User Group
• outdoor classroom seating at Brindishe school
• local poetry events and workshops
• Lee Manor Society Local History Board
• Good Shepherd Youth Club Folding Pool Table
• Picnic bench for Manor House Gardens User Group
• Community notice board at Hither Green station
• FUSS Staplehurst Road Christmas Lights & plants

Funding cannot be used to employ staff although ‘one off’ costs for personnel who will be directly responsible for delivering the improvement, i.e. artists, are allowed, and money can be added to funding that has already been identified for a particular activity. No applications can be accepted after midnight on Sunday September 27th, 2009. 

We’ll be consulting the local assembly on the proposals we’ve received at the Assembly meeting on the evening of Monday 28th September.   Whilst the deadline for suggestions is midnight on the 27th, the sooner you can get your application or suggestions in the better.   Obviously we can’t guarantee that every application or suggestion we receive will be included.

We’ll ask the Ward Assembly for their views on the suggestions we receive, but the decision of your ward councillors is final, and we’ll contact everyone who has submitted a suggestion or application with a list of this year’s successful applications.  This will also be published here, on Leepedia and in E-Focus.

Please email your suggestions to us (details here), or write to us at the Town Hall, Catford, London, SE6 4RU.  It would help greatly if when making an application you could give details of cost and supplier.  If you don’t know this, then please do get your application in sooner rather than later so we have time to investigate…!

We look forward to receiving your ideas!

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.