As part of last year’s locality fund, we funded an evening of seriously good poetry from Tall Lighthouse.  We’ve run this event in previous years, and it’s always been a great success.  There’s a change of venue this year, with the event moving from Stark Gallery over the road to the Old Tigers’ Head. Things kick off from 8pm this Friday (13^th November) and there’s a late bar. 

Confirmed acts are Roddy Lumsden, Niall O’sullivan, Christopher Horton, Jocelyn Page, Paul Blake, plus others tbc – with John Citizen (mc) plus OPEN-MIC – £3.

I got back from NZ to find an email from Peter Richardson, Chair of the Friends and Users of Manor House Library.  He wanted to share with me this photo of the unveiling of their new noticeboard at the Manor House, funded by last year’s locality fund.

It’s taken a while, but thanks in no small part to Peter’s persistence, the board’s now been installed and hopefully more people will become aware of the Friends’ work.

The photo shows Claire from the library with Peter, Pat and Mary from the user group, and my colleague Cllr Paul Bentley.

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.

When I asked the other day for ideas for this year’s locality fund, I mentioned some of the projects we’ve supported in the past.   One of these came to fruition on Monday, when Sven unveiled the new local history board at the Lee Green crossroads.   The board was the idea of the Lee Manor Society, who have done a great job producing it and choosing the right spot for it. 

The photo on the right shows Sven cutting the ribbon and one below shows the unveiled board.   If you get the chance, do wander over and learn something about the history of our area.

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!