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.

Just a quick heads up that it’s the Lee Manor Society’s AGM this Thursday, from 7.30pm in the Baring Room of the Manor House.  Agenda here.  After the AGM, Mark Pearce and David Shatwell from Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams, architects on the Manor House restoration, will give an illustrated talk entitled “The Refurbishment of the Manor House”.

Then on Saturday, it’s the annual Lee Manor Society plant mart from 2pm until 4pm at 2-6 Micheldever Road.  Raffles – Cream Teas – Tombola – Bric-à-Brac – Children’s Games – Cakes, Jams and Preserves are promised.

Also Saturday from 2-4pm is the St Margaret Lee CofE School’s Victorian May Fayre at the school on Lee Church Street.  Entry is 50p and there is a punch and judy, coconut shy, raffle and other attractions.

The next Lee Green Assembly will take place on Thursday 7th May from 7.30pm until 9.30pm at Lee Manor School, Leahurst Road.

My flyer was on the doormat when I got home tonight, and I’d encourage you to have a read of yours when it comes through – it gives a good summary of what we’ve been up to since the assembly began last June.

Up for discussion this time are:

• Proposal to spend £20,000 on developing a youth club in Lee Green
• An update on the Leegate priority
• An update on the environment prority and a suggestion that we spend £20,000 on further improvements in Manor Park
• An update on the parking ‘motion’ we passed at the last Assembly
• An update on the re-opening of Manor House Library from the Library service.

So a lot to discuss – do come along if you can make it, and if you can’t, feel free to let me have your views in advance of the meeting.

I’m slowly coming to terms with the fact that at 27, I’m no longer classed as a ‘young person’.   In fact, since Thursday I’m not even Lewisham’s youngest councillor!

So I’m really pleased that as part of the local assembly process, we’ve launched a survey aimed at young people in Lee Green ward.   We’ve recognised that we’re not going to get young people flocking to attend 2 hour long local assembly meetings (though they’re very welcome if they want to come!) so we’ve launched an online survey.

We’d like to spread this survey as widely as possible, and we’ll be talking to local schools and youth groups about how best to make that happen.   But if you’re young and live, work, or study in Lee Green, then please do fill it in – and if you’re not, please do pass the link on to someone who is!

Rain certainly didn’t stop the play at the Lee Manor School Summer Fair.   I didn’t win the beer I wanted, but the raffle raised well over £1,000 and we did win a jigsaw on the tombola – so can’t complain!

Plus there were teachers getting soaked in the stocks, a coconut shy and loads of other activities.   I particularly enjoyed the Pimms stall and the cake stall

Next week it’s People’s Day on Saturday – details here - but if you’re organising a similar event and would like me to give it a plug here, on the community notice board at Hither Green Station and in our E-Focus email newsletter, then give me a shout.  

As you might be aware from his recent letters in The Mercury and the News Shopper,  local resident Paul Taylor is collecting memories of the two St. Winifred’s Schools in Lee Green.   All Paul’s brothers and sisters went to St. Winifred’s, his youngest sister has been school secretary there for more than 20 years, and his late mother played the piano at the school for ballet classes.

Paul’s keen to hear from any ‘old girls’ or ‘old boys’ who have memories, stories or photos of their time at St. Winifred’s that they’d like to share – anything that would capture a moment or a memory.   Both schools are included – infants and juniors (the school split in 1969 when Effingham Road became the infants and the new school on Newstead Road became the Juniors – just as it is today).

Paul’s about halfway through his project – it’s not an official history, just a collection of what you have to offer.   How it will turn out depends very much on what Paul receives from local people, so I promised him I’d mention his project here and in E-Focus.

You can email memories to Paul’s colleague Terry at terencegibbs {at} onetel(.)com or send them via post to Paul at: Paul Taylor, Flat 2, Syon Lodge, 132 Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, SE2 OHY. 

This sounds like a really interesting project, so if you can help Paul out, please do!