Offer letters went out to parents of 4/5 year olds this week.  I understand that a number of parents, particularly in Lee Green and Blackheath, haven’t got the school of their choice, and have received offers of places at schools some distance away.  This of course, is a legacy of the lack of places caused by the Mayor’s decision to close Ennersdale Primary School in the first place.

My colleague Cllr Chris Maines is collecting examples so he can put together the full picture.  If you’re a parent who is dissatisfied with your offer from the Council, please do drop Chris a line at cllr_chris.maines {at} lewisham.gov(.)uk – do copy me in, too.

My colleague Cllr Sven Griesenbeck scored an important win for older people at Wednesday night’s Full Council.  The Council passed a motion proposed by Sven to remind all older residents in the borough of their entitlement to Winter Fuel Payments.

Councillors from all parties joined behind Sven’s motion calling on the Mayor to ensure that all elderly residents are aware of their entitlements, and to publicise the scheme further.  Most older residents receive these entitlements automatically, but there are a minority of people who are entitled to the payment but won’t receive it unless they apply.

Sven said, “Far too many older people die of hypothermia when they can’t afford to turn the heating up, because they either don’t know about the benefit available, or else don’t claim it. We’ve had two cold winters in a row, and this shouldn’t be something they need to worry about.”

For reference, you can find out if you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment, and apply if you need to, here.

There’s also the Cold Weather Payment, which is triggered if the temperature falls below zero for seven consecutive days.  We’ve already had one such period in Lee Green this year. Info on that payment, and a postcode search facility, here.

The one thing I’d emphasise is that these are entitlements - people who have contributed to society for so long shouldn’t be ashamed to accept or apply for what they’re entitled to.

There’s been some concern that the drama of election night might become a thing of the past, as many councils have been considering moving the election count from the traditional Thursday night slot to Friday daytime.  This has prompted a cross party campaign to ‘Save Election Night’.

If people give up their time to troop down to the Polling Station and vote, then the least they can expect is that their vote will be counted quickly and accurately. With a tight result expected nationally (and here in Lewisham), then it’s only right that votes are counted as soon as possible so we know the result.  Of course, I come from the home of speedy vote counting!

So I was pleased that on Thursday night the Council’s Elections Committee, which I chair, agreed to keep Lewisham’s general election count on election night, with a result expected early on Friday 7th May.  Counts for the Mayor of Lewisham and our 54 local councillors will take place later on Friday May 7th.

So good news, and I’m sure that – for Pete at least – it’ll be alright on the night!

Just back from a meeting at the Town Hall and was amazed at the amount of grit they’ve found to spread just outside the Civic Suite at Lewisham Town Hall.  My colleague Cllr Phil Peake from Forest Hill Ward had also noticed, and posted the pic on the right via twitter earlier today.

If anyone knows a better-gritted stretch of pavement in Lewisham, I’d be surprised!

The extensions to the Hither Green East and Old Road/Bankwell Road CPZs will begin operation on 18th January 2010.

Residents who live in the affected areas will have received an application form for permits a couple of months ago – if you haven’t filled in and returned your permit application, you need to do so now.  If you need another copy of the booklet and form, please call Eva Ashley at the Council on 8314 2080.

Residents will be aware that these zones were consulted on over a year ago.  I was told back in June that they would begin operation by the end of September.  Quite why it’s taken so long is anyone’s guess.  I asked the Deputy Mayor (who is responsible for CPZs) a formal question on this at the last Council meeting and was told then that she couldn’t provide me with a date for the start of operation.  When I asked her why there’d been such a delay she suggested that bad weather might have been responsible (I know we didn’t have the best August, but surely it wasn’t that bad?!?) She promised to get back to me with an explanation, but a fortnight on, and I’m still waiting.

Anyway, 18th January it is.

The way the design for the stained glass window for the new Northbrook School building has been approved by the Council ‘behind closed doors’ has caused a lot of controversy and ill-feeling locally.  As I wrote last week, I believe there’s a need for a written policy so that residents can understand how such decisions are made (even if they don’t agree with the decision itself!) and so that it’s clear when ‘details’ become big deals and need to be consulted on.

I promised to raise this at Council and did so last Wednesday.   My question, and the Deputy Mayor’s disappointing response is below:

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

25 NOVEMBER 2009

Question by Councillor Robson of the Deputy Mayor

Question

A recent decision made by planning officers to agree a ‘detail’ of a planning permission without further consulting residents has caused some controversy in Lee Green Ward. Having asked officers for a copy of the procedure followed in this case, I was surprised to be told that there is no written procedure for officers to follow in deciding whether such details conform to the original permission. Can Members be assured that a written policy is put in place to ensure that residents can understand the processes followed in such cases?

Reply

The question is referring to what is known as “Approval of Details” applications. These are submitted by applicants in order to discharge their obligations by way of conditions imposed on planning permissions. Such requirements normally arise in instances where fuller illustrative details or technical specifications are needed. In granting the original planning permission the principle of the development has already been confirmed, but the submission and approval of appropriate details serves to ensure that the development will be implemented to a satisfactory standard.

It is not normal practice amongst local planning authorities to notify or consult third parties on Approval of Detail applications for the simple reason that the formal consultation exercise will already have been undertaken for the original application. Indeed, Lewisham Council’s Statement of Community Involvement makes no reference to such applications.

The decision to impose particular conditions on a planning permission may sometimes be as a consequence of the stated concerns of local occupiers, and it is also important that these applications – which amount to approximately 12% of the yearly total – are dealt with as expeditiously as possible, so as not to hinder or delay developments of acceptable form. Accordingly, officers, who enjoy delegated authority by way of the Council’s Scheme of Delegation, are entrusted to use discretionary judgement to this end. There have been occasions when the committee determining the application may consider that the details of a particular issue are of such significance that they need to be referred back to them for decision. If the committee do not take this approach it is normal practice for officers to discharge the conditions under their delegated powers.

In the interests of consistency the original case officer will invariably deal with the process of discharging the terms and conditions of a planning permission. The formal approval process also requires the agreement and signature of a senior officer. With such safeguards in place I do not believe that producing a policy or guidance note as to how such submissions should be best dealt with would serve any useful purpose.

 In my supplementary question, I pressed the Deputy Mayor further, pointing out that residents have a right to understand what’s going on, and that the council also owes it to planning officers to have a policy in place that they can refer to rather than leaving them defending decisions without the benefit of a written policy to guide them.  The Deputy Mayor reiterated her belief that producing a policy or guidance note isn’t a good use of officer time. 

My own view, for what it’s worth, is that officer time spent serving residents is time well spent, and the Northbrook case shows that residents aren’t being best served by the current lack of policy.