My Labour colleague Cllr Sam Townend has written a letter to the South London Press, which has been printed today.
Here it is:
I WRITE in support of the abolition of the largely useless wardens scheme in Lambeth - brought in by the Lib Dem/Tories - and the Labour administration's proposed replacement with additional police community support officers.
As a new Labour councillor in a ward that was previously held by the Lib Dems (Kennington and Vauxhall), my ward has had the supposed benefit of six wardens for 18 months or so. Despite canvassing thousands of doors and going to large numbers of community meetings over the same period, neither my two ward councillor colleagues nor I have ever come across any of the six supposedly employed in my patch, nor have any residents raised any matter about them with me, other than to say that they never see them. In my area, wardens have been invisible and ineffective.
More police support officers out on the beat will in contrast make a real difference in terms of confidence of local people in their safety on the streets, and will be effective because they report to and are managed by professionals who know what they are doing. They will be accountable because their work is overseen by the safer neighbourhoods group, made up only of local residents, not by some faceless bureaucrat in the town hall (which is the way the Lib Dems always seem to want to run things). They will also importantly have powers - unlike the wardens - which are essential for their effectiveness.
I wish the Lib Dem spokesman for crime would just shut up and compare and contrast the obvious effectiveness of the proposed police-managed officers than the limp wardens scheme which it replaces.
Cllr Sam Townend, Labour Prince's ward, Lambeth council
Friday, 29 December 2006
Thursday, 28 December 2006
liberating pickled onions
Out today with enthusiastic Labour members to deliver the 2007 Streatham South Labour calendar. Every home should have one, and in Streatham South, every home will have one before the first chime of the New Year.
It’s always good exercise for the week between Christmas and New Year, and we’re confident we will get them all delivered.
It can become quite mechanical, shoving calendars in letter box after letter box, but now and again someone I know walks past and stops for a chat, or someone follows me from a few doors back to raise a problem, prompted by the calendar, which also has our surgery times on it.
My favourite encounter of the day was with an old lady in Streatham Vale who flung open her front door and shoved a large jar of pickled onions in my hand.
“Ooh, are you strong?” she asked, peering at me over her glasses.
“I, um, get by,” I replied.
“Can you open it, dear? It’s stuck fast. I’ve tried standing it in boiling water, the lot. Have a go, do, dear.”
A younger woman walked up behind the old lady.
“Come on, councillor, show us what you’re made of,” she said.
Happily, the lid twisted easily, the pickled onions were liberated and I handed the jar back to the beaming old lady, together with a calendar.
“Just goes to show,” smiled the other woman, a neighbour, “councillors do have their uses.”
Tuesday, 26 December 2006
police siege
I left home for about fifteen minutes to get a bottle of bleach and a packet of screws (I really know how to celebrate Boxing Day) and when I was walking back up the High Road, I saw that the flats where I live – Streatham Court – had been cordoned off by police.
At the back of Streatham Court there is another block called Manor Court, which was the focus of a big police operation over several hours. Walking up Leigham Avenue, I could see police vans in numbers, officers with guns, riot shields and dogs.
Having a word with one of the officers across the tapes, it seems that a man with a knife was in the process of being apprehended after a number of alarming incidents in Streatham earlier in the day.
Eventually the police moved in and captured the man in his flat. He was taken away. I have to say, I was impressed not only by the scale of the operation, but also the efficiency with which it was managed. Though I and a number of other residents had to remain outside the cordon, we were allowed back to our homes as soon as it was safe.
At the back of Streatham Court there is another block called Manor Court, which was the focus of a big police operation over several hours. Walking up Leigham Avenue, I could see police vans in numbers, officers with guns, riot shields and dogs.
Having a word with one of the officers across the tapes, it seems that a man with a knife was in the process of being apprehended after a number of alarming incidents in Streatham earlier in the day.
Eventually the police moved in and captured the man in his flat. He was taken away. I have to say, I was impressed not only by the scale of the operation, but also the efficiency with which it was managed. Though I and a number of other residents had to remain outside the cordon, we were allowed back to our homes as soon as it was safe.
Monday, 25 December 2006
Have yourself a very Streatham Christmas
I have just returned from the candlelit service at St Leonard’s Church in Streatham.
The cards are all delivered. The lights and decorations are all finally up. The Olympian goose from the butcher in Streatham Vale is waiting in the fridge for the big day. Friends will be arriving for breakfast, and staying through the day.
Christmas is finally upon us in Streatham, and I would like to take this opportunity of wishing you a very happy and restful one.
The cards are all delivered. The lights and decorations are all finally up. The Olympian goose from the butcher in Streatham Vale is waiting in the fridge for the big day. Friends will be arriving for breakfast, and staying through the day.
Christmas is finally upon us in Streatham, and I would like to take this opportunity of wishing you a very happy and restful one.
Friday, 22 December 2006
Lib Dems: wedded to weak wardens
It’s a tragedy that the warden scheme in Lambeth was set up by a soft-on-crime Lib Dem council. It could have been so much better, but now it is just too late.
I like the idea of wardens, where they are affordable, properly tasked and equipped with the latest enforced powers. And where they have a discernible effect on crime levels.
But in Lambeth, wardens were deliberately given no enforcement powers, no real uniform and more or less left to their own devices to “engage” with the community. Labour has inherited an expensive white elephant, which had the Lib Dems won back in May, would have been rolled out at ever greater expense and no tangible crime-fighting benefit.
Rather than throw good money after bad, Labour will be ceasing the warden schemes and investing in extra PCSOs, with all the enforcement powers they need for the challenge of patrolling Lambeth.
The Lib Dems are wedded to their weak wardens, and seemingly opposed to extra police. I find myself having a bit of a barney in the local press with Cllr Julian Heather, the bête orange of the Streatham Lib Dems.
This is a letter he dashed off to the South London Press last week expressing anger at the decision we are set to make a Cabinet meeting in January to cease the council warden scheme and spend the money on extra policing instead. Bear in mind that crime and the fear of crime are residents’ number one concerns in this borough.
“Our wardens are invaluable”
Dec 18 2006
LAMBETH Labour's crime spokesman, Councillor Mark Bennett, states crime wardens are a waste of time and money ("Weak and powerless wardens may be scrapped", South London Press, December 12).
He also criticises our wardens for limited powers - established by his own Labour Government. In Streatham, Labour has announced plans to slash the successful St Leonards street wardens to just two, although rumours persist that it wants to scrap warden schemes altogether.
Yet, at a recent crime working party, which Cllr Bennett did not attend, a senior police officer commended our "very good wardens scheme" and added that the police would not be able to cope without them. He further praised the Streatham wardens for their invaluable work with local youth and expressed concern that the Streatham and Norwood police areas had been underfunded for years.
This seems to underscore the original intention of the wardens as eyes and ears, relaying valuable intelligence to police. They are also a visible presence and do a lot of community support work. Labour would do well to stop politicising crime prevention measures with tricky motions to council and tough talk and start listening to residents and police when they say that crime wardens play a positive and supportive role in our communities.
Cllr Julian Heather, Lib Dem member, Streatham Wells ward
Here is my reply.
“No need for wardens ... “
Dec 22 2006
COUNCILLOR Julian Heather's hatred of Labour shows no sign of abating (Letters, December 15).
Nor must it - he embodies the ghastly mess the Lib Dems made of running Lambeth council, including the expensive £3million botch they made of council warden schemes.
Cllr Heather criticises my absence at a recent meeting of the Streatham crime working group. It regularly clashes with the borough-wide community police consultative group, where I represent Lambeth council, and until that clash is resolved I am unable to attend. This month, I was at a community policing meeting in Cllr Heather's ward, which neither he nor his two Lib Dem ward colleagues attended. I then attended an important update for the Streatham Hub stakeholders, where again Lib Dem councillors were entirely absent. So I will accept no lectures from Cllr Heather.
I must affirm that wardens are "a waste of time and money" - as they are currently operating. The safety of Lambeth residents is paramount, and to deploy millions of pounds on schemes that are a nice idea but show little crime-fighting benefit is not a serious or effective use of public money.
The Lib Dems, who voted against Labour's antisocial behaviour legislation, typically chose to withhold Labour's tough new enforcement powers from wardens. Nor were they criminal record-checked to the correct standard to enable police to share information. Their role in community engagement has been welcomed, but every football tournament, tea party or seaside outing takes them off the streets they should be patrolling.
There are better ways to provide patrolling services, and Labour will shortly be making a decision on a stronger way forward. We will bear Cllr Heather's outburst in mind.
Cllr Mark Bennett Cabinet member for community safety, Lambeth council
And here is a letter from a resident who has decided to enter the fray, and who happily seems to agree with me.
RESIDENTS much prefer the extra police for every neighbour-hood provided by the Mayor of London to patrol our streets than paying for ridiculous Lambeth wardens who were hardly ever seen. Liberal Democrat councillor Julian Heather is misguided to defend the wardens, whom his council recruited, as all the evidence shows the police have a better chance of deterring crime.
The council wardens stopped no one because they were poorly trained and ill-equipped. They never worked times of day when antisocial behaviour was at its height. And they failed to connect with police command.
No wonder these won't be missed. The general public has greater confidence in a squad of recognisable police officers who have the power of arrest.
Philip Bray-Wilson, Park Hill Clapham
I like the idea of wardens, where they are affordable, properly tasked and equipped with the latest enforced powers. And where they have a discernible effect on crime levels.
But in Lambeth, wardens were deliberately given no enforcement powers, no real uniform and more or less left to their own devices to “engage” with the community. Labour has inherited an expensive white elephant, which had the Lib Dems won back in May, would have been rolled out at ever greater expense and no tangible crime-fighting benefit.
Rather than throw good money after bad, Labour will be ceasing the warden schemes and investing in extra PCSOs, with all the enforcement powers they need for the challenge of patrolling Lambeth.
The Lib Dems are wedded to their weak wardens, and seemingly opposed to extra police. I find myself having a bit of a barney in the local press with Cllr Julian Heather, the bête orange of the Streatham Lib Dems.
This is a letter he dashed off to the South London Press last week expressing anger at the decision we are set to make a Cabinet meeting in January to cease the council warden scheme and spend the money on extra policing instead. Bear in mind that crime and the fear of crime are residents’ number one concerns in this borough.
“Our wardens are invaluable”
Dec 18 2006
LAMBETH Labour's crime spokesman, Councillor Mark Bennett, states crime wardens are a waste of time and money ("Weak and powerless wardens may be scrapped", South London Press, December 12).
He also criticises our wardens for limited powers - established by his own Labour Government. In Streatham, Labour has announced plans to slash the successful St Leonards street wardens to just two, although rumours persist that it wants to scrap warden schemes altogether.
Yet, at a recent crime working party, which Cllr Bennett did not attend, a senior police officer commended our "very good wardens scheme" and added that the police would not be able to cope without them. He further praised the Streatham wardens for their invaluable work with local youth and expressed concern that the Streatham and Norwood police areas had been underfunded for years.
This seems to underscore the original intention of the wardens as eyes and ears, relaying valuable intelligence to police. They are also a visible presence and do a lot of community support work. Labour would do well to stop politicising crime prevention measures with tricky motions to council and tough talk and start listening to residents and police when they say that crime wardens play a positive and supportive role in our communities.
Cllr Julian Heather, Lib Dem member, Streatham Wells ward
Here is my reply.
“No need for wardens ... “
Dec 22 2006
COUNCILLOR Julian Heather's hatred of Labour shows no sign of abating (Letters, December 15).
Nor must it - he embodies the ghastly mess the Lib Dems made of running Lambeth council, including the expensive £3million botch they made of council warden schemes.
Cllr Heather criticises my absence at a recent meeting of the Streatham crime working group. It regularly clashes with the borough-wide community police consultative group, where I represent Lambeth council, and until that clash is resolved I am unable to attend. This month, I was at a community policing meeting in Cllr Heather's ward, which neither he nor his two Lib Dem ward colleagues attended. I then attended an important update for the Streatham Hub stakeholders, where again Lib Dem councillors were entirely absent. So I will accept no lectures from Cllr Heather.
I must affirm that wardens are "a waste of time and money" - as they are currently operating. The safety of Lambeth residents is paramount, and to deploy millions of pounds on schemes that are a nice idea but show little crime-fighting benefit is not a serious or effective use of public money.
The Lib Dems, who voted against Labour's antisocial behaviour legislation, typically chose to withhold Labour's tough new enforcement powers from wardens. Nor were they criminal record-checked to the correct standard to enable police to share information. Their role in community engagement has been welcomed, but every football tournament, tea party or seaside outing takes them off the streets they should be patrolling.
There are better ways to provide patrolling services, and Labour will shortly be making a decision on a stronger way forward. We will bear Cllr Heather's outburst in mind.
Cllr Mark Bennett Cabinet member for community safety, Lambeth council
And here is a letter from a resident who has decided to enter the fray, and who happily seems to agree with me.
RESIDENTS much prefer the extra police for every neighbour-hood provided by the Mayor of London to patrol our streets than paying for ridiculous Lambeth wardens who were hardly ever seen. Liberal Democrat councillor Julian Heather is misguided to defend the wardens, whom his council recruited, as all the evidence shows the police have a better chance of deterring crime.
The council wardens stopped no one because they were poorly trained and ill-equipped. They never worked times of day when antisocial behaviour was at its height. And they failed to connect with police command.
No wonder these won't be missed. The general public has greater confidence in a squad of recognisable police officers who have the power of arrest.
Philip Bray-Wilson, Park Hill Clapham
Tuesday, 19 December 2006
Lib Dems and Tories threaten libraries
Just as some dogs have an irrational hatred of cyclists and joggers, there must be something about opposition parties and libraries. The Liberals want to bulldoze Streatham Library and now the Tories want to starve Upper Norwood Library of resources.
Upper Norwood Library is run jointly by Croydon and Lambeth councillors. The decision-making committee is made up of 2 Labour (Lambeth) and 6 Tories (Lambeth and Croydon).
The Croydon Tories don't want to fork out £60k, as Labour Lambeth has done, to balance the budget. Consequently staff will have to be made redundant. Recently Lambeth's Tories voted with their Croydon cronies for the redundancies.
My Labour colleague, Cllr David Malone, abstained, arguing rightly that Lambeth's Tories should be putting pressure on their Tory friends in Croydon to fork out for this vital community resource.
But did they? No. They voted for cuts. For all their talk about standing up for amenities in Norwood, when push comes to shove, they voted to cut an amenity. Not that push comes to shove much between Tories – think back-scratching, back-slapping and a bit of back-sliding.
Shame on them. And most shame on the Chair of the Norwood Area Committee, who bangs on about the neglect of Norwood and democratic deficits and a whole load of other haughty hogwash. He sat with his Croydon friends and voted against the interests of Norwood.
Now that they have protests on their hands (one took place today I gather), it will be interesting to see how long the Lambeth Tories can hold the Croydon line before they flip-flop and try to blame Labour for what is a purely Tory cut.
Upper Norwood Library is run jointly by Croydon and Lambeth councillors. The decision-making committee is made up of 2 Labour (Lambeth) and 6 Tories (Lambeth and Croydon).
The Croydon Tories don't want to fork out £60k, as Labour Lambeth has done, to balance the budget. Consequently staff will have to be made redundant. Recently Lambeth's Tories voted with their Croydon cronies for the redundancies.
My Labour colleague, Cllr David Malone, abstained, arguing rightly that Lambeth's Tories should be putting pressure on their Tory friends in Croydon to fork out for this vital community resource.
But did they? No. They voted for cuts. For all their talk about standing up for amenities in Norwood, when push comes to shove, they voted to cut an amenity. Not that push comes to shove much between Tories – think back-scratching, back-slapping and a bit of back-sliding.
Shame on them. And most shame on the Chair of the Norwood Area Committee, who bangs on about the neglect of Norwood and democratic deficits and a whole load of other haughty hogwash. He sat with his Croydon friends and voted against the interests of Norwood.
Now that they have protests on their hands (one took place today I gather), it will be interesting to see how long the Lambeth Tories can hold the Croydon line before they flip-flop and try to blame Labour for what is a purely Tory cut.
Friday, 15 December 2006
IDS and the pink vote
It comes as no surprise to learn that former Tory leader and born-again social justice crusader Iain Duncan Smith has a problem with LGBT people.
The Independent diary tells us today that a former staffer recalls ‘the pink vote’ was a delicate subject in the quiet man’s office:
“He used to get quite ratty. We once asked him to sign a letter supporting a Gay Pride event in Manchester. He lost his temper, screwed up the letter and threw it against his office wall. Another time we were discussing gay rights in a service station. He got so irate and thumped his fist against the table, catapulting a plate of food into someone’s lap. I don’t know why he got so touchy. Maybe it was due to his army days.”
This from a man who was telling us the other day, in the context of Conservative family policy:
“I don't think the gay stuff is anything to do with this because it's irrelevant,” and that same-sex couples do not "register on the Richter scale of how to bring up children."
So, if you thought the Tories they are a-changing, think again. They ain’t.
Duncan Smith visited Brixton recently – it was a no media event, though not, I suspect, by choice.
The Independent diary tells us today that a former staffer recalls ‘the pink vote’ was a delicate subject in the quiet man’s office:
“He used to get quite ratty. We once asked him to sign a letter supporting a Gay Pride event in Manchester. He lost his temper, screwed up the letter and threw it against his office wall. Another time we were discussing gay rights in a service station. He got so irate and thumped his fist against the table, catapulting a plate of food into someone’s lap. I don’t know why he got so touchy. Maybe it was due to his army days.”
This from a man who was telling us the other day, in the context of Conservative family policy:
“I don't think the gay stuff is anything to do with this because it's irrelevant,” and that same-sex couples do not "register on the Richter scale of how to bring up children."
So, if you thought the Tories they are a-changing, think again. They ain’t.
Duncan Smith visited Brixton recently – it was a no media event, though not, I suspect, by choice.
Tuesday, 12 December 2006
Lib Dem nerds’ paradise
To Streatham Town Centre Forum at St Leonard’s Church this evening to hear Labour’s deputy leader Cllr Jackie Meldrum explain the plans she has developed for better community engagement and for the replacement of Area Committees.
In Lambeth the Area Committees, as introduced by the Lib Dems, have turned out to be little more than talking shops for councillors. They are poorly attended and what work they have financed has been poorly publicised. They are an extra layer of bureaucracy that cost much and deliver little. They have also lessened the effectiveness of community-owned structures, like the Streatham Town Centre Forum.
So we are replacing them, with town assemblies, which with have much less of a councillor bias and more of a whole community focus. They are also planned to be much more representative of Lambeth’s diverse residents, rather than the same faces or “usual suspects” as one Lib Dem at this evening’s meeting called them. Meetings will be themed around one or two big issues rather than the overcrowded, underwhelming agendas the Area Committees tend to have – effectively ending the nerds’ paradise which the Lib Dem councillors favour, tending to the nerdist persuasion as they do.
The reaction at the Town Centre Forum was mixed, partly because the plans are at an early stage, and partly because some of the presentation tended towards the well-meaning but off-putting gobbledegook beloved of officers whose plans are at an early stage.
Some concern was expressed about what would happen to the kind of work currently being done by the Area Committees. The idea is that none of the work would be lost. In any case, I can imagine the new assemblies being able to achieve more without the hand-wringing and flip-flopping of the Lib Dems. If the Streatham Area Committee experience is anything to go by, the work has happened at nothing like the level or pace the Lib Dems would have people believe.
In Lambeth the Area Committees, as introduced by the Lib Dems, have turned out to be little more than talking shops for councillors. They are poorly attended and what work they have financed has been poorly publicised. They are an extra layer of bureaucracy that cost much and deliver little. They have also lessened the effectiveness of community-owned structures, like the Streatham Town Centre Forum.
So we are replacing them, with town assemblies, which with have much less of a councillor bias and more of a whole community focus. They are also planned to be much more representative of Lambeth’s diverse residents, rather than the same faces or “usual suspects” as one Lib Dem at this evening’s meeting called them. Meetings will be themed around one or two big issues rather than the overcrowded, underwhelming agendas the Area Committees tend to have – effectively ending the nerds’ paradise which the Lib Dem councillors favour, tending to the nerdist persuasion as they do.
The reaction at the Town Centre Forum was mixed, partly because the plans are at an early stage, and partly because some of the presentation tended towards the well-meaning but off-putting gobbledegook beloved of officers whose plans are at an early stage.
Some concern was expressed about what would happen to the kind of work currently being done by the Area Committees. The idea is that none of the work would be lost. In any case, I can imagine the new assemblies being able to achieve more without the hand-wringing and flip-flopping of the Lib Dems. If the Streatham Area Committee experience is anything to go by, the work has happened at nothing like the level or pace the Lib Dems would have people believe.
Monday, 11 December 2006
Fahrenheit 451 in Streatham
If you’ve read Ray Bradbury’s novel or seen Truffaut’s film, you will know that 451 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature at which books burn.
Truffaut’s 1966 film is now being remade, though why I don’t know - it's a classic about a dystopian future where firemen start fires in order to burn books, which have been made illegal, as a way of controlling free thought.
It appears the pointless Lambeth Lib Dems are trying to audition for roles in the pointless movie remake.
They have controversially endorsed a scheme to destroy the beautiful architecture of Streatham Library, a building with a fine classical frontage which has served the people of Streatham since it opened in 1890, funded by a combination of the rates and a generous gift from the sugar magnate Sir Henry Tate, Streatham resident and the man behind the Tate Galleries.
The Streatham Post has reported the Lib Dem leader behaving with all the finesse of a wrecking ball.
“Streatham Library must be demolished” he said, and “urged residents to put their emotions aside.”
As Guy Montag, the central character of book and film says: “It's a job just like any other. Good work with lots of variety. Monday, we burn Miller; Tuesday, Tolstoy; Wednesday, Walt Whitman; Friday, Faulkner; and Saturday and Sunday, Schopenhauer and Sartre. We burn them to ashes and then burn the ashes. That's our official motto.”
Truffaut’s 1966 film is now being remade, though why I don’t know - it's a classic about a dystopian future where firemen start fires in order to burn books, which have been made illegal, as a way of controlling free thought.
It appears the pointless Lambeth Lib Dems are trying to audition for roles in the pointless movie remake.
They have controversially endorsed a scheme to destroy the beautiful architecture of Streatham Library, a building with a fine classical frontage which has served the people of Streatham since it opened in 1890, funded by a combination of the rates and a generous gift from the sugar magnate Sir Henry Tate, Streatham resident and the man behind the Tate Galleries.
The Streatham Post has reported the Lib Dem leader behaving with all the finesse of a wrecking ball.
“Streatham Library must be demolished” he said, and “urged residents to put their emotions aside.”
As Guy Montag, the central character of book and film says: “It's a job just like any other. Good work with lots of variety. Monday, we burn Miller; Tuesday, Tolstoy; Wednesday, Walt Whitman; Friday, Faulkner; and Saturday and Sunday, Schopenhauer and Sartre. We burn them to ashes and then burn the ashes. That's our official motto.”
Friday, 8 December 2006
radio interviews
I gave two local radio interviews today, one on the firm action being taken in Lambeth on kerb-crawling, and the other about our manifesto commitment for alcohol saturation zones (ie to manage the number of bars in particular areas). I enjoyed both interviews, and it was useful to be questioned at some length about these issues, whilst at the same time making very clear that community safety as a whole is Labour’s top priority in Lambeth.
Monday, 31 July 2006
the people's plan
This evening’s Cabinet was, as ever, comradely and constructive, with entertainment provided by a trio of Lib Dems, led by the Leader of the Lib Dem group, who made a real arse of himself over our People’s Plan (also known, in managerial and insomniac circles, as the Corporate Plan – not the name I would choose for a really ambitious plan of action for Lambeth’s people, including things like delivering decent homes, expanding school places, massive regeneration, anti-crime initiatives, action to promote equality, lifting people out of poverty and offering better youth services).
We’re all aware of his enormous passion for scoffing, but his high-pitched insistence that there is nothing in the plan about value for money seemed to suggest he hadn’t read the thing quite as thoroughly as he could have done. As my colleague Cllr Sally Prentice gently pointed out, the first of our three priority outcomes, stated prominently in the plan, is “delivering high quality services that focus on individuals’ needs and represent value for money.” Despite laughter around the room, he continued to shrill insistently that value for money doesn’t rate a mention.
The other two Lib Dem councillors who bothered to turn up also managed to make spectacles of themselves, one (their housing spokesman) by continuing to deny, largely through the medium of heckling, that they ever got anything wrong with housing, and the other declaring theatrically that he did not “recognise the chair” and that he had a democratic right to speak, he must be heard, etc, and then spouting utter drivel – most of which seemed to point the finger back at Lib Dem education and finance failures (his Leader held the finance brief during their four years of failure so was looking understandably touchy at this point – what was all that about value for money?). This last Lib Dem is the sort of councillor who turns up to meetings, makes what he thinks is a grand populist intervention and then sweeps out grandly, with everyone left unimpressed as the door creaks shut and wondering why he bothered to turn up. Because we share the same surname, I am always worried that the tripe he talks will be ascribed to me.
3 Comments »
Displaying results 1 to 3 out of 3
Steve said,
Fri, 4 Aug 2006 - 9:47 AM
They are just an example of what happens when the Lib Dims hopeless mismanagement is called to account by the electorate. Having failed in their four years in control they are now reduced to carping from the sidelines.
There is perhaps a lesson in this that some in our own party should learn. Personally I prefer to be in power, locally or nationally, but some would seem to enjoy the irresponsibility of opposition more.
Sarah Smith said,
Wed, 2 Aug 2006 - 3:46 PM
I don't think any Liberal could possibly be confused with your good self, councillor Bennett. Why don't they shut up after the embarrassing, nay, disastrous tenure at Lambeth? Were there any Tories there? Are there in fact, any left??
Alan Melville said,
Kennington
Wed, 2 Aug 2006 - 8:27 AM
Your description is spot on Mark. I was at the meeting and every time a Liberal spoke I was wondering how the hell they got in four years ago. Never again I say!
It was good to see so many Labour councillors at the meeting too and making really strong contributions. I'm proud Lambeth has a Labour council with big plans.
We’re all aware of his enormous passion for scoffing, but his high-pitched insistence that there is nothing in the plan about value for money seemed to suggest he hadn’t read the thing quite as thoroughly as he could have done. As my colleague Cllr Sally Prentice gently pointed out, the first of our three priority outcomes, stated prominently in the plan, is “delivering high quality services that focus on individuals’ needs and represent value for money.” Despite laughter around the room, he continued to shrill insistently that value for money doesn’t rate a mention.
The other two Lib Dem councillors who bothered to turn up also managed to make spectacles of themselves, one (their housing spokesman) by continuing to deny, largely through the medium of heckling, that they ever got anything wrong with housing, and the other declaring theatrically that he did not “recognise the chair” and that he had a democratic right to speak, he must be heard, etc, and then spouting utter drivel – most of which seemed to point the finger back at Lib Dem education and finance failures (his Leader held the finance brief during their four years of failure so was looking understandably touchy at this point – what was all that about value for money?). This last Lib Dem is the sort of councillor who turns up to meetings, makes what he thinks is a grand populist intervention and then sweeps out grandly, with everyone left unimpressed as the door creaks shut and wondering why he bothered to turn up. Because we share the same surname, I am always worried that the tripe he talks will be ascribed to me.
3 Comments »
Displaying results 1 to 3 out of 3
Steve said,
Fri, 4 Aug 2006 - 9:47 AM
They are just an example of what happens when the Lib Dims hopeless mismanagement is called to account by the electorate. Having failed in their four years in control they are now reduced to carping from the sidelines.
There is perhaps a lesson in this that some in our own party should learn. Personally I prefer to be in power, locally or nationally, but some would seem to enjoy the irresponsibility of opposition more.
Sarah Smith said,
Wed, 2 Aug 2006 - 3:46 PM
I don't think any Liberal could possibly be confused with your good self, councillor Bennett. Why don't they shut up after the embarrassing, nay, disastrous tenure at Lambeth? Were there any Tories there? Are there in fact, any left??
Alan Melville said,
Kennington
Wed, 2 Aug 2006 - 8:27 AM
Your description is spot on Mark. I was at the meeting and every time a Liberal spoke I was wondering how the hell they got in four years ago. Never again I say!
It was good to see so many Labour councillors at the meeting too and making really strong contributions. I'm proud Lambeth has a Labour council with big plans.
Thursday, 27 July 2006
gas and water
It’s repellent to see British Gas shooting prices up today, with the expectation that the consumers – often people who can least afford even a tiny rise in prices – are expected to foot the bill for business failures. In Britain we pay more for gas than mainland Europe.
At the same time it’s surely morally wrong to be doling out money to shareholders. It often seems the utilities are the only industries where this kind of behaviour happens on such a scale and yet goes unchecked.
On a smaller scale, in my ward Thames Water appears to be intent on tipping any remaining goodwill literally down the drain. I’ve had an eleventh hour email from a “Community Liaison Executive” giving me a few days notice that Thames Water is planning to do something major in one of the busiest roads in the ward, Eardley Road. They tell me, in blandese, that they will be “tackling leakage, replacing the Victorian water pipes and finding and fixing leaks. We are also changing the way we manage the complex network of pipes that deliver water to your taps.” This will apparently cause inconvenience, which I take to mean they will be ploughing up the road, though they don’t say so.
2 Comments »
Displaying results 1 to 2 out of 2
Maxine Foster said,
Maida Vale
Wed, 9 Aug 2006 - 4:13 PM
Couldn't agree more. And as for Thames Water - give me strength!
Maxine
Angelina Marriott said,
essex
Thu, 3 Aug 2006 - 7:28 PM
If British Gas had not been privatised, it would not be doling out money to shareholders. We are now paying the price for the sale of national assets. The theory of it creating competition and inturn improving service and keeping prices down has proved to be untrue.
At the same time it’s surely morally wrong to be doling out money to shareholders. It often seems the utilities are the only industries where this kind of behaviour happens on such a scale and yet goes unchecked.
On a smaller scale, in my ward Thames Water appears to be intent on tipping any remaining goodwill literally down the drain. I’ve had an eleventh hour email from a “Community Liaison Executive” giving me a few days notice that Thames Water is planning to do something major in one of the busiest roads in the ward, Eardley Road. They tell me, in blandese, that they will be “tackling leakage, replacing the Victorian water pipes and finding and fixing leaks. We are also changing the way we manage the complex network of pipes that deliver water to your taps.” This will apparently cause inconvenience, which I take to mean they will be ploughing up the road, though they don’t say so.
2 Comments »
Displaying results 1 to 2 out of 2
Maxine Foster said,
Maida Vale
Wed, 9 Aug 2006 - 4:13 PM
Couldn't agree more. And as for Thames Water - give me strength!
Maxine
Angelina Marriott said,
essex
Thu, 3 Aug 2006 - 7:28 PM
If British Gas had not been privatised, it would not be doling out money to shareholders. We are now paying the price for the sale of national assets. The theory of it creating competition and inturn improving service and keeping prices down has proved to be untrue.
Wednesday, 26 July 2006
pigs in lipstick
What’s all this about “pigs in lipstick”? It seems a little ungallant of Douglas Alexander to be speaking in such terms about the Tories, but he seems to be making a valid point about a party whose leader talks about change as if it has already happened, when in fact his party is still the same old raddled right wing rag bag.
I shall be gallant. In Lambeth, the Tories seem to be far from being pigs in lipstick. Sheep would be nearer the mark. The new intake have yet to make much impression, so we don’t know if in their spare time they are hugging hoodies and visiting glaciers and weeping for the planet at dinner parties in Notting Hill, or even Gipsy Hill.
One of them looks uncannily like my neighbour upstairs, but he isn’t. Whenever he speaks in the council chamber, my eyes tend to wander up to the plaster cherubs above, my mind wandering far away too. When I look back at him, after moments in contemplation of Edwardian music hall baroque, I always feel a momentary confusion that my neighbour from upstairs is addressing council. It keeps happening and it can be quite unnerving.
3 Comments »
Displaying results 1 to 3 out of 3
Cllr Mark Bennett said,
Streatham
Wed, 2 Aug 2006 - 9:05 AM
Jason and Martin
Thanks for the comments. On Cameron's hugging of hoodies, let's just say I doubt the Tories will be bothering to embrace the hoodies of Streatham. Let's face it, it's a transparent ploy to win votes over from the Lib Dems, who are soft on thugs and soft on drugs. There must come a tipping point when the reactionaries in the Tory party, who have mostly stayed silent up to now, will start to ask what's going on. Cue the dismantling of the facade and out roll the Daily Mail Daleks.
On the comments of the Tory councillor in Brighton, I'm saddened but not surprised. In Lambeth, around this time last year, a Tory councillor wrote a letter to the South London Press comparing gay men to "sex offenders and other criminals".
The Tories do equality when they think it will win votes, not because it's a matter of principle; when they think it will lose votes, it doesn't take Mystic Meg to predict howls of "political correctness gone mad" and calls for the reintroduction of Section 28.
Which is why it's so important that Labour wins the next election.
Martin said,
Fri, 28 Jul 2006 - 4:01 PM
The Tories havn't changed a bit, Cameron might like to try and be something different from previous Tory leaders but the rest of the party is still the same old nasty party it always was. A Tory councillor in Brighton was recently overheard saying he believed homosexuals were paedophiles, nasty right wing bigot. That sadly is the true face of the Tory party. Be warned, Cameron may like to be different but the Tory party is still full of these idiots. Imagine if they were allowed back in to govern with people like that representing them.
Jason said,
London
Fri, 28 Jul 2006 - 3:54 PM
Hi, I was wondering how Cameron's 'Hug a Hoodie' campaign was going down on the streets of Streatham!?
I shall be gallant. In Lambeth, the Tories seem to be far from being pigs in lipstick. Sheep would be nearer the mark. The new intake have yet to make much impression, so we don’t know if in their spare time they are hugging hoodies and visiting glaciers and weeping for the planet at dinner parties in Notting Hill, or even Gipsy Hill.
One of them looks uncannily like my neighbour upstairs, but he isn’t. Whenever he speaks in the council chamber, my eyes tend to wander up to the plaster cherubs above, my mind wandering far away too. When I look back at him, after moments in contemplation of Edwardian music hall baroque, I always feel a momentary confusion that my neighbour from upstairs is addressing council. It keeps happening and it can be quite unnerving.
3 Comments »
Displaying results 1 to 3 out of 3
Cllr Mark Bennett said,
Streatham
Wed, 2 Aug 2006 - 9:05 AM
Jason and Martin
Thanks for the comments. On Cameron's hugging of hoodies, let's just say I doubt the Tories will be bothering to embrace the hoodies of Streatham. Let's face it, it's a transparent ploy to win votes over from the Lib Dems, who are soft on thugs and soft on drugs. There must come a tipping point when the reactionaries in the Tory party, who have mostly stayed silent up to now, will start to ask what's going on. Cue the dismantling of the facade and out roll the Daily Mail Daleks.
On the comments of the Tory councillor in Brighton, I'm saddened but not surprised. In Lambeth, around this time last year, a Tory councillor wrote a letter to the South London Press comparing gay men to "sex offenders and other criminals".
The Tories do equality when they think it will win votes, not because it's a matter of principle; when they think it will lose votes, it doesn't take Mystic Meg to predict howls of "political correctness gone mad" and calls for the reintroduction of Section 28.
Which is why it's so important that Labour wins the next election.
Martin said,
Fri, 28 Jul 2006 - 4:01 PM
The Tories havn't changed a bit, Cameron might like to try and be something different from previous Tory leaders but the rest of the party is still the same old nasty party it always was. A Tory councillor in Brighton was recently overheard saying he believed homosexuals were paedophiles, nasty right wing bigot. That sadly is the true face of the Tory party. Be warned, Cameron may like to be different but the Tory party is still full of these idiots. Imagine if they were allowed back in to govern with people like that representing them.
Jason said,
London
Fri, 28 Jul 2006 - 3:54 PM
Hi, I was wondering how Cameron's 'Hug a Hoodie' campaign was going down on the streets of Streatham!?
Monday, 24 July 2006
Streatham Youth Court
The title of this post is not what it seems. Let me explain. I’m having a bit of a to-do with council officers over my objection to the use of the name Charles Court for a new development off Streatham High Road.
I may be getting a bit Pooterish, but this is the gist my objection. The use of a first name for a road or any other residential development adds little to the sense of history that should inform landmark naming in Streatham. Believe it or not, Charles Court seems to be the choice of the developer based purely on the first name of a man who once owned the land.
We might as well resign ourselves to calling new developments by names such as Betty Mansions or Derek Avenue or Bill Crescent. My view is we reduce the value of street names, and ignore local history, when we opt for the easy answer.
I’ve got a list of possible names which could be used. Top of my list is Edward Neale, born in Streatham in 1805. He was a prize fighter who, boxing as Ned Neale, went by the nickname of the "Streatham Youth". He died in 1846 and is buried in West Norwood. It’s a choice that would be in line with the council’s stated policy that a connection should "have a historical connection with the area ... [and] ... be a name of a notable person who was born or lived in the area."
Now obviously, Streatham Youth Court would be confusing, so we will have to leave that one alone. But what about Ned Neale Court, or simply Neale Court?
I’m not the only councillor who has objected to Charles Court apparently, and it transpires this matter of overwhelming importance is being referred to the Streatham Area Committee in September. Since the committee is dominated 9-3 by Lib Dems I have a suspicion we will have a lengthy discussion ending in the kind of comfortable compromise the Lib Dem majority can live with – Charles Court.
I may be getting a bit Pooterish, but this is the gist my objection. The use of a first name for a road or any other residential development adds little to the sense of history that should inform landmark naming in Streatham. Believe it or not, Charles Court seems to be the choice of the developer based purely on the first name of a man who once owned the land.
We might as well resign ourselves to calling new developments by names such as Betty Mansions or Derek Avenue or Bill Crescent. My view is we reduce the value of street names, and ignore local history, when we opt for the easy answer.
I’ve got a list of possible names which could be used. Top of my list is Edward Neale, born in Streatham in 1805. He was a prize fighter who, boxing as Ned Neale, went by the nickname of the "Streatham Youth". He died in 1846 and is buried in West Norwood. It’s a choice that would be in line with the council’s stated policy that a connection should "have a historical connection with the area ... [and] ... be a name of a notable person who was born or lived in the area."
Now obviously, Streatham Youth Court would be confusing, so we will have to leave that one alone. But what about Ned Neale Court, or simply Neale Court?
I’m not the only councillor who has objected to Charles Court apparently, and it transpires this matter of overwhelming importance is being referred to the Streatham Area Committee in September. Since the committee is dominated 9-3 by Lib Dems I have a suspicion we will have a lengthy discussion ending in the kind of comfortable compromise the Lib Dem majority can live with – Charles Court.
Friday, 21 July 2006
improving Streatham Vale Park
One of the regular working group meetings this morning, monitoring the regeneration of Streatham Vale Park and chaired in no nonsense style by Keith Hill MP. Disbelief all round that the bowling pavilion has again been seriously vandalised, the immediate consequence being it was impossible to use it for our meeting.
Instead, we found a shady spot under a tree nearby and talked through progress, the main plank of which was the transfer of a pesky little strip of land at the edge of the park from Lambeth Housing to Lambeth Parks. The transfer is a saga which has been going on since I have been attending the meetings. My first duty as an elected councillor on 21 October 2005 was attending one of these meetings, and we are still discussing many of the same issues.
Hopefully, now that the bureaucratic transfer of the land from one part of the council to another has been accomplished (this piece of history was made at 8.30pm last night) we can now see the creation of a masterplan for the park. I am relieved that my ward colleague Cllr John Kazantzis (Cabinet Member for Housing) and Cabinet Member for Environment Lib Peck, urged on by me and my other ward colleague Dave Malley, have pinned the issue down to conclusion.
Being in a suit, Keith stood up throughout the meeting, while a circle of the regulars – councillors, council officers, the Friends of Streatham Vale Park - sat round him on the parched grass. Leah, the Streatham town centre manager, pointed out to me with one of her mischievous smiles that I was learning at the feet of a master.
3 Comments »
Displaying results 1 to 3 out of 3
Marc Fortuna said,
Sherwood Avenue
Wed, 31 Jan 2007 - 2:58 PM
It's good to see that finally an ellected council is working for Streatham because usually all the efforts from Lambeth is placed in brixton. I am glad I voted for you and I want to thank you for being a leader and for really representing Streatham voters.
Mark Bennett said,
Streatham
Tue, 25 Jul 2006 - 6:19 PM
Thanks for the suggestions, Richard. It may be that the pavilion could have several uses. There is already a 1 o'clock club in the park, but it would be nice to see a facility for pensioners, perhaps a cafe, and a library would be a welcome addition - bringing people into the park and its lovely environment to enjoy it in a variety of ways. The more people who use the park, the safer it will feel and the fewer opportunities for vandals.
I actually raised the idea of library use to the appropriate council officer yesterday, and it appeared that it was something which had not previously been thought of.
Richard Rickitt said,
Streatham Vale
Tue, 25 Jul 2006 - 12:55 PM
Thank you for taking interest in our local park.
The re-surfacing of the tennis courts has already helped to bring new life into this under-used corner of the park - I have already seen several groups playing tennis there for the first time in years.
Sorry to hear about the mindless vandalism in the Pavillion - perhaps not surprising given its currently abandoned state. Hopefully you will find new ways to turn this building into a great resource at the heart of the immediate community - much as it was when being used by the bowls club.
Could the bowling be re-started? How about a pensioner's club, playgroup or local library?
Keep up the good work!
Instead, we found a shady spot under a tree nearby and talked through progress, the main plank of which was the transfer of a pesky little strip of land at the edge of the park from Lambeth Housing to Lambeth Parks. The transfer is a saga which has been going on since I have been attending the meetings. My first duty as an elected councillor on 21 October 2005 was attending one of these meetings, and we are still discussing many of the same issues.
Hopefully, now that the bureaucratic transfer of the land from one part of the council to another has been accomplished (this piece of history was made at 8.30pm last night) we can now see the creation of a masterplan for the park. I am relieved that my ward colleague Cllr John Kazantzis (Cabinet Member for Housing) and Cabinet Member for Environment Lib Peck, urged on by me and my other ward colleague Dave Malley, have pinned the issue down to conclusion.
Being in a suit, Keith stood up throughout the meeting, while a circle of the regulars – councillors, council officers, the Friends of Streatham Vale Park - sat round him on the parched grass. Leah, the Streatham town centre manager, pointed out to me with one of her mischievous smiles that I was learning at the feet of a master.
3 Comments »
Displaying results 1 to 3 out of 3
Marc Fortuna said,
Sherwood Avenue
Wed, 31 Jan 2007 - 2:58 PM
It's good to see that finally an ellected council is working for Streatham because usually all the efforts from Lambeth is placed in brixton. I am glad I voted for you and I want to thank you for being a leader and for really representing Streatham voters.
Mark Bennett said,
Streatham
Tue, 25 Jul 2006 - 6:19 PM
Thanks for the suggestions, Richard. It may be that the pavilion could have several uses. There is already a 1 o'clock club in the park, but it would be nice to see a facility for pensioners, perhaps a cafe, and a library would be a welcome addition - bringing people into the park and its lovely environment to enjoy it in a variety of ways. The more people who use the park, the safer it will feel and the fewer opportunities for vandals.
I actually raised the idea of library use to the appropriate council officer yesterday, and it appeared that it was something which had not previously been thought of.
Richard Rickitt said,
Streatham Vale
Tue, 25 Jul 2006 - 12:55 PM
Thank you for taking interest in our local park.
The re-surfacing of the tennis courts has already helped to bring new life into this under-used corner of the park - I have already seen several groups playing tennis there for the first time in years.
Sorry to hear about the mindless vandalism in the Pavillion - perhaps not surprising given its currently abandoned state. Hopefully you will find new ways to turn this building into a great resource at the heart of the immediate community - much as it was when being used by the bowls club.
Could the bowling be re-started? How about a pensioner's club, playgroup or local library?
Keep up the good work!
Thursday, 20 July 2006
Streatham and Stockwell
Out in the baking afternoon sunshine for a walkabout with Jill, a resident from the South Streatham Neighbourhood Watch, to carry out one of our regular audits of pavement defects, potholes, graffiti etc. We have just bid auf wiedersehen to Oliver, the chair, who has gone to live in Stuttgart. This was Jill’s first time “on the beat” and we covered Ellison, Danbrook, Hepworth and Colmer Roads. We ended up with quite a list which I will forward to the relevant parts of the council for action when I have managed to decipher my notes, which will not be easy as my pen kept drying up in the heat.
Later, after sitting in for a while on a thoughtful staff LBGT forum at the Town Hall, I went to the Community Police Consultative Group meeting in Brixton Road regarding the de Menezes shooting and implications of the CPS decision. My colleague Cllr Imogen Walker, a Stockwell councillor, was there and I sat next to her.
It was a difficult meeting with no resolution, not least because of interjections from the Green Party and Respect on the issue of Iraq, which were not particularly insightful in terms of the specific events of 22 July last year. Finding a resolution won’t be helped by the trial process which will now be gone through – rightly, of course – but I understand it means we are unlikely to see the Independent Police Complaints Commission report for another year or more.
Later, after sitting in for a while on a thoughtful staff LBGT forum at the Town Hall, I went to the Community Police Consultative Group meeting in Brixton Road regarding the de Menezes shooting and implications of the CPS decision. My colleague Cllr Imogen Walker, a Stockwell councillor, was there and I sat next to her.
It was a difficult meeting with no resolution, not least because of interjections from the Green Party and Respect on the issue of Iraq, which were not particularly insightful in terms of the specific events of 22 July last year. Finding a resolution won’t be helped by the trial process which will now be gone through – rightly, of course – but I understand it means we are unlikely to see the Independent Police Complaints Commission report for another year or more.
Sunday, 16 July 2006
a good day out
Tennis first thing, on the newly relaid courts in Streatham Vale Park. Then to the second day of the Lambeth Country Show. The sun continued to smile on Brockwell Park. I browsed for a while at various stalls and tents. Stopped off for a mystery-shopper style look at the various community safety related displays, which impressed me, then bumped into Labour colleague Cllr Paul McGlone, who was also heading for the Mayor’s marquee. It was crowded, councillors of all parties, police, clergy, others, with Cllr Liz Atkinson, this year’s Mayor, making everyone welcome, all smiles in the borough’s bling. We had a nice lunch, chatting and watching manoeuvres by the sea cadets and a display of jousting by some medieval knights, who must, verily, have been frying under their chain mail.
There was also an intriguing exercise which I can only describe as spaniel charming. Being in a roped off marquee at the side of the display ground was a bit too rarefied for my liking, so it was nice to slip away eventually and sit on the grass with everyone else. Chats later on with Tessa Jowell and Keith Hill, who were taking turns to mind the Labour Party stall. It was also enjoyable, on the spur of the moment, to go on a few of the gravity-defying fairground rides, egged on by Cllrs Dan Fitzpatrick and Christopher Wellbelove. Horizontal, perpendicular, upside down – whichever way you look at Brockwell Park, the Lambeth Country Show makes a good day out.
There was also an intriguing exercise which I can only describe as spaniel charming. Being in a roped off marquee at the side of the display ground was a bit too rarefied for my liking, so it was nice to slip away eventually and sit on the grass with everyone else. Chats later on with Tessa Jowell and Keith Hill, who were taking turns to mind the Labour Party stall. It was also enjoyable, on the spur of the moment, to go on a few of the gravity-defying fairground rides, egged on by Cllrs Dan Fitzpatrick and Christopher Wellbelove. Horizontal, perpendicular, upside down – whichever way you look at Brockwell Park, the Lambeth Country Show makes a good day out.
Saturday, 15 July 2006
Lambeth Country Show
Record attendance for this morning’s surgery, with around 30 residents passing through. I was hoping to sit outside in the sunshine but the numbers meant we were better off sitting down inside instead, where we had what amounted to an impromptu public meeting.
The main issue was a planning application which seems to have been sprung on residents at the last minute, in the inimitable way Lambeth’s Planning Department seems to operate. I had a wander down the road after the surgery to look at the proposed site for myself. It seems a ridiculously small and cramped space for the building proposed in the plans.
I jumped on a 255 bus to get from the surgery to the St Leonards church fete, where local children had just finished their parade along Streatham High Road, turning many a head and prompting many a smile in their wake. Not an everyday sight in Streatham, local children in tinselled costumes with painted faces and banners. All part of the annual revelry that is the Streatham Festival, which continues to develop with every passing year, thanks to the hard work of the many people who organise events, and the growing enthusiasm of local people who attend them, whether they are comedy nights or jazz concerts or Shakespeare in the Rookery.
Off then, on the Thameslink from Streatham to Herne Hill, to help mind the party’s stall at the Lambeth Country Show, selling books donated by party members. I had a flick through a book called Modern Political Thought, which I’ve no doubt it could claim to be when it was published in 1928. Some interesting views on Bolshevism.
Blazing hot afternoon, with thousands of people in Brockwell Park having a good time. Lambeth Country Show is a real unifier. John Whelan, leader of Lambeth’s Conservative Group, shimmered into view from nowhere, like the shopkeeper from Mr Benn, to exchange pleasantries (and a few unpleasantries about the Lib Dems) with Neil Sabharwal and myself before turning round and disappearing into the crowd, revealing the words Team Whelan on his back. I wonder if all Lambeth’s Tory councillors have to wear those.
The main issue was a planning application which seems to have been sprung on residents at the last minute, in the inimitable way Lambeth’s Planning Department seems to operate. I had a wander down the road after the surgery to look at the proposed site for myself. It seems a ridiculously small and cramped space for the building proposed in the plans.
I jumped on a 255 bus to get from the surgery to the St Leonards church fete, where local children had just finished their parade along Streatham High Road, turning many a head and prompting many a smile in their wake. Not an everyday sight in Streatham, local children in tinselled costumes with painted faces and banners. All part of the annual revelry that is the Streatham Festival, which continues to develop with every passing year, thanks to the hard work of the many people who organise events, and the growing enthusiasm of local people who attend them, whether they are comedy nights or jazz concerts or Shakespeare in the Rookery.
Off then, on the Thameslink from Streatham to Herne Hill, to help mind the party’s stall at the Lambeth Country Show, selling books donated by party members. I had a flick through a book called Modern Political Thought, which I’ve no doubt it could claim to be when it was published in 1928. Some interesting views on Bolshevism.
Blazing hot afternoon, with thousands of people in Brockwell Park having a good time. Lambeth Country Show is a real unifier. John Whelan, leader of Lambeth’s Conservative Group, shimmered into view from nowhere, like the shopkeeper from Mr Benn, to exchange pleasantries (and a few unpleasantries about the Lib Dems) with Neil Sabharwal and myself before turning round and disappearing into the crowd, revealing the words Team Whelan on his back. I wonder if all Lambeth’s Tory councillors have to wear those.
Friday, 14 July 2006
meeting with the police
Into Victoria for a meeting organised by John Roberts, Lambeth’s Independent Member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, to take stock of how Safer Neighbourhoods is working in Lambeth. Senior police officers were there, including Borough Commander Martin Bridger and Deputy Commissioner Alf Hitchcock (perfect name for a crime fighter). A good turnout of active members of Safer Neighbourhood panels across the borough made for a productive meeting.
Lots of politics is sitting in rooms discussing strategic overviews and business plans and other abstract notions, but this event was about people speaking about their experiences with the police and the council and advising us how we can best make Lambeth’s communities safer, actively tackle crime at a local level and really engage at street level.
People shared best practice – some are setting up their own websites, some are talking to other panels to avoid displacement issues, that sort of thing. We heard how things are working in individual areas and I think people took away ideas and advice to report back to their panels which they will undoubtedly put into practice. The issue of involving young people was a recurring theme. I made a number of points when I spoke to the meeting - that Lambeth needs to concentrate on providing more activities for young people, as well as involving them in Safer Neighbourhoods; also that councillors who attend panels should be as accountable as the police – we are working in partnership and that covers accountability too.
I was pleased to see Sam and Musse from the new Streatham South panel, who had made time to attend despite less than a day’s notice. As I went round the room between discussion groups, they were clearly making a full contribution.
1 Comments »
Displaying results 1 to 1 out of 1
Tamsin Morebridge said,
Birmingham
Thu, 27 Jul 2006 - 6:21 PM
I'm impressed by your commitment. I used to live in Stockwell when I worked in London - I moved away but if you can make Stockwell feel safer you are doing a good job.
Tamsin
Lots of politics is sitting in rooms discussing strategic overviews and business plans and other abstract notions, but this event was about people speaking about their experiences with the police and the council and advising us how we can best make Lambeth’s communities safer, actively tackle crime at a local level and really engage at street level.
People shared best practice – some are setting up their own websites, some are talking to other panels to avoid displacement issues, that sort of thing. We heard how things are working in individual areas and I think people took away ideas and advice to report back to their panels which they will undoubtedly put into practice. The issue of involving young people was a recurring theme. I made a number of points when I spoke to the meeting - that Lambeth needs to concentrate on providing more activities for young people, as well as involving them in Safer Neighbourhoods; also that councillors who attend panels should be as accountable as the police – we are working in partnership and that covers accountability too.
I was pleased to see Sam and Musse from the new Streatham South panel, who had made time to attend despite less than a day’s notice. As I went round the room between discussion groups, they were clearly making a full contribution.
1 Comments »
Displaying results 1 to 1 out of 1
Tamsin Morebridge said,
Birmingham
Thu, 27 Jul 2006 - 6:21 PM
I'm impressed by your commitment. I used to live in Stockwell when I worked in London - I moved away but if you can make Stockwell feel safer you are doing a good job.
Tamsin
Wednesday, 12 July 2006
local panel for local people
This evening I attended the first meeting of the Streatham South Community Panel, at St Bartholomew’s Church Hall. The panel will be scrutinising the work of Streatham South’s new Safer Neighbourhood police team, four of whom were there when I arrived. The police are raring to go.
A very good turnout from residents, with a good spread from across south Streatham and Streatham Vale. As people introduced themselves I was struck by how many had lived in Streatham, and in the same part of Streatham, for upwards of thirty, forty and fifty years.
As a mere Streatham stripling of only eight years standing, I’m proud of the people who have lived here, as they say, for “donkey’s years.” They have a real fund of stories about Streatham as it used to be, coupled in the case of this panel with a desire to take on the criminals and the vandals and make Streatham better for the future. The optimism is infectious and there is a real enthusiasm for police back on the beat. We all had a good discussion about what might be the policing priorities for the ward.
One of the residents expressed a little concern that to be properly representative, there should be some young people coming along to future meetings. Definitely. Getting the cross-section right is something to work on, but the good things are the panel has been delivered by Labour and it’s actually up and running – criminals and ne’er-do-wells beware.
2 Comments »
Displaying results 1 to 2 out of 2
Steve said,
Ipswich
Tue, 25 Jul 2006 - 4:40 PM
Glad to hear about your community panels and congratulations on taking Lambeth back. It's a shame that the Liberals and Tories running the Council here don't do much about talking to the community.
John Adams said,
Southwark
Mon, 24 Jul 2006 - 3:49 PM
Community policing has made a huge difference in my area. However I am very disappointed by my local Lib Dem Council.
They just don't want to back up local people and the local police by using the powers the government have given them to crackdown on yobs and anti social behaviour.
Friends of mine in Lambeth always are getting something through their door from their local councillors giving really useful information about how they are working with the police to do what is needed.
Anything in Southwark? Nothing!
A very good turnout from residents, with a good spread from across south Streatham and Streatham Vale. As people introduced themselves I was struck by how many had lived in Streatham, and in the same part of Streatham, for upwards of thirty, forty and fifty years.
As a mere Streatham stripling of only eight years standing, I’m proud of the people who have lived here, as they say, for “donkey’s years.” They have a real fund of stories about Streatham as it used to be, coupled in the case of this panel with a desire to take on the criminals and the vandals and make Streatham better for the future. The optimism is infectious and there is a real enthusiasm for police back on the beat. We all had a good discussion about what might be the policing priorities for the ward.
One of the residents expressed a little concern that to be properly representative, there should be some young people coming along to future meetings. Definitely. Getting the cross-section right is something to work on, but the good things are the panel has been delivered by Labour and it’s actually up and running – criminals and ne’er-do-wells beware.
2 Comments »
Displaying results 1 to 2 out of 2
Steve said,
Ipswich
Tue, 25 Jul 2006 - 4:40 PM
Glad to hear about your community panels and congratulations on taking Lambeth back. It's a shame that the Liberals and Tories running the Council here don't do much about talking to the community.
John Adams said,
Southwark
Mon, 24 Jul 2006 - 3:49 PM
Community policing has made a huge difference in my area. However I am very disappointed by my local Lib Dem Council.
They just don't want to back up local people and the local police by using the powers the government have given them to crackdown on yobs and anti social behaviour.
Friends of mine in Lambeth always are getting something through their door from their local councillors giving really useful information about how they are working with the police to do what is needed.
Anything in Southwark? Nothing!
Tuesday, 11 July 2006
first entry
Caught the 118 bus this morning to be at the 409 Project in Stockwell Road. I was there with my colleagues Cllr Neil Sabharwal and Cllr Kingsley Abrams for a visit by Valerie Amos.
Valerie arrived to find out more about diversionary activities for young people in Lambeth. The 409 project suffered in recent years from a failure by the Lib Dem Tory administration to put youth provision on a stable footing, or see it as a matter of urgency. Earlier in the year, before the May elections, the 409 nearly closed completely.
Giving young people positive activities to steer them away from offending is one of Labour’s top priorities in Lambeth. The youngsters who use the centre – and it really is an anchor for many of them – were really interesting to listen to, with lots of stories about the problems of growing up in Lambeth. We watched a DVD the 409ers made recently, which was fascinating.
One statement from their DVD struck me in particular: “Often we find ourselves in tricky situations where decisions have to be made about what we do. The more informed about what we do the more we think about consequences of our decisions, the better decisions we are able to make.”
Wise advice, whether for you’re 17 or 37, whether you’re picking your life up to go to college, or trying to pick up other people’s lives as a councillor.
After an hour of catching up with casework in the stuffiness of the Town Hall I cross the road and settle down in the stalls at the Ritzy to see a screening of the Speak Out Film Project, a powerful film examining the experience of former drug addicts from the BME community. They tell their own stories, which are deeply affecting.
The clear message for the council and the various agencies we work with is that many more people need and want to be helped into treatment.
I was there just to see and learn. My colleague Cllr Lorna Campbell, who is Deputy Cabinet Member for Inclusion and Tackling Poverty, was still visibly moved by the film as she rose to speak. This is some of what she said:
“This kind of project is so important. I’m positive that throughout the process of making this production, so much has been learnt by those involved, staff and all of those associated with the project. But the importance is that it is a living project, this material will go on to educate and train so many people whether they be service users, schools, youth and community workers and professionals within the fields of substance misuse and community safety.”
The emphasis of the event was recovery from drugs. But it was also a BME event and it was clear that people were curious to hear from one of Lambeth’s new BME councillors. Lorna added: “As a Labour party in Lambeth we made a commitment to improving representation from the BME Community. Before the election there were only 4 councillors from BME backgrounds in the whole council. Now Labour has 12 councillors from BME backgrounds, and 14 councillors in total.”
Comments:
Simon Smith said,
Vauxhall
Mon, 24 Jul 2006 - 11:45 AM
Mark
Congrats on getting reelected in May and chucking out the Lib Dems. They so utterly deserved it. Your story about disadvantaged youngsters strikes a chord - I was offered drugs TWICE on saturday afternoon just round the corner from my place - and after a while you get a bit sick of it. Good luck on the council and get stuck into the issues as well as having the odd prod at the Tories....
Valerie arrived to find out more about diversionary activities for young people in Lambeth. The 409 project suffered in recent years from a failure by the Lib Dem Tory administration to put youth provision on a stable footing, or see it as a matter of urgency. Earlier in the year, before the May elections, the 409 nearly closed completely.
Giving young people positive activities to steer them away from offending is one of Labour’s top priorities in Lambeth. The youngsters who use the centre – and it really is an anchor for many of them – were really interesting to listen to, with lots of stories about the problems of growing up in Lambeth. We watched a DVD the 409ers made recently, which was fascinating.
One statement from their DVD struck me in particular: “Often we find ourselves in tricky situations where decisions have to be made about what we do. The more informed about what we do the more we think about consequences of our decisions, the better decisions we are able to make.”
Wise advice, whether for you’re 17 or 37, whether you’re picking your life up to go to college, or trying to pick up other people’s lives as a councillor.
After an hour of catching up with casework in the stuffiness of the Town Hall I cross the road and settle down in the stalls at the Ritzy to see a screening of the Speak Out Film Project, a powerful film examining the experience of former drug addicts from the BME community. They tell their own stories, which are deeply affecting.
The clear message for the council and the various agencies we work with is that many more people need and want to be helped into treatment.
I was there just to see and learn. My colleague Cllr Lorna Campbell, who is Deputy Cabinet Member for Inclusion and Tackling Poverty, was still visibly moved by the film as she rose to speak. This is some of what she said:
“This kind of project is so important. I’m positive that throughout the process of making this production, so much has been learnt by those involved, staff and all of those associated with the project. But the importance is that it is a living project, this material will go on to educate and train so many people whether they be service users, schools, youth and community workers and professionals within the fields of substance misuse and community safety.”
The emphasis of the event was recovery from drugs. But it was also a BME event and it was clear that people were curious to hear from one of Lambeth’s new BME councillors. Lorna added: “As a Labour party in Lambeth we made a commitment to improving representation from the BME Community. Before the election there were only 4 councillors from BME backgrounds in the whole council. Now Labour has 12 councillors from BME backgrounds, and 14 councillors in total.”
Comments:
Simon Smith said,
Vauxhall
Mon, 24 Jul 2006 - 11:45 AM
Mark
Congrats on getting reelected in May and chucking out the Lib Dems. They so utterly deserved it. Your story about disadvantaged youngsters strikes a chord - I was offered drugs TWICE on saturday afternoon just round the corner from my place - and after a while you get a bit sick of it. Good luck on the council and get stuck into the issues as well as having the odd prod at the Tories....
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