Those of us going to our various Local Assemblies show our commitment to them, but the biggest cheer at the second Sydenham Assembly meeting was when someone stood up to say it was headed for becoming just another talking shop. As a member of a group of co-ordinators for this Assembly – whose job is to plan meetings – I want us to achieve something more than this.

The main purpose of Assembly is to identify local priorities and decide on the spending of a £10,000 Localities Fund , with maybe around £100,000 of Mayor’s Fund spending later for projects across a wider area – but details are not yet decided. In Sydenham we have made a start on the priorities, but all the costings presented to our co-ordinators’ group were far in excess of the Localities Fund amount. So we came up with an alternative idea of Sydenham Cultural Festival. This is described as a Fun Day on Cllr Best’s online poll , with some additional options thrown in.

This shows some problems the Assemblies are likely to meet. First, £10,000 is clearly not enough, especially since the other side of Sydenham Hill, the Dulwich Community Council, meeting monthly, disposes of over £300,000 annually. Second, large meetings, held just four time a year, are not an effective way of working up practicable proposals. Assemblies will want to know more about how their views are interpreted, and the extent that their members will be involved in developing projects.

The Council’s approach to local assemblies is set out in a document “Lewisham Local Assemblies” Lewisham Local Assemblies which includes an Implementation Guide and an Outline Charter. The charters imply that the Assemblies will hold the Council to account for various detailed targets, but I cannot see how this will be made to work. The Implementation Guide also frequently says what the Assemblies will do, as if they have no choice to do things in ways that they might think better. Another problem is the focus on Wards, which cuts across natural channels of community expression. The Council recognises that Wards will differ, but sees the Assemblies as establishing “a universal approach for all….Wards”. But what if one approach does not suit all?

Local Assemblies are an attempt at community engagement, but it will take a lot of patient work to make them work.

Tim Lund.

Top priorities for Sydenham

At the second Assembly meeting on the 5 June feedback was provided on the key issues from the first meeting and then the meeting moved into themed table discussions. Each table came up with several priorities and initiatives that needed costing. These were discussed by the Sydenham Co-ordinating Group and will be fed back at the next Assembly meeting on Thursday 4 September – 7pm at the Naborhood Centre. The top five priorities for Sydenham are:

• Improving community safety by tackling anti-social behaviour
• More activities for children and young people including a youth centre
• Traffic improvements for Sydenham Road
• Vibrant high street
• Environmental improvements including cleaner street and action on flytipping.

The main purpose of Assembly is to identify local priorities and decide on the spending of a £10,000 Localities Fund , with maybe around £100,000 of Mayor’s Fund spending later for projects across a wider area – but details are not yet decided. In Sydenham we have made a start on the priorities, but all the costings presented to our co-ordinators’ group were far in excess of the Localities Fund amount. So we came up with an alternative idea of Sydenham Cultural Festival. This is described as a Fun Day on Cllr Best’s online poll , with some additional options thrown in.

This shows some problems the Assemblies are likely to meet. First, £10,000 is clearly not enough, especially since the other side of Sydenham Hill, the Dulwich Community Council, meeting monthly, disposes of over £300,000 annually. Second, large meetings, held just four time a year, are not an effective way of working up practicable proposals. Assemblies will want to know more about how their views are interpreted, and the extent that their members will be involved in developing projects.

The Council’s approach to local assemblies is set out in a document “Lewisham Local Assemblies” Lewisham Local Assemblies which includes an Implementation Guide and an Outline Charter. The charters imply that the Assemblies will hold the Council to account for various detailed targets, but I cannot see how this will be made to work. The Implementation Guide also frequently says what the Assemblies will do, as if they have no choice to do things in ways that they might think better. Another problem is the focus on Wards, which cuts across natural channels of community expression. The Council recognises that Wards will differ, but sees the Assemblies as establishing “a universal approach for all….Wards”. But what if one approach does not suit all?

Locality Fund - £10k

The current proposals include a Sydenham Cultural Festival, more youth activities, and hanging baskets for the high street. These proposals will be presented at the next Assembly meeting as well as costings for other initiatives such as a fido pooper scooper, green waste collection, street wardens and free lumber collection. Forest Hill Pools Consultation. As reported in the last edition of the Sydenham Society News we are consulting with local groups and residents on the redevelopment of Forest Hill pools. The Council has considered the submission from the Sydenham Society for the retention of Louise House and the Superintendents House in front of the pools and has met with members of the Society and provided written feedback on why the proposal is not feasible and could not be included in the public consultation.

Cllr Chris Best
Sydenham Ward and Cabinet Member for Community Services
Tel: 8659 6445
Cllr_Chris.Best@lewisham.gov.uk.

The first Perry Ward Assembly held in June was very well attended with over 100 local residents present. Due to constructive engagement, and the help of the facilitator, the evening went very well, with everyone discussing the issues affecting them in Perry Vale, and what improvements they would like to see. Road traffic and transport topped the list of local concerns, and Lewisham’s Head of Transport, Darien Goodwin, has been asked to attend the next meeting on 2nd October.

For the bloggers amongst you and for those who like to discuss and debate local issues over the internet, Cllr John Paschoud has created the loveperryvale website. It is definitely not council run, and it is designed to be non-political. It can be found http://loveperryvale.ning. href="http://loveperryvale.ning.com", title = "loveperryvale" here, and already has quite a few registered users. Perry Vale councillors will be using it to provide information on Perry Vale issues, council meetings that we have attended and other appropriate subjects.

On 27 July we had a great street party to celebrate the creation of the “Stanstead Strip”, a piece of land that has been transformed by local residents, and will be maintained by residents, in the part of Stanstead Road outside Travis Perkins and Shannon’s Garden Centre. The road was closed off from traffic for the afternoon! And with the great food and drink provided it could not have been a better example of a local neighbourhood event.

Cllr Susan Wise
Perry Vale Ward and Cabinet Member for Customer Services
Tel: 8699 6520

Summer is traditionally quite a quiet time for council business, but this year we’re busy keeping an eye on a number of hot issues in Forest Hill. With the consultation about the future of the Forest Hill Pools site underway, to be supplemented with a public meeting at 7pm on August 21st at the Forest Hill Methodist Church and Centre on Normanton Rd, local residents and leisure services users have the opportunity to influence the composition and look of the new facility on this historic site. I hope that everyone will take the opportunity to participate in the consultation, and to impress upon the council the importance of getting a modern leisure and community facility - including two pools - that sustains the architectural heritage of the current buildings..

The redevelopment plans for Horniman Museum and Gardens move slowly on, with the Trust exploring funding options that will enable it to realise the vision that is has been discussing with local residents and civic groups. There is hope that some work might start next year; in the meantime, we’re keen to make the most of the Horniman’s willingness to get involved in Forest Hill and be part of regenerating the town centre.

A number of initiatives planned for the town centre this year are supported by the Localities Fund and the Horniman, including hanging baskets and preparatory work for a mural on the side of the WH Smiths building by the station, which we hope will soon be visible to all. The station itself has recently received ‘Oyster’ style ticket barriers, and we’ve been working with local groups and other councillors to resolve with Southern Railways concerns about disabled access and off peak access to the station on the Perry Vale side.

Lastly, we’re pleased that the Forest Hill Ward Assembly got off to a good start – the next meeting is in September and I hope all interested residents will come along and get involved!

Cllr Alex Feakes
Forest Hill Ward