Community Cohesion

"the borough's four MPs" should read "the borough's three MPs".

But are we talking 'cohere' in the sense of 'forming a whole' or being 'logically consistent'? Both, I would hope. Meanwhile, this is how the figure of ?230,000 for this year breaks down in approximate figures (bearing in mind that any cumulative savings will make up for any overspend elsewhere, while ensuring that the overall amount budgeted for is not exceeded. We also need to bear in mind that we will have to apply reductions of between 5 and 15% in line with savings across the council in the next financial and municipal years): Staffing (2.7 posts), administration, and on costs: 78,500 Transport (incorporating security, driver, and vehicle provision): 67,000 International links (Southwark is twinned with towns in Germany and France): 3,000 Insignia: 2,500 Equipment hire: 1,200 Catering: 1,500 Publicity & marketing: 5,200 Mayor's allowance: 20,000 Petty cash: 2,000 Civic ceremonials: 35,000 Security in the context of transport costings refers to the secure transport of the mayoral chain of office and other insignia. These items are of very significant historical and financial value. Civic ceremonials are core activities in the life of any borough with a civic mayor. They include such borough-wide events as Remembrance Sunday, Holocaust Memorial Day, Civic and Honorary Awards, The Mayor's Charity Ball, and Armed Forces Day. The logistics around organising these events are quite complex and therefore costly. For example, we had what was probably the biggest ever Southwark civic and honorary awards ceremony last May when almost 50 people (with their friends and families) were honoured. This year's recipients included Sir Michael Caine, Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC (a Dulwich resident), the borough's four MPs, and a host of other residents who have also made very significant contributions to life in Southwark. Our Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at the Imperial War Museum is another example and is one of the largest in London each year. Plans are at an advanced stage for the 2013 ceremony where the keynote speaker will be Baroness Julia Neuberger DBE (Senior Rabbi at the West London Synagogue). Others are the Southwark Peace Breakfast at which Terry Waite, the former Beirut hostage, was our most recent keynote speaker, and The F Word exhibition and conversation on November 8 about 'alternatives to revenge and responses to wrong-doing': http://www.southwarkcarers.org.uk/news/the-f-word-exhibition-and-performance/ http://www.southwark.gov.uk/events/event/2203/ All of these civic events were either initiated and/or organised by the civic office, and they are but a few examples of the many wide-reaching events which the mayor's office in Southwark initiates or manages each year, as well as co-ordinating the Mayor or Deputy Mayor's attendance, by invitation, at events across the borough and beyond. The mayor plays an important civic ceremonial role by representing Southwark at London-wide events including The Lord Mayor's Parade on New Year's Day and the many other annual gatherings of civic heads from across the capital (including a large amount this year associated with the Diamond Jubilee as well as the Olympics and Paralympics). As an indication of how many engagements the Mayor of Southwark fulfills each year, Councillor Lorraine Lauder MBE completed over 900 during her term of office from May 2011 to May 2012, and the current Mayor is on target to complete similar during this municipal year. I am aware of three ribbon-cutting events in that time. The vast majority of engagements completed by the Mayor each year are at the instigation of people in the borough who invite the Mayor to attend and speak as First Citizen, and the rest are important civic events organised by the mayor's office and described in some detail above. I hope this additional information helps to inform your responses to the online survey. Please also feel free to contribute your thoughts here. These will also be gathered and documented in the same way that we have for other online consultations of this kind - what I tend to think of as 'vox populi' or grassroots community engagement. (Although with the increasing popularity of internet-based social interaction I may need to think of re-phrasing that as webbed community engagement) These are some recent examples of the 'finished product' that went to all councillors ahead of council assembly debates, and I propose to write up views expressed for the civic review in a similar verbatim fashion: http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/s26012/120120%20Community%20Views%20for%20Council%20Assembly%2025%20January%202012.pdf http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/s27702/Community%20views%20on%20the%20themed%20debate.pdf

I have publicly expressed my appreciation of this and similar community websites many times. Some years ago I attended a presentation at the Government Office for London (now no longer in existence) about the value of websites such as this. I clearly recall the Top 10 UK community websites being listed (in terms of their popularity) and The East Dulwich Forum was then at No.3. Ever since I have made use of any opportunity I had to let colleagues and others know about this and have in my own way tried to promote the good work it does, not least of all in terms of promoting community cohesion. I recognise your summary of community cohesion as one written by me and I would be very happy to elaborate on it at some other point. However, my role in Southwark Council is also about promoting and managing our civic engagement programme and it is in this context that I have initiated this particular discussion thread. As for the other points you raise: I am part of the council's community engagement division, the Mayor of Southwark and her office are fundamentally committed to community engagement, and that's where the connection lies. This review is not about the Mayor of Southwark having 'too much power'. Our mayor has the same amount of influence as any other civic head in any other London borough. It is an apolitical position with much potential to do good. With this in mind, we are keen to develop the civic, ceremonial, and representational roles of the mayor and would be very interested in hearing how residents of Southwark think this might be done. The review panel will have its own ideas but it also needs to take your views on board. My job is to ensure that they are supplied with a cross section of public opinion. I'm very pleased to say that after just one week we have received almost 100 completed online surveys and we are very grateful for this too. This is one of several ways in which we are gathering and documenting community views. The process began in November 2012 and will continue until February 2013. Other means include focus groups and 'vox populi' conversations. Finally, I repeat my offer to have a discussion face to face or by telephone with you or any other forum user and the relevant contact details are in my signature.

Thanks. Given your insight, I think I'll let it be and continue to add a signature after each 'community cohesion' posting.

dulpostcardpat - I submitted a request to the website last March asking for guidance on how to name change but received no reply. In the meantime, you will note that I am signing with my full name, job title, direct line, and mobile number. As for the rest of your message, I would be more than willing to discuss face to face or by telephone.

Hi James, it's not true to say that the budget for the Mayor of Southwark is ?250,000. The total budget for the civic office in Southwark is just under ?230,000 and that's approx 0.02% of the total budget for the borough. That percentage needs to be read carefully as it may seem at first glance as being 2%. It is in fact a tiny fraction of 1%. As an illustration it compares to 0.0002p in ?1. The mayor is entitled to a personal allowance for his/her legitimate expenses incurred while carrying out the essential duties of the office. Computedshorty - which meetings are you referring to when you say 'twelve of a possible fifteen'? Southwark's mayor is a civic mayor as opposed to a directly elected (by the electorate) mayor with executive powers, such as applies in Hackney and Lewisham for example. This means that the review cannot result in any extension of the mayor's power in terms of executive decisions. Logging off now for Christmas but will respond to any other messages from Dec 27.

Hello everyone, Southwark Council is currently undertaking a review of its civic functions and the role of the Mayor. As many of you will already know, the Southwark mayoralty is mainly a civic, ceremonial, and representational role, unlike the situation in other London boroughs such as Lewisham and Hackney where a Mayor is directly elected and exercises executive powers. The review is overseen by a panel made up of The Mayor (Chair), The Deputy Mayor, The Leader, and The Deputy Leader. To help inform their decision-making we're asking residents of the borough to complete a short survey, aimed at gauging the level of knowledge and awareness of the role of the mayor and seeking your ideas as to how the office might be developed. With this in mind, we'd very much like to gather the views of the East Dulwich Forum. This link will take you to the survey, where there's just 8 questions: https://forms.southwark.gov.uk/ShowForm.asp?fm_fid=869 The survey closes on Thursday 31 January 2013.

Hello Bawdy-Nan, This is Michael Cleere from Southwark Council. I submitted a reply earlier today but it hasn't appeared. I'm sure this is just a technical issue. We're looking for people's ideas and opinions about how we as a community - and not just the council - can help young people to realise their life ambitions, and I think these two questions are of particular relevance: What would most improve the life opportunities of young people in Southwark? How can we as a community provide them with better employment prospects? We also need to gain a better understanding of the real issues and concerns for young people here and now. We did a similar exercise for the March council assembly earlier this year in advance of its debate on the needs of older people and that delivered some striking results. You'll find a summary of the views gathered here: http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/s27702/Community%20views%20on%20the%20themed%20debate.pdf This is where your comments are very helpful.

Hello again, Confirmation that the October 17 Council Assembly will be held at Walworth Academy, Shorncliffe Road, London SE1 5UJ. We'll start with an hour-long informal session from 6pm. Join the Mayor of Southwark in celebrating the Olympic legacy and achievements by our young people. ? Sporting displays by Team Southwark winners in The London Youth Games 2012. ? Meet some of the young writers behind Southwark?s Olympic Youth Poem. ? Exhibition of Southwark?s sporting heroes. ? Various stalls promoting work and training opportunities for young people. Meanwhile, we've had a zero response here so far to our call for your views on 'opportunities for young people in Southwark, including youth employment'. Given that youth unemployment in London has soared to crisis proportions not seen for a generation, with one in four young people aged 16 to 24 unemployed, this is a critical debate and we really would appreciate your input. We need to share our usual dossier of community views with all councillors in advance of their debate on October 17 and can include your points of view if we receive them, ideally, by this Friday 28 September. This will ensure that we give councillors sufficient time to consider your views and suggestions and to take them on board. We can extend this deadline to Wednesday October 3 as a final cut off point.

Hello PeckhamRose. Thanks for your response. Council assembly on 28 March 2012 included a focus on the needs of older people. You'll find a summary of the views gathered here: http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/s27702/Community%20views%20on%20the%20themed%20debate.pdf Michael

There's another Council Assembly on the horizon. This is the full meeting of all the ward councillors in Southwark, which takes place seven times a year. We used to hold them at the council chamber in Southwark Town Hall but since July 2011 they've been hosted at community-based locations and the venue for October 17 will be confirmed soon. Meanwhile, we've started another programme of community outreach and engagement in preparation for the themed debate which on October 17 will be about 'Opportunities for young people in Southwark, including youth employment'. This is the part of the main business meeting where councillors debate an issue that's of particular relevance to people across the borough, and to ensure that they have a strong sense of 'what the people think' we compile a dossier of 'community views' which is circulated to all councillors in advance of the meeting. As part of this process, the East Dulwich Forum has proved to be a rich source of comment and opinion. So, let's have your thoughts on 'Opportunities for young people in Southwark, including youth employment'. For example: What would most improve the life opportunities of young people in Southwark? How can we as a community provide them with better employment prospects? What's troubling young people in Southwark? What's on your minds? We're keen to hear from anyone, but clearly the voice of young people themselves needs to be an integral part of this process. You can post your views here and they'll be captured that way, or you can email them to [email protected] When the process is complete we'll share a link to the final dossier of community views. Here's what the most recent one looked like, for the July 2012 assembly debate on 'Health in Southwark': http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/s29970/Community%20Views.pdf Our deadline for capturing your views is 5pm on Friday 28 September. 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; it's the only thing that ever has.' Margaret Mead, and me.

Hello all, Our next full council assembly is on the horizon and I'm keen to gather your views once again for its themed debate. This time the focus will be on 'health in Southwark'. It will take place on Wednesday July 4 at Southwark College (Bermondsey Site). The campus is located off Jamaica Road and is less than 5 minutes walk from Bermondsey underground station. Buses: 1, P12, 47, 188, 225, 381 Address Bermondsey Centre Keetons Road London, SE16 4EE It's now become an established part of our community engagament practice to seek the opinions of residents in advance of these public debates, so that councillors are better informed of 'the word on the street'. Opinions and responses posted in discussion forums like this, or emailed directly to me, will be incorporated into a dossier of community views that will be circulated to all councillors before the assembly. Here's a couple of starter questions: What one thing could you do to improve your personal health and well-being? What one thing could your local community do to improve health and well-being in your area? I realise that these are two fairly general questions so, in terms of specifics, Southwark's four main health priorities at the moment are: Prevention or reduction of alcohol related misuse Living and coping with mental illness Working with families to improve health and wellbeing Healthy weight and exercise With these in mind: How can we best tackle alcohol misuse? How can we better respond to the needs of people with mental illnesses? How can we support families to improve their levels of health and wellbeing, especially the young? How can we promote healthy weight and exercise? We want to hear your responses to these questions and there's a number of ways in which you can let us know. You can post them here or you can email your comments to [email protected] or call me on my direct line to have a chat. The number is 020 7525 5645. Your views have become an important source of information for councillors and are becoming frequently referred to in the course of the public debate. Have a look at the community views summary from the previous themed debate to get an idea of how we record your feedback: http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=27702 Play your part There's other tangible ways in which you can play a part in local democracy and decision-making. For example, all who live and work in the borough are welcome to raise questions and take deputations to council assemblies. There are a limited number of deputations that can be accepted at each meeting so it's best to request a slot as soon as possible. To raise a question or request a deputation slot, please contact the constitutional team on 020 7525 7225 or [email protected] Members of the public are also welcome to attend council assembly. A ticketing system will operate and it's advisable to arrive in good time for the start of the meeting at 7pm as space is limited in the public gallery. The assembly will be preceded by an hour-long informal session from 6pm with a variety of stalls, presentations, and performances on the theme of 'health in Southwark'. Council assembly is the full meeting of all the ward councillors in Southwark, which takes place seven times a year. Michael Cleere community cohesion co-ordinator

Oh, I meant to add my full signature to this part of the thread. I've been trying to change my posting name but can't seem to do it. I'd prefer to publish as me rather than sit behind a banner or pseudonym. Any help?

the-e-dealer Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You are doing work on Older people but are unable > to give us an age range? Well, I'm 52 and I believe I qualify. As for my work, it involves older people, younger people, somewhere-in-the-middle people, etc. Meanwhile, the views we gathered of older people are my main interest in this particular discussion and they added a strong note of realism to last evening's debate at The Charter School.

first mate Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > CC, > > I'm sure you meant that in a good way but it > sounded pretty patronising to me. I think old age > is rather more than a state of mind- your genes > may have something to do with it for starters. It's not my personal view on aging. And it's certainly not the council's. It's just one perspective.