Goose Green councillors - how can we help?

[TE44]

Thanks James, i expect London boroughs like many places are using different methods of dealing with homeless people, which may depend on how able different boroughs, towns or citues can actually offer somewhere.

I was wondering James if Southwark council are considering using allotments. I realise individual people manage there own space, would it be possible to write to people and ask if there are utilising there allotment, and if not allowing it to be used at this time. A team of volunteers can then come together, (at a distance). It seems crazy to have land that has been used for growing not being used. Thanks.

[jamesmcash]

Dear all

TE44 - great suggestion, let me look into it.

Further, here's some more information about what the council is doing.

1. Southwark Council COVID-19 community grants - details of this ?390,000 fund are now up on line (well ahead of schedule!). The grants will be made each month until July 2020. We are offering four tiers of grant at up to ?500, ?1,000, ?5,000 and ?10,000. Applications for this month need to be in by 13 April. Details here: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/public-health/for-the-public/coronavirus/southwark-covid-19-community-grants

2. Southwark Community Response Fund - has also been set up by a group of local funders, with pooled contributions from United St Saviour?s, Guy?s and St Thomas? Charity, Peter Minet Trust and Southwark Charities, a total of ?455,000 has been earmarked for Southwark communities across the whole borough. Details here: https://www.ustsc.org.uk/news/southwarks-community-response-to-covid-19/

3. Resident newsletter - If the council has your email address then you should have received a newsletter from the council. In case you haven't got it, you can see it here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKSOUTHWARK/bulletins/284477f

Finally, it was great to join Mutual Aid groups across Goose Green and Dulwich Hill in a coordinating Zoom call last night. Photo here: https://twitter.com/mcash/status/1245785627531988992

Best wishes

James

[jamesmcash]

Hi all

An update from the council about waste collection and personal finance.

Waste and recycling collections

We are hugely grateful to our committed staff and agency workers who have helped us maintain our regular waste and recycling collections. We know some councils have already scaled back their service, but we really want to continue to deliver these services for residents. We have had nearly 100% staff coverage all week, and as a result we are currently collecting waste and recycling from well over 99% of Southwark homes on their scheduled date.

Some residents will have experienced missed bin collections, often as a result of agency workers not knowing their patch as well as our normal staff. If these can be reported on our website, it will help us fulfil the collection and improve training to avoid it being repeated.

To help allow staff to focus on delivering this service under considerable pressure, it would really help if councillors and residents could do the following if they want to report a missed collection:

? If your collection is missed please check our website (https://www.southwark.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/public-health/for-the-public/coronavirus/impact-on-council-services/impact-of-coronavirus-on-bin-collections) for any updates on services in case anything has changed.

? Keeping calls and emails to the council to a minimum will help us focus on delivering a good service, and supporting our most vulnerable residents. If you need to report a missed collection please do so on our website (https://www.southwark.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/general-household-waste/report-a-missed-collection)

If you log the request online, it appears automatically on the refuse vehicle?s computer within about 15 minutes, and saves a huge amount of work for the team. This is a far more effective way of resolving an issue than emailing officers or members enquiries, reduces duplication of effort, and normally results in a much quicker resolution for the resident, so your support with this is much appreciated.

Universal Credit and financial support

There has been a significant increase in the number of people applying for Universal Credit (UC) as the current pandemic has worsened, with nearly a million people applying nationally in the past fortnight. We expect that in Southwark another 2,000 council tenants will claim UC in the next six months. We are asking any residents experiencing difficulty in making payments to the council to contact the council (https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-tax/covid-19-help-and-advice) and we will try to help.

The council has also published information about what is available including financial support and food access if a family are unable to afford food, or if they are self-isolating due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and unable to access food. This can be found on the council?s coronavirus public web pages (https://www.southwark.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/public-health/for-the-public/coronavirus) and food access 9https://www.southwark.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/public-health/for-the-public/coronavirus/food-access) webpage.

Citizens Advice have compiled useful advice for those who are struggling to meet their energy, water and mortgage bills as a result of the current crisis. This is available on the Citizens Advice website (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/if-you-cant-pay-your-bills-because-of-coronavirus/).

Best wishes

James

[jamesmcash]

Dear all

TE44 - I have looked into the allotments issue but I am afraid I have not got very far. As you may know, allotments are managed by independent voluntary organisations, not the council, so we do not have much information about 'real' usage rates. Sorry that this is not more helpful.

Best wishes

James

[TE44]

Thanks James, I thought allotments were managed by the council. I expect people are

Still able to use them and there has been no instruction from council about usage.

There are many contradictions in what is being asked of people, regards covid19. Would people be permitted to tend there allotments? Would this be seen as a necessity? I also find it strange that police officers observing and implementing rules around social distancing are not following these instructions. Thanks James.

[ontheRye]

I am an allotment holder on the Stuart Rd, Nunhead, site, and I can vouch that most plots are being worked on, the lockdown and good weather has in fact accelerated activity as traditionally Easter is usually associated with the start of the growing period

I think it was Michael Gove on breakfast tv the morning after the lockdown was announced who was asked exactly this question and who confirmed that working on allotments was absolutely fine as social distancing is inherent due to the size of each allotment

Our allotment site is managed by a committee of members, the land being owned and leased from Thames Water, as it is on top of the Victorian underground reservoir, which along with its twin under the Acquarius golf course, are still very much in use being connected to the London ring main

I think you?ll find that each allotment site is run by its members, rather than the council, and you would have to contact each one to see whether they would consider your idea

[colville09]

Dear James and TE44, speaking as a sharer on an allotment on Rosendale allotments please be assured that the committee there has put in place strict guidelines about social distancing and working the plots. It has made provision for handing washing and shut down any communal areas like the shop and tool hire. It has also self organised a system for using any plot that cannot for any reason be used by the plotholder so there would be no reason for a call for volunteers to grow food on them or they are going to waste in any way. The allotments are extremely well run by passionate, responsible people. As for people using their plot during this time, even apart from excercise, growing good food while keeping a distance, the allotments are vital for their users mental health. Our allotments, hundred years old this year, are on land leased by Dulwich College. I think that there are few council owned allotment sites because they sold them off years ago which was tragic.

[TE44]

Colville, On the rye, thanks for your response, I'm so happy to hear your allotments are being tended. Absolutely agree, they are vital not only for produce but for peoples wellbeing. I was unsure if access had been stopped.thank you again for letting us know.

[jamesmcash]

Hi all

Speaking of well-being, the council has updated various parts of its website in relation to the crisis:

a. Mental health: www.southwark.gov.uk/takingcareofyourmind

b. Staying active: www.southwark.gov.uk/movemore

c. Eating well: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/public-health/for-the-public/healthy-eating

d. Stop Smoking: www.southwark.gov.uk/smoking

e. Safe sex: www.southwark.gov.uk/safesex

f. Move more - www.southwark.gov.uk/movemore

g. Taking care of your mind - www.southwark.gov.uk/takingcareofyourmind

h. Healthy eating www.southwark.gov.uk/healthyeating

i. Infectious diseases and vaccinations - www.southwark.gov.uk/infectiousdiseasesandvaccinations

j. Healthy weight - www.southwark.gov.uk/healthyweight

Please pass these on to anyone you think might benefit from them.

Best wishes

James

[Spartacus]

Hello James

Can you look into the issue that road works are now scheduled by Conway starting the first week of May along Crystal Palace Road (resurfacing) and Barry Road (crossing update and pavement improvements at the area around Barry's Off licence )

These works will obviously require parking restrictions and people to move their cars but no consideration is given to people who are shielded with cars who can't physically get out to move them for another 2 months.

Whilst the quieter roads may be an ideal time for Conway to work, it's not a great time for residents.

Can these "non essential" works not be postponed until the Vulnerable groups no longer be required to stay home to shield them from the virus.

I look forward with eager anticipation to your response as this is possibly being repeated all over Southwark at the moment and as someone elected to represent people (not Conway) then I hope you can stop this blatant stupidity from continuing

[Penguin68]

I notice Camberwell Old Cemetery is still firmly locked. Clearly assurances from the council and councillors are worth, well, you can fill that in yourself.

[FallingDownMoment]

Nunhead still closed today too.

[jamesmcash]

Hi all

They are opening on Saturday.

Best wishes

James

[heartblock]

Hi James, can someone sort out the alarm that has been going off for more than a week near Deventer Crescent?

[jamesmcash]

Hi heartblock

I have been looking into this but has so far not been able to work out where the noise is from - it's difficult during the lockdown. Do you have any idea?

Best wishes

James

[seenbeen]

Spartacus Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hello James

>

> Can you look into the issue that road works are

> now scheduled by Conway starting the first week of

> May along Crystal Palace Road (resurfacing) and

> Barry Road (crossing update and pavement

> improvements at the area around Barry's Off

> licence )

>

> These works will obviously require parking

> restrictions and people to move their cars but no

> consideration is given to people who are shielded

> with cars who can't physically get out to move

> them for another 2 months.

>

> Whilst the quieter roads may be an ideal time for

> Conway to work, it's not a great time for

> residents.

>

> Can these "non essential" works not be postponed

> until the Vulnerable groups no longer be required

> to stay home to shield them from the virus.

>

> I look forward with eager anticipation to your

> response as this is possibly being repeated all

> over Southwark at the moment and as someone

> elected to represent people (not Conway) then I

> hope you can stop this blatant stupidity from

> continuing

Yes, can you?

[Rockets]

There were notes being left on cars on Woodwarde Road today by Conway workers after they put no parking signs along the road to commence works. I do hope everyone was able to move their cars before they were forcibly removed. All seems a bit bizarre and badly thought-out given the current circumstances.

[first mate]

Is this about keeping Conway in pocket?

[jamesmcash]

Hi all,

I will look into the question of road works during the lockdown and get back to you when I know. The suggestion that I might be prioritising Conway's profits is... bizarre.

Meanwhile, I have a couple of updates regarding children and young people.

Laptops and equipment for Southwark children and young people

If a child or young person is unable to access and complete work that has been set online because they do not have access to a laptop (or other essential equipment) then they can apply for an immediate grant from the Newcomen Collett Foundation. Once accepted, the foundation will aim to get the laptop to the student within 4 days.

The fund is only available for Southwark students up to age 25. There are only a limited number of laptops available, so please reach out to those young people and families in most need.

Parents or students have to apply online, and will need access to an internet/broadband service. They will need a school, college or university teacher/lecturer to support their application and to countersign a supporting form that will need to be sent off along with the main application form. To apply, the child/ parent should go to online applications (https://marshalls.flexigrant.com/areadetail.aspx?farea=1121) then follow the link to 'grants to individuals'. Alternatively, the school or university can apply via this link on their behalf.

Free school meals

Schools and families eligible for free school meals have now converted over ?20 million worth of vouchers into supermarket gift cards (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance). Vouchers can either be sent directly to the family, or to the school.

The DfE are temporarily extending free school meal eligibility to include some children of groups who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to a maximum household earnings threshold of ?7,400 per annum.

These groups are:

? children of Zambrano carers

? children of families with no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights

? children of families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction

The DfE are also temporarily extending eligibility to children of a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

The extension, effective immediately and lasting until the schools reopen fully, is temporarily in place to support families facing difficulties due to the current unique circumstances. It covers both children who are attending school and children who are at home.

Best wishes,

James

[first mate]

Hi James,

Thanks for the update on the good work you are doing to support children and young people in the borough.

I have copied a post from another thread on the Healthy Living Streets consultation and further proposals for road and traffic changes based on Council statistics. The post below challenges Council figures about an alleged rise in traffic around Melbourne Grove.

A number of us would be interested in your take on this? Have the Council made mistake?

? During the consultation period our Councillors claimed that the traffic "through the junction", had increased by 47% in recent years. This claim featured very prominently in the 2 public meetings I attended and was used as a justification for the urgent need to support the Councils' proposals.

I have been doing some research this weekend and learned from one of the Southwark traffic engineeers that the 47% increase came from Southwark's "Annual Report on delivery of the Transport Plan 2017\18" (page 12, Fig 6) The data is from Southwark's annual traffic surveys, ie the number I quoted in my original post.

So, the 47% increase "through the junction" is acually comparing traffic going North\South on Dulwich Village, not "through the junction" . And, most importantly, the base period is Sep 2017. when the council was carrying out the reconfiguration works to the DV junction. Can you remember the huge queues and disruption caused by the building works and the 4 way traffic lights. no wonder traffic volumes were lower in that period.? This is therefore a totally false comparison; if you compare 2018 with 2016, 2015 or 2014 you can see that the traffic has actually decreased and is part of a continuing downwards decrease.

This is quite frankly outrageous. Councillors have quoted highly misleading statistics to justify a scheme that will have a massive impact on residents in Dulwich. It is possible, though unlikely, that this was a genuine mistake but even so, it totally undermines the credibility of the phase 3 consultation process.

If our councillors or their supporters (Exdulwicher, TownleyGreen?) can explain the 47% increase as other than a temporary blip caused by massive disruption in the base period I would be interested to hear their reasons.

[Penguin68]

Further to the above - Southwark seems to be set on quite expensive alterations to road layouts and rules. Now I recognise this forms part of Southwark Council's avowed war against private vehicles, other than as a source of revenue through parking charges - but it is likely that whatever distortions and half truths your fellow councillors in relevant departments are pretending to act with, all bets must now be off. Although we may anticipate traffic levels in general to start climbing once the Covid-19 crisis is over (perhaps 18 months before there is a new normality?) what that new normality will be is moot. Many companies are finding that working from home works - and we may expect to see a significant reduction in 5 day a week commutes in future - as companies save on office space costs by reducing accommodation and requiring employees to work more from home - additionally commute times will shift as people stagger their commuting far more to avoid crowds. All this will possibly lead to significant reductions in peak road usage, and hence reductions also in congestion and pollution.

The council is (obviously) strapped for cash - to spend now on something which may no longer be relevant is just wasteful, and would imply that the Council puts its political biases far above practicality or economy. Efforts should be being put on stimulation of the local economy, and support of those locally hardest hit by the virus, not on conducting a 'hate' against private motorists. We simply don't know now what the impact on 'health' - as regards continued levels of pollution will be, but health as regard mental health (and physical health) being damaged through an economic slump and local losses of employment are only too obvious. There are dragons now at our gate that clearly need slaying. And they're not driving about our streets.

[jamesmcash]

Hi both

Thanks first_mate for raising this, and thanks too Penguin68 for your colourful comments.

I am afraid I do not have an immediate answer for this. As you know, the Health Streets project is centred in Dulwich Village ward, and led by those councillors. Those quotes and claims attributed to local councillors were not made by me. I will alert Cllrs Newens and Leeming to this thread and try to find out more.

Best wishes

James

[Abe_froeman]

.

[slarti b]

jamesmcash Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>. As you know, the Health Streets project is centred in Dulwich Village ward, and led by those

> councillors. ...

James, I think Goose Green ward contains Area A of the consultation, ie bounded by Townley Rd, Lordship Lane and East Dulwich Grove. The Dutch Estate is, I think also part of Goose Green Ward but isn't shown as part of Area A.

If so, I am surprised you are not familiar with the details of the OHS consultation since it could potentially have a significant effect on roads in that area, diverting traffic which can no longer go through Dulwich Village along EDG, Melbourne Grove, Matham Grove and Lordship Lane.

Are your constituents aware of what is being propoased and have they been consulted? In particular those living on the West half of the Dutch Estate whose only exit and entrance, Greendale, will become a school street. Also they will not be able to exit onto Townley Road during the restricted hours.

[jamesmcash]

Hi slarti_b

Yes you're right, Area A is in Goose Green but the vast majority of the project is in Dulwich Village, hence the Dulwich Village councillors leading on it. In fact, until Phase 3 began most of Area A was not even considered part of the project. Before the lockdown began we Goose Green councillors were engaging with residents in the Melbourne Grove area on the issue (e.g. https://twitter.com/mcash/status/1231554193275736065). We had planned to expand this further but this crisis has obviously thrown a spanner in the works there. I agree that it's important that residents in Goose Green are able to shape the project.

That said, I do not know off the top of my head the details behind that specific statistic, and have never used it myself. Hence, the need to check.

Best wishes

James