The Environment - Southwark Council Assembly on January 25

[Community Cohesion]

Hello all. My name is Michael Cleere and I'm community cohesion co-ordinator with Southwark Council. I work in the community engagement division and among other things we're all about community empowerment and grassroots community engagement. It's our way of promoting local democracy - bearing in mind that 'democracy' is all about 'people power' (demos - kratos).

I've just joined the forum and wanted to tell you about the next Southwark Council Assembly on January 25, 2012. It will include a themed debate on 'the environment', focusing on these four questions:

How can we promote energy efficiency - not just in buildings owned by the council - but in all properties?

How can we further encourage people to recycle?

How can we encourage more sustainable travel, especially cycling and walking?

Given the huge reductions in the council?s budget this year and in the coming years, how can the council further protect the public realm, Southwark?s parks and green spaces by encouraging people to respect and care for their local environment?

We're conscious that many members of the forum will have a special interest in the issues raised and wanted to alert you to the various ways in which you can contribute to this important public discussion:

? Raise a public question by Thursday 19 January. Email [email protected] or call Lesley John on 020 7525 7228.

? Come to the assembly at 6pm for the hour-long informal session before the main meeting. This will include promotion of various environmental messages.

? Listen to councillors debating the theme during the main meeting from 7pm.

Deputations

There's also usually an opportunity for community groups to bring a deputation to council assembly, but this is limited to three deputations per assembly and is currently oversubscribed.

The venue

We're unable to confirm the assembly venue at this point but will be able to do so very shortly and I will update all on this mailing list as soon as we have confirmation. It will most likely be in another community-based location, as all assemblies have been since July 2011. The most recent assembly, in November 2011, was in Dulwich - at The Charter School.

Community views

You can also make a valuable contribution by sharing your views in advance of the assembly. These will be documented by us and chanelled to all councillors in advance of their themed debate, so that they are well informed of 'the voice of the people' on the matters for debate.

With this in mind, if you have any thoughts specifically on the four questions listed above, you can send your views to me by replying to this post, by asking for a telephone interview, or by meeting face to face. Unfortunately, our time frame is short at this stage and we would need to have your views by Wednesday 18 January at the latest. Your comments need not be very detailed. A few summary statements that capture your thoughts will be fine.

Useful links

Please follow these links for more detailed information on the purpose and format of council assembly, as well as some further background information:

Democracy in Southwark: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/democracy

How council assembly works: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/10058/about_southwark_council/445/how_decisions_are_made/2

Asking a public question: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/10058/about_southwark_council/353/ask_a_question

Taking a deputation: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/10058/about_southwark_council/354/taking_a_deputation

January 25 assembly: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200348/democracy_commission/2256/next_assembly

Recent assemblies: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200348/democracy_commission/2255/council_assembly_past_themes

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email or telephone and I will do all I can to help. My direct line at the council is 0207 525 5645 and my email address is [email protected]

[PeckhamRose]

I shall be working but would like to be included in a list for minutes to be sent, and would ask you send copies of minutes in to this forum. But if you can't / won't do this I shall also PM you with my email address so you can email me minutes personally. Will Jon Best Ecology Officer be there?

[Community Cohesion]

Hello. Yes - minutes of all assemblies are published and made available in various formats. Best contact for that is the council's Constitutional Team: [email protected]

I can't confirm if Jon will be there but his department - Environment - will have a great deal of input and representation.

[Community Cohesion]

I can confirm now that the January 25 Council Assembly, including the public debate on the environment, will be at Walworth Academy, Shorncliffe Road, LONDON SE1 5UJ. We'll start with an hour-long informal session from 6pm and then the main business meeting from 7. Note my carefully proofed use of the word 'public'.