Why are meetings always at City Hall?
Regarding the article ‘Date set for meeting on future of police station front counters’, Southwark News, September 7, 2017.
I am surprised and disappointed that the choice of venue was not discussed with the Southwark Safer Neighbourhood Board or Southwark Police Independent Advisory Group (IAG).
That is one of the reasons these groups exist. To consult with! City Hall is not the most accessible choice for many of us in Southwark and, for some in the community, who are not used to attending such meetings, but would like to be there to make a contribution, City Hall can be an intimidating venue to attend. The location at the far end of our borough and City Hall’s tight security can be off-putting.
If the above groups had been consulted, preferred choices may have included the Camberwell Leisure Centre which is at the centre of Southwark Borough, or London South Bank University. Perhaps the large meeting room at the Imperial War Museum (situated on the Lambeth border but a Southwark venue).
Sometimes I wonder if City Hall is chosen for these events because it is located within a short walking distance to Southwark Council’s main office in Tooley Street which favours the Council and makes it easily accessible for the Council Leader and Southwark’s Ward Councillors. If this is the case, then it doesn’t bode well for community confidence.
Stephen Bourne, Southwark Police IAG
How to stop the litter bugs?
I’m pleased the government has just raised fines for littering and flytipping (of the kind being suffered by Great Suffolk Street businesses), but it won’t mean much without enforcement.
What can we do as citizens when we see something like this going on?
A common sight round SE17 are the remains of fried chicken meals being jettisoned, bones and all, from a moving car. Last time I saw this, I noted the registration but then realised there wasn’t a lot I could do.
If we are to prevent a public health crisis and vermin getting out of control in London, new mechanisms are going to be have to introduced.
What about prosecuting once multiple reports from multiple witnesses are received about a particular address or vehicle?
Andrew Schofield, Walworth
Garden Bridge – I’m puzzled!
This week some Labour activists rang my doorbell and the chap I spoke to was adamant that Neil Coyle MP was not, and had never been a supporter of the Garden Bridge, at one point going so far as to try and make me believe I was misinterpreting his support of the East London crossing with the Garden Bridge.
It must be said I’m puzzled, I thought he was pro-garden bridge.
Why would his doorsteppers says otherwise?
Could one of your readers please clarify?
Neil Evans, Elephant and Castle
World’s biggest coffee morning
Macmillan Cancer Support’s flagship fundraiser, World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, takes place on Friday 29th September and every slice of cake eaten and cup of coffee poured has the power to help change lives for people living with cancer.
The charity is asking everyone to take part, either by hosting a coffee morning or by attending one.
Last year, 7641 coffee mornings were held across the South East England region, raising £1,799,537 for the charity that provides essential support for people affected by cancer.
2017 is the 27th year of the event and with the help of fundraisers, Macmillan hopes to beat the £29.5m raised last year across the UK. This is the year that the total raised by Coffee Morning since it began will pass the £200 million mark, so we really do need everyone’s help.
For more information on Macmillan’s Coffee Morning or to get involved at home or at work, visit www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee
Farhana Chowdhury, Regional Communications Assistant for London, South East & East of England
The School Readiness Survey
Investing in the early years is crucial if we are to give our children the best start in life.
As the Family and Childcare Trust’s school readiness survey survey highlights, an increasing number of children are not school ready, which is in turn impacting on their learning as well as putting further strain on school resources.
Councils have been warning that the pressures facing children’s services are rapidly becoming unsustainable, with a combination of government funding cuts and huge increases in demand leaving many areas struggling to cope.
Councils have worked hard to protect funding for children’s services in response to this rapidly rising demand, but ongoing cuts to local authority budgets are forcing many areas to make extremely difficult decisions about how to allocate increasingly scarce resources. It is those services which aim to support families at an early stage, before issues become serious, that have seen their funding reduced as councils are forced to prioritise urgent help for children at immediate risk of harm.
Children’s services face a £2 billion funding gap by 2020, with many councils reporting that pressure on children’s budgets is now even greater than that faced by adult social care. Councils have responded by reducing costs and remodelling services, but it is clear that there are very few savings left to find without having a real and lasting impact upon crucial services that many people across the country have come to rely on.
Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board