Blackheath Assembly Minutes 05 July 2011
BLACKHEATH LOCAL ASSEMBLY
MEETING
Tuesday5July 2011 7.30pm – 9.30pm
St Matthew Academy
St Joseph’s Vale, London SE3
Record of Meeting
Item / Actions1 / Welcome, Introduction & Format of meeting
Cllr Chris Maines, welcomed everyone and went through the format of the meeting.
2 / Controlled Parking in Blackheath
The assembly heard a presentation from Malcolm Smith the Council Interim Director for Regenerationabout controlled parking in Blackheath. Malcolm began with providing responses to the issues raised at a previous assembly meeting.
- Visitors Parking charges - On the issue of parking charges particularly affecting people visiting their elderly relatives, Malcolm explained that Blackheath is served with good transport links and the Council encourages people to use other sustainable modes of transports for all their journeys. For tradesman working in the area, the visitors permit is a cheaper option costing £2.80 for up to five hours.
- In the case of resident asking for discounted parking fees, it was explained that the Council already offered free parking permits to blue badge holders living and have a vehicle registered within a CPZ area. Carers and health workers permit are also offered at a reduced price at £200 a year.
- On the question about parking arrangements pros and cons -Malcolm explained that the reason for introducing CPZ in an area are to manage competing pressures. For parking demand, the main interest to the Council is the impact parking has on factors such as congestion, carbon emission and pollutants e.t.c. Local features can have a negative impact on parking pressure commonly known as parking attractors on roads near train station, hospitals and local businesses. These parking attractors play a vital role within the CPZ design. The alternative to an all day control will be to have a limited or no control which will have a negative impact on local businesses and residents attempting to park near their home
- Operational hours e.g. Saturday – It was explained that if parking attractors exist on a Saturday in the area then parking control can be used to manage parking demands.
- What are the considering factors associated with parking – where there are attractors to an area which is causing residents an businesses severe problem then it is likely that there is need for parking control.
- Can we design our own – It was explained thatall CPZs are designed via consultation with local people who have an input into the design of a CPZ. However, as the controls / markings are implemented on a public highways controls and markings have to comply with the Department of Transport’s Traffic Signs directive. It is a requirement to have expertise of traffic and highways engineers in the detailed design and implementation.
- What do neighbouring borough do – All CPZs in all London Boroughs are designed and implemented the same way. They may have slightly different consultation procedures but they have the same characteristics.
- Training of Civil enforcement officers – Traffic warden are now referred to as Civil enforcement Officers. There is industry specific training and examination for all CEOs which consist of classroom and one to one on the street training.
- Could we have underground car park – The answer was no. Underground parking are too expensive to operate. The only organisation who can afford this are supermarket as they make large profits.
- Fees and Charges – Council has had to response to pressures from Central Government to make savings in the region of £33m this year. All area of service has been affected. Reference was made to the Council recent public consultation exercise on savings where people said they would prefer fee rises rather than see front line customer services cuts. It was mentioned that therise in parking charges recently put in place is cheaper than the London average.
Malcolm informed that the question above has been raised across the borough and the Council is currently reviewing parking policy and its operation across the board as the contract is due for renewal. The issue will be looked at during the process.
A comment was made about residents paving their front gardens and parking on grass to avoid parking charges. The consequence of this practice was highlighted i.e. complaints of street flooding when it rains.
3 / Assembly Fund Project Presentation
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f / Cllr Maines introduced this item and invited the representative from Holy Trinity ESOL Classes to present their proposal to the meeting.
Holy Trinity English Classes for speakers of other languages
Sue Smith a volunteer from the project presented the proposal. She explained that funding is needed to support the ESOL classes and childcare provision for students. The provision provide tuition for 2 hours every week during term time for 57 students. Childcare facility is essential and is provided at the Quaggy Children Centre. The programme is based at the Holy Trinity Centre on Orchard Hill which lies adjacent to the Heathside & Lethbridge Estate in the north west corner of Blackheath. There are 10 volunteers currently on roll 8 of them are trained teachers. The only paid member of staff is an ESOL teacher. The project asked the meeting to support their bid for £3,990 to continue this service in the community.
Wash House Youth Club – Summer programme
Simon Riley from the Wash House presented this bid. He gave a brief history of the development of the youth club on the Heathside and Lethbridge Estate and the efforts of the trustees to raise fund for the project. The project aims to deliver a comprehensive programme of activities for young people aged 8 to 13 years for two weeks over the summer school break starting on the 25 July. The objective is to build confidence and self esteem among the children and young people, break down barriers and foster relationship. The funding required will cover the staffing cost for a youth worker in charge plus a team of experience seconded worker from Lewisham youth service. Programme of activities has been drawn up in consultation with young people. Activities will include arts and craft, music workshop, football coaching and a number of outings to the cinema and Southend adventure island. Up to 50 young people will be targeted for the scheme. The project asked the meeting to support a bid for £6,500 to enabled this work to take place.
Teach-sports Community Cohesion youth project
Teach sports aimed to provide a cohesion and leadership course for young people to offer a nationally recognise qualification to participants. The project will aim to improve community activities amongst young people and encourage them to give something back to their community. The programme will target particularly young people who are not in education or training and encourage them to get off the street into a safe learning environment. Close links has been forged with Lewisham Youth service and Sports and Leisure department to enhance this project. The course will consist of seven units to get a national qualification recognition which will enhance their skills for employability. The project is seeking the assembly support for £2,570 to enable this work.
Groundwork – Heathside & Lethbridge Heritage Project
Lucy from Groundwork provided the meeting with a brief background of their organisation. A cluster of partners have been drawn together to engage resident on the Heathside & Lethbridge Estate in the regeneration of their estate. The organisation will work in partnership with the Steven Lawrence Centre to engage young people in the architectural and design stages of the scheme. Work is also being done with the estate elderly club in collating information on the heritage of the estate. The project will require a multi-phase approach to build the capacity of the local community to become fully engaged. The stages will include initial stakeholder consultation, intergenerational heritage project, youth skills in the built environment fundraising and design implementation. The project asked the meeting to consider a bid for £9,922.50
A suggestion was made that as most of the bids presented tonight was for young people, can a collaboration of all the organisation be established to maximise and bring together all activities.
A question raised about how the different stages will be funded since it is an ongoing project.
It was explained that fundraising activities will take place to support each stages of the project.
Age Exchange Blackheath Library Facilities
Sir Ian Mills presenting informed the meeting about the various fundraising efforts by the trustees at Age Exchange in acquiring funding to deliver this project. The bid to the assembly is to enable the refurbishment of the bake-house to facilitate a temporary library service following the closure of the Blackheath library on 28 May 2011. The library will bebased temporarily in this space for a period of up to 16 months. The Council has committed to providing all the books and library systems as well as £200,000 towards the capital costs and Age Exchange temporary loss of income in 2011-13 arising from more than 18 months building works. However it was explained that the project is still crucially dependant on the community making a worthwhile contribution . The project is asking the assembly for £34,000 capital cost. The meeting was alsotold about the £500,000 obtained from various charities and community projects from other parts of London and a further £129,000 raised from the trustees of Age Exchange on the understanding of backing by the Blackheath communities.
A question was raised about why the owners of large business premises based in the village have not been approach for assistance.
No response was provided to the above question.
Lewisham Youth Theatre Interactive Workshop
This project aimed to work with children aged 5-11 atJohnBallSchool and All Saints primary school to create an interactive exhibition based on the principles of United Nations Convention of the rights of the child. After an initial one off creative sessions, a core group of participants will take part in weekly workshops with a professional theatre practitioner using drama, art and images to explore the themes of human rights. Exhibitions will be held in various locations across Blackheath including shop front, library, churches and schools to be identified. It is hoped that up to 100 young people will be engaged for this project. The meeting is asked to consider a bid for £6,150 for this project.
An observation from an attendee that only two schools in the ward will be engaged. It was mentioned that the work will be piloted in the 2 schools initially with possibilities of reaching out to other schools if further funding can be secured.
4 / Break
5 / Blackheath Events Consultation
John Thompson, head of Council Greenscene told the meeting about the Council joint events strategy document on parks and open spaces. The Council has produced a consultation paper to seek local resident views on parks and open spaces future usage. The document can be downloaded from the Council corporate website. The key aims of the policy were listed as follows:
- To promote a diverse range of community, commercial and Council events that can add value to the quality of life for residents of both boroughs
- Ensure that events and activities continue to generate income for both boroughs
- Ensure that events assessments criteria is open and transparent for all potential hirers and to the general public
- Provide clear guidance notes for organisers of events
- Ensure the annual tariff for hire is made available to potential hirers and the general public
- Ensure that the potential hirer can meet the conditions of the premises licence set by each individual Council
- Mitigate the impact of events on the biodiversity of natural historic fabric of the heath.
6 / Community Updates and any other business
Blackheath Station refurbishment update – latest update received on the station was that the works are still going on. The date of completion original provided was 30 June. Councillors have now found out that part of the delays has been caused by the company ordering the wrong size of steps. A new completion date has been quoted for on 31 July.
Q – A question was raised about why the door to the rear of Blackheath station is closed.
R – Councillor Bonavia promisedto contact network rail for an answer
A question was raised about the state of steps to platform 1 and 2 at Blackheath train station. Cllr also promised to raise the matter with network rail
Another question was raised about the maintenance works to heating and lighting levies to leaseholders and standard school meals for primary schools in the ward.
Issues of concern for next assembly agenda
1) Transport Issue: Clarification about crossing outside Blackheath Station – an explanation of how police enforce them and who is responsible for their maintenance as markings on the road are fading. The crossing outside the station and the optician were cited.
2) Concerns about the traffic signals outside Blackheath station changing too quickly
3) a question was raised about whether it is possible to have a consultation about the current position of bus lane in the village which is causing traffic congestion in the area.
4) Concern was raised about the state of the pavement on Belmont Hill. Question raised about whether there are any immediate plan by the Council to repair them. Response that there are no immediate plans to repair pavements but the matter can be logged with the relevant Council department.
5) A question was raised about what is going to happen to the changing rooms on the Heath following recent damage to the building. Cllr Maines explained that this matter will be raised with Glendale at the forthcoming meeting of the Blackheath Joint Working parties.
Cllr Bonavia updated the meeting on the ongoing legal battle on the Nimby event. Some background information leading to the legal suit was provided. Both parties have made their representation to the magistrate who are currently considering the evidence submitted on whether or not the appeal should be upheld. A decision on the case is expected by the end of July. Councillor Bonavia conveyed that the outcome of the case should not deprive any citizen of the ward from calling for a review of licences granted by the Council. Such application can be submitted by the individual or via the ward Councillors on their behalf. / Cllr KB
Cllr KB
7 / Voting Result – Assembly Funding
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d / The voting process was explained to the meeting. Each person is asked to consider the merits of project they have heard from at the meeting and their relevancy in addressing the issues of concerns identified for Blackheath ward. Attendees were asked to rank them in order of preference starting with 1 and ending with 10.
The result of the votes was announced as follows:
The Holy Trinity ESOL project came top with 686 scores and was awarded full fund of £3,990
Wash-house youth project came second with 605 scores and was awarded £6,500
Age Exchange library facilities came third with 557 scores and was award a reduced fund of £30,000 instead of the £34,000 requested.
Teachsport came fourth with 415 scores and was awarded £2,570.
Lewisham youth theatre came fourth with 282 score and Groundwork with 235 scores. Both project were unsuccessful in their bids as there was no funding remaining from this round.
8 / Declaration of interest
There were no declaration of interest declared at this meeting.