Labour candidates in East Dulwich

[Oliver Kempton]

Hello, I?m Oliver Kempton and I have been selected, along with Joani Reid and Les Alden, to be one of Labour's candidates for East Dulwich ward for the local elections in May.

Joani, Les and I have spent a lot of time speaking to people in East Dulwich about their concerns and what they'd like to see improve in East Dulwich, particularly local schools, recycling, and anti-social behaviour.

We haven't had the chance to speak to everyone yet and the East Dulwich forum is a great way for people in East Dulwich to communicate, so please do get in touch and let us know what issues you think we should be focussing on. We can be reached at [email protected], and our blog is at www.edlabour.blogspot.com.

Hope to hear from you soon

Oliver

Oliver Kempton

[email protected]

[SteveT]

Pity about your deposit Ollie.

[TonyQuinn]

Well done Oliver. Labour have been too apologetic. Come out fighting, you can still do it. When the facts are presented to the great British public, it's possible. There are many of us out there wishing you well! Keep the faith and the red flag flying.

[Pecanpie]

(tu) You go TonyQuinn, the alternative is Terrifying.

[Huguenot]

I think you'll have to work a bit harder than that Oliver, any party can ask locals what they see as the issues.

The voting decision will be made on the basis of your intentions to prioritise and your potential ability to do anything about them.

So what do you currently see as your objectives in Council? What's your manifesto?

BTW I don't know if there's something weird going on with your blog? It redirected me to status.blogspot so I couldn't see it.

[KalamityKel]

nicely put huguenot (tu)

"red flag flying" wot rubbish!

[Oliver Kempton]

Thanks for the support TonyQuinn, we will keep fighting.

Huguenot, I'm afriad I don't know why you can't see the blog on your computer, it seems to be working on the different computers i've checked it on.

You're right of course - any local council candidate can ask locals what they see as the issues (although I do think it is an important thing to do, and actually many candidates don't).

To answer your question - we will be delivering a copy of our manifesto to all properties in East Dulwich nearer to the election. In the meantime, for me the key issues include:

Education locally, and school places in particular. As I'm sure you know, there are many families with young children in East Dulwich and it's created a big squeeze on school places; I don't think the council has adequately prepared for the changing demographics in the area. The government however has promised an extra ?12 million for new school classrooms in Southwark. Where exactly in the borough this is spent is up to the council, and making sure that the Dulwich area gets its fair share is a priority of ours.

In addition, we are pledging free school meals for all Primary School children if Labour takes control of the council. I think this is a really positive step and will benefit children and families across Southwark.

I also think recycling is a top priority - Southwark has the sixth lowest recycling rate in the whole of England, which I find really disappointing. There's a big desire to recycle in East Dulwich but the rules are sometimes confusing and there are many things that you can't recycle in the kerbside boxes. I've also been trying to get the council to send us recycling bags for the flats I live in, which they still haven't done, so I have to take everything down to Sainsbury's on Dog Kennel Hill which is a real pain.

Also anti-social behaviour, whether it's people feeling unsafe walking home at night, or dog fouling on the pavements.

Plenty of others of course - what do you think are the biggest issues?

No deposit required to run for the council SteveT... ;)

[LegalEagle-ish]

I think a change is as good as a rest - the LibDems are complacent and the Tories scary - so let's see if Labour can do anything better at a local level next time (or Green?)

[Huguenot]

I don't reckon my view counts as I'm out on loan from ED to Singapore at the moment.

I've said it before, but I'd like to see something really visionary for ED which prioritises the rights of the pedestrian over the motorist, and brings back a real sense of community.

I'd like to see the end of parking on LL and widening of the pavements. Cafes, bars and shops should be encouraged to make use of the extra space. I'd like to see controlled parking around LL, with P&D spaces reserved for short term shoppers to the Lane.

I'd like to see North Cross Road paved, with no vehicular access on Sat and Sun for a market.

I'd like to see Sainsbury Car Park increase parking spaces through a subterranean car park with 24/7 security and quality landscaping. The pedestrian route to the Lane from here should have rasied pedestrian crossings at each junction on the route.

I'd like to see much more regular 'tented' festivals on GG covering the arts - art & sculpture, books, film and so on.

For me bins and recycling are 'hygeine' issues - not manifesto commmitments. It should be the obligation of a council to provide these services that gets no applause. It's not difficult.

[puzzled]

please go back to lovely democratic singapore hueguenot. you are clearly barking

[Green Goose]

Oliver Kempton Wrote:

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> In addition, we are pledging free school meals for

> all Primary School children if Labour takes

> control of the council.

Interesting idea in the run up to an election but can you provide us with the costings.

How much does it put on the rates?

If the rates dont go up then what gets sacrificed?

It prompts recall of a quote which went something like...

?The problem with socialism is that you very quickly run out of other people?s money?.

GG

[sian]

Please get rid of Southwark Life. This publication is pointless.

[alice]

In addition, we are pledging free school meals for all Primary School children if Labour takes control of the council. I think this is a really positive step and will benefit children and families across Southwark.

why? how? i'd say 25% of southwark children don't need such freebies. one size fits all policies just waste money.

[Oliver Kempton]

Huguenot, I'd like to see Lordship Lane improved for pedestrians too, and a new crossing could well help. I'd be very wary about widening pavements if it meant losing a bus lane though as they're vital at rush hour. Recycling facilities may well not be difficult, but they're not being provided adequately at the moment.

Green goose, there is plenty of wasteful spending that can be cut to cover free school meals, such as expenditure on consultants, corporate lawyers and council spin. For example, the council's poster campaign telling us how good the council is (see Peckham Rye Labour's excellent post on the subject here: peckhamryelabour.blogspot.com/2010/02/lib-dem-tory-poster-campaign-that.html). I would rather the council spend our money on providing free school meals than on telling us how good they are in the run up to an election.

Alice, many families who are currently entitlted to free school meals don't take them, at least partly because of the stigma attached to it. Free school meals for all primary school children will stop this, and there is plenty of evidence to show that a nutritious lunch improves childrens' learning and makes them less disruptive in the afternoon.

Oliver

[????]

oh gawd here we go 'we are brilliant they are shite'.....talk us through Labour's record on consultants and spin at national level then Oliver?

[Andystar]

Does anyone read Southwark life??

Also, whats with the 10000001 leaflets I, get through my letterbox daily.

I'm all for better recycling, its such a chore that I totally understand why people don't bother. I've got a huge mountain of cardboard ( & those 10000001 leaflets ) & those stupid plastic 'paper' recycling bags just don't cut it. A few places, that I've lived at, use the same bins as our standard ones but with a different lid, so much simpler.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Not to support labour quids, but nobody from any party is going to get far by talking about negatives. You and I might appreciate the honesty but with regards to getting anywhere it's a tactical non starter

now.. Is this section of the forum the best place for electioneering? I would say no but on the other hand I like to see people stand up. But as James barber has found out the people one serves often don't deserve the service

[Freddy1929]

I am willing to give Labour a chance, the Lib Dems with a lot of help from the Tory contingent, have not really done much for the majority of people in Southwark. The whole business over the fence on Goose Green resulted in a lot of money being spent, just so dogs could have the run of the whole park!

The money that must have been spent on the Council's new headquarters in Tooley Street needs to be looked at; the Lib Dems argument is that the buildings that are now empty can be sold, well in a recession, this is highly unlikely. Also what is the cost of the Tooley Street Offices? All the staff get free teas and coffees!!! Try and get an answer from one of the LIB Dem candidates. I feel sorry for the Council staff who don?t work at Tooley street, they seem to have been forgotten, and they are the ones providing a service directly to us Council tax payers, and from what I can see are working in some very dilapidated buildings, and apparently when they go to Tooley Street their passes won?t get them into the building!!

It seems the Lib Dems want to go back to the old days of a two tier structure for Council staff.

[????]

Sean - James does his job as a councillor via the forum with very little 'politics' and I have a lot of respect for him for that. I agree with you about electioneeting and where does it belong...I dunno. Personally I'd like it banned and then if candidates want to post their political views as private posters on the forum as say David C and Mamora Man do then good luck to them

[daizie]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

But as

> James barber has found out the people one serves

> often don't deserve the service

Now aint that the truth

[ratty]

Gets my vote

[Green Goose]

Oliver Kempton Wrote:

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

.

>

> Green goose, there is plenty of wasteful spending

> that can be cut to cover free school meals, such

> as expenditure on consultants, corporate lawyers

> and council spin.

> Oliver

OK Oliver, I will ask you again. What are the detailed costings?

How many schools will need new/bigger kitchens or will meals be transported in? How many more staff will it take to produce the meals and administer the system?? What are the capital and marginal costs?

Has it been thought though at all or is it just another "shoot from the hip" (or is it the lip) from Gordon Broon in pre-election mode.

Or maybe you can stretch the economic cycle yet again to accommodate the excess expenditure?

Tell me how it will be done, please. I can't wait.

GG

[Villager]

Oliver,

Welcome to the ED Forum.

Does this mean you have recently taken up residence in East Dulwich or its environs?

[Amelie]

If I were in charge of this country the first thing I would do is reform local government banning any party politics from it. Anyone wishing to stand for local office would have to show that they had lived in the area for a minimum term, that they were at least 35 years old and that they had been in permanent employment for a minimum term before standing. No-one but no-one would be allowed to stand on a party political basis, no political party would be allowed to take part in any shape or form including providing funding, candidates or research.

I would also abolish the payment of elected members, including expenses, and cut the number of elected members; as well as make them subject to limited terms of office.

I would engage in a wholesale devolution of power from Whitehall to local government and return Whitehall to what it is supposed to be - the provider of ideas and funding and general oversight, no more micro-management and interfering in things that shouldn't concern it.

Finally, former MPs would be banned from standing for local office as would anyone wanting to use local government as a stepping stone to central government.

[Sue]

Andystar Wrote:

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> Does anyone read Southwark life??

>

xxxxxxx

Yes, I do :)