Southwark Council

In response to this post, the council does not employ a team of inter-library staff, there is currently one member of staff who deals with this service. The building photographed, which is run rent-free, houses the stock services team, the reserve stock for the borough, and also the local NUT offices. We are one of only six library services in London to have the supply chain accredited for using technology to increase efficiency. We do stock Chekhov, and we do send email notifications. We really do want to encourage debate around the future of the library service, and look forward to as many people as possible having their say. You can find out more information about the consultation here or email [email protected] if you have any questions. Councillor Veronica Ward, cabinet member for culture, leisure, sport and the Olympics

The questionnaire has now been fixed and you can access it here until Friday 13 May. To clarify, the questionnaire is for anybody who applied for a secondary school place in Southwark - whether you are a Southwark resident or not.

Dear Louisiana, We are sorry to hear that you feel there has been some confusion in your area recently regarding the pilot. We would also like to thank Cllr Barber for bringing this to our attention. In December we took the opportunity to add more properties onto the scheme and it sounds like your home was one of these. Those properties affected received a letter explaining the December change of service, and a service leaflet which included the new collection calendar referred to in the letter. Because of the relatively small number of properties affected, we felt it would not have been a sensible use of money for the council to print a new set of leaflets, and instead we delivered the same ones used for everyone else on the scheme, which you rightly point out do on a couple of occasions refer to an October start. We are very sorry for any misunderstanding this may have caused. We are though pleased to report that officers have been to your area this week and haven't found any evidence of missed collections or boxes and bins left out on the wrong day. Kind Regards, Ian Smith Acting Head of Sustainable Services

Hi All, We promised we'd let you know about further opportunities to feedback about your experiences with the food waste pilot if you haven't done so already. We're holding a number of informal drop-in events across the borough over the next couple of weeks. These are held by an independent host, and you can either pop along to have your say or to listen to the views of other residents. Details of these can be found here. If you aren't able to attend, there is a survey online which you can complete. We have included some additional questions, based on your feedback so far, particularly around the liners we provide and containers for recycling. This is also available from the link above. Thanks very much. Ian Smith Acting head of sustainable services

Hi Cate, This is a 6 month pilot so the next delivery of bags, week commencing 13th Dec, will see the majority of residents through to the end of this time. If you run out, please get in touch as I mentioned before. We will need to consider any successes and failures of the pilot and at this stage we can't simply say what will happen. It will very much depend on how the pilot goes and the feedback we receive from residents. If you haven't already done so, the best way to let us know your thoughts is by completing the survey. There will be some additional opportunities to feedback in the new year. Thanks again, Ian Smith Acting Head of Sustainable Services

Hi Chocoholic, The next batch of bags will be delivered throughout the week commencing 13th December. Number of bags allocated are based on an average household using 3-4 per week but we're aware there will be some exceptions to this. If you run out before this date, please email [email protected] and we'll do our best to accommodate your specific needs. I apologise if the information you received previously differed from this. We've had a chat with the relevant team and this will be corrected going forwards. I should also say that bio-degradable bags are available from all major supermarkets but this is more of a 'heads up' rather than a request that you should purchase your own. An alternative option if you're interested; you can line your caddy with newspaper and throw the whole lot into your brown bin (i.e. without a bag). The bags are for ease, hygiene and to safeguard against smells but the brown bin does have a secure lid should you be happy to use them without. This is down to individual preference. In terms of your recycling, we can provide additional blue boxes which are stackable. If they're of use just email or call 020 7525 2000. @Peckhamgatecrasher, we've designed the pilot to ensure as much waste as possible is still collected on a weekly basis. Just to highlight to anyone else reading this, it's only the waste which is non-recyclable i.e. plastic film, cellophane, plastic bags, polystyrene etc that should go into the green bin. If on a regular basis you can't fit all your remaining waste into this get in touch and we'll do what we can to find a solution that suits you. In the meantime, some of the below options may help: -charity shops and organisations like swapxchange (www.swapexchangesouthwark.org) are great ways to get rid of your waste whilst benefiting someone else. -There's a free bulky waste collection for larger items -You can bring unwanted household and garden items to manor place. @Cate - the bags will be delivered automatically to each of the houses within the pilot - see above. We're keen to do our best to make sure this works for everyone and continue to listen to your feedback. Thanks very much. Ian Smith Acting Head of Sustainable Services

Hi All, Thanks very much for your feedback so far (and apologies for the lengthy response!). We will make sure your comments from the forum are fed into the consultation. A few of you have voiced concerns about this being anti-dog owners or anti-dogs. Just to stress, this is not the case at all, we know that the majority of dog owners in Southwark are very responsible and their dogs, well behaved. This consultation is about tackling the anti-social behaviour caused by irresponsible dog owners. We would like to know the extent to which you feel legislation specifically relating to this should be adopted within the borough. The Dog Control Orders Regulations 2006 empowers Local Authorities to make Dog Control Orders for: -Failing to remove dog faeces. -Not putting, and keeping, a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer. -Permitting a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded. -Taking more than a specified number of dogs onto land. -Not keeping a dog on the lead. To be clear, at this stage, we are only consulting on the first three points. This decision was made after taking advice from key partners such as Battersea Dogs Home and the RSPCA as well as considering the number of dog related complaints received from the public. We also had to consider the cost of enforcing and implementing these orders should they be introduced. With regards the questionnaire, this has been structured around the above points. @firstmate - you pointed out that further clarification is needed about what constitutes a children's playground. This is a fair point and we have now amended the survey to provide additional context. For reference, this refers to an area with children's play equipment that is gated and fenced off. Should the consultation conclude that there is a need for the legislation, this would be a borough wide-order but would be enforced on an intelligence-led basis, some of which would come from residents. The new powers would be targeted to specific problem areas and operations, and would move around the borough as needs are identified. It would primarily be enforced by community wardens. They already have a wide range of powers and responsibilities and the Dog Control Order would be carried out in addition to their current duties. Susan Hunter, the area manager for the community warden service, referenced some of the work we've already done in the borough to promote responsible dog ownership here: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,540746,page=3 Early next year we will publicise a Dog Action Strategy which supports responsible ownership, tackles irresponsible ownership, and clamps down on dangerous dogs and their owners. Public feedback on our strategy will be very welcome. Although we will continue to participate in the forum, if you have any specific questions or concerns the quickest way to receive an answer is by emailing [email protected]. Thanks very much again, Tracy Dickinson Safer Southwark Partnership Team Manager

Hi All, Diverting the conversation slightly but I just wanted to reiterate our previous posts, we do value the feedback this forum provides and continue to keep a close eye on the discussions that are taking place. We'll do everything we can to respond to questions that arise, unless Cllr Barber has already done so of course. Re the points that have been raised in relation to the questionnaire: It has been designed to capture your thoughts, concerns, and way we can move forward if the scheme is to be continued past the pilot period. We are unable to redesign it at this stage as it will skew the results we do have. As peckhamboy has suggested, please use the 'other comments' section and all text boxes to ensure your viewpoint is fully represented. We are currently organising a number of other opportunities for you to provide feedback. Once details have been finalised I will make a point of keeping you updated and encourgage you to take up the opporutnity to engage. Responses are being analysed and we will be responding at the end of the pilot to all those who participate. If you do have further questions and would like to contact us directly, the best way to do this is by emailing [email protected] or calling the customer service team on 020 7525 2000. Ian Smith Acting Head of Sustainable Services

Thanks to everyone for their continued interest in the recycling pilot. As mentioned before, we really do appreciate everyone?s views and will take them (plus the emails we've received and responses to the questionnaire) into account as the pilot is evaluated. As you've identified, we do have particular types of containers for different types of waste and recycling but we always try to be flexible where we can and take residents? individual needs into account. The standard container for the kerbside recycling collection in the pilot area is the blue box. On occasion we have issued 240 litre blue wheelie bins to individual residents, however there are a limited number available and at this time we need to prioritise people who live in small blocks of flats, or houses converted into three or more flats. We plan to extend commingled recycling to all parts of Southwark in 2011, but have not yet made a firm decision on what type of containers to use in the long term ? we will be reviewing feedback from the pilot to help inform this. Ultimately, we don?t want to spend public money buying a lot of blue wheelie bins now which might not be used when the commingled collection is extended next year. Please do continue to send us your feedback. Waste management team 020 7525 2000

Hi Fuschia, The recycling we offer on this pilot includes co-mingling (i.e. putting all recycling materials into one receptacle and the container is sorted at the depot). We currently do this across the vast majority of homes on our estates as well and there are plans to offer co-mingling across the borough next year. If you have any further questions, the team will be happy to assist you. You can reach them at [email protected] Hope this helps, Rebecca e-communications officer

Hi Cate, Thanks for your questions. The visits we pay to homes are based on information recieved from any number of sources; direct to us, general chat to people, observation whilst out on the streets etc. We do not follow people home. SASBU is the Southwark Anti Social Behaviour Unit. Further information is available on the council website. We do not DNA dogs. If we suspect the breed is of the banned variety we will seek further identification and often involve the RSPCA and the Status Dogs Unit. Hope this helps, Susan Hunter Area manager Southwark community warden service

Hi All, Firstly, AliPali, I'd like to say how sorry I am about your experience and I'm glad to hear both of you are okay. We do have an ongoing and rising issue with dogs, especially those classed as 'dangerous' i.e. pit bulls or pit-bull crosses. They are often kept as trophies to be seen with but equally, some are very precious pets. There are dog restricted areas in most parks in the borough i.e. children's playgrounds, and some have walking areas that insist on dogs being under control. Wardens do patrol the parks and advise, where appropriate, that dogs must be kept on leads or removed from the area. If a dog bites then the first port of call (aside from hospital) should be the police. If you feel there is a potential risk from what you believe to be a dangerous dog of any breed then you can call our Warden Control Room on 0207 525 5846 where it will be passed to me for action. I currently sit on the Dog Action Group which is a large group of partners that meet once every month (police, RSPCA, Community Safety, SASBU, Battersea, Housing etc etc) and discuss and deal with any current issues or projects for the future. I am also part of the BARK project (Borough Action for Responsible Kanines). We meet once a month also to pick out the dogs that have been highlighted to us. We then go out with police, my chipping team, RSPCA and SASBU to visit properties and assess the dogs. If needed, there's a variety of actions we can take from free micro chipping to, in some cases, free neutering / spaying. If a dog is a pure breed, it can also be referred to the Status Dogs Police unit for further investigation/ removal. As you can see we are very focused on actions with dogs and we welcome information from residents. We also appreciate that the majority of dog owners do act in a proper and responsible manner. If you have any further questions, you can reach me at [email protected] Susan Hunter Area manager Southwark community warden service

Hi All, I've read your comments with great interest. Whilst many of your questions have already received answers, one that I was keen to address was whether this was in fact a phased introduction. To confirm, this is just a six month pilot which will be reviewed at the end to see if rolling it out further is feasible. Feedback from residents will be crucial in this decision so we really appreciate your input so far. We?ve been as thorough as possible in informing homes of the changes and how it will work, with letters, leaflets, surgeries, and planned house visits where necessary but if anyone has any outstanding questions on the scheme please do get in touch with the team. We're keen to smooth out any issues as quickly as possible. The best way to do this is by emailing [email protected] or calling the customer service team on 020 7525 2000. Whilst we have already taken comments posted here on board, if you'd like to submit something more formally, a questionnaire is now available online and won't take more than a couple of minutes to complete. Please do pass this on to anyone else participating in the scheme that you think would be willing to share their experience so far. Councillor Barrie Hargrove Cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling

The good news is that the extra ?200,000 allocated to the project means we can now make additional improvements to the baths, including to the male and female changing areas, the pool hall, the windows and the roof. The leisure centre will now open in February 2011. It makes more sense, and is more cost effective, to carry out these works now rather than cause disruption by returning to do the work at a later date. Find out more about the improvements to leisure centres on our website: www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200229/investing_in_leisure/1391/camberwell_leisure_centre