James Barber

Hi Charliemcveigh, Hope the new business venture goes well. Keen to support your application for reduced licensing hours- keen you also reduce the Thursday night opening to be 10am-midnight as well as its a 'school' night. Hi Coach Beth, Last Wednesday night we allocated some of our precious Cleaner, Greener, Safer capital funding to Goose Green School. You'll find local businesses are very generous especially considering how tough trading is currently but they do get a lot of requests for help. Look forward to your email.

Another possible solution is to use the devolved highways budget from TfL to Southwark - its several millions a year. Nothing I can see stops Southwark deciding to subsidise 63 being extended for a trial period of say 2 or 3 years and using that devolved budget. Using devolved budget might incentivise Southwark to promote the extension so that by the end of the trial period it is self funding OR Southwark could suggest to TfL curtailing a route and reducing the subsidy another route receives to promote no.63 extension.

The government Transport Minister Norman Baker has announced a new cycle hub at Peckham Rye station as part of the full refurb of the station. "Peckham Rye station: is getting a full make-over. A new cycle hub will be created under the disused arches to the east of the station. This will house a cycle repair shop where commuters can also purchase cycling equipment and hire bikes. All bicycles will be protected by CCTV cameras." Of the ?400,000 cost ?300,00 will come from the government and ?100,000 from Transport for London and Southwark Council. This scheme should make it a lot easier for ED residents to cycle to this relatively local station, securely park their bicycle and then hop on a train. I'm a tad concerned that this cycle hub wont be close enough to the station entrance. Research shwos that cyclsits don't like walking and wont walk very far from cycle parking. Also, we don't know the fees yet for cycle parking.

I've finally some feedback from head officer: " 1. Showers The shower water temperatures are currently being reviewed to ensure that they remain at a suitable temperature all the time. There is a problem with the time it takes for the water to re-heat when there has been high usage. A temporary measure has been put in, which allows the showers to stay hotter for longer but a long term permanent solution is being investigated. 2. Seating The seating has been removed from the changing areas to prevent any injury to customers as the fixings have been found to not be secure in some areas. Some of the seats have been removed as a precaution and work is now being done to determine the cause and solution. We are working hard to resolve this issue and will put the benches back as soon as possible. 3. Lost property Fusion has a lost property system which during a recent audit was highly scored. I am happy to arrange for a copy of the policy to be sent to you if you would find that helpful. All staff including cleaning and maintenance contractors receive comprehensive induction training which incorporates all Fusion policies, including the lost property policy. The lost property policy has been re-iterated to them all. 4. Lane swimming During the lane swimming participants are encouraged to use the lane appropriate to their ability and speed. We have spoken to the centre?s management team and they will ensure that the lifeguard team are reminded of their responsibilities and ensure full control at these sessions. Fusion carries out weekly lifeguard update training and centre managers will ensure that this is included. " I've asked what the timescales for all these things are.

Hi peeps, I'll ask if the motorbike parking can be moved somewhere open all week but in a similar position. If you email me about the Corn Exchange idea I'll try putting you in touch with like minded locals and see if the concept can be taken forward. In the mean time you might like to get in touch with Ed and Edwarehouse. Suspect what you're describing would work/appeal to him.

The Southwark Noise team is a local council service. The Labour led Southwark council cut the service with effect April 2011. They would say it was a hard choice to cut this service but necessary due to central government funding cuts. Others would say they could have made other choices and central government cuts are result of the past Labour govt getting the country into such a pickle. Whatever the reason pretty grim for you Cityjules. Hope it didn't last long. Call the Police non emergency number in such circumstance - 101.

Hi FatherJack, Have made contact and trying to help this family. Council officers have agreed they weren't offered a place. So I've asked what will happen for this family. What is being done to search for others that mgiht have been missed and when will a revised press release be issued which might encourage other families to come forward who havent been offered a place.

Hi mytholmroyd beauty, The Sotuhwark Council web pages about its market - http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/10005/markets It has the email address [email protected] and phone number for the markets team 020 7525 6000. I believe a short waiting list ofr North Cross Road market but sooner you join it the sooner you'll have a pitch. Any problems please do let me know and hope you're business thrives.

So FT. I missed that. Can you please urgently get your friend to call me on 07903 964130. Assuming they submitted their application on time then officials don't think this has happened and clearly if it has throws all the commentary into chaos. Eitherway, your friend must be more than upset and needs help.

Hi FatherJack, All Southwark Councillors received this information from the councils education department. I've repeated the statement 195 families 8% onthe slightly reduced number of total applicants did not obtain any of the preference they;ve stated. Your friends child must be one of the 195 as indeed is one of my friends. Very stressful. Problably not worth forgetting that that's are giving 6 preferences. IF you have a preference about religious or non religious schools that significantly curtails your options. If your friend (or anyone else) contacts me I'll try and help them.

Blackcherry appears to have been sold and renamed Draft House. The first thing the new owners do is apply for shorter licensing hours. They have applied to be open Thus, Fri and Sat 10am until 1am and the rest of the week 10am until midnight. see attached. This is dramatic improvement on the current 2am and 3am closing. If you think Lordship Lane and East Dulwich already has enough anti social problems from late night revellers then please do SUPPORT this application by emailing [email protected] and please copy me [email protected] but also ask that they close at midnight on Thursdays. Equally if you think we don't have enough late night drinking tell me that. Whenever you see or hear any anti social problems that don't warrant a 999 call please do call the the non emergency 101 number. Without reporting problems they never happened as far as licensing and Police officers are concerned and businesses can keep on causing alcohol fuelled problems for East Dulwich.

Hi BrandNewGuy, Goose Green School arranged some numeracy events at their school earlier this year in the early evenings - my kids and I were enthralled. The council has allocated ?78,000 and is seeking ideas to create new event/s. It will spend the money come what may so do get your ideas in.

The planned new opening time from April are to avoid having any staff take lunch. If any employee works for more than 5 hours then they have to have a break. The new hours are designed so no breaks are required so covering people at break times will no longer be an issue.

Yes, most toddlers (certainly my ones) had early afternoon naps.

Hi Fiona, Renata, I proposed to library management last Summer/Autumn and Veronica Ward that they explore several areas to save sufficient back offices costs to avoid any reduction in hours but not heard back from her. Specifically: 1. flip the Library Services seperate ?50,000+ lift maintenance contract for 5 lifts at Peckham/Canada/Dulwich libraries into the nearly 1,000 lifts Council Housing lift contract. Any half decent purchasing manager would eliminate this cost by combining the contracts. 2. ?1/2M is paid in National Non Domestic Rates (busienss rates). Officers were concerned they pay too much but getting it formally reviewed risks it coming out higher. I suggested they get Southwark NNDR officers to do an informal review and if favourable ask for a formal NNDR review. This could save another ?50,000. 3. Dispose of the old Peckham Library and ancillary ex.flat used for offices eliminating the assocaited property costs. 4. Rent out the vacant large office floor at Peckham Library bringing in ?50,000+ 5. Dispose of the central library store on Wilson's Road - secrete 13th library! As I suggested to them, further deep diving into the library budgets would without a doubt indentify even more savings.

Hi grabot, The Dulwich Village ward councillors manuervred the ?18,000 of the ?30,000 allocated for CGS revenue (covering East Dulwich, College and Village wards) spend this coming year and into perpetuity to be forever allocated to Dulwich Village School Crossing Patrols. The patrols are needed. So if no other funding is available reducing the Sotuh of the Borough event budget looking, begging for a home would be better than the extremely limited revenue funding we have.

No. Big efforts going on to remove railings across Southwark and London. Weird, but instinctively railings seem a good idea to make things safer but have been shown to make life more dangerous for all road users. Belief is railings mean people driving discount the risk of running over people walking, etc. Higher speeds driven mean more vehicles collisions. It also means people walking and cycling have fewer escape options. For Lordship Lane all vehicles should be going at slower speeds because its a busy residential and shopping street so we shouldn't need railings... hope that makes sense maxxi.

I did contact the local Police. They said this type of occurence is unpleasant, not unknown to them, and is typically from someone living in a van and they are looking for the likely van, etc.

The budget is ?78,000 - sadly this is composed of ?24,000 council officer time to select an event/s and ?54,000 to fund any event/s. I've suggested they use ?18,000 to fund the Dulwich Village School Crossing Patrols. The remiander ask schools to host/run a literacy and numeracy festival open to the public. Sure lots of other ideas.

Hi Fred, I would counsel against an appeal. The applicant won the right to open until 2am Bank Holiday Sundays - that's four times this year. I would suggest we ask people to use the 101 non emergency number to report EVERY anti social incident. Then if a pattern emerges seek licence reviews to solve the problem. IF you are determined to appeal then call me so we can discuss who will make the appeal, how we can cover costs and the risks of costs being awarded against any failure.

Hi Eddie, You must be referring to my recent blog where I suggest the council consider approaching an architecrual salvage yard that sadly burnt down a week ago. The council in the past had thought of asking about buying this land as it blocks access to a sizeable slice of Burgess Park. My interest in Burgess Park is that a number of my past relatives homes and businesses are under the grass ie. demolished to make way for the park. Sorry you feel this is dribble.

Very droll Renata.

Currently a public consultation about Forest Hill Road changes including 'temporary' traffic lights with Colyton Road and whether to retain them or remove them - http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200083/roadworks_and_highway_improvements/594/street_improvements/5

This school has finally stepped through all the hurdles to be permanently expanded to 2 form entry per year.

Hi Fred, Prior Tessa Jowell's 2005 licensing act magistrates courts did decide on licensing but applicants had to prove a need and that they would'nt cause harm. To be fare to the Licensing sub-Committee the current licensing legislation reversed the burden of proof to residents having to prove an applicant will do harm. Proving the vomit, urination outside of Ashbourne homes is due to Adventure clientele is nearly impossible. Saying that, the suggestion from one councillor from Peckham that Ashbourne Grove residents should confront very drunk people being anti social in the middle of night - effectively asking locals to be vigilantes - without any Police supervision, training or support wasn't helpful.