James Barber

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.

hi DJKillaQueen, I know which is why I've also stated that. I thought it was illuminating to see quite how many crashes there compared to eslewhere. Hi Poppy, Next financial year starting 1 April.

Thanks to everyone who submitted their views to the council licensing process for the Adventure extension to 2am cloasing for Thursdays and bank hliday sunday. Special thanks though to Fred and Joe who joined me in formally objecting at the licensing sub-committee. The decision - No to Thursday 2am closing, yes to 2am closing on bank holiday Sundays. Several useful conditions about ensuring the front doors are kept closed, telephone number for complaints. I will also try to establish quarterly meetings with this enterprise for residents to have issues addressed.

Hi Reuben, They havent enttered 2011 data yet as problably still not released but have a look via www.crashmap.co.uk at this junction. Really shows that this junction needs some major improvements in crash rates.

I fear that the amount of effort going into council officials getting the traffic management 'right', they didn't used to have such problems repairing it in the past, will mean the road closures they're proposing will cost a lot of money. The argument will then be if they're spending so much money they should permanently 'improve' the roundabout. The lead manager emailed me: "Details are yet to be finalised and officers are meeting with our contractor this week to agree the traffic management, any required temporary road closures, and the timings of the works. The likelihood is that we will be undertaking the works, probably on a Sunday, during the 2nd (and 3rd if required) weekends in April. This will avoid the Easter weekend and minimise the traffic disruption by Sunday working".

Hi Callie, That lump is where the Puffin crossing will go. BT need to move their phone box. TfL need to connect up the lights. Anti skid surfacing needs to be placed on the road.

Poppycock. If the customers of EDT are able to use it as pub garden on occassions then a little more imagination by council officials. When we proposed the raised entry treatment at the junction of Lordship Lane/East Dulwich Grove council officials told us it was impossible due to traffic management issues - we then reminded them gas and water works had required exactly the same closure in the previous 12 months.

Bit cheeky of me but if anyone wants to sign the petition to save the London Fire Brigade please follow the link - PETITION. Hi Mazzystar, Of course.

Good. Annoying officers havent had the good grace to repond to my queries. Good to see common sense and my severe proding of the cabinet member not to allow anything stupid...?30,000-?50,000 capital spend to avoid ?1,500 of brick repairs a year.

Hi Fred, Licensing laws became a real pickle in 2005 and I suspect wont be fixed until the countries finances are fixed - changing them will limit business and no national politician wants to be seen to be doing that for now. I've asked if you can be one of my witnesses on Monday. Hope that works for you. Hi Kateford, I'll see if I can get a site meeting with officers to look at how this can be fixed permanently and thank you for your ideas. IF you'd like to attend that meeting if council officials can support it please email me your contact details.

The headlines of what will be released at 5pm online and sent earleir today by first class post: * All Southwark secondary school applicants have been offered a place for September 2012 * Total of 2,436 applications were received, 85 less applicants than last year * 1,362 (55.9%) received a first preference school a 3.4% increase on last year's figures 1,322 (52.5%) * 2,213 (90.8%) received one of their preferences - 2% increase on last year * 195 (8%) families without a preference and offered an alternative school fewer than last year - 243 (9.6%) * The number of online applications has remained at the same level as last year Two attachments - one SPA Leaflet details drop in session if you're not happy and need advice, other is QA info pack. Do contact your local councillor if you need further support.

Hi Fred, Please see attached decision 20 April 2009 showing 2.30am final close Fridays and Saturdays. It did make me laugh to see our MP Tessa Jowell highlighting opposition to the applied for extension - having been resonpsible for the law that has disempowered residents to stop such late hours.

Hi Tracy551162, A 'free' school is free of Local Authority control and report directly to the Department of Education in Whitehall. Bonkers idea extending the Academy programme Blair started up all those years ago. For some reason national conservatives nad Labour party leaderships hate local authorities and don't trust them to run local education. Insulting where local councils run good education departments. A little more understandable when they don't. But people get to vote every four years on local authority leadership. Anyway, the idea is that freed up from local authorities such schools will fly from parental and expert leadership. Also idea of creating a bigger market for parents to choose the school that suits them. Clearly carried to an extreme it would create wild diseconomies which would reduce the amount per child to be spent on education. To facilitate them the normal rules about school design and space requirements are hugely relaxed and things like office blocks will be allowed. Recently confirmed that the DoE wont accept teaching of creationsm as a scientific theory.

Hi Fred, I've pinged a query in. Will you be present at the hearing on Monday morning? I plan to be with a reisdent from Shawbury Court across Lordship Lane from you.

What would be the solution to this crowding? Clearly as a public facility using the price mechanism needs to be avoided.

Hi VHart, I'm sorry to hear this. You can either call 020 7525 2000 or email [email protected] or email me with your full address/contact details and I will get it sorted. Hope this helps.

Hi henryb, When we were asking about whether the no.42 could be extended to run along East dulwich Grove, lordship Lane , Sainsbury's - long story. Village ward councillors were told extra ?250,000 pa revenue for one extra bus in the timetable. Presume double decker would cost more but the earleir quoted figure of ?500,000 pa revenue would sound about right. OR zero change in costs if it terminates similar distance before Kings Cross. So, yes in favour of extending it to Honor Oak but how this is achieved is importatn. Hi Gavin, How would Ken/Val extend the no.63?

Hi Alexthecamel, I can see where you're coming from but perhaps... The dark school jackets are cheaper and need less washing/care. My children only have ot look at a white anything for it to get dirty. Most school bags/rucsacs have reflective strips and patches. Most schools start & close in clear daylight. Making our children brightly clothed is not the apporoach other countries have needed to drastically reduce child injuries and deaths from road traffic crashes. But those countries do have different liability laws. The party in a collission with the least power/size/mass is assumed innocent until proven guilty. Changing to this form of liability causes outrage in the UK but it would allow UK to take part in real vehicle insurance competition with a Europe wide market. So overall probably costs neutral and would save a lot from lawyers fees proving everyone was innocent in every crash.

What a blast back in time to see that video og Green Cross Man - thanks. I once read an interview with Keith Prowse aka Green Cross Man/Darth Vader. He said it was the best thing in his life - noticeable reduction in children being involved in such crashes during and long after the campaign and how proud he was to be involved. I can't wait until the crossings are both activated. The sky will not fall down. People will find Lordship Lane just a little more pleasant to go shoping, etc.