James Barber

Last night attend the Dulwich Area Housing Forum - discussing issues around council tenancies and leaseholders. I was really chuffed that all the immediate issues we'd been working on for the last 6 months had beene resolved. That the 1.3% council housing rent increase finalised. BUT if you have any local council housing issues do get in touch.

Hi tulip, All Southwark orads get structurally assessed and officers advised this was the most needy road. The superficial look of roads apparently isn't a good indicator.

Council officer [email protected] is leading a counsultation about Goose Green. Fencing designed to resitrct the area used by dog walkers was removed some time ago and conusltation to see how people feel about how Goose Green feels now. The outcome will inform officers and councillors future decisions. Either tell council officers via their parks survey or request a hardcopy from Niki Efstratiou 020 7525 0707. or collect a harcopy from Dulwich Library, Goose Green Centre or Dulwich Leisure Centre.

Hi Smeltz, I've reported the Post Office bus stop road condition and the problems with roads where the bus stops outside Chener Books and Sea Cow are. I've not yet been given dats. I suspect the root cause for thee is the gas and water mains work undertaken last year and year before.

Hi themaninblack, Southwark's ?4M annual spend on road maintenace comes from Southwark's main budget. Traffic calming, road humps, etc normally come from Transport for London funding that Southwark bids for. Some limited works of this type come from Section 106 where a developer recompenses an area for the extra traffic their new development creates or Cleaner, Greener, Safer funding that each community council/ward has each year. In summary, different pots of money. Southwark Officers obtain condition reports and the road renewals are based on the condition reports. Worst obviously happening first. With time I'd hope we will catch up with the decades of under maintenance. It's a bit like a mortgage. You don't notice the principal going down for some years. Hope that makes sense. What wont have helped is this winter has had such cold freezing weather accelerating wear and tear.

Crystal Palace Road when its finally finished will have costs ?800,000. So ?4M doesn't go far but we've been spending ?4M every year for 8 years so gradually catching up with the previous decades of neglect.

Dunstans Road pavements have largely been replaced. The next step, starting on Monday, will be resurfacing the whole of Dunstans Road all the way from its junction with Upland Road to Forest Hill Road. The works will last upto two weeks and take place from 8am-5pm during daylight. These works form part of the annual ?4M road maintenance budget for Southwark Council. The work will be completed in three sections: 1. Forest Hill Road to Underhill Road 2. Underhill Road to Goodrich Road 3. Goodrich Road to Upland Road. I've been assured that letters have gone out to residents. But clearly this will have an impact beyond the immediate residents. If you know someone these works will affect please do tell them.

Hi mrsw, Roadworks will always have some periods of absent workers. Concrete and tarmac has to be left to set. Concrete ideally for over a week. The period of setting is affected by temperatures. So colder weather means longer periods where no visible work taking place. The key is knowing this. Equally, I wish fewer works were concentrated on and completed more quickly at a time. I'll ask the councillor scrutiny chairs to consider investigating this issue.

Primary school admissions. Southwark Council received more primary school applications than at this time last year by the end of January deadline. It's hoped this will reflect a lower number of late or amended applications over the next few months. Helpfully the number of online applications has risen from 300 to 1200 so the admissions teams are ahead of where they were last year with getting all the applications into the system.

I can assure you the 'boys in blue' are concerned. I've spoken to them about this. A surprising proportion are bikers themselves so they understand how expensive, annoying and inconvenient this crime is for the victims even if the value of the petrol stolen is minor. Please do report such crime so that they can get a picture of what is happening and try resolving it.

With respect to the collission site and temporary lights not having pedestrian phasing. Southwark Council officers have told me that at present no temporary traffic signals with integrated pedestrian phasing have been approved by Department of Transport for use. That this is an industry wide concern and discussions are taking place with the Department of Transport, London Council's (representing all councils in London) and Transport for London with an expectation that approval will be given. No time scales yet on this. Clearly this means that when permanent lights are replaced with temporary lights existing pedestrian phasing is lost. To deter pedestrians from chancing this ridiculous situation barriers are placed but clearly some will try dodging traffic to cross a road. This is clearly a national issue. I've asked Southwark officers what timescales they understand for type approval of such phasing by the Dept of Transport. I've asked GLA member Caroline Pidgeon if she can ask Transprot for London what they understand the timescale to be. I've also asked simon Hughes whether he could ask a Parliamentary Members Questions to the Dept of Transport when they anticipate type approval. WHen I hear something I'll feedback on my councillor thread. In the mean time I've asked officers that generally for SOuthwark where pedestrian crossing near a school will be temporary out of operation that such works take place during school holidays. Clearly many utilities undertake emergency works but where not an emergecny this would a difference.

I've been told by Southwark Council officers that at present no temporary traffic signals with integrated pedestrian phasing have been approved by Department of Transport for use. That this is an industry wide concerns and discussions are taking place with the Department of Transport, London Council's (representing all councils in London) and Transport for London with an expectation that approval will be given. No time scales yet on this. Clearly this means that when permanent lights are replaced with temporary lights existing pedestrian phasing is lost. To deter pedestrians from chancing this ridiculous situation barriers are placed but clearly some will try dodging traffic. For the specifics of the recent Forest Hill Raod work. Thames Water have made a temporary fix of a 300mm mains bringing back water supplies for 578 properties. Tonight from 8pm a permanent repair will be made. This is at a time with less traffic, most dinners have been made (needing water pressure) etc. So overall minimising inconvenience but importantly fewer pedestrians around. When I find out the timescales for this type approval for temporary lights that include pedestrian phases I'll let you know.

Hi mrsw, I've been told by Southwark Council officers that at present no temporary traffic signals with integrated pedestrian phasing have been approved by Department of Transport for use. That this is an industry wide concerns and discussions are taking place with the Department of Transport, London Council's (representing all councils in London) and Transport for London with an expectation that approval will be given. No time scales yet on this. Clearly this means that when permanent lights are replaced with temporary lights existing pedestrian phasing is lost. To deter pedestrians from chancing this ridiculous situation barriers are placed but clearly some will try dodging traffic. For the specifics of the recent Forest Hill Raod work. Thames Water have made a temporary fix of a 300mm mains bringing back water supplies for 578 properties. Tonight from 8pm a permanent repair will be made. This is at a time with less traffic, most dinners have been made etc. So overall minimising inconvenience but importantly fewer pedestrians around. When I find out the timescales for this type approval for temporary lights that include pedestrian phases I'll let you know.

More heavy snow forecast by UK MEt Office for tomorrow and Wednesday. Funny old winter.

Hi mrsw, You raise an important principle with borough wide implications. I've asked officers about why such temporary controls don't have pedestrian facilities. I'm awaiting a response.

I was contacte to ascertain if Peckham Rye posters about dog poisoning are true. Council officers have been unable to obtain any evidence these rumours are true. IF you know of any information that substantiates these rumours please get in touch with me and I'll advise the officer investigating. In the mean time any remaining posters will be removed.

I spoken with local Police. It is a very exceptional occurence and not expected t obe repeated. To reassure residents the local Police will be knocking on every door offering free property marking kits and other crime prevention information.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson budget plans for next financial year to cut Police budgets and 455 Police officers. That's probably 1 less Police officer in East Dulwich. We only currently have 1 Police sargent, 2 Police officers and 5 Police Community Support Officers. This is really dreadful and unnecessary. He doesn't need to do this. See an alternative budget that increases police numbers while reducing taxation.

Hi mikese22, Do you mean the Rail Utilisation Study consultation? Certainly no consultation broadcast to residents in London. If you were really in the know you might have found a consultation. As an elected representative I've never been consulted. The council were consulted and made it views crystal clear. Huge social disbenefits of isolating large swathes of South London from direct train services to where jobs are located in Victoria and London Bridge. Who in East Dulwich has a strong desire to commute to Dalston the alternative being proposed? I've attached the Save the South London Line latest short report.

For many months GLA Lib Dems have been highlighting that London police officer numbers are set to fall. Just before Christmas Mayor Boris Johnson was directly challenged about his proposed cut in Police numbers as per his draft budget for 2010-2011. These advanced warnings are now being picked up on and this week were reported in the Guardian newspaper. Lib Dems proposed a reversal to this cut and to also allow extra police officers for boroughs with the higher gun and knife crime while reducing the overall budget. The Lib Dem proposals can be seen in the group?s budget amendment. How will this affect Southwark and East Dulwich? 455/32 London Boroughs would result in something like one less police officer for East Dulwich. It doesn't sound much but we only have one Police sargent and two police officers supported by five Police Community Support Officers covering East Dulwich at present.

Hi dukesdenver, Your fears about Southwark are unfounded. Southwark library staff have told me that Southwark is a member of a 42 library authority purchasing consortium. This consortium has pronounced buying power and some stock is 'selected' by supplier BUT in the sense of standing orders to fulfil: - reference stock - large print materials - talking books - best selling fiction - romantic fiction - bestselling non-fiction - some categories of childrens stock. This minimises the time to get books and gets great prices. Apart from this base stock purchasing each library selects books that its found local users want. Equally in areas of adult fiction, graphic novels and childrens fiction experienced Southwark librarians select the stock required. Further purchases are made for areas that mainstream suppliers don't cover e.g. BME intersts, local history. The way books are purchased is via Electronic Data Interfaces for quotes and using EDI for invoices is being considered. The generall principles behind why stock is chosen is: - stock select as efficiently as possible - skills and kowledge of both staff and suppliers used - newly published titles avialableto librarys users asap - statistics used to inform buyers - number of different supplier used to ensure range and quality of books Any more Q's let me know.

The latest up date I have on the TfL/London TravelWatch South london Line study. Five options being reviewed. None of them keep the SLL. Option 1 : modified East London Line service from Dalston Junction of 4 trains per hour - 2 trains to Clapham Junction and 2 trains to Victoria Option 2 : modified East London Line service from Dalston Junction of 6 trains per hour ? 4 trains to Clapham Junction and 2 trains to Victoria Option 3 : A 2 trains per hour service between Victoria and Bellingham. Option 4 : A package of measures: Additional stops in 2 of the 4 existing Orpington ? Victoria services at Clapham High Street & Wandsworth Road stations outside of peak times AND additional stops in the 2 trains per hour Gillingham or Dover / Ramsgate services at Peckham Rye & Denmark Hill stations. Option 5 : A package of measures: An additional service of 2 trains per hour between Hither Green and Victoria at peak times AND running of the existing two trains per hour Dartford ? Victoria service all day, every day, which would also stop at Clapham High Street & Wandsworth Road stations outside of peak times. Analysis of these five options will complete in Mid March which will then be reviewed with Network Rail and the Dept of Transport. My hunch would be that as the SLL protests have gone quiet the report will be held back until after national elections - sure prudah will be stated. Then local Labour MPs will be safe for another 4-5 years while the service is queitly retired with above options having 'technical' reasons for not progressing. I'm having a bad cynical day.

Sad to see that Conways screwed up telling people that works were due to start. I can understand the delay for a week with all the snowy weather but delivering another letter would'nt have taken long. Amazed at report that Nunhead ward Cllr Colley finding it hard to find out what is going on with Ivydale/Marmora. The council publishes all its centrally funded highways renovations early in the financial year. Every councillor is emailed about the decision going to be taken, then all cllrs emailed later that the decision has been taken. Cllr Colley is the chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and is meant to lead on scrutinising all such decisions. Equally each community council should know how its spending its highway renovations money and when making those decisions officers point out the centrally funded plans for the community council and tell councillors roughly when they'll take place.

Hi dukesdenver, I'll officers as although I'm dead keen on the library service I've never investigated or had casework on book purchasing arrangements.

Latest Met Office weather forecast is for heavy snow in London and SE tomorrow and Thursday - a day earleir than previously expected. I've checked and Southwark COuncil has 500 tonnes of salt/grit in stock. The government is still directing via its Salt Cell that all councils only use salt at half the rates they need to. Clearly spreading half the salt a day Southwark plans for means some areas will be left without. Not a direction Southwark needs or wants to receive.