James Barber

Hi Steady Eddy, I'm the chief whip. I helped review, multiple times, the latest councillors code of conduct. I've posted a copy for you to read. You have accused me of breaking rules. I have broken no rules. I have explained how you can report me if you think I've broken any rules. I'm not breaching any etiquette. Frankly I think you're misguided in your understanding. Now, please, I'd like to help people with real problems, issues and concerns.

Hi Huguenot, Earlier post you suggested rail budgets are fixed. The subsidy may be but the revenue is not. At many points on the South London Line the ticket offices are rarely open, no barriers and very rare enforcement - Denmark Hill, South Bermondsey immediately come to mind. Oyster Pay As You Go starting in early January should help. I suspect the SLL has many more passengers than recorded. Network Rail states underused service yet quite often when I've travelled on it, it feels crowded. Similar problem to the bendy or 'free' buses. I'm hopeful that the Oyster PAYG might throw up some surprising passenger usage figures that ensure SLL isn't wrongly dumped.

Hi Sue, Please accept my apologies that you had to raise the issue with me. The tree officers are generally very good. They really know their stuff. But having asked for a Betula Jacquemontii I suspect you do as well. Fingers crossed all goes to plan tomorrow despite the snow warnings.

Figners crossed late May/early June. BUT the builders are hoping to claw back 4 weeks. Then Fusion have to staff up. Late May /early June. Hope that's clearer!

Hi Marmora Man, Kings College Hospital is fine for acute treatment. However, at times it runs out of beds and has had to run Kings College Hospital wards out of disused Lewisham Hospital closed wards. Hardly satisfactory or cost effective. Several East Dulwich residents have talked to me about needing intermediate care but could only receive this at Kings in acute wards. This must be a dreadfully expensive way to provide this intermediate care. Also, they suggested the staff just weren't set up to provide this and those residents were extremely dissatisfied with the service they received. Dulwich Hospital has been providing intermediate care beds as well as other primary care type services for decades and users have been happy with it. I don't see costs savings in closing it. I don't see happier tax payers and residents by closing it. I bet no Kings College Hospital manager has ever shared with Dulwich Hospital staff the bed per night costs they should be aiming for and what they currently cost. If they haven't shared this information its becuase they're not looking for value for money but have prejudged the outcome they want.

What other schemes could we dream up to reduce crime in East Dulwich?

Hi Steady Eddy, I'm afraid despite your lengthy explanations I still don't get the problem I'm causing you. I've not stated I have any information I'm withholding from any other councillor. I have different experiences to other councillors and will draw different conclusions and priorities than them. Your suggestion that councillors only ever talk about things within their narrow ward boundaries is a form of censorship. If an issue affects residents from the ward I represent I will seek redress. Taking your suggestion to its logicial conclusion no Southwark councillor could ever comment on anything to do with Kings College hospital for example which clearly serves as many Southwark as Lambeth residents but is located in Lambeth. I'm afraid I wont be gagged. I will fight for East Dulwich residents.

Hi EDmummy, I'll enquire with the appropriate manager when some flexibility can be shown to resolve these brown bin problems and visit the households to explain. Sadly every council seems to have different coloured bins for the same purpose so anyone moving to Southwark may have thought they were doing the right thing. Dulwich Park playground. Can you send me a private message who you contacted OR forward the email so we can see if I can get the answers for you.

Hi Steddy Eddy, I don't believe I have ever knocked the South Camberwell SNT which from what I can see are doing a great job, or knocked any other Police Safer Neighbourhood Team for that matter. They work with minimal capital investment and despite that are doing great jobs. Councillors can be very territorial over boundaries. Unfortunately the boundaries can be rather odd. I often have frank discussions with Village ward councillors but sometimes they make useful observations and I like to think the East Dulwich councillors do the same for them. Peckham Rye ward Labour councillors hold many of their surgeries in the East Dulwich Community Centre which is located in East Dulwich ward. I've never complained. Its a sensible venue for their surgeries and Peckham Rye residents who live on the western side. I suspect some Labour voters in East Dulwich ward may also prefer to visit them. I've never had a piece of casework passed to me by them. Which seems a little odd if they were closely working to boundaries as you've suggested all councillors should. As with most things in life some pragmatism helps. So, back to Greendale. The dangerous kink installed in the summer was accordingly to a council officer at the time agreed with South Camberwell councillor Veronica Ward. Perhaps you weren't aware that no South Camberwell residents were consulted, or cycling groups, or walking groups or school groups or parents, or users from outside the ward - let alone a proposed site visit of interested parties posted on a forum.

Hi Steady Eddy, I made a generalisation and clearly indicated so by stating that I've helped residents from Southwark, adjacent boroughs to Southwark, from wards who elected other Lib Dem, Labour, Green and Tory councillors. In cases from south Southwark residents stated they had tried their representative but had no satisfaction. Sometimes I've been able to help them. I can't imagine you're suggesting I should refuse to help a resident when they ask state they've already unsuccessfully tried their local councillors. I'm sorry this caused you offence. If at any point you feel I've breached the councillors member code of conduct as you've suggested (see attached) then you should report me for any breach. For clarity. Many residents of East Dulwich use Greendales. It is a major walking and cycling thoroughfare. It would be remiss of me not to represent all walkers and cyclists as well as East Dulwich residents ones. I hope to meet you 5 January 8am East Dulwich Grove end of Greendales.

Hi Sue, As per PM response I've reported the tree in question. Hopefully we can get its replacement - probably January.

This is one of the election promises I stood for in 2006 - a completely renovated Dulwich Leisure Centre/Pool. My ward colleagues cllr Richard Thomas, Jonthan Mitchell and I are REALLY proud this is happening. We were speaking to the Fusion Manager on Sunday he said the new pool looks fab. Very exciting.

Hi Steady Eddy, I'm sorry I didn't make myself clearer. I have been appointed by all 63 councillors to be the cycling and walking champion for all Southwark. Greendale is a prime walking and cycling route. I receive queries from wards held by Lib Dems, Tories and Lib Dems both inside and outside Southwark. When a resident asks for help I try and help them and usually make sure they would'nt prefer to deal with their elected ward representatives. Some people prefer to deal with a person of the same party they voted for. Some aren't happy with the response when they've tried to contact their ward councillors. Hi Cora, Yes the East Dulwich Gorve end right by the railway bridge.

I suspect other parks would also want to open earlier e.g. Southwark Park. We need to ensure all areas treated fairly and consistantly. Lets see what officers come up with for all the locked bigger parks and whether we can afford it. Ruskin Park. I thought the northern east-west pathway is always open as the detour around the park would be terrible.

Ring 020 7525 2000 for a new one. HAve you ever thought of sharing bins 2 bins four flats seems generous. If not then when asking for a new bin you might want the petite size. Standard wheelie bins 240L size, petite are 180L size.

I should point out I'm the Southwark councillor Cycling and Walking champion. Also a regular user of Greendale both for walking and cycling with kids. Member of Southwark Living Streets and Southwark Cyclists. I submitted the Cleaner, Greener, Safer funding to the Dulwich Community Council that improved the southern end. Regretably the kink or chicane in Greendale was put in at the request of South Camberwell Councillor Veronica Ward. Its created an area where cyclists are zooming though taking the shortest line but so do the pedestrians. Clear in my mind it would'nt pass a proper safety audit as at some point they will collide. The officer who allowed this has now left Southwark Council. Also vehicles accessing the sports fields cut the corners and are churning up the mud. A tremendous waste of money to make this part of Greendale unsightly and dangerous. Its also made it more expensive to achieve the goal to have a wider pavement for pedestrians making it more attractive with a kerb making a clearer seperation between cyclists and pedestrians. Propose that all interest parties walk Greendale early in the new year. How about meeting at the southern end of Greendale 8am Tuesday 5 January and walking along to the northern end making lots of notes about how it would ideally be improved. I'll make sure I send an invite to South Camberwell councillors.

Hi Mellors, I will contact Southwark Councils enforcement team and ask them what they are doing about this.

After talking with council officers they have re stated that the official opening time for all Southwark parks that are locked is 8am. The unlocking is carried out by our grounds contractor Quadron as they are based in Dulwich Park. They arrive on site around 7.15 am which means it is possible to gain access by 7.30 am from the main gates at College Road and Court Lane. There has been no change to this arrangement. However as detailed in the Dulwich Park Friends Newsletter, the park locks have been changed to high security padlocks. This is needed to protect the park infrastructure due to a series of break-ins at the Caf? and Quadron yard including locks going missing. This was decided in consultation with the Friends. Since that newsletter was published a number of residents have approached the park manager revealing that they have keys to the gates and were letting themselves into the park before opening. Clearly not equitable. Some residents would like to access the park earlier in the morning. In response to this officers will ask the contractors to quote for an earlier service and review the situation based on the budget available. If Dulwich were to open earlier we would need to fairly apply this policy to all our major locked parks, and to adher to safe working practices this could only be possible in the lighter mornings from April to October. Any questions, observations, concerns let me know.

Hi Applespider, Yes, we were hugely successful distributing 1,000 property marking kits to East Dulwich homes and ran out. We've now re stocked the Police with another 1,000 kits which when fully distributed in East Dulwich would be close to 40% of East Dulwich ward homes.

One last corection. Southwark Council now charges the London average for meals on wheels. For seven years we kept the meals on wheels charges unchanged. But now have to charge the London average.

Hi Victoria, I'm puzzled with what figures you're thinking of. I suspect you're confused between in-year collection rates and total collection rates as debt is collected post year. It is hard to extract council tax from many in Southwark. Our total collection rate is 96% as per target. The same target Wandsworth and Westminster councils work to. Equally sure you'll be aware that in 2002 Labour Southwark charged the 6th HIGHEST council tax in London out of 33, Lib Dem Southwark now 7th LOWEST council tax in London out of 33 and LOWEST in SE London. Attached is extract from the last council assembly to review council tax collection.

Hi lozzyloz, The other ward councillors I've persuaded to allocate money toward crime prevention are Lib Dem colleagues in north Southwark. You could buy privately as I did from Selectamark and look for SelectaDNA (I bought myself one as felt a bit of a conflict of interest to give my self a kit paid for by tax payers). They cost ?50 retail. PS. nice photos on your website.

Hi Anna, The old wood yard used to owned by a Mr.Banfield. It now has planning permission for 6 x 3 bedroom houses. This permission was granted 26 June 2008 which obviously coincides with the recession. Hence no physical works on site. The planning permission was granted with eight conditions the first being that building work has to begin within three years else the granted scheme will lapse. Eitherway, I've ask council officers to get the site cleared up as we're going to have to live with nothing happening on this site for some time. I've also asked that the fencing be made secure. Officers will first contact the site owners and give them from memory 15 days to fix. If the owners don't then southwark fixes the problem and asked the site owners to pay for this. If they fail to pay then we have the costs charged against the land registry so any attempt to sell involves the council being paid back. As you can imagine this is painful, time consuming and costly. Fingers crossed the site owners go for the first option.

Property marking kits come with stockers for doors and windows saying the property within a house/flat has been property marked. The markings are unique to each kit and show up in UV light - you paint the stuff on. If the marked property is removed it will always have this marking. If the thief or recipients ever bump into the Police or have a visit from the Police they will be caught. Only truly stupid theifs ignore the stickers. Only truly stupid fences would'nt check for this. Hope that makes sense sophiesofa.

Hi Victoria, You paint a wonderful picture where all the decisions were taken by committee and Labour with the majority did'nt ever decide anything. Labour ran Southwark Council for 40 years. The Labour leadership proposed the outsource. The council was run by a majority of Labour councillors. That's how it worked. Please don't duck what Labour did when it was in power. Terminating Liberata. The contract is being terminated by a decision taken by a Lib Dem executive in charge of resources after Liberata failed to improve. With a two year termination clause this is a big decision and you have to have proven grounds to terminate. Yes it has proven harder to collect council tax since the recession started. The in year collection is bad hence the contract termination. The total collection hasn't dropped as bad once the post financial year is included. As it is, too many people have to be taken to court to pay. This is a sign of Southwark being one of the nations most deprived boroughs with residents finding it now even harder to pay.