intexasatthe moment

I know my mother's world has shrunk as she's got older ,not that she ( or her generation ) socialised in anything like the way people seem to these days . There are lots of activities for older people in London ,Duilwich Helpline as you know run several .But a joint elderly parents + carers weekend event as you say doesn't exist . My mum wouldn't go for that - she likes to be the centre of attention and if I'm there it would be me she wants to talk to . She'd be annoyed if I took her out and then I spent time talking to others and not her .

Southwark Carers http://www.southwarkcarers.org.uk/for-carers/ offer support for carers .

Shame nobody worked within the system when Southwark were going down the Academy route and giving away all their secondary schools . And who'll remember now what your take on that was ?

Just a few facts about sponsorship funding - Since 2009 no funding has been required . Since 2007 a "comparable professional commitment " was acceptable instead of a financial one . Prior to this ,discounts were available and taken advantage of for sponsors with more than 3 Academies . With tax relief and sponsorship taking the form of endowment funds the actual cost of funding which as said was UP to ?2 million is reduced . Two more points since 2007 the government has given Academies ?288 million in start up funding . This is money over and above amounts paid to ordinary state schools . It is no longer given but certainly gave sponsors a head start to establish their reputation . As at March 2010 of Academies pledging endowment fund sponsorship , only 11% had paid what was pledged ,58% had paid nothing . All figures from National Audit Office http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/11410/1/1011288.pdf I am not suggesting that Harris hasn't paid what it pledged but illustrating why I dislike and distrust sponsorship . And of course there is my main concern - why should our children's education be dependent on cash sponsorship from private individuals ? To me it smacks of a return to Victorian philanthropy .

James - can't the LA sponsor a school ?

James - why can't the LA sponsor/set up a new primary school ?

Well put Fuschia and thank you for taking the time posting and providing figures behind the spin . I find the profilation of original Academies ,new Academies ,Free Schools confusing and I completely understand thats many are so busy getting through life that their main concern is a place for their primary school child . I think the current set up is wrong - I don't want a fragmented education system in the hands of a number of individuals with much power ,many freedoms ,little control ,opaque motivations and varying degrees of success. And who I've not voted for . And the fact that I don't know what the answer is and can't come up with alternatives ,doesn't mean that what we have now in Southwark is ok .

Yes James . Now lets see , who else would be an unsusual provider apart from faith ? I've got it ! Local authority .

Yes ,great . Harris primaries or nothing .

Just my paranoia I'm afraid . I used to work for a large non profit making charity providing sheltered housing . But the non profit making bit just meant that monies were transferred across to a seperate arm with a different name . I've seen too many wheels within wheels ,too many instances of seperate companies that aren't that seperate being given contracts . I've read too much about big companies evading tax ,organisations like W4E ,not to be cynical . I'm not saying Harris is the same ,but I just don't trust business . I think making money is in their DNA - many like Harris will strive to do some good with it ,but it's too philanthropic for my taste ,too rich man in his castle ,poor man at his gate . And I don't want that DNA/ethos leaching into education .

I too have concerns about so much state education ( funded by the tax payer ) being in the hands of a private commercial business . I realise that a seperate arm will have been set up to manage schools but I'm not completely reassured by this . There is so much misunderstanding surrounding sponsors and Free schools - many thought that sponsors of the original Academies were throwing cash at the schools when in fact they were given buildings on 125 year leases ,set up funding exceeding monies given to other local secondaries ,and government funding to refurb or rebuild old buildings . In return they were not obliged to provide any cash themselves - it was enough that they contributed " know how " . Harris Academies use a banding system so that they get a range of abilities - in middle class areas this may mean a larger intake of lower abilties than would come about if proximity to the school were the deciding factor . In more deprived areas it will mean that greater numbers of more able children are admitted than would be the case if proximity were the factor . And Harris use fair banding referenced to national abilities ( not local ) ,so the intake reflects not a fair mix of the abilities of that years intake of children in the area but a fair mix of a national profile of abilities . I'm not against banding at all but it is used to ensure that each intake includes a good number of able children rather than to ensure ( out of some Victorian philanthropic vision ) that "socially deprived " children can get in . The LA has very little power or influence on any of Southwarks secondary schools - all of whom are their own admissions authorities . Who makes up the LA Admissions Forum ? what powers does it have ? where were they when the Charter School kept refusing to recognise a particular route to the building despite several succesful appeals ? what are their views now on the requirement that children going through secondary transfer should not have to sit multiple tests set by different schools ?

Barry Rd used to be nicer when it had leaves of a lovely autumnal hue .

Venue: Christ Church Highalnd Road, SE19. Doors open 10.30am. Adults ?1 kiddiwinkles free.

Aren't all roads round here - main and other - residential ?

Thank you Strafer . Goodness only knows what I was looking at - think I clicked on Donate at the top . And now it won't take PayPal and I don't have a credit card . Aaarg ,will try again later ,maybe a temporary glitch .

OK ,call me stupid but when I go to the link to donate there seem to be several Mark Collins . I assumed it would be the Greater London one but apparently he's only raised ?10 ,so that can't be right can it ? Is it the Mark Collins in Norfolk ?? I know I'm outing myself here as an idiot as obviously loads of people have donated succesfully ,but could someone kind talk me through it ?

When trying to drive at 20 mph I find it helps to change down a gear or two .

Thanks from me as well ,very helpful .

I'd be glad to help if I can - would need an idea of what's involved ,what commitment necessary before I signed up . Let me know on here or by PM . Maybe on here so that others might be tempted as well ?

While I applaud the idea of trying to involve younger people in decision making in Southwark I'm a bit dubious about what is outlined above . Any CC I've attended has been really pushed for time ( though maybe those were the planning ones which perhaps are different ? ) and I wonder if there's sufficient time for everything listed in the first half of the meeting to be included . And ( sorry if I'm being unduly curmudgeonly ) but I can't see the relevance of Zampa the lion , Radio King ,or JAGS choir to a CC .

Thank you for responding Robin . The second half of your sentence "My understanding is that the saga with Barry Road was basically caused by spreadsheet based maintenance schedules, but the new maintenance program allows for large avenue trees to be flagged to only be scheduled to be pollarded for after the leaves have fallen in the future (which will also ensure there are no active birds nests). " is great . I'm not so sure about the first bit " caused by spreadsheet based maintenance schedules " ,the only sense I can make of it is that things were put on a spreadsheet and that meant that on paper/digitally it looked ok although back in the real world it didn't . I don't know if it does translate into that . If it does ,it's a bit sad . Computer says no . Apologies if I'm barking up the wrong tree . ( yes ,yes ,I realise that's a pun )

thuby - the link doesn't seem to work . Unless it's just me .

About 18 months ago I saw a guard at London Bridge signal a train to move in what looked to be a deliberate attempt to frighten a person who seemed to be trying to delay the train's departure by standing with one foot in the door . The guard had been arguing with the bloke moments before he signalled . I don't know if the chap was drunk /confused /whatever , but it was very very hairy - everyone on the platform was screaming and the chap was running along with the train with his clothing snagged in the door . Somehow he managed to get free .

" by rch September 22, 08:31AM For those who are interested, there will be a briefing on the Tree Management Strategy on Tues 25th Sept starting at 7pm at the Francis Peek Centre in Dulwich Park. I'll be attending, so I'll try to summarise here afterwards. -------------------- Cllr Robin Crookshank Hilton Liberal Democrat Councillor for Village Ward " Robin how did this meeting go ? Was any light shed on why the trees in Barry Rd were pollarded so early in the year ? So many trees around the borough still retain their leaves ,looking beautiful with autumn colours . The trees in Barry Rd could still be looking lovely but instead were given the chop in August while in full leaf . And were you going to raise something about trees in the Nov DCC meeting ?

Diwali fireworks tonight is it ?