former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[James Barber]

Last year we bought 1,000 residential property marking kits and another 50 for schools and similar. The local Police and Community Wardents helped distribute them free to locals. The affect on burglaries has been startling. Generally before 10-12 burglaries in East Dulwich ward and now around 2.

To ensure we lock in this success we've just arranged the purchase of another 1,000 such kits.

If you'd like one let me know - tell me your name, address, contact number.

[Townleygreen]

Thanks James I appreciate your advice. Keep up the good work.

[Bic Basher]

I thought Croydon based C®apita had the contract for housing benefit/council tax collection before Southwark took it in-house again then reawarded it to Liberata?

[James Barber]

Hi Bic Basher,

Southwark doesn't use Capita.

Housing benefit and council tax used to be done in-house by Southwark until around 1997/98. It was then outsourced by Labour to CFL.

CLF were so outrageously bad that it was one of the 2002 local election issues - Housing benefit cases taking over 6 months to decide resulting in council tenants being evicted. Truely awful. Lib Dems won 2002 local elections sufficiently to run a minority adminstration. CFL then became Liberata with new people. Lots of priority to improve things by the Lib dem adminsitration - reviewing every complaint, etc. they then improved and became award winning.

Recently they've not kept up with how others have improved. The contract agreed in over ten years ago has two year termination notice period. Very clever for local government as politicians elected onfour year terms.

Eitherway we issued that contract termination earlier this year. Preperations for taking this over are in hand.

Hope that clarifies things for you Bic Basher.

[James Barber]

How is 10:10 progressing amongst London's local authorities?

Time Out 10:10 map of London

Last week the Greater London Authority also signed up to 10:10. It nearly did this in September but the Conservative members walked out blocking the debate. Guess they did'nt feel they could block climate change measures in the same month as Copenhagen.

[VikkiM]

It?s worth stating that the 1998 decision was under the old committee system and that all the Lib Dem and Conservative members voted for the contract to go to CSL/Liberata and it was only the Labour members who were split (these decisions were unwhipped).

However, we are where we are and I think the key thing is what James says about Liberata not improving. In fact the stats show that they have been getting progressively worse and worse since 2005. This year?s figures, for example, show that Southwark has the lowest rate of council tax collection in London and the third worst in the country. This equates to a huge loss of money each year that could be spent on vital services ? around ?5million if Southwark were at the average rate for England.

Labour have been pushing for Liberata to be sacked since February 2008 (which would mean the service would be back in-house by early next year) but the Lib Dems decided to stick with them. Finally, largely as a result of the Labour campaigning, the contract has now been terminated.

On the 10:10 initiative ? great news that the campaign is progressing and spreading. Perhaps we could have a topic (Lounge?) to share people?s 10:10 tips?

Victoria

Peckham Rye Labour

[email protected]

[James Barber]

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.

[*Anna*]

I was wondering if you could tell me any more details about the old wood yard area on Underhill Road / Barry Road junction. I know it was sold and planning application given for houses but that was over a year ago and now it is just becoming a tipping yard - a mattress appeared overnight yesterday. The plants disrupt people passing by, the wire fencing is constantly being inteferred with and is incredibly unsightly!

[VikkiM]

Hi James

I didn?t intend to paint a wonderful picture as you well know. I was trying to paint a fairer picture than the one you painted above which intentionally suggested that the current mess is all down to decisions taken years ago by Labour rather than a much more recent Lib Dem failure to keep on top of what?s been happening.

The fact remains that the figures have been getting worse over a number of years and that this trend predates the recession. Whilst there is obviously merit in Labour acknowledging what it did or did not do right many years ago, it?s equally or much more important that the Lib Dems acknowledge what?s happening now. The Liberata contract was extended by you in 2008 despite there being clear evidence of problems and Labour actively campaigning that you needed to sack them. Your recent u-turn in policy in very welcome but I do think you?re stretching the truth if you are trying to hail this as a Lib Dem victory after years of terrible Labour policy.

Southwark is one of the most deprived boroughs but many other deprived boroughs have better collection rates. It?s also vital that we don?t simplify this in to just being about people not being able to pay ? it?s also about many people who could pay who are not and about many people who want to pay coming across administrative or other problems at Liberata.

And if Southwark was better at collecting this money the very deprived people that you speak about might not have been put under increased financial pressure by the 50 per cent hike in meals on wheels or some of the other particularly nasty policies and cuts that you have made in recent years.

Victoria

Peckham Rye Labour

[email protected]

P.S. I realise that I've probably hikjacked what is a very useful thread for many - apologies. James as it's your thread you'll get the last say on this now ;-)

[James Barber]

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.

[*Anna*]

Thank you for the info and so quickly too!

[James Barber]

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.

[James Barber]

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.

[Mellors]

James

Thank you for your helpful thread.

I am wondering what is going to happen re Dulwich Van Hire who are based at 38 Barry Rd.

Planning permission was given some time ago to convert the business yard to residential premises. This is now well underway, but the company are still running their business from a portacabin on site. There is no longer any parking for the vans that they hire out, so these are now parked in the surrounding streets (Barry/Upland/Tyrell/Henslowe etc), adding to an already very difficult parking situation.

I have spoken to the council, who state that they should no longer operate the van hire business as the planning permission changed the use of the site from commercial to residential. However, when I called the company they basically told me to get lost. That rather feels like having your cake and eating it and is very annoying for local residents.

Is there anything we can do about this?

[James Barber]

Hi Mellors,

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

[Sue]

JBARBER Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi Sue,

> Sorry for not getting back to you sooner.

> Exceptionally busy 4 weeks at work, home and

> councillor.

> Can you tell me the detailed location of this tree

> that hasn't been properly replaced and I will

> chase it up.

> Also, useful to have any reference number or your

> full name and address to tie your query with my

> query.

xxxxxxxx

Thank you, I will PM you with this information.

[James Barber]

Hi Sue,

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

[Steady Eddy]

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[sophiesofa]

I don't see the problem, James is the "appointed by all 63 councillors to be the cycling and walking champion for all Southwark" so he is trying to sort an issue out related to his role. He might not have realised that other councillors were looking into it. As long as someone/anyone sorts it out it doesn't really matter. That's just my opinion and you are of course entitled to your Eddie and I'm sorry you have been upset but I don't think James did it on purpose. For the record I have no idea who I'm going to vote for yet.

[James Barber]

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.

[Loz]

My councillors need to be informed prior to any arrangement being made so they can make it a fair, 'working together' exercise.

My councillors? Would you like to declare your political interests in all this, SteadyEddy? Seems like you are having a pop at James Barber for working above and beyond the call of duty, which is the sort of petty political posturing we can do without.

Having people like Mr Barber and Casey Jones of ED Station on these boards is fantastic.

[Steady Eddy]

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[EDmummy]

Rubbish bins on pavement overflowing at the Underhill Road end of Hindmans Road. Seems they have not been emptied because residents have put rubbish in the brown bins. Whatever bins this food waste has been put in, after not emptying them for over a month they are now causing a health hazard. Of course, I can report this to the Environment Team for them to sort out when I have time but there must be some greater responsibility taken by the refuse teams whether they are household or garden waste teams.

Whilst I am at it, sent an email to the team in charge of Dulwich Park about the state of the playground and asking for their long term plans for this area (play equipment is seriously out dated). Four months have past and no reply. How long should I expect to wait for a response?

[James Barber]

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.

[James Barber]

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.