former East Dulwich councillor - how can I help?

[James Barber]

Hi shareofhouse,

The BBC link isnt working but got there via the other link.

It states 294 public bodies since 2009 have been banned some like Southwark permanently. It cited not sending back contracts in timely manner - presumably they charge a fee and I can guess how long it takes to get a legal department to check a contract especially as it will have onorous clauses - that's likely to require senior management committee authority.

I'm a member of the Audit & Goverance committee. I'll ask that it's added to the agenda as clearly something happened and councillors have not been made aware. I;l let you know what I find.

[EDLove]

Hi James

This may have already been addressed elsewhere on the forum but, as the situation doesn't appear to be changing, I wondered if you know who is responsible for the area around the footpaths up to the platforms at ED station. The new lights outside the station are lovely (thank you), but the litter is an eyesore (which is especially bad when this is the first part of ED any visitors might see) and a danger to any wildlife living in that area.

Any help with this would be much appreciated. Thank you! :)

[James Barber]

Hi EDLove,

Yes I agree it's hugely embarassing that so much litter is dropped let alone not picked up at our station.

Southern.

I regularly contact them about East Dulwich station issues. Litter is always mentioned and I've asked how we can permanently sort it out. But its all becoming a horrible grot spot.

Would anyone be interested in forming a Friends group?

Regards james.

[James Barber]

Hi Rhinestone Cowboy,

We were going to have a conference call - local ED and Peckham Rye councillors with the cabinet councillor and officers. Sadly conference calls are beyond Southwark Council. I kid you not.

So instead we've been asked to give to give our written feedback.

I've lent my support that the Friern Road experimental traffic order be made permanent. Number of reasons including traffic evaporation, safer area around the school and cycle provision.

[James Barber]

Hi rahrahrah,

Just psotted that I've not followed up on your complaint aobut Heber School rubbish collecitons taking place at 5am.

Sorry. And have now started finding out about this.

[first mate]

James, I've asked you a question on the M&S application thread.

[James Barber]

Thanks for the prod as it would have been some time before I spotted the quesiton you placed on the M&S thread.

[James Barber]

James Barber Wrote:

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

> The planning application for new 100+ nursery places at Crown House, 41-43 East Dulwich Road was refused by > Southwark Council but the applicant has appealeded it.It was refused as the council doesnt think they've made enough > efforts to lease it as office spaces portecting local > employment. And also no transport report.

>

> The former is odd as with such huge shortages of nursery places many are unable to go back to work. So this feels a > red herring or illconceived. The transport issues interesting. When the council applied next door it was allowed BUT > on the condition they produce a Travel Plan.

>

> So I've contacted the planning inspector who will decide the appeal supporting the application IF a condition for a > Travel Plan is added. The planning inspector can be contacted at: [email protected] reference APP/A5840/A/12/2185756/NWF

>

> What's very frustrating is that until May 2012 this planning application would have been decided

> by the dulwich Community Council but instead

> council officers miles away made the decision -

> wrongly in my mind.

Just been notified that the appeal was successful. Please see attached.

Hopefully this nursery will proceed providing 100+ places. Chuffed to see my support reflected in the write-up of why the appeal was successful.

[fazer71]

James

Not sure if this has been brought to your attention before but on Lordship Lane all the pavements have parts which now puddle quite badly in places.

It's particularly deep in patches between the Police station and Calloway Locks.

Any chance of getting the contractors back do the job properly ?

[James Barber]

Hi fazer71,

Yes, their are a number of puddles around there. The problem in many cases is the private pavement areas.

If you felt able to list the puddles on council highway I'd be happy ot raise them all as requests to be fixed.

[EDLove]

Hi James

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly.

I'm sorry to hear that even your requests are not being listened to by Southern because, as you say, the area is quite embarassing.

Can they just keep failing to deal with it? Would it make much difference if the contact details of the relevant person(s) at Southern were given so that those who care about it enough are able to exert some additional pressure?

Thanks again.

[fazer71]

Hi James

I'll have a go next time I go past.

Many of the puddles are are caused by slabs which have sunk over time below the level of the curb, looks like poor quality job to me.

Cheers

[edhistory]

F.M.Conway?

John K

[TopTree]

Roots/bottom of pavement trees - all along LL - need filling with chippings/other.

[James Barber]

Hi EDLove,

I've also reported the broken light at the top of the ramp from platform 2.

If they keep failing to clean it then I believe we have recourse to an Environmental Act. Bit atomic but if its not fixed by the middle of next week will start that ball rolling. Might need a private posecution which would be interesting if relationship destroying.

Hi Fazer71,

I feel guilty for asking but it would be immensely helpful. With have a little sum of money we could use if we precisley document what we're asking for.

Hi TopTree,

Will look into organising this again - we did this two years ago with expectation it would be come a regular maintenance habit. How wrong.

[Toby]

I have an ongoing issue with Southwark parking, I CC'ed James Barber into an email, he replied in 2 minutes, very impressed!!!! So big thank you to him.

[first mate]

James I asked you the following on the M&S thread, but decided to post here as you had not replied:

James,

Thank you. Do you know what the amended plan AA is? I have tried and failed to access this document several times.

This document is listed at the top of the apllication as follows:

Amended plan 1121/P (--)154 REV PE - PROPOSED SECTION AA 2013-02-21

Please noet the date for this. Still no sign of a decision.

[James Barber]

Hi first mate,

I've been assured this week by the officers concerned that will officially release their decision - to refuse.

The Southwark website documents often confuse PC's and you need to press "Ctrl -" to reduce the size and then miraculouly the document appears. Please try that.

regards james.

EDITED To make it clear "Ctrl -"

[UncleBen]

Dear James Barber, if businesses are responsible for pavements at the front/side of their premises as area is within their curtilage and therefore do not need permission or a licence from the council to put tables & chairs out eg EDT, then can it be proper for council street sweepers to sweep the said areas?

[James Barber]

Hi UncleBen,

Leaving their frontages open makes the pavements practically wider. In return for this their fornatages have litter picking and a monthly sweep. That doesnt seems a terrible exchange.

[UncleBen]

Hi James Barber,thanks for the reply. Interesting, but not quite sure how tables & chairs that can't be walked over,negociated with a wheelchair or pram makes a pavement wider as it is unusable? Maybe I'll take down my front garden fence and get it cleaned for free!

[James Barber]

Hi Uncleben,

I wasn't referring to those premises but rather the likes of ED Deli or shoe shop. Equally if litter is left it had a habit of blowing around. Bigger isue to me is the frequency of street sweeping.

[James Barber]

Dulwoich Librsry reopening is delayed by a week or slightly more. Discovered some asbestos and also not using shop fitting methodology for speed.

[first mate]

James,

I've put another question for you on M&S site.

[James Barber]

Hi first mate,

I've responded on the requested thread.