Agenda and minutes

Cllr Alicia Kennedy ,Chair of the Brockley assembly, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Brian Regan – Planning Policy Manager / David Knight – Planning Officer  explained that in order to produce a neighbourhood plan, a community group must:

–        be designated as a Neighbourhood Forum by the Council

–        be designated a Neighbourhood Area by the Council

Forum and Area applications are then submitted by community groups to the Council’s Planning Policy team. Designations are made by the Mayor, who receives advice from planning officers.

Further information was given in the following neighbourhood planning presentation,

Further advice can be found:

•         on the Council’s website: Google “Lewisham neighbourhood plans”.

•         Detailed guidance and funding information available on the Locality website: http://locality.org.uk/

If you would like to contact the planning policy team to discuss further, email

planning.policy@lewisham.gov.uk, or telephone:

•         Brian Regan, Planning Policy Manager: 020 8314 8774

•         David Knight, Planning Policy Officer:    020 8314 7669

Sam Kirk - Strategic Waste & Environment Manager / David Brinson- Waste Initiatives & Prevention Officer.

Dave Brinson, Waste Initiatives & Prevention Officer from the Environment & Community Development Department gave the following presentation:

Questions from the floor:

1. William Dickson from 8 Vanguard Street

Q.        Did the Church have permission to use the Vanguard Street Car park for a festival in the summer?

A.        I've asked Lewisham’s Parking colleagues and they don't have a record of permission being asked.

Q         Did they get fined for not clearing up?

A         A report was raised for a fly tipping job on August 1st.  However, when our crews went to collect the fly tip, the rubbish was gone. The church may have tidied up the rubbish themselves. There were no other fly tipping jobs logged in that car park for August.

2. Residents from 60 Friendly Street

Q.        Opposite our house there is constant fly-tipping and the resident constantly leave their bin on Friendly street

A.        Residents should report fly tips to us. If there is any evidence then we can investigate. If there is no evidence the reported fly tip will be removed. If the residents from Friendly Street know who the fly tipping is done by then they can contact our Enforcement Team on 020 8314 7171 and provide a witness statement. If the case needs to go to court we will check that the person providing the witness statement is still happy to provide it.

Q.        The cars park too far onto the pavement  - so buggy’s, disabled etc are restricted from walking along the pavement.

A.        I've checked with Parking and there is an entitlement for the vehicles to park with two wheels on the pavement. However, the Parking Enforcement Officers will visit Friendly Street with a view to issuing warning notices if not enough room has been left for people to get by.

It was also highlighted that the following streets do not take their bins in

• New Cross Road (bit opposite Reyna restaurant)
• Cranbrook Road
• Albyn Road

These areas will receive letters from the Council

A Tanners Hill resident highlighted that the lid on bins were broken and that there should be locks on them. She also said that there should be signs on the bins as prohibited black bags are being thrown in there.

Sam said she would look into this and let her know about what can be done

Trials

Cllr Kennedy said that the trial with Phoenix looks great and would like further update on how it is going, and to bear Brockley in mind if more trials are taking place in the future.

Walkabout

Sam said she was happy to do a walkabout with Cllr Kennedy in the new year to follow up on the issues highlighted at the assembly.

- Marsha Phoenix Memorial Trust

                        - Dalmain Athletic Girls Football Club

                        - Max Media Arts

                        - Brockley Society Tree Committee

- Marsha Phoenix Memorial Trust - Anita Mckenzie – Healthy 

                        eating project

This project ran for  5 weeks consisting  of classes in healthy eating; 5 educational sessions incorporating information and teaching sessions, hand-outs and practical work the weekly topics were as follows

Week 1 The Italian job; healthy carbs

Week 2 Take away the takeaway tasty alternatives

Week 3 Eating for health prevention of infection/boosting immunity

Week 4 Ditch the diet healthy weight control

Week 5 Healthy buffet putting our learning into practice.

She explained that several of the young ladies participating presented with specific health issues and obtained one to one advice on how to eat better to help with these symptoms and as a result reported they felt better at the end of the period. This may have avoided hospital attendances or Dr’s appointments.

            - Max Media Arts - Moira Tait

Moria explained that the Brockley Max Opening Night is an outdoor event which takes place in Foxberry Road, near Brockley station.  It constituted 6 hours of music and performance, showcasing over 15 local diverse bands, performers, dancers, choirs and poets of all ages, both amateur and professional. As well as providing a great evening of entertainment, the Opening Night is the launch pad for the rest of Brockley Max, raising awareness amongst the community and generating enthusiasm for other events. The Opening Night, like the vast majority of the festival, is free and all are welcome.

The Brockley Max Festival is a 9 day community arts festival in Brockley, Crofton Park Ladywell and Honor Oak Park.  In 2014 the festival took place from 30 May – 7 June. The festival was started in 2002 with 12 events, and this year there were 45 events in outdoor venues such as Hilly Fields and Coulgate Street, and in local bars and cafes, libraries, churches and community halls, attended by over 5000 people.  Brockley Max gave opportunities for over 300 performers and volunteers to gain valuable work experience. Events include art exhibitions, workshops, music performances, comedy, theatre and dance performances, children’s events, poetry, comedy and a film night.

           - Breakspears Mews Community Garden - Jane McCallum        

Jane explained that they had another successful year helped by the glorious summer which is ideal growing weather.

• Final raised beds were built including the wildlife area with 3 ponds connected by a cascade of water.
• A small lean to greenhouse was built allowing tomatoes, melons & cucumbers to be grown.
• A bed specifically for blueberries was completed.
• Signage erected.
• Opened on average 2-3 times a week throughout the growing season, with regular attendees and less frequent ones.
• Overall 600 + visitors during the year, with over 130 signing in at the July Open Day.
• Ashmead School has held several classes at the Mews.

They are hoping for another bountiful year.

            - Bigblittleb Project- Karla Barnacle-Best

Karla explained that through this project  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Cllr Kennedy explained that the 2014/15 Brockley Assembly had two themes:

1. Creating a high-quality living environment - looking for proposals that will help improve our local living environment and make Brockley a safer, cleaner and greener place to live, work and learn. We also want proposals that seek to create development opportunities for Brockley residents

2. Connecting Communities  – looking for proposals that bring Brockley residents together, foster a sense of community spirit, mutual understanding and respect, through community projects,  events and activities. These could include those that are Art, Music, Drama and Sports based. We are also keen to open up the criteria to include ideas around exciting intergenerational projects.

Cllr Kennedy explained that there is £21,340 available for the Brockley ward in 2014-15. £5,000 of this is allocated to Youth based projects. You can apply for a maximum of £2,500 for each individual project.

These were agreed by the assembly.

How to apply

Go to the Lewisham website and type in Brockley assembly to download an application form and email completed bid to maya.onyett@lewisham.gov.uk.

Closing date for all proposal forms is Friday 30 January 2015

Cllr Kennedy highlighted that, as agreed in the previous assembly meeting, the funding of the projects will be decided at the next Brockley Coordinating meeting to be held in early February 2015. The results will then be shared at the next assembly on Tuesday 17^th March 2015.

Brockley Cross Action Group (BXAG) are still holding £7000 assembly  funding for new steps for Brockley Common - at the north where people have created a muddy shortcut up the steep bank. However, the project has been halted by the need for the Council to sign a lease/ licence with Network Rail (NR) to formally take on responsibility for the new ramp and adjoining green spaces, that BXAG maintain. As far as NR are concerned it is up to Lewisham to proceed and construct the steps, but this will need permission from NR as the landowner. The licence would facilitate this process. Rupert King from BXAG highlighted the need for Councillors' support to get this resolved and actioned. He explained that currently the project is stuck and needs the Council's input to move it forward. They would like to see the steps constructed as part of the Coulgate St improvements.

Joan Francis thanked the Brockley assembly for the over 65 club funding which was successful and enjoyed by local residents.

                       - Join the Brockley Assembly Coordinating Group 

- Feedback forms 

- Date and agenda items for next meeting:

Tuesday 17 March  2015, 7pm, Leander Community Centre

- Join the Brockley Assembly Coordinating Group             

- Feedback forms

Cllr Kennedy highlighted the importance of completing the feedback forms and invited members to join the coordinating group which plans the assembly and discusses local issues and updates . If you would like to join contact maya.onyett@lewisham.gov.uk for further information.

- Date and agenda items for next meeting:

Tuesday 17 March  2015, 7pm, Leander Community Centre