Agenda and minutes

1.1.Cllr Eiles welcomed attendees to the meeting and introduced her colleagues, Cllrs Lahai-Taylor and Penfold.

2.1.      Cllr Lahai-Taylor gave a presentation highlighting the priorities identified by the attendees and via an online survey. The methodology for reaching the priorities was explained as part of the presentation. The priorities identified were as follows:

•           Public Realm and Greening

•           Connecting the Community

•           Transport and Streets

•           Council Communication (via the Brockley Local Assembly)

2.2.      Prior to the presentation, one resident asked how the priorities were identified, as they had concerns about crime in the vicinity of Friendly Gardens. They went on to describe how a group of Young People had been targeting younger children on their way to and from school and there had been a number of thefts (there were three events in one week). Parents locally had grouped together to take turns to walk their children to and from the (321) bus stop, and the incidents had ceased, but they weren’t clear whether this was as a result of their intervention.

2.3.      Councillors agreed to follow up with the resident to explore the issue further and to consider how they may be able to support residents.

2.4.      One attendee commented that it would be helpful to have an understanding of crime across the borough. This suggestion has been noted by the officer in attendance.

2.5.      Cllr Lahai-Taylor was thanked for giving the presentation and there were no additional comments relating to the priorities that had been shared.

3.1.      Nathan Thompson gave a well received presentation about the role of the Environmental Crime Enforcement Team, showing what types of crimes they respond to, the current approaches they use to do so, and highlighting some of the specific areas in the Brockley ward that are flytipping hot-spots. Please see presentation attached.

3.2.      Attendees had a number of questions for Nathan following his presentation which included the following:

Q - How should residents dispose of or recycle items that are not small electrical items e.g. televisions and microwaves?

A - A number of suggestions were made including:

•           donating working goods to a charity such as the British Heart Foundation (who will collect);

•           using a licensed waste carrier to collect items for a fee;

•           using the council’s Bulky Waste collection service

It was also noted by a resident that there is a recycling point for small electrical goods (such as hairdryers) near the co-op on St Norbert’s Road.

Q – Why doesn’t the Council take DIY waste as other neighbouring boroughs do? It leads to more flytipping of such items as people can’t take them to the recycling centre to dispose of.

A – Nathan said that he had received similar feedback from other sessions recently delivered and would bring it to the attention of senior colleagues. He explained it was currently a policy issue, and Councillors requested details to take back to the appropriate cabinet member.

Q – Are people leaving their bins on the pavement in the jurisdiction of your team and can they be fined?

A – Bins being left out are not in Nathan’s team’s jurisdiction unless there is waste and refuse being left on the pavement from over production – Bins on streets are overseen by the refuse team who allocate bins to properties who have no off street placement making proportionate enforcement difficult if there are no waste issues present (images attached). Leaving bins on the pavement is no longer a criminal offence but the team will send out written advice until the bins that cannot be stored on the pavement are addressed. Attention was also drawn to households that may have limited bin capacity and/or space to store bins in properties with multiple homes which can exacerbate issues. It was confirmed that if unsecured waste is left on the pavement (i.e. waste not in a bin), that can be reported to Nathan’s team, will be removed and is enforceable if the offender can be identified..

Q – There are several vehicles on Harefield Mews possibly associated with the business based there.

A – Nathan requested this was reported to colleagues to check whether enforcement is possible and would need to check the highways register.

Highways map below confirms it is adopted highway (coloured in red)

Q – There is often commercial waste near the top of Upper Brockley Road near the war memorial. As rubbish begets rubbish, some people add to commercial waste that has been left out for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.1.      Katie Drew shared a presentation sent by Stephen McCulloch - Police Community support officer on the Safer Transport Team based at Bexleyheath, who currently organises all of the Community Roadwatch events for the South East which includes Bexley Greenwich and Lewisham (please see attached)

4.2.      The presentation outlined the aims of the scheme in which residents work alongside police officers to track speeding in certain areas.

•           Residents are trained to use speed cameras

•           They work outside of their own neighbourhood, but if they register, residents from elsewhere will work in their neighbourhood.

•           Notices are sent to cars caught speeding outlining their speed.

•           If the same vehicle receives 2 warnings and is caught on a third occasion, a fixed penalty notice can be issued by the police.

4.3.      The contact details for the coordinator and the scheme were shared:

Stephen.McCulloch@met.police.uk

CommunityRoadwatch@met.police.uk

Further information about the scheme can be found at: www.tfl.gov.uk/CommunityRoadwatch

6.1.      Brockley Max shared details of the Black Icons Mural, which has been endorsed by the Mayor of London. The closing date for voting is 31st March. Inspired by this, children agreed 8-19 have been invited to submit drawings of black women they have been inspired by. An exhibition of these will be held at Crofton Park Library during the Brockley Max Festival.

6.2.      The Breakspeares Mews Community Garden AGM is due to take place on 30th April at 2pm.

6.3.      The Chair of the Brockley Society spoke about their role in preserving the character of Brockley, and particularly in terms of planning. Objectors are generally given 5 mins to present at planning committee meetings, but elected members are allowed to speak on behalf of their constituents giving fuller detail of objections. The importance of the relationship with Local Councillors was emphasised as was the need to cherish and develop relationships between the wider council and the community.

6.4.      The constitution of the Brockley Society is changing to become a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) and will incorporate two types of membership - Members (who can vote) and Associate Members (open to all, but unable to vote). Details of the new constitution will be available of the Brockley Society website.

6.5.      The Hilly Fields Fayre on 24th June will mark 50 years of the Conservation Area.

6.6.      Copies of the latest Brockley Society newsletter were shared.

6.7.      A resident asked about the proposal for the Lawn Tennis Association to take over the management of the Courts on Hilly Fields, and whether the proposal for this was going ahead. Councillors said that they thought it was going ahead. It has subsequently been confirmed by council officers that the management of the courts remain in full control of the council, the refurbishments were mostly paid for by the LTA. The council continues a successful partnership with the LTA and Southeast London Tennis, who are the local club who providing a variety of tennis activities. The council hope to open the courts in early July.

7.1.      Due to the meeting nearing it’s finish time, Cllr Eiles suggested that, as much of this had been covered in the previous sections of the meeting, we would move on to AOB.

7.2.      Although this was agreed in the room, one further observation was made about making better arrangements with churches and possibly Lewisham College as possible venues going forward. This will be reviewed by the Councillors and the Community Development Officer.

8.1.      There were no requests for AOB. A reminder to complete feedback forms and leave details if wishing to join mailing list was given and attendees were thanked for coming.