Agenda and minutes

Note: The assembly meetings do not provide verbatim minutes. The below are notes taken at the meeting to reflect the nature of the discussions.

Welcome

Cllr Stamirowski opened the meeting and welcomed the attendees to the first in person assembly meeting since before the pandemic.

She made reference to the ward boundary changes and highlighted that a number of roads were no longer part of Catford South but were now in Hither Green.

The new map of Catford South ward boundary is attached to this agenda item.

Environmental Crime Enforcement – Nathan Thompson, Environmental Crime Enforcement Manager, Environmental Crime Enforcement Team, Lewisham Council

Nathan Thompson gave an in-depth presentation about how Lewisham Council are tackling fly-tipping, litter and other environmental crimes.

Information on this subject given to residents at the meeting included:

·        Who the Hybrid Environmental Crime Enforcement Team are and their overall aims

·        The scope of the Environmental Enforcement Team

·        Ways the team are tackling Fly Tipping & Litter, waste on private land, and abandoned Vehicles/ Roadside Repairs from garages.

Mr Thompson also provided attendees with a number of Catford South specific statistics and highlighted that Catford South is in the middle bracket for recorded fixed penalty notices across the borough.

Since April 2022, 45 fixed penalty notices have been issued to residents and businesses situated in the Catford South Ward.

Environmental issues recorded by the team in Catford South are mostly with household waste being left on residential streets. Evidence is mostly found from flats above shops and some local businesses, over production of household waste from HMO’s and Roadside vehicles repairs from mechanics.

Mr Thomson also highlighted the use of CCTV camera enforcement and how the team were engaging with the local community to rise awareness of their enforcement remit through engaging, educating, and encouragement before leading to enforcement. The team also attend local litter picks, have regular patrols at hotspot areas, working with the local police and safer neighbourhood teams and leaflet drops in hot spot areas.

Mr Thompson took questions from the floor.

Questions and comments included:

Clarification over enforcement on roadside repairs, Mr Thomas made it clear that this enforcement would in no way would penalise someone who had legitimately broken down and were awaiting assistance, but was focused on businesses using public highways for business repairs.

Mattress collection, Mr Thomas referred people to Lewisham Councils mattress collection service, but did state that this was a very popular and busy service. https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/wasterecycle/dispose-of/book-a-free-mattress-collection

There was clarification that enforcement was not around the condition of private front gardens with regard gardens being overgrown or generally messy. Only if refuse sacks were left in gardens.

Several statements were made by attendees that Lewisham’s Tip was not easily accessible and that there were lots of items that the tip would not take, many felt this encouraged fly-tipping. A suggestion was made to change the website to reflect that after 10am you don’t need to book an appointment at the tip.

Other comments were around the blue clothing boxes being red rags for fly tippers, and the time it takes for things to be cleared once reports have been made, a suggestion was made that there are status updates on issues to prevent multiple reports on the same issue. Mr Thompson stated that CCTV camaras are now at the most fly tipped clothing box areas and advocated using the Love Clean Streets app, but also highlighted the contact information for the team and encouraged people to continue to report issues and get updates:

envirocrime.enforcement@lewisham.gov.uk
Tel: 020  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Lewisham Works – Hazel Dales, Principal Jobs and Skills Officer, Economy and Partnership Team, Lewisham Council.

Hazel Dales gave the audience a presentation on Lewisham Works . Lewisham Works is a free service for Lewisham residents seeking support to gain new skills and get a job Lewisham Works is a free service to support unemployed residents in to good jobs.

The team work closely with training partners and businesses to provide pathways into a range of jobs in various sectors.

Who is Lewisham Works for. Lewisham residents, 18+ years of age who are Unemployed. If you are a business who would like to recruit local talent, then Lewisham Works can support you too at no cost to your business.

Lewisham Works will assign you a dedicated Account Manager who can recruit local talent to your vacancies.

Contact the team via email on: Jobsandskills@lewisham.gov.uk

What Lewisham Works offer:

·        Flexible, tailored 1:1 advice and guidance from a dedicated advisor

·        Help with CV’s, job applications and interview techniques

·        Access to local training, job vacancies and apprenticeships

·        Advice on benefits, debt and other money-related matters.

Face to Face appointments can be held at:

·        Unit 19, Lewisham Shopping Centre

·        Old Town Hall, Catford

·        Catford Library

·        Lewisham College

·        Deptford Library

·        Downham Library 

Appointments can also be virtual, using MS Teams or Whatsapp video, as well as phone calls.

Lewisham Works - Young Futures

The team are now based in “Unit 19” – Lewisham Shopping Centre

Specialist advisers offering tailored 60 minute 1:1 appointments Based Mon-Fri in Central Lewisham

Accepting aged 18-25 referral, or up to 30 with additional needs 

We have fully funded places on Circle Collective programmes, and other opportunities

For more information about Young Futures, get in touch with us via email: youngfutures@lewisham.gov.uk

The presentation also included video case studies explaining more about Lewisham works and of people who have benefitted from the service.

Ms Dales then took questions from the floor

Questions/Comments.

There were questions from the floor around Lewisham Works relationship with Job centres etc and Ms Dales confirmed that links with the DWP were strong and Lewisham works got many referrals from the DWP. Ms Dales also confirmed that the service was for anyone out of work, not just those on unemployment benefit.

There was an interesting discussion point from resident about futuristic employment, tech based and green industry jobs. Ms Dales confirmed that she was working with the wider sector, particularly in the city, to bring these employment opportunities to Lewisham residents.

Culverley Green RA

The Chair of the Culverley Green residents association gave a brief update on the activities currently going on in the resident association and on the green. During the last two years CGRA have worked on the Green trying to improve it. They have through bids, renovated planters and are in the process of having a new planter installed together with an accessible bench.

CGRA  have had plant sales and had their summer /jubilee fair

CGRA are planning to have our usual Easter egg hunt on the Green on Easter Sunday. We now have two book boxes in the area, one on Arran Road and one on Inchmery Road. They are about to install one on the Green Itself.  Ms Richardson thanked a resident called Alice who had built the boxes.

The CGRA also hope to have BYO coronation picnic on the green in May and a summer Fair later on, as well as the usual pumpkin competition and Autumn tidy up.

Together with the Ravensbourne RA members of CGRA have taken part in litter picks in the two areas as well as Forster Park.

Contact CGRA on http://www.culverleygreen.org/home.htmlculverleygreenresidents@gmail.com

CRA

Chair of the CRA Lorraine Joseph did a brief presentation and showed attendee slides of photographs community engagement events. She reminded attendees that the CRA was formed in 2010, to bring the community together and to keep the library within the local community and to get the healthy lifestyle centre on Abbotshall Road up and running. The CRA achieved those goals and since then have worked more in community events.

Last year the organisation ran the successful CorbFest event and that bought families together and connected people to their community better. The CRA get no funding, so whenever the put on any events, they pay the money back into the community. Last year the CRA made donations to the Ella Roberta Foundation, to the food bank, to Taunton school and the Lewisham donation hub.

Contact CRA on www.facebook.com/CorbettRes/           corbettresidents@gmail.com

Ravensbourne RA

Chair of the Ravensbourne resident association gave a presentation about the are of the ward their association covers and work of the RA. She explained their current priorities including monitoring HMOs, parking and traffic, planting trees and community clean ups.

She reiterated that they were a small group and have recently lost a few key members through illness and people moving away. At a recent members meeting around 30 people attended and all agreed that they definitely wanted to keep the RRA going, Mrs Smith did a call out for anyone interested who wants to get involved as a general member or to be part of the committee she would be very keen to hear from people. Ravensbourne8974@gmail.com

Conisborough RA

Paul Casey from The Conisborough Resident Association provided an update to attendees about their RA, Their RA covers the part of the ward that is New to Catford South after the boundary changes and used to be in the Whitefoot Ward. The RA is very informal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

NCIL project updates

Cllr Stamirowski gave the audience a reminder of what NCIL funding was and introduced the following projects to give feedback on their work so far.

Diamond Club update

Lesley Allen presented about the diamond club which has been about reducing isolation and loneliness and promoting health and wellbeing for older people. She showed a photo montage of older people enjoying the activities of the diamond club and she highlighted the work the Diamond Club have done over the last couple of years. Directly funded by NCIL is the weekly exercise sessions at the Dimond Club, seated Yoga delivered by a local practitioner, and entertainment – where possible using local talent they have also been doing arts and craft session and have workshops. They also put on a number of events, most recently a Valentine's themed bring me sunshine event. Lesley thanked the audience for the NCIL funding and for the warm appreciate if her presentation. The Video is attached to this agenda item.

-         Therapy for healing update

The CEO of Therapy for Healing, Naomi Louise gave an update on he NCIL funded project providing massage therapy for older people. The organisation was awarded £3500 to provide sessions to older people to support their general health and wellbeing, stress relief dry skin issues and muscle pain relief. The NCIL funding has allowed Therapy for healing to provide sessions once a month at the diamond club for 2 years.

Forster Memorial Park update

Rachel Deacon from the Friends of Forster Memorial park gave an update on the work that the Friends group have been doing over the last few years. Ms Deacon highlighted some of the specific work that had been done in the park and described the upcoming work that was being delivered using the NCIL funding. They are currently working on their priorities that came out of local consultation. Including nature plat, rewilding and improving the play area for children. Improving the play area was the most common outcome of the consultation. They are also working on improving the area for teenage girls, as girls are underusing the park because they feel unsafe. The group will be codesigning the play area with local schools, youth services and residents and are working with a group called ‘Make space for Girls’ who specialise in developing these areas. Over the next 6 months the group will be running a consultation with young people. Contractors have now been agreed and should be surveying the area in the next few months. She welcomed people who might be interested in joining the committee or the user group in general, to contact her or the Friends Group.

Contact email: foforstermemorialpark@gmail.com

Cllr Stamirowski encouraged people to use the Forster Park Café.

Information Items

Public Spaces Protection Order. Cllr Stamirowski highlighted that the Public Space Protection Order consultation, A PSPO is an additional tool that gives the Police and Council Officers powers to help reduce specific anti-social behaviours. There was a QR code and link on the agenda documents. Councillors Stamirowski encouraged residents to take part in the in the consultation. The consultation closes on 30 April. https://consultation.lewisham.gov.uk/public-protection-and-safety/borough-wide-public-space-protection-order-consult/

Article4. HMOs 6 bedrooms/people or less are allowed to be built without planning permission. Article 4 direction means that planning permission will be required before a single family dwelling house can be converted into a small house in multiple occupation (HMO). This has been sadly delayed due to a clerical error, the process had to start again. that’s why it is later than originally hoped. The Article 4 will cover the whole of the borough and is in process.

Questions/Comments.

It was clarified that the article 4 directive will not be retrospective.

Clarification sought that previously submitted evidence collected by the community of Catford South – including but not limited to a 1000-person petition would still be used or of it would need to be submitted again. Councillor Royston confirmed that existing evidence collected would be re submitted. During AOB there were requests for more information and updates at a future meeting.

Support for Junior Park Run in Forster Memorial Park. Local resident Liz Fox provided attendees information about the Junior park run and asked for support to get it up and running. She explained that park runs were not open for crowd funding so was also looking for suggestions around possible funding avenues. She also did a call out for any volunteers who were interested in supporting the park run going forward. Ms Fox provided written information and contact information for residents to take home.

Contact email to support park run at Forster Memorial Park: liz@arrowship.com

Seven Fields Primary Care Network. Trevor Pybus, the community development worker for Seven Fields PCN did a brief presentation about the work of the PCN, explaining that as well as begin a group of surgeries and pharmacies they also do a lot of project work and sometimes have some funding available. Mr Pyybus spoke about the patient participation group and did a call out for anyone who was interested in being involved to contact him. He provided written materials and contact details for attendees to take away.

Contact Trevor about Seven Fields PCN: downhamcommunityproject@hotmail.co.uk

•        Co Group call out for new members

Councillor Stamirowski updated the attendees about the important role played by the coordinating group to be the voice of residents at the assembly planning meetings. The co group meetings usually happen around 4 weeks prior to these local assembly meetings and the councillors and co group representatives work together to plan the agenda for the public meetings with the support of the coordinator. She asked anyone interested in getting involved, or if you were previously involved to re confirm your commitment by contact the assembly coordinator about joining the group.

Contact Catford South Assembly coordinator: lucy.formolli@lewisham.gov.uk

Cllr Stamirowski welcomed the new councillors to the ward – Cllr James Royston, Cllr Natasha Burgess.

Sustainable Streets.

Questions and concerns were raised about the Sustainable streets consultation. Residents expressed concerns about controlled parking outside of community centres which could be detrimental for older people and that many people felt that they didn’t need controlled parking in every street across Lewisham, others were concerned that parking issues would be pushed to streets that didn’t go ahead with the controlled parking. There was a call that this be included on a future agenda so that more time could be given to discussions and the appropriate officers be invited.

Councillor Royston updated the assembly about the background to the sustainable street’s consultation for the pilot areas, which closed on the 5^th of March 2023 and that the first 2 pilot areas were focused around Deptford and Catford Stations. He confirmed that it was a consultation and views of residents on roads would be taken into account. What happens with Phase 2 will also be dependant on the outcome of Phase 1. Catford South is in phase 2 and the assembly would pick this up at the appropriate time.

There was a request for an update on the Bromley Road retail park, Cllrs asked resident to follow up with them directly.

There were comments from attendees that they would like to hear more about HMOs and article 4 at a future meeting.

The Catford Alliance – New Community Group

A member of the newly formed Catford Alliance introduced the group to the attendees and gave some background about how and why the group was formed and their focus areas, including a vested interest in the Catford town centre. They are a partnership of local groups and individuals and specifically made reference to their hope that the Conisborough Crew would join the group and did an open call out for anyone interested to get involved. They hope that the group will allow local voices to be heard earlier in consultations and council decision making and will be holding meetings in the coming months with partners and key stakeholders.

Twitter: @CAll_SE6

Father Charles of St Laurence Church thanked the assembly for using their venue for the meeting and encouraged local groups to use and hire the facilities. Cllr Stamirowski highlighted that St Laurence had installed a sustainable heat pump in the centre.

The coordinator asked that people take time to fill out the feedback forms as they are an important way to make the meetings better in the future.

Cllr Stamirowski thanked everyone for coming and closed the meeting