Agenda and minutes

Introduction and welcome to your new Councillors:

·        Cllr Paul Upex,

·        Cllr Maja Hilton,

·        Cllr Peter Bernards      

Cllr Upex, Chair of the Forest Hill Assembly welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced fellow Councillors; Cllr Hilton and Cllr Bernards.

Pat Trembath outlined SEE3 Neighbourhood Planning Legacy which means that the centre of Forest Hill will be, and the Willow Way Triangle in Kirkdale has been, the subject of in depth analysis.  Forest Hill Society will be holding a "Charrette" on Saturday 19 July and are inviting local town planners, urban designers and people with expertise to brainstorm ideas about what can be done to improve the area around the centre of Forest Hill on both sides of the station.  Local residents are invited to have their say at 4pm the same day. The outcome will be reported to the next Assembly.

With regards to Kirkdale, Pat outlined  the process which had been happening over the past 9 months since a group of some 20 local residents and traders had met to discuss the poor planning and lack of enforcement which has blighted one part of Kirkdale "High Street".  

She introduced Andrew Budd, a practising architect and Senior Lecturer at Kingston University School of Architecture, who is a member of the Sydenham Society's Conservation and Planning Committee.  Andrew had offered the resources of the past year's post-graduate students, working on their Master's degree, by giving them the "live" project of working with local residents to come up with ideas on how to improve Kirkdale.

A number of workshops had been held over the past year and the group had agreed that the council-owned redundant depot site (currently being used as a decant site for Adamsrill School) held they key to improvements.  This site was part of a larger one strategically designated for industrial/employment use.  It was felt that to improve the area it was necessary to persuade Lewisham Council to change its designation to "Mixed use". A model of the area had been produced and was used to describe what other uses might be identified as lacking locally in several years time - a Dr's surgery, possible educational needs, residential and facilities for possible start up businesses?  A 30-page document is currently being produced which would be submitted to Lewisham Planners to support the proposal for a change of designation. When ready this would be emailed to Maya Onyett for circulation. At the end of the presentation there was general agreement with the ideas promulgated.

PC Michael Hill ,the designated ward officer for Forest Hill told the meeting that in terms of crime, that is burglaries, robbery, and crimes against a person, statistics in Forest Hill are down. Information on this can be found on Lewisham’s website, Forest Hill ward, for the crime mapping system.

The Commissioner wants the Police to engage with a million Londoners to set up a Database that would act like a Neighbourhood Watch type scheme without the meetings and other duties. All they require is resident’s name, address, phone number and email address and  updates on crime trends and local information will be sent. He also said that it is a two way arrangement so residents can also update the police on any antisocial behaviour and crimes that they might witness.

He highlighted that they want to set up a new Youth ward panel for ages 13 – 17, they have an existing Adult panel and made a plea for any young people who are interested in joining.

For more information contact:

ForestHill.snt@met.police.uk

• Find out from young people about their experiences on the projects that the assembly funded in 2013- 14.

Patricia Howell with young participants from the Re- Connect programme updated on how the assembly funded programmes are going at Kelvin Grove School and Platform One.

The Overall aimof the Re-Connect Programme is to ‘Raise Aspirations and Change Behaviour’

She explained that they do this by facilitating and providing an environment where young people are taught and allowed to develop new skills to help them transition positively through different stages in their adolescent life. Typically from junior to teens. They also equip young people with varying methods to assess, reflect and act positively towards change, build confidence and go on to become a positive member in the wider community.

The following are comments made by children accessing the programmes:

Aged 11

I liked when we talked about feelings. I don’t need to be scared when people surround me.

Before I did not put hand up in class but now I do it more often

I like that you encourage me to do stuff and tell me the right things to do, I have fun most times

I want to be a mechanic, concentrate on work and not get involved with silly stuff in the classroom

Aged 10

I like how you play a variety of games, teaches good behaviour, I could not manage emotions properly before.

I liked working with (named 4 staff members) it helped to build my confidence and helped me focus on behaviour

Aged 10

I thought it was going to be boring not good, enjoyed playing group activities and sports games, learnt how black boys are more likely to go to prison because of bad behaviour. So understood to behave in class and not get in trouble, I would like to be a footballer or formula 1 driver. I would like to be in top group in class in all subjects. At first I didn’t want to come to the programme but now I don’t mind coming its 50/50

Aged 10

I learnt to focus and behave in class, to play fair and talk to others properly

Aged 11

I take out my anger on people so it’s calming when I come

I like football and playing activities

I use to be a lot more rude

I never used to care about other people’s feelings

Aged 10

It will help me to move into year 6 so I won’t have problems, I enjoyed all the sessions I attended. Sessions have helped me to be more open to talking about certain things. Before the programme I had some issues at school and felt isolated and could not resolve them. I try to be kind and respectful to others and would like these sessions to be extended so we could have more time.

For more information contact:

patriciahowell@lite-wavescp.org or visit
www.lite-wavescp.org          

·        Tell us what is important to you in Forest Hill and think about how we can spend this year’s  £12,500 Assembly Fund.

Cllr Upex asked the assembly to discuss what is important to them in Forest Hill and think about how we can spend this year’s  £12,500 Assembly Fund. Ideas were written down and can be found in FH issues and Feedback July14 spreadsheet. Contact maya.onyett@lewisham.gov.uk for spreadsheet.

·        Consultation on Longfield Crescent and Wood Vale Housing new build schemes as part of New Homes, Better Places programme.

·        The Windmill

·        Employability Programme

New Homes , Better Places Programme- presented by Leigh Pattison, summary as follows:

July 2012                    Target of 250 new homes set by Mayor and Cabinet.

September 2012       Feasibility studies with architects commences.

May 2013                   Mayor & Cabinet agreed to progress Mercator Rd site as Phase 1 of the programme.

Summer 13                Lewisham Homes to progress the New Build programme.

September 2013       Planning permission for Mercator Road received.

December 2013        Mayor & Cabinet  agree to progress the next five sites of around 100 homes as Phase 2 of the programme

Agreed 80/20 ratio of rent to private sales with private sales cross subsidising the rented homes           

February 2014           Mercator Road starts on site

March 2014               Mayor & Cabinet agree to bid for GLA grant for Phase 2 homes

May 2014                   Target for new homes Council homes doubled to 500

June/July 2014          Consultation with residents on the Phase 2 sites

September 2014       Mayor & cabinet approval sought to progress Phase 2 sites to planning

September 2014       Planning for Phase 2 sites submitted

September 2014       Approval sought to progress with feasibility studies on Phase sites

The Windmill  - Mary McKernan gave a brief summary to the meeting about the Windmill Public House on Kirkdale.  Local residents and customers first became aware in June 2013 that the Windmill was under threat of becoming a Sainsbury's Local supermarket.  Working together with the Sydenham Society and CAMRA, they applied to have the Windmill listed as an Asset of Community Value.  Lewisham recognized the facility's importance as a social gathering space and added the Windmill to the borough's ACV register in December 2013.   ACV status means that if the owner decides to dispose of the property's Freehold or issue a lease for a term of 25 years or more, he must inform Lewisham Council of his intention to do so.  This then triggers an initial six week moratorium, during which a Community Interest Group may express an interest in bidding for the property and request a six month moratorium in order to have time to organize their bid.  During the moratorium the owner can negotiate with anyone he chooses, but can only enter into a contract with a Community Interest Group.   Of course, the owner doesn't have to accept the Community Interest Group's offer, but at least it gives the community a chance to save its vital community gathering places.

In January 2014, immediately following the Christmas/New Year season, the owner closed the pub.   As Sainsbury's only intended a short-term lease on the Windmill, ACV status could not prevent the disposal of the property.  Mary reported that the Community Interest Group continued to battle six planning applications from Sainsbury's, which, had they been approved, would have rendered it not practicable to revert to use as a pub when that lease expired. 

Happily Sainsbury's has now withdrawn from the Windmill site and the pub's Freehold has recently been put on the open market.

The Windmill Action Group is now looking into various methods of funding, business models and partners, in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

• Feedback forms – agenda items next meeting

Cllr Upex 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.

The meeting was closed at 3.40pm and Cllr Upex  thanked everyone for attending. Details and information regarding the next assembly will be circulated nearer the time.       

No declarations of interest were made at the meeting.