Agenda and minutes

Welcome from Cllr Jack Lavery

Cost of Living Presentation, Cllr Amanda de Ryk 

Cllr Amanda de Ryk provided a presentation on the Council’s Cost of Living initiatives. The presentation covered: 

- Context of cost-of-living crisis 
- Work / impact to date: Income maximisation, food justice, fuel poverty and local support 
- Cost-of-living outlook  
- Overview of the council’s winter plans and support, including investing into Warm Welcome spaces 
- Some key resources that are useful for signposting 
 
Q: Question regarding provision in schools and whether families have access to free school meals? 

A: The free school meals system – previously residents had to apply, whereas now there is automatic enrolment with possibility to opt out 
 
Further information and advice on the Cost of Living crisis and what support is available can be found at https://lewisham.gov.uk/support 

Warm Welcomes, Donald Daby, Lewisham Local

Lewisham Local is a charity that has been going for 20 years and has a vision of a connected Lewisham community that gives, shares and works together to build happier, healthier communities. Lewisham Local are responsible for a number of initiatives including their Time Bank project, Food justice, community toilets, Lewisham Local card and delivering the Warm Welcomes project. 

Warm welcomes are just about to start their second year. This year’s Warm Welcome spaces have just been confirmed and leaflets with a map arebeing produced over the next week. They will be distributed to community groups, libraries, chemists, food banks, and there will be posters up around the borough. The website will also have a searchable database that can be used on a desktop or mobile device. Update: The website can now be found at https://www.lewishamlocal.com/lewisham-warm-welcomes/  

Q: Are they only open Monday to Friday or also weekends? 

A: Some are hubs which are open 5 days/week, but others are open at weekends, depending on the type of venue. 

Q: How are they being advertised and how will those who are homeless find out about them? 
A: Both through the leaflets and online and through community networks.  

Cllr de Ryk added that the Change Bus provides support and signposting to services for those who are homeless. It goes to Thomas Lane Car Park behind Tescos in Catford as well as Molesworth Street in Lewisham Central – Government will pay for anyone to get off the streets in times like these when it is very cold. So try to direct them to the change bus or other services. 

Q: Comment on some of the colour combinations that are not easy to read.  
A: Thank you for the positive feedback, this is something we can look into 

Cllr Best added that the Lewisham Local card gives you discounts on local shops and services, including at Ignition, downstairs.

Q: What about people who fall through the net?  
A: Contact Streetlink or if there are people who aren’t engaging feel free to raise his with local councillors

Sydenham Community Supermarket, Kim Ward

 
Based next to Kelvin Grove  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Community Updates from local groups

Sydenham Arts, Sheree-Marie Abraham

Over the next 15 weeks, Sydenham Arts Winter Welcome in partnership with Ignition Brewery, taking place Mondays 12:30-3pm with Arts and Crafts session hosted at Ignition Brewery Taproom, Sydenham Road
            Upcoming topics:

Monday 4 December: Collage and Decoupage

              Monday 11 December: Make Your Own Christmas Decorations

              Monday 18 December: Create Your Own Winter Survival Zine

Time: Every Monday, 12.30pm to 3.00pm – drop in any time. Future topics will include weaving with looms, photography, book binding, from January onwards. Also people are welcome to come and just have a cup of tea or possibly soup.

Last Thursday of each month Film screening

Moving with Parkinson’s every Monday 10:30-12 at the Sydenham Centre. Gentle movement done to music for those living with Parkinson’s and an opportunity to socialise.

Ignition Brewery – please come along to have a beer and feel free to use your Lewisham Local card for a discount.

Bell Green Neighbourhood Forum – Julia Webb

Meeting at Sydenham Library 11-1pm Sydenham Library on 16 December. Large scale plans for Bell green Gasholder site will be there for people to view and comment on.

BGNF now has a volunteer transport engineer involved.

Lewisham has started traffic modelling and will propose some improved pedestrian crossings.

BGNF have a survey out closing on 20 December, last chance to have your say on Bell Green transport. The survey can be found at https://bellgreenneighbourhoodforum.co.uk/

2 March 2024 cross-ward Bell Green Meeting will be held. This iscurrently booked at Sydenham Library, but may be moved to Livesey Hall. This meeting is organised by BGNF and will cover developments in the Bell Green area.

A volunteer for BGNF has been in touch with Lewisham Council. She added that the 8current air quality monitors around Bell Green are solar powered and are due to be removed. The Council is planning to place 100 monitors across the borough which are mains powered, which should be more reliable. The council is also planning a Clean Air evening in January to raise awareness about wood burners and effect on the environment and people with asthma, for instance.
 
A lively discussion about air quality and air quality monitors then took place.

Comment from Cllr Liam Curran that as councillors they can ask for the new monitors to mirror the placement that currently exists when replacing them.

Comment from Cllr Jack Lavery to suggest that we invite Lucy Kirk to an upcoming assembly and focus on air quality.

Barry added that he had been in touch with Lucy Kirk and it was agreed that two additional monitors would be added to Sydenham high street and that these would be installed in the next 4 months.

Q: Pat commented that it wasn’t acceptable to only have stats from 2022.  

 
A: Cllr Lavery commented that as these are mean averages, the data won’t be ready for 2023 until  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Date of Next Meeting: Saturday 16 March 11am-1pm

At this point the Cake Appreciation Society performed to kick off the Christmas Tree Switch on Event.