Agenda and draft minutes

Cllr Harding welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

Joe Lee, Principal Business Development Officer, Economy and Partnership Team

Joe Lee, Principal Business Development Officer, Economy and Partnership Team, spoke about the small grants that are available to support local small businesses to transform underused or empty spaces in the borough into affordable workspaces or new high street enterprises.  Grants are expected to be spent by March 2025, and LBL are seeking more applications from the south of the Borough.  Average grants are £10,000 .

Full details of the grants and how to apply are on the Lewisham website here: https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/business/business-support/business-support-programmes or you can email business@lewisham.gov.uk for more info.  This web page also contains details of many other sources of advice, information and support for businesses.

Sgt Nathan Munday, Forest Hill Police Safer Neighbourhood Team

Sergeant Nathan Munday gave a brief update on crime and community safety in the ward.  Crime is generally low in the ward. An issue that has occurred recently is stolen vehicles (stolen from elsewhere) being recovered in Forest Hill.  The Safer Neighbourhood Tam can provide security advice and equipment for newer cars.  Residents are encouraged to get involved in the Safer Neighbourhood Panel which meets regularly to review community safety in the ward – and to sign up to the SNT newsletter.  You can see details here: https://www.met.police.uk/area/your-area/met/lewisham/forest-hill/about-us/top-reported-crimes-in-this-area

Stuart Checkley, from Street Trees for Living, spoke about initiatives that have been undertaken around the ward and surrounding areas to improve the environment and green spaces.  This includes community and guerrilla gardening, volunteers caring for green spaces such as Albion Milennium Green, planting trees, for example those that have been planted recently in the Horniman Triangle, including a number funded by NCIL.  It was suggested that working together could increase the impact of these different groups, especially on the biodiversity in the area.  Stuart mentioned the threat to mature Oak trees from the Oak Processionary Moth and how this can be combatted by encouraging Great Tits to next near Oak trees. He invited anyone interested to contact him. Contact Street Trees for Living here: https://www.streettreesforliving.org/contact or email laura.luckhurst@lewisham.gov.uk and your message will be forwarded.

Announcements of upcoming community events and projects etc.

Cllr Harding updated the meeting on this, saying that the motion was passed at the Cabinet meeting on 1 November, and will now be passed to Health and Wellbeing Board for consideration. 

Cost of Living drop-in sessions are being held around the borough to support residents struggling with bills and low incomes.  The nearest one is at Perry Rise Baptist Church, Corner of Perry Rise and Woolston Road, SE23 2QL, every Thursday, 12 noon-2pm
An approach has been received from architects looking at refurbishing the Capitol building (former Wetherspoons) on London Road, and reopening it as a cinema.  If further information is received, we will share this with residents.

Meeting closed 8.40 pm