Minutes:
Sarah McMichael and Julie Williams from the Lee Forum explained that they are currently consulting with both Lewisham and Greenwich Councils and are in the process of setting up the Forum so that it can be recognised by the two Councils. Sarah explained that it is important to draw a distinction between this and ‘A Better Lee Green’ which is a campaign group. They want to set up a Forum so they can make Neighbourhood Plans to protect sites and Green Spaces and play an active part in developments. From 8 October to 20 November both Lewisham and Greenwich Council will be listening to views on the proposed areas. Most of the area is Lee Green, with Sutcliffe Park in Greenwich and a small part of Blackheath ward around Lee Green town centre. After several meetings they were asked to extend it into part of Blackheath and they consulted and added Celestial Gardens and around that area. Sarah encouraged people to go to the Better Lee Green website as all the details are can be found at www.abetterleegreen.com and click on Neighbourhood Forum. A total of 53 people came to the first meeting and 26 local groups were represented, this is where we they received all the feedback for the boundaries and it was quite clear that many of the Blackheath ward residents close to Lee Green identified themselves to Lee Green This was not necessarily more than Blackheath, but they had a genuine concern and interest for the Lee High Road area. After this meeting the Forum will need to consult quite widely and then further consult on the plan itself, this is before it goes to the Independent Planner, there will then be a local referendum. If you want to be a member all you need to do is leave your address, you can then be part of the AGM and vote. A member is someone who lives in the boundary or has an interest in it. Whilst no road can be in more than one forum, a person can.
Q I am a bit confused because you said that you are from the Lee Forum, yet here you are saying that you are applying to become the Lee Forum?
A Yes we are hoping to become the Lee Forum and we are in the application process, so at present we are more of an informal group
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Q What is your focal point, is it Manor House or the shopping area?
A There is no focal point, just different sections within the proposed area.
Q How is it being financed?
A We will apply for £8,000 from Locality if we become established and another £6,000 from Urban Forums. We can also apply for the Big Lottery so there will be no Council Funding.
Cllr De Ryk – The DCLG can also reimburse the Council for this and once set-up the Forum will have a say in how in how the Community Interest Levy (CIL) is spent as long as it fits in with the local planning framework.
Q How will you define who gets to vote in the referendum?
A This is being discussed as it is important and we feel that people outside of the area should be involved
Helen Reeves Chair of the Blackheath Society – When this was proposed the then Blackheath Society Committee looked at it and thought that the Society already did quite a bit of what Forums do and therefore there was no need to become one and to hold our options open. We do have mixed views as part of the Blackheath Conservation area forms part of the consultation and as an amenity society we will obviously have concerns about a conservation area. We will be consulting with our members who live in the area. At this stage we are not quite sure which roads are affected so it is causing problems as to which members to consult but we do not have a firm view on this and we are open minded.
Cllr De Ryk – Please do have a look at this consultation and make your views known. It is important to note that the Council can change the boundary, but they will only do this if there is a very strong local view.