Street lighting replacement, the
Westfield/Hammerson redevelopment, the poor Ofsted report on the Shirley High
Academy school, were the main issues raised at the public meeting held on
Monday 13 January at Shirley Community Centre. 30 people attended, mainly
representing organisations and campaigns, from different parts of the Borough, with
a core group of Shirley residents and activists. In addition to the planned
Consortium meetings on 12 and 27 February, the meeting agreed that one should
be held on education issues, particularly to help people understand the
complexity of schools as more and more become academies.
A key issue which was not discussed included the
future of culture. This was partly due to lack of time given the meeting
started 30 minutes late and the first part was spent discussing the background
to the Consortium. This would have continued if three people had not argued for
putting the past aside so that the meeting could concentrate on discussing the
issues need to be raised because of the forthcoming local elections.
Street Lighting
The chaotic way Skanksa is operating the street
lighting replacement programme was noted. Experiences were shared about dealing
with them It was noted that the minutes of the last meeting of the Council’s monitoring
committee with Lewisham had not yet been posted up so it is not yet known what
was discussed and agreed about improving performance. Concern was expressed
about how Skanksa was recycling the old lamp posts. They should be made
available for sale, but this would be difficult with the ones that are cut down
to keep the old electricity grid working for nearby streets still waiting to
have new lights installed. It was stressed that issues at street level can be
taken up with Skanksa and the lead Council officer but that persistence was
needed in dealing with them. I drew attention to my blog on the experience in
Oakhill Rd, Norbury. Concern was also expressed about areas of inadequate and
no lighting. It was suggested that the Skanksa contract had 500 extra columns
for such places.
Shirley High Academy
It was reported that this has had a poor
report from Ofsted. It was suggested that there should be a discussion with
Heads and representatives of owners of academies on issues facing such schools
and what can be done to in the face of poor OFSTED reports, and so that there
is more transparency of what they were doing. It was pointed out that each
academy had its own way of doing things; there was not a cross Borough approach
in what they do. For example, when Lanfranc has taken pupils thrown out of
academies; where t=will they go when Lanfranc becomes one? Attention was drawn
to the recent press coverage on way in which money was siphoned off academies. One
suggestion was that there should be a discussion just with Shirley High, another
and another that either Councillor Pollard or a Council officer be invited to a
meeting to give an overview. Croydon appears to lack an education strategy. Time
did not allow for the elaboration of who for parents, especially in the BME
communities, education is perhaps the
key issue in Croydon, given the overall low level of Key Stage 2 achievement.
Town Centre Redevelopment
Concern was expressed about the uncertain
implications of the Westfield/Hammerson redevelopment, what effect it will
have on the rest of the Town Centre and other areas of the Borough, and the difference meanings ior 'regeneration' used. One participant stressed the potential havoc to the Town Centre Rd system, given the
Council had given planning permission without proper consultation with TfL. Pointing out that I am an extreme sceptic of
the scheme, I urged those present to attend the Scrutiny Meeting on 4 February
and to read that evening’s Evening Standard article on the fragility and
short-termism of property development and reminders of its past failures
(www.standard.co.uk/business/markets/its-vital-we-cool-the-property-cycle-9058769.html). Bieneosa Ebite of Croydon Radio urged the Consortium to engage
with young people. She had spoken to some young people about 'regeneration' on her
radio programme.
Rubbish and potholes
The problem of rubbish in streets was simply noted
because the Consortium is holding a special meeting on 12 February on the topic
in response to issues raised at a meeting last year. No mention was made of the
forthcoming report from the Streets Commission set up by North Croydon MP Steve
Reed, which the Council leader has boycotted. It was noted that the Council has
a routine inspection programme re-potholes according to the grading of streets. It did
depend on people notifying it of holes in between the inspections. It was noted
that some people had had difficulty using the Council’s MyCroydon app to report
problems, but they could still text officers.
Policing
It was reported that crime was on the increase in
some areas, and that there was less police presence e.g. in Shirley. Charlotte Davies (South Croydon Community Association) reported that a close
working relationship with the police on the tackling of crimes associated with
prostitution and drugs. It was noted that the Safer Neighbourhood Panels were now open to anyone
to attend, and people could raise issues at
the Community/Police Consultative Committee.
Community Spaces
Adrian Winchester of the Save David Lean Campaign
reported that he had been advised that the Council’s Community Space venues
could now be hired by community groups. These are the David Lean Auditorium,
the Braithwaite Hall, and a new room in Bernard Weatherill House (BWH) that
accommodates 100 but could be divided into two smaller rooms. A web page with
the appropriate information has not appeared yet but Adrian had heard that the
charge for using the David Lean Auditorium could be £20 per hour. The
Auditorium/cinema has been refurbished and the digital projector fixed, and the
Campaign has made a major contribution to rectifying problems in the projection
box. The Consortium’s meeting on 12 February will take place in the BWH room
and it was noted that the fee for using this is waived if a councillor has made
or approved the booking.
Where Next?
The Consortium Committee members were thanked for
their efforts in providing attendees with an opportunity to look at issues
across the Borough and enable people to work together. The minutes will be put
on its website so everyone with internet access can read them. Tom Black
(Croydon Citizen editorial team) suggested that a formal statement of the
Consortium and what it is seeking to achieve should be available for the next
meeting.
The Consortium Committee has been hampered by the
fact that the grant money has not be released to it. The costs of the evening’s
meeting (hall hire, refreshments, press advertising) had come from members’
pockets. The other problem was that they were not allowed for data protection
reasons to use the database of the former Neighbourhood Partnerships. This meant that it is taking time to build up its own database of contacts. However,
the Consortium is not restricted to groups, but open to everyone whether a
resident, a worker or a business person.
One of the most valuable aspects of the meeting
was enabling people to chat before the start and at the end of the meeting,
especially for people who had not met before. Sean handed everyone a sheet on
paper with details of how to keep up-to-date with Croydon affairs, some recent
issues, and some hints on ways to influence the Council.
Grant aided by the Council the Consortium has been
told that it cannot hold any meetings after the end of February until after the
local elections on 22 May, as such meetings would be classified as ‘political’
in terms of election law. However as the period of time Council involvement in
public meetings is restricted is 6 weeks, this should mean that the Consortium
should be able to hold meetings up to the end of March using the grant.
The format of the meeting could be improved to
enable more participation and discussion. How this can be done was outlined by me on my blog of 8 January (http://historyandsocialaction.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/building-up-confidence-at-public.html).
I handed out a sheet of details of how to keep up with news and events in Croydon, links to recent issues covered on the web and hints on influencing the Council.
Next Meetings
Wednesday 12 February. 7-9pm
Rubbish.
Anthony
Brooks, Director of Environment
will attend to hear views and
answer questions.
Community Space, Bernard Weatherill
House, 8 Mint Walk.
Thursday 27 February. 7-9pm
Public Meeting. Old
Coulsdon
Congregational Church, Coulsdon Rd
Old Couldson, CR5 1EH
Further information at: www.croydoncc.wordpress.com
See also my discussion of the Consortium at
To contact author email: sean.creighton1947@btinternet.com
https://sites.google.com/site/historysocialaction
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