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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 1

LONDON BOROUGH OF

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr R Stocker

Member to reply: Councillor Klier

Question

(1) How many Lewisham schools have registered for the new School Games?

(i) How many primary schools

(ii) How many secondary schools

2) How many have taken up the one day a week funding for sport co-ordinators?

3) How many primary schools have brought into the new secondary school provision?

Reply

1. (i) 19 primary schools have registered for the school games.

(ii) 12 secondary schools have registered for the school games.

2. This is still being confirmed by the Lewisham School Games Organisers, but 8 secondary schools are investing the funding into staff teacher-release.

3. Secondary teacher releases are helping to deliver the School Games. 19 primary schools have bought in.

On a more local level, in some instances the secondary schools have opened up the opportunity for primaries to buy-in extra support/resource. The schools where this has been offered are Sydenham, Forest Hill and Bonus Pastor.

A further 16 schools have invested cash into these posts to get greater support, similar to what they would have received previously through the school sport co-ordinators.

Question Q Time

PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 2

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr R Stocker

Member to reply: Councillor Klier

Question

Of the following 3 Multi Use Game Areas funded by Big Lottery funding how many junior schools (and other secondary schools) have regular timetabled access to these facilities?

Prendergast Federation of Schools (PHFC and PLFC)

– Multi use games area £173,179

Deptford Green School

– Refurbish multi use games area £107,712

Bonus Pastor Secondary School

– Multi-use games area £102,395

What was the outcome of the dispute between contractors and the council regarding the Prendergast Federation of Schools (PHFC and PLFC) MUGA?

Reply

Of the three MUGA projects listed, only the MUGA for Prendergast Federation of Schools (PHFC and PLFC) based at Prendergast Hilly Fields College progressed to completion. The Big Lottery funded (BLF) projects for improvement of PE and Sports facilities at Deptford Green and Bonus Pastor schools could not be progressed because it proved impossible to meet the BLF deadlines of building completion by 31st March 2008, whilst meeting the need to integrate these MUGAs within the respective new school buildings then an early design stage of their Building Schools for the Future projects. MUGAs for these schools have therefore been funded from the Building Schools for the Future budget as part of the total redesign of each school. The Local Authority does not keep a record of the usage of the Prendergast MUGA by other schools, as this is in the control of the Prendergast Federation of Schools. Both Prendergast Ladywell Fields and Hilly Fields Colleges use the MUGA regularly for lessons and extra curricular clubs. In terms of community use, as a school games hub Prendergast Hilly Fields College hosts a number of primary competitions and festivals on the astroturf, including the whole school sports day for St Mary Magdalen . On Thursday evenings from 5pm, the Primary U-11 district football side trains there every week and on Tuesday evenings from 4.30pm AC Paulista train their U-10s and U-12s. On occasion, the school also runs Junior Football leaders and Level 1 courses. Prendergast Ladywell Fields College also hosted the first primary schools 2012 Olympic Games day in July. Local resident and GB athlete, Conrad Williams, attended the event and talked about his sports career. Year 4 and 5 students from Rathfern, Rushey Green, Stillness, Gordonbrock, St Marys CE and primary schools took part in a number of activities including indoor rowing, basketball, football and athletics.

The dispute between the contractor and the Council regarding the fitness for purpose of the original surface of the MUGA was resolved by the contractor agreeing to replace the surface, with a further upgrade of the fencing paid for from the Council's Big Lottery fund budget.

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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 3

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr R Stocker

Member to reply: Councillor Klier

Question

How many, and which, Lewisham schools have signed up for the 2012 Get Set programme:- http://getset.london2012.com/en/home

Reply

London 2012 Games have provided Lewisham with a list of schools, colleges and academies which are eligible to join the London 2012 Get Set and Get Set Network programmes. The list contains 100 schools, colleges and academies. The breakdown for this figure is 89 schools, colleges and academies and 11, which are independently maintained.

As of November 23 rrd 2011, 82 schools, colleges and academies, including 4 independently run establishments have signed up to the Get Set Network. The following schools have joined the Get Set Network:-

Abbey Manor College Adamsrill Primary School All Saints CE Primary School

Ashmead Primary School Athelney Primary School Baring Primary School Bonus Pastor Catholic College Brent Knoll School Brindishe Lee School Brockley Primary School Childeric Primary School Christ Church CE Primary School Christ the King Sixth Form College Coopers Lane Primary School Crossways Sixth Form Dalmain Primary School Deptford Park Primary School Downderry Primary School Edmund Waller Primary School Elfrida Primary School Eliot Bank Primary School Fairlawn Primary School Forster Park Primary School Good Shepherd RC Primary School Gordonbrock Primary School Greenvale School Grinling Gibbons Primary School Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights - primary school formerly Merlin. Haseltine Primary School Holbeach Primary School Holy Trinity CE Primary School Horniman Primary School John Stainer Primary School Kelvin Grove Primary School Kilmorie Primary School Lee Manor Primary School Lucas Vale Primary School

Marvels Lane Primary School Myatt Garden Primary School New Woodlands School Pendragon School Perrymount Primary School Prendergast Hilly Fields College Prendergast Ladywell Fields College Prendergast Vale College Rangefield Primary School Rathfern Primary School Rushey Green Primary School Sandhurst Junior School Sir Francis Drake Primary School St Augustines RC Primary School St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School St Jame’s Hatcham C of E School St John The Baptist CE Primary St Margaret’s Lee CE Primary School St Mary’s CE Primary School St Mary Magdalen Catholic St Michael’s Sydenham CE Primary St Stephen’s CE Primary School St William of York Primary School St Winifred’s RC Infant School Stillness Infant School Stillness Junior School Sydenham and Forest Hill 6 th Form Tidemill Primary School Torridon Infant School Trinity School Turnham Primary School Watergate School

Independent schools and colleges.

Lewisham College Heath House Preparatory School Blackheath High Junior School St Dunstan’s College The Council is in contact with all schools which have yet to join the programme, to support and lobby them to ensure they are all signed to the Get Set Network by the December 16 th 2011 closing date.

Supplementary Question

There seems to be some confusion between schools that are registered for this facility, and those that are members of the facility. According to data that I looked up on the website, of primary schools, there are 78 registered schools, yet only 59 of these are members. To actually make the most of this project, and apply for Olympic tickets, you need to be members. I think the deadline is toward the end of December. I have a list of schools. There are 26 of them in the Borough that have not actually gone the full way, including some of the more obvious schools: Dalmain, Holbeach, Sandhurst and Torridon. Can someone please follow this up? It is a wonderful facility and it seems that Lewisham schools are not making the best of what is available to them.

Supplementary Reply

Yes, I can assure you that we will be sending out letters to the schools that are not full members and who are not joined up at all. As you can see from the answer, the majority are involved with the Get Set programme, connected with the Olympics.

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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 4

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr R Woolford - Lewisham People before Profit

Member to reply: Councillor Smith

Question

What was the total Income from rent and business rates paid by the 30 local traders in 2010 who were evicted from Shopping Centre to be replaced by Poundland,

What is the rent and Business rates that Poundland will be paying, in 2012.

Reply

The rent payable by tenants is considered to be commercially sensitive information. As a result of the changes to the Catford Centre, following the letting of a unit to Poundland, rent income is estimated to increase by £37,000 in the 2012/13 financial year.

Business rates on the property are not dependant on the tenant or tenants but are calculated on the rateable value of the property. The current annual business rate charge is £23,866.71

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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 5

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr R Stocker

Member to reply: Councillor Smith

Question

I asked a public question at the full council meeting on Wednesday, 29th June, 2011 regarding the council approved cycling funding in the 2011/12 Local Implementation Plan on behalf of Lewisham Cyclists. Whilst we would like to thank Councillor Smith for meeting us in late July we have yet have details of the £150,000 Lewisham Council agreed would be allocated to "open up barriers to cycling (one way streets, road closure etc); introduce cycle parking; create new or improve existing routes etc, away from the other planned Corridor/Neighbourhood proposals.", (which have to be spent by 31st March 2012) nor any forward plan on communicating with local cycling groups.

The council also approved £32,000 for Travel Awareness budget and the council response was "The detailed programme for Travel awareness is being developed and will support measures to raise awareness of national campaigns and local events", this also has yet to be detailed, or has not been publically communicated

If, as a result of the coalition government, council cuts mean that officer resources is no longer available for these projects - will the monies be retuned to TfL so other local authorities can bid for under spends?

Reply

There are detailed plans to implement cycle schemes from the budget of £144k. The detailed Travel Awareness programme is still being developed and it is planned that the Council will fully spend the approved budgets.

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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 6

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Ms S Penny

Member to reply: The Mayor

Question

We are alarmed to hear that Lewisham planners are in private discussions with ASDA who are planning to build a new supermarket on the site of the decaying Leegate shopping centre, adjacent to the Sainsbury’s Supermarket. We believe this would be a blow to the Lee Green community and undermine the opportunity to regenerate this eye-sore and bring some decent quality homes and help retain existing businesses.

Can the Mayor confirm that such discussions are taking place; whether the London Borough of Lewisham is likely to support this development and when will there be public consultation on this proposal?

Reply

Leegate shopping centre is owned by St Modwen Properties. There has been understandable local concern that the centre has been in decline for a number of years and this concern is shared by the Council and local MP.

Earlier this year representatives from St Modwen met the Head of Planning and community representatives to discuss their initial ideas in respect of potential comprehensive redevelopment to revitalise the centre and the retail offer in particular. They indicated that they were likely to base their proposals on the introduction of a new food retail operator. No meetings have taken place in the last few months.

It is standard practice for developers and land owners to contact the Planning Service for pre application discussions about proposed schemes prior to submitting a planning application. Planning officers always encourage applicants to undertake significant consultation on their proposals with the local community prior to submitting an application and that would certainly be the case in relation to Leegate.

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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 7

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mrs P Richardson

Member to reply: Councillor Wise

Question

How many residents' car parking permits were issued to residents in the London Borough of Lewisham car parking zones from 1/4/2010 until 31/3/2011?

What is the breakdown zone by zone?

How many such permits have been issued so far this year (2011/2012)? Does this illustrate an upward or downward trend over previous years?

Reply

CPZ Issue Issue Carers* Diff +/ - Comment 10/11 11/12 A Blackheath 1740 1700 6 -40 B Lewisham Central 1304 1279 6 -25 C Hindsleys Place 7 9 1 +2 D Grove Park 489 330 9 -159

E -(Rushey Green E ast 893 650 8 -243 F -Old Rd Bankwell 60 516 1 +456 Zone Ext G - Elverson/Leathwell 64 53 0 -11 H - Hither Green 391 333 5 -58 J - Canadian Ave 11 8 0 -3 K -Catford 64 56 0 -8 L- Rushey Green West 1079 1048 15 -31 M - Barmeston Road 47 39 0 -8 N - David's Rd 69 38 2 -31 P - Hither Green East 905 868 4 -37 R - Rushey Green Sth 366 311 5 -55 S - Frankham St 21 13 1 -8 T - Ladywell Not Imp 432 1 0 V - Home Lacey/Dal Not Imp 117 0 0 Total 7510 7800 64 +354

The table shows an overall increase in permit issue. However, to make a comparison with 10/11 on a like for like basis, removing the new zones and the zone extension from the calculation, equates to a resident permit issue downturn of 8.6%.

* Carers permits were not previously split from resident permit issue due to the same pricing structure. A carers permit now is charged at a lower rate to that of the resident permit and is now shown on the reports separately. For calculation purposes it should be included in the overall resident permit totals.

Question Q Time

PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 8

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mrs P Richardson

Member to reply: Councillor Wise

Question

Lewisham Council operates car parking zones in various areas of the borough. However, this means that the charges enforced fall disproportionately on certain residents and not others. As this is a revenue raiser can the Council consider this a fair and equitable way of raising money? The worst inequality falls on those who do not have cars but live in such a zone and have to purchase residents' parking tickets. The latest large increase in charges earlier this year makes this inequality and burden even less defensible.

Does the Council have any plans to review this increasingly discriminatory situation?

Reply

Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) are introduced to manage the high demand for kerbside parking space and not as a money raising exercise. CPZs are implemented in line with the Council’s policy.

The current CPZ programme was developed from the analysis of responses to a borough-wide consultation where residents asked the Council to investigate measures to manage the negative impact caused by intrusive parking. The impacts of implementing controls are communicated by way of local exhibitions prior to the consultation. CPZs are only put in place after a full consultation with local residents and businesses where there is a clear majority in favour of controls being implemented. The consultation is undertaken with all affected stakeholders whether or not they are car owners.

There are no plans at present to review the Council’s policy for CPZ implementation.

The Council is introducing on-line permit applications to improve service delivery to our customers. As part of this process the cost of visitor permits will be reviewed with consideration given to a discount for bulk purchases (e.g. books of ten).

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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 9

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mrs P Richardson

Member to reply: Councillor Best

Question

Do the "Community" libraries of Blackheath, Crofton Park, Sydenham, Grove Park and New Cross offer the same ratio of books, as the hub libraries of Lewisham, in connection with large print books, and the same ratio of audio tapes of books, which would particularly concern blind and sight challenged users?

Has there been any diminution in either of these provisions since 1st June 2011? Reply

The collections of stock at the Community Libraries have been edited and reduced in the last few months. As part of this process, the Large Print sections have been left almost as they were, which makes the ratio much greater than in any other library. In the case of Crofton Park, the ratio of Large Print has grown from 2.2% to 3.5% for example.

With regard to books on audio tape, this format has been much reduced across the borough and the Service has not bought new stock on tape for a number of years.

The stock on CD is also proving far less popular across the Service as a whole whilst public interest in the stock available in eBook formats is growing rapidly and this collection is likely to increase at all the Borough's libraries. Access to digital formats such as eBooks and Audiobooks is available to adult residents across the Borough and both collection size (i.e. choice) and take up are increasing. We have found that blind and sight-challenged service users continue to use the CD collection but have also increasingly moved to eBook format.

The Library and Information Service maintains a Borough-wide Home Library Service offer which many blind and sight-challenged residents and their carers make use of. Established links with Lewisham Hospital, local voluntary sector agencies (e.g. Lewisham Pensioners Forum) and the PCT result in referrals to this service.

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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 10

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr N Druker on behalf of Users and Friends of Lewisham Adult Education

Member to reply: Councillor Best

Question

Community Education Lewisham's 2011/12 enrolment policy no longer allows people to start any course after the first three weeks. This is the first time this has happened. Why has this measure been introduced? Is this for administrative convenience and statistical reporting requirements? Could you please explain how this is meeting students' learning needs?

Reply

The three week rule has been applied to all accredited courses for a considerable time and was extended to include all non-accredited courses in 2011/12. This policy ensures the quality of teaching and enables all students to work together towards achieving their learning goals stated on their individual learning plans completed at the start of the course and mid-termly review. All CEL courses are planned with a scheme of work that is based upon the cumulative development of skills and knowledge for learners.

The majority of courses are now termly (10 weeks) or 15 weeks which enables learners to enrol at different points of the year. There have been issues with learners complaining about other learners starting late and causing subsequent disruption to their learning. Some tutors have also commented that they have had to repeat previous learning for late starters which has had a detrimental effect on other learners.

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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 11

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr P Richardson

Member to reply: Councillor Best

Question

Lewisham Local History Society (LLHS) currently stores its Collection in the basement of New Cross Library. It is understood that the Council wish LLHS to vacate this site and relocate to a rentable site in Forest Hill. It is also said that the Council will pay the rent on this site.

If this is so, how much public money is involved and from which Council directorate will this money be drawn?

Additionally, it is also understood that the cost of removing the Collection and relocating it to Forest Hill will be £40,000. From which Council directorate will this money be drawn?

What other suggestions for the safe storage of this Collection have so far been considered?

Reply

New Cross Library was closed in May 2011 as part of the Library and Information Service developments which saw the transfer of several library buildings to the community. The building is currently occupied by the New Cross Peoples Library on a license which enables them to open the building four days a week and support the delivery of community library services. The basement is currently used by the Local History Society for the storage of their collection, and items from the Council archive are also housed at New Cross. These are shortly to be relocated to Lewisham Library where the remainder of the Borough Archive is securely stored.

Officers have undertaken some initial investigation into the costs of relocating the Local History collection. The basement is not ideal for storage as access is difficult. However, the New Cross Peoples Library are happy for the collection to remain there, and are including the work of the Society in their programme of activities.

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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 12

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr R Stocker

Member to reply: Councillor Smith

Question

Can I suggest that the £150k funding approved by Lewisham Council to be spent on cycling in 2011/12 be allocated in the following ways:-

Cycle parking – on street - £50k Looking at locations such as local shopping parades. How can we encourage residents to cycle to local shops if there are no cycle stands to secure the bike to?

Secure cycle parking on estates £20k Pilot schemes on at least 2 Lewisham housing estates using BikeAway type secure lockers.

Secure cycle parking at train stations £10k Pilot schemes at some train stations in Lewisham using BikeAway type secure lockers.

Folkestone Gardens and Surrey Canal Road £15k Feasibility study to provide safe crossing for pedestrians and cyclists at this potentially dangerous junction

Cycle Contraflows £25k List all one way streets in Lewisham and utilise the changed DfT rule for ‘no entry except cyclists’ signage to provide permeability at key locations (e.g. near schools)

Cycle Skills Network Audit Fund a cycle skills network audit of Lewisham roads. http://www.transport- initiatives.com/pages/services-audit.html#csna This can be used to provide recommended routes to/from schools, influence future highway safety schemes (rather than rely on collision stats) and provide planning with possible planning gain highway improvement funding. Cost to be confirmed.

BYPAD Audit of Lewisham cycle policies to see where synergies exist with other parts of the authority Cost £7k appox.

Any balance to be used to look at feasibility of the London Cycling Campaign’ ‘Going Dutch’ http://lcc.org.uk/pages/go-dutch on one of Lewisham’s key roads.

All these should be deliverable in the remaining 4 months until 31 st March 2012.

Reply

Thank you for your suggestions, these will be considered by officers for any such future budget allocation.

The TfL budget for cycling measures is £144k and the schemes from this budget includes the following measures; • improvements to Breakspears Road roundabout, • Blackheath improvements to cycle path across the heath, • completion of Mantle Road cycle scheme, • Grierson Road markings at the road closure, • Ryecroft Road alterations to “no entry”, • Garthorne Road markings at closure , • Bovil Road markings at closure, • Gabriel Street markings at road closure and signing , • cycle stands at various locations.

Supplementary Question

I am Chair of Lewisham Cyclists, the cycle campaign group. We did meet with Councillor Smith to discuss possible ways forward on communication. As you can see, we are still communicating via the full Council so things perhaps are not ideally situated. There are some budget allocations which seem to be slightly confusing. With Blackheath improvements from my understanding there is another budget line that comes in and I think £130,000 plus £100,000 from I think English Heritage. I would like some clarification of that. Some of the other things on here are welcomed but they are quite small scale. We would look forward to some assurance from the Cabinet Member that we will meet with Lewisham officers. We would very much like to meet with Councillor Smith again to go over old ground. We want to move forward the best way that we can. Action

Supplementary Reply ED Regen & Res

I will make sure that information is clarified for you, Roger. You probably know that our Transport Department has gone through some significant changes recently. I think we are about to appoint a new head in that department. As soon as that is done we will arrange for another meeting with you.

Question Q Time

PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 13

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr P Richardson

Member to reply: Councillor Smith

Question

Who exactly is responsible for determining the width between the posts at Traffic Calming points in residential through-roads in Lewisham, especially in Lee Green Ward?

Two sites in particular in this Ward; Manor Lane and Leahurst Road appear to be in a constant merry-go-round state of repair, renewal and then repair again. What exactly are these structures intended to do? Are not the now- decaying Traffic Humps intended to limit the speed of vehicles in residential areas to 20mph?

However, it is clear that the narrow gaps decided on limit far smaller vehicles than that and consequently there is an extremely high attrition rate for the metal posts resulting in an unacceptable high rate of public expenditure. Therefore, in these austere times, would it not be advisable to look again at the minimum distances decided upon?

Reply

The width between the posts at Traffic Calming points in residential through- roads in Lewisham is to prevent HGV access and is set by Council Transport Officers within the Traffic Order.

The Leahurst Road width restriction has been recently been upgraded to a more robust design to the width set within the Traffic Order to prevent HGV access.

There are no current proposals to alter the Manor Lane width restriction which has been in place for some time and again is in place to prevent HGV access.

The humps are designed to reduce speeds to around 20mph.

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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 14

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr P Richardson

Member to reply: Councillor Best

Question

A recent interview with the Secretary of State for Culture revealed that the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) "continued to monitor the situation in authorities such as Lewisham and ...." What are the details of this "monitoring"? Reply

Council officers were interviewed by DCMS and asked a number of subsequent questions to ensure that the DCMS had a clear understanding of the proposed Lewisham library model. Subsequently the DCMS have asked the Council to validate information that has appeared in newspaper articles and on online commentaries.

The Museum Library and Archive Council for (MLA), now the Arts Council for England (ACE) and DCMS representatives have met with Council officers and have asked to be kept updated on the development of the Community Library model.

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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 15

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr P Richardson

Member to reply: Cllr Smith

Question

I understand that through-roads such as Micheldever Road in Lee are the responsibility of Lewisham Council. This being the case, is there any excuse for the absence of double yellow lines at the junction of it and Burnt Ash Road?

The situation at this junction currently presents a lethal danger to car drivers attempting to access Burnt Ash Road (which is a major thoroughfare) because parked vehicles obscure the safe visibility of oncoming vehicles.

Reply

The Council regularly reviews all road safety concerns and addresses them by their relative priority.

This junction will be added to the list of proposals for yellow line restrictions in 2012/13.

Question Q Time

PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 16

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr P Richardson

Member to reply: Councillor Best

Question

When will the Deptford Lounge be officially opened?

When will Wavelengths be closed?

Is there any foreseeable possibility that Deptford will be without a public library with respect to this changeover process?

Reply

The Deptford Lounge will open early in January 2012. Wavelengths Library closed on 30 September 2011 in preparation for the major building works proposed for the Leisure Centre. There has been no interim library provision.

Deptford Lounge was originally scheduled to open this month which would have meant a one month gap in library provision. Unfortunately, unforeseen delays in the construction programme have pushed completion of the new school and library back to the end of 2011.

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PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 17

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM

COUNCIL MEETING

29 NOVEMBER 2011

Question asked by: Mr P Richardson

Member to reply: Councillor Best

Question

With respect to the current operation of the community libraries by this Social Enterprise Company, what is the total amount of Council financial support given to Eco Computer Systems Ltd. and to its director, Darren Taylor to date? As it will be 6 months since the leases of Crofton Park, Grove Park and Sydenham libraries were handed over to the Social Enterprise Company, has there been any interim report as to its success or otherwise?

Reply

Eco Computers have received no financial support beyond that agreed in the Mayor and Cabinet report of May 2011 in which the Council committed to the installation of self issue technology at the community library sites. As the community library offer remains part of the Council’s Library Service offer the individual libraries have received some modest investment in line with service needs e.g. stock purchase and updated technology.

Performance information, including issues and visits has continued to be collected, together with comments from the public. These will form part of a report to be considered by Members at the Healthier Communities Select Committee in December.