We will continue to keep Council Tax low by delivering value for money across all our high quality services.
Free swimming and gyms
We will make it easier to be healthier with free swimming and gyms for all residents and will double the number of NHS health checks.
More and better schools
We will meet the demand for primary and secondary school places and drive up standards across our schools so at least 70 per cent of students at every secondary get at least five good GCSEs.
A greener borough
We will protect our environment by diverting more than 95 per cent of waste away from landfill, doubling the estates receiving green energy and invest in our parks and open spaces.
Quality affordable homes
We will improve housing standards and build more homes of every kind including 11,000 new council homes with 1,500 built by 2018. We will make all council homes warm, dry and safe and start the roll out of our quality kitchen and bathroom guarantee.
Nurseries and childcare
We will help parents to balance work and family life including investment in our children’s centres to deliver more quality affordable childcare and open two new community nurseries.
Safer communities
We will make Southwark safer with increased CCTV, more estate security doors and a Women’s Safety Charter. We will have zero tolerance on noisy neighbours.
Revitalised neighbourhoods
We will revitalise our neighbourhoods to make them places in which we can all be proud to live and work, transforming Elephant and Castle, the Aylesbury and starting regeneration of the Old Kent Road.
Education, employment and training
We will guarantee education, employment or training for every school leaver, support 5,000 more local people into jobs and create 2,000 new apprenticeships.
Age friendly borough
We want you to get the best out of Southwark whatever your age so we will become an age friendly borough including the delivery of an Ethical Care Charter and an older people’s centre of excellence.
Need to know...
Find out what people are talking about in Southwark this winter
For news and events follow us on Facebook and Twitter or find out more at www.southwark.gov.uk/enews
Follow us on Twitter www.facebook.com/southwarkcouncil @lb_southwark
Ask Peter John
The first Southwark Leader’s Public Question Time, attended by over 200 residents, provoked lively debate around a range of issues. The event was an opportunity for residents to speak directly to Cllr Peter John about their borough.
Facilitator and BBC journalist Jumoké Fashola ensured the conversation was fast paced and robust. Searching questions on regeneration and housing were posed, including how the council’s plan to build 11,000 new homes over the next 30 years would address the long waiting list for council homes and provide genuinely affordable housing. Cllr John responded that 11,000 homes wasn’t the answer to all problems – but that unlike many other councils we are proud to be taking action to address the housing crisis. Cllr John went on to discuss rents for new council homes and how to balance private housing, shared ownership and affordable homes.
Do you have something to say about your local pharmacy?
We want to hear your views.
Help us make sure that your local pharmacy is providing the right services and support for you and your family.
Fill in our online survey at www.southwark.gov.uk/pna Your responses will help the local Health and Wellbeing Board to understand the current and future needs of users of pharmacy services.
News UK
From September, Southwark libraries were given a huge learning and technology boost as 88 Nexus and Ipad tablets were gifted to the council by newspaper publishers News UK. The donation, to coincide with the move of the company's head offices into the borough, is helping to broaden the online offer in libraries and encourage residents of all ages to go digital.
Be the eyes and ears of your local community
Cllr John was also questioned on the council’s plans to improve health in the borough, explaining what residents can expect from the commitment to provide free gym and swim use for all residents. He also discussed how council policy can reduce smoking, for example by banning smoking in children’s playgrounds. These were just some of the ideas explored; to watch the full discussion for yourself, go to www.southwark.gov.uk/askpeterjohn
We all have a part to play in keeping our local community safe. Why not take this one step further by joining your local Neighbourhood Watch team? Or if there’s not already one set up, why not lead the way and set up your very own. It’s a great opportunity to connect with your neighbours whilst working with the council, the police and voluntary groups to make Southwark a safer place to be. For more information on how you could get involved please visit www.ourwatch.org.uk or email abby.taubin@gmail.com
Elephant and Castle update
This December a decision is due on the latest stage of the £1.5 billion regeneration of Elephant and Castle. Earlier this year developers Lend Lease submitted a planning application for West Grove that includes 593 new homes and 43,000 ft² of new retail space at Elephant Park. The homes will be positioned above new high street stores on Walworth Road, and above independent shops on the new central shopping street. Construction of the homes will start in spring 2015, subject to planning approval in December. Since July 2013, 284 local Southwark residents have gained employment on the Elephant and Castle regeneration.
Artworks at the Elephant
An innovative business community is taking shape at Artworks on Elephant Road where 39 recycled shipping containers have been converted into low cost units housing a mix of creative and start up businesses. From skateboards and software developers to ethical clothing company Sapelle, along with a café, bar and new temporary library, there’s tons to discover. Visit www.theartworks-uk.com
CoolWalks in Southwark
CoolTan Arts, the Southwark based arts and wellbeing charity, has developed a series of 12 interesting history walks for health, one for each month of the year. Each walk starts from one of the 12 libraries in Southwark. The CoolWalks help to unlock the secrets of Southwark’s everyday surroundings and are accompanied by featured booklets. Enjoy discovering more about Southwark while you’re getting some fresh air and burning calories too. Visit www.southwark.gov.uk/coolwalks
Newington Temporary Library is now open at Elephant and Castle
While works continue on the original site of Newington Library after the fire at Walworth Town Hall, we are delighted that the library at Artworks on Elephant Road is now up and running. Since opening two months ago Newington Temporary Library, open seven days a week, has become a fantastic new resource for local residents. For more information on opening times and services visit www.southwark.gov.uk/libraries
“Banter” or harassment?
To mark the launch of the Southwark Council Women’s Safety Charter, we will be hosting an exciting panel discussion on the evening of Tuesday 16 December featuring comedian Sara Pascoe, blogger and writer Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett and journalist Rosamund Urwin. We’ll be exploring the difference between “banter” and harassment and how to ensure women feel safe on a night out. Tickets are free but limited, so email councilnews@southwark.gov.uk to request yours. Find out more at www.southwark.gov.uk/womenssafety
Let’s talk
25% of people in Southwark are private renters
We want 100% of your views to help us shape the future of private rented homes in the borough
Landlords, students, families, private tenants, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/talkrent to join the conversation about private renting #talkrent
Click, share and shape from 22 September to 19 December 2014
Let’s talk about...
Cllr Fiona Colley
Cabinet Member for Finance, Strategy and Performance
“We are faced with another three years of reductions in government funding and have very difficult decisions ahead. We want your views on the future of public services in Southwark. I really value your ideas to help us to decide how best to balance our budget, to get even better value for money and to protect and improve the quality of our services.”
How the council spends your money
Southwark spending challenge 2015/16 to 2017/18
This autumn we have been running a series of community conversations across the borough to talk to residents about how the council spends its budget.
Over the last four years we have had to cut £90 million from our budget because of reductions in the money that central government gives us. That was more than a quarter of our total budget. And over the next three years we are likely to have to do the same because of more cuts from central government.
At the same time we want to carry on investing in Southwark and keep our promises to you like free healthy school meals for all local primary school pupils.
Like you, Southwark Council must balance its budget each year. We provide hundreds of crucial services for over 300,000 people so spending money wisely is at the core of what the council does. The council gets its money from the government, from the council tax you pay, from a share of business rates and from income for services the council charges for
such as parking. Of course it isn’t just the council facing tough times. Many residents are also struggling financially. More people are using food banks and we’re seeing more applications to our Southwark Emergency Support Scheme, which we have vowed to continue for at least the next three years to help protect the most vulnerable residents.
Last year we listened to what local people said when we agreed our budget. Most people wanted to protect services like children’s services and cut administration and management costs. As a result we made savings on central and strategic services rather than front
line or direct services. We specifically protected children’s services and continue to provide library and leisure activities.
Over recent weeks we have been listening to residents again about where you would make cuts and which services you would protect. We still need your help to decide how best to spend the money we do have, so please get involved by joining one of our community conversations or having your say online at www.southwark.gov.uk/budget
NEED TO KNOW
Find out more about the Southwark spending challenge and budget and have your say online with our budget simulator at www.southwark.gov.uk/budget
You will find out how Southwark residents think we should spend our money later this year. The 2015/16 budget will be agreed at council assembly on 25 February 2015.
Diane Louise Jordan speaks about adoption and her passion for giving children
the best start in life
Adoptive parent and Southwark resident Diane first appeared on our screens presenting Blue Peter and currently presents Songs of Praise and Sunday Hour on BBC Radio 2
You’ve had a varied career being a TV and radio presenter, theatre actor, writer and motivational speaker. What do you enjoy the most?
I’ve been really lucky as I’ve presented a whole genre of programmes. As well as Songs of Praise there has been sport, travel and children’s TV including narrating stories on Jackanory. January 2015 will mark 25 years of me being a broadcaster and I’ve constantly been part of the BBC since 1990 so I’m really privileged. Everything I’ve done I’ve been passionate about and what motivates me is my real interest in people’s lives. When performing in theatre I really enjoy the interaction with everyone I meet. All of my jobs have enabled me to do that.
What do you think gives a child the best start in life?
I am sad to see lots of children in care, who need at least one person to dedicate their life to them unconditionally. All children need a foundation of love, encouragement, consistent care and to feel safe knowing their boundaries. They need freedom to pursue the things they enjoy. Giving them a solid foundation of love and attention enables them to make independent sensible choices when they are older and lead well balanced, healthy lives.
“The thing I love about Southwark is how friendly people are. I made friends almost overnight; it’s a really friendly community. I love where I live and Camberwell is a really buzzing area.”
We need to look at ourselves and even the best parent can’t be there 24/7. We need the extended community to help out. We need to play with children as part of their learning. Rather than wagging our finger at children that are struggling, we as a community need to be responsible.
our responsibility. Look at it from their point of view and be curious about their lives, have compassion. Think about how you could support families who have fostered or adopted. These children can have many changes in their lives that can be hard for a family to deal with on their own.
“Children need at least one significant nurturing adult who will always be there no matter what they do. It will transform lives.”
We need more adoptive families for our children in care. What would you say to anyone considering adoption? You are transforming the community that we live in for the better. Try to get as much support around you as possible. I’ve adopted and I can tell you it is the most rewarding job. I can’t think of anything better to do than give a home to a child who needs to be loved.
How do you think adoption can change the life of a child?
One of my real heartaches is that unless a child is adopted by about the age of four they are unlikely to be adopted and will spend their time in care. I really praise foster parents; it’s a very commendable thing. Some children will sadly spend a significant number of years in care. It’s not their fault. It is
How do you think giving a child stability in a family can make a difference?
Children need a family for life. We underestimate the trauma children go through in their formative years, from conception to toddler age. Significant development happens in these early stages. If children have been separated from their family they may not learn to trust.
“I’ve adopted and I can tell you it is the most rewarding job.”
The sort of parenting they need will be different to how we parent a birth child. We need to parent them beyond consequences. More children are coming into the care system with complex needs and families need information, support and to be equipped to do the job well. All children are loveable. My dream is that every single child is out of the care system and within a family so they can flourish.
NEED TO KNOW
Southwark needs more adopters, especially for black and ethnic minority children, children with more complex needs and children over the age of two. You do need to have a spare room and be in receipt of regular income but we welcome people from all ethnicities, ages (must be over 21), sexual orientation, single, couples or married.
You could be an approved adopter within six months.
To find out about adopting a Southwark child and the support available from the council call 0800 952 0707 or email adoption@southwark.gov.uk
How I make it work
Working parent Luke tells us about family life, juggling a job, being a dad and how Southwark’s work to improve childcare could help his family
Atypical day for my family starts at 7am, when we get ourselves and our son Kamai ready for the day. Since having our son, we don’t need an alarm clock - he makes sure we’re up on time. While my partner is getting dressed, I bathe little man and get him ready for nursery.
We both like to drop him off together whenever we can. Then his mum goes off to work and I head back home to get ready for work in peace. It helps that I start a little later, although this means I’m home later from work, so his mum normally picks him up. Having a routine is vital so we can both get to work on time. On the weekends, it’s a totally different story, we go with the flow.
month and it’s a big chunk of our wages. Financially it does work out better for us to have him in nursery while we both work, as we are still left with more money after we pay the fees and bills than if only one of us was working. For Kamai, nursery is good for his development and interacting with other babies is definitely important.
”If the childcare commission can help working families, it would be a great relief for parents all across Southwark.”
As well as nursery fees, there are nappies, wipes, clothes, toys and food, the usual baby collateral - any parent will tell you kids cost a lot of money. We try to make the most of our salaries so we can treat our son - we’re looking forward to his first birthday and our first Christmas as a family - and have those little luxuries for ourselves, like monthly date nights.
Having my son was the biggest blessing of my life but I have to admit he’s a very expensive blessing. Our nursery fees are over £1,000 a
Saving is even more important to us now. We opened up a trust fund for Kamai, both have credit union savings accounts which we put money into regularly and an account for dipping into in case things get tight at the month’s end.
All in all, yes things are hard now and nursery fees are unreasonably high, but there are some nurseries which charge even more. The way we see it, once Kamai starts school, we’ll be over £1,000 better off and will be able to save the majority of that, as we have been used to getting by on a lot less.
Ultimately, knowing that our son is happy, safe and cared for is worth paying for. If the childcare commission can help working families, it would be a great relief for parents all across Southwark.
CHILDCARE COMMISSION
Childcare costs are a big concern for families across London. The cost and complexity of the system can be a barrier for parents who want to return to work. Southwark is proud to have set up the childcare commission in partnership with Lambeth Council to look at how to make childcare easier for parents. Chaired by Tessa Jowell and aiming to ease pressure on families, the commission will announce the outcomes and what they will mean to people in Southwark shortly. For full details visit www.southwark.gov.uk
Don’t let winter snow you down
Getting around in winter is great if you have a sledge, a pack of huskies or a stable of reindeer. Unfortunately for the rest of us it can be a little more challenging, with ice and snow causing disruption to services and problems for older residents.
CHRISTMAS CHEER
Here are our top tips for clearing ice by your house or on your road:
• Sprinkle salt on paths when a freeze is coming to stop them getting icy
• Don’t use boiling water to melt ice as it can refreeze
• If it has snowed, put salt over the first layer of snow
• Look out for salt bins; they’re for you to use on your road (our gritters only cover the busier roads). As the cold weather sets in, we can all help keep
Nobody likes being stuck inside during bad weather, especially at Christmas. A visitor coming round to say hello and ask if you need help with shopping or clearing pathways makes all the difference. If you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours, check in with them when the weather’s bad – or even when it’s not.
There are lots of things the council and its partners are doing to keep the borough moving. TfL are responsible for major roads but we make sure traffic hotspots they don’t cover are gritted and have organised a salt giveaway for local residents. We’re also making sure our rubbish collection services continue in bad weather.
We’ll get out and do our bit if it’s icy, but we can’t get to all the smaller roads in the borough, so we’re asking residents to lend a hand if snow or ice is forecast.
• The best time to put down salt is in the evening before the ice arrives
• Use about a tablespoon of salt per square metre
• Avoid getting salt on plants and trees
• Give your steps and any steep bits extra attention
For more information go to www.southwark.gov.uk/winterweather
CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING
Find a collection point for your Christmas tree at www.southwark.gov.uk/recycling or call 020 7525 2000 to arrange a collection.
If you have garden waste recycling, you can leave your tree next to your brown bin.
GREAT SALT GIVEAWAY
Come and get a free 5kg bag of road salt to treat your home during frosty weather, plus get cold weather advice from the experts.
Saturday 6 December
9am to 10.30am Lordship Lane: loading bay between Matham Grove and East Dulwich Grove
11am to 12.30pm Half Moon Lane: parking bay outside no. 21-25
1pm to 2.30pm Rye Lane: loading bay opposite Aylesham Centre entrance
3pm to 4.30pm Daneville Road: parking bay outside Morrison’s car park
Saturday 13 December
9am to 10.30am Walworth Road: loading bay outside no. 250
11am to 12.30pm
Lower Road: Osprey Estate forecourt
1pm to 2.30pm
3pm to 4.30pm
Southwark Park Road: loading bay outside Co-Operative Food
Tower Bridge Road: parking bays outside no.105
CHANGES TO YOUR HOUSEHOLD WASTE COLLECTION DATES
Thursday 25 December collection will be Saturday 27 December
Friday 26 December collection will be Sunday 28 December
Monday 29 December as normal
Tuesday 30 December as normal
Wednesday 31 December as normal
Thursday 1 January collection will be Friday 2 January
Friday 2 January collection will be Saturday 3 January
Collection dates return to normal from Monday 5 January
INCOME COLLECTION CASH OFFICES AND MYSOUTHWARK CUSTOMER SERVICE POINTS CHRISTMAS OPENING TIMES
Monday 22 December 8.30am to 4pm
Tuesday 23 December 8.30am to 4pm
Wednesday 24 December 8.30am to 12.30pm
Thursday 25 December Closed
Friday 26 December Closed
Monday 29 December 8.30am to 3pm
Tuesday 30 December 8.30am to 3pm
Wednesday 31 December 8.30am to 12.30pm
Thursday 1 January Closed
Friday 2 January 8.30am to 4pm
Find out about other council service opening hours including libraries and leisure centres at www.southwark.gov.uk and remember that you can report repairs online for the whole festive period at www.southwark.gov.uk/mysouthwark
NEED TO KNOW
The nitty gritty
• We can’t grit all roads, we prioritise the busiest roads to reduce accidents
• Residents can use any of our 183 grit bins
• Visit www.southwark.gov.uk/getgritting to see if we grit your road.
Cool school
• Southwark schools do their best to stay open in bad weather. To find out if your child’s school is open, call the school office directly.
Rubbish weather
• As long as our trucks can get around safely, our waste and recycling collections continue as normal. If it snows, our street cleaning teams will clear snow from the pavements near hospitals, schools and public transport first.
SEEN SOMEONE SLEEPING ROUGH?
Being on the streets in winter can be really dangerous. If you’re worried about a rough sleeper near you, call the St Mungo’s Street Population Outreach Team (SPOT) on 020 7902 7941 or email streetconcern@mungos.org 24 hours a day. Please let the team know the exact location and the time you saw the person.
Is your child starting primary school in September 2015?
Apply for a school place online before the deadline. It’s quick, easy to do and available 24 hours a day.
For more information and to apply for your child’s school place visit www.southwark.gov.uk/admissions or call 020 7525 5337.
Make registering to vote your new year’s resolution
How is the new system different?
•You can now register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
•Everyone is responsible for registering themselves. Under the old system the head of every household could register everyone who lived at their address, now each person must register individually
•You need to provide a few more details to register – including your National Insurance Number and date of birth. This makes the electoral register more secure.
You can now register to vote online at your local library
