Vote to Freeze Council Tax

Last night Labour councillors voted to freeze council tax for the next two years. The meeting in the town hall saw a long, well reasoned debate about how best to help local families through the economic downturn.

First, they wanted to make sure there was delivery on the manifesto promise to keep council tax rises below the level of wage inflation over the full four-year term of this council. That would give the Council scope for a small increase of up to 2% this year and next year if they had wanted to. But times have changed since we were elected in 2006. Back then, there was no recession. Now families are facing higher bills for things like food and fuel, and many people are worried about losing their jobs or having their hours – and their pay – cut back.

It’s worth remembering how the Lib Dems and Tories who ran the council until the elections in 2006 forced council tax up to record-breaking levels. In their first year, they put council tax up 23% in one go. Over their full four years, that increase soared to 40%. Their tax hikes cost the average household an extra £1000 in council tax. I believe those decisions also cost the Lib Dems and Tories the last election. Labour was determined to get back to sensible levels of council tax, and thanks to low rises over our first two years in power Lambeth today has one of the lowest council tax levels in the country.

But with the economic recession starting to bite, Labnour Councillors want to do even more to help people cope. After several hours of debate, there was agreement there should be no increase in council tax this year or next. Labour councillors were also determined to deliver that freeze without cutting the frontline services that people rely on. They’re only in a position to do this because of the steady and responsible way Labour has managed the council’s finances over the past two years and much of the credit for that goes to our finance chief Cllr Jim Dickson.

When the next elections come in May 2010, voters will face a clear choice. The Lib Dems who put council tax up 40% but wasted all the money, or Labour with low increases for two years followed by a two-year freeze to help people through the recession. That’s the difference between a Lib Dem council that’s not on your side or a Labour council that is.

New Tress for Mandrell, Lambert and Lyham Road

Lambeth Council has agreed to plant new trees in Mandrell, Lambert and Lyham Road. The beautiful new silver birches will be planted in the next few days and we really hope they will brighten up the local environment.

Local people have already been asked to comment on the proposals by the Brixton Hill councillors - Steve Reed, Florence Nosegbe and Betty Evans-Jacas - and received nearly everyone's support. This is one of the many ways that our Labour Council is trying to make life better for local people.

In a letter to local residents, Councillor Steve Reed said, "All the Labour Councillors really hope the new trees will transform the way your road looks."

Get in touch with any of your local Labour councillors if you want to raise any issues about the council or if you need help with local services.

People power closes Telegraph 'rave club'

Barack Obama was inaugurated as President of the United States last Tuesday. A momentous occasion that’s brought new hope to much of the world’s population. But local councillors Steve Reed and Florence Nosegbe missed it all because they were at a meeting of the Council’s Licensing Committee until midnight. But it was for a good reason – there is a real fight on the hands of Brixton Hill residents with a pub that’s been causing real problems for local people.

The Telegraph is a pub at the top end of Brixton Hill. It’s situated right next to a block of flats and opposite a large housing estate. The new owners have been using the venue to host all-night rave parties. The list of problems the neighbours report is horrific. Loud noise all night long so they can’t sleep. Fighting, drug taking, vomiting and urinating outside the pub and outside their windows. With this going on until 6am on a regular basis at weekends, the residents were at their wits end. They wanted the pub to moderate its behaviour. But when they tried to speak to the managers, they got no response. Just days before the Licensing Committee meeting, the Telegraph even sent round a letter to people living in the block telling them they had made up the nuisance they were reporting. Everyone was speechless.

When the hearing started, the applicants put in their request for a licence to open until 4am on week nights and 6am at weekends. Afterwards, local councillors Steve Reed and Florence Nosegbe joined a group of residents to make the case that this was entirely inappropriate in a residential area. They also pointed out that people who had shown such contemptuous disregard for their neighbours were hardly the right people to run a club in the area. The Committee agreed and slapped restrictions on the pub that means they have to close at 11pm on weeknights and 12 midnight at weekends. The residents were delighted at this real example of local democracy in action as the council put the needs of residents above the money-making plans of a group of club promoters who didn’t seem to care what trouble they cause ordinary people living alongside them.

Near neighbours are hoping to get some sleep now the Telegraph's been told to close its doors by midnight.

Holocast Memorial Event in Brixton Hill

Lambeth Council is hosting its annual Holocaust Memorial Day Event this Sunday.

It will take place in the Assembly Hall of Lambeth Town Hall (Brixton Hill, SW2 1RW) on Sunday 25 January 2009 at 3 – 4.30pm.

The theme of this years event is "Stand Up to Hatred".

In Lambeth, we can all choose to Stand Up To Hatred and:

• Refuse to stand by and allow others to commit acts of hatred


• Recognise the language of hatred.


• Challenge newspapers and public figures when they are using the language of hatred.


• Stop using language which is discriminatory and stop others when we hear them doing the same.


• Recognise when hate crime is taking place and report it


• Recognise that a crime does not have to be committed for hatred to be expressed


• Learn from history that the ultimate result of unchecked and unchallenged hatred, prejudice, discrimination and racism is genocide.

On Holocaust Memorial Day 2009 make the choice to Stand Up To Hatred.

For more information see: http://www.hmd.org.uk/.

Chuka to visit Lambeth College for Obama Inauguration

This afternoon, Chuka will be paying a visit to Lambeth College’s Brixton Centre and speaking to staff and students there about President Obama's inauguration and British politics.

The Brixton Centre is about to undergo a £50 million government funded investment programme to make it a state-of-the-art technology centre for construction, engineering and media skills training. To find out more about the Brixton Centre, visit the website: Lambeth College – Brixton Centre.

Next Meeting of Friends of Windmill Gardens

The next General Meeting of "Friends of Windmill Gardens" is at 7:30pm on January 19 at Lyham Road church (corner of Mandrell Rd).

If you are interested in the life of Brixton Hill's Windmill I am sure you can turn up. To become a friend, see here: http://www.brixtonwindmill.org/friends.htm.

Brixton Hill Safer Neighbourhood Panel Meeting - Monday 12 January 2009

Come alone and discuss local crime and policing issues with the Brixton Hill Safer Neighbourhood Police Team, your local councillors and other local residents.

The meeting will be held on Monday 12 January 2009 from 19.00 at the Clapham Park Project Office, 1-4 Brixton Hill Place (Off Brixton Hill) SW2 1HJ.

A copy of the agenda can be found here : Brixton Hill SNT Meeting agenda 12 Jan 2009

This meeting is open to residents living or working in the Brixton Hill ward.

The Telegraph and Iroko Bar Applications

Both The Telegraph and Iroko Bar applications will be considered by the Licensing Sub-Committee on Tuesday 20th January, at 7:00pm, at the Town Hall.

The agenda papers will be available from http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=116&MId=6247&Ver=4 in the next few days.

For more information about the The Telegraph and Iroko Bar applications see: Cllr Steve Reed's website.

Seeing your GP & nurse just got easier

Many GPs in Lambeth now open earlier in the morning, later in the evening and/or on Saturday on top of their current daytime hours.

The local ones include:

SW2 Brixton Hill Group Practice 020 8674 6376
SW2 Palace Road Surgery 020 8674 2083
SW2 Edith Cavell Practice 020 8243 2224
SW2 Streatham Place Surgery 020 8671 6191

Find out more - download the leaflet.

For more information about your local health services, including GP services in your area and their opening times, please go to the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk or call 0800 587 8078.

Brixton and Streatham Hill Labour Party AGM

AGENDA FOR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

To be held at 8:00pm on Thursday 8th January at 1 Tanhurst House, Redlands Way, Brixton Hill

ALL MEMBERS WELCOME

* NEW MEMBERS RECEPTION AT 7.30 *

1. Apologies
2. Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 8th January 2008
3. Outgoing Officers’ reports
4. Election of Officers for 2009
5. Speaker

Cllr Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth Council

“Lambeth: Beating the Credit Crunch”

6. Motion: LGBT Members SectionThe GC should establish an LGBT members group, like the Women’s, Youth and BAME sections, to represent the views of LGBT people to the party and its candidates and campaign for local LGBT people to vote Labour in all elections.


7. Adjournment to Crown & Sceptre.

If non members would like to come along, please email r_angell@hotmail.com.

Boris' new year present to bus users

Tory London Mayor Boris Johnson has hit public transport users hard by massively increasing fares.

Labour's London Assembly transport spokesperson, Val Shawcross AM, slammed the decision. She said: "This unnecessary, above inflation fare hike is going to hit the pocket of every Londoner hard and makes a complete mockery of the Mayor's promise to provide value for money.

"Boris Johnson has given us no evidence whatsoever for his claim that there is a transport finance blackhole. What the evidence does point to is an increase in passenger numbers and revenue in TfL's coffers. If anything there should be a surplus this year, as there was in previous years. For Boris to blame his predecessor for this fare hike is nothing more than a cheap political shot.

"If the Mayor genuinely is concerned about the fares budget then he should have thought twice about abolishing the £25 higher charge for gas guzzlers and should reconsider his expensive plans to replace the bendy bus. It's strange to say the least that Boris is consulting about the future of the Western extension of the congestion charge but hasn't seen fit to consult Londoners on this fare hike which will hit all passengers hard. It just smacks of playing political games with London's transport network".

Example fare rises (from January 2009)

BUS

• Single bus fare was: 90p
• From January: £1
  This 10% rise will affect around 1.3 million Londoners

TUBE

• Single Tube journey was: £2
• From January: £2.20
  A 10% rise

Community toilet scheme

Lambeth Council has launched an innovative new scheme to improve public toilet provision for residents and visitors. It works by the Council paying businesses a small annual fee in return for the businesses providing access to their toilets, for free, with no obligation to make a purchase.

Under the scheme businesses such as restaurants, bars and shops work together with the council to provide more clean, safe and accessible toilets for members of the public. Several of the premises offer wheelchair access and baby changing facilities.

Those in and around Brixton Hill are:

• Honest Foods, 424 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8LF
• McDonalds, 518 – 522 Brixton Road, SW9 8EN
• Southside Bar, 144 Brixton Hill, SW2 1SD
• The Dogstar, 389 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8LQ
• McDonalds, 2-22 Streatham Place, SW2 4PZ

For more information see Lambeth's Website.

Please recycle your Christmas tree!

Local residents will be able to recycle their Christmas trees again this year, as Lambeth Council launches its free tree recycling service from 5 January 2009.

The service has been set up as part of the council’s to make recycling easier than ever.Residents who have a real Christmas tree and live in a kerbside property can leave it next to their refuse bin in the week beginning 5th January, and the council will take it away and recycle it for free. The tree should be left at the front of the property before 6.00am on the day of collection, and all decorations should be removed.

People who live in a Lambeth Living property can simply leave their tree next to their estate recycling bank (also in the week beginning 5th January). Alternatively, anyone can bring them to be recycled at the following four sites between 5-16 January:

• Clapham Common, Windmill Drive, SW4


• Streatham Common, Streatham High Road, SW16


• Kennington Park, Kennington Park Road, SE11


• Lambeth Household Recycling Centre, Vale Street, SE27

It's estimated that each person in the UK will throw away an average of 50 kilos of waste over Christmas, about three million tonnes overall, although a lot of this waste, for example wrapping paper, Christmas cards, and plastic and glass bottles and cans from Christmas parties can all be recycled.

Cllr Sally Prentice, Cabinet member for Environment on Lambeth Council, said:

"We all create a lot more waste during the Christmas period and Lambeth Council is making it easier than ever for people to recycle; our door-to-door Christmas tree recycling service is part of this drive. It’s also worth remembering that people can recycle clothes, toys, books and unwanted Christmas presents at local charity and second hand shops which are always looking for good quality items."

About Brixton Hill

Brixton Hill is bounded on the north by A2217 Acre Lane, and A23 Brixton Hill and Upper Tulse Hill on the east. Streatham Place (as far as New Park Road) marks the southern border and Kingswood Road and B221 King's Avenue make up the west.
See a map of Brixton Hill ward

The ward includes:

• Lambeth College.
  
• Primary schools include Christ Church Brixton, Christ Church Streatham, Corpus Christi, Livity, Orchard, Richard Atkins and Sudbourne.
  
• Nurseries include Holmewood.
  
• Central to the ward is Brixton Prison.
  
• The larger housing estates are Saxby Road, Blenheim Gardens, Dumbarton Court and Roupell Park.
  
• Parks and green spaces include Rush Common.

The population of Brixton Hill ward rose from 12,135 in 1991 to 12,458 in 2001, an increase of 2.7%. This is 4.7% of the borough population. Brixton hill has an area of 112.9 hectares (4.1% of the borough). For the local elections in May 2002, there were 9,624 electors.

Your Brixton Hill Action Team

The Local Labour Action Team

Councillor Florence Nosegbe

Email: fnosegbe@lambeth.gov.uk

Mobile: 07985 735 474

Website: Councillor Florence Nosegbe's Website

Contact Card - Download here

Florence was raised and educated in Lambeth and is currently Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and the 2012 Olympic Games. She is responsible for Lambeth's Cultural Services including arts and community events; leisure services; sport; Olympic legacy; parks and open spaces; registry service; cemetery and crematoria.

Councillor Steve Reed

Bus. Phone: 020 7926 1709

Email: sreed@lambeth.gov.uk

Website: Councillor Steve Reed' s Website

Contact Card - Download here

Facebook Page

Steve has been a councillor in Brixton Hill since 1998, when Labour won the election in 2006 he became Leader of the Council and has worked tirelessly to improve Lambeth Council for everyone who lives here.

Councillors can help with problems you have encountered with Lambeth Council - such as social services, education, housing, libraries, planning applications and development, leisure, recreation and the arts, environmental health, highways, waste collection, and revenue collection.

Councillor Alex Holland

Email: aholland@lambeth.gov.uk

Mobile: 07814 567910

Alex was born in Brixton and has lived here for most of his life. Before becoming a Labour candidate he led Friends of Brixton Market, which successfully campaigned to save the market from demolition. He lives in Brixton Hill on Baytree Road, and cares passionately about our area.

Your councillors and Action Team Member are also keen to hear about campaigning issues in your area, and may be able to help with you with more general matters. You can write to your councillors at: Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1RW

Chuka Umunna MP for Streatham

Email: chuka.umunna.mp@parliament.uk

Tel: 020 8769 5063 - Chuka holds regular advice surgeries and you can arrange an appointment by calling the above number

Website: Chuka Umunna's website

Chuka Umunna was elected as Member of Parliament for Streatham in May 2010, becoming the first MP for the constituency to have grown up in the area.

In June 2010, he was selected to serve on the Treasury Select Committee and in October 2010 was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party

Val Shawcross AM

City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London, SE1 2AA

Tel: 020 7983 4401

Email: valerie.shawcross@london.gov.uk

Website: http://www.valshawcross.com/

Val is Lambeth & Southwark's representative on the London Assembly - the body which scrutinises the Mayor of London. Val is Chair of the Assembly's Transport Committee. If you have problems with Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police, the Fire Service, or any London-wide issue she might be the best person to speak to.

Your London MEPs

Members of the European Parliament are elected to represent London as whole. There are two Labour MEPs representing London. Follow the link above to find out more about them. Your London Labour MEPs are Mary Honeyball, and Claude Moraes.

Advice Surgeries in Brixton Hill

Your local councillors hold advice surgeries every week on a rota basis.If you wish to speak to a particular councillor contact them to discover which surgery they are attending next.

Every Saturday, 10-11am in the Town Hall, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RW

PLEASE NOTE: This advice surgery takes place on a rota basis, shared among all Brixton councillors.

Contact a Local Councillor

If you live in Brixton Hill then you can contact a Brixton Hill councillor for advice or assistance. If you are unsure whether you live in Brixton Hill check your postcode here.

Our phone and email contact details are below, or you can write to us at:

Name of the councillor
Lambeth Town HallBrixton Hill
London
SW2 1RW

You can also visit us in person at one of our weekly advice surgeries every Saturday, 10-11am in the Town Hall, Brixton Hill, London SW2 1RW.

This surgery takes place on a rota basis, shared among Brixton councillors.

Councillor Florence Nosegbe

Email: fnosegbe@lambeth.gov.uk

Mobile: 07985 735 474

Website: Councillor Florence Nosegbe's Website

Contact Card - Download here

Councillor Steve Reed
Bus. Phone: 020 7926 1167
Email: sreed@lambeth.gov.uk
Website: Councillor Steve Reed' s Website
Contact Card - Download here

Councillor Alex Holland

Email: aholland@lambeth.gov.uk

Mobile:07814 567 910

Website: Councillor Alex Holland's Website

Contact Card - Download here

Details for other local representatives can be found here; Lambeth Labour Councillors

Community Organisations

Friends of Windmill Gardens

A local residents' group, the Friends of Windmill Gardens, was established in 2003. Our aim is to restore the Windmill and to transform the surrounding park into an area that will be valued by all the local community.

http://www.brixtonwindmill.org/

Useful Contacts

Lambeth Council:
Main Switchboard - 020 7926 1000

Brixton Hill Customer Centre - Olive Morris House, 18 Brixton Hill, SW2 1RL / omhcustomercentre@lambeth.gov.uk / 020 7926 1000

Children, Schools and Families:
Lambeth Children and Young People's Services - 020 7926 9896
Admissions - 020 7926 9503
Lambeth College - 020 7501 5000/5600
Career development and student loans - 020 7926 9474

Christ Church Brixton Church of England Primary School
Cancell Road, North Brixton, SW9 6HN / 020 7735 1343
Christ Church Streatham Church of England Primary School
Cotherstone Road Streatham Hill SW2 3NF / 020 8674 4308
Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Primary School
Trent Road, SW2 5BL / 020 7274 4722
Livity School
Mandrell Road, SW2 5DW / 020 7733 0681
Orchard Primary School
Christchurch Road (entrance from Cotherstone Road), SW2 3DH / 020 8671 4400
Richard Atkins Primary School
New Park Road, SW2 4JP / 020 8674 5601
Sudbourne Primary School
Hayter Road,Brixton, SW2 5AP / 020 7274 7631

Holmewood Nursery School and Tree House Children's Centre
66 Upper Tulse Hill, SW2 2RW / 020 8674 2186

Childcare providers - 0845 601 5317

Housing:
Lambeth Housing - 020 7926 6000 (all calls for local housing offices go through the Lambeth Service Centre)
Housing repairs - 020 7926 6666Leaseholders - 020 7926 6700
Vulnerable tenants - 020 7926 6270

Roupell Park: Community Office, Brockham Drive, Roupell Park Estate SW2 4PN / 020 7926 0219 / mbrowne@lambeth.gov.uk
Blenheim Gardens: 24 Prague Place, Blenheim Gardens Estate, Brixton, SW2 5ED / 020 7926 0158 / blenheimgardens@lambeth.gov.uk

Lambeth Streetcare - 020 7926 9000
Lambeth Streetcare call centre deal with a large number of issues including: abandoned vehicles: graffiti removal; litter and dumped rubbish; bulky refuse collections; recycling; road and pavement repairs; street lighting; parking enquiries, parks.

Noise Complaints
9am – 5pm (Monday to Friday) - 020 7926 6111
10pm – 3am (Every day) - 020 7926 5999

Lambeth Automatic PCN payment line - 0870 241 3262 / 0845 331 3310

Police numbers
Emergencies - 999
Police non-emergencies - 020 7326 1212
Crimestoppers - 0800 555111

Brixton Hill's Safer Neighbourhoods Team - 020 8721 2892 / BrixtonHill.SNT@met.police.uk /Newsletter

Health
Lambeth NHS (Primary Care Trust)
Find a local GP - 0800 587 8078
Out of Hours GP - 020 8693 9066
Find a local Dentist - 0800 587 0878/020 7716 7085
Out of Hours Dental - 020 8299 5509
NHS Direct (non-emergencies) - 08 45 46 47

Guy's & St Thomas' Hospitals - 020 7188 7188
Gracefield Gardens Health & Social Care Centre (Drop In) - 2-8 Gracefield Gardens, Streatham, SW16 2ST / 020 3049 4888
Pulross Intermediate Care Centre (Drop In) - 47a Pulross Road, SW9 8AE / 020 3049 4004
Clapham Park Group Practice (Drop In) - 72 Clarence Avenue, SW4 8JP / 0844 477 8685

Streatham Place Surgery (GP) - 28 Streatham Place, SW2 4QY / 020 8674 8500
Brixton Hill Group Practice (GP) - 22 Raleigh Gardens, SW2 1AE / 020 8674 6376
Hetherington Group Practice (GP) - 18 Hetherington Road, SW4 7NU / 020 7274 4220
Day Lewis Mokwell Pharmacy - 110 Brixton Hill, SW2 1AH / 020 8674 3575
Hillrise Pharmacy - Alexander Dumas House, 230 Brixton Hill, SW2 1HG / 020 8674 1896
S. G. Manning Pharmacy - 294 Brixton Hill, SW2 1HT / 020 8674 4391

Streatham Hill community sexual health centre - 41a-c Streatham Hill, SW2 4TP / 020 3049 4006

Equality Groups:
Lambeth LGBT Forum - 0207 926 2796 / info@lambethlgbtforum.org.uk

Other services:
Ambulance non-emergencies - 020 7887 6678
Fire non-emergencies - 020 8555 1200 ext 57973Gas emergencies - 0800 111 9999
Thames Water - 0800 032 5202
Reporting a leak - 0845 9200 800AdviceBenefits (including Housing and Council Tax) - 020 7649 9311
Citizens Advice Bureau - 020 8715 0707
Lambeth Law Centre - 020 7737 9781

Travel
Transport for London - 020 7222 1234
Train information - 08457 484950 / http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Get Involved

E-Newsletter

'We Love Brixton Hill' sends out a monthly email newsletter with details of upcoming events, public meetings and items of interest for Brixton Hill ward residents. To receive the newsletter just email welovebrixtonhill@gmail.com with SUBSCRIBE as the subject heading.

Contact Your Local Action Team

The Brixton Hill Acton Team are here to help with problems and represent the hopes and concerns of those who live in Brixton Hill. Get in touch now.

Register Your Support for the Labour Action team

You don't have to join Labour to help us with our campaigning. If you want to help out with a particular campaign, can deliver leaflets, can donate time or money, or can put up a poster at election time, please email Richard Angell - chair of Brixton Hill Labour Party - on r_angell@hotmail.com with SUPPORT as the subject heading.

Join the Labour Party

Have you thought about joining Labour? Our members are what make the party, and membership allows you to play a part in selecting Labour candidates, devising policies, and planning campaigns.



Donate to the Labour Party

Campaigning for a fairer Lambeth costs money! Please follow the link above to donate to the national Labour party. If you would like you can donate money directly to the branch party, the constituency party, or the borough party - get in touch with Richard Angell chair of Brixton Hill Labour Party - on r_angell@hotmail.com to find our how.

Support the national Labour Party here:

Contribute to "We Love Brixton Hill"

'We Love Brixton Hill' is designed to be an online community information site for residents living in Brixton Hill ward.

Check for updates about neighbourhood meetings, campaigns, Lambeth Council information and local concerns.

'We Love Brixton Hill' is run by the local Labour Action Team and will opporate as a focal point for the community information, not a party political broadcast. Information on the Brixton Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team, your local elected representatives and community events that take place wthin the ward will all get posted.

To get your local event posted up email, welovebrixtonhill@gmail.com.

E-Newsletter

'We Love Brixton Hill' sends out a monthly email newsletter with details of upcoming events, public meetings and items of interest for Brixton Hill ward residents.

To receive the newsletter just email welovebrixtonhill@gmail.com with SUBSCRIBE as the subject heading.