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.