We hope everyone had a lovely Easter Holiday. Here is our March councillor update, highlighting our work in Lambeth Council and the local community.
YOUR COUNCILLORS IN THE PRESS
Lambeth’s Housing Strategy and New Homes Program
Scott called out Labour’s failure to deliver on its housing promises at Cabinet, reminding them of their 2014 policy of selling off council houses and their unfulfilled 2018 manifesto promise to build 1000 new homes. Brixton Buzz Story here
Lambeth Green Party says that Lambeth Labour “cannot be trusted on housing”
Forest Nursery Shut Down, Streatham Vale Park
Scott met with families concerned about the sudden closure of Sprig Ludgens outdoor nursery, leaving many parents struggling to find emergency childcare. South London Press story here:
‘We are devastated’: Parents hit out at nursery after ‘unnecessary’ closure
Woodgate Tower, Streatham Common, Planning Applications Meeting
Scott spoke up for the thousands of residents concerned about the overdevelopment of the Homebase site by Streatham Common station, which was approved by the panel.
One of the objectors, Heidi Stonecliffe, King’s Council, emailed Scott after the meeting saying:
“I simply wanted to write to say thank you personally for your incisive, intelligent and probing questions put at PAC on Tuesday. I couldn’t have done it better myself and I cross examine for a living! I know that significant numbers of residents were distinctly impressed by your standpoint. For my part, that evening and your approach, turned a lifelong Labour supporter Green and my partner has indicated he’d now be voting Green on the back of your support.”
The Greens want everyone to have access to the right homes, in the right place, at the right price. Residents have written to the Mayor of London, asking them to overturn Lambeth’s approval of this development. MyLondon News story here:
Streatham residents lose battle to stop 237 homes being built on old Homebase site
COUNCIL WORK
Nicole highlights failings in the council’s Climate Change Report
Nicole sits on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee where this report was discussed.
The committee only meets about six times per year and it was shocking that two Labour members and the one Lib Dem member were missing! Nicole was the single voice in the room calling the council’s performance into question, highlighting the extremely disappointing lack of a clear action plan and timeline to meet Net Zero by 2030.
MYATT’S FIELD ZERO CARBON RETROFIT
Scott visited the Myatt’s Field site where a large-scale retrofit project is making council homes zero-carbon, warmer and cheaper to run using the Dutch EnergieSprong model. Scott spoke to Resident Liaison Officer, Maureen (pictured), who told us about her important role ensuring the council communicated the project’s benefits with residents and ensured as little disruption within their homes as possible.
NEWS
Halabja Memorial
Scott spoke at the memorial service for the thousands of Kurdish victims of the Halabja massacre at Town Hall on 10 March (pictured).
Streatham Society Community Planning Meeting
Scott and Michael Ball (Green Party member who fought against the Garden Bridge fiasco) spoke as experts in planning issues at this well attended community meeting.
Naked Larder Reducing Plastic Waste
Nicole and Scott usually pick up their groceries from this reduced plastic waste refill business in Herne Hill.
Nicole and Scott could not do what they do without the help of members like you. Please get in touch with them to help support their work.
Best wishes – Nicole and Scott.