PAUL BELL | Working for Telegraph Hill

The budget for 2010/11 was set on Monday night and by all accounts it was an emotionally charged event. Both the Lib Dems and the Greens put forward alternative budgets. Only Labour's involved a 0% increase in council tax, which I welcome. For many years I have been raising the plight of the cost of council tax not just for the elderly, many who have limited means, but for hard-working people, the poorer and those struggling to make ends meet. An increased bill at this time would be unwelcome and disastrous, so I am pleased that the Labour council has frozen the council tax at last year's rates.

However, it is worth noting a few points. Firstly, the Socialists who did not put forward an alternative budget of their own voted with the Lib Dems for their budget proposals, then when that was lost they voted with the Greens against the Lib Dems. For Ian and Chris, any budget would be preferable to a Labour budget that freezes our council tax bill. Odd that isn't it? Well not really, as yet again ideology gets in the way of helping ordinary people with the consequences of the recession.

Secondly, the Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock adopted a couple of proposals from other parties too. Again, I am pleased as sometimes other parties have some good ideas. In this case, the Green group on the council proposed a 3% fuel saving should be pursued and that the money saved should fund the setup costs of the Free Private Sector Home Insulation Scheme, also proposed by the Green group. I applaud parties working together for the benefit of all our people.

So how can the council afford to not increase council tax? According to Steve Bullock, The simple answer is prudent financial management. The council's bank balance is in good shape. This could be held as revolutionary by some, but the facts are the facts. We can all point the finger at initiatives that have not been funded or ask for more apprenticeships for our young people. Indeed I am the first to demand improvements to our housing stock, but Labour is working.

There is much more to be done, not least of which improving repairs carried out by Lewisham Homes, the treatment of leaseholders, improving our roads, protecting our streets and supporting council workers who have read negative headlines in the press recently. The budget debate on Monday highlighted that much has been achieved. We must continue to improve the lives of the poorer in our communities; work towards the eradication of poverty; demand better train services and protect our neighbourhoods from those that have no respect for our society.

In some small way, freezing council tax this year has enabled this to continue and I welcome it.

I read recently of the passing of Albert Booth, who was the Labour MP for Barrow-in-Furness and the Secretary of State for Employment from 1976 to 1979.

Now I did not know him, but I heard of him from Tony Benn’s Diaries and from the Labour Representation Committee who leading tributes to a man who was credited with being a principled socialist in a Labour government. Albert promoted trade union rights and full employment in difficult economic times, even when Labour had barely a working majority.

Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MP for Islington North wrote: “Albert was an inspiration. He proved it was possible to be elected as a socialist, opposed to nuclear weapons, in the heartland of the shipyards that built trident. He stands as an object lesson for those who today believe that Labour is only electable on the politics of the middle ground.”

For me Albert Booth was one of those men who saw that the middle ground of politics could not eradicate poverty, nor bring about a world at peace with itself. Politicians need to be more bold and radical to rid this country of squalor, ignorance, want, idleness and disease. [Beveridge Report].

Depending on your situation, you could get a Winter Fuel Payment. Please make sure you apply for what you are entitled to claim. To find out more, click HERE.

I have added the Telegraph Hill Festival and Bold Vision websites to the Notice Board. Why not take a look by clicking HERE.

I have just become a Beneficial Plot Owner of Airplot, a peace of land slap bang in the middle of the proposed site for a third runway at Heathrow. To join me and 66,514 others (currently), click HERE.

How does this work? Love Clean Streets allows you to review and submit environmental issues and have Lewisham Borough Council deal with it, and then let you know how they got on.

How do I sign up? They don't make you create a new username and password to use the site.  Instead you can use any of the following popular systems to sign in with your existing account: Twitter, Facebook, Google, OpenID, WordPress, Windows Live ID, Yahoo, Blogger, MyOpenID, AOL, Verisign or flickr.  If you don't have any account with one of these already then you can get one for free by visiting any of those sites.

How do I submit a report? You can submit a report in the following ways:

• Use this web site.  Simple go to this page sign in and add the details.  You simple select a location on a map (or type it in),  add a picture (if you have one), give them a few details (such as a description) and upload.
• Using your iPhone.  You can download the free IPhone application from the App Store - just search for Love Clean Streets
• Using your Windows Phone.  You can download our free Windows Phone from the Marketplace on your phone - just search for Love Clean streets (available shortly)
• By TEXT or MMS.  Just send a Text or MMS message to 07725 20 20 20 with LCS in the Subject field or as the first part of the text in the message.  Include a picture if you can and give them a description of the report and describe the location and they'll get back to you if they need more information.

How do I review the progress of reports? You can use this site at any time to search for and find reports and see their current status (including reports you have submitted that have not yet been approved).

While the General Election will be the main show in town over the next three months, let us not forget the local elections that are also taking place up and down the country on May 6th. These elections affect the lives of so many workers in this country and those of us that use services provided by local authorities.

For example, if there is a recent campaign that sums-up for me the difference between the main political parties, it is the Leeds refuge workers campaign. A struggle that seems to be the choice between the Tory and Liberal Democrat view that the low paid, the poor, and working people, should pay for the economic crisis that the bankers and light-touch regulation has caused. This campaign was fought to prevent the council from cutting the already modest pay of refuse collectors from £18,000 to £13,000 a year.

The dispute in Leeds where the council is controlled by a Liberal Democrat/Tory coalition is a wake-up call to those that are thinking about not voting for Labour in the council elections. The Liberal Democrat leader, Richard Brett, of Leeds City Council told the striking workers that they were 'lucky' to have a job at all owing to the current economic conditions. Who does he think he is? Well I can tell you, for his elected position he pockets £45,883 a year; Neil Evans, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods, the directorate responsible for the refuge workers, had his salary increased from £117,679 to £132,593 last year. Staggering isn't it? These people are the same people who fought to stop a "Leeds Living Wage" that a Labour and Green Party coalition tried to secure in December 2008.

The refuge workers dispute has lasted for 12 weeks and has finally been settled thanks to the rejection of the Lib Dem/Tory proposals by the workforce and public opinion. However, it is not without a price. Many of the workers were already struggling before the dispute started, now they have been without pay for twelve weeks. For them, it was a campaign they had to win and they have. Public opinion does not favour punishing hardworking people who have done nothing to cause the recession.

All of us are in this situation together and it is unacceptable that the low-paid pay to get us out of it. According to the Guardian, "We are now seeing groups of workers ready to stand up to oppose deteriorating wages and conditions. They feel the economic crisis should not be solved at their expense and are showing a real combative attitude when attacked. The Leeds bin workers' stance and their ultimate victory under extremely difficult circumstances prove that working people are not willing to be turned over; their example will be followed by others."

It is vital that Labour candidates in the local elections, who stand for social justice and whom work for the eradication of poverty are supported.

 

I have today reported to the council rubbish dumped on Barville Close and Rocastle Road. Hopefully this should be gone within a week. If the rubbish has not been collected by 15th February, then let me know by emailing me HERE.

Kender Street Triangle improvement scheme to begin this month 04 February 2010

Londoners using the busy New Cross Gate area will soon see major improvement work begin that includes the removal of the gyratory system, better crossings and improving the pavement space.

The works contribute to the Mayor of London's commitment to champion improvement of the Capital's public spaces.

The London's Great Outdoors project includes measures to make streets more user-friendly. On 15 February Transport for London (TfL) will start work to convert the Kender Street Triangle to two-way traffic by removing the gyratory.

The area will be made safer and more attractive for pedestrians and cyclists by improving crossings and including a new cycle lane along Queen's Road.

Smooth traffic flow Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's Transport Advisor, said: 'The Mayor is backing improvements around the Capital that will smooth traffic flow as well as make London's streets more attractive.

'The improvement scheme at Kender Street Triangle is a perfect example of this commitment.

'We will remove the gyratory system and bring about a long overdue return to two-way traffic while also making improvements to the public realm.'

As well as converting the gyratory system to two-way traffic, road junctions will be improved and new trees and landscaping planted to help transform Kender Street and Besson Street. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

Dana Skelley, Director of Roads for TfL, said: 'The Kender Street Triangle improvement scheme will help open the area up to the local community, reducing the amount of traffic that is currently forced to travel down Kender Street and Besson Street because of the unnecessary gyratory system.'

Streets for people The gyratory removal works will be complemented by 'Streets for People' works by Lewisham Council.

These works will be funded by TfL, are currently planned to begin in 2011 and will look to transform the appearance of the Kender Street Triangle

Works are also due to start soon on a scheme linked to the road improvements that will see a revamp of the neighbouring Hatcham Gardens.

Work as part of the Mayor's Great Spaces scheme will see trees planted and new park furniture, a drinking fountain and play space provided.

Councillor Heidi Alexander, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at Lewisham Council, said:  'We are extremely excited about the start of this scheme. 

'It's great news for local residents and for everyone else who passes through this part of Lewisham. 

'The Council and New Cross Gate NDC have undertaken a large number of works over recent years to help improve and regenerate the whole New Cross area making it a much more attractive and welcoming place.
 
'The Kender Street Triangle scheme is the latest piece of the jigsaw and will complement our Streets for People initiative which is also being funded by TfL, opening up the area to new and existing residents.'
 
Clive Wilson, Chief Executive of New Cross Gate NDC, said: 'The removal of the gyratory will be a blessing for local residents and will create a new low traffic zone in the centre of New Cross Gate which will be transformed into a new centre for the community.'

Notes to editors:

• TfL is working with Lewisham Council, New Cross Gate New Deal for Communities (NDC) and Design for London (DfL) to improve transport and the urban environment in the New Cross area
• Skanska Construction UK will be carrying out the improvement works on behalf of TfL
• 'London's Great Outdoors - A Manifesto for Public Space' is supported by two practical guides, 'Better Streets' and 'Better Green and Water Spaces'. Together they set out the Mayor of London's vision for improving public spaces in London.  This will ensure that our streets, squares, parks and green and water spaces are fit for a great world city, are enjoyed by everyone who visits them and most importantly, help improve the quality of life in the Capital
• They are accompanied by an implementation plan that will see £220m invested in over 50 public realm improvement projects over the next three years, funding for which comes from TfL, the London Development Agency and London's boroughs as well as other sources. The measures include redesigned streets, which can be shared by both pedestrians and vehicles and reclaimed derelict green spaces and underused waterways
• The manifesto and guides have been written and produced by the Greater London Authority, London Development Agency, Design for London and TfL. For further information please go to www.london.gov.uk/greatoutdoors