Feedback: ‘Thank you for the very exciting newsletter full of activities.’

Vauxhall City Farm. Open every Wednesday to Sunday 10.30am-4pm. Tyers St.

NEWS

Councillor Robert Banks. The 28 March issue listed Councillor Robert Banks as being a substitute member of the Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee based on the report to Committee. He tells me that the meeting appointed him Vice-Chair,

New Exhibitions. Disclosures starts on Friday 11 April at Gasworks, Rodeo  at Danielle Arnaud’s on Saturday 12 April, and Dormant at UBOX on Friday 18 April. See Art Galleries & Exhibitions section below.

Archbishop Sumner School News. This week has seen a music evening involving the brass band, choir, recorders, and steelpans, Quantum Theatre performing mysterious disappearances to KS1/2 for Science Day, and the Nursery kids visiting Roots & Shoots.

Archbishop Sumner Year 6 Pupils on Magic FM. To listen to Archbishop Sumner’s year 6 class choir singing for Magic FM radio:.

·                     Go onto the internet.

·                     Type in www.bigcityweb.co.uk/singup.

·                     Scroll down the page to the pink section ‘Latest Songs’.

·                     There are over 100 songs and schools listed, not in any particular order, but AS’s is 11^th from the end of the list, listed as ‘Halima Pakasholo – Archbishop Sumner CE'.

NUT strike on 24 April. Archbishop Sumner School’s newsletter reports: ‘The NUT has decided to strike on 24th April. They are concerned that teachers’ pay increases are not in line with inflation. Our teachers work so hard – they deserve the highest of salaries. Most of the teachers employed at Archbishop Sumner are in the NUT and thus the school has to be closed on this day.  Thus the school will be closed on Thursday 24^th April.’

Darning Library Senior Group. There are changes and additions to the programme:

April 16 - Gentle Exercises with Lullyn
May 21 -  Quadrille dancing with Elsa
June 18 -  Is it Silver?
July 16 - Strawberries & cream for our regular friends
August -  Summer break

Young & Safe Consultation. The Safer Lambeth Partnership has been consulting on issues relating to young people, crime and safety. Alford House has submitted a response. RCDT’s discussion paper written by Tim  Saunders (Alford House) and Sean Creighton (June 2006) has also been submitted. At the requests of Vauxhall Community Gardens Community Centre I have submitted a personal paper outlining the role of Community and Social Action Centres, pointing out that youth activities in such venues are as important as those in youth centres or through outreach. The consultation details and document can be seen on www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/CommunityLiving/CrimePrevention/YoungAndSafeConsultation. While the consultation closes on 4 April, I am sure submissions in by Monday 7 April would be acceptable.

Empowering Communities. Still got the appetite for responding to Government consultations? If so then you might want to look at ‘Unlocking the talent of our communities’ consultation prior to the Government issuing an Empowerment White Power. The Government is focusing on:

·                     regenerating deprived neighbourhoods, supporting people into work and encouraging more enterprise and social enterprise

·                     encouraging more people to get involved in building stronger local democracy

·                     improving local public services by increasing the involvement of people house them

·                     strengthening the accountability of public agencies to local people

The following questions are being asked:

·                     How can government at all levels work together to tackle wordlessness and promote enterprise in the most deprived areas?

·                     What are the best means of coordinating social, economic and physical regeneration?

·                     What is the role of government in encouraging and supporting citizens to be active?

·                     What steps need to be taken to revive involvement in local civic and democratic roles?

·                     How can the power of consumers be better used to improve local services?

·                     How can social housing tenants be given more choice and voice?

·                     What more is needed to encourage consistently strong local leadership?

·                     How best cane we increase opportunities for communities to hold local public officials and representatives to account?

The document can be seen on www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/712089.

Comments can be sent to unlockingtalent@communities.gsi.gov.uk

There is a discussion forum on: http://haveyoursay.communities.gov.uk/forums/67/ShowForum.aspx

Comment. If you decide to look at the document you might want to reflect on:

·                     the enormous gap between Government aspiration and actual delivery down through the Council, the Mayor, the London Development Agency and other public bodies, in areas like Kennington and Vauxhall;

·                     on why people become active citizens - usually because they are fighting against public bodies and private interests;

·                     on what might be effective structures to which public officials and representatives are required to be called to account locally;

·                     what should the role of local representatives be?

LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS & NEWS

Planning Applications

30 March – 3 April

Kerrin Point, Hotspur St. Approval of design security and surface water drainage details for new building development. Ref: 08/01169 & 01162/DET

30 Ravensdon St. Erection of a lower ground floor rear side infill extension, alterations to existing rear extension comprising raising of brick walls and replacement of existing  flat felt roof with flat rooflight glass panels and the removal of existing ground floor rear window. Ref: 08/00950/FUL

Details can be seen on:

http://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/publicaccess/dc/DcAplication/weeklylist_searchform.aspx. If this link does not work then go to www.lambeth.gov.uk and track through to Planning and Public Access database. And to go and see any plans is easy from the KOV area as the Town Planning Advice Centre is at Phoenix House, 10 Wandsworth Road, at Vauxhall Cross. 020 7926 1180. tpac@lambeth.gov.uk. Plans can also be seen at Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane. You can also send your comments on applications through the Public Access data base. Kennington Association’s Planning Group blog is accessible via http://journals.aol.co.uk/kenningtonnews/KenningtonNews/

Planning Decisions

30  March – 3 April

66 Fentiman Rd. Tree pruning. Permitted.

6 Hanover Gdns. Tree Pruning. Permitted.

365 Kennington Lane. Replacement of existing pitched roof to the rear extension with a flat roof with the formation of a terrace, involving alterations to the rear window to include double doors. Refused.

179 Kennington Rd. Adaptations and demolition.  Permitted.

54 Kennington Oval. Tree pruning. Permitted.

36 St Mary’s Gdns. Application for a Certificate of Lawful Development (Proposed) with respect to the erection of a single storey side/rear extension. Permitted.

Technical access problems prevented inclusion of any decisions after Item 60 on the week’s list.

LOCAL LINKS – see www.rcdt.org

More information about your local Labour Councillors on: www.lambethlabour.com

More information about your Lib Dem Councillors on: http://lambethlibdems.org.uk

ART GALLERIES & EXHIBITIONS

ENews/Events Listing compiled and edited by Sean Creighton, RCDT

Unless stated editorial comments do not reflect the views of the RCDT Board.

RCDT is supported by London Development Agency, and part-funded by Pedlar’s Acre Trust - Lambeth Council