CHURCH STREET WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – October 2021
News from your Church Street Labour Councillors Aicha Less, Matt Noble and Aziz Toki
Marylebone Station
We have called for clean hybrid trains to replace the dirty, polluting diesel trains currently operating from Marylebone to Birmingham. We have written to Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris calling for the new contract from Marylebone to stipulate that all diesel coaches are converted to diesel/battery bi-mode hybrids as quickly as possible and certainly within a short time period.
Greenside Community Hall
Following their petition to the Council, residents are continuing to press for the Council return of the Greenside community hall to community use. Residents say:
“We have since learned that nursery has moved out of 27 Tresham Crescent, apparently because they could not afford the rent for this purpose-built childcare building. Furthermore, Portman nursery is relocating to its old premises, leaving behind its temporary accommodation on Lisson Green. This means that on the estate alone two further premises have become available, on top of the many hundreds of void commercial premises in the borough that are crying out for sensible meanwhile uses such as the use as a Covid test centre. We need Greenside back for our local community.”
Autumn Nights 2021
Each year, Westminster sees a rise in anti-social behaviour around Halloween and bonfire night, and Diwali particularly around use of fireworks. This year, COVID-19 brings new challenges in helping to make sure the public follows Government guidelines and continues to adhere to fire safety regulations.
To help discourage anti-social behaviour the following activities will take place:
- Posters are displayed in hotspots
- An increase of highly visible estate inspections will be undertaken, a few weapon sweeps have taken place and the bushes have been cut down by the Lisson Green pitches- this was an area of concern with regards to stashing weapons and drugs.
- Partnerships with youth, community and residents’ groups will form to help spread messaging, with youth clubs open till 9pm every night providing activities.
- Police will have temporary access to WCC estates CCTV, throughout Autumn Nights.
- Police have an extra 21 officers on duty to work alongside neighbourhood police officers, with more emphasize in Lisson Green, Edgware Road and Harrow Road,
- Warning letters have been distributed to some youths and adults about the strong tenancy enforcement measures that may be taken if residents do not comply with safety measures
- Safer School Officers to display and share firework safety advice and relevant social events at schools to reinforce firework messaging.
- Schools’ officers-initiated conversations around consequences/dangers of firework ASB – including sec 35 dispersals and sec 50 Police Reform Act interventions. This involved addressing school assemblies.
If you live on a Westminster Housing estate, anti-social behaviour can be reported by either calling 0800 358 3783 or emailing housing.enquiries@westminster.gov.uk
To report misuse of fireworks, call the police on the non-emergency number 101. In an emergency, or if you are in immediate danger, always call 999.
Key dates
- Halloween – Saturday 31 October
- Bonfire Night – Thursday 5 November
- Diwali – Saturday 14 November
Rubbish dumping
Westminster’s streets are littered with mounds of dumped rubbish from Pimlico to Paddington despite the Council spending £50 million a year with Veolia whose contract has just been extended for another three years. The time is long overdue for tough action against the regular rubbish dumpers who litter the streets of Westminster and who are currently getting away with this particularly selfish and nasty form of anti-social behaviour. We have put forward a 5-point plan to tackle the rubbish dumping menace.
Council leaseholders face higher charges
In their latest example of overspending and failing to deliver what they promised, Westminster Council has admitted their costs have gone massively over budget for their day-to-day services for leaseholders, leading service charges to hit an average cost of £1,631.41 per household. This is a massive 8.6% over the Council’s original estimates to leaseholders for 2020/21.
£6 Million Marble Arch Mound
Westminster Council has released its internal review of the £6 Million Marble Arch fiasco which saw costs escalate from £2 million to £6.6 million in a matter of months. As the report finds, “despite clear and repeated warnings”, the Mound was left unfinished and plans to recoup costs with entry charges had to be scrapped. The review has found:
“There was a breakdown of project management of the Mound which, amongst other issues, led to confusion over roles and responsibilities, a lack of communication between staff and contractors working on different elements of the Marble Arch Mound project and a basic lack of project coordination and documentation.”
The Council rejected Labour’s call for a full independent inquiry of how and why the costs had increased and why there was a basic lack of financial control. The subsequent ‘internal review’ has failed to ask key questions about the Council’s failure to apply basic financial controls on this high-profile project. The ‘internal review’, as expected, also fails to ask questions about the involvement of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members in making decisions regarding the cost increases.
For a report on the Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 27th October, see
https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/marble-arch-mound-council-spent-21991333
North Westminster Programme
A new Council funding stream has opened for up to £40,000 for projects taking place in Queen’s Park, Harrow Road, Westbourne or Church Street wards. Individuals or organisations are eligible to apply. Applications open on 1st November 2021 for projects that are aimed at:
- Empowering young people
- Enabling all adults to progress
- Building connections between people
- Making places safe, sustainable and welcoming
The deadline for applications is 28th November 2021 at 11:59pm.
You can find out more at https://www.westminster.gov.uk/north-westminster-programme or you can also get in touch via email at northwestminsterprogramme@westminster.gov.uk
Voting by post
It is much easier, quicker and safer to vote by post.
You can use this form to apply for a postal vote
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/sites/default/files/postal-vote-application-form.pdf
You can email your completed form to electoralservices@westminster.gov.uk or post it to Electoral Services, Westminster City Council, 14th Floor City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP.
North Paddington Foodbank
If you are in need of emergency support, please contact your support worker or Westminster CAB for a referral, you will then be contacted by the food bank to arrange a delivery or collection. If you are struggling to access a referral or are concerned for someone you know, please call the food bank directly on 07932 623443.
The Foodbank is on the frontline helping more people than ever before in a very difficult situation. Please donate here
The Food Bank is in need of volunteers of all ages across all roles. From lunch hour delivery drivers to evening packers and daytime support. If you would like to find out more please get in touch at volunteers@npfoodbank.org.uk
Electric Car charging points
Charging points have been installed in lamp columns across the area and you can register your interest in having a lamp post charger installed near you by completing the form below. You can also register an interest in having stand-alone charging posts installed in your local area.
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/request-vehicle-charging-point
E-Scooter hire trial
Transport for London is holding an e-scooter hire trial over the coming months. If you have any comments on the trial, please contact TfL by email at haveyoursay@tfl.gov.uk.
‘Westminster Extra’
You can read the ‘Westminster Extra’ onlinehttps://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=09649383-4dbb-4a3d-b164-9d26398578f3
Refuse collection and Recycling collection times
Recycling bags can be ordered from https://webforms.westminster.gov.uk/order-recycling-bags/. Bags will be delivered within approximately 10 days of order.
You can check when refuse and recycling is collected from your street here http://transact.westminster.gov.uk/env/streetsearch.aspx
The doorstep recycling service concentrates on the recyclable materials most commonly produced by houses so that these can be easily separated into the different material types. The link below summarises what can be put in recycling bags
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/what-can-i-recycle-home#can-recycle
Lots of other materials can be recycled but not through the doorstep collection service. The A-Z list below gives details of what and where items can be recycled or re-used:
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/a-z-recycling
Report It
You can report rubbish dumping, graffiti, broken street lights and more at https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it
Coronavirus (Covid-19) UPDATE
Interactive Map
You can see the latest data for your area here
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map
Westminster Connects COVID-19 phone line – 020 7641 1222
Contact and surgery details for your Church Street ward Councillors
Do you have an issue or concern that your local Councillors can help you with? Speak to us in person at our one of our drop-in advice surgeries held every Tuesday, between 5.30pm to 6.30pm at Church Street Library, 67 Church St, London, NW8 8EU. Please note that these surgeries are held on a rota basis and we kindly ask you to book an appointment in advance on the number or any of the email addresses below.
Contact us anytime via our support office on: 020 7641 4299, or email us: aless@westminster.gov.uk, mnoble@westminster.gov.uk & atoki@westminster.gov.uk
What you say
“Thank you for another concise Action Report from our local Labour Councillors. It’s good to read about the various issues from planning to recycling they cover. Not to mention the £6 million pile of rubbish still disgracing Marble Arch”
Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance on any local issues.
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Keep well, take care and look after yourself and your neighbours in these difficult times.
Regards
Councillors Aicha Less, Matt Noble and Aziz Toki
Your Church Street Labour Councillors – Here to Help, All Year Round
aless@westminster.gov.uk
mnoble@westminster.gov.uk
atoki@westminster.gov.uk