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Lambeth Council Watch - news and updates about the 'co-operative' council

Blimey - no wonder Martin Abrams is not flavour of the month in Progress House!

I did not know about the Anonyvoter thing.

But remembering way Cllr Rachel was treated nothing surprises me about the right of the Labour party. That is the Progress lot and the fellow travellers of the right of party. The fellow travellers - they aren't ideologically New Labour - rather see democracy as being voting Labour and then when they are voted are the local Council managers and voters should either support them or shut up. What I would call the non ideological right of party.

I reckon Cllr Abrams knows in One Party State Blairite Lambeth his days are numbered so what the hell I'm going to write scathing piece for Tribune.

Good on him.

And he does not use it to complain about what he's been through. He uses the platform to look at a structural problem in party where ( allegedly) the Right are misusing software.

As he says deselecting MPs and allegations of manipulation of selection contests does not get much media coverage as its the left that are the victims of this.

The implication being they are fair game.
 
Lambeth Labour do love a developer jolly.

I was under the impression that the Fabian Society was some sort of socialist group set up by Beatrice and Sidney Webb.
Their website has this intriguing thought about the derivation of their name:

The Fabian name​

The Fabian Society derives its name from the Roman general Quintus Fabius, known as Cunctator from his strategy of delaying his attacks on the invading Carthaginians until the right moment. The name Fabian Society was explained in the first Fabian pamphlet which carried the note.

Having waited for so long for socialism, have the Fabians now decided as per the Tweet in your article to bed developers - and become YIMBIES!!
If so they can fuck off as far as I'm concerned
1713185797849.png
 
I was under the impression that the Fabian Society was some sort of socialist group set up by Beatrice and Sidney Webb.
Their website has this intriguing thought about the derivation of their name:

The Fabian name​

The Fabian Society derives its name from the Roman general Quintus Fabius, known as Cunctator from his strategy of delaying his attacks on the invading Carthaginians until the right moment. The name Fabian Society was explained in the first Fabian pamphlet which carried the note.

Having waited for so long for socialism, have the Fabians now decided as per the Tweet in your article to bed developers - and become YIMBIES!!
If so they can fuck off as far as I'm concerned
View attachment 420022
Many socialists are pro-housing.

socialist housing.PNG
 
Many socialists are pro-housing.
editor
Point taken, but I would say that it's an indictment of London property developers that they can't do better than this.
Funnily enough in Austria they did do much better in 1927-1930
Located on essentially reclaimed land - and a film location for "The Night Porter" apparently.

I am concerned by the astronomical cost and bad visual design of current newbuild flats.
Also the fact that they simply don't care that their flats are NOT family friendly.
Then there is the issue of "regenerating" existing social housing - which is de facto social and ethnic cleansing - done through housing finance.
 
I will be voting Green for Mayor and Assembly on May 2nd. Can't vote for this Labour lot
I went looking for our candidates and their platforms are in the upcoming election. It was remarkably hard to get this in one easy place but I found it here:


I typically share my vote between labour and green candidates. I was an active supporter of Corbyn, and Im veruy much on the left of the party.

I am not going to vote green for mayor. I will absolutely be voting for Khan. Mainly because of the green manifesto will make the housing problem worse.

They make it clear that they will not be working to build more housing for us. I like a lot of what they otherwise have to say, but building a f*ck ton of housing is literally the only thing that can fix the intolerable situation we are in.

I urge Gramsci and anyone else reading this to consider doing the same. Democracy, like dipolomacy, is war by other means; an exercise in collective power.

My appetite for Starmer's project is low, but am much more keen on getting the tory c*ts far away from us.

I will probably give the greens support for the assembly despite their poor platform because they can do less harm there and as it says in their manifesto, their contribution to politics is 'starting the conversation' which they can do from there.
 
I went looking for our candidates and their platforms are in the upcoming election. It was remarkably hard to get this in one easy place but I found it here:


I typically share my vote between labour and green candidates. I was an active supporter of Corbyn, and Im veruy much on the left of the party.

I am not going to vote green for mayor. I will absolutely be voting for Khan. Mainly because of the green manifesto will make the housing problem worse.

They make it clear that they will not be working to build more housing for us. I like a lot of what they otherwise have to say, but building a f*ck ton of housing is literally the only thing that can fix the intolerable situation we are in.

I urge Gramsci and anyone else reading this to consider doing the same. Democracy, like dipolomacy, is war by other means; an exercise in collective power.

My appetite for Starmer's project is low, but am much more keen on getting the tory c*ts far away from us.

I will probably give the greens support for the assembly despite their poor platform because they can do less harm there and as it says in their manifesto, their contribution to politics is 'starting the conversation' which they can do from there.

Had a look at green candidate for mayor mini manifesto.

It's fair enough. Two year rent freeze/ rent controls/ insulation for existing homes/ encourage councils to acquire family sized properties.

Only people who are going to object to that are going to be landlords.

Mayor's powers are limited. But advocating rent controls / rent freeze can only be a good thing.
.
Still going to vote Green.
 
Buzzed: Lambeth Councillors set to vote themselves a 32% ‘allowance’ increase – ‘We’re On Your Side’ etc

"In total, 35 out of the 63 Lambeth Councillors receive some form of Special Responsibility Allowance"
Starting to look at the reports pack.

I don't have a problem with Cllrs getting allowances. I do however think constituents ought to have rights in return. Being a Cllr is not a job. Which imo some Labour Cllrs think it is in Lambeth. Labour has been in power for so long some Cllrs think they are doing you a favour if they listen to you.

This is not how it should work.

As I say I have no problems with Cllrs getting allowances. Its time consuming and people have to pay the bills.

However if these kinds of allowances are paid I think residents should be able to expect a level of job performance.

It would be good if this is publicly made to residents and a complaint system put in so residents can complain if they feel Cllrs aren't doing their job.

Did see this in the report pack that could be a basis for this:

Key duties
4.1 In the Ward, councillors will:
a. represent effectively local people to galvanise Council, voluntary and private resources and
action to help meet local needs. Councillors have the elected right to assume a leadership role
in their Ward and constituents expect to be assisted;
b. make themselves known to all residents' and tenants' associations, amenity groups, voluntary
organisations, schools, places of worship and other societies where community
representatives gather;
c. attend regularly meetings of area housing forums and other area meetings that focus on local
concerns over the Council, the police or other authorities;
d. hold an advice surgery at least once monthly;
e. ensure their up to date contact details (i.e. ward surgery location (opening dates and times),
correspondence address, email address, and telephone number), are provided to Democratic
Services for publication on the Council’s website; and,
f. respond promptly to constituents' queries.

This is a good basis for a what you can expect from us Cllrs public commitment.

I'm afraid some Labour Cllrs are rather arrogant in way they dismiss those who deal with Council in critical way.
 
The only complaints system I've seen is when one of the Stalinist style leadership in Lambeth crack down on hardworking Cllrs who do actually galvanise residents such as Cllr Rachel.

A complaints system for the supreme leadership. Not residents.
 
I'd be happier with the rise if there were less special allowances for loyal Labour councillors. But I imagine that will remain the way till the Opposition get real numbers. Or win
 
Had a look at green candidate for mayor mini manifesto.

It's fair enough. Two year rent freeze/ rent controls/ insulation for existing homes/ encourage councils to acquire family sized properties.

Only people who are going to object to that are going to be landlords.

Mayor's powers are limited. But advocating rent controls / rent freeze can only be a good thing.
.
Still going to vote Green.

The insulation and rent freeze are good. I hope labour nick them. The lack of building is fatal. And sadly its locked in to the nature of the green’s coalition.

My daughter and her partner just managed to privately rent a 1 bed flat in an estate in deptford. 2 grand. Well over half their income after taxes. And people wonder why the next generation are skipping having kids.

Thats not going away until we build houses for 2 million people.

I despair.
 
The insulation and rent freeze are good. I hope labour nick them. The lack of building is fatal. And sadly its locked in to the nature of the green’s coalition.

My daughter and her partner just managed to privately rent a 1 bed flat in an estate in deptford. 2 grand. Well over half their income after taxes. And people wonder why the next generation are skipping having kids.

Thats not going away until we build houses for 2 million people.

I despair.

Sorry I don't get what you are going on about.

Do you not think rent controls and rent freezes for two years are a good thing? Its a separate issue to house building. Landlords are there to pursue their private profit. That is how it works.

Landlords in London have had it all their way for far to long.

BTW how many houses has Lambeth Council built and how many has Khan built? They are the ones who have been in power. I don't see Labour as great success. If that's what your concerns you.

If I was asked if I would vote Labour due to their success at building homes Id be hard pressed to think that as positive reason.

And present leadership of party is wedded to some idea of just changing planning and "growth".
 
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The insulation and rent freeze are good. I hope labour nick them. The lack of building is fatal. And sadly its locked in to the nature of the green’s coalition.

My daughter and her partner just managed to privately rent a 1 bed flat in an estate in deptford. 2 grand. Well over half their income after taxes. And people wonder why the next generation are skipping having kids.

Thats not going away until we build houses for 2 million people.

I despair.

2k£ a month??
 
Sorry I don't get what you are going on about.

Do you not think rent controls and rent freezes for two years are a good thing? Its a separate issue to house building. Landlords are there to pursue their private profit. That is how it works.

Landlords in London have had it all their way for far to long.

BTW how many houses has Lambeth Council built and how many has Khan built? They are the ones who have been in power. I don't see Labour as great success. If that's what your concerns you.

If I was asked if I would vote Labour due to their success at building homes Id be hard pressed to think that as positive reason.

And present leadership of party is wedded to some idea of just changing planning and "growth".

¿What? ¿Did you read my posting? I said rent freeze was a good thing. Look again.

As for building, it’s clear from the green manifesto they are against building.

Labour have not done enough, even to meet their own plans, but then they have had r2b and the government against them. Nevertheless, they’ve done more than the tories did, and promise to do more still:

Affordable housing starts in the city increased from around 7,500 in 2016-17 to 25,000 in 2022-23, while completions rose from 5,000 to 14,000 in the same period.
That’s from Sadiq Khan pledges to build 40,000 council houses in London if re-elected

None of it is remotely enough. We need about 2 million new houses in the southeast and about 5 million new in the country as a whole.

I wish the greens were going to do something about it but they’re not. I like about 80% of the programme but the last 30% loses me. But then neither is the Lambeth version of labour. I have more time for Khan tbh. (I edited this because on reflection while I have some derp misgivings about the greens I don’t want to slag them in public as we are on the same side)

Jeremy would have invested and built the fuck ton of houses we need.

Sorry you don’t see this.
 
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It's barely a story but if they're handing out more cash to themselves they should at least fucking turn up and meet residents.

A Lambeth resident who had come to speak to a councillor about his £7,000 per year service charge bill was left hanging after she didn’t turn up to her advertised surgery. He was one of three locals left in the lurch after Councillor Maria Kay, Labour member for Brixton Acre Lane, missed her monthly meeting with locals on Monday evening (April 15).

The resident, who declined to give his name, had travelled to Lambeth Town Hall, in Brixton, to meet with Cllr Kay, cabinet member for better homes and reducing homelessness, after she allegedly failed to respond to his emails. But he was left disappointed when Cllr Kay and her ward colleagues, Cllr David Bridson and Cllr Sarbaz Barznji, failed to make an appearance at the scheduled surgery.

He said: “It was a wasted journey really. I’m a leaseholder and I’m in the Lambeth Homeowners' Association. We’ve been trying to engage with Maria Kay about housing and the enormous service charges that people have. When I arrived there was another guy looking to speak to Maria. The reception was closed and the security guard radioed through. He didn’t seem clear that there should be anyone holding the surgery.
“A third person turned up [for the surgery] and Cllr Dr Hashi was in the lobby and heard us speaking. He was getting a takeaway and messaged the three councillors. Bridson was on holiday in Portugal, the mayor [Barznji] was otherwise engaged and they never heard back from Maria Kay. Dr Hashi to his credit took some notes and said he would pass them on.”

 
Yeah it's a shame but Labour was in control of the timing. Either would have been very interesting as a stand alone
Any two voters can call a by-election. I was slightly surprised that the Greens did not call Knights Hill as soon as Sonia Winifred quit given their strong performance in ward in 2022 .
 
Fucking hell not even close.

So much for the LTN resistance
Whether the Tories would have done better if their candidate Promise Phillips, poster boy of the LTN protests, had not turned out to have been photographed with Nigel Farage and a Trump supporter was an interesting pub debating point last night.
 
Does anyone know if they will publish the workings of this bit?
At this point (nearly 7 pm Saturday) it would appear they haven't yet been able to do the calculation

The 11 London-wide Assembly Members are elected using a form of proportional representation
Votes from across London for the London-wide Assembly Members are added together. The 11 seats are then allocated based upon a mathematical formula – the Modified d’Hondt Formula. This takes into account the total votes cast in the London-wide ballot together with the number of constituency Assembly member seats that each political party has already won.

Eleven rounds of calculations take place to fill the 11 vacant Assembly member seats, and the party or independent candidate with the highest result at each round is allocated the seat. Seats won by parties are allocated to party candidates in the order they appear on the relevant party’s list of candidates.
 
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