Lambeth's plans to demolish Cressingham Gardens and other estates without the consent of residents

[CH1]

Help me out here, please - who do we (people on the estate) ask? Or must residents do it themselves?

Although somebody on the estate has videoed some previous events connected with the current situation, they won't be available for all of each session, and it'd be unfair to expect them to do all of it.

Maybe send a friendly enquiry to the Member for Scrutiny? Pointing out there have been problems of misrepresentation and goal post shifting in the past?

 

[Greebo]

Maybe send a friendly enquiry to the Member for Scrutiny? Pointing out there have been problems of misrepresentation and goal post shifting in the past?

Thank you.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Maybe it might be necessary to demand separate video recording of proceedings at each "table"
We know how the consultant's composite tends to Orwellian Newspeak.

Not just newspeak, outright lies too, and dissembling aplenty.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Maybe send a friendly enquiry to the Member for Scrutiny? Pointing out there have been problems of misrepresentation and goal post shifting in the past?

Do you mean the head of the overview and scrutiny committee? Is that still Ed Davie (can't really tell from Lambeth's bollocks of a website).

 

[CH1]

Do you mean the head of the overview and scrutiny committee? Is that still Ed Davie (can't really tell from Lambeth's bollocks of a website).

Yes it is - as I read the website.

The council officer is ecarter@lambeth.gov.uk [Elaine Carter, Lead Scrutiny Officer.]

I'm wondering if a kind of "Given that there have been problems with consultations recently - including complaints that people's opinion have been misrepresented or ignored, how can we make sure the process is properly recorded and minuted?" sort of thing.

Open question rather than a full frontal assault?

Regarding Ed Davie - he made a rousing speech to the MOPAC meeting at the Fridge re closing down the CPCGL. How do we complain about deaths in custody etc. Made me happy - considering he is in a manner of speaking my successor.

That said Davie can be tetchy. Suggest you tackle this diplomatically at least to start with.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Yes it is - as I read the website.

The council officer is ecarter@lambeth.gov.uk [Elaine Carter, Lead Scrutiny Officer.]

I'm wondering if a kind of "Given that there have been problems with consultations recently - including complaints that people's opinion have been misrepresented or ignored, how can we make sure the process is properly recorded and minuted?" sort of thing.

Open question rather than a full frontal assault?

Regarding Ed Davie - he made a rousing speech to the MOPAC meeting at the Fridge re closing down the CPCGL. How do we complain about deaths in custody etc. Made me happy - considering he is in a manner of speaking my successor.

That said Davie can be tetchy. Suggest you tackle this diplomatically at least to start with.

Thanks.
I'll draft a letter (copies to Davie and Carter, to cover both fronts) and show it to the TRA tonight - as it'll probably be worth getting some other residents to write their own versions and send them.

And I'll have you know I'm incredibly diplomatic.

When I need to be!

 

[equationgirl]

Is it worth pointing out that for equality reasons videoing is necessary (access to information for those unable to leave the house, for example) - although I suspect you have this covered already VP

 

[Greebo]

Is it worth pointing out that for equality reasons videoing is necessary (access to information for those unable to leave the house, for example) - although I suspect you have this covered already VP

He hasn't, so thanks for the reminder - equalities act + localism act

Council etc have already tried to block that excuse by saying they do home visits - as if that's a reasonable adjustment instead of likely to be an opportunity for subtle intimidation.

 

[Tricky Skills]

DCLG encourages [pdf] residents to record Council meetings - either video or audio. These consultations won't be official on the record meetings, but the spirit of the legislation should also hold here.

 

[equationgirl]

He hasn't, so thanks for the reminder - equalities act + localism act

Council etc have already tried to block that excuse by saying they do home visits - as if that's a reasonable adjustment instead of likely to be an opportunity for subtle intimidation.

although some people may not want a small army of strangers in their home for whatever reason, and the council shouldn't be insisting on sending them for exactly that reason of intimidation. Videoing is of course preferable.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Today we received a brochure from Lambeth Council entitled "Residents Consultation: The Future of Cressingham Gardens Estate - Your chance to have your say on the future of your estate". It's a retread of the five original options, no changes, and supplied is a "feedback form" that's four A5 sides - enough room if you write in a cramped hand, to get 2 or 3 sentences-worth of comment per option down. That's one form per household, by the way, so if you've more than a single adult, you're fucked.

So far so "normal for Lambeth", then.

Interestingly (for those of us who are interested in power-relations between public servants and the public), Lambeth apparently solicited feedback from resident representatives on a draft copy of the brochure - replete with mistakes, fantasy and downright bollocks (people who want the down-low detail-wise can find them on the Save Cressingham Gardens facebook page - warning: There's a lot of it!) - and have sent out what is basically the draft document, un-revised.
Speculation as to why they'd not utilise the feedback that is now posted on our facebook page ranges from "they've shot themselves in the foot with regard to time constraints" - Lambeth are racing against the clock to get the consultation exercise done, and the feedback collated before the cabinet meets again - to "they had this printed up before they even solicited the feedback" (possible given the feedback deadline was Friday 15th, and this came through our letterboxes - via Royal Mail - this morning). Whatever the true story, it's another council-led farce in a veritable blizzard of council-led farces with regard to Cressingham Gardens.

 

[Dan U]

When does cabinet meet to sign off the 16/17 budget formally?

Probably sometime in Feb. That may be driving timescales..

 

[Greebo]

When does cabinet meet to sign off the 16/17 budget formally? <snip>That may be driving timescales..

 

[Gramsci]

So far so "normal for Lambeth", then.

Interestingly (for those of us who are interested in power-relations between public servants and the public), Lambeth apparently solicited feedback from resident representatives on a draft copy of the brochure - replete with mistakes, fantasy and downright bollocks (people who want the down-low detail-wise can find them on the Save Cressingham Gardens facebook page - warning: There's a lot of it!) - and have sent out what is basically the draft document, un-revised.

Well that was an interesting read.

So I take it Lambeth is still trying to push ahead with the scheme it wants.

 

[Gramsci]

This is probably something all you well informed people have already read about but I just learnt that from now on there are no more lifetime social housing tenancies.
The dream of social housing is being chiselled away to nothing | Anne Perkins

Been posting up info about this on the social housing thread. There is a march against it on the 30th January.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Well that was an interesting read.

So I take it Lambeth is still trying to push ahead with the scheme it wants.

Remember the map pages I posted on this thread 30-odd pages ago, showing "the five options"? All they've done is punted that again, and they'll produce exactly the same excuses - NOT reasons! - as last time for why only option 5 is viable.
As we found out Wednesday night with their "exhibition" at the Rotunda, which boiled down to that green and white-covered brochure's pages blown up to A2 and stuck on easels, plus presence of about a dozen council functionaries - including Julian Hart, regeneration program manager and smug, arrogant and dismissive cock-stroker - supposedly answering questions, but actually dispensing propaganda.

What was quite amusing is that about 10 metres from the doors to the Rotunda, was our "Peoples' Plan" exhibition (yep, outside in the cold! ), setting out what the residents (we've consulted with architects and surveyors, and costed everything - something the council has spent 3 years refusing to do) believe could be done - what we'd like done/would like to do ourselves if we take over management. If you want to see it, we'll be outside the Rotunda again on Saturday, 13.00 - 16.00 (probably best to come a bit after "kick-off"!).

 

[ViolentPanda]

Been posting up info about this on the social housing thread. There is a march against it on the 30th January.

You may be interested to know that (provisionally, subject to confirmation obviously!) we've got Lisa McKenzie (LSE researcher and Class War" member) and Simon Elmer (one of the founders of "ASH" - Architects for Social Housing) doing a talk on the Housing Bill, 15th February at the Rotunda.

 

[299 old timer]

A great pleasure to meet Greebo and Violent Panda today. I would urge everybody to get behind the Save Cressingham banner, because this, and the Arches, is the frontline. The Tory / Labour assault (same face) is brutal and must be resisted.
Corbyn, looking at you

 

[299 old timer]

I'd further add that Corbyn, if you are for real, you would purge the party of all the fakester tory infiltrators who have made a mockery of what the Labour party stands for.

 

[CH1]

I'd further add that Corbyn, if you are for real, you would purge the party of all the fakester tory infiltrators who have made a mockery of what the Labour party stands for.

The Labour party is like an oil tanker. It will take years to veer fully to the left - that is assuming the right don't retake control at the top.

Funnily enough when I was a student (mid 70s) Progress was a communist bookshop in Manchester. How times change.

 

[299 old timer]

The Labour party is like an oil tanker. It will take years to veer fully to the left - that is assuming the right don't retake control at the top.

Funnily enough when I was a student (mid 70s) Progress was a communist bookshop in Manchester. How times change.

True. I'd like Corbyn to get down to the basics that affect the majority of us - health, education, job security and housing - and push that message each and every time. Sadly at the moment I'm reminded of Orwell's Animal Farm.

 

[CH1]

True. I'd like Corbyn to get down to the basics that affect the majority of us - health, education, job security and housing - and push that message each and every time. Sadly at the moment I'm reminded of Orwell's Animal Farm.

I'm a Liberal so possibly disqualified from comment but he seems to be doing OK so far. I would think if he started having purges he would be out by the summer for sure, but you may know better.

IMHO what is required is broad church majoring on compassion.

Animal Farm - I'm lost there. Which pigs are sleeping in farmer Jones' bed then?

 

[299 old timer]

I'm a Liberal so possibly disqualified from comment but he seems to be doing OK so far. I would think if he started having purges he would be out by the summer for sure, but you may know better.

IMHO what is required is broad church majoring on compassion.

Animal Farm - I'm lost there. Which pigs are sleeping in farmer Jones' bed then?

I think all the pigs - you can't tell one pig from the other these days

 

[Gramsci]

Cressingham Gardens at the march against the housing bill today:

 

[ViolentPanda]

Tomorrow (Monday 15th) night (7-9pm) at the Rotunda Community Hall, Cressingham Gardens:
A talk on the Housing Bill and Tenant Rights by Simon Elmer from ASH (Architects for Social Housing) and Jenny Evans from Anthony Gold Solicitors.

 

[ViolentPanda]

DCLG encourages [pdf] residents to record Council meetings - either video or audio. These consultations won't be official on the record meetings, but the spirit of the legislation should also hold here.

I've bought a couple of fancy-dan memory cards for my cameras, so I can film stuff when necessary, too.

 

[Single Aspect]

I've bought a couple of fancy-dan memory cards for my cameras, so I can film stuff when necessary, too.

Even audio would be appreciated. It's a £35 round trip from Cambridge in the cold and listening to the audio later and free of charge is a bonus. So thank you to whosoever may record the evening's talk.

 

[Single Aspect]

Even audio would be appreciated. It's a £35 round trip from Cambridge in the cold and listening to the audio later and free of charge is a bonus. So thank you to whosoever may record the evening's talk.

sendgb.com or myairbridge.com are your friends. You don't have to broadcast the link you can send it individually.

 

[Greebo]

Small problem - the estate's landlines don't support proper broadband, so those of us with internet access are all on variants of mobile broadband and scrounged free wifi (from cafes etc). Uploading 2+ hours of a talk is going to gobble up somebody's entire data allowance. Burning onto disc is probably going to be a more viable option.

 

[Winot]

Small problem - the estate's landlines don't support proper broadband, so those of us with internet access are all on variants of mobile broadband and scrounged free wifi (from cafes etc). Uploading 2+ hours of a talk is going to gobble up somebody's entire data allowance. Burning onto disc is probably going to be a more viable option.

You're welcome to use my internet if you need something large uploaded. Have got Virgin cable so it's pretty fast.