Children’s Summit

Last week I attended a “Children’s Summit” at the House of Commons with many other councillors from all over the Country. This was a fascinating afternoon, chaired by Tim Loughton MP, the Conservative Shadow Children’s Minister and Health Minister, Maria Miller MP, Shadow Education Minister, and Baroness Morris, Shadow Health and Children’s Minister in the Lords.

There was a lively debate about children’s services, education, health, teenage pregnancies, youth issues, Sure Start and the setting up of Children’s Centres, and all the new responsibilities that will be forced on local councils as a result of the new Childcare Bill that is going through Parliament.

Celebrating in Hammersmith

After their fantastic success in the local Council elections the Hammersmith Councillors are settling in to their new responsibilities. I was particularly pleased to talk to Cllr Helen Binmore who will be chairing the Children’s OSC in Hammersmith as many of the children who live in Kensington & Chelsea go to Hammersmith Schools, some of which have not been performing well, and have been in “special measures”. These schools would not be the first choice for children in Kensington and Chelsea, but until the Government approves the building of a new school in North Kensington, Children will have to go to Hammersmith and Fulham.

Battle with Transport for London

Have you noticed loading bays which allow 20 minutes loading time – but actually ticket users, who are spied on by Transport for London (TfL) cameras, after only 3 minutes? I am fighting a vociferous campaign against this appalling injustice. Customers shopping to collect or load goods are penalised, thus discouraging local shops on main roads in London. Have you got evidence of this happening in your neighbourhood?

Local Odeon

The local Odeon Cinema in Kensington High Street is due to be developed; this re-development is headed up by the developers Northacre in conjunction with Minerva. There is a public exhibition on this week in the High Street, behind the Odeon. If you cannot view the exhibition, information will be available afterwards.

Women's Pioneer Housing Association

Has any other resident had difficulty with their complaints procedure? I have a local resident who has not been able to get any satisfactory response for over a year.

Homelessness

A wonderful local resident who has served his Country with distinction may be made homeless. As a single person he does not have enough housing points to qualify for housing. This is a distressing tale that is repeated over and over in London, and results in elderly people who have lived in a local area all their lives having to be moved elsewhere, where they have no friends or support network.

Inconsiderate Builders

Local residents have put together a petition to complain about noisy builders who are making their lives a misery. Trucks and deliveries in the very early hours to miss the traffic and the parking wardens have caused great distress and inconvenience to a quiet residential street. Have any other residents managed to influence private contractors to be more considerate?