Central London Labour Leaders condemn government's cuts to local councils

The three Labour leaders of Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark Councils have issued a joint statement laying out their opposition to the huge cuts for local councils announced today by the Coalition Government. As part of the settlement for local government the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, has cut funding to the three councils by millions of pounds.

Between them the three council leaders represent nearly a million people including some of the most deprived communities in the country. Today’s settlement is not the first government decision that will disproportionately affect people living in inner-city areas, but comes on the back of changes to welfare, higher education and social housing.

Cllr Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth Council, Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham and Cllr Peter John’s statement:
“Between us we represent some of the most deprived inner-city areas in the UK and almost 1 million people. The Tory/Lib Dem government’s announcement today to cut council funding by millions of pounds is a hammer-blow to our boroughs and hit s our people hard. This was not an inevitability but a short-sighted political choice; it was not an unavoidable outcome but a calculated decision to put dogma ahead of decency.
“We will each work with local residents to try and minimise the pain of these cuts but we are united in our opposition to them.  Today's decision will force all Councils to cut highly valued services.  We share local people's anger about this, and will stand alongside our communities through the challenging months and years ahead”.

Labour challenges Tories and Lib Dems to back anti-trafficking laws.

Lambeth Council leader Steve Reed has called on local Lib Dems and Tories to support proposed rules to tackle human trafficking across Europe.  The coalition government has dismayed campaigners by refusing to sign up to the new rules, but Labour hopes a cross-party campaign can persuade them to change their minds.
The new guidelines would work to ensure that EU countries work together to prevent trafficking, ensure successful prosecution and make sure victims of trafficking are properly looked after. Researchers estimate there are an average of 100 trafficked women and children facing regular abuse, including physical and sexual abuse, in every London Borough including Lambeth.

Astonishingly the coalition government have said they will opt out of the new rules that are supported by many well respected campaign groups including Anti–Slavery International and ECPAT UK which campaigns against child sexual abuse. The government’s failure to support the new rules seriously undermines European–wide efforts to tackle the misery caused by this crime, abandoning victims in Lambeth and elsewhere to their abusers.

Lambeth is home to the Poppy Project, part of Eaves Women’s Housing, which offers support to women and children who are freed from their abusers.  They have also backed the campaign for the government to sign up to the new rules.

Cllr Steve Reed said:

“It is unbelievable the Government is refusing to sign up to new rules that could help protect some of the most vulnerable people in our country. Hundreds of women and children are trafficked to the UK every year and suffer untold abuse at the hands of their captors.  I’m calling on Lambeth’s Tories and Lib Dems to join Labour in demanding a change of heart from their colleagues in government.  We must do everything in our power to stop this vile abuse of women and children.”

Lambeth Labour Councillors call on Government to commit to Decent Homes for Tenants

Labour Cabinet Member for Housing, Lib Peck today called on the Government to commit to funding Decent Homes in Lambeth. Lambeth Leaders wrote to Housing Minister Grant Shapps in June urging him to commit to funding for decent homes but he has yet to respond.

Lambeth Council is campaigning for continued investment in the Decent Homes scheme, which was started by the Labour Government, to bring all of the borough’s social housing up to a decent standard.

The Decent Homes scheme is under threat after the Tory-Lib Dem Government made no commitment to complete the programme in their manifestos or the Coalition Agreement.

Cllr Lib Peck said:

“We’re calling on the Conservative/Liberal Democrat government to fund the decent homes programme in Lambeth. In total this amounts to £233 million for Lambeth Living; and “25 million for United Residents Housing. This money is desperately needed so that our homes can be made safe, warm and secure. It will pay for new roofs, new boilers, new windows, new kitchens and new bathrooms that are desperately needed by our residents. The last government promised this money – we don’t want the new government to break this agreement and let down Lambeth residents.”

Rt Hon John Healey MP, Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning, said:

“I want to see the new Government back tenants’ desire to live in a decent home. They deserve the improvements that others have already had.

“If ministers fail to give a clear commitment to finish Labour’s big refurbishment programme, tenants will be left in limbo and we’ll see the widespread unfairness of two-tiered council estates in our communities.”

Please help support Labour in Lambeth’s call on the government to commit to Decent Homes for Tenants by clicking on the following link http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/moderngov/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=183&RPID=10738965 

Councillors slam Tory/Lib Dem school building cuts affecting Tulse Hill ward

Labour councillors Ruth Ling, Marcia Cameron and Adedamola Aminu have slammed the recent admission by Tory Education secretary Michael Gove that he is cutting more than £200 million in Lambeth schools funding, just days before contracts were due to be agreed and building work was to begin.

Local schools including 4^th new school project, Fenstanton, had been promised rebuilt or refurbished school buildings under the Building Schools for the Future project, but the Tory/Lib Dem coalition government has now dashed their hopes. Michael Gove has now cancelled Lambeth’s entire program, affecting thousands of pupils at eleven secondary schools. The cancelled investment in schools was desperately needed, both to renew or rebuild tired buildings, and also to provide much needed extra places in the borough, including a new school for Brixton. The creation of hundreds of local construction jobs will also be dashed.

Labour councillor Ruth Ling said: “Teachers and pupils involved in the Fenstanton had been promised millions in funding to build the new school. Now the Tory/Lib Dem government have destroyed their dream of modern buildings by cancelling Building Schools for the Future in Lambeth outright, affecting the life chances of hundreds of local children in Tulse Hill ward.

“Lambeth is still desperately short of places for secondary school age children, despite Labour building three new schools from scratch in the last few years. Labour’s plans for school rebuilding would have created the extra places our borough need – but the Tories and Lib Dems will leave our children having to travel miles out of the borough to get to school.

“What’s more, Lambeth has already spent more than £6 million on preparing planning permissions and producing designs for the eleven new schools – local taxpayers will be outraged that the coalition government’s decision will see that money go to waste.”

Lambeth Labour are now leading a ‘Save Our Schools’ campaign, to shame the Tory/Lib Dem government into reversing their short-sighted decision. They are urging local parents and children to write to Education secretary Michael Gove telling him how their decision will affect their education, and urging him to restore the funding Lambeth needs. He can be contacted at:

The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP

Secretary of State for Education

Sanctuary Buildings

Great Smith Street

London SW1P 3BT

Ruth Ling wins it for Labour in the Tulse Hill By election

Labour candidate Ruth Ling claimed victory in the Tulse Hill by election which was held yesterday on the 1st July 2010. After a hard and well fought campaign by Ruth Ling and the Lambeth Labour Party which included guest appearances from Blur drummer Dave Rowntree and former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, Ruth won with a 490 majority on a 21.4% turnout.

The result helps strengthen Labour in Lambeth’s fight against ConDem cuts and plans to work more closely with communities and customers of council services as a co-operative council to improve service quality for everyone.

Cllr Ruth Ling said:

“I’m delighted to be back on the Council and I would like to thank all the residents in Tulse Hill who have been so friendly and supportive to me over the last few weeks. I look forward to working hard on their behalf.”

Council Leader Steve Reed said:

“The by-election result was a powerful endorsement of Ruth Ling and Lambeth’s Labour Council. The result, with Labour’s share of the vote even higher than in May, sends a clear signal to the Tory-Lib Dem Government that people in Lambeth will not take their unfair cuts lying down. For the Tories, as the country’s governing party, to win barely 4% of the vote just a few miles from Parliament is a humiliation. Ruth has many years of experience and will be a hard-working champion for the people of Tulse Hill”.

Full Results:

Labour – 1235
Liberal Democrats – 745
Green Party – 256
Conservatives – 94
UKIP – 36

Labour to work cross-border to protect services Lewisham, southwark and Lambeth

Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham are building on plans announced before the election to work together to cut costs and protect frontline services.

Partnership working between the three boroughs has taken on a new urgency in light of the unprecedented cuts from the Tory/Lib Dem Government that local councils will face over the coming years.

Sir Steve Bullock, elected Mayor of Lewisham, Cllr Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth and Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark, have today written to their respective Chief Executives to commission them to begin joint discussions to consider where potential exists for efficient and effective joint working. They have been asked to work together to present a range of options by the autumn.

Cllr Steve Reed said: “Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark councils all provide many services that are identical, but do we really need to pay twice for separate sets of senior management and back-office support? We need to proactively look at making savings at a time when the Tory/Lib Dem government is making cuts to council funding in order to protect frontline services”

Cllr Peter John said: “Local councils are facing unprecedented cuts from the Tory/Lib Dem Government. We know that we’re going to have to change the way we work to rise to the challenge those cuts present and carry on making the improvements to local services that our residents need. Pulling together with our neighbouring boroughs, which face many of the same challenges we do, promises to deliver some of that change.”

Mayor Sir Steve Bullock said: “We have to seek dramatic improvements in efficiency by working in partnership with our neighbouring Councils, other public services and the private sector. Every pound we can save through efficiency is a pound we can spend on frontline services. I hope this innovative approach can be used as a model across Local Government, rather than a return to slash and burn cuts”

We'll pay the price for Lib Dem broken promises

When it comes to Lib Dem broken promises, sadly it seems we're all in this together.

During the election, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg attacked Tory secret plans to increase VAT. Two months later, he’s supported the Tories’ 20 per cent VAT bombshell.

The unfair Tory budget wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Lib Dems. Hard-working families are paying the price for Nick Clegg’s rise to power.

In the past few weeks they’ve u-turned on three years of Lib Dem economic policy by supporting the Tories in delivering a Budget which will risk the recovery, and people in this country will pay the price.

The Lib Dems have betrayed their own voters by:

Supporting the Tories’ 20 per cent VAT bombshell
Backing early cuts to public spending when he had previously denounced them
Supporting cuts to frontline services

Do you feel let down by the Lib Dems? Join Britain's progressive alternative - go to labour.org.uk/join
Or email us at labourtulsehill@hotmail.com if you want to help in our local campaigns.

MP Chuka backs Ruth Ling

Streatham’s newly elected MP – whose patch includes Brixton and Tulse Hill – has backed Ruth Ling to be our new councillor.

MP Chuka Umunna said: “Ruth is a tireless campaigner who will work hard for local people.

“She’s got the experience to make a real difference for Tulse Hill, campaigning hard for new schools, more police and better homes.”

He added: “I’d like to thank everyone who voted in the General Election, and now I urge everyone to vote for Ruth Ling as our new councillor.

She will be a real champion for this area!”

To contact Chuka call 020 8769 5063 or email chuka.umunna.mp@parliament.uk

Lib Dem campaign “vile and disgusting”

A local political commentator who often supports the Lib Dems has called their Tulse Hill by-election campaign "vile and disgusting".

The blogger wrote on his popular website:

"Lambeth Lib Dems have confused the possibility for political debate with a vile and disgusting mud slinging opportunity."

"The election leaflet represents a new low for Lambeth electioneering – and that really is saying something."

Other residents agree with him. One dismayed local mum asked:

"Have the Lib Dems got nothing positive to say to local people? First they put the Tories in power, and now they’re putting this rubbish through our doors. We’re sick and tired of their negative politics."

Lib Dems target cuts on Lambeth

The new Lib Dem-Tory coalition government has admitted their savage funding cuts will hit inner-city areas hardest. That means Brixton and Tulse Hill will get MORE cuts than better-off areas leaving local people to suffer the most.

Lib Dem-Tory Government Minister Bob Neill said, “Those in greatest need ultimately bear the burden of paying off the debt”

Labour’s Ruth Ling was quick to defend local services. She said “The Lib Dems must rethink their unfair plans to hit inner city areas hardest. It’s now clear that only Labour will stand up for Brixton and Tulse Hill.”

Before the General Election the Lib Dems claimed a vote for them would keep the Tories out. But after the election the Lib Dems couldn’t wait to put David Cameron’s right-wing Tories through the door of 10 Downing Street. After that shameful betrayal many local people are saying “we will never trust the Lib Dems again”.

Money for new schools, better housing, and help to get unemployed people back to work is under threat from the Lib Dems. But local people are shocked to hear the Lib Dems are targeting the worst of the cuts on areas like Lambeth. They will hit inner city areas like Brixton and Tulse Hill hardest while richer areas will get let off more lightly.

It’s simply unfair – but then that’s the Lib Dems all over.

Oona King lends a hand in Tulse Hill

The former MP and candidate for Mayor of London, Oona King joined local Labour activists in Tulse Hill campaigning to get Ruth Ling elected as their new councillor.

Here are some pictures of Oona, Ruth and the team talking to local residents about why they're backing Labour to protect them from the 'savage cuts' that the Lib Dems have promised to impose on hard working residents in Lambeth.

Lambeth comes 2nd in London’s Greenest Councils table.

Darren Johnson, the London Assembly Member for the Green Party has compiled a new league table that highlights many of the environmental challenges faced by London’s new borough leaders. Lambeth is rated second in London for its excellent progress in reducing CO2, improving recycling rates and reducing road traffic and is a testament to Labours investment and improvements to make Lambeth a greener place to live.

The league table partly reflects how boroughs performed on domestic energy use, carbon emissions, waste arisings, and recycling rates. The table also partly reflects how boroughs improved in terms of helping people to reduce their energy use and carbon emissions, making the roads safer and reducing congestion. In these areas boroughs face very different challenges, so making improvement an important additional measure of success.

Labour Cllr Lorna Campbell, Cabinet Member for Environment said;
“This is good news for Lambeth and reflects the importance we have placed on helping people be more environmentally friendly as part of their day to day lives. We have been improving and extending recycling facilities, incentivising people to use their cars less and other forms of transport more, and helping residents save on energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient through our ‘Green Doctors’ scheme. Our ‘Green Community Champions’ scheme is also recognised across London, and now has hundreds of members who are working to make their local areas more sustainable by setting up food growing projects and other council supported schemes.”

Ken revisits childhood home on Tulse Hill estate

When residents of the Tulse Hill estate answered a knock on their door on Tuesday evening, they were surprised to find Ken Livingstone standing on their doorstep.

The former Mayor of London was visiting the estate where he grew up so as to introduce Ruth Ling, the Labour candidate in the Tulse Hill by-election to be held on 1 July, to local people.

Ken was born in Shrubbery Road, Streatham, but then moved to Irby House on the Tulse Hill estate, and attended Tulse Hill Comprehensive School before being elected as a Lambeth councillor in 1971.

“He got a great reception, with several families inviting him into their homes and kids clamouring round him,” says Ruth. “A number of families had their photo taken with him and lots of people came up and shook hands with him. He’s still very popular with Londoners and hopes to make a comeback as Mayor in 2012.”

Council Leader Steve Reed and several other Lambeth councillors joined Ken Livingstone and Ruth Ling on the estate walkabout on 8 June.

Ruth's Tulse Hill diary

Since being chosen on 29 May as Labour's candidate in the Tulse Hill by-election, Ruth Ling has been busy out and about in the local community:Sunday 30 May – walkabout throughout the ward with Councillor Jackie Meldrum, deputy leader of the Council, including streets and the High Trees / St Martin's, Tulse Hill and Cressingham Gardens estates.

Monday 31 May – meeting residents on the St Matthew's estate and picking up problems to report to the Council.

Tuesday 1 June – meeting residents on the Tulse Hill estate.

Wednesday 2 June – meeting residents on the High Trees / St Martin's estate.

Thursday 3 June – attended a meeting of the Tulse Hill Tenants' and Residents' Association, then to the town hall for the Brixton Area Leaseholders' Forum.

Friday 4 June – assisted Councillor Marcia Cameron at her advice surgery.

Saturday 5 June – meeting residents and collecting signatures on a petition protesting against the new LibDem / Tory government's cuts to public service funding.

Monday 7 June – attended a meeting of the High Trees Community Development Development Trust Board.

Tuesday 8 June – meeting residents on the Tulse Hill estate with Ken Livingstone, former Mayor of London, and picking up problems to report to the Council.

Blur star meets Tulse Hill residents

It’s not every day that you pop down to the shops and find one of the stars of Britpop there. But that’s what happened when residents went to the shopping parade in Upper Tulse Hill on Saturday 5 June, and found themselves chatting to Blur drummer Dave Rowntree. Dave was there with members of the local Labour Party and Tulse Hill by-election Labour candidate Ruth Ling. They were there to talk to local people about the cuts in spending on public services threatened by the new LibDem-Tory coalition government, and to collect signatures on a petition protesting against the cuts.
“The first thing to go when the new government got in was the Child Trust Fund,” says Ruth Ling. “A lot of people we’ve spoken to in Tulse Hill in the last week have told us they are disgusted that children will be losing out in this way.” The scheme, introduced by the last Labour government to encourage parents to save for their children’s future, gave all children born after 2002 a voucher for £250. The money belongs to the child and can't be touched until they turn 18, so that children have some money behind them to start their adult life. All payments are to be scrapped by next January.

Labour chooses experienced community activist as election candidate

Local Labour party members met last weekend to choose their candidate for the upcoming byelection, Ruth Ling.

Ruth is an experienced community activist to be the Labour candidate in Tulse Hill. She brings 16 years of knowledge of how Lambeth council works, having been a councillor in a ward just up the road.

The election will be held on Thursday, July 1st following the resignation of Toren Smith.

Ruth said: "I'm delighted to have been chosen by local party activists as the candidate. From now until election day I will be out every day talking to local residents in Tulse Hill. I want to see local services such as shools, housing and police protected for residents from the savage cuts that the Lib Dem-Tory government is planning."

Vote Lib Dems, get Tories!

Lambeth’s Lib Dems are facing a massive backlash after they betrayed local people. They put Tories in government then backed Tory plans to rip apart public services with "savage cuts". Some local people backed the Lib Dems because they promised to keep the Tories out. Now every one of those voters feels betrayed.

Labour councillor Marcia Cameron said: "The Lib Dems angered local people when they went back on their word and put the right-wing Tories in power. Now the Tories are free to slash and destroy public services just like they did the last time they grabbed power. Can anyone in Brixton ever trust the Lib Dems again?"

Join Labour’s campaign to save local services in Tulse Hill

Labour’s joining forces with local people to stop Lib Dem and Tory plans to savage local services in Tulse Hill.

Labour is campaigning to save funding earmarked to upgrade crumbling council homes and build the new secondary and primary school places local children need. The following could be under threat:

- Plans to upgrade crumbling council homes
- New secondary school
- More primary school places
- Help to get jobless people back to work

The new Tory-Lib Dem Government has threatened to SLASH the funding and end the dream of better homes and schools in the Tulse Hill and Brixton Hill area. Will you join our campaign to protect local services? If so, get in touch with us.

Your Labour Team in Tulse Hill

Councillor Ade Aminu
Ademola (Ade) Aminu lives in Brixton Hill. He is a full time lecturer teaching Business in a Further Education College in South West London. He is a school governor at Sudbourne Primary School and Lambeth Academy and Deputy Cabinet Member for Younger People. Ade is President of the Association of Nigerian Lecturers and is well known in London’s Nigerian community often speaking at events at the Nigerian High Commission.

Ade says: “Although part of my role is sitting on committees trying to improve council services, I am determined not to be stuck in the Town Hall, away from the people we were elected to represent. I want to be out and about in our local communities listening to your views. Please invite me to your meeting or get in contact - I want to hear from you.”

Phone: 07946 218 192
Email: aaminu@lambeth.gov.uk

Councillor Marcia Cameron
Marcia has deep roots in the local community. She has lived in Tulse Hill for most of her life, attended schools in the Borough including Fenstanton. Her immediate family lives on the St. Martins estate. Marcia works in the children’s care sector.

Marcia says: “I became a Councillor because the best way to fight for the community was from within the Council rather than standing on the outside complaining or paying lip service. Over the years I have seen how politics has affected our community, from the Thatcher years when I remember not having enough paper and books in school and the loss of school milk not to mention the un-easy feeling between the community and the police at the time.

I have also seen the Liberal Democrats, when they ran Lambeth Council, begin a large programme of selling-off council housing and not address issues like the housing fraud.”

Marcia is also a Governor of Kings College Hospital.

Phone: 0208 674 2739
Email: mcameron@lambeth.gov.uk

Ruth Ling
Ruth Ling is an experienced community activist, having been a councillor in Lambeth for 16 years. She has a track record in standing up for local people and campaigning to protect local jobs and services.

She is the Labour candidate for the Tulse Hill by-election, which will be held on Thursday July 1st.

Ruth says: "I'm delighted to have been chosen by local party activists as the election candidate. From now until election day I will be out every day talking to local residents in Tulse Hill. I want to see local services such as shools, housing and police protected for residents from the savage cuts that the Lib Dem-Tory government is planning."

Email: labourtulsehill@hotmail.com

About Tulse Hill Ward

The population of Tulse Hill Ward rose from 11,882 in 1991 to 13,119 in 2001, an increase of 10.4%. This is 4.9% of the borough population. Tulse Hill has an area of 103.1 hectares (3.8% of the borough).

Tulse Hill had a small percentage increase in Black people between 1991 and 2001 compared to the rest of the borough. There has also been a large increase in the 30-44 age range during this time.

Tulse Hill has a high proportion of children in lone parent families, and a low proportion of children in married families.

Tulse Hill has a high proportion of older people not living alone, and not in a couple. Tulse Hill has a low proportion of couple families with dependent children with both parents working.
There is a high proportion of overcrowded council and registered social landlord rented lone parent households with dependent children but overall there has been a large decrease in council renting since 1991.

Tulse Hill had a large percentage decrease in purpose built flats between 1991 and 2001, and a large increase in converted flats.

There has been a small growth in full time employees between 1991 and 2000, but there still are high rates of unemployment and long term unemployment.Demographics – The national statistics page on Tulse Hill Ward provides a comprehensive set of statistics on education, economics, access to services, lifestyle, physical environment and more.

Map of Tulse Hill.

Campaigns by Tulse Hill Ward Councillors

Some achievements by your Labour Tulse Hill Team
- Supported residents by lobbying lead members for the barrier in Josephine Avenue
- Campaigned with Val Shawcross for an extra bus route to 415
- Campaigned with residents of Tudor Close to stop housing development
- Campaigned for Urban Arts fair for street trading stalls to be made more reasonable
- Supported Family Friends with Silver Surfers Awards
- Organised a social event with Community Activists
- Kept community leaders aware of policy changes and new initiatives

Work in progress
- Fight for the reduction of the loss of family housing
- More youth facilities
- Police more accountable
- More effective repairs to council properties
- Stop curb crawlers and prostitution by working with charities and the police

Advice Surgeries

Councillor's Advice Surgeries:

Surgery details for Tulse Hill Ward are as follows:

1st Friday of the month (not August)
7 - 7.45pm at St. Matthews Tenants Hall , St. Matthews Road SW2 view map

Every 2nd Wednesday of the month (not August)
6 - 6.45pm at St. Martins Library, Tulse Hill SW2 view map