Sydenham Assembly - Saturday 11 September from 11am to 1pm

[Chris Best]

Everybody living in Sydenham Ward should have received the A4 folded info sheet through their door inviting you to attend the next Sydenham Assembly on Saturday 11 September – starting at 11am at the Grove Centre in Jews Walk.

We will start with the ratification of the top five priorities and the Priority Action Plan reviewed by the Assembly Coordinating Group at the end of July:

* More activities for children and young people including the new youth centre
* Improving community safety and tackling anti-social behaviour
* Vibrant high street
* Environmental improvements to provide a cleaner greener Sydenham
* Transport improvements including Station Approach

The big discussion is the “Our Lewisham Our Say” budget consultation - how the Council meets the challenge of budget reductions of £60m over the next three years.

A presentation from officers will be followed by an opportunity to discuss and consider several key Council services in groups asking:
• what you value most
• what you think the Council could do less of
• where you could help to ease the pressure on public services

Included in this is the current consultation on the future of Sydenham Library. A visit to the building is being arranged for key stakeholders and discussions taking place on where the investment the building needs could come from. There is also a consultation on the future of Opening Doors who occupy the offices at the rear of the building as their funding has been cut by the Coalition Government. Conversations are taking place about the co-location of other services to improve the use of the building.

After feedback on your views we will have the updates on Sydenham high street, Station Approach and Wells Park Youth Centre.

We will then have time for your questions and comments on Sydenham issues

The Sydenham Assembly Coordinating Group is inviting bids for the Mayor’s Fund of £25,000 with a closing date for receipt of applications by noon on Monday 1 November. The meeting where the projects will be presented for a paper vote will be at 7pm on Thursday 2 December 2010 at the Grove Centre.

We have discussed the bids for the Sydenham Localities Fund of £10,000 with the Coordinating Group and will be submitting these for approval. Come along and find out what projects have been successful.

Please come along and make your voice heard - visit http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/oursay for more information on the proposed savings and visit the Sydenham Assembly web page -
http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/CouncilAndDe ... mAssembly/

Chris
http://www.chrisbest.org