I am pleased to announce that I have launched a new Facebook page where I will share news and thoughts relating to the Woolwich Riverside ward I am proud to represent and the indeed the wider Royal Borough.
If you use Facebook and would like to see my updates, simply visit my page at the link below and click Like or Follow:
Many thanks to all those who shared their ideas, frustrations and comments during the Twitter Q&A last Saturday. Although it ran over until Monday I appreciate the time and effort that people took. I know that Greenwich residents care about the area they live in, they want to see improvements and, not surprisingly, frustrations build up.
Elected members care passionately about the areas they represent. We all strive to do better for our communities but many things get in the way. The biggest problem relate to the decline in funding by Government. In many areas of the Council pressures on supporting services are increasing but we are determined to protect the services that people value and appreciate.
All of the points made are now collated and will be shared with Councillor colleagues and Officers . The main theme running through the tweets received was about communicating more effectively with residents. Letting you know about the proposals and plans for Woolwich Town Centre and other areas of the Borough . While this point is well made,negotiations with developers and partners take time. In addition the planning process take take time before it reaches the decision making process.
An additional point well made has been concerns about how best to engage residents in commenting and supporting the improvements in the environment of public spaces across the Borough. The potential of creating improvements in our Public Squares remains a priority and the suggestions highlighted will be fed into the decision making process.
Thank you again for taking the time to participate and look forward to keeping in touch.
Selection of some of the questions and answers from the twitter Q&A
Totally agree with Clare. Councillors do recognise their role as Community Leaders. Listening and learning important https://t.co/XlsArLFCGj
— Cllr John Fahy (@Cllrjfahy) April 2, 2016
Councillors communicate widely with their residents now. Plans for extending community engagement now in hand. https://t.co/qaVvCOjB5f
— Cllr John Fahy (@Cllrjfahy) April 2, 2016
They still do and have built a strong reputation. Working with RBG currently on a number of projects. https://t.co/x5IeNc04GV
— Cllr John Fahy (@Cllrjfahy) April 2, 2016
Thank you. Technical skills are always necessary but could become a positive community asset with Councillor support https://t.co/I1VFfe75h5
— Cllr John Fahy (@Cllrjfahy) April 2, 2016
I love the skateboarders, maybe time to leave the country now.?Young people need the time and space to excel. https://t.co/LIRQ1XQjx4
— Cllr John Fahy (@Cllrjfahy) April 2, 2016
Indeed so. Councillors including myself need to find the time and space to research the potential out there. https://t.co/36DAoElMep
— Cllr John Fahy (@Cllrjfahy) April 2, 2016
Indeed,now on a mission to encourage all colleagues to try it out. Vast majority of people now have I Phones. https://t.co/SE33S0Trx2
— Cllr John Fahy (@Cllrjfahy) April 2, 2016
Be assured that will happen and will learn lessons from elsewhere as the project is developed. https://t.co/ZM2Lma8Qgx
— Cllr John Fahy (@Cllrjfahy) April 2, 2016
No bias here,but perhaps showing my age. Of course has to be Sean Connery. https://t.co/mUzIERNIG2
— Cllr John Fahy (@Cllrjfahy) April 2, 2016
The Youth Council is very much involved. https://t.co/mgvRQEDpre
— Cllr John Fahy (@Cllrjfahy) April 2, 2016
Clearly room for improvement. Hope to do better next time. https://t.co/vCAH78N7xc
— Cllr John Fahy (@Cllrjfahy) April 2, 2016
We are constantly reminded by the media that politicians are out of touch with those they represent. We continue to search for new ways to engage. Last year there was a very successful tweetup in the Cornerstone Cafe in the Arsenal. I hope to have a repeat event shortly. In the meantime I am spending an hour next Saturday evening hoping to receive some tweets from local residents on their issues and concerns. Looking forward to hearing from you.
If you don’t have a twitter account, feel free to post a question below and I will endeavour to answer it along with others received during the Q&A.
A delegation from our sister town in Tema in Ghana has spent the past week in the Borough sharing opportunities and experiences that will be developed in the months ahead. The link was established in 1999 to celebrate our distinct districts on the Meridian Line. Tema is the main port in Ghana which creates an access point for the rest of West Africa. It was key to our ambition to celebrate the coming of the Millennium Celebrations. It was further recognition of the growing cultural diversity of the Borough.
A strong link with schools is being developed through the British Council Connecting Schools Project and is being led by Charlton Manor Primary. The development of a Social Enterprise model is being led by our very own Greenwich Cooperative Development Agency. This will, over time, create new opportunities for the local community.
Further work with the University of Greenwich and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum will provide for models of good practise to be promoted in the months ahead. We are hoping to develop a database of local volunteers that can give some time to specific projects using their experience to enhance the projects bring developed. Please contact me at the Town Hall for further details.
Commenting on the Government’s re-announcement on fair funding for schools, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Lucy Powell MP said:
“While the principle of so-called Fair Funding is the right starting point, the devil will be in the detail. Even before any changes to the funding formula, all schools will see their budgets cut by at least 8 per-cent in real terms over the next five years, having a huge impact on teaching and frontline resources.
“The Tory Government has dodged the difficult questions about school funding ahead of this year’s elections because they know that many parts of the country, including London where they face a key election, will lose even more from schools budgets. Now that they’ve fired the starting gun on a funding review, they should get on with the detail and not leave schools in the dark.”
Protecting front line services remains our political priority in the months and years ahead. Despite the determination of Government to squeeze budgets still further we remain focused on supporting the most vulnerable through our anti-poverty strategy, investing in further employment opportunities and ring fencing financial resources in Adults and Children’s Services.
Government has enabled Local Authorities to increase Council Tax by 2% which will be ring fenced for Adult Services . The Council will further increase council tax by 1.9% and will be ring fenced to support the pressures that exist in Children’s Services. These are difficult decisions that have not been taken lightly but limited choices exist. We have taken early steps in our financial planning to have regard for any long term pressures that are presented. However we would be failing in our duty if we did not take these small steps to maintain existing public sector provision.
Significant reductions in staffing levels have taken place and Council structures have been adapted to meet changing circumstances and to meet Council priorities. It remains a fact that reduced staffing levels will have some impact and we continue to evaluate where those pressures will fall. These are tough choices as we confront the challenges presented to us by Government.
The Council investment programme will continue. Recent decisions taken will result in £11.2m being spent in the Plumstead Cultural Quarter. Our ambition to regenerate the Spray Street site in Woolwich Town Centre is well under way as we look forward to the opening of Crossrail in Woolwich and Abbey Wood in 2018.
We are anxiously awaiting any further announcements in reductions of public spending in the Chancellor’s Budget statement in a couple of weeks time. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable from any further pressures from central Government.
Retailers continue to face difficult trading conditions. Tesco in Woolwich have reduced their hours as competition across retailers continues to gather pace. Despite these facts, the Government have become obsessed with increasing Sunday Trading Hours.
The Sunday Telegraph have suggested that shoppers are keen for longer hours. They give the impression that the current “restrictive ” Sunday Trading laws are holding back progress. Some local authorities suggest that retailers who open their doors for longer hours on Sundays will help boost the economic recovery.
But the reality is that profits in many cases are falling through the floor. Some major retailers are attempting to reduce payment for staff working on Sundays.
So called Sunday working protection means little or nothing to Shopworkers according to their Trade Union USDAW. A survey of ten thousand staff confirms that 30% want to work less on a Sunday. 55% of staff say they are all under pressure to work Sundays.
Sunday opt out is not working as a result of pressure from management. Clearly Shopworkers need family time as much as anybody else.
There is also cause for concern that a large number of corner shops will be under immediate threat of closure if this ill considered policy is implemented.
It has been been far too long. Time pressures and using other forms of social media has taken up far too much time while neglecting the importance of my blog. I apologise for this . The role of local Councillors has changed dramatically in recent years. Constituents have rightly become more challenging and seeking more access to their elected representatives. I personally believe that I strike the right balance. You may have other views. Please let me know.
Social media is just one element of a vibrant strategy for community engagement. Engaging residents on matters relating to their neighbourhoods can have a positive outcome. Spent some time in Plumstead Library recently with a number of colleagues consulting on the future of the Council assets in the area. Of course there are differences about solutions. Residents do have ideas and suggestions that are important. Councillors do not have all the answers.
In the coming weeks and months I will be reporting more frequently on my own activities together with an update on news from the Town Hall. I propose to have a number of tweetups on topics of interest and I’ll be launching a regular social media Q&A with local residents. Watch this space.
Fantastic day of events on Saturday including a prize giving ceremony for the competing Tall Ships crew members in the grounds of the the Queen’s House following their impressive parade through the town centre. The event reflected the sense of pride and emotion as the crews cheered on those that picked up their prizes with the loudest cheers going to our very own Borough crew members.
The Town Centre was heaving with massive crowds joining in the Festival fun, all of the restaurants had a extensive queue outside while M&S had a large number of people trying to get some refreshments. The Queen’s House lawn was filled with families having their picnics. Walking through the grounds I met an elderly lady who was reflecting how enjoyable the event was but reminded me of the last time such an event in Greenwich some twenty five years ago. She suggested that next time we should hold a Regatta Ball in the Fan Museum which happened on the last occasion.
After a brief respite with our Grandson Daniel we spent the evening in the Royal Arsenal where similar numbers were enjoying a range of events and, of course, the Tall Ships themselves with many visitors boarding the ships for an evening cruise.
The cynics will continue to capitalise on the negative rather than the positive. However, thousands of people voted with their feet to pack the areas where the events were happening. The Tall Ships Regatta will live in the memory for many years to come except for one young child who spent the afternoon on a Tall Ship with his parents but slept right through the event.
Off to bed having an early night. On duty first thing on Sunday when the fun starts all over again.
