Last year a number of projects benefited from this scheme, which included the restoration of two football pitches on Streatham Common. Explaining the project in a bit more detail, Lambeth’s finance bod, Cllr Paul McGlone said:

“While the financial resources available to us have reduced, the council is keen to continue supporting those community projects that provide important services.

“This is a great opportunity to submit an idea that could transform or introduce a much needed facility or service to your area. If there is enough support for it from other residents, it will become a reality.”

Details of what you need to have for your idea and how to submit it are on Lambeth’s website. Remember that youre idea must tick the following boxes:

So if you have an idea for a community project in Clapham Town get in touch!

Saturday 4th September – Heathbrook Hall (C Wellbelove)

Saturday 11th September – Clapham Old Town Library(N Halseden)

Saturday 18th September – Methodist Church (H O’Malley)

Saturday 25th September – Virgin Active Gym (All councillors)

You’ll notice that the last of those entries is a new location – on the fourth week of each month the councillors will be hosting a roving surgery that will go to different parts of the ward. All the above surgeries start at 11am and should finish around noon – although the Virgin Active surgery might be at a slightly different time so watch the blog for an update. No appointments are necessary.

If you have any immediate queries or issues that need answering then feel free to contact your councillors by email:

Councillor Nigel Haselden

Councillor Helen O’Malley

Councillor Christopher Wellbelove

As our local paper put it:

The market, which take over Clapham’s Venn Street on the last weekend of each month, is thought to be only two markets of its kind in London, catering exclusively for foodies and horticulturalists with a “food” and a “flower” day. Artisan produce, featuring food traders from all over London, includes offerings from award-winning south London butcher Moen’s and celebrated bakers Flour Station and Flour Power.

On Sundays Venn Street transforms into a flower and plant market where horticultural enthusiasts have the chance to get their hands on a variety of mainly British-grown garden plants and flowers.

 If you have the time over the weekend its well worth a look!

Late night noise can be a real, real pain for all residents and its important that any issues are dealt with quickly. However, before taking the issue further, the councillors are keen to get some wider views on whether there is a problem and what should be done about it. So, if you have an opinion then feel free to either send us a comment on this blog or email Cllr Christopher Wellbelove on cwellbelove@lambeth.gov.uk

Councillor Helen O’Malley will be taking this weekend’s surgery – if you cant make it then you can contact her and your two other Labour councillors at the below email addresses:

Councillor Nigel Haselden

Councillor Helen O’Malley

Councillor Christopher Wellbelove

If youre not able to make it then feel free to email one of your three councillors with your queries or problems:

Councillor Nigel Haselden

Councillor Helen O’Malley

Councillor Christopher Wellbelove

Thankfully, after some sustained lobbying from Lambeth’s Labour council and local residents, the government has relented – to an extent. Three schools have been allocated funding for expansion and upgrades. These are:

Dunraven
Norwood School
Lilian Baylis 

This is obviously cracking news, but unfortunately things are less clear for a 4th new school planned on the Fenstanton site. Its badly needed to ease the pressure on school places that affects the whole of Lambeth – however Gove has decided to put the decision on hold until the Comprehensive Spending Review (October). Considering that this is about kids and education it is a bit of a shame that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats cant get their act together before then.

Still, the decision is good news and it does show that some sustained lobbying can pay off.  If you haven’t already signed the petition against these cuts, please have a gander and think about doing so on the Lambeth website.

Helen O’Malley will be at the Methodist Church on Clapham High Street, while Christopher Wellebelove will be at Heathbrook Hall.

Each surgery will take place between 11am and noon so come along if you have any local issues you’d like to discuss.

In total (the housing budget from central government) 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.

Unfortunately the new government is yet to match the last government’s pledge to secure this funding – so this petition is aimed at persuading ministers not to throw yet another vital piece of community support on George Osborne’s great big bonfire. Sign up here to show your backing for this pledge.

Labour’s GLA representative for Lambeth and Southwark, Val Shawcross, tabled a question to the Mayor Boris Johnson about the problem following complaints from residents. She got this reply below:

TfL has taken up specific complaints about buses using North Street with the relevant operators and will reinforce its instruction that buses should not use North Street.

Unfortunately the complaints are still rolling in so Val intends to take up the issue again. If you live in the area or have any views on the problem then feel free to email her here.