Care Minister Norman Lamb MP with Heather, launching Sutton South Hello!

The South Sutton, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee devoted half its meeting on 23 May, held at Christchurch in Christchurch Park, to discussing the “South Sutton Hello!” project and social isolation in the area. There were a number of presentations and themes for discussion, after an introduction by Heather as Chair of the Steering Group.

Heather reminded us that South Sutton Hello is an initiative to combat loneliness and isolation, supported by major local charities like AgeUK, Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Sutton Mental Health Foundation, and local residents’ Associations such as SSNA and the HRA. It is a non-political initiative with support from all political parties. 

It was aunched at Christchurch on 9 May by the Care Minister, Norman Lamb MP and is intended to be a pilot for similar initiatives elsewhere. Sutton South Ward chosen as on the basis Campaign to End Social Isolation toolkit, it is a ward where the risk of social isolation is particularly high:

–         the Ward has the highest proportion of over 65’s of any Ward in Sutton

–         the proportion over 85 is double the Sutton and national average

–         there are a large number of people living in sheltered accommodation for the elderly or in single occupancy flats

–         over three quarters of residents live in purpose-built blocks of flats

–         almost half of all households are single person households

–         but a quarter of residents in the Ward say they regularly volunteer in some capacity, so there is a high level of community activism.

The project has drawn together a listing of the various community initiatives in Sutton South, particularly those run by the churches and AgeUK. It has produced a first newsletter and will follow this up with more. There are a number of specific activities it has promoted:

–         the Wednesday “Hello Club” at Christchurch run by SCILL (Sutton Centre for Independent Living and Learning)

–         Chair based exercise classes organised by AgeUK for the Sutton and Surrey Senior Citizens Club

–         The “Second Saturday” social club for older people at the Friends’ Meeting House, where attendance has increased five fold since the project started promoting it.

AgeUK say there has been a 106% increase in callers from our Ward to its Information and Advice service since the project started promoting it. The project is seeking volunteers, particularly as befrienders. These are organised by the Sutton Centre for Independent Living and Learning. There is a phone number 0208 770 4065, or email information@scill.org.uk.

At its meeting, following the discussion, the Committee agreed the extension of controlled parking to Eastleigh Close, a project Richard has championed on behalf of the residents there, who have voted for it in successive consultation exercises.

The Commmittee also agreed to a proposal Richard made for additional “20mph” roundels in the road in the Sutton South 20mph area, to combat speeding.

Heather, Richard and Mary Burstow on the bench they donated to Richard Sharples Court

May the 20th. was the date Sutton Council held its “annual” Council meeting that elects the new Mayor and allocates Councillors to the various Council Committees. Richard and Heather are both continuing with the responsibilities they have had since last year – Heather as vice-chair of the Adult Social Services and Health Committee, Richard as vice-chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee.

Both have a variety of other appointments, many related to these main responsibilities. Heather is a member of the South West London Joint Health Scrutiny Committee and the Merton, Sutton and Surrey Joint Health Scrutiny Committee. She is also a member of the committee responsible for appointments of senior officers. Richard continues to chair the Sutton Joint Health and Safety Committee (“joint” with recognised trade unions) and is a member of the Standards Committee, the Scrutiny Committee and the Sutton Town Centre Partnership.

Sutton Council’s Development Control Committee strongly supported an appeal by Richard, at its meeting on 22 May, for stronger powers to be available to planning authorities to enforce planning decisions.

The Committee held a general discussion of the planning history of St. Jude’s nursing home in Mayfield Road, triggered by the latest planning application.

Richard pointed out to the Committee that there had been a succession of structures built in the small garden of the nursing home without the owner bothering to observe the requirements to apply in advance for planning permission. Some were still not in compliance with the planning permission obtained.

He argued that the basic problem was that planning law is weak in terms of the tools for enforcement provided to the authority, in contrast to the field he used to work in, health and safety, where enforcement can be direct and immediate. As a result it seems to residents that the developer acts with impunity and nothing is done. Enforcement is a slow process with numerous opportunities for appeals and delay available to the developer.

He mentioned to the Committee that, when elected in 2010, he arranged some meetings between the owner and local residents, which seemed to improve the atmosphere locally for a time. He was personally very disappointed that these had not sorted out the problems.

However, the Committee decided, with evident reluctance, that with regard to the particular small modification to an already extended building that was the subject of this particular application before them, there were no sound planning grounds to refuse it.

Sutton householders can rely on having weekly bin collections for the next five years after Sutton Council promised the Government it would continue to maintain the service on this basis.

The Leader of the Council has written to the Department for Communities and Local Government pledging the authority to carry on collecting residual waste on a weekly basis weekly through  to 2016/17.

The move follows a successful bid for £2.8million of funding from the Waste Collection Support Scheme.

Richard and Heather have been concerned to ensure a weekly pattern of collection is maintained and are delighted that this commitment has been given.

Weekly bin collections are very important to residents and we have worked very hard to ensure that we continue providing that service.

In spring last year we made radical changes to our collection system in order to make the service more adaptable and cost-efficient and we will continue focusing on providing a high-quality, value-for-money service.

In addition to weekly collections, the authority is also committed to continuing crucial work on promoting more recycling and cutting the volume of waste sent to landfill.

The decision to retain weekly collections has been agreed, but it will be formally ratified by Sutton Council’s Environment and Neighbourhoods Committee.

Norman Lamb with Heather, launching Sutton South Hello!

SUTTON SOUTH HELLO! 

“Sutton South Hello!” was formally launched on Thursday 9th May at Christ Church, Christchurch Park, by Care Minister Norman Lamb MP.

This important local project, Sutton South Hello!, aims to encourage us all to be better neighbours and support older people stay active and in touch with their local community, and to offer us the benefit of their experience and expertise. 

Norman Lamb MP, Care and Support Minister, agreed to launch the project, and our MP Paul Burstow, Heather and Richard were also there. Heather, as chair of the steering group, introduced the Minister.

The project is about us all remembering to say, “Hello”, more often, to offer help when it is needed and to know where to go when there are problems.

We have produced a first newsletter which sets out clearly what events are going on locally, such as where to go for a chat and a cup of tea.  Each Wednesday afternoon, the Wednesday Hello! Club meets at Christ Church Community Hall for tea and coffee, activities and informal advice if someone has a worry or a problem.

There is one telephone number, 020 8770 4065 manned by SCILL (Sutton Centre for Independent Living and Learning), that  people can phone if they, or someone they know, needs support because they are lonely or isolated.  They can be put in touch with someone who can offer them befriending or more professional help if that is needed.  We are also looking for volunteers to help with the project, all skills welcome, and the contact telephone number is the same.

The Safer Neighbourhoods police team were at the launch, as well as the mobile library service , AgeUK, other voluntary organisations, and Heather and Richard.  There was plenty of tea and cake.

The Hello! project will also feature at the Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee on 23 May at the same venue. Residents are invited for refreshments at 6pm before a discussion of the scheme at 6.30pm.”

Richard, with his wife Gloria, on the evening they saw David Weir win gold

Record-breaking Paralympic Gold Medallist and wheelchair athlete, David Weir, will have his extraordinary achievements formally recognised in his home Borough of Sutton when the Borough’s premier leisure and athletics centre is renamed in his honour on 16 May.

The Paralympian, who added four Gold Medals at London 2012 to the two he won in Beijing four years earlier, and has also won six London Marathons, said he was “absolutely delighted” by the decision to rename the Sutton Arena as the David Weir Leisure Centre.

The Sutton Arena Leisure Centre in St Helier, which boasts an extensive range of facilities for everyone from elite athletes to those just trying to keep fit, has been at the heart of sport in the Borough since it first opened as a simple cinder track in 1953.

David said: “I am absolutely delighted. It is a very great honour. I have trained there and taken part in a few events there and it’s an excellent facility.”

The Paralympic hero added: “My daughter goes to the leisure centre with her school and it will be very exciting for her to see my name over the door.”

Richard says “I was there last summer when he won the 400 metres at the Olympic stadium. The date of 6 September 2012 is burned on my memory. The excitement as he came round that last bend was amazing.” 

Following the formal renaming ceremony David will thrill local youngsters by officially starting some competitions and handing medals to winners.

It is not the first time the athlete, who grew up in the South London Borough and has lived here all his life, has been honoured by his local authority. In 2009 a few months after returning from Beijing he was made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough, the first person in 30 years to receive the recognition.

The centre, then named Carshalton Sports Arena, was first used in 1953, when it had a 440 yard cinder track. The facilities developed over the years and when the centre was significantly refurbished it was renamed Sutton Arena Leisure Centre.

Now, in addition to the state-of-the-art facilities for elite athletes and seating for 300 spectators, it also has a broad range of events, training and equipment to appeal to local users of all ages and abilities.