RICHARD AND HEATHER MEET SUBSEA7

Brighton Road car park

Brighton Road car park



Richard and Heather have met representatives of the high-tech firm Subsea7 who want to build a new HQ for their international business in Sutton, bringing probably up to 600 new jobs working for the company and many more jobs due to the stimulus these new office workers will bring by spending money in local shops, restaurants and hotels. Keeping the company in Sutton will also protect over 200 jobs the company currently have located in the Borough, which could move elsewhere. Overall, this development could be worth 1 000 jobs.

The company wants to build a brand new state-of-the-art office to meet its particular needs, on the site of the Brighton Road car park. The design they showed Richard and Heather, for a building designed by renowned architects ESA, only a little higher than the car park but a much more attractive building, would be an iconic structure in the “Gateway to Sutton” that is the Brighton Road. It would bring  jobs and development to an area that needs it.

Jobs are gold dust, and there is intense competition between local authorities for such inward investment. In the current recession, a situation where an engineering firm is sufficiently confident of its future to open a new HQ building is most unusual. However, after considering many options, Sutton is the company’s current preferred site. The popularity of Sutton with those of their employees who live in Sutton – our good schools, low crime rate, pleasant suburban atmosphere, voted the best place in London to bring up children – is a factor in their preference for a site in Sutton. They have considered buildings in Sutton currently empty, but have very particular needs and a preference to build their own bespoke headquarters building.

Residents have been reassured that parking in the Borough will still be easily accessible despite the loss of Brighton Road car park. Research carried out for an independent report on the likely impact shows that there are high levels of surplus parking spaces in nearby car parks in the town centre, enough to absorb any displaced should Brighton Road Car Park close.

This is an opportunity to create hundreds of jobs for local people and in turn support existing businesses in the Borough. We have declared that Sutton is “open for business” and we will strive to seize those opportunities that will bring positive benefits for the area and for our residents. Given the scale of the impact on employment, it would be irresponsible of the Council not to engage with the company to see if its highly specific needs can be met.

That said, any proposal will of course need to be fully examined within the Council’s planning procedures.

Richard has spoken before about the extent of hidden poverty in Sutton South, often associated with people – both young people who have never had a job and those made redundant in their 50s who find they are one of twenty applicants for every job – not being able to find work. Jobs are gold dust. As vice-chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee he is aware of how important this development is for Sutton.

THRIVING SUTTON

 

Richard helping to open the Metrobank in Sutton on 8 February

Richard helping to open the Metrobank in Sutton on 8 February

Thriving Sutton has had further good news.

The Borough has been surviving the recession well, with lower levels of unemployment than other Boroughs in London and a rate of economic activity in the workforce that is now over 80%, much higher than the London average of 75%.

On February 8 Metrobank opened offices in Sutton, creating 25 local jobs.

Now comes the news that the high-tech engineering company Subsea 7 is considering developing a bespoke, purpose-built office in Sutton, and wants to have a discussion about developing the Brighton Road car park as its new corporate headquarters. There is intense competition between local authorities for such inward investment, so this is good news.

Research shows that there are enough parking spaces at the Gibson Road car park, and the other multi-storey car parks in central Sutton, to accommodate parking thay would be displaced if the Brighton Road site closed. However any decision to negotiate further on the sale of the site would be under a transactional structure that would ensure that the car park can only be redeveloped as commercial offices in accordance with an agreed scheme, which would also be subject to normal planning regulations.

The company requires a site where a bespoke set of state-of-the art offices meeting its needs can be constructed. At present, no existing office building in Sutton will meet its needs.

It is early days and there is a long way to go on this proposal, but the proposal represents a vote of confidence in Sutton’s future. If it goes ahead, it could bring hundreds of new, hi-tech, engineering jobs to the area.  Plus a real boost to local shops and restaurants. As we have more car parking capacity than people use in Sutton town centre, developing Brighton Road could make sense.  But what is important is that we get a development local people are happy with and that we create more jobs, for which reason there is a long way to go in negotiations and consideration of planning arrangements before this is finalised. In particular, there will be close attention on the design and construction phase.

Heather said, “ Opportunity Sutton is a great initiative for business in Sutton.  Given our emphasis on the environment this type of investment is just what we want.  We will be making sure that our residents are properly consulted.  Like us they are keen to bring new life to the Brighton Road which is currently blighted by the derelict building at Sutherland House”.

Richard, who is vice-chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee, said “I think this shows how attractive Sutton is to potential invstors. They see Sutton as a place with a thriving local economy, good facilities, good transport links, affordable housing, low crime and good schools. rightly voted the best place in London to bring up children two years in a row.

There are issues to be sorted out before this project can go ahead but it would be irresponsible of the Council not to engage with the company in negotiation.”

SUCCESS IN IMPROVING SAFETY AT KINGS LANE

  kings lane works 

Richard and Heather were delighted to see their campaign to improve safety for pedestrians at the narrow, single track bridge in Kings Lane finally come to fruition.

The bridge poses a hazard for pedestrians, particularly those with mobility problems, with buggies or small children, as it is narrow and the cars approaching from the Hillcroome Road end do not see pedestrians until they are almost on the bridge. 

Traffic engineers we consulted suggested building out the kerb on the left hand side at the intersection with Hillcroome Road, with a bollard to slow traffic and hatching, as well as improved signage. This will ensure that cars crossing from that end will start their journey across the bridge from a more central position. They will be more visible, earlier, to cars coming from the other end and to pedestrians on the bridge. In addition, warning signs alerting drivers to the road narrowing and the presence of pedestrians are being upgraded and repositioned to make them more prominent.  

The improvement is being funded by Transport for London. It is a small, low-cost but helpful step.

Consultation with local residents led to some modifications to the original scheme.

More radical proposals, such as making it one way, widening the bridge or building a second bridge, are either too expensive or would be too inconvenient for drivers.

Richard said “This is a useful safety improvement. I live locally and walk across the bridge almost every day. I am glad we have finally got an improvement to slow the traffic and assist pedestrians.”

The photo below is of the bridge viewed from the Hillcroome Road end before the works. The photo above is of Richard and Heather with the workteam.

kings lane bridge

RICHARD PRESENTS CERTIFICATES AT LOCAL AWARDS CEREMONY

synergy UK

On Friday 25 January Richard presented certificates to a number of young people who had completed training organised by a local company, Synergy Personnel Solution. The awards ceremony was held in The Ivory Lounge in Sutton town centre. 

Synergy Personnel Solutions are one of the few major businesses in Sutton South Ward and have premises just south of Sutton Station. They provide a number of services of value to the local economy. They provide training, to City and Guilds standards, towards the Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) and in Retail Knowledge. Many of their clients are unemployed, and this training helps them find their way into employment in the social care and retail distribution industries, both major local employers. Synergy UK arranges placements for their clients, and also operates a service to provide staff to local employers in these sectors.

Richard, as vice-chair of the Council’s Housing, Economy and Business Committee, has a major interest in the “Opportunity Sutton” programme, which includes a project on the theme of matching skills to jobs. 

Richard said “I think the work of this company is helping match skills to jobs, getting people trained, getting people out of unemployment and meeting the labour force needs of local employers. I was very pleased to be invited to present these certificates.”

MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN OUR CAMPAIGN TO OPEN SUTTON STATION SIDE ENTRANCE

sutton station entrance 2

Our long-running campaign to open the side entrance to Sutton station has taken a major step forward, with the acceptance of the Council’s submission to Transport for London of a bid for £740 000 worth of funding under the TfL Major Projects scheme.

The project, known as the Sutton Station Gateway Major Scheme bid, will need to be the subject of further negotiation, so is not finally home and dry, but we are hopeful that it will proceed next year following confirmation from Transport for London that the bid was successful. We have been awarded £740,000 for this scheme in the 2013/14 financial year.

Richard says “We have made this a major campaign since we were elected. Initial setbacks, such as the rejection of a bid by the Mayor under the Outer London Fund Scheme, have not deterred us. If this now goes ahead it will be good news for the residents of Sutton South Ward, particularly  who commute from Sutton station, giving easier access to the station and an improved frontage in The Quadrant.”

Sutton station is the 5th busiest in South London, and the 27th busiest in the whole of Greater London, with almost 6 million passenger movements every year. It is one of 18 stations in London identified by TfL as suffering significant congestion problems.

The main elements in the scheme not only include opening the side entrance but extensive landscaping to improve the appearance of what will in effect be a new entrance from The Quadrant. The main elements include:

* Opening up the side entrance to the station to improve station access and egress, improve the streetscape and improve pedestrian access to the station
 * Public realm and footway improvements in The Quadrant and at the front of the station
 * Bus stop improvements at the front of the station to improve passenger experience
 * “De-cluttering” and harmonisation of street furniture and materials
* Junction and crossing improvements on walking routes to the station
 * Road safety improvements
 * Additional cycle parking and cycle lanes, and
  * Improved street lighting.

Benefits of the scheme will include reduced pedestrian journey times between the station and The Quadrant, the station car park and the Langley Park Road area, as well as reduced congestion within the station main entrance and at the barriers.

Opening the side entrance at Sutton Station will cater for the considerable demand for direct access to the station from the Quadrant House office block, which houses Reed Business Information (with approximately 2,000 employees, about one third of whom travel to work by train) and a number of other expanding companies, together with the Tudor Court office block, which houses Synergy UK. The new entrance will also serve the large station car park (which Network Rail wish to expand), and the motorcycle and cycle parking areas, which generate considerable demand for access from that side of the station. There is also direct footpath access between The Quadrant and Langley Park Road and surrounding residential streets, well-used by rail passengers. These station users currently have to walk around the side to the front of the station on a convoluted route and negotiate busy footways, bus stops and the station entrance. Most of these passengers are likely to have season tickets, and opening up the side entrance will significantly reduce their journey times and congestion outside and in the entrance hall of the main station entrance.
 
While the Council has been lobbying for the opening up of the side entrance since the entrance was created with a retractable shutter ten years ago, the campaign took on new impetus when Richard and Heather were elected in 2010. The entrance is opened up when rail replacement buses are used during engineering work, as the buses stop in The Quadrant. This demonstrates that it is possible to open and use the entrance. Southern has supported the opening in principle, subject to funding being available to provide the barriers etc. Network Rail has also supported the scheme in principle and has assisted with business case work.
 
We will keep readers advised of further progress in the negotiations that are now underway. At the Council meeting on 14 January Richard sought re-assurance that elements such as lighting in the Quadrant and cycle parking will not be lost.

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY TO FUND MAJOR FLOODING STUDY IN SUTTON SOUTH WARD

  copse hill trees

Flooding is a topical subject at the moment, so Richard has welcomed a proposed study of possible flooding risks in South Sutton Ward as providing re-assurance to residents. This is despite the fact that there have been no significant flooding incidents in the Ward in the recent past.

Following a report to the Council’s Scrutiny Committee about water management and flooding, the Environment Agency has approved funding to develop three flood alleviation schemes in Sutton, including a scheme in Sutton South Ward.

The funding is for schemes to reduce the likelihood of flooding in the Hackbridge (London Road) area, in Sandy Lane Cheam by the railway bridge, and in the Brighton Road/Overton Grange area in Sutton South. 

In total we have been awarded £123,500 to produce studies that identify the specific problems in each area, propose solutions and provide specifications, including costings, for necessary works. 

The Environment Agency has stated that it will look favourably on providing funding for construction of any works proposed by the studies, so this is an important step towards sorting these problems out. 

The Environment Agency’s modelling has suggested that there is an area of possible flood risk in South Sutton Ward, around Overton Grange school and the surrounding area. However, we have no known incidents of flooding in that specific area. Residents have advised us that some years ago there was a minor flooding incident at the foot of Copse Hill (pictured above), but changes to the drainage system at the foot of the hill (following discussions Richard held with relevant Council officers) is believed to have dealt with this issue.  There has also been a brief flooding incident under the Grange Vale bridge when leaf fall blocked the drains, before Richard himself removed the obstruction. 

Through discussion with the Environment Agency’s experts the Council has come to the conclusion that the surface water sewers in Brighton Road and adjoining streets, and the railway line, are probably affecting surface water flow, with the result that any actual flooding would be more likely to occur in Brighton Road and in the part of Cedar Road between the Brighton Road and Langley Park Road, this being the area that the sewers divert the water towards.

The proposal is to develop the scheme to protect these areas and to model the impact of proposed new arrangements.  This should help us understand where the water is actually flowing now and the benefits any new flood infrastructure will bring. 

Qualified consultants recommended by the Agency are about to start work on undertaking the investigations and design work.

 

SUTTON COUNCIL’S CUSTOMER CARE SERVICES AGAIN RATED EXCELLENT

Sutton Council’s Customer Services team have retained their “excellent” rating for the 15th year running.

The Customer Service Excellence standard, which is monitored by the Cabinet Office, checks that services meet the Five Es – efficient, effective, excellent, equitable and empowering – and always put residents’ needs first.

Research has shown that customers value timeliness, information, professionalism and staff attitude above all else and the assessor checks these as a priority while also looking at developing customer insight, understanding the user’s experience and robust measurement of service satisfaction.

The assessor highlighted several areas of good practice including:

·         Customer Services approach of offering interview space in reception to partner organisations is a successful response to the imminent increase in volume which changes to the national benefit system are likely to bring

·         Through the “Sutton Online” initiative the Borough is embracing the possibilities offered by new media channels. The Customer Services team is responsible for real time alerts about developing situations, as in the January inclement weather

·         The team supports other Borough services by ensuring consultations are appropriately structured and equalities issues are addressed. They check that all involved groups are identified and their needs are accommodated in the process.

Richard says “This independent assessment is good news but we cannot be complacent. I know how much a good customer care service matters. Most of the residents I deal with tell me they get a good service. I have sometimes had to deal with cases where the team could have done better, but this has been rare. We need to keep up the good standard.”

SNOW BULLETIN: AND THE “WARM ROOMS” PROJECT

 

Richard and Heather gritting

Richard and Heather gritting

 
Feedback from residents suggests that the Council did well in the recent snowy weather – with the roads being gritted, many residents having their own grit due to the “free grit” scheme and the many grit bins being regularly replenished.
 
On Monday 21 January most local school were closed but they had re-opened by Tuesday and all Sutton schools were open on Wednesday and thereafter.
 
We published on this website regular updates on the snow position, with links to sources for the latest information:
 
Schools

For regular school updates go to: https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5419
 
Libraries
All Sutton’s libraries remained open.
 
Children’s Centres
Some of Sutton’s Children’s Centres closed early on Friday 18 January. For regular updates go to https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11718 or follow Sutton on Twitter @Suttononline.

Leisure Centres
All Sutton’s leisure centres were open as normal.
 
Bins
Bin collections operated as normal.
 
Gritting
 
Sutton Council’s gritters were operating through the night on Thursday 17 January and continued through the snow period. To check their progress, go to @SuttonGrit on Twitter. You can also see precautionary gritting routes here: https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15772.
 
Will side streets be gritted? Sutton will grit side streets once main roads have been cleared and only when they are deemed a priority.
 
That road is meant to be gritted but it doesn’t look like it! When the salt goes down it’s hygroscopic which means that it attracts moisture and it only becomes activated when it’s ‘trafficked’. So it can look a bit underwhelming before this happens. When it’s driven over it grinds down and mixes with the moisture it attracts from around it to become brine, a salty water. That’s what you’re ideally looking for because brine is most effective.
 
Where is my nearest grit bin? You can find your nearest grit bin here https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15190. Grit bins will be checked by Sutton Council over the weekend, but if yours is empty then let us know and we will pass the information to Sutton Council.
 
Service Updates for Sutton
For the latest service updates for Sutton you can visit:
https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11718 for gritting and snow advice or follow Sutton on Twitter @Suttononline and @SuttonGrit.
 
Transport
Capital Connect have cancelled some trains and Southern ran an amended service, but you can check up-to-date travel information using the links below. 
 
National Rail: http://nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/indicator.html
TFL: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravelnews/realtime/tube/default.html
Live bus departures: http://countdown.tfl.gov.uk/
Live road information: http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic-information/
 

Main roads in Sutton were all gritted and operating normally.

It’s always difficult when we’re hit by snow, but we hope the necessary steps to minimise inconvenience were taken, to minimise disruption.

Warm Rooms scheme is a Sutton lifesaver

When temperatures plummet and snow falling, a unique partnership between Sutton Council, community nurses, the Citizens Advice Bureaux and Ecolocal helps vulnerable people survive sub-zero conditions.

Sutton Council’s Warm Rooms project uses a £72,000 Department of Health grant to provide emergency assistance to sick, elderly and vulnerable residents living in properties that are poorly-prepared for winter weather.

And an innovative tie-in with community nurses now means that people in desperate need can be quickly identified and helped.

Heather , as Vice Chair of Sutton Council’s Adult Social Services and Health Committee, says: “Warm Rooms could be a real lifesaver.

“This unique project not only offers vital and timely help, but also provides real value-for-money for the borough as it is funded by a grant from the National Health Service.”

Once people in need are identified, through referrals from health workers or the council’s own meals on wheels service or by getting in touch themselves, an expert visits to assess their needs.

The CAB is informed so they can check that residents are claiming the right benefits and the home check flags up what needs to be done immediately to make people more comfortable.

The authority can then provide help including draught proofing, lined curtains, thermal clothing and warm bedding to help vulnerable people survive the worst of the cold weather.

Once the emergency help is in place, residents can then be referred to other council departments and agencies which can provide longer-term help and advice with issues such as insulation and boilers.

To access help call 020 8770 5070 or email warmroom@sutton.gov.uk

TACKLING THE SCOURGE OF EMPTY PROPERTIES

39a eaton rd

People rightly question why, when there is a shortage of accommodation, so many homes are left empty for long periods. Sutton Council has decided to remove the discount people can get on Council tax if a property is empty, and to charge a premium if it is empty for over two years. We think this rightly creates an incentive to keep homes in use rather than empty, and will help with the accommodation shortage in Sutton.

At the Sutton Council meeting on 14 January the Council agreed a package of reforms to Council tax arrangements that included this provision. Richard, in his capacity as Lead Councillor on Revenues and Benefits, has been closely involved in work on these proposals, and was specifically thanked for his contribution when the Strategy and Resources Committee agreed to forward his proposals to Council.

Richard says “When there is such a shortage of homes it is wrong that the system creates an incentive to keep a property empty by giving a discount on Council tax. This change makes the incentives work in the right direction.”