Housing War Chest

 Southwark Labour have been charging more rent than they need. They’ve stated away £6.5M into a war chest. They’re now deciding how to spend this money in the last full financial year before the next local election.

This money should either not have been charged to generally our poorest residents OR it should have been used to make improvements before.

But we do have local housing issues that can be brought forward.

We’ve suggested our priorities for East Dulwich council properties are:
1. Safety issues such as electric wiring
2. Security – tenanted properties are the target of burglary and tenants are the least likely to be able to afford contents insurance – solid secure front and back doors, excellent two locks on each entrance door – Banham quality, Manchester and London bars on all doors, doors have bolts into frame, good windows locks.
3. Loft insulation – much done but we need to ensure all properties have the maximum possible.
4. Cavity wall insulation – ensure all done and well – removing debris from cavity before installing.
5. Modern double or better triple glazing – most of our external decoration need on council street properties is around ancient sash windows. So apart from reducing energy poverty this solves much of the decoration regime that has never existed. It can also make the homes more secure if done well. Such glazing should match the buildings age so sash double or triple glazing for Victorian street properties for example. Triple rather than double due to the extra energy savings.
6. External decoration.

The administration has also suggested replacing Halliwell Court entry phone. It isn’t a great system but no worse than others. The issue is the ground floor flats. So we’ve separately asked for clear signs of how to reach them by walking a short distance around the block. A nice simple cheap solution.

What do you think the council housing in East Dulwich needs most?

Good Skin Bacteria

A pet interest for me is how much is being discovered about bacteria useful to the well being of us humans.

We’ve all heard about good gut bacteria. Research just out shows that skin can have a balance of good or harmful bacteria. Good skin bacteria can ensure acne isn’t present. A team from California University has analysed skin of people with and without acne. Of the 66 commonest strains of bacteria found – 2 seemed linked to acne and 1 to clear skin.

This is likely to lead to pro-biotic skin creams. Creating a better balance of bacteria to ride people of things like acne in this example. But it’s likely other skin conditions would benefit.

Getting this right could lead to much improved lives for people with skin illnesses. Drastically reduced costs for treatment and length of treatment.

With so much being unveiled by this line of research I hope the medical research councils really increase the emphasis on such lines of enquiries. We could then see a step change improvement to people lives across many illnesses – that’s my futurologist bit for the month.

Cost of an NHS stamp

My GP called me last night about a recent blood test. I’ll need another one in a months time.

“Can you please post the blood test form to me?”

GP ” No”

“Why not.”

GP “We don’t post things to patients.”

“But it’s really not convenient to make a special journey to collect a form.”

GP “Can you not come in.”

“I could but it will take 40mins of my time, has to occur when you’re open which is when I’m at work versus the cost of a second class stamp.”

GP “We don’t post things to patients”.

“Could you email me the form and I print it out.”

GP stunned silence.

“It’s really easy to email a PDF document for example”

GP continued stunned silence.

“You really don’t have any stamps.”

GP continued stunned silence.

“So I guess I’ll have to make a special trip and change my working day.”

I hate public services that treat members of the public time with such contempt. In my case the cost of an NHS stamp is 40 minutes of my time and a reorganised work day.

What stories do you have where public services are designed and configured as if from the Stalinist era state?

Healthy School Food

In the last fortnight it had been a huge surprise to everyone where horse meat has been turning up – even in some school meals in some parts of the country. Fortunately none has been discovered in SE London.

But I’m also concerned about what the food is but how it’s turned into nutrious food for our children. Councils measure food hygiene and safe cooking processes. They record inspections via the following search tool – if you use this search and look by borough at ratings for business type = school/college/university interesting reading:

http://ratings.food.gov.uk/advanced-search/en-GB?s=1&so=Equal&st=1&pi=0&bt=7845&las=523&sc=%2fadvanced-search%2fen-GB

Greenwich – don’t use the Food Standard Agency website – how unhelpful for parents.

Lambeth –  1 x 2 star, 5 x 3 stars, 18 x 4 stars, 76 x 5 stars

Lewisham – 8 x ‘2’ food hygiene rating, 6 x 3 stars, 27 x 4 stars, 76 x 5 stars

Southwark – 12 x 3 stars, 22 x 4 stars, 77 x 5 stars

Wandsworth – 2 x 2 stars, 4 x 3 stars, 14 x 4 stars, 80 x 5 stars

2 = improvement necessary – take a look at how long ago they were inspected!
3 = generally satisfactory
4 = good
5 = very good

Overall we can see some great improvements in Southwark but still amazing how many 2 and 3 stars schools still around and that they’ve not been revisited for ages.

Coop outrage

The Coop supermarket on Lordship Lane has applied to sell alcohol and open generally 23/7.

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This is a direct consequence of MP Tessa Jowell licensing laws pushed through in 2003.

We think this would be a disaster for Lordship Lane,  exacerbate the night time economy problems the areas around Lordship Lane are already suffering and boost binge drinking.

We’ve formally objected to this application. If you also support our objection that this will make the atmosphere of Lordship Lane worse then contact the licensing department via Licensing@southwark.gov.uk and copy us your local East Dulwich councillors james.barber@southwark.gov.uk.

In carrying out its licensing functions the council must promote the four licensing objectives set out in the Licensing Act 2003 (2003 Act). They are:

  1. The prevention of crime and disorder;
  2. Public safety;
  3. The prevention of public nuisance; and
  4. The protection of children from harm.

Any objections need to explain how the Coop opening 23/7 and selling alcohol 6am to 11pm would be against any of these objectives.

 

London Fuel Poverty

Gas and electricity costs are still rising leading to more people being placed in fuel poverty – where the proportion of household spend on fuel is greater than 10% of income to keep the household sensible warm. So not just warm in one room but the whole property.
Currently in London 9.4% are defined as in fuel poverty. The government is consulting on changing the definition of fuel poverty. As a result, nearly all English regions see a fall in the number of fuel poor households in their area. But in London the proportion will rise from 9.4% to 14.1% and more truly reflect the extent of fuel poverty in London.
This should help rectify the small proportion of energy efficiency spending Londoners have seen from energy company obligations. We’ve yet to se the Green Deal which started in October making a difference.
In East Dulwich we still see many homes with no insulation in lofts and the fuel homes with cavity walls have yet ot have them insulated.

Power Sharing

South Lakeland council have come up with a great idea to reduce energy prices for its residents. Instead of residents approaching power companies singularly South Lakeland are providing bulk energy purchasing – both electricity and gas.

So far over a 1,000 households have signed up for this extra council service. Each household still have individual contracts but under the umbrella of a great centrally done deal using the much bigger buying power of a council.

This type of simple measure can really help lift people out of fuel poverty. A tiny commission is being made which is being ring fenced to help fund insulation driving down energy needs and further helping the very poorest.

Clearly such a scheme should be introduced into Southwark. And that’s exactly what I hope to persuade my party to call for in Southwark.

Heathrow nonsense

I was dismayed to see such stupid protestations from Conservative MP’s  who should know better and supposed business leaders. They’ve been demanding Heathrow have a third runway to magically solve all our economic woes.

First myth. Building a third runway with all the infrastructure would take at least 10 years and would only come on stream in two or three five year parliaments time. Not much economic magic about a ten plus year delay.

Second myth. That air pollution wouldn’t be a problem, that aircraft are so much cleaner. Most aircraft are flown for 40+ years. The current aircraft flying would be the ones to be used. Equally ground transport for passengers and staff would see NOx pollution causing further ill health to residents there let alone all the noise pollution. The World Health Organisation noise limits are already well and truly being breached across London.

What is truly astounding is the latest MP to call for this is Tim Yeo. He’s the chair of the parliamentary Climate Change select committee. Clearly a man in the wrong job.

The coalition agreement is quite clear. No third runway at Heathrow. I’d be saddened if the Conservatives renege on their commitment to this going into the 2015 elections. The Heathrow sound problem reaches across most of south London.

Red roofs

Sometime ago Southwark purchased aerial heat photos of Southwark. It shows blue for cold, through green and amber to red for hot ie lots of heat leaking away.

Attached is a more detailed copy of that map superimposed on OS map showing property outlines. Fascinating. Take a look at your East Dulwich neighbourhood. In East Dulwich ward 625 uninsulated lofts out of 3,500.

Heat map East Dulwich

We’ve had one program to try and persuade more people to insulated their lofts. Clearly lots more to do.

Parkinson’s test

I’ve just helped develop a test for Parkinson’s disease.

Mathematician Max Little has developed algorithms analysing voices that can spot Parkinso’ns disease quite reliably. He needs lots more voice samples to improve his algorithms accuracy. So I’ve just spent 3 minutes calling 01865 521168 and following instructions to have my voice anonymously recorded and added to his database.

He’s aiming to have clinical trials using this methodology and now with my voice in the data within two years.

Parkinson’s disease affects 127,000 in the UK and 20million worldwide. No blood tests exist to spot it. So this voice initiative is really important and should allow not just very early detection but also ongoing support and treatment.

Will you call 01865 521168 today?