SAD TALE OF PEANUT THE CAT COULD HELP OWNERS FIND MISSING MOGGIES / PUPILS CLEAN AND GREEN POSTERS GRACE BIGBELLY BINS

The death of a tabby cat whose owner’s identity was traced through a Spanish vet has instigated a borough wide scheme in Bromley.

Pet owners who have lost their cat are now able to check the council’s websitewww.bromley.gov.uk/DeadCatsCollected to see if their cat has been found.

Cat owners are also being encouraged to ensure that their cat is microchipped as this will enable owners to be traced more easily.

Operation Peanut started one morning at the end of March earlier this year when the council’s street cleaning contractor, Kier, came across a beautiful tabby cat that had sadly died.

Fortunately the cat was microchipped, and although the owner was registered in Spain, with a bit of detective work, involving emailing a vet in Seville, Jackie Baxter, the council’s environmental campaigns officer was able to trace the owner to Bromley, near to where the cat had been found.

It transpired that Peanut’s owner had immigrated to England from Marbella eight years ago but had been unable to update the chip’s details – but not through want of trying.

It was this successful reunion that inspired Jackie Baxter to explore if more could be done to reunite deceased cats that were not microchipped with their owners so they could have closure, with Operation Peanut now expanding in the memory of the cat from Spain!

Cllr Colin Smith, Bromley’s executive councillor for environment said, “Every animal owner understands how much loved pets become part of the family and just how much pain it causes when they sadly disappear, often resulting in painstaking, but ultimately unfulfilled searches and appeals for news of their fate.

“This simple, low cost scheme will make a huge difference to so many caught in that invidious position by helping to bring early closure to what can be a very sad and traumatic episode in an owner’s life.

“I am delighted to learn this thoughtful work is now being hailed increasingly widely elsewhere as a breakthrough in this field as well.”

When Kier comes across a dead cat during routine street cleaning or if a report is received that a cat is lying in a public place, if the cat is microchipped, every effort to contact the owner is made, said a council spokesman.

“As an owner may spend months or even years looking for their missing pet, Bromley council will now publish details of dead cats that they have collected that are not microchipped at www.bromley.gov.uk/DeadCatsCollected.

“All vets in the borough will also be sent a poster that they can display in their practice with a description of the cat, and various animal charities across the borough will also be notified.

“The cats will be kept for a minimum of three weeks after they have been found before being sent for cremation.”

Wayne Gillard, practice manager at The Neighbourhood Vet, Penge said “What a fantastic initiative. “We welcome anything like this which may put a client’s mind at rest. “If you’re a pet owner you’ll know that ‘not knowing’ is sometimes the worst part.”

A decade ago on average around two deceased cats that were not microchipped would be collected every week, but nowadays only one deceased cat is collected every two months or so that is not microchipped.

For more information about microchipping, please visit www.cats.org.uk/uploads/documents/EG08_Microchipping.pdf (Source: Bromley council press release)

PUPILS CLEAN AND GREEN POSTERS GRACE BIGBELLY BINS

Eye-catching posters designed by pupils to encourage people to keep the borough’s streets clean and green, are now gracing the sides of Croydon’s super-capacity, solar-powered Bigbelly bins.

Cllr Stuart Collins,Croydon’s cabinet member for Clean & Green Croydon, announced the winners of the council’s poster competition, run as part of the council’s Don’t Mess With Croydon (DMWC) clean streets campaign at a council cabinet meeting.

“The BigBelly bins are already a huge hit in Croydon, keeping our streets cleaner and helping people to dispose of their rubbish responsibly” he said.

“I’m delighted that so many pupils took part in this competition, designing these fantastic posters which look great and encourage everyone to do their bit to keep our borough tidy.

“Young people are right at the heart of the next phase of Don’t Mess With Croydon – we want to build on the incredible pride that so many of them have in their borough and encourage them to get behind our campaign.

“Well done to all those who submitted designs.

Also at the meeting, Cllr Collins unveiled designs from a schools competition organised by Steve Reed, MP for Croydon North, in which pupils were asked to design clean and green posters for use on Veolia vehicles.

Among those which participated were Rockmount primary school, Rockmount Road, Upper Norwood and  All Saints primary school, Upper Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood. (Source: Croydon council press release)

HAIRDRESSERS USED AS NIGHT CLUB SHUT BY COUNCIL

Croydon council have obtained a three-month closure order that will save local residents from the misery of regular late-night parties that were being held at a South Norwood hair and beauty salon.

Council officers found a bank of 17 large speakers were stacked along the rear wall and these were accompanied by professional DJ decks and equipment. There was also a bar set up in the corner.

Croydon magistrates granted the three-month order following a council investigation that catalogued several months of extreme nuisance and anti-social behaviour originating from the premises.

This included weekly all-night parties with music blasting throughout the local neighbourhood, disturbing local residents and disrupting sleep.

The man who leased the property at High Street, South Norwood requested an adjournment when the case was taken before the court.

The request was denied and the matter was heard as planned, with magistrates hearing how almost every weekend there would be between 100 and 200 guests at the unit from 11pm – 7am.

Local residents would then have to endure disturbance throughout the night, including the nuisance of the partygoers leaving the premises in the morning.

Following the hearing the council’s anti-social behaviour team and the police attended the property to ensure it was properly secured. But further police had to be called after some 25-30 individuals tried to gain access to the unit.

Once the situation had been managed and the crowd controlled officers quickly found that the shop was being used predominantly as a nightclub.

A bank of 17 large speakers were stacked along the rear wall and these were accompanied by professional DJ decks and equipment. There was also a bar set up in the corner.

Cllr David Wood, Croydon’s deputy cabinet member for communities, safety, and justice, said: “The three-month closure of this premises will bring much needed respite to the local community.

“This unlicensed use of the property had to be stopped and I’m pleased our team took the necessary steps to ensure peace can now be brought back to the area.” (Source: Croydon council press release)

THREE-MONTH CLOSURE ORDER ON PENSIONERS FLAT

Residents and staff at a private retirement development have been saved from the anti-social behaviour of one flat owner thanks to the council obtaining a closure order.

The order, issued at Camberwell magistrates, means the flat, at Sovereign Court on Warham Road, South Croydon will now be locked for three months.

Legal action was taken after the council’s anti-social behaviour team were approached for help by FirstPort Retirement Property Services Ltd., the firm which manages the flats.

The company had exhausted all other avenues, and needed assistance dealing with the 69-year-old occupant of the flat at the centre of the case.

The man was found to have been verbally abusive to both other residents and staff on many occasions. He had also put lives at risk by starting fires on the flat roof of his flat.

He was accused of assaulting care workers, setting off alarms on a daily basis, causing regular noise nuisance, as well as a variety of other offences which resulted in the police being called at least once a week for several months.

In granting the closure order the court made it clear that the man’s behaviour was not just anti-social, but in the case of lighting fires ‘criminal’.

More information on dealing with anti-social behaviour in Croydon can be found here. (Source: Croydon council press release)

MORE SUCCESS FOR COUNCIL’S DON’T MESS WITH CROYDON CLAMPDOWN

Another 16 people have been prosecuted in the latest court cases brought under the council’s ongoing Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride campaign.

At Croydon magistrates court on three dates – 27 June, 4 July, and 15 August – the 16 cases were broken down into a total of 11 people prosecuted for fly-tipping, one for urinating in public, one for spitting, two for dropping a cigarette on the ground and one for littering. The offenders were ordered to pay a combined total of £6,158.

The prosecutions included a 23-year-old Croydon man ordered to pay a total of £630 for urinating in a car park; a 21-year-old ordered to pay a total of £240 for spitting in Mint Walk and a South Norwood man ordered to pay a total of £190 for littering a cigarette onto the ground in Croydon High Street while another person was ordered to pay a total of £100 for littering a cigarette onto the ground in North End, Croydon.

The council has now successfully prosecuted 167 cases since launching its Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride campaign in summer 2014, which combines getting local people to become community champions with enforcement against the worst offenders.

As well as prosecuting people in court, the council has also signed up more than 300 community champions who lead litter picks.

Cllr Stuart Collins, Croydon’s cabinet member for Clean and Green Croydon, said: “People who casually fly-tip, spit or urinate in the street bring down our borough, and that’s why we’ll continue to prosecute these kinds of offences.

“Our Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride campaign is about getting people to do the right thing, so I hope other would-be offenders will now think twice.”

To report a fly-tip confidentially, please use the My Croydon app, notify the council through My Account, call 0208 604 7000 or emailflytip@croydon.gov.uk (Source: Croydon council press release)

COUNCIL WARN OVER BOGUS EMPLOYEE – People with learning disabilities targeted

Croydon council are warning the public to be aware of a scammer who poses as one of its employees to try and con over £1,000 out of local people with learning disabilities and connected professionals.

The scam involves a bogus email sent by a fraudster using the name of a genuine council employee from the adults commissioning team to ask for payment from people with learning disabilities and their carers.

One such email read: “Good day. This is a friendly reminder to let you know that your invoice is 3 days past due. Please pay this immediately or if you have any questions, please contact us to discuss. Total amount due: £1183.10.”

The fraudster then includes a web link to view and pay the invoice, signing off using a council email address format of firstname.lastname@croydon.gov.uk

Six Croydon people with learning disabilities, their carers and connected professionals have alerted the council to the scam without paying the fraudster.

The council’s adults commissioning team have already contacted approximately 100 people who use their service, including adults with learning disabilities, their carers and connected professionals, to warn them about the scam.

The council are also flagging the fraud to another 200 individuals and local organisations in Croydon.

Spoofing email addresses is an increasingly common technique used by fraudsters, says a council press release.

To protect yourself:

• Never click on unfamiliar links or download unfamiliar attachments, especially if it asks for personal information.
• Use your spam filters and junk boxes provided by nearly every free email service. If something goes into your junk email folder even if it looks like it is from someone you know, make sure it really did come from that person and that they intended to send it to you.
• Learn to read email message headers. When floating your mouse over an email address it should be identical to what you are floating over. If it isn’t, then it is most likely to be a scam.

Cllr Hamida Ali, Croydon’s cabinet member for communities, safety and justice, said: “We’re warning people to be especially on their guard because this scammer is posing as a genuine council employee.

“If you have any doubts, even if the name used on the email looks genuine, don’t open it, don’t pay the money asked for, and report it to us.”

To report a scam, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or report it online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or contact the council’s trading standards team via Citizens’ Advice consumer service on 03454 040506. (Source: Croydon council press release)

GIG BUDDIES LAUNCHED IN CROYDON

A scheme that helps people with learning disabilities or autism attend gigs, plays or other live events is being launched in Croydon thanks to a successful council funding bid.

Volunteers are being sought to get involved with the Gig Buddies project, which will match them to an adult with a learning disability who find it difficult to get out and about on their own to enjoy live music, theatre, or comedy.

The project is being launched at Boxpark between 5pm and 7pm on 5 September, with DJs from the long-established Club Soda team on the decks. The evening is free, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Dennis Ellis, club goer, said: “I love going out but it can be really difficult. Having a gig buddy will really give me the confidence to be able to enjoy myself.”

Paul Barnard, Volunteer, said: “Most people take going to gigs and shows for granted. But for those with disabilities it can be a daunting experience if they have to go on their own. I got involved with this scheme because it means I can help someone do the things they love without fear.”

Gig Buddies was originally set up by the Brighton-based charity Stay Up Late, who have chosen Croydon as one of ten national partners to roll the scheme out across the country.

Councillor Timothy Godfrey, cabinet member for culture, leisure, and sport, said: “Nobody should be denied the pleasure of a good night out – and this project is an excellent example of how Croydon looks out for the needs of those with disabilities and learning difficulties.”

Club Soda will run ‘Gig Buddies Croydon’ in partnership with Croydon Council’s Learning Disability Commissioning Team. The team will help promote the use of person-centred approaches and will give training to all gig buddies.

For more information about how to get involved with the scheme, go to: www.gigbuddiescroydon.co.uk. (Source: Croydon council press release)

SCAMMERS DISAPPEAR WITH PENSIONERS £27,000 LIFE SAVINGS
 
A quote for clearing the guttering of an elderly man’s Norbury home quickly escalated to the point where he handed over £27,000 in cash to a bogus company operating from a central London accommodation address.
 
Croydon council’s trading standards department is warning residents to beware of what appears to be a reputable company called Kings Home Improvements Ltd that states its address as being 2 London Bridge Walk, London SE1 2SX.

The scam came to light when the vulnerable 84-year-old was talked into full replacement of the gutters and improvement of the loft space by replacing the joists and putting down boards to provide a safe walking surface.

The company representative left an impressive calling card, detailing the services offered by his firm, phone numbers, and website and email addresses.

The company twice failed to turn up on agreed dates to start the work, and, upon reflection, the householder decided that, as he very rarely went up into the loft, he would cancel the upgrade. He expected a large refund from the £27,000 he had handed over.

The company then claimed it had paid £7,000 tax for materials bought to do the work and demanded reimbursement of that sum from him, assuring him that he would be able to claim it from the tax office.

He did not hand over the requested £7,000 but neither did he receive the refund he expected.

Cllr Hamida Ali, Croydon’s cabinet member for communities, safety and justice, said: “This is a truly dreadful case of heartless rogues taking a vulnerable older man, who has no immediate family, for everything they could.

“It’s probably too late for this victim, who’s unlikely to have his money returned, but I’d warn everyone else to be aware of this scam, and be wary of anyone offering household repairs or building work and claiming to work for this company.

“It’s important to remember that the Kings Home Improvements Ltd that claims to be based at 2 London Bridge Walk has no links to other companies with the same or a similar name.”

Three things that residents can do if they suspect they are the target of a scam.

Get advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk or by calling 03454 040506.
Report scams and suspected scams to Action Fraud online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. Reporting can help prevent it happening to others. If debit cards, online banking or cheques are involved in the scam, the consumer’s first step should be to contact their bank or card company.
Tell family, friends and neighbours, so that they are aware and can avoid scams. (Source: Croydon council press release)

CROYDON: SCHOOL RUN PEDESTRIAN ZONES START
 
A trial scheme has begun which temporarily closes traffic-clogged roads during the school run to get people to use cars less.
 
The roads by three primary schools – Heavers Farm and St Chad’s in Selhurst and Woodcote in Coulsdon – are now restricted on the morning and afternoon school runs.

The schools signed up to the six-month council scheme because of their concerns about parking and pedestrian safety, said a council spokesperson.

“The council is asking for feedback during the trial and, if it proves successful, the scheme will become regular at these schools and could be trialled at others in the borough.

“The roads will not be physically closed to traffic. “Instead, the council will use temporary automatic number plate recognition cameras to scan if vehicles passing through the pedestrian zones have permission.

“Residents and their visitors will be able to enter or leave the zones by applying free of charge for an advance access permit – and over 800 people have already successfully applied.

“Motorists driving in the zones during the school run without a valid permit will receive a £130 penalty charge notice, or £65 if paid within a fortnight” the spokesperson added..

Signs are already in place to inform drivers that they are entering the school run pedestrian zones, and council staff will marshal parking and road safety on nearby streets. The pedestrian zones are:

• Woodcote Primary in Dunsfold Rise, Coulsdon (including Fairfield Way and Meadow Rise)
• Heavers Farm Primary in Dinsdale Gardens, Selhurst
• St Chad’s Catholic Primary in Alverston Gardens, Selhurst.

The pedestrian zones at Heavers Farm and St Chad’s are from 8-9.30am and 2-4pm, and the zone outside Woodcote Primary are from 8-9.30am and 2.30-4pm.

The trial comes as part of several Croydon council initiatives to improve the borough’s environment, from school travel plans and free cycling lessons to the introduction of 20mph speed limits across the borough.

Cllr Stuart King, cabinet member for transport and environment, said: “These roads are a school run traffic headache for everyone, so this trial is about improving child safety and boosting walking and the environment.

“By getting hundreds of individual parents to park legally outside these pedestrian zones or – even better – at home, we hope this will make a big difference and we want to hear what people think.

“The temporary number plate cameras will help our officers make a fair decision on who can drive through the pedestrian zones and who can’t, allowing residents, their visitors, school staff and delivery drivers to go about their business as usual.”
 
To give feedback on the trial school run pedestrian zones, email: schoolparking@croydon.gov.uk (Source: Croydon council press release)

GET READY FOR CYCLE SEPTEMBER

Cycle September is a fun, free national competition to see which workplaces can earn the most points for riding.
 
There are lots of fantastic prizes this year, including holidays to Berlin, Brighton, Italy or San Francisco, branded new bikes from Raleigh, innovative goodies from Torch, Cyclehoop, Litlok and more.

You only have to cycle for 10 minutes, anytime and anywhere during September for your participation to count towards your team score. Earn points climb the leader board by logging rides and encouraging others. Whether you’re a commuting champ or casual cruiser – all types of rides will count towards your team’s participation.

It only takes a minute to register on the Love To Ride website. Be sure to select your organisation, so that points count towards your team score and a chance to win some epic prizes. (Source: Lambeth council’s Love Lambeth website)

BROMLEY: PREPARING FOR WINTER IS SNOW JOKE*

Residents’ associations, uniformed youth groups and other community groups are being invited to this year’s Snow Friends Conference on 19 September in preparation for the winter ahead.

It’s never too soon to prepare for the unknown and residents interested in setting up new Snow Friend groups, are being encouraged to attend the conference or contact the council for further details before the start of wintry weather and possibly heavy snowfall.

“The objective of this year’s conference is to ensure that Bromley’s magnificent army of Snow Friends are all still stocked, manned and positioned to respond to any extreme weather which we might have to endure this Winter, as well as attracting any new groups who might wish to join the borough’s national leading programme.

We are ultra-conscious that we have been extremely lucky with mild weathers since the cold snaps back in 2009, 2010 and 2011 but that luck isn’t going to last forever and it is vital that we are all ready for it when that time comes.

Snow Friends have already proved themselves to be invaluable in removing snow from the smaller residential roads which the council simply cannot get to, allowing council crews to concentrate on critical main routes and more heavily used pavements.

We remain enormously proud of our network of Snow Friends and new volunteers are ever welcome and warmly invited to join our ranks” said Councillor Colin Smith, Executive Councillor for Environment.

The Snow Friends initiative supplements the council’s existing gritting and snow clearing operations which are the most extensive of any London borough. With capacity to store 9,000 tonnes of salt, the council has one of the largest supplies of salt stocks of any London borough. Of the 500 miles of roads in the borough, around 280 miles of main road will be treated when road temperatures are predicted to be freezing, with the council gritting more miles of road than other boroughs. In addition, the council’s snow clearance crews also work to clear snow from pavements across the borough, focussing on town centres, outside schools and transport interchanges. As this work still leaves many residential roads and pavements ‘untreated’, Snow Friends are able to provide support by clearing snow from their local street with salt and snow scoops provided free of charge by the council (subject to availability).

Residents considering volunteering as a Snow Friend can be assured that there is no law preventing them from clearing snow and ice from the pavement or pathway outside their property, or from public spaces.

Snow Friends are advised to be careful and use common sense to ensure that they do not make the pavement or pathway more dangerous than before, but people walking on areas affected by snow and ice also have a responsibility to be careful themselves.

Willing volunteers should contact the council at www.bromley.gov.uk/snowfriends to join an existing group or to register their interest in possibly starting a group with like-minded neighbours. Residents Associations and other groups should also contact the council to confirm attendance at the Snow Friends Conference on 19 September. (*Source: Bromley council press release – and it’s their headline!))

LEWISHAM: PHARMACIES CONSULTATIONS

Lewisham are consulting residents on their views on pharmacy services to ensure high quality and easily-accessible services.

Pharmacies provide a number of services, including dispensing over-the-counter and prescribed medicines and offering health advice and information. We are conducting a survey to gather residents’ views on NHS pharmacy services in the borough.

The consultation responses will contribute to decision-making around approvals of new pharmacy applications in Lewisham.

LANDLORDS FINED AND FACE BOROUGHWIDE BAN – Croydon spend £22,000 making house safe
 
A pair of private landlords who rented out a damp and mouldy Croydon house to a family of four have been fined £4,000 each by a judge and face a ban from letting properties in the borough.
 
Croydon council inspectors found a number of serious hazards when they visited the house last year in Bensham Lane, Thornton Heath, including no electricity, a kitchen strewn with rubble, partially-collapsed ceiling plasterwork, and significant damp and mould.

At Croydon magistrates court district judge Susan Holdham found the two landlords guilty in their absence for failing to obey an improvement notice to upgrade the property issued by Croydon council under the Housing Act 2004.

The judge ordered them to each pay a total of £4,096.20 in fines, court costs and victim surcharge within 28 working days.

Croydon council’s property licensing team will now begin the formal process of banning the two landlords, one who lives in Wimbledon and the other in Streatham, from holding a property licence to let to Croydon tenants in future, said a council spokesman.

“They will have to either sell the Bensham Lane property or appoint a managing agent to become legally responsible for the house’s repair and tenants’ living conditions.

“The council, which carried out over £22,000 worth of urgent repairs to the flat in default and billed the landlords, will also begin the process of ensuring that the landlords repay this bill.

“Using inspection powers strengthened in 2015 through the council’s selective licensing scheme, officers first visited the property on 28 September 2016 after housing enforcement colleagues had received a complaint about the landlord from the tenants, a family of four that included two girls aged under five.

“Council officers then formally ordered the landlords to repair the house and then accompany inspectors on a return visit. “When officers returned to view the property, the landlords did not attend and the repairs had not been carried out.

“The council then began the process of making the house safer and repairing it in the landlords’ absence, and then billed them with the £22,000 cost. In later discussions under formal caution, the pair claimed to the council that their workmen had been denied access to the property.”

Cllr Alison Butler, Croydon’s cabinet member for homes, regeneration and planning, said: “No family should live in such appalling conditions, which is why we stepped in after these private landlords failed to do the responsible thing and fix the house.

“While most private Croydon landlords are good, this case underlines why we will continue to prosecute the minority of people who fail to protect their tenants.”

Tenants of private houses or flats in Croydon with major concerns about the state of their property can contact the council via propertylicensing@croydon.gov.uk or call 020 8726 6103, available Monday to Friday from 9am-4pm. (Source: Croydon council press release)

COUNCIL CHANGES MIND AFTER TENANTS OBJECTIONS – SHOCKHORRORPROBE / SOUTH NORWOOD PROPERTY USED AS ILLEGAL RUBBISH DUMP – £10,000 BILL / STAR IN A FOOD FILM (or let your kitchen be the location)

A council changed its mind on plans to introduce charges for phoning its housing repairs line after objections from tenants.

Southwark council have confirmed it will now keep the housing repairs line free of charge.

The decision came following a successful petition from Southwark Group of Tenant Organisations (SGTO) during a cabinet meeting which took place on Tuesday (19 September).

Cris Claridge, chair of the SGTO, explained to cabinet that many tenants and residents were signed up to pay as you go tariffs rather than landlines.

“The SGTO presented convincing evidence that highlighted the considerable impact that introducing a paid line would have on the most vulnerable Southwark residents” says a council statement.

“The group also highlighted there was disparity in what a resident would be charged to call the repair line depending on what service provider they were with.

“The tenant organisation also presented concerns that not all residents had access to the internet and that could present a barrier to people accessing vital repair services.”

Southwark Council had been proposing to switch the repairs line to an 0300 local rate number to save the £65,000 annual cost of running the freephone line.

Cllr Fiona Colley, cabinet member for finance, modernisation and performance said: “Our decision to keep the free repairs phone line is another example of Southwark council listening to its residents.

“We do need to save money, but STGO presented a really eloquent and well reasoned case to keep the freephone service and the council responded. “I am pleased that we have been able to address our tenants’ concerns.”

Cris Claridge, who chairs Southwark Group of Tenant Organisations said: “Had this charge been introduced the very poorest would have been hit the hardest.

“In some cases, the amounts charged would have been considerably more than what tenants and residents could afford. “This was not something that I or the SGTO were expecting but it is hugely welcome.”  (Source: Southwark council press release)

SOUTH NORWOOD PROPERTY USED AS ILLEGAL RUBBISH DUMP – £10,000 BILL

A landlord and its company director whose South Norwood property was used as an illegal rubbish dump have become the 171st prosecution under the council’s Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride campaign.

At Croydon magistrates court on Tuesday (19 September), the company and its company director were found guilty in their absence and ordered to pay £9,870 for letting the back gardens of two properties in Market Parade in Portland Road become piled high with household and commercial rubbish.

The court was told that Croydon council environmental enforcement officers issued a community protection notice to both the company and the director on 7 February to clear the waste, which included mattresses, furniture, boxes and black bags of rubbish behind the two empty shop units.

Despite site visits from the council and a request for the director to attend both an informal meeting and a formal interview under caution to explain the fly-tip, the waste had still not been cleared by 7 April and the director had not got in touch.

The council then began formal proceedings for both the community protection notice breach and the director’s failure to attend the formal interview under caution, which is a criminal offence under section 108 of the Environment Act 1995.

District judge Nigel McLean sentenced both the company and the director to a combined total of £9,870 in fines, surcharges and court costs.

The company was ordered to pay a £5,000 fine for breaching the community protection notice, a £170 company surcharge, and £1,025 legal costs. The director, who lives in Paddington, London was ordered to pay £1,000 for breaching the community protection notice, £1,025 court costs, £1,500 for breaching the section 108 notice to attend the formal interview under caution, and a £150 director surcharge.

Cllr Stuart Collins, the council’s cabinet member for Clean and Green Croydon, said: “Fly-tips on private land are just as bad as those on our streets, and this case shows our officers will continue to prosecute offences like this.

“I urge all private landlords to keep their Croydon properties tidy, and if they let them become dumping grounds we’ll take action.”

To report a fly-tip confidentially, use the My Croydon app, notify the council through My Account, call 0208 604 7000 or emailflytip@croydon.gov.uk  (Source: Croydon council press release)

STAR IN A FOOD FILM (or let your kitchen be the location)

Veolia would love residents to help tackle food waste in Lambeth by sending in recipes or food saving tips, starring in a film making their recipe in their own kitchen, or letting their kitchen be a film location

Lambeth is part of an innovative EU-funded project designed to tackle food waste through:

Reducing food waste
Promoting healthy eating, food-buying and preparation habits
Recycling unavoidable food waste

TRiFOCAL

As part of this campaign (‘TRiFOCAL’ – Transforming City Food Habits for Life), Veolia will produce cooking/kitchen skills videos about using up leftover ingredients, and keep food from going off. People aged 18-34 waste a third more food than those aged 65+. Our campaign aims to help them learn how the more mature generation has mastered the art of ‘waste not, want not’.

How you can help

1. Send us a recipe

We’re looking for delicious, healthy recipes which prevent food waste or use up leftovers. Shepherd’s pie using leftover roast lamb, banana bread with browning bananas, or a good old-fashioned stock making the most out of whatever’s in the fridge. Please email your recipe with a photo of the dish, if possible. Chosen recipes will feature in a cookery book, or be showcased in a video.

2. Star in a video

We want to film senior members of our community (age 65+) teaching recipes and food-saving kitchen skills to the 18-34 age group. If you’re confident in front of a camera and would like to help reduce food waste, we’d love to hear from you.

The videos will be shared on social media – Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

3. Lend us your kitchen

Finally, we’re looking for bright, spacious kitchens with good, natural light to film in. If you wouldn’t mind your kitchen becoming a TV studio (and video star) for a couple of hours, please email.

Bigger than London!

Over half the 900,000 tonnes of food thrown away in London each year is perfectly edible. Wasting it makes no sense either environmentally or economically. The TRiFOCAL project will test ideas that could be rolled out in cities all over Europe, and it’s great to have this opportunity to make a contribution to such an important cause.

Contact us – deadline end of the month!

All recipes need to be sent to us at streetchampions@lambeth.gov.uk by Saturday 30 September, with filming early October.

The project is funded by EU life. Written by: Nikki MIlls, Veolia (Source: Lambeth council’s Love Lambeth website)

CROYDON BUSINESS MONTH LAUNCHES NEXT WEEK

A programme of events that aims to support and help develop Croydon businesses is to take place throughout October as part of the first Croydon Business Month.

More than 40 free events have been organised by the council and its partners to take place around the borough, offering tips and advice for those looking to start or already running their own business.

The schedule of events come just weeks after the Small Business Commission, set up by the council to investigate the barriers to growth for local small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) in Croydon, presented its findings to over 100 local businesses. The report recommended ways in which the council and its partners could further support the development of local small businesses.

Croydon Business Month kicks off with the opening of Croydon Pop-Up Business School, which offers a week long course focused on helping entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground to start their businesses. The programme covers topics such as starting a business with no money, how to build a website for free and how to make money doing what you love.

On 10 October, Ask the Expert roadshow will take place. The informal drop in session will be offering quality business advice and support on how to start up and grow a business. To ensure all Croydon businesses have the chance to engage with the panel, four sessions will also be run in the district centres.

Social Enterprise Saturday will mark half way through the month. The day long event at the Whitgift Centre will provide a market place where people can promote their social enterprises to the public and find out more about setting up and marketing their social value business.

Capitalising on the success of the relaunch of the Sunday market at Surrey Street, Entrepreneur Sunday will see a wealth of new goods being displayed and sold from Surrey Street market stalls.

Keen to also engage young business minds, a separate young entrepreneurs market will also take place on Surrey Street on October 28, giving young people up to the age of 25, the chance to put their business acumen to the test by operating their own stalls and selling their own goods.

‘Croydon Live’ will also focus on the borough’s young people getting into business. The event on 26 October will be centred on providing employment opportunities, apprenticeships and advice and training on interview skills, CV writing, building confidence and managing money. Open to 16 to 24 year olds, the event will be attended by a range of employers who will be detailing the suitable vacancies with their companies.

A special event on how to grow your brand online with little to no budget will bring the first Croydon Business Month to a close. The session, run by Natwest, will explain the vital tools that can be used to boost your business’ online presence.

Cllr Mark Watson, Croydon’s cabinet member for economy and jobs said: “Croydon Business Network is essential to our local economy and the council is committed to doing all it can to support our entrepreneurs.

“The first annual Croydon Business Month is being held not only to offer guidance, support and advice to Croydon businesses to enable them to continue to thrive, but also to celebrate their achievements so far. I’m delighted new entrepreneurs as well as experienced business owners will be able to take advantage of this varied programme of events to help nurture their business.”

To see the full programme of events and for details on how to book a space visit https://croydonsmallbiz.com/events/  (Source: Croydon council press release)

BIG WEEKEND HERALDS CROYDON’S BID FOR BOROUGH OF CULTURE
 
This weekend is a big one in the Croydon events calendar, not least because it sees Croydon officially announce its bid to become London’s first ever Borough of Culture.

If successful this will bring over £2million to Croydon for local venues, promoters, and organisations to invest in a huge programme of arts events throughout 2019.

The details of how the bid is being prepared will be announced on Saturday afternoon just before the headline act at the Mela in Wandle Park, where thousands are expected to turn out to enjoy the day.

Colors Croydon International Mela features big names from the Asian Music scene, including TazZz, H-Dhami, Tasha Tah, Raxstar, and Arjun. Transe Express and Dhol Academy will be rounding off the night with some spectacular trapeze and drumming performances, whilst earlier in the day there will be dance displays for all ages in the Aspara Arts’ Magic Mela and a carnival procession will makes its way around the park.

The programme spans three stages, and the Mela includes the ever-popular Taste of Asia Food Market plus a quality bar.

“What better time to launch our Borough of Culture bid than from the main stage at one of the most exciting events of the year.

“I genuinely can’t think of another borough that has been on such a cultural roller coaster ride as Croydon.

“Re-investing in the arts is so important for the future of our borough. Borough of culture will cement our progress. 2019 will also be the first full year of operation for the new Fairfield Halls.

“That means people are guaranteed to be in for a host of amazing events and performances as we celebrate the £30 million transformation of the halls and the space around them.”

For those looking for a different vibe, South Norwood is hosting a three-day festival of street art, street food, and electronic music.  Concluding on Saturday, ‘Synthesis Festival’ is based in the heart of the district centre and features a host of top-name DJs and producers performing each night at Stanley Halls.

Cllr Timothy Godfrey, Croydon’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, says: “What better time to launch our Borough of Culture bid than from the main stage at one of the most exciting events of the year.

“I genuinely can’t think of another borough that has been on such a cultural roller coaster ride as Croydon.

“Re-investing in the arts is so important for the future of our borough. Borough of culture will cement our progress. 2019 will also be the first full year of operation for the new Fairfield Halls, and that means people are guaranteed to be in for a host of amazing events and performances as we celebrate the £30 million transformation of the halls and the space around them.” (Source: Croydon council press release)

STOPTOBER 2017: WANT TO GIVE UP SMOKING?  Pack-a-day smokers could save themselves £250 A MONTH

Tried to stop smoking as part of the Stoptober 28 day challenge? Based on research, if you stop smoking for 28-days you are five times more likely to quit for good. Take part in this year’s Stoptober campaign from 1 October.

Support Available

Visit the Stoptober website to find out about a range of free and proven support available to help you start your quitting journey for 28 days and beyond. There are a range of support tools available to you – from an app, email and social media support (including Facebook Messenger), to more information about the expert face to face support that your local Stop Smoking Service can offer, as well as information on the different types of stop smoking aids available to you; including medicines and e-cigarettes – Stoptober is here to help you.

Everyone’s quitting journey is different, but you will not be alone. Nearly a million people have taken part since Stoptober began five years ago, so join in with the biggest stop smoking challenge of its kind, search Stoptober and find the right support for you.

Local Services – Lambeth

If you need more support why not get expert face to face support from your local Stop Smoking Service. They can offer you weekly free behavioural support and different types of stop smoking medications to help keep you stopped, either on your own or as part of a group – whichever works for you.

The service offers a range of locations across the borough, including Pavilion Health Centre, Stockwell Community Centre and Mosaic Clubhouse.

Choose the quit plan to fit your lifestyle. For more information call Lambeth Stop Smoking Service on:

0800 856 3409 or 020 3049 5791 or email gst–tr.stopsmokinglambeth@nhs.net

Local Services – Croydon

Residents can get help from a range of free Stoptober quit tools including an app, daily emails and Facebook Messenger. They can also receive support from an online community on Facebook. In addition, there is expert local advice at Croydon’s online health platform – www.justbecroydon.org, which also offers the face-to-face local service Just Live Well for those who are eligible.

Brian – not his real name – was recently supported on his stop-smoking journey by advisers from the Just Live Well service. The 46-year-old spoke to them about his barriers to quitting and was given tips to handle situations that might tempt him to smoke.

A key motivation for him to quit was his desire to be more active and improve his mental health. Brian has successfully remained smoke-free for more than three months.

People in Croydon can access the Stoptober website via a unique link at http://po.st/Stop17_Croydon or by searching ‘Stoptober’.

Cllr Louisa Woodley, Croydon’s cabinet member for families, health and social care, said: “Smoking is the top cause of health inequalities in Croydon.

“We’re helping our residents, in a number of ways, to feel happier and healthier by supporting them to take more control of their overall well-being.

“Stoptober is a great initiative with a successful track record for getting smokers to take those first steps towards a smoke-free life.

BOLD “No matter how long you’ve been a smoker, giving up will make you feel healthier. “You could also save around £250 each month if you’re a pack-a-day smoker. “And, importantly, your loved ones are protected from harmful second-hand smoke.”

Fewer people are now indulging in the habit, and smoking prevalence in Croydon is currently at 13 per cent. In 2016, 15.5pc of adults in England aged over 18 years were smokers, down from 19.9pc in 2010. Prevalence since 2010 has declined most among younger age groups[3].

Recent data from the University College of London shows quitting success rates at their highest for at least a decade, up to 19.8pc for the first six months of this year, significantly higher than the average for the past 10 years (15.7pc)

According to the latest quit-rate figures, cigarette smoking in London is currently on track to end by 2030.

You can also visit your local GP or Pharmacy and they too can provide you with the right support you need to be able to quit, free of charge.  (Sources: Lambeth council’s Love Lambeth website – written by: Public Health Commissioning, Lambeth council  /
Croydon council press release))