On Friday 7th March Age UK Sutton is holding their next flagship ‘Know your rights day’.

There will be financial help and advice, support with debt, practical help to claim benefits, information about how to access direct payments for social care, help with NHS costs and free sessions with a local solicitor.

For those struggling with paying for the basics such as rent or a mortgage, fuel bills or weekly shopping then the Age UK Sutton team will be available between 10am – 2pm at:

·         Barclays Bank, 43 High Street, Sutton; or

·         Outside TazZa Coffee shop , 188 High Street, Sutton
(where their new advice van will be parked)

There are limited free sessions with the solicitor so please book in advance.

For more information call 020 8770 4510 or email advice@ageuksutton.org.uk

Judy Okeke
Individual Services Senior Manager
AGE UK Sutton

Recycling firm Living Fuels has congratulated Sutton residents for preventing 1,600 litres of cooking oil from going to landfill last year, saving 1,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. This equates to enough clean green energy to make 500,000 cups of tea.

REPEATED TWICE on Sunday 9^th March 11am and 2pm  (16^th February and 2^nd March SOLD OUT) Special guided walk to the water features of Carshalton

Make the most of the wet weather and join Sutton Museum Service on a guided walk around the many historic water features of Carshalton Village, which are currently in full flow! Meet outside Honeywood Museum, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton.  Tickets £3.50 (£3 for Heritage Friends). Book in advance from 020 8770 4297.

Please ensure you have sturdy waterproof footwear as some areas will be extremely muddy. As the walk will include a visit to the grounds of Carshalton House, unfortunately we cannot take dogs.

This year’s ceremony, held at the Sutton Life Centre gave out five awards in the following categories:

• Given outstanding service to the borough by keeping Sutton safe
• Made a difference to people’s lives by going the extra mile
• Brought the community together through community events, clubs of projects
• Increased prosperity, employment or access to the borough through business initiatives
• Brought credit to the borough through outstanding achievement

Florence Adams received the Given Outstanding Service to the Borough by Keeping Sutton Safe award to honour her 48 years as a school crossing patrol officer (lollipop lady).

Florence Adams said: ‘I’m proud and very pleased to receive this award. I love doing my job. For me the children are my first priority – I love them all.  I love seeing them grow up and I will keep doing this job for as long as I can.’

Ray and Vi Donovan picked up the Made a difference to people’s lives by going the extra mile award. The couple whose son Chris was murdered in 2001 campaign about restorative justice – at prisons, youth centres and schools – to empower victims and rehabilitate offenders.

Ray Donovan said: ‘It’s the young people and the people in prison whose lives have been changed that should win this award. We have seen so many lives changed. All we do is tell them our story.’

Vi Donovan said: ‘We’re over the moon to win this award. We never imagined we could make such a difference. I really love Sutton. I love living here. Thank you for supporting us, it really means a lot.’

Gwen Turner was recognised for her efforts to provide social outlets for senior citizens on the Benhill Estate by running an over 55s social club. Along with Paul and Pauline Nathan, Gwen received the Brought the community together through community events, clubs of projects award. Paul and Paulinewere commended for the work they do for Benhill Residents’ Association organising events and bring the community together.

Gwen Turner said: ‘Thank you for this most unexpected award. We do this for the older people around the borough and this is a lovely surprise.’

Paul Nathan said: ‘We have many other committee members who also deserve this award. Thank you. We do what we do because we want to bring people together. Thank you also to the organisations who work with us, including the Salvation Army and Sutton Housing Partnership.’

Run by Monica Tyler, The Vine Project received the Increased prosperity, employment or access to the borough through business initiatives award. The social enterprise finds new homes for unwanted furniture and appliances. It also supports local communities and families in need and provides training and employment opportunities for local people to help them get back into work.

Monica Tyler said: ‘This award it fabulous. It’s a real achievement for everyone at The Vine Project. We have trained around 400 people who were unemployed or have learning difficulties. This award is for them. It’s a real pleasure to live in Sutton. I moved here and I love it so much.’

The winner in the final category, Brought credit to the borough through outstanding achievement, was the Gary Mason Drummers. The charity responded to the Mayor of Sutton’s request to represent the borough at the annual New Year’s Day Parade. They battled through the wind and rain and received a special award of £2000 which is being donated to the Mayor’s charity.

Christine Lindsay, Chair of The Gary Mason Drummers, said: ‘Gary Mason died just over three years ago and everything we do is for him. Going on the float to London was great and getting the award of £2k for the Mayor’s charity was a fantastic achievement. Please come and try drumming with us – it’s great fun and very therapeutic.

‘Receiving this award is fabulous and unexpected. We really enjoy what we do a lot and its all for Gary, and this award is for Gary – he loved Sutton.’

Concerned residents should check the Environment Agency website for updates www.environment-agency.gov.uk or call their floodline on 0845 988 1188 using quickdial 173813 for up-to-date flooding information.

Sutton Council is continuing to work with partner organisations to monitor local flood risk, respond to issues and clear up storm damage.

36 trees came down in the strong winds on Friday night and further damage was caused to an additional 16 large trees. The council’s environment team is managing the clear up and ensuring that the trees are safe.

The work that Sutton Council and partners Thames Water and the Environment Agency carried out ahead of the storms last week reduced the potential for flooding to affect homes and businesses in Carshalton.

Over the weekend there was some overrun of the Grotto Canal into Carshalton High Street, but the road gullies were able to cope and directed the water away from properties.

The council is still on the ground in Carshalton, and we will continue to work with partners to identify flood risk and avoid flood damage.

If you are worried about flooding then please contact the Environment Agency via:

•   Floodline: 0845 988 1188
•   Twitter: @EnvAgency
•   Website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
•   If, for some reason, you lose power in your home or business premises please contact:
•   UK Power Networks (emergencies and power cuts) on 0800 028 0247 or via Twitter @UKPowerNetworks
•   National Grid (Gas emergency) on 0800 111 999 or via Twitter @nationalgriduk

General advice and information

•   Avoid flood areas and make sure to keep children and pets away
•   Wash your hands thoroughly if you touch flood water as it may be contaminated
•   Basements, cellars, garages and ground floors may be affected
•   Be prepared to protect yourself, family, pets and property
•   Check pumps and any other flood protection equipment you may have
•   Keep a regular eye on local water levels and weather conditions
•   Tune into weather updates, news and travel bulletins on local television and radio
•   Avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water
•   Be aware that flooding can cause manhole covers to come off

Sandbags

Local authorities do not have a statutory duty to provide sandbags to residents or businesses, however we do hold a stock of sandbags which we will use to protect the most vulnerable residents.

We are working with the Environment Agency, Thames Water and Transport of London to monitor rising water levels and we will prioritise protecting infrastructure such as electrical sub stations or keeping essential access routes open for emergency and essential services.

Householders are encouraged to plan for and put in place their own flood protection and they should contact their local builders’ merchants for stocks of bags and sand. Alternatively, suppliers of modern non-sand bags designed for flooding can be found on the National Flood Forum Blue Pages Directory – http://www.bluepages.org.uk.

For further information on preparing for flooding, please visit the Environment Agency’s website www.environment-agency.gov.uk or call their floodline on 0845 988 1188 using quickdial 173813.

Business women in Sutton are setting a new record and bucking the national trend.

The percentage of women launching new businesses in the borough each year is sharply increasing.

Last year, from July to September, 31.6 per cent of all company director appointments were female while the UK average is just 26.2 per cent.

The figure represents a new record for Sutton and a rise of 8.8 per cent on the previous two years. The news has been welcomed by the council’s Opportunity Sutton programme which aims to make the borough more enterprising and increase inward investment.

The council claims the project has attracted over £322m of investment into the borough over the last year and during July to September 2013 a total of 216 companies were registered in Sutton.

Councillor Jayne McCoy, chair of the housing, economy and business committee, said: “It is great to see that the percentage of women registering new companies in Sutton is rising each year. We want to ensure that all our residents benefit from the increasing numbers of business opportunities in Sutton so we’re doing all we can to ensure that everyone is able to access the support offered by our Opportunity Sutton programme. Sutton is a great place to launch a business, and the support and guidance that we’re providing will help ensure that new company directors succeed.”

For more information visit:opportunitysutton.org/

No. 1 The Square up for sale before its windows were replaced with UPVC ones!

A letter is in from the Council’s Planning Enforcement Officer regarding the recent unauthorised replacement of original painted timber windows at No. 1 The Square right at the junction with the High Street, Carshalton. The old  style traditional looking windows were suddenly changed (on the front elevation which is very visible to the main road) with UPVC windows. The property is an older style house (probably Edwardian?) at a very prominent location within the long-established Carshalton Conservation Area.  A number of concerned residents have raised this matter with Jill, Alan and Hamish in recent weeks.

Dear Councillor

I have been asked to respond to your query of 18 February 2014 regarding the new windows in the front elevation of 1 The Square.  I have been in contact with the property developers and made them aware that I consider the new windows need planning permission because the materials are not of similar appearance to the windows they replaced. The breach of control is also registered against the planning history of the property, which means it would be revealed on any land search requested from the Council by prospective purchasers.

The planning legislation allows a house owner to change windows, as long as the materials used are of similar appearance to those they replaced, as permitted development (i.e. they do not require planning permission from the Council). This right is not restricted in Conservation Areas. Unfortunately, control over the type of opening is not given to Councils by the planning legislation and so it is possible to change from a side hung sliding sash window to one that opens outwards. This can have a significant impact on the character of the building and amenity of the area and makes any potential planning enforcement action significantly more complicated. The Council would have to demonstrate the change in materials from timber to UPVC is harmful, given the other changes that can take place without planning permission from the Council.

I understand the property is currently for sale and I am watching the progress on this. Given the complexities of this particular case I am unable to give a time period for resolution at this time.

Yours sincerely

Fiona Lander, Principal Enforcement Officer (Development Services), London Borough of Sutton 

A poster that says it all really

The following is lifted from the Sutton Borough Guardian on-line newspaper:-

A healthcare review which has cost taxpayers millions of pounds and made no significant changes to healthcare over the last three years has finally been scrapped.An announcement from the six Clinical Commissioning Groups in south west London, this morning, said they now want to develop a new five year strategy for local health services rather than continue with their Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review.

Over the last three years St Helier Hospital has been hampered by BSBV which has twice threatened to axe its A&E, maternity and children’s services.

The failed healthcare review has cost taxpayers a staggering £8.2m over three years even though none of its proposals were implemented.

A consequence of the review was revealed earlier this month when it emerged the £219m redevelopment of St Helier Hospital was unlikely to go ahead due to the uncertainty it had faced under BSBV.

A statement from BSBV said: “We do not propose to continue with our BSBV programme or to consult on the options that emerged from it, which have now been withdrawn.

“The next step will be for us to discuss our new approach with our boards and with local provider trusts and seek their support for it. We plan to announce our five-year strategy in June 2014.”

A statement from the Epsom and St Helier trust revealed they will remove the giant banner which adorns the front of the hospital stating that the £219m redevelopment is ‘coming soon’.

 

The chief executive of St Helier Hospital, Matthew Hopkins, said: “It has been a long road for us, which involved times of uncertainty for the future of our services, our patients and our staff. I’d like to thank our staff and volunteers who throughout this time have kept their focus on the day job and have continued to provide high quality care to our patients.

“We are absolutely committed to working with our clinical commissioning groups in further improving healthcare in the region.

“Patients should be assured that the broad range of outpatient, day case and inpatient services remain available at our two main sites.

“Just like all other NHS trusts across the country, we are developing a business plan for the future of our hospitals and services (including long-term financial modelling), which provides details of how we will continue to provide high quality care in an affordable, efficient way.”

The hospital will be working with commissioners over the coming months to develop their five year strategy.

 

Members of Sutton Council‘s strategy and resources committee recently backed a so-called balanced budget that freezes council tax for the financial year 2014/15.

Councillors heard how Lib Dem controlled Sutton Council has managed to offset cuts in Government grants by sharing services with other councils and by making money from investments in the town, including from new developments at either end of the High Street and Subsea7′s plans to build a new base in Brighton Road.

Sutton plans to use the savings to ensure it can freeze council tax and car parking charges, provide £200,000 of rates relief to businesses, invest £20m in housing stock, revamp Cheam leisure centre at a cost of £3.3m, and pay the London Living Wage to all its employees. There are also increased funds of £1.3m for looked after children in foster care or residential placements, and £192,000 additional social work capacity for health and social care integration.

Councillor Simon Wales, the council’s lead member for finance, assets and the voluntary sector, said: “We are doing all we can to support people in a difficult economic climate where our Government grant continues to be cut. That means having to prioritise our spending wisely and we have chosen to invest in areas that our residents and businesses have told us matter the most – school places, new homes and supporting our local economy.”

However, the budget still includes an annual levy to the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority of £219,000. The levy has been in place for more than 50 years and funds the north London park, which also benefited from Olympic games funding in recent years. All London’s councils are required to pay it although the council has campaigned for a change in law which is necessary to stop south London councils paying for the north-east London park. Cllr Jayne McCoy said: “We pay £200,000 to a park that is miles away and, at last count, that only five Sutton people used in the last year. After 50 years they have agreed to generously give us a two per cent reduction that we will invest in the Wandle Valley Regional Park which is on our doorstep.”

The budget is still subject to a debate and vote at the next full council meeting.