Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Another busy month!
March has continued to be a busy month for me. I have set out below just a few examples of the sorts of things I have been getting up to. If you want me to pop into your Group, Centre or organisation or simply want to know my views on any issue please do get in touch.
I went on an Estates walkabout on the Tooting Grove estate near St Georges Hospital with Cllr Angela Graham, Cllr Nicola Brown and the area Housing Manager Mr Howells. We met a number of residents who had concerns about issues on the estate ranging from security, parking, flytipping, allotments and general anti-social behaviour. Tooting Grove has clearly improved, thanks largely to the pride and initiative of local residents. The Council have agreed to action a number of points raised by local residents.
I chaired the termly Governors meeting at Gatton Primary School and attended the termly Governors meeting at Fircroft Primary School.
I spoke at a meeting at the House of Commons organised by the University of Westminister on "Muslims and democracy". The Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Rt Hon John Denham MP was also a speaker.
I supported the launch of the Safer Neighbourhoods Police team in Graveney ward. A really good event was organised by Sgt Lee Gadd who is heading up the Graveney SNH team. Cllrs Andy Gibbons and Pam Tatlow also were present and spoke with me. This exciting and much welcome initiative is primarily thanks to the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and the Government. The aim is that by 2008 every neighbourhood in London will have a Neighbourhood team comprising of at least one Sergeant, 2 Police Constables and 3 Police Community Support Officers dedicated to that ward. Residents who came to the meeting were very excited about named officers being attached to their patch. The officers gave a very good presentation and then allowed residents to pick the 3 areas that should be the priority of the Teams! Additionally, a steering group was set up and contact numbers given out.
I am also pleased that Tooting Ward will also, shortly, be having a similar Public meeting to publicise it's own neighbourhood Team.
And, the Parks Police, Street Wardens and Council have confirmed that there will be more 'joined up' working together between themselves and the Safer Neighbourhood Teams to ensure Tooting gets the quality of service it deserves.
(for more information about this see an entry elsewhere on the site and the March Newsletter)
I attended a Special Full Council meeting to set the forthcoming years Council Tax.
I attended a Special Full Council meeting to set the forthcoming years Council Tax.
I attended a Tsunami earthquake fundrasing evening organised by the Sikh Khalsa Centre and South London Sikh Community, held in the Civic Suite at Wandsworth Town Hall. I would like to pay tribute to the hard work of the many volunteers, in particular Mr Ubhi, who made the evening possible. £10,000 was raised and the evening was full of fantastic entertainment in the form of dancing, good music and great food.
I attended the AGM of the Calabash Carnival Club, at St Augustine's Church. The Calabash Carnival Club was formed in 2003. In only a year they have been involved in:
- A series of 4 Saturday workshops in Fircroft School, teaching students between 8-16 aspects of carnival costume making;
- A parliamentary debate on carnival in the House of Commons;
- Balham and Furzedown Festivals;
- The 40th annual Notting Hill carnival, using costumes which the local students were involved in making.
It was a good evening. If only all AGMS were this much fun!
I attended a Stop and Search Action Team meeting (see elsewhere on this website for further information about this)
I attended an Islamic New Year reception hosted by the Labour Party where the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw MP, and Rt Hon Alan Milburn MP spoke.
I attended an excellent seminar organised by the Tooting Town Centre partership for local Tooting businesses on the implications of the Disablity Discrimination Act. (for further details see www.drc-gb.org)
Sadiq
Sadiq
