New business support site for Camden

As part of the council's enhanced support for businesses in Camden, we've established a new site with the Camden Business Partnership to outline all the advice and services available to local businesses. We have also set aside funding to communicate to local businesses all the support they can access. One of the main things we will be doing is trying to convince all small businesses to apply for small business rate relief - at present only about half of small businesses actually claim this rate relief.

Antisocial behaviour and crime on Camden buses

The local Community Safety Partnership has published a survey and analysis of crime on buses that is worth a read, I can send to anyone interested. Some very predictable answers - rubbish and rowdy and drunk passengers are the main things people dislike - but a few points of more interest:

No 29/N29 is the top route where people experience crime and ASB, followed after a long back by C11, 24 and some others. No 31 is towards the bottom on the list.

The two peak times for ASB and crime on buses are 3-4pm in the afternoon, and Sat night to Sunday morning.

Of nearly 1200 "code red" incidents reported by drivers, less than 10% involve young people.

The data suggests that while most violent crime is committed by adults, a significant proportion of robberies on buses is carried out by young people.

So lots of work for the the police to get to work on, and hopefully some of Boris Johnson's initiatives on young people's behaviour on buses will start to make a difference.

New Kings Cross Construction Skills Centre official opening

I was at the opening of this fantastic new centre this morning, which will train 150 apprentices each year who will then work on the Kings Cross Central development and other construction projects in Camden. The Council's press release is here, and a more independent commentary from the Guardian's London blogger Dave Hill is also worth reading.

Signage at Tesco Local in Belsize Road

We find the area adjacent to the new Tesco in Belsize Road to be much neater and more pleasant than what was there before, but like many local residents regard this as marred by the flags and banners, especially that on the railings next to the roundabout.

We have discussed this with the Manager of the store and have also alerted Camden's enforcement team to see if planning permission is needed for these.

Boris's scheme to increase access to public conveniences

Ludicrously there's been a 40% decline in public conveniences in London since 1999. In Camden after the change in political control in 2006 we did reopen conveniences in Highgate and West Hampstead that had been closed, but there's more to do no doubt.

Boris Johnson has just announced the eminently sensible Open London scheme, under which major retailers clearly advertise that their toilets are available for all, without having to go through the charade of making a purchase. Those signed up so far include M&S, Tesco, Borders, John Lewis and Sainsburys. I guess it won't include the locals, but should include Waitrose in Finchley Road. The Kentish Town community toilet scheme is something of a local version of this, and we should see whether we can add on anything to the mayor's scheme in the Finchley Road and West Hampstead area.

Hill Pharmacy redux

Isn't it good news that after the parade of shops on the east side of Winchester Road was lost to redevelopment (which is another story), the Hill Pharmacy was able to find a new home in Sugar Cane. My colleague Chris Knight was closely involved in sounding out various other options before this solution thankfully appeared.

Turning your used cooking oil into clean electricity

Just to highlight a new council intiative whereby residents and local businesses can recycle used cooking oil at our Regis Rd recycling centre so it can be turned into clean electricity.

Also at Regis Road, the council has now also opened one of the first local authority reuse sites in London, where residents can drop and swap quality unwanted items from books to bikes.

Cigarette butts

Our colleague Cllr Chris Knight, who is executive member for the environment on the council, has been getting our street environment officers focused on dealing with areas with lots of cigarette butts. I guess smoking laws - which I strongly support - have led to a lot of smokers standing around outside, and not all are careful with how they dispose of their butts.

The small covered road between Fairfax Place and Fairfax Road has got a problem with cigarette butts - possibly shop workers? - and I'm pleased to say we should now get some attention cleaning this up. Let us know if there are other places where this is a problem.

Community Centre going from strength to strength

Swiss Cottage Community Centre held its AGM on Sunday and it was great to be able to hear such a strong record of progress and service delivery for local people. More activities than ever, and room booking revenue up about 50% in two years, providing the funding for further work. The centre is rightly thinking about how to further diversify its funding in this tough climate, and about the services or advice that might be more sought after in a recession. Camden Council of course rightly remains the main funder of the centre, which employs 12 staff in its new accomodation on the Swiss Cottage site.

Congratulations to Director Erim Metto and all the staff, and thanks to outgoing chairman John Shakeshaft on his unserving commitment to the centre over the last few years. I am delighted that Charlie Hedges has been elected chair and John Rolfe vice chair - I worked with both of them as councillors and know their commitment to local community work. Roger Freeman, Don Williams and I look forward to working closely with them.

Swiss Cottage open space planting - starting 6th April

People have rightly raised with me the continuing lack of progress on the landscaping of the open space. Initially there was some planting and then last year that planting was ripped out. Notices went up stating that there would be new planting by last summer, but it still doesn't look very good. There's lots of unattractive black piping, and notwithstanding the unattractive wooden fencing, dogs are using the flower beds.

The position is that the planting scheme has been delayed due to problems surrounding the original contract sign off. This has now been completed and the anticipated start date for the work is Monday 6th April, with completion set for the 30th April, depending on the weather.

If anyone would like anymore detail on the proposed planting schemes, please do not hesitate to contact Camden's Parks and Open Spaces Landscape Architect direct: penny.brenan@camden.gov.uk

Separately, between the Hampstead Theatre and the sushi bar there are three large steel sheets on the ground. These are not secured, and are rightly see as unsightly and dangerous.

The good news is that these plates will be removed next week. They have been covering areas of paving that have had to be re-laid, so have been covering setting concrete.

Uodate on License Review of Supersave, 93 Fairfax Rd

Residents in the area will have received a letter in the last couple of days from Camden informing you of the above review. You will remember that there was also a review consultation in early February and may wonder why you are being consulted again.

Due to various technicalities there is a need to reconsult. Even if you replied to the previous consultation, unfortunately you need to reply to this one, although an email to the Case Officer Andrew Papasavva at Andrew.papasavva@camden.gov.uk asking for your comments to the previous consultation to be considered will suffice.

We appreciate this is frustrating especially given the need to have resolution on this and the need to resubmit your comments but the procedures have to be followed to the letter. Following the complaints that you have all had about unauthorized drinking in the area around the Fairfax Road/Fairhazel Gardens roundabout ,as your local councillors, we arranged for Camden's licensing Enforcement Team to do some spot checks at the local licensed premises both for sales to minors and sales after permitted hours.

Following the initial test purchases by Camden's Licensing Enforcement Officers(LEOS) at Supersave last September, further tests were carried out on 8th and 23rd November which resulted in further sales after the permitted hours. As a result, a prosecution file is currently being prepared by the LEO for submission to Camden's legal team.

In addition, Camden's Licensing has received an application to review Supersave's licence. The application was submitted by the managing agents for the adjacent building and highlights issues raised by local residents alleging anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance. Given the long standing issues and indeed the coming warmer weather, we would encourage you to respond to this consultation. If you want more details of how to make a representation, email Andrew Papasavva as per above.

This case will be determined by referral to a Licensing Panel sometime in late April/May.If you have replied you will be informed of the review date. You will have ample opportunity to put forward your views and experiences to the panel of councillors. Subject to diary dates we would certainly expect one us to be at the meeting to express our concern. We will of course be responding to this consultation. Feel free to contact Roger Freeman who used to sit on the licensing committee for further information.

Free Tree Day this Saturday at West Hampstead library

Camden is handing out several hundred free trees to residents this Saturday outside West Hampstead library and South End Green outside M&S between 11am and 1pm as part of Free Tree Day 2009. This year for the first time the species will include fruit trees, as well as hawthorn, rowan and silver birch. The Council’s tree team will be on hand to help residents choose a tree and give advice. Each tree will be about two to four years old and 40cm to 60cm high. The trees have been selected for their colour, fruits, seasonal interest and for their suitability for supporting wildlife such as insects and birds. They are also the species that are most suitable for being planted in March.

The Council plants around 400 trees every year between November and March, with an extra 250 trees being planted this year.

Timetable for enhanced conservation controls for Swiss Cottage

The Council will be consulting residents in the Swiss Cottage conservation area on the proposed introduction of what are known as "Article Four directions" from 1st to 29th June. This essentially tilts the planning regime for small scale extensions and architectural features more in the direction of conservation, as I outlined in January here. We'll be working with council officers and residents groups to ensure a thorough consultation with residents on these changes, which will be good news for conservation but do need to be understood as widely as possible.

Fairhazel Gardens cycle lane improvements

Residents in Fairhazel Gardens should have been informed of work by the Council's contractor, John Crowley, working with Transport for London, to improve the existing layout of the cycle lane in Fairhazel Gardens.

The works have been programmed to minimise disruption to the local residents and businesses. If the weather allows, works will happen between 8.00am and 6.00pm. It is hoped to start work on Fairhazel Gardens on Monday 16 March. I am not quite sure how long it is planned to take, presumably not too long.

Hours of parking control - reflecting what residents want..

A couple of people have asked me recently about the rationale for the hours of parking control in each zone in Camden. Well, it's important to remember that residents parking zones came about because residents - not least in Swiss Cottage - wanted protection from commuter and shopper traffic. And parking attendants are needed to enforce parking controls fairly on behalf of all. The council doesn't always get it right, but our system is increasingly efficient and fair, and I must say as a ward councillor the number of complaints I get on parking has substantially dropped over the last three years, reflecting the fairer approach we have introduced.

The size and boundaries of controlled parking zones in Camden do of course to some extent reflect the historic pattern of the way in which residents parking zones spread. The size of the zones is not sancrosanct, but a wholesale change would have to bring substantial real benefit with any knock-on side effects fully understood. Generally people living close to shops or other facilities are keen for smaller residential zones (and longer hours of control), and those further away keener on bigger zones.

What can certainly be changed are the hours of control within zones, or parts of zones, as pressures change and local needs develop. In 2007 the council consulted with over 1,000 residents groups in the borough to get a clear idea where there were real concerns, and as a result of that, we've been gradually consulting in detail on various zones around the borough, such as parts of the Fortune Green zone. We recently agreed to increase controlled hours quite radically in Chalk Farm Road to give residents protection against the 'nighttime economy' of clubs etc.

The annual parking report here gives a good overview of parking and shows the progress of the controlled zones reviews going on.

This review process - consulting every household - is not cheap but we are committed very strongly to the principle that ultimately if a clear majority in a zone want different hours, then that's what must be done. Pleasing everyone is very difficult in this field, but we're trying hard to do our best. Swiss Cottage ward which I represent has in fact a wide range of parking zones - CA-R (Swiss Cottage, with differing hours in two sub-zones to accomodate the Finchley Rd effect), CA-J (Primrose Hill), CA-K (Kilburn Priory) and a tiny chunk of CA-B (Belsize).

If anyone has strong views on changing hours of control on any of these zones, get in touch!

Crime prevention meeting proves constructive

Cllr Roger Freeman joined other residents from the Gardens area for last Thursday's talk by Swiss Cottage Safer Neighbourhood Police and Camden Community Safety on crime prevention techniques relevant for the area. In multi occupany houses, the real key is to have the communal entrance door secure. Many burglaries happen because people can gain access to the house. For those with sash windows, having a plant window trough screwed down makes it harder for force open the window. Light weight diamond shaped trellises with roses/other thorny plants intertwined are effective ways to stop people climbing over your garden walls (and for those with gardens remember to lock away your garden tools) Anticlimb paint on drain pipes is very useful; but you need to put up a sign saying it is there.

For further tips and a house visit, call the local crime prevention officer at 8 733 6605; there is a special home security service for the over 60's and the disabled:phone 0845 351 0642

"Meet the contractor" sessions for Decent Homes work

Camden Housing is holding a "Meet the contractor" drop in session on Thursday 12th March from 4pm to 7pm at Nalton House residents hall. This will be for the residents in Nalton House, Dobson Close, Farjeon House, Langhorne House & Jevons House, as these properties are having work carried out at the beginning of the council's "decent homes" programme to improve our social housing stock.

Another drop in session for the rest of Hilgrove and Harben Estate will be organised in mid April in the larger Crossfield hall in Fairhazel Gardens.

Council tax frozen for next two years

I'm just back from full council meeting, where we've just set the council budget and agreed to freeze the council tax for the next two years, 2009/10 and 2010/11. Great news for residents at this tough time. There's a lot more detail in the budget of course, this is the culmination of months of work. The press release here gives a good picture; the full budget documents are available here. My fellow councillors and I are more than happy to answer questions on this at the Swiss Cottage area forum next week on the 10th.

Tackling alcohol harm in Camden

The latest Camden annual Public Health report is well worth a read. It shows the huge problems that alcohol misuse is creating, and the work that the Health Service and the Council are doing together to tackle this issue. My colleague Cllr Kirsty Roberts has been heavily involved as the Champion for Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

A couple of stark local statistics:

- Camden has London's highest rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions

- Over 2,000 ambulance callouts annually are alcohol-related

- the police say around 80% of nearly 3,000 annual domestic violence incidents are alcohol-related

- While counterfeit alcohol isn't a big problem, underage sales is: our trading standards officers used a child volunteer to do some mystery shopping, and on 20 out of 27 occasions the test purchases resulted in sales....