On Sunday, I attended a public meeting called by those who are campaigning against the new planned boys Academy in East Dulwich. 

Those who are against the school who spoke broadly fall into four categories; those who are against academies on principle; those who like the old Victorian building on the chosen site and want it retained; those who believe the school could be improved on  particular educational grounds (it’s too big, it should be a mixed school etc); and those who are simply concerned about a development in their back yard.

It was the first group that was dominant. Speaker after speaker (many from outside the area and many from the NUT) condemned academies.  Yet none of the Labour councillors or party members present felt moved to defend the what is after all their policy. 

And of course the anti-academy contingent all attacked the Lib Dem-led Southwark council and me for foisting this policy on them!

The part of the academies agenda that I find most frustrating is that it is largely about creating a contract between the government and the academy provider.  The Council is a player but it lacks the degree of control that many people expect it to have.  I agreed with a number of comments made around democratic legitimacy and need for the councillors, local parents and people to have an input.

So, I find myself in an interesting position. Neither I nor the Liberal Democrats share the government’s enthusiasm for academies.  But as a local council we have to decide. Do we fight a political campaign against academies - retaining our ideological purity but risking the education of hundreds of children? Or do we compromise and do our best to deliver a new school within the framework set by the Government?

For my money, the need for decent, local, free secondary education for boys is one of the biggest social needs in East Dulwich. Parents have campaigned for a school for over six or seven years. I am not willing to sacrifice the education of hundreds of boys for a political campaign to change government policy. That debate and that campaign should be waged at the next general election.  I dare say a vote for my party will be the most effective vote against that policy! But in the meantime, we as local councilors need to work for the best outcome we can achieve within the constraints set for us.  And that is why I remain a firm supporter of the East Dulwich academy. 

This week Dulwich Library opened its doors on Wednesday for the first in many years. The move follows a Liberal Democrat election pledge to extend library opening hours. The library will open from 9am to 8pm every Wednesday - so the library will be open seven days a week (66 hours instead of 55).

Since the Government have announced a real terms cut in the amount of money for Southwark council next year, it was important that this was done through efficiency savings and at no extra cost to the tax payer.

The library offers a great service, making it more widely available will be a real boost for this area. In 2006, we promised to extend library opening hours - we’ve now done so whilst achieving great value for money for local people.  Lib Dem Councillor James Barber has been pushing hard to achieve this so hats off to him and to the staff and unions who worked to make it happen.  

It was great to go to the official opening of the Halliwell Court Community Garden on Sunday with Councillors James Barber and Jonathan Mitchell.

The sun shone despite it being the coldest day so far this winter and there was a great turnout of residents wanting to celebrate the new facility.

Fittingly, the ribbon was cut by the oldest and youngest residents in the block.  

This was one of the first schemes that local councillors promoted through the popular  ’Cleaner Greener Safer’ scheme - which gives the local community, through the Community Councils, a fund  for projects in their own area. It used to be so difficult to get money for these sorts of schemes when everything was decided in Peckham.  The ‘local’ was usually over looked in favour of the ’strategic’.  The Lib Dem approach of devolving powers to community councils has made a real difference.

 As reported previously, Dulwich Baths are set for a major £5m refurb for the first time in over a hundred years.

The council has been consulting over the summer about what people would like to see and a report has been published on the council website.

There was a high degree of consensus about what people would like to see with better changing faciltiies, a cafe, more gym space, a soft play area all featuring. The tricky bit will be accomodating all the demands within the current footprint without wrecking the Victorian features.

An exhibition displaying the  first conceptual designs will be displayed at an exhibition on Saturday November 24th from 2-4pm.