FLY-TIPPING CAMPAIGN GETS 230 LOCAL RECRUITS / ‘GROUNDBREAKING’ COMPANY TO IMPROVE CROYDON SCHOOLS LAUNCHED / HAVE YOUR SAY ON MAY 7TH / ‘SUSPICIOUS CALLS’ WARNING
FLY-TIPPING CAMPAIGN GETS 230 LOCAL RECRUITS
Croydon council say their campaign to tackle fly-tipping through enforcement and community action now has the support of more than 200 local volunteers and dozens of businesses.
More than 200 local residents from across the borough have now signed up to join the council’s Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride campaign, which aims to focus on changing long-term attitudes in the borough to fly-tipping and litter on top of the council’s normal street cleaning.
The council also have more than 30 businesses from Selsdon to Thornton Heath and Broad Green to West Croydon who have signed a pledge to keep the area around their property clear of litter.
The role of community champions ranges from arranging litter action days and boosting volunteer numbers at neighbouring clear-ups to on-street recruiting and reporting fly-tipping, said a Croydon council spokesperson.
“Events have been held across the borough from Thornton Heath to Coulsdon and from Addiscombe to Waddon, including around 25 volunteers clearing Coulsdon Coppice on Saturday.
“The council’s drive to get local shopkeepers on board will eventually cover the whole borough, with council officers and members carrying out regular walkabouts to recruit more people” the spokesperson added.
The council are also tackling fly-tippers both through penalty notices and court action, including six people prosecuted in one day in March and a successful council prosecution in February against a man who fly-tipped in Broad Green.
Since launching the initiative last June, the council say they have:
• cleared 88 per cent of reported fly-tipped waste within 48 hours
• issued almost 500 fixed penalty notices of up to £80;
• carried out more than 570 business licence inspections;
• seen more than 4,000 people report fly-tipping issues
Croydon’s cabinet member for Clean and Green Croydon Cllr Stuart Collins said: “From litter pick volunteers to community champions, it’s great that so many of the borough’s residents have joined our campaign to tackle litter and fly-tipping in Croydon.
“It’s also encouraging to have the support of more and more local businesses. “This both helps communities take more pride in their borough and helps the council take action against mindless fly-tippers.”
The council also recently launched a six-month trial in Upper Norwood of street bins with separate sections for black bag rubbish and recyclable waste. The council say this is aimed at discouraging residents who live in flats above shops from leaving black bags by lamp posts.
A “village-based” approach will also be trialled across the borough, where area enforcement officers, contractors and other council staff link together in dedicated areas and communicate with each other to deal with any mess in local communities.
For more information on how to get involved in the Don’t Mess With Croydon – Take Pride campaign, visit: https://www.croydon.gov.uk/environment/dontmess/dont-mess
You can also report dumped waste via the council’s dedicated fly-tipping hotline on 0208 604 7000, the council’s My Croydon smartphone app or by emailing [email protected] (Source: Croydon council press release.)
‘GROUNDBREAKING’ COMPANY TO IMPROVE CROYDON SCHOOLS LAUNCHED
A ‘groundbreaking’ trading company set up to make Croydon pupils among the best in London has been launched.
The Octavo Partnership, owned and run by Croydon council, its staff and local schools, has been created to help improve everything from teaching standards to day-to-day administration.
“The business is believed to be England’s first trading company to be jointly run by a council, its staff and headteachers” explained a Croydon council spokesperson..
“The mutual partnership covers services including literacy and employment training, educational psychology and human resources.
“Any school in the borough that signs up for Octavo’s support, including independent academies, pays a fee for their services. “This money gets ploughed back into the partnership’s budget for meeting schools’ growing needs.
“Staff at the schools that sign up will have a stake in the business, which has a long-term goal of also funding a charitable trust dedicated to pioneering education research.
“The mutual will also deliver school improvement and educational psychology services on behalf of the council. “As well as training and supporting schools in the borough, the partnership could expand in future to help schools outside Croydon” the council spokesperson added.
Croydon’s cabinet member for children, families and learning Cllr Alisa Flemming said: “We want every Croydon school to become outstanding so all our children get the best possible future prospects.
“Being a commercial venture jointly owned and run by teachers and the council working together means that Octavo has the flexibility and finances to make our schools among London’s best.”
Octavo Partnership’s chief executive Sylvia McNamara said: “Through Octavo and the cross-Croydon partnerships, we aim to be at the top of London’s performance tables in a few years’ time. “That is the goal: long-term improvement that inspires.”
The partnership was approved by the council’s cabinet last year, and it will start operations from April. To find out more, visitwww.octavopartnership.org
Octavo is also holding its first open day on 25 April for experienced teachers who are looking to work in Croydon. For more information please email: [email protected] (Source: Croydon council press release.)
HAVE YOUR SAY ON MAY 7TH
Bromley council are reminding residents who are not currently on the electoral register or have moved recently they have until Monday 20 April to register to have their say in the General Election on May 7.
“Residents who haven’t registered yet should also be aware registering to vote has changed. Individual Electoral Registration (IER) requires you to register and update your details individually. No one can register for you” said a council spokeswoman.
“The new system means you can register on-line at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote Once on the page you need to fill in your name, address, date of birth and a few other details including your National Insurance number.
“If you don’t have access to the internet or can’t use it a form can be posted to you. “Once registered you can vote at a polling station, by post or by proxy.
“And remember it’s a legal requirement to register and you can face a fine if you fail to do so.”
If you want further information email [email protected] (Source: Bromley council press release.)
‘SUSPICIOUS CALLS’ WARNING
Residents in Bromley borough are being warned by Trading Standards not to respond to a stranger who makes contact on the telephone wishing to offer assistance around the needs of elderly residents, sometimes including the offer of a massage service.
The caller, believed to be in his 50s, identifies himself as Mr Bell and attempts to make an appointment to visit the resident. He is described as having a Scottish accent and drives a 4×4 vehicle. He carries a clipboard.
Fortunately attempts to carry out some of the appointments were thwarted by members of the public who were suspicious of him and concerned by his lack of an identity card.
Although it is not against the law to make such telephone calls, both the Police and Trading Standards urge residents to exercise extreme caution if they receive similar contact. The advice is never to allow a stranger into your home unless you are certain of their true identity and intentions.
If you receive such a call you may wish to notify Trading Standards on their rapid response number 07903 852090 or report the matter to the Police by calling 101. (Source: Bromley council press release.)
