Recent successes
The Councillor and Community Chairs set meeting agendas. They ask presenters to come along to inform local residents about what is happening in the area.
The local Safer Neighbourhood Teams have a slot on the agenda to inform residents about their priorities and activities. Representatives from the Cann Hall, Cathall and Leytonstone teams regularly attend the meetings. Officers respond to issues raised at the meetings and are available to speak to residents privately.
Chief Inspector Andy Norfolk attended the meeting in June 2009 to outline the police response to a local murder. He advised local women to be vigilant about their personal safety and asked residents to telephone the police if they had any information that might assist the enquiry.
Each Community Council has a representative on the Waltham Forest Community Safety Board (WFCSB). In October 2010 the meeting asked for a volunteer to attend. Jane Brueseke, Community Chair, can no longer attend due to other commitments. Four residents put themselves forward and a new representative, Jane Sterland, and deputy, Sue Burns, were elected. Jane Sterland will go to the WFCSB taking forward any issues of particular concern raised at Leytonstone Community Council meetings and provide feedback to local residents.
At the meeting in June 2009, Heather Loxley, Regional Director London East, and Trevor Winnicki from Catch 22 came along to update the meeting on their work with young people from the local area.
This followed concerns raised by residents at the January 2009 meeting. Responding to these concerns, the council had held discussions at senior level with Catch 22. It had been agreed that progress would be monitored and the Community Council would be given feedback.
Heather Loxley acknowledged that there had been some issues and concerns in the past. However, these concerns have been responded to and dealt with.
Trevor Winnicki outlined the work Catch 22 had undertaken in recent months.
At the same meeting in June 2009, Sue Hare, a local resident, outlined her experience of going on a crimefighters course and informed residents about what courses are available to them. Sue is co-ordinator of a local neighbourhood watch that has received funding from Leytonstone Community Council.
More successes...
In June 2009 residents put suggestions forward for spending the Community Council budget. One suggestion was to replace the bike racks on the Grove Green Road side of Leytonstone tube station as these are falling apart. The Council’s Principal Transport Officer has arranged to replace the bike stands out of the cycle parking allocation from Transport for London.
At the meeting in October 2009 residents voted on which projects they would like to be funded from amongst those suggested by residents or put forward by voluntary organisations. Local ward Councillors made the final decision.
Eleven local voluntary organisations have been allocated funding to support projects which benefit the local community. Funding was also allocated to seven local projects suggested by residents to enhance their local area. (check the "Budget and spend" page for full details).
