REPORTING NOISE? APP’S THE WAY TO DO IT! / BUILDERS FINED £300 EACH FOR BREACHING NOISE REQUIREMENTS / STILL TIME TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON BROMLEY’S LIBRARIES CONSULTATION /
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – FOR A VOLUNTEER SPEED-MATCHING EVENT / VOLUNTEERS TO BE HONOURED IN ANNUAL CIVIC AWARDS IN CROYDON….AND IN SOUTHWARK
REPORTING NOISE? APP’S THE WAY TO DO IT!
A NEW smartphone app which allows you to report noise is being tested by Croydon council.
Croydon says its “innovative smartphone app My Croydon has broken new ground” by developing the feature.
“The app has been upgraded to include a decibel meter which measures the noise and tells you whether it is loud enough to be classed as a nuisance” said a spokesman.
“If it is, we will be able to take action, and the app will request more information, such as what category the noise falls under – for example anti-social behaviour, barking dogs, car alarms – as well as approximate location.
“We have legal powers to deal with unreasonable noise including music, parties, alarms, construction and DIY, and currently receives around 4,000 noise complaints a year.
The new noise reporting function is currently in its beta-testing phase, so Croydon are asking residents to provide any feedback such as technical issues they may be having.
Cllr Mark Watson, cabinet member for safety and justice, said: “This feature has been carefully designed around the needs of our residents and our noise pollution service, making it easier to report and respond to noise nuisance.
“Whereas other generic apps already enable noise to be reported, we’ve gone a whole step further by allowing residents to measure the noise using a sophisticated decibel meter, to give a better idea of what options are available and whether the council can assist.
“The council is eager to use the latest technology to make the services we provide to residents more efficient. Whereas previously residents would call the council to report noise, now they can do so at the click of a button via their smartphones.
“It will build on the success we have had with residents frequently using the My Croydon app to report a number of issues they may be having.”
Croydon say the My Croydon app is quick and free to download from the Google Play Store for Android smartphones or Apple iTunes store for iPhones. the spokesman added.
“My Croydon already allows residents to report a range of problems including abandoned vehicles, blocked drains and gullies, dead animals, dog fouling, fly-tipping, graffiti, illegal campsites, illegal street trading, potholes and road defects and tree or hedge obstructions.
“Nearly 6,000 people have already downloaded the app.”
The council say they would welcome any feedback from users of the app, in particular those using the new noise reporting feature. Email [email protected]
(Source: Croydon council press release.)
BUILDERS FINED £300 EACH FOR BREACHING NOISE REQUIREMENTS
Two men pleaded guilty at Bromley magistrates court on 14 January 2015 to breaching a notice restricting the hours in which noisy building works could be conducted.
They were fined £300 each, plus a £30 victim surcharge and were ordered to pay £447.50 in costs for not complying with a Control of Pollution Act 1974 section 60 notice by continuing to carry out work creating unacceptable noise outside the allotted hours.
The pair were served with the notice on the 30 September 2014 restricting the hours in which construction works could be completed after council officers witnessed them undertaking out-of-hours construction work.
The notice restricted potentially noisy building works to 08:00-18:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00-13:00 on Saturdays in order to minimise disturbance to nearby properties.
A Bromley council public protection division officer witnessed continued building works on 5 October 2014 in breach of the notice requirements.
Cllr Tim Stevens, executive member for public protection and safety said: “The council act in such cases to strike a suitable balance between protecting neighbouring properties from undue disturbance and allowing reasonable hours for potentially noisy construction works to be completed.
“But where our requests to keep the works within the guideline hours are ignored, we have no option but to resort to formal legal action.” (Source: Bromley council press release.)
STILL TIME TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON BROMLEY’S LIBRARIES CONSULTATION
There is still time to have your say on the future of Bromley’s library service.
Consultation is ongoing with library users and staff until Monday 2 February 2015 on the development of Community Management options at the borough’s Community Libraries which are Burnt Ash (Bromley), Hayes, Mottingham, Shortlands, Southborough (Bromley Common) and St Paul’s Cray.
“This option aims to enable these libraries to remain open and tailored to the needs of the local community, despite the current financial restraints faced. The results of the consultation will be considered in Spring 2015” said a council statement.
“Consultation is also underway regarding the market testing of the core service in order to protect the service, keeping libraries open, while making savings.
“Library users can provide their views on proposals for community management at the six community libraries in the borough and market testing for the management of the core service.
“The consultation follows a review of the library service which includes these options to modernise the service and make improvements, while making savings and protecting the core service. For more information and to comment via the survey visit the website.
“Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the core library service will be subject to a full outsourcing market testing exercise, which will be taken in line with any decisions taken regarding the Community Library management options.”
A Bromley council press release on the subject added: “Around the borough, recent investment into a modern library service includes the new Penge library which opened in August, the Biggin Hill dual use library and swimming pool which opened in 2010 and the new Orpington library which opened in July 2011, with increased visitor numbers and book borrowing.
“These new facilities underline the strategy of modernising the library service, increasing efficiency and creating a service for the 21st century.
“Consultation got underway in December and runs until Monday 2 February 2015, with the survey available at www.bromley.gov.uk/libraries and in your local library. ”
For further information visit www.bromley.gov.uk/libraries. (Source: Bromley council press release.)
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – FOR A VOLUNTEER SPEED-MATCHING EVENT
Volunteer Centre Lewisham are looking for volunteer waiters and waitresses to help with their volunteer speed matching event.
The event is designed to bring together individuals interested in volunteering and organisations recruiting volunteers in an informal and fun setting.
You will be volunteering as part of a dedicated team. You will be responsible for serving nibbles and drinks, and generally helping out with all aspects of the busy event.
You will need to have:
excellent customer service skills
good communication skills
a good sense of humour.
This event will take place on Monday 16 February from 4–8pm in the Civic Suite, Catford.
If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Fay by emailing at [email protected] (Source: Lewisham council press release.)
VOLUNTEERS TO BE HONOURED IN ANNUAL CIVIC AWARDS IN CROYDON…
Do you know somebody who gives their time to help others or make their community a better place to live?
If so, the council is inviting you to nominate that person – or group – to be recognised and honoured at its annual Croydon Community Civic Awards
Each year, the awards showcase the outstanding efforts made by some of the many thousands of local people who comprise Croydon’s army of volunteers and civic champions who give up their time to help others.
Since its inception in 2012, the awards scheme has seen more than 450 nominations, far exceeding similar schemes run by other London authorities. There have been 28 winners in the various categories and more than 50 finalists.
Judges will be looking for examples of volunteering that significantly benefit other people and set a benchmark for excellence, both locally and nationally.
Categories for the 2015 awards are:
Volunteer of the Year
Personal Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
Young Volunteer of the Year
Carer of the Year
Fundraiser of the Year
Employees of the Year
Voluntary Group of the Year
Civic Life Award
The shortlisting process will take into account the level of need being addressed and how volunteers have overcome obstacles to make a difference.
Previous winners have included former youth parliament member, Javell Nelson, and Frederick Clarke, founder of Mighty Men of Valour.
The nomination form and full details are available atwww.croydon.gov.uk/civicawards
Nominations can also be made in writing, on forms available from Croydon libraries.
Nominations close on Monday 23 March. (Source: Croydon council press release.)
….AND IN SOUTHWARK
Do you know an individual, group, organisation or business making a difference in Southwark? If so, you have until Saturday 31 January to nominate them for a prestigious Southwark Civic Award.
The civic awards recognise exceptional contributions to community life by individuals and organisations across the borough.
They are administered by The Southwark Civic Association, which was founded in 1996 to promote civic awareness, active citizenship and civic pride. Nominations can be submitted through filling out nomination forms from the Mayor’s office, Southwark Council or made online.
There are two main categories of award – Letter of Commendation and Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Boroughs of Southwark, Bermondsey, or Camberwell. There are also several further awards including The Mayor’s Discretionary Award, Southwark Lifetime Award, and Young Southwark Civic Award.
The deadline for receipt of nominations is Saturday 31 January, 2015 and the awards will be presented at a prestigious civic ceremony in Southwark Cathedral on Saturday 16 May, 2015.
For copies of the nomination forms, please contact The Mayor’s Office, Southwark Council, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH. Telephone 020 7525 7303 or email [email protected]
You can also nominate online:
To nominate an individual: www.southwarkcivicassociation.org/individual-nomination-form/
To nominate an organisation: www.southwarkcivicassociation.org/organisation-nomination-form/
For more information on the Southwark Civic Awards:www.southwarkcivicassociation.org
(Source: Southwark council press release)