 This afternoon I was proud to be lending my medical skills ringside. Boxing brings communities together, and offers invaluable support and mentorship to many young people - and Balham Boxing Club certainly does that, and more. Supporting incredibly talented young boys and girls achieve their potential today was an absolute pleasure.
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 Tonight, my colleague, Councillor Fleur Anderson, will be handing in a petition from the residents of Nightingale Square Hostel. Ahead of this I have written to the Council's Director of Housing asking for action to be taken to improve conditions at the Nightingale Square hostel.
For many years, the Council hasn’t listened - the treatment of those living there is absolutely shocking. I’ve visited regularly since being elected and am in constant contact with residents. The conditions, as outlined in the letter, are entirely unacceptable. We also asked the council to convert a small waste area into a playground. The Council refused because ‘the children can walk to other parks across the borough’. Going forward, the Council needs to show compassion and stop rejecting residents’ requests. People living in Nightingale Square Hostel have been ignored for too long. It’s time for action.  We’ve heard some devastating stories of people in Croydon who lost priceless possessions in the Shurgard self-storage fire in Croydon. Along with local councillors, I'm pushing for better protection for local people using Shurgard on Garratt Lane.
If you are affected - or have concerns - get in touch. A constituent has been in touch to raise concerns regarding the quality of care provided at Brightwell Crescent. The care is provided by Hestia, who were awarded the contract around nine months ago.
I am told that since Hestia took over the provision, standards have dropped significantly. I understand residents are not receiving the required levels of support in undertaking basic daily tasks. I have also been informed that rooms are not cleaned to an acceptable standard and overall hygiene in the building is a major concern. I have outlined these concerns to Chief Executive of Hestia, Patrick Ryan, and I expect a prompt investigation. NHS staff were the previous care providers at Brightwell Crescent, and I have not been made aware of any such problems during this time. This raises the question: Why did Wandsworth Council award the contract to Hestia over the NHS? I have raised this query directly with Liz Bruce, Director of Adult Social Services for Wandsworth Council, and I have requested an overview of the tendering process. The decision to award Hestia this contract is indicative of the Conservative Council's commitment to privatisation of our local services.  I’ve written to Wandsworth Council regarding the proposed changes to Franciscan Children’s Centre - vulnerable families should not be made worse off.
If you use this fantastic centre, then please contact me.  After delaying our meeting to discuss the Fans' Fare travel scheme, the Transport Minister is yet to provide a new date.
The Government, once again, are dragging their heels. It is because they take football fans for granted. Sign our petition here: https://www.drrosena.co.uk/fans-fare-petition.html  Today I had the pleasure of visiting Oak Lodge School - a specialist school for pupils who are deaf, or have speech, language and communication needs. The staff at Oak Lodge are remarkable and create such a welcoming and accessible environment for all of their pupils! During my visit, I was given a tour of the school and cheered from the sidelines of a fantastic PE lesson. It was great to watch a spirited and (very) competitive game of football. Some of the pupils were kind enough to teach me some sign language - they were incredibly patient whilst I learned how to sign my name. It was great to have a chat with Headteacher Derek and Assistance Headteacher Holly. We discussed ways in which I could support the school and how the school would continue its work in the local community. A huge thank you to all the staff and pupils at Oak Lodge. I can't wait to visit again! Many constituents have been in touch to raise concerns regarding significant rent increases for traders in Broadway Market. I was shocked to discover that, in some instances, rent for this calendar was double that of the previous year.
Broadway Market has been at the heart of Tooting for over 80 years and the independent businesses operating here contribute so much to our local community and economy. The fantastic enterprises in Broadway Market will always have my unwavering support, and the exploitation of these businesses is wholly unacceptable. I recently met with the landlords to express my concerns. I have also written to every business in Broadway Market - condemning the rent increases and offering my support to those affected. If you or your business have been impacted by this issue, please feel free to get in touch with me. All conversations will be kept in confidence.  Tooting Parkrun turned 3 today, and even the chilliest weather couldn't keep us away!
The organisers and volunteers do an amazing job of keeping the event going. It's a great, accesible way of keeping fit, so make sure you head to Tooting Common one weekend and get involved. Parkrun attracts people from all walks of life, all shapes and sizes, and you can run at your own pace with hundreds of other enthusiasts. Check out their Twitter page for more: https://twitter.com/Tootingparkrun  I am so proud that St George's Hospital offered to pay the £65 visa fee for our much-valued EU workforce. Fortunately, due to increasing pressure on the Government, this hostile idea has now been scrapped.
The Government should not be using EU citizens as bargaining chips. Instead, we should welcome them with open arms! |