Two years down; two to go

As of this month, I am halfway through my four-year term as Labour Councillor for Goose Green. Now seems like a good time to look back at a few of the things I’m proud we’ve done.

1) Amplifying the grassroots 

Change comes from below, not from committee rooms. I see my role as giving progressive campaigns a voice in the Council. After voting against Delancey’s plans for the Elephant and Castle - with its lack of social homes and support for local traders - I have worked with campaigners trying to get a better deal. When Sisters Uncut pointed out that a Home Office immigration officer was working from Southwark Council, I worked with them, the Law Centre and local party members to kick them out.

2) Members shaping the council

When it comes to local government, party members often feel shut out. In my first year, I was Secretary of the Labour Group of councillors. In that role, I tried to bridge the divide by liaising with branch secretaries and putting members’ motions on the Group’s agenda. More recently I campaigned with party members and fellow councillors for an all-members hustings and member-participation in the vote for the new Leader of Southwark Council. We were successful with the former but not the latter. (This has since been postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic.)

3) Supporting trade union struggles

We’re called the Labour Party for a reason - the workers’ movement is central to everything we do. As a councillor, I have always tried to support trade union campaigns and disputes, from joining picket lines like at the PictureHouse to challenging the Royal Mail on the closure of our sorting office. On a number of occasions, I have aligned council policy with campaigns by Unite, Unison, GMB, TSSA, RMT, and NEU.

4) Engaging with the community

I pledged to meet every state school in the ward during my first six months. Since then, we’ve worked together on a number of projects, from road safety to social inclusion. During the coronavirus pandemic, Cllr Maggie Browning and I have hosted a fortnightly coordinating meeting between East Dulwich’s mutual aid groups. These groups show Goose Green at its best: caring, generous and committed to supporting the local community. 

Finally, I cannot mention community engagement without bringing up the East Dulwich CPZ. This divided opinion in the community and there was no solution which would have satisfied everyone. Nonetheless, I’m proud of the work we did to bridge the divide and carve out a proposal that most people could live with.

5) Getting the work done

It’s the four points above that really motivate me. But much of the work of a councillor is unseen. It’s not enough to do the campaigns if the day-to-day work is neglected. I’ve not missed a council meeting in the last year, my record on casework is one of the highest in the borough, and I’ve submitted the most Council Assembly motions of any councillor.

That’s just a brief summary of these past two years. You can sign up to receive more regular updates here and follow me on Twitter here.

I hope you’re safe and well during this difficult time. Do not hesitate to get in touch if you need anything.