LDA to cease to exist Together with the long awaited publication of the Report to the Secretary of State by the Inspector Alan Novitzky on the LDA Masterplan Application for Crystal Palace Park, London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced that under his Proposals for Devolution, the LDA will cease to exist. In another PR gaffe, the Mayor describes the demise of the LDA as being ‘folded in’ which inevitably will be likened to the term for collapsed organisations as being ‘folded up’. Whilst the CPCA welcomes Boris Johnson’s proposals for the removal of bureaucracy and overlapping functions across public bodies, this is precisely what the CPCA called for throughout the…

The Upper Norwood Library, which opened on July 4th 1900, celebrated its 110-year anniversary on 4th and 5th of July 2010, with hundreds taking part in the celebrations. The July 4th American Independence theme was reflected in the boots and stetsons sported by visitors enjoying Hillbilly musicians, a whip-cracker, jugglers, a stilt-walker, an escapologist, can-can dancers, a Punch and Judy show, and a flea-circus, all equally popular with parents and children. CPCA Chairman John Payne, who, with a CPCA team was at the weekend event said, “It doesn’t seem possible that this wonderful library could be under threat of closure. People were appalled when told that Croydon Council want to…

The Upper Norwood Joint Library (UNJL) serves a well-defined and diverse local community; a catchment area that encompasses elements of no fewer than 5 local authorities. It is a unique ‘bespoke’ service, managed by its own Joint Committee, which is comprised of four councillors from each of the two boroughs (Croydon and Lambeth) that financially support the library, together with two community representatives. However, uncertainties of funding and governance have persistently plagued the library over many years. The UNJL is effectively a library authority in its own right, setting and implementing its own locally orientated policies, priorities and procedures as an autonomous and cost effective body. It has operated on…

During acrimonious exchanges between Lambeth and Croydon Councillors at the Upper Norwood Joint Library Committee AGM on 30th June 2010, Croydon Cllr Sara Bashford (Selsdon and Ballards and Cabinet member for customer services, culture and sport), with impeccable timing, said Croydon is not trying to control the UNJL committee to implement cuts. Yet, in a letter to his Lambeth counterpart Steve Reed (see below), received on the same day as the Sara Bashford assurances, Croydon Leader Mike Fisher makes ominous reference to Croydon Council formally requesting termination of the 1994 Upper Norwood Joint Library agreement, if the two councils cannot agree how to move forward. The credibility of Croydon is further…

In a remarkable demonstration of solidarity, campaigners fighting for the future of 110-year-old Upper Norwood Library packed the main chamber of the Salvation Army Hall, Westow Street, on Wednesday 30th June 2010 for the AGM of the Upper Norwood Library Joint Committee. Croydon Officer, Solomon Agutu, said that in the absence of a chairman it was custom and convention for an officer to chair a meeting so that a chair could be appointed. Lambeth Councillor Florence Nosegbe said that what was custom and convention was for two local councillors from each borough to be appointed to the UNJL Committee, and that he should not apply custom and convention selectively. Invited…