SEE PAGE 5 SEE PAGE 9 SEE PAGE 11 RoyalBorough Borough February 2009[1].pdf · Court Club Room, Portobello Court, Portobello Road W11. Colville, Golborne and Notting Barns Wards 11am

FEBRUARY 2009 No. 156www.rbkc.gov.uk

SEE PAGE 5 SEE PAGE 9

Pensionerspick up their

paddlesSEE PAGE 11

But wheredoes it all go?

RoyalBorough

Keep yourhousesmoke free

Historic bridge tobe strengthenedChelsea’s famous Albert Bridge is to be given a new lease of lifeas a result of work that will allow it to carry traffic weighing upto 7.5 tonnes – significantly more than the current 2.5 tonnes.

Cllr Daniel Moylan, Deputy Leader of the Council, explained: “Theexisting weight limit has proved impossible to enforce, since manyfamily cars today approach or exceed that weight, and so thebridge has been under threat of permanent damage from over-heavy vehicles.

“Although the bridge has long been protected by width restrictionsdesigned only to allow cars to use it, we have had to supplementthese in recent months with unsightly barriers intended to keepvehicles to the part of the span best able to bear the weight.”

Now, though, Transport for London (TfL) has agreed to fund workthat will start next year and will increase the bridge’s carryingcapacity while respecting and enhancing its historical character.

“Nonetheless,” added Cllr Moylan, “The width restrictions at theentry points will be kept permanently in place to ensure the bridgeis not abused by heavy vehicles – and there are no plans to allowbuses or lorries to use the bridge.

“The works, which will take approximately two years and costabout £6 million, are intended to protect the bridge, not toencourage more traffic in Chelsea.

“We have taken the advice of specialist bridge consultantsthroughout this process. At the end of this process, a wonderfulhistorical asset which is also extremely useful to Chelsea people willhave a secure life for at least another 35 years.”

The Council’s Cabinet has decidedto lend residents a helping hand inthese tough economic times byreleasing money from the reservesthat it has built up by its goodhousekeeping over many years.

The idea is that the dividend, whichequates to a 3.5 per cent cut atBand D and a freeze for top bandtax payers, will help residents andboost the local economy.

Residents living alone, particularlythe elderly, will see a greaterproportionate council tax cut, whilepeople on council tax benefit,including about 5,600 elderlyresidents, will receive a £50 cheque.

Cllr Merrick Cockell, Leader of theRoyal Borough of Kensington andChelsea, said: “We set the fifth-lowestcouncil tax in the country, but in thesestraitened economic times we wantedto do more to help our residents. Wehave looked after our money well andbecause of this we can make thispayment without affecting our services.

“£50 might not seem like a greatdeal of money to some people, butto others it can mean a week’sshopping or a real help with theirheating bills. I hope that those whoneed this payment least mightthink about giving it to localcharities and we are looking atways to help them do this.

“We also want to help businessesand will be looking at introducingfree parking on Saturdays in Aprilto encourage shoppers to spendin the borough.”

Because the £50 dividend is thesame for all residents liable forcouncil tax, it gives proportionatelymore help to those on the lowestincomes.

When the £50 payment isconsidered alongside the counciltax set for 2009-10, residents willsee a reduction in next year’s netpayment to the Council of as muchas 10.2 per cent for some residentsin the lowest band.

The Council has identified savingsof £5.4 million this year but has seenits grant from central governmentrise by just 1.75 per cent, whichmeans it has to increase counciltax by 3.2 per cent.

The efficiency dividend of £50 perhead paid from the reserves builtup over recent years will more thanoffset the increase in council tax, in effect freezing it for top bandpayers and reducing it for those inBand D.

The Council plans to make theone-off payment in April to achievemaximum impact for all residentsrather than spreading it over tenmonths as a rebate, which wouldalso mean those on council taxbenefit receiving nothing.

To see the relationship betweenthe £50 efficiency dividend andcouncil tax in 2009-10 and to findout what other financial help isavailable, go to www.rbkc.gov.uk/counciltax

£50 Council dividendCouncil tax payers in Kensington and Chelsea will benefit from a one-off £50efficiency dividend in April.

NOWHERE TO HIDEIt’s been a busy winter at HollandPark. where Kensington andChelsea Council has beenrenewing the wildlife pond andcapturing an elusive predator.

Draining the pond had the extrabenefit of allowing officers tocapture one of the most dangerouspredators in the park, a red-earedterrapin that had been runningamok for a number of years.

The red-eared terrapin is alien tothis country and has had a seriousimpact on native fish, worms, smallanimals, birds and vegetation. TheHolland Park invader was moved

to a pond in the country where itjoined three other terrapins.

The pond, found to be bigger thanexpected once 100 tonnes ofgravel had been removed, isexpected to quickly re-establishitself as the important habitat it hasalways been, especially for birds,amphibians and plants. Popularschool pond dipping sessions runby the Council’s Ecology Centrewill be re-started in due course.

As part of the Council’s commitmentto sustainable development, thepond is now being fed by waterfrom the park’s own borehole.

In the spring more native aquaticplants will be put into the pond and a reed bed island will beestablished in its centre.

ROYAL BOROUGH | February 20092

Contacting the Council

Contact your CouncilInformation, advice and many services are available online at www.rbkc.gov.uk. Don’t forget that if you need to visit but find it difficultduring normal opening hours, you can phone to make an appointment to see a member of staff on a Thursday evening until 8pm.

Local Democracy InformationDecember 2008 and January 2009

Enquiryline 020 7361 3000Email [email protected]

Streetline 020 7361 3001Email [email protected]

Environmental Healthline 020 7361 3002Email [email protected]

Arts and Leisureline 020 7361 3003Email [email protected]

Parkingline 020 7361 3004Email [email protected]

Council Taxline 020 7361 3005Email [email protected]

Benefitsline 020 7361 3006Email [email protected]

Paymentsline 020 7361 3007Pay online atwww.rbkc.gov.uk/onlinepayments/general

Housingline 020 7361 3008Email [email protected]

Educationline 020 7361 3009Email [email protected]

Librariesline 020 7361 3010Email [email protected]

Recruitmentline 020 7361 3011Email [email protected]

Planningline 020 7361 3012Email [email protected]

Social Servicesline 020 7361 3013Email [email protected]

Unless the time is given inbrackets, all meetings take placeat 6.30pm in the CouncilChamber, Kensington Town Hall,Hornton Street, W8 7NX.

Meetings sometimes change.Before attending, please call 020 7361 2265 or visit www.rbkc.gov.uk/howwegovernto confirm the meeting date,place and time.

The web page above also hasinformation about the Council’sdecision-making process andallows key decisions to be tracked.

Cabinet

19 February26 March

Council

4 March (5.30pm)

Planning Applications

24 February10 March31 March

Here to help – your CouncillorsKensington and Chelsea is served by 54 elected Councillors, three foreach of the Royal Borough’s 18 wards. They are available by telephone,email and letter. Personal appointments can be arranged and in someparts of the borough you can visit a ward surgery.

You can find out which Councillors represent you, and how to contactthem, by visiting www.rbkc.gov.uk or ringing the First Stop InformationService on 020 7361 2828.

SurgeriesColville Ward(On a rota basis) Councillors Marianne Alapini, Keith Cunningham andDez O’Neil; 6pm to 8pm, second Tuesday of each month – PortobelloCourt Club Room, Portobello Court, Portobello Road W11.

Colville, Golborne and Notting Barns Wards11am to 1pm, first Saturday of each month – EPICS Westway Centre,Malton Road, W10 (behind Ladbroke Grove Station).

Cremorne WardCouncillor Mark Daley; 9.30am to 11am, Saturday 21 February and 21 March, Chelsea Theatre, World’s End Place.

Golborne Ward(On a rota basis) Councillors Bridget Hoier, Emma Dent Coad and PatMason; 7pm to 8pm, Mondays (except Bank Holidays) – VentureCentre, 103 Wornington Road, W10.

Notting Barns Ward(On a rota basis) Councillors Catherine Atkinson, Judith Blakeman andMushtaq Lasharie; 10am to 12 noon, second and fourth Saturdays ofeach month – Tenants’ Club Room, opposite the playground at thebase of Grenfell Tower on Lancaster West Estate.

St Charles WardCouncillors Rock Feilding-Mellen, Dominic Johnson and Matthew Palmer;6.30pm to 8pm. First Monday of every month – Feathers Youth Club,Dalgarno Community Centre, Dalgarno Way, W10.

www.rbkc.gov.uk/contactus

RoyalBoroughRoyal Borough is produced forresidents by the RoyalBorough of Kensington andChelsea.

It is delivered to 87,000 homesand businesses in the RoyalBorough and is also availablefrom community venues. Thenewspaper was produced bythe Council’s Media andCommunications Team,designed by Go4 Marketingand Public Relations andprinted by Harmsworth. Wewelcome comments aboutthis publication – contact theRoyal Borough Editor at Mediaand Communications Team,Town Hall, Hornton Street,London W8 7NX.

If you, or someone you know,would like this newspaper ontape, in Braille or in anotherlanguage, call 020 7361 2826or write to the Media andCommunications Team (see above).

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Com

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Corporate Services

17 February30 March

Housing, EnvironmentalHealth and Adult Social Care

16 March

Public Realm

9 March

Health

18 March

Council

meeti

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Getting their oars in

See page 5…

ContentsExhibition Road updatepage 3

Buddy scheme successpage 4

ContactPoint concernspage 5

Leader’s Leaderpage 6

Could you volunteer?page 7

Top performerspage 8

Health focuspage 9

Under the spotlightpage 10

Recycling round-uppage 11

Dance yourself fitpage 12

Wornington Green latestpage 13

Event Diarypage 14 and 15

Give us your viewsWrite to The Editor, Royal Borough,Press Office, Room 230/3, TownHall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX or [email protected]

ROYAL BOROUGH | February 2009 3

News

Work began on 8 January, aftermonths of preparation, whencontractors set up their site officeat the southern end of ExhibitionRoad. Just one week later, Mayorof London Boris Johnsonconfirmed that he had askedTransport for London (TfL) tocontribute an additional £10 millionto the costs of the project.

TfL has already committed £3.3mto the project, which The Mayor ofLondon, the Royal Borough ofKensington and Chelsea andWestminster City Council believewill transform one of London’s keyvisitor attractions into a user-friendly space fit for the future.

TfL’s £10m contribution will helpmake sure the scheme iscompleted by the end of 2011 – intime for the 2012 Olympic Gamesand Paralympic Games.

The Mayor said the ExhibitionRoad area “was home to some ofBritain’s most important museumsand institutions that are vital to the heritage of London and theUK,” adding: “This funding not only allows much-neededimprovements to get underway,but also helps support the excitingnew approach that will make theidea of shared space a keyprinciple in transforming the street

into a space that all Londoners andvisitors can enjoy.”

Cllr Merrick Cockell, Leader of theRoyal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, said: “We are thrilledthat the Mayor has made suchgenerous support available for the Exhibition Road Project. Theproject will transform ExhibitionRoad into one of the mostimportant public spaces in Londonand a major new cultural venue forthe 2012 Olympics.

“Works around South KensingtonTube station have already started,and getting rid of the 1960s one-way system will radically improvethe environment for everyone. TheMayor’s latest contribution will turnthe wider scheme, designed byarchitects Dixon Jones, from anaspiration into a real possibility.”

The team is on schedule tocomplete the switchover to two-way traffic in June. Unnecessarykerbs and traffic islands are being removed and pavementswidened, while bus stops arebeing moved to Cromwell Place, significantly reducing trafficthrough Thurloe Street.

The new system will free trafficflow, easing congestion andproviding much better driving

conditions for motorists. Widerpavements and simplifiedpedestrian crossings will at thesame time create a much saferand more enjoyable environmentfor residents, workers and visitors.

After the return to two-way traffic,work will begin on the spectacularsingle surface that will run the whole length of the road, from South Kensington Station toHyde Park.

The scheme will transform what is currently an undistinguishedstreetscape dominated by heavytraffic and parked cars andblighted by narrow pavements notwide enough to accommodate the 10 million visitors the areawelcomes each year.

All turns between Exhibition Roadand Cromwell Road will beremoved, with the exception of asingle eastbound left turn towardsKnightsbridge. The southernsection of Exhibition Road and thewesterly end of Thurloe Street willbe largely free of through traffic,although it will still be open foraccess and residents.

To find out more about theExhibition Road project, visit www.rbkc.gov.uk/exhibitionroad

Boost for road schemeAn extra £10 million has been committed to the exciting Exhibition Road transformationthat began in the new year.

Older people who receive home care services from Kensingtonand Chelsea Council are to be asked their opinion on the qualityof care they receive.

The Council is taking part in the Department of Health’s OlderPeoples Home Care User Experience Survey that begins this month(February). Officers will be contacting a large number of randomly-selected home care users to ask for their feedback on their overallexperience of the Royal Borough’s services.

The survey will also give those who are contacted the opportunityto help ensure that those services better meet the needs of usersin the future.

The residents who are selected will receive a questionnaire throughthe post. All the information provided will be treated as confidentialand the Council will give residents a free telephone number theycan ring if they have any questions.

The results of the questionnaire will be used by the Commission forSocial Care Inspection, the Department of Health and the Councilto assess how satisfied people are with the Royal Borough’s homecare services. It will identify where improvements are needed.

HOW WELL DO WECARE FOR YOU?

HAVE YOUR SAYABOUT HOUSINGMore than 10,000 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsearesidents are being asked about their housing needs in a postalsurvey or through face-to-face interviews.

The aim is to help the Council understand what sorts of homes areneeded now and in the future so that it can plan to meet Kensingtonand Chelsea’s housing needs up to 2028.

Since this vital research will help shape the future of housing in theborough, it is important that as many people as possible reply tothe survey so the results are as accurate as possible.

The results of the survey will help to shape the Local DevelopmentFramework, a blueprint for planning in the borough, as well asinfluencing the Council’s forthcoming housing strategy.

Fordham Research is carrying out the exercise on behalf of theCouncil and will not disclose any personal information aboutrespondents to the Council.

Residents who receive a questionnaire in the post are urged to return it by the specified date in the pre-paid envelope. Forfurther information contact Senior Planning Officer Jo Prentice on 020 7361 3639.


News

An innovative ‘buddy’ scheme thatencourages young people to workwith youngsters with disabilitiesis proving a real success.

More than 30 young volunteersattended an induction evening atthe Lancaster Youth Centre (LYC)to hear about the aims of thescheme. All ‘buddies’ had to sign acontract to show they understoodwhat was required of them andwere given training.

The young buddies, who havebeen trained to help disabled usersof the LYC, were paired up withexisting LYC workers to learn theropes and be given feedback ontheir achievements.

As an added bonus for thebuddies, who did not have theskills, knowledge or experience towork with the Youth Service in thenormal way when they signed up,taking part in the scheme hasenhanced their future job prospectsin this area.

They have learned how to use all ofthe centre’s equipment, attendedmeetings, done first aid trainingand escort duty on the minibus,learned the centre’s policies andprocedures and helped otherworkers with their projects.

Cllr Shireen Ritchie, CabinetMember for Family and Children’sServices, said: “The buddy project

has clearly brought out the best inthe youngsters who signed up tohelp disabled users of theLancaster Youth Centre.

“I know that their efforts are reallyappreciated by the disabled youngpeople and that the buddies aredeveloping new skills which will, Ihope, attract them to a career inyouth work.”

The scheme has also been a hugesuccess in encouraging some ofthe most ‘hard-to-reach’ andchallenging members of LYC tosign up as a ‘buddy’. The experiencehas completely changed theirbehaviour and attitude, with manyof the young people relishing thefact that they are doing animportant job and being treated asmembers of staff.

Former international football starIan Wright was at BevingtonPrimary School in Ladbroke Groveto launch a national initiativedesigned to encourage familiesto take simple steps towards amore active, healthier lifestyle

The Fitter Families initiative sets outto tackle the fact that the UKpopulation is becoming increasinglyoverweight, unhealthy and inactive,with widespread obesity affectingboth children and adults.

Figures show that the percentageof seven to eight year-olds whowalked to school dropped from 80per cent in 1971 to just nine per

cent in 1991. At this rate, 60 percent of men and half of all womenwill be obese by 2050, with anincreased risk of heart disease,diabetes and cancer.

The Fitter Families campaignintroduced by Fit for Sport, theUK’s leading healthy lifestyleactivities provider, is designed tohelp families take control of theirwell-being by setting achievablechallenges that will improve theirhealth and fitness.

Families are encouraged to visitwww.fitterfamilies.com to pledgetheir commitment to become fitterby making simple lifestyle changes

that have been shown to have apositive impact on fitness and health.

Ian Wright commented “FitterFamilies aims to encouragefamilies around the UK to committo making small changes for abetter, healthier lifestyle. We’re nottalking dieting, running marathonsor unattainable fitness regimes; theinitiative is based on a simple,achievable and sustainable

philosophy that enables people tomake changes for the long-termfuture health of their families.”

The initiative is supported by aFitter Families book written by IanWright and Fit for Sport founderDean Horridge. The book providessimple tips for a healthier lifestylesuch as walking to school,exercising the dog or swappingcrisps for fruit.

Buddy, can you sparesome time?

ABOVE | Shaima and Elaine looking at the results of pond dipping.

ABOVE | Cllr Lady Hanham

BACKINGEARL’SCOURTA new group has been set up torepresent individuals, businessesand residents’ associations inEarl’s Court.

The Earl’s Court Society (ECS) hastaken over the reins held for thepast 26 years by the Earl’s CourtNeighbourhood Associations(ECNA), which had the morelimited role of serving solely as aforum for residents’ associationchairmen.

The ECS was launched at areception at Kensington Town Hall,when Cllr Lady Hanham waselected President. As Cllr JoanHanham she was responsible forthe 1979 Earl’s Court Study thathighlighted how run-down Earl’sCourt had become and paved theway for its transformation into oneof the most sought-after places tolive in Kensington.

Ward Councillor Cllr Barry Phelps,said: “The ECS will work with theKensington Society to the northand Chelsea Society to the south.Local people can join all three ifthey wish to!”

Individual membership costs £5and is open to anyone who has aninterest in Earl’s Court. ContactMargaret Carey, MembershipSecretary, by writing to her at 29Kempsford Gardens, SW5 9LA or emailing [email protected]

Would-be social housing tenants with particular needs can now see at a glance whether or not homes in Kensington and Chelsea are suitable.

Advertisements on Home Connections now include more information to help people who need to know if a house has level access, steps oradaptations such a level access shower or a stairlift.

Most social housing in the Royal Borough has been assessed according to building design guidance and given a rating between fully wheelchairaccessible (category A) and general needs housing (F). Vacant properties will have their rating and other access information displayed on theHome Connections website and in the weekly property advertisement sheet.

For further information see www. homeconnections.org.uk

ADAPTING TO TENANTS’ NEEDS

It’s the ‘Wright’time to get fit


News

Contact us firstParents in Kensington and Chelsea are being urged to contact the Council ifthey want to keep information about their children from officials using a newgovernment database.

The eagerly-awaited unveiling ofthe restored Cradle Walk andSunken Garden at KensingtonPalace by Historic Royal Palaces(HRP) is scheduled for this year.

The Sunken Garden and itssurrounding Cradle Walk, knownby some people as the ‘bowery’,was originally built and planted in1908. The Cradle Walk itself wasdesigned as a form of viewinggallery, with regular openings in thelime tree hedges to allow visitorsglimpses of the vibrant colourswithin the Sunken Garden.

The great storm of 1987 seriouslydamaged the original trees to theextent that it made the structure ofthe Cradle Walk unsafe. Ratherthan remove the structure, it wasdecided to crop the surviving treesand maintain them as an eleganthedge of large-leafed lime instead.

The project to restore the originalstructure of the Cradle Walk archesstarted in 2008 and has beenentirely funded by HRP, the charitythat looks after Kensington Palace.The metalwork frame, created bySheffield-based Ridgeway ForgeLtd, has already been installed byKensington Palace’s residentgardening team, which has many

years of experience in restoringhistoric gardens.

The original lime trees, which weregrown in part to shield passers-byfrom the wind, have been cut backhard to extend their life andpromote new growth around andover this new metalwork structure.The restored Cradle Walk andSunken Garden will be officiallyopened later in 2009.

Graham Dillamore, Gardens andEstates Operations Manager atHRP, who has led the restoration

project, said: “We are excited tosee the restoration of the CradleWalk at Kensington Palace. Havingbeen here 20 years ago when wehad to cut the structure downfollowing the storm of 1987, it islovely to see it going back. It willrecapture the ‘secret garden’atmosphere that visitors used tofeel when they visited KensingtonPalace.”

For more information about thisrestoration project, or to make a donation, please [email protected]

Cradle Walk reborn

The details of every child in Englandup to the age of 18 will be includedon the new ContactPoint databasebeing launched by the Government.

The Council will seek to use itsdiscretion under the Act to limit theinformation held on ContactPointbut reserves the right to putinformation on the database whereit considers children to be vulnerableor at risk.

ContactPoint will contain everychild’s name and address and dateof birth, together with the names oftheir parent/carers, the services theyaccess such as their school and GPand the names of other professionalsinvolved with that child. Again theCouncil will use its discretionregarding access to the system.

The Government has proposed aprocess called shielding. Shieldingmeans hiding details about a child,young person or family member’s

whereabouts because some familymembers may be put at risk if theirwhereabouts become known. Criteriawhich the Government proposesare used to determine whether arecord should be shielded are wherenot doing so would:

• Place the child at risk of significantharm

• Place an adult at risk of seriousharm

• Put a child’s adoption placementat risk

• Prejudice the prevention ordetection of a serious crime

However there are other criteriawhich the Council believes need tobe taken into consideration where:

• Children or parents believe thatthis information puts them at riskof ‘grooming’

• Children or parents believe thattheir security is compromised

• Children or parents have concernsabout identity theft

• Children or parents are concernedabout the consequences of theloss of their data

Parents or carers who want torequest that the Council exercisesits discretion in respect of their datashould contact the Council as soonas possible, as it is proposed thatthe national system will go live inMarch 2009.

To learn more about ContactPoint,raise a query or concern or requestthat data on your child is shielded,contact the ContactPoint Team on 020 7598 4694, [email protected] or visitthe Government’s website www.ecm.gov.uk/contactpoint

Pensioners get their oar inFive intrepid pensioners tookto the Thames in kayaks topaddle from the CremoneBoating Centre in Chelsea toTower Bridge and back.

The group of five – four women and one man, aged from 62 to 68– completed the ten-mile round trip in three hours.

They left Cremone on the ebb tide and after reaching Tower Bridgethey travelled further down the Thames to St Catherine Dock wherethey stretched their legs and built some rocky sandcastles beforereturning to Cremone.

The group asked the Council if they could use the centre afterseeing young people enjoying its facilities. Although developed toprovide services for young people, the centre is designed with thecommunity in mind, and so the group has been receiving tuition onkayaking every Friday since September last year.

Kayaker Daisy Alexander, 63, from Chelsea, said: “We all had sucha fantastic time although it was very tiring. I have made some greatfriends through the boating centre and so it was great that wecould all encourage each other through this challenge.

“We are all proud of each other for completing the ten-mile trip andbeing able to show that kayaking doesn’t have to only be for youngpeople. I am grateful to everyone at the centre and Council whomade this possible.”

Cllr Fiona Buxton, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “It’sso fantastic to see some of our older residents taking part in thispaddle. By all accounts they had a great time and managed tocover over ten miles, which is an amazing feat. They are a greatinspiration to all our residents.”

CARNIVAL CHATHave your say on Carnival 2009 by attending a meeting at 6pmon 26 March at the Lighthouse West London, 111-117 LancasterRoad, W11 1QT.

The meeting, organised by the Police Community ConsultativeGroup (PCCG), will feature a panel of representatives from LondonNH Carnival Ltd, the police, the Royal Borough of Kensington andChelsea and the City of Westminster.

This is a chance for members of the public to hear what theorganisers are planning and to ask questions of the experts. Formore information contact Jerome Treherne on 020 7361 2782 oremail [email protected]


Leader’s Leader

Kensington and Chelsea Councilhas a fine record of protectingvulnerable children and I can assureyou that we will continue to do ourutmost to make sure that childrenin our care continue to receive thecare they deserve.

This year the Government islaunching ContactPoint, a newdatabase designed to give socialworkers and other professionalsaccess to a range of informationabout every individual child and its

parents or carers. The data held onContactPoint will be gathered fromexisting databases and thecooperation of councils and otherorganisations is compulsory.

I am not convinced that ContactPointin itself is a good use of money,time and manpower. We haveearned a good reputation for childprotection in the Royal Borough,and we have done this by puttingour resources to work in a way thathas resulted in our social workers

having the smallest caseloads inLondon. This means that they havemore time to spend with childrenand their families. They have moretime to seek advice on their casesfrom colleagues and managersand they can liaise with othercouncils and organisations like theNHS when the need arises.

ContactPoint will cost some £240million nationally and I believe thatfar more could be achieved byusing resources to reduce socialworker caseloads rather thanplacing too great a reliance oncomputer systems.

But our concerns with ContactPointextend to the principle of a nationaldatabase for all children and ourbelief that parents and not thestate should decide what is bestfor their children.

Can parents be confident that therange of data to be held onContactPoint will be adequatelyprotected? The past few years haveseen major breaches of personaldata from government departments.I am sure that many parents will becompletely unaware that this

database is beingcompiled and will golive in 2009

This edition of RoyalBorough includes anarticle and a leafletthat gives moreinformation aboutContactPoint. I wantparents to know moreabout ContactPointand about their rightto have most of thedata that will be heldabout their child –such as their address– ‘shielded’, an optionthat is containedwithin the legislation.

I would encourage anyparent or guardian tofind out more aboutContactPoint and todecide whether or notthey want to use their right toshield some of the data that will bekept about their child.

Cllr Merrick CockellLeader of the Councilwww.rbkc.gov.uk/leader

Cllr Cockell has launched a blogon which he will be commentingregularly on a range of topicalissues. Read his views and addyour own comments atwww.rbkc.gov.uk/comment

LEADER’SLEADERThe harrowing case of Baby ‘P’ has resulted in manyquestions being asked about what councils, thehealth service and other organisations concernedwith the protection of children can do to ensure thatyoung people are properly protected.

Council tax will rise this year by 3.2 per cent but the £50 dividend will offset the increase, effectively freezing council tax for residents in band H. Band D households will see the equivalent of a 3.5 per cent cut. For a one-adult household the cut will be 5.7 per cent.

For most residents we will adjust the council tax payment in April to take account of the

you will be sent the dividend. You will not have to send us any personal information so please do not give your bank details or passwords to anyone in connection with this payment.

£50 dividend for residents

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A charitable trust that operatesin part of the Royal Boroughhelped 67 people find work in2008.

The Campden Charities is anindependent trust that givesgrants, funded by endowmentsdating back to 1629, to peopleof working age who are in needof financial help and who live inthe former Parish of Kensington(South of the Fulham road andNorth of the Harrow Road).

The trust helps those who arecapable of working becomefinancially independent. Itencourages and helps people totake up education and trainingdesigned to help them find a job.

Many of the people the charityhelps face financial barriers tofinding work, and the trust usesa number of methods toovercome those obstacles byproviding the cash they need tomake progress in what theywant to do.

Help is not restricted to a singlepayment and people can be givenhelp until their circumstanceschange, sometimes after anumber of years.

In 2008, the trust helped 67people into work through grants

that highlighted the largenumber of lone parents whohad been helped by the trustbut then either did notcomplete their training courseor lost contact with theorganisation.

The current scheme helps theparticipants achieve a nationally-recognised qualification, findswork placements and can payfor childcare as well as providingweekly one-to-one sessions,group sessions and help applyingfor jobs. The mums spend twodays a week working for a not-for-profit or other local organisationsuch as Nova New opportunitiesand Open Age or the DalgarnoNeighbourhood Trust.

The Campden Charities alsooffers pre-retirement grants topeople aged between 55 andpension age to encouragecommunity involvement andexpand their personaldevelopment. The trust alsofunds grants of up to £1,000 tohelp pensioners on lowincomes achieve greaterfinancial stability.

To find out more about pre-retirement and retirementage grants, contact either JanGates on 020 7313 3796 orMaureen Burrell 020 7313 3794.

that paid for educational coursesand other costs such as childcare,course materials and help withtravel and interview clothing.

During the same period:

• 33 people completed educationalcourses or training and have nowgone on to look for work

• 241 other individuals received helpthat is ongoing

• 55 people received academicscholarships.

The charity can help British orEuropean citizens or those withindefinite leave to remain in thiscountry who have lived in Kensingtonfor at least two years, are onbenefit or in low-paid work and inrented accommodation.

Anyone who thinks they couldqualify for a working age grantshould call 020 7313 3797 or visitwww.campdencharities.org.uk

The Campden Charities has alsolaunched a project that is helpingseven ambitious mothers agedbetween 21 and 39 to achieve theirgoals, as well as helping the trustfind out more about the challengesfacing lone parents.

The project, which is expected torun for just over a year, wasdeveloped in response to a review

Practical help for job seekers


News

Lights, camera, participation!While new yearresolutions may belong-forgotten, it’s nottoo late to change yourroutine and get involvedin something new.

The Royal Borough’s It Takes All ofUs campaign is designed toencourage more local people toget involved in their area orbecome a volunteer with one ofthe many organisations that needhelp across the borough.

Sarah Martin, who works at theVideo College, talked to RoyalBorough about the exciting workthe north Kensington organisationdoes with young people.

How did you become a part ofThe Video College?

I have lived in north Kensington formany years and was a member ofa residents’ association inWornington Green. The associationbegan the college in response tothe lack of exciting and engagingopportunities for local youngpeople. We’ve now grown to fourstaff and a pool of about 15industry professionals who teachthe young people.

What does The Video College do?

We give people the opportunity toget hands-on experience of film-making and offer them advice onproducing their own films – all freeof charge. We have weeklysessions for 12 to 20 year-olds; onTuesdays we have a drop-insession for anyone wanting tolearn to use a camera or soundequipment, write screenplays oredit, direct and produce shortfilms. On Thursdays we have ourIncredible Films sessions wheremembers discuss, plan and maketheir own films. Each session isoverseen by two industry

professionals who give expertadvice and share their industryexperience. We also run accredited,industry-standard training coursesfor those over 18.

How successful has the college been?

It’s been very successful in severalways. Digital technology meansthat great films can be madewithout huge amounts of moneyand the young people who workwith us are always producingexciting and creative work. Thisyear one of our films, Round andRound, has been nominated for anActivison First Light Movies Award2009 for Best Screenplay, and weregularly have our films acceptedat festivals.

Everyone involved in making a filmgains new skills as they work intheir team, plan the project andsee it through to the finalscreening. We’ve worked withyoung offenders and seen peoplewith significant problems makeprofound changes to their lives asa result of working as part of ateam with supportive tuition.

How would you sum up TheVideo College?

It’s always great fun and people

come away with practicalexperience in filmmaking that canmean access to the competitivemedia industry. I believe this isparticularly important in developinga fairer society because the mediasometimes relies too much onwealthy and well-connectedpeople. That’s why we work withmigrant and refugee groups andschools. We believe that peoplecoming together with a commonpurpose helps individuals tobecome more confident andcommunities to become stronger.

The Video College’s free sessionsfor young people are held at 16Telford Road, W10, between 5pmand 7pm on Tuesdays andThursdays and in half-terms andholidays. To find out more orvolunteer as a tutor call 020 89642641 or email [email protected]

For more information aboutvolunteering or becoming a part ofyour local community pick up acopy of It Takes All of Us – theguide to getting involved.Download it www.rbkc.gov.uk/allofus or email [email protected]

ABOVE | Young people gettinghands-on experience of filmmakingwith The Video College.

Driving up the quality of parking services for disabled peoplehas seen Kensington and Chelsea Council named as one of onlynine Blue Badge Centres of Excellence in the country.

It means that the Royal Borough will be showing other councilshow to improve services for disabled people who apply for anduse the blue badge (disabled) parking permit scheme.

The Department for Transport (DfT) named Kensington andChelsea as one of the best – and handed over a £50,000 cashaward – for “helping to drive up improvements and share goodpractice” in managing the blue badge scheme across London.

The DfT was impressed by the Council’s approach to handlingbadge applications in a fair and consistent way that also helpsprevent fraud. It noted that the Council gave an excellent serviceto residents who genuinely needed a blue badge while preventingthe scheme from being abused.

Cllr Fiona Buxton, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Itis a great reflection on the commitment of our staff that we havebeen selected as a Centre of Excellence for London.

“The Council is always working on ways of improving the serviceto those people who need blue badges. We have developedindependent assessment criteria and a new application form whichno longer needs a doctor to be involved. This I know will bewelcomed by both service users and doctors and speed up theapplication process for those who genuinely need a badge.

“This is the type of innovation that I hope other councils will use inorder to combat the misuse of the scheme and allow those ingenuine need more opportunities to use their badges.”

Kensington and Chelsea was the first London Council to employa professional mobility assessor to interview disabled people for arange of services including blue badges.

Because the Council’s application process weeds out potentialfraudsters, most people who are prosecuted by the Council arevisitors to the borough who are using badges issued by other councils.

To report blue badge misuse contact the Fraud Hotline on 020 7361 2777.

Out in front forparking services

ABOVE | The accessible transport team celebrates its success withthe Mayor of the Royal Borough, Cllr the Hon. Joanna Gardner.

More than 600 people packedthe Carmelite Church inKensington for the Mayor’sCharity Christmas Carols,raising over £20,000 for theMultiple Sclerosis Trust.

The congregation heard guestcelebrities Baroness (Betty)Boothroyd, Joanna David,Mariella Frostrup, Baroness(Ruth) Rendell, Sir Malcolm

She added: “Every one of thereaders, singers and those atthe Carmelite Church gave theirtime for free. It was a magicalevening and I’d like to thankeveryone for making it such aspecial event and raising somuch money for the MS Trust.”

For details of fund raising eventsduring 2008/09 visit www.mstrust.co.uk/rbkcmayor

Rifkind, Dame Diana Rigg, ColinSalmon, Carol Thatcher andLawrence and Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen tell the age-old story ofChristmas.

The Mayor of the Royal Borough, Cllr the Hon. Joanna Gardner, said she was “delighted that the carolservice was such a fantastic success,bringing people together fromacross the borough and beyond.”

CAROLS RAISE CASH


News

ZEROTOLERANCE ZONEDOMESTIC VIOLENCE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

HELP IS AT HANDMETROPOLITAN POLICE in an emergency always dial 999POLICE COMMUNITY SAFETY UNIT 020 8246 0226WOMAN’S TRUST 020 7034 030324 Hour Emergency Service 07747 080964AL-AMAN services provided in Arabic 020 8748 2577NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE 0808 2000 247

With the police dealing with morethan 1,000 calls related todomestic violence each year inKensington and Chelsea, theRoyal Borough’s domesticviolence strategy is an importantweapon in tackling the problem.

The Council carries out awarenesscampaigns throughout the year,particularly at times like Christmas,when emotions can come to a headbehind closed doors and relationshipsand families can be torn apart byviolence, abuse and threats.

Following the success of last year’scampaign, which saw thousandsof beer mats featuring messagesaimed at victims and perpetratorsof domestic violence distributed toabout 200 pubs and clubs acrossthe borough, the Council this yearmounted a poster campaign toraise awareness.

Three posters, distributed acrossthe borough, highlighted theborough’s zero tolerance stanceon domestic violence and includeduseful contact numbers.

A fourth poster features direct quotesfrom survivors of domestic violencewho were helped by Kensington andChelsea’s independent domesticviolence advocacy service, which isprovided by Woman’s Trust.

Research shows that one in fourwomen and one in six men will bea victim of domestic violence intheir lifetime. Two women aremurdered by a current or formermale partner every week inEngland and Wales alone.

Domestic violence can happenbetween people of all cultures,religions and classes. On average,a victim of domestic violence willhave been assaulted 35 timesbefore seeking help or contactingthe police. Domestic violence caninclude financial, emotional andverbal abuse, but the clearmessage from the Royal Boroughis that however bad the situationgets, help is at hand.

A number of locally-based servicesoffer free and confidential services:

Woman’s Trust IndependentDomestic Violence AdvocacyService 020 7034 0303

Eaves Women’s Aid020 7373 8660

Hestia Housing and Support020 8960 4202

Victim Support Kensington andChelsea 020 7259 2424

In an emergency always dial 999

Tackling violenceThe way the Royal Borough ofKensington and Chelsea teachesand looks after children has beenjudged as outstanding by Ofstedinspectors, who have awardedthe Council’s Family and Children’sServices Directorate the highestpossible rating in all categories.

Kensington and Chelsea Councilwas one of only three localauthorities in the country to receivethe top rating.

Welcoming the report, Cllr ShireenRitchie, Cabinet Member for Familyand Children’s Services, warnedthat there was no room forcomplacency where the welfare ofchildren was concerned and saidthe Council would continue towork hard to protect, educate andnurture the borough’s children.

The report found that the Councilhad maintained its high standardsand even improved on them insome areas since its most recentmajor inspection in 2007.Inspectors praised the Council’sstrong, stable and innovativeleadership and its highly effectivepartnership arrangements.

Family and Children’s Services,which oversees schools, children’ssocial care and communityeducation, was commended forthe way children and young peopleare involved in making decisions.

The Council’s schools are highly-rated; in 2007, pupils achievedsome of the best results in Englandat the end of all Key Stages andthey continue to improve fasterthan in the country as a whole.

A-level results are exceptionallyhigh and well above average.

Cllr Ritchie, said: “I am pleasedthat Ofsted has judged that weoffer an outstanding service tochildren and parents. Recentevents show all too clearly the vitalimportance of high standards in all our work with children andfamilies.

“We always seek to provide thehighest standards of service for ourresidents and those in our careand this Ofsted report confirmsthat we are continuing to succeed.While it is pleasing to read such apositive endorsement of ourservices there is never any roomfor complacency when it comes tothe education and welfare ofchildren in the Royal Borough.”

OUTSTANDINGLY GOOD

A fun fashion show worthy ofany London fashion house wasstaged by 40 people withlearning disabilities who useservices provided by Kensingtonand Chelsea Council.

The show at the WestbourneStudio, a hotbed of fashion andcreativity in north Kensington,was watched by 100 people.The fashion show had a multi-media theme and featuredseven stalls that highlighted thework done to stage the show.

The event demonstrated thestrong partnerships that exist inKensington and Chelseabetween the Council, thevoluntary sector and NHSKensington and Chelsea(formerly known as the primarycare trust).

Kensington Recruitment on020 7937 1611 or [email protected]

The eventalsohighlightedthe widerange ofwork thatpeople with learning disabilitiesare involved in across theborough as a result ofemployment and volunteeringopportunities.

“People with learning disabilitiesface significant challenges infinding employment but thisevent showed that with the righthelp and support people canachieve great things,” said CllrFiona Buxton, Cabinet Memberfor Adult Social Care.

For more information on employmentopportunities for people withlearning disabilities contact

Frame thosebike thieves

Protect your bike by coming along to a free cycle coding sessionbetween noon and 2pm in Holland Park on Sunday 29 March.

Parks police officers will engrave your house/flat number andpostcode on your cycle so that if it is stolen it can be returned. Officers

will also be able to answer general questions regarding policing in theparks. Ring 020 7938 8190 for more information.

Stars of thecatwalk


Health

More than half the GPpractices in Kensingtonand Chelsea are nowoffering longer openinghours.

A total of 26 GP practices in theborough – 60 per cent – arecurrently offering their servicesearlier in the morning, later in theevening and at weekends, givingmore than 117,000 patients awider choice of appointment times.

This compares with a national averageof just over 51 per cent, accordingto statistics recently published bythe Department of Health.

Frankie Lynch, Director of PrimaryCare Commissioning at NHSKensington and Chelsea, said:“We knew that there was going tobe a national initiative to haveextended hours, so we ran a pilotwith 12 local practices tounderstand what further servicepeople wanted.

“From this we developed our LocalEnhanced Scheme (LES), whichreflects patients’ needs and givespractices greater flexibility in

choosing whether they open earlier in the morning or later in the evening.

“Feedback from local patientsshows they are really pleased abouthaving greater choice and a GPexperience that suits their lifestyle.”

Department of Health figures showthat in less than six months there

has been a 40 per cent increase inthe number of practices offeringmore flexible early morning,evening and weekend openingacross the country.

This means GPs met thegovernment target of 50 per centof practices offering extendedopening hours by the end of 2008– three months ahead of target.

Smokers are being encouragedto light up outside theirhomes to help protect otherfamily members, particularlychildren, from the effects ofsecondhand smoke.

Kensington and Chelsea Councilhas joined NHS Kensingtonand Chelsea and the LondonFire Brigade to launch theSmokefree Homes campaign.

The home is a major source ofsecondhand smoke for babiesand children. Children exposedto secondhand smoke have ahigher risk of developing asthma,chest infections, glue ear andmeningitis, while babies run ahigher risk of cot death.

Other benefits of a Smokefreehome include:

• Your children will be lesslikely to start smoking

• Your home will be cleanerand fresher

• Your pets are likely to behealthier and live longer

• You will be less likely to havea house fire

Kensington and ChelseaCouncil has also funded asmoking prevention educationprogramme that is beingimplemented in several schoolsin the borough.

The programme involvestheatre performances byBigfoot Arts Education andaims to educate young peopleabout the effects, impact andrisks of drugs, in particulartobacco. As part of theprogramme, a secondaryschools poster competition ispromoting tobacco awarenessamong students.

Residents are being encouraged to pledge to have a SmokefreeHome. In return they are beinggiven a goody bag full ofinformation and items designed tohelp them achieve a Smokefreehome.

While making the pledge, residentscan also ask the London FireBrigade to conduct a free home firesafety visit and install a free smokealarm if the house needs one.Smokers thinking about stoppingcan also ask for a referral to theNHS Kensington and Chelsea StopSmoking Service.

For further information about theSmokefree Homes campaign andhow you can pledge tomake your homeSmokefree, contact theSmokefree Homescampaign on 020 73415721 or [email protected] free help and adviceon stopping smoking, ringthe NHS Kensington andChelsea Stop SmokingService for free on 08000859147.

If you must – go outside

Making life easierImproving the way stroke andmajor trauma care is providedin London will need afundamental change in theway services are organised,which is why Healthcare forLondon will be consulting onthe organisation of theseservices early in 2009.

NHS Kensington and Chelsea(formerly known as the primarycare trust) will be carrying outconsultation in the Royal Boroughinto where acute stroke andmajor trauma services shouldbe based.

For major trauma services, theconsultation will focus onestablishing trauma networks,each based on a major traumacentre.

For stroke care, the Londonstrategy is based on a networkof specialist stroke units that willensure no Londoner is morethan 30 minutes away from a

hyper acute stroke unit. Allpatients will have access to abrain scan and clot-bustingdrugs, if they need them, withinthat vital half an hour.

Once stabilised, patients wouldbe moved to a dedicatedstroke unit either in the samehospital or closer to home,where they would receiveongoing care.

Patients who suffer a suspected‘mini stroke’ will be offered anassessment within 24 hours if they are considered to be high risk.

There will be plenty ofopportunities for staff,stakeholders, patients and localresidents to take part in theconsultation and theseopportunities will be publicisedacross our networks and in thelocal press.

www.healthcareforlondon.nhs.uk

IMPROVING CARE


Question Time

When did you first considerbecoming a councillor?

Not too long before the 2002local elections. I had been quiteinvolved in local issues and BobPope, who had representedColville for many years, wasstanding down and encouragedme to stand.

Did you need a lot ofconvincing?

Yes. I was worried that Iwouldn’t have enough time todo it properly.

How did you feel when youwere elected?

I felt very new joining such along-established institution asthe Council. As a LabourCouncillor I am a member ofthe minority party in Kensingtonand Chelsea and I felt it wasgoing to take a bit of time tofigure out how best we couldwork together to achieve results.

What is the most rewardingpart of being a councillor?

Intervening to unblock asituation and making a realdifference to the life of one ofmy constituents.

And the least…?

You can’t please all of the peopleall of the time.

What are your ambitions inthe political sphere?

I’m happy at a local level insuch a great community asPortobello – and I doubt

Do you have any hobbies?

Going to galleries, swimmingand cycling.

A favourite book?

Dubliners – James Joyce.

A favourite film?

The Third Man with Orson Welles,directed by Carol Reed.

A favourite song or pieceof music?

Anything by Marvin Gaye.

A favourite part of, or placein, the borough?

Portobello and Golborne Road.

A recommended place to eat?

La Plaza on Tavistock Piazza.

If you could take a holidayanywhere in the world, wherewould you go?

China.

If you could have one wishgranted for yourself whatwould it be?

To read faster. As Councillors weget a large amount of paperwork.

If you could have a wishgranted for everybody whatmight it be?

More funding for communities,education, healthcare, the artsand to improve quality of life indisadvantaged communities.Not that much really!

Labour will win a majority inKensington and Chelsea in thenear future.

What is the funniest thing thathas happened to you sincebecoming a Councillor?

Almost comically falling off mybicycle when a resident waved tospeak to me. I wasn’t hurt, andfortunately nor was the resident.

What are the main concernsraised at your surgeries?

I deal with a variety of issues suchas rubbish dumping and protectingPortobello Market, but housingovercrowding and maintenance arethe main ones.

How many hours a week, onaverage, do you spend oncouncil work?

It varies, but around 15 to 20 hoursa week; there are a lot of eveningmeetings and it takes time toresearch and read the papers toprepare for them.

What one thing would improvethe lot of your constituents?

Re-opening Talbot Road publictoilets.

What one thing are you mostproud of doing since becominga councillor?

When I first came on the Councilthere was a somewhat difficultrelationship between PortobelloMarket and the Council. I’veworked hard to change that andthe Council now recognisesPortobello’s character in a muchmore positive way.

This edition of Royal Borough puts Cllr Dez O’Neill, the member for ColvilleWard, through his paces.

Q&ACllr Dez O’NeillColville Ward

Councillor Question Time New legislation is set to changethe way the Council is organised– and residents are being askedtheir views on the options.

All local authorities in England thatoperate through an executive arebeing told to choose between anelected Mayor with a four-year termor a new style Leader and Cabinet,also taking office for a four-year term.

At Kensington and Chelsea, theLeader of the Council is currentlyelected by all 54 Councillors. TheLeader then appoints nine fellowCouncillors to form a Cabinet andthose Cabinet Members are givenresponsibility for making policy andtaking decisions on the wayCouncil services are delivered.

The other Councillors perform a‘scrutiny’ or checking role, while themayor chairs full Council meetingsand has a traditional ceremonial role.

The new proposals are:

Option A: Leader and Cabinet

This would be similar to the currentarrangements, with the Leader ofthe Council elected by full Council.Under the new rules, though, theLeader would be elected for aperiod of four years. He or shecould appoint up to nineCouncillors as Cabinet Membersand would decide how big theCabinet should be. He or shewould also appoint a deputy leaderwho would also serve a four-yearterm. Other Councillors would be

able to exercise functions in theward they represent and wouldalso continue to scrutinise decisionsmade by Cabinet Members andexternal organisations.

Option B: Directly-elected Mayorand Cabinet

The Mayor would be directlyelected by voters in the boroughand would serve for four years. Heor she would then choose aCabinet of not more than tenCouncillors. The remaining electedCouncillors would be able toexercise functions in their ward andwould continue to have a scrutinyrole. The traditional, non-politicalrole now fulfilled by the Mayorwould continue, but would need tobe given another name todifferentiate the political Mayorfrom the ceremonial Mayor.

The Council prefers Option Abecause it adopted the Leader andCabinet approach in 2001 and ithas worked very well to date.Government research shows thatthis model provides strongerleadership and strategicmanagement and quicker andmore focused decision making.

The Council wants residents tohave their say on their preferredoption by completing the survey atwww.rbkc.gov.uk/consultation

Alternatively, telephone 020 73612262 for a paper copy or [email protected] The closingdate for comments is 6 March 2009.

TIME TO CHOOSE

The X factorThe Royal Borough’s new electoralregister gives details of residentswho are entitled to vote in theEuropean election on 4 June andin the next General Election, whichcould be called at any time.

The register was updated inDecember based on the resultsfrom the annual canvass, when aform was delivered to everyhousehold in the borough. Anyonewho did not fill in this form will nothave his or her name included onthe register – and will not be ableto vote unless they put that right.

A letter confirming who isregistered to vote was sent toevery address in the RoyalBorough at the end of January.Anyone who discovers an error in this information should correct itby completing and returning arolling registration form that can be obtained from the Council’s

electoral services team. This is alsothe way to add your name if youare not currently on the register.

Anyone who wants to vote in theEuropean Election on 4 June musthave registered by returning aregistration form by 5pm on 19 May.

Did you know?

Of the estimated 178,000 peopleliving in Kensington and Chelsea,104,605 residents are included onthe electoral register.

Anyone whose name is not includedon the electoral register may find itmore difficult to obtain credit orobtain a resident’s parking permit.

You can check whether or not yourname is included on the register byvisiting your local library, contactingelectoral services on 020 7361 3444or emailing [email protected]

FREE ICT TRAINING Kensington and Chelsea Council’s Early Years Service is offering residents the chance to brush upon their Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills by joining a five week course.

This course, which covers basic computer skills for both personal and work use, is made up of three hour-long sessions starting on Thursday 5 March and running until 2 April. They begin at 10am.

Learners who complete the course, which is being held at Clare Gardens Children's Centre, will receivean EDCC certificate. Call 020 7361 2942 or email: [email protected]


Recycling

All the material collected fromorange bags put out by residentsand from the Royal Borough’smixed banks of recyclablematerial is taken to a materialsrecovery facility (MRF) in Kent,where it is sorted into differenttypes of material.

These materials are then put ontodifferent pallets and sent todifferent places – most of them inthe UK – for reprocessing. Somematerials are exported becausethere is a shortage of processingplants in the UK, but these exportsare strictly regulated by law and areaudited by the Environment Agency.

• Paper and cardboard goes tovarious reprocessing companiesin Kent, the north west ofEngland, Europe, and China.

• Glass bottles and jars aremostly sent to a London-basedaggregates company.

• Plastic bottles and usedorange recycling sacks have tobe exported to other countriesfor reprocessing.

• Cans and aerosols are sent toa reprocessing plant in the northwest of England.

• Food and drink cartons arecurrently included with paperand cardboard and sold tovarious companies as outlinedabove. If the Council starts toincrease the amount of cartonscollected it may have to exportthem to Finland or Italy, the onlycountries that have mills speciallydesigned for this material.

Green light for newsletterKeep up to date with recycling and other green issues by subscribing to a new online-only newsletterbeing published by Kensington and Chelsea Council.

The Recycling Team has responded to the keen interest that Royal Borough residents have in environmentalissues by planning a regular e-newsletter highlighting new developments in recycling.

The newsletter will focus on issues such as new materials that can be accepted for recycling, the locationof new textile recycling banks or battery collection points, updates on the current recycling rate andevents at which people can meet the Recycling Team.

To receive the recycling e-newsletter please email [email protected], using the words RecyclingNewsletter as the subject title. Your details will be kept strictly confidential, used only for distributing therecycling e-newsletter and never be sold to any third party.

Ever wondered what happens tothe bottles, cans, cardboard andother material that you socarefully recycle by supportingthe Council’s Recycling Team?Here’s a guide:

Plastic bottles are melted andturned into pellets to make newplastic bottles, orange recyclingbags, car parts and garden furniture.

Cans and empty aerosols can berecycled into a variety of productsincluding new cans, bicycleframes, pipes and train tracks.

Glass is washed, crushed andturned into a fine material like sandwhich can be used as buildingsand or be further treated to turn itinto a product that is used for floorand wall insulation and as alightweight building material.

Paper can beturned intooffice paper,newspapers,books andmagazines.

Cardboard isusually madeinto newboxes andpackagingbut can alsobe used asanimalbedding oreven coffins.

Paper-based food and drinkcartons can be remade into anumber of different productsranging from plasterboard liner to high-strength paper bags andenvelopes.

Whatever you choose to recycleyou are making a positivecontribution towards theenvironment, so please keep upthe good work.

Wasting food wastes money and is a major contributor toclimate change. People across the UK currently throw away 6.7million tonnes of food every year, and while it includes thingslike peelings, cores and bones, the majority is, or was once,perfectly good food.

Most of this wasted food ends up in landfill sites where it rots andreleases methane, a damaging greenhouse gas. The food wethrow away is also a huge waste of the energy, water andpackaging used to produce, transport and store it.

Here are a few tips on how to reduce food waste:

1 Plan your meals ahead. Take five minutes to check your fridgeand cupboards before you go shopping to make sure that youonly buy what you need.

2 Try to get your portion sizes right so you don’t cook too muchin the first place. Use a cup or a tablespoon to help you work outhow much food you need for the number of people you arefeeding.

3 Don’t be tempted by buy one get one free offers on freshproduce. Make sure that you will be able to eat it before it goesout of date.

4 Compost your vegetable peelings for an environmentally-friendlyway of dealing with them.

5 If you cook too much, put it in a plastic tub and freeze it foranother day – or eat it for lunch the next day.

6 Check out the Love Food Hate Waste website at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for some fantastic recipe ideas.

Think before youwaste good food

WHERE IT ALL GOES

Sprucing upour effortsResidents recycled almost 53tonnes of Christmas trees this year,making good use of the Council’s11 Christmas tree collection sitesaround the borough.

All the Christmas trees will now besent for composting rather than takingup space in a landfill site.

MAKING SURE YOUREFFORTS AREN’T WASTED

Find out more by visitingwww.rbkc.gov.uk/refuseandrecycling


Sports and Leisure

and cost £2.80, while adults canenjoy this new experience onWednesdays from 6pm to 7pm for£4.60 (or free with the Ultimatemembership).

Readers also have the chance toenjoy a free day’s membershipthroughout February. One readerwill win six months’ free membershipof their chosen centre – just fill inthe coupon on this page for thechance to win.

Whether you choose to visit duringthe day or the evening, you will beable to find out how Courtney’s canhelp you get in shape and achieveyour fitness goals.

Why not take part in some greatfitness classes, work out in the gymor refresh and unwind in the pool?All these activities are available on apay-as-you-go rate that starts fromas little as £1.15*

Additional activities on offer includesquash, badminton, basketball,volleyball and five-a-side football tomention a few. There are alsoactivities deigned to allow peopleover 50 to socialise while keeping

Street Dance is the world’sgreatest dance party – afitness class that can unlockeveryone’s rhythmic anddancing instincts. With theemphasis on having fun aswell as breaking sweat, it is anaddictive fusion of dance andaerobic moves – and it’s onoffer in Kensington.

The blend of music used forStreet Dance includes the latestsounds of hip-hop and funk,together with the coolest soundscurrently topping the charts.

Providing the kind ofexperience that today’s fitnessclub members are looking for inthe group fitness studio, StreetDance adds new meaning tothe concept of having fun whilegetting fit.

Kensington Leisure Centrelaunched Street Dance on 7January and offers sessions forboth children aged eight to 16and adults.

Junior classes take place onWednesdays from 5pm to 6pm

active doing things like linedancing or Pilates.

Youngsters are also well cateredfor at Courtneys at Kensingtonand Chelsea, with activities thatinclude gym classes andswimming courses, a junglegym (soft play area with slides,climbing area and ball pool) acrèche, mini-football, basketballand lots more.

Get started right away by usingthe one-day guest pass onoffer for every reader. To enjoyyour free day’s membership onany one day in February, takethis article to Courtneys atKensington leisure centre,Walmer road, London W114PQ or Courtneys at ChelseaSports Centre, Chelsea ManorStreet, London, SW3 5PL.

As an extra incentive, everyonewho uses the free one-daypass will be entered into a prizedraw to win an annualmembership worth £288.

* Price based on adult leisurepass for swim.

Get in the fitness groove

Gym sessions

Every Tuesday – 6pm to 7pm

Westway Centre1 Crowthorne Road W10 6R

Free

Badminton and Bowls

Wednesdays – 11am to 12.30pm

Kensington Leisure CentreWalmer Road W11 4PQ

Fee £2

For more information please call Open Age on

020 8964 1900Supported by the Kensington and Chelsea Community Sports andPhysical Activity Network (CSPAN) in partnership with KensingtonLeisure Centre and Westway Centre

Open Age: Opening doors to activeleisure for people over 50

ONE-DAY FREE GUEST PASSName:............................................................................................................................................

Address: ............................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................. Postcode:................................

Telephone no: ............................................................................................................................

Mobile no:......................................................................................................................................

Email: ................................................................................................................................................

Offer expires: 28/2/2009

Courtneys at Kensington Leisure Centre, Walmer Road, London W11 4PQTelephone: 020 7727 9747 Email: [email protected]

Courtneys at Chelsea, Chelsea Manor Street, London, SW3 5PL Telephone: 020 7352 6985 Email: [email protected]

Terms and Conditions

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Overview and Scrutiny

Some of the proposals containedwithin Lord Darzi’s reportHealthcare for London are nowbeing implemented. They includeplans for an estimated eight strokecentres across London to whichpatients suffering from a stroke willin future be taken instead of goingto the nearest hospital.

The thinking behind this scheme is that quick access to specialistcare provided at a dedicatedstroke centre will reduce thenumber of deaths and producebetter recovery rates than could be achieved by using generalhospitals.

Evidence from other countriessupports this idea and there will bethree months of publicconsultation after the suggestedcentres are named in early 2009.

Although a similar exercise has justtaken place regarding proposednew trauma centres for London,Royal Borough Councillors aredisappointed that only three have sofar been designated, two in southLondon and one in east London.

Scrutiny Committee membersbelieve there is a gap in provisionin the west and north of London,which needs to be addressed.Scrutiny members plan to work onthis shortfall together with ScrutinyCommittees from neighbouringLondon boroughs during thepublic consultation period thatruns until the end of April 2009.

“We can expect more suggestedchanges in the way healthcare is

provided in London over thecoming months,” commentedscrutiny chairman Cllr ChristopherBuckmaster.

“The Health OSC will be lookingclosely at all of them and willwelcome comments from thepublic. The new health forum forpatients and residents, the LocalInvolvement Network (LINk), isnow up and running and is anotheravenue for comments. ContactLINk at Unit 25, 85 Barlby Road,W10 6AZ or by telephoning 020 8968 6771.”

In the spring every year the HealthOverview and Scrutiny Committeecomments on the Healthcheckself-assessment documents writtenby the NHS trusts.

“If you have any experiences,either from the treatment you havereceived, or from that given tofamilies and friends, please contactus at the Town Hall,” said CllrBuckmaster.

He added: “This year the ScrutinyCommittee on Health will beestablishing special working groupson obesity in children and ondentistry, two areas of concern withinthe Royal Borough. We welcomeyour comments, either in writing orby attending as a witness at one ofour evidence gathering sessions.”

Contact the scrutiny team at theTown Hall on 020 7361 2987 or3494, or by emailing [email protected] or [email protected]

A prescription for healthKensington and Chelsea Councillors whose scrutiny role helps the Councilinfluence and improve services across the Royal Borough have been consideringthe wide-ranging changes taking place within the National Health Service.

That sub-group, chaired by CllrMrs Frances Taylor, held a publicmeeting in November when theylistened to residents’ views on theproposals as well as evidence fromthe trust and an independentfinancial consultant appointed bythe Council.

That meeting and a previousconsultation with residents led tothe sub-group producing anumber of recommendations thatwere considered by the OSC at theend of January.

Those recommendations includesuggesting that the Council makessome of its own land available tocut the time it would otherwisetake to redevelop the area.

If the Cabinet and Council acceptthe recommendations, they will beincluded in a supplementary planningdocument (SPD) that will outlinethe agreed blueprint for the estate.

Cllr Mrs Frances Taylor, Chairmanof the Overview and ScrutinyCommittee on the Public Realm

said it had been along process.

“We have listenedto many residentsand other people. Iam sure that ifplanningpermission is given for theredevelopment of WorningtonGreen Estate, the development willhave benefited greatly from theinvolvement of local residents andthey will find the new estate a greatplace to live.”

Plans to redevelop theWornington Green Estate innorth Kensington have beenconsidered by Kensingtonand Chelsea’s influentialOverview and ScrutinyCommittee (OSC) on thePublic Realm.

Councillors considered a reportfrom their own sub-group thatrecommended they supportKensington Housing Trust’s(KHT) application to redevelopthe estate.

Anyone who could not attendthe meeting on 19 Novembercan catch up by viewing awebcast of the meeting byvisiting www.rbkc.public-i.tv/site/

Making plans for Wornington

Magistrate and long-standing member of the Kensington SocietyEthne Rudd has died at the age of 79.

Intelligent and courageous, Ethne was an active member of theKensington Society for 14 years, a member of her local church, StMary Abbots in Kensington and a magistrate in London for 25 years.

Born in Kensington in 1929, Ethne was educated at Queen’s Gateschool in Kensington and then at Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Shecontinued her education at St Anne’s College, Oxford, where shemet her future husband Anthony.

Her bravery and dedication to her community and to Kensingtonwas most tested in 1997 when, in her role as secretary of theKensington Society, she single-handily embarked on a campaignto stop proposals for the Diana Memorial Gardens.

Government proposals would have meant concreting over acres ofgrass in Kensington Gardens to create the formal Diana memorial.Ethne felt passionately that these changes would alter the communityand persuaded the Kensington Society to oppose the proposals.

Her tireless efforts were not in vain and the Government compromised,creating the Diana Walk and a children’s playground, which left thelandscape of Kensington Gardens untouched.

Ethne Rudd was committed, passionate and true to her beliefs.She died of pancreatic cancer on 6 July 2008. She leaves herhusband Anthony, a son and three daughters.

CAMPAIGNERREMEMBERED

Cllr Christopher Buckmaster

Just three days before Valentine’sDay, Kensington and ChelseaCouncil is offering people thechance to fall in love with themusic of opera.

On Tuesday, 10 February theCouncil-run Korn/Ferry OperaHolland Park is holding a day offree recitals at venues in andaround the borough.

Singers from the critically-acclaimedcompany will be performing atlocations across Kensington andChelsea, including the Miranda BarryCentre, Chelsea and WestminsterHospital and even High StreetKensington Tube Station.

The recitals will take place everyhour between 10am and 5pm andare part of the company’s outreachprogramme designed to take operato the widest possible audience.

Throughout the year OperaHolland Park makes monthly visitsto care centres to hold freeperformances for those who mayno longer be able to travel to thetheatre. The company also workshard to introduce opera to as manypeople as possible, especially youngpeople who may not otherwise havethe opportunity to hear it.

As well as the popular free ticketscheme for young people, OperaHolland Park holds regular workshopson the operas featured in thatsummer’s season of performancesat schools around the borough.

Anyone who is involved with aschool or youth organisation andwould be interested in participatingin Opera Holland Park’s educationprogrammes should email [email protected]

The 2009 Season will once againsee Opera Holland Park give 1,200young people the chance to attenda performance free of charge, offermore than 400 subsidised ticketsto over sixties on lower incomesand make 5,000 tickets availableat just £10. For further informationon the company and the 2009Season visit www.operahollandpark.com


Events diary

CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN

66 Royal Hospital RoadSW3 4HSTelephone: 020 7352 5646Nearest Tube: Sloane Squarewww.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

SPECIAL WINTER OPENING14 and 15 February 2009, 10am to 4pm

Take advantage of the firstweekend in London’s ‘secretgarden’ winter programme andenjoy a chance to appreciate itsfragrant shrubs and bulbs beforeit closes until April.

Admission £8; concessions(children five to 15, students andthe unemployed) £5. Please noteonly two children per adult.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Cromwell RoadSW7 5BDTelephone: 020 7942 5000Nearest Tube: South Kensingtonwww.nhm.ac.uk

DISCOVER THE 12 CHINESENEW YEAR ANIMALS17, 19 and 21 February 2009,12pm, 2pm and 4pm

Discover more about the animalsof the Chinese New Year and findout which animal year you wereborn in from a Chinese storytellerand her dragon friend.

Free admission.

CRAFTY NATURE21 February 2009, 11am to 1pmand 2pm to 4pm

Join the museum’s artists for anexciting craft workshop usinginteresting materials to make funcreations based on natural history

themes. The workshop is in FossilMarine Reptiles and is suitable forchildren under seven.

Free admission.

AFTER HOURS27 February and 27 March 2009,6pm to 10.30pm

Experience London’s most uniqueFriday night out on the last Fridayof every month. Relax with a drinkand light refreshments to thesounds of live jazz and worldmusic in the spectacularsurroundings of the museum’sCentral Hall. The bars are openfrom 6.30pm.

Free admission.

MUSEUM OF BRANDS,PACKAGING ANDADVERTISING

2 Colville Mews, Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill, W11 2ARTelephone: 020 7908 0880/0881www.museumofbrands.com

WASTE NOT, WANT NOTUntil 31 November 2009,Tuesday to Saturday 10am to6pm, Sun 11am to 5pm (closedMondays).

While few people now rememberthose years of rationing andblackouts, the ‘make do andmend’ attitude has stood us ingood stead to make better use ofthe limited resources we havetoday. This new exhibitionhighlights wartime advice on howto save fuel and money and growyour own vegetables; it’s allstartlingly similar to the situationtoday, where councils are nowchampioning initiatives such asencouraging people to use fewercarrier bags.

Admission: £5.80 adults, £3.50concessions, £2 children.

NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM

Royal Hospital RoadSW3 4HTTelephone: 020 7730 0717Nearest Tube: Sloane Squarewww.national-army-museum.ac.uk

BIG SPRING CLEAN14 to 22 February 2009, daily10am to 5.30pm

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes lookat how a museum goes about itsspring clean. Join Captain Cleanas he returns in his battle againstthe Agents of Decay and help ourexpert team preserve themuseum’s treasures. Get hands-on experience in finding evidenceand solving puzzles and pick upuseful tips for looking after yourfamily’s heirlooms.

CADOGAN HALL

Sloane TerraceSW1X 9DQTelephone: 020 7730 4500Nearest Tube: Sloane Squarewww.cadoganhall.com

THE MAN FROM PLANET JAZZ:PETER CATER BIG BAND 16 March 2009, 8pm

Arguably the greatest jazzdrummer of all time, thecelebrated Buddy Rich enjoyedglobal success with his famousbig band, recording some of themost memorable tunes everheard. Inspired by his dedicationto the art of drumming, multi-award winning British drummerPete Cater returns with his all-star big band for an eveningshowcasing the legendary man’s contribution to jazz. The programme will include such favourites as Love for Sale, Big Swing Face andNorwegian Wood.

Admission: £20, £15, £10.

KENSINGTON CENTRALLIBRARY

Phillimore WalkW8 7RXTelephone: 020 7361 3010Nearest Tube: High St Kensingtonwww.rbkc.gov.uk/libraries

KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA

Events DiaryFROM FEBRUARY 2009

24 February to 1 March 2009, 7.45pmOpera Holland Park takes its acclaimed productionof Tosca to Richmond Theatre. Widely regarded as oneof the most exciting, innovative and accomplished operacompanies in the UK, this transfer to the spectacularsetting of Richmond Theatre is a unique opportunitythat complements the prestigious summer festival.

Richmond Theatre, The Green, Richmond, Surrey,TW9 1QJ. Nearest Tube: RichmondBox Office: 0870 060 6651www.richmondtheatre.net

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Events Diary

Have your event featuredhere by sending thedetails, marked for theRoyal Borough Editor, [email protected]

MILITARY HISTORY: FACT AND FICTION3 March 2009, 7pm to 8.30pm

Saul David is the author of severalcritically-acclaimed history books,including The Indian Mutiny: 1857(shortlisted for the WestminsterMedal for Military Literature), Zulu:the Heroism and Tragedy of theZulu War of 1879 and, mostrecently, Victoria’s Wars: The Riseof Empire. David Dickinson is thewell-known and popular author ofthe Lord Powerscourt Mysteriesand a former producer ofPanorama. Drop in to hear themtalk about their latest books andthe art of turning fact into fiction.

Admission is free but by ticketonly, available from any RoyalBorough library.

KENSINGTON PALACE

Kensington Palace, KensingtonGardens, W8 4PX Telephone: 0844 482 7777Nearest Tube: High St Kensingtonwww.hrp.org.uk

GORGEOUS GEORGIANS21 and 22 February 2009

Explore the weird and wonderfulcourt of George I and George IIthrough music, food, entertainmentand partying princesses.

Free admission for children whenaccompanied by a full paying adult(terms and conditions apply).

VICTORIA RULES 21 and 22 March 2009

Find out about Queen Victoria’sstrict childhood at KensingtonPalace at an interactive learningday featuring arts, crafts,storytelling, activities and gamesfor all the family.

Free admission for children whenaccompanied by a full paying adult(terms and conditions apply).

SAATCHI GALLERY

Duke of York’s HQ, King’s RoadSW3 4SQTelephone: 020 7823 2363Nearest Tube: Sloane Squarewww.saatchigallery.com

Kader Attia, Ghost, 2007Aluminium foil, Dimensions variableCourtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London© Kader Attia, 2009

UNVEILED: NEW ART FROMTHE MIDDLE EASTUntil 6 May 2009, daily 10am to 6pm

The second show from the newChelsea gallery presents the workof more than 20 gifted MiddleEastern artists. Dedicated to theflourishing contemporary Arabicart scene, the exhibition will offera cutting edge survey of recentpainting, sculpture and installation.

The artists featured are Diana Al-Hadid, Halim Al-Karim, AhmedAlsoudani, Kader Attia, NadiaAyari, Ali Banisadr, Shirin Fakhim,Shadi Ghadirian, Barbad Golshiri,Ramin Haerizadeh, RokniHaerizadeh, Khaled Hafez, WafaHourani, Hayv Kahraman, JeffarKhaldi, Laleh Khorramian, FarsadLabbauf, Tala Madani, AhmadMorshedloo, Sara Rahbar andMarwan Rechmaoui.

Free admission.

BROMPTON LIBRARY

210 Old Brompton RoadSW5 0BSTelephone: 020 7361 3010Nearest Tube: Earl’s Courtwww.rbkc.gov.uk/libraries

TRAVEL PANEL25 March 2009, 7pm to 8.30pm

Tim Butcher (Blood River), AliceAlbinia (Empires of the Indus) andNigel Jones (The War Walk) willtalk about their work, their travelsand the art of travel writing.

Admission is free but by ticketonly, available from any RoyalBorough library.

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM

Cromwell RoadSW7 2RLTelephone: 020 7942 2000Nearest Tube: South Kensingtonwww.vam.ac.uk

TOM DIXON – TALKING DESIGN:FRIDAY EVENING LECTURE13 February 2009, 7pm to 8pm

Leading furniture designer TomDixon has combined the creativewith the commercial throughouthis career. He taught himselfdesign in the 1980s, sold limitededition furniture and opened ashop. He has gone on to becomehead of design at Habitat andnow Artek, the Finnish furnituremaker. Dixon will discuss his workwith design critic AliceRawsthorn.

Tickets: £8, concessions available.To book call 020 7942 2211 orvisit www.vam.ac.uk/tickets

HATS: AN ANTHOLOGY BYSTEPHEN JONES24 February 2009 to 31 May2009, daily 10am to 5.45pm (and till 10pm Fridays)

For those with a passion for hats,this is a ‘must see’ new exhibition.Featuring more than 300 hatschosen with the expert eye of amilliner, this exhibition in thePorter Gallery is a collaborationwith one of the world’s foremosthat designers, Stephen Jones.

On display will be hats rangingfrom an Egyptian Anubis maskdating from 600BC to a 1950sBalenciaga hat and couturecreations by Jones and hiscontemporaries. To show theuniversal appeal of wearing hats,the selection will include a widevariety of styles including top hats,berets and a child’s plastic tiara.

Free admission.

DIETER RAMS: LESS, BUTBETTER: FRIDAY EVENINGLECTURE20 February 2009, 7pm to 8pm

Dieter Rams is one of the mostinfluential industrial designers ofthe twentieth century. His work indesigning products for theGerman electronics giant Braun iswidely acclaimed for its unerringelegance, simplicity, versatility andtechnical virtuosity. Rams willdiscuss his design philosophyand his ideas on the future ofdesign. In association with Vitsoe.

Tickets: £8, concessions available.To book call 020 7942 2211 orvisit www.vam.ac.uk/tickets

KENSINGTON TOWN HALL

Hornton StreetW8 7NXTelephone: 020 7361 3000Nearest Tube: High St Kensingtonwww.rbkc.gov.uk

ANIMATION DECATHLON21 March 2009, 6pm to 9.30pm

For one night only, see KensingtonTown Hall transformed into anOlympic Stadium and compete inthe world’s first digital animationdecathlon.

A series of 2012-inspired drawingsand animations, created bychildren and artists in the borough,will be projected onto the Councilbuildings and will sprint, polevault, and swim across thebrickwork, transforming the TownHall into an Olympic arena.

The audience will be able to takepart in the animation decathlonusing banks of game controllerspositioned along the walls of theTown Hall courtyard. Spoofcommentators, an animatedleader’s board, warm up activitiesand cheerleaders will add to thefun.

Free admission. No bookingrequired. Contact [email protected] telephone 020 7361 3204.

LINLEY SAMBOURNE HOUSE

18 Stafford TerraceW8 7BHTelephone: 020 7602 3316Nearest Tube: Kensington High Stwww.rbkc.gov.uk/linleysambournehouse

PREMIER HOUSE TOUR From 14 March 2009Tour times: Saturdays andSundays, 11.15am, 1pm, 2.15pmand 3.30pm, and Wednesdays11.15am and 2.15pm

Linley Sambourne House is aunique example of a late-Victoriantownhouse. Home to the cartoonistEdward Linley Sambourne and hisfamily from 1874, it survives withalmost all of its furniture and fittingsintact. Enjoy the first room-by-roomtour of the house and studyexamples of the decoration andfurnishings selected by the family.

Admission: £6 adult, £4 concession,£1 under 18s. Bookingrecommended. Guided visits only.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC

Prince Consort RoadSW7 2BSTelephone: 020 7591 4793Nearest Tube: South Kensingtonwww.rcm.ac.uk

RCM WIND ENSEMBLE 27 February 2009, 6pmInner Parry Room

The RCM wind ensemble hasbuilt up a large and variedrepertoire and commissioned newworks from composers such asHuw Watkins, Luke Bedford,Helen Grime and Alun Hoddinott.They play several times a year incollege as well as giving anumber of performances in otherLondon concert venues.

Janet Hilton DirectorJanácek MladiOliver Knussen Wind quintetTom Davey Three pieces for winddectet and percussionSeiber SextetPedro Faria Gomes Three Piecesfor Wind QuintetJanacek Lachrian Dances

Free admission.

www.rbkc.gov.uk/events


Documents

SEE PAGE 5 SEE PAGE 9 SEE PAGE 11 RoyalBorough Borough February 2009[1].pdf · Court Club Room, Portobello Court, Portobello Road W11. Colville, Golborne and Notting Barns Wards 11am