geoff Sumnall
INTRODUCTION This Manifesto follows the one I submitted with my application to stand as LCF Chair at the postponed AGM on 29th January 2020. Since that time, we are all now facing serious difficulties with Coronavirus but should be encouraged by the efforts being taken by so many to help us pull through. We must all share in this effort but not forget we still have underlying issues to address in our community, with which we can continue through our Community Forum.
I wish to make the LCF more democratic and effective. By being so it would better help the community it serves through its present difficulties.
ABOUT LIMEHOUSE Limehouse is unique in its cultural, economic and physical diversity having a world famous heritage. It boasts the Limehouse Community Forum (The LCF), a resident-lead community organisation, working for the benefit of all residents, for well over 13 years.
The Canary Wharf threat to Limehouse was recently confirmed by the approval of a 30 storey building on the Canary Wharf side of the Ward. This development represents over twice the height of the current maximum and is completely out of character with existing Limehouse development.
WHAT CAN the LCF DO? The LCF is well positioned to tackle these issues being a designated Neighbourhood Planning Forum. The LCF, as a planning forum, has identified and evidenced the priorities which need to be addressed. There is expertise in the LCF and in the community to manage the work required to submit our Neighbourhood Plan. It also has the ability to obtain the necessary funding from developer contributions and other funding sources such as the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
To make a difference to Limehouse, the LCF needs to be more ambitious.
In recent years its main activities have centred on social events, public meetings and responses to individual issues raised from within the community. Whilst these activities are popular and valuable, on their own they fall short of achieving a core objective of the LCF Constitution which is to protect and improve Limehouse for all its people.
WHAT WILL I DO? The challenges are great but so are the opportunities. I will actively pursue the following if elected:
Ensure the LCF Constitution is followed – past events show that the previous Constitution was not followed, such as arbitrarily holding an online vote for the Constitution rather than the real-time AGM approach.
The following are some of the many activities which would be undertaken or better accomplished by the LCF with more active Members and effective management: The LCF may be best known for its annual LIMEfest summer fair and other social events, where many Members join in to help out on the day. These events would be continued and extended by the Social Events committee, in collaboration with other LCF committees such as Marketing and Membership. New ways will be sought to involve local residents and businesses, both as participants and spectators. Community views will be considered to determine new events and Limehouse life, history and future will be of particular interest.
To become a designated Neighbourhood Planning Forum, LCF required 21 signatories but rarely more than 6 are currently involved in the planning process. Therefore, work which should have taken a few months so far has taken 4 years. But current LCF Membership data indicates over 60 Members are interested in planning, so a conversion needs to be made from those interested to those involved. With this, the LCF could then better help improve our natural environment and bring about a greener, cleaner, carbon neutral Limehouse.
If the LCF had more active Members and a proactive approach, crime and antisocial behaviour could be significantly reduced by more action taken on youth engagement in addition to enforcement. This could be done by forming a partnership between providers of facilities and services, youth specialists, funding agents and the local community, which the local authority and
other potential partners are willing to discuss. In Poplar, where youth engagement has been developed, a 60% reduction in crime and antisocial behaviour has occurred. MY PLEDGE As LCF Chair, with the approval of LCF Members, I would first help assemble the management team of Officers and Committee Chairs. Then I would help grow these committees from all those in our community who wish to be part of the exciting work in which the LCF is involved. I believe I am well placed to undertake this work having been an active Member of the LCF since its early days. I am a civil engineer and have worked in both the public and private sectors, building teams, departments and companies, including my own, on all types of projects of public benefit. Should I be elected, it would be a great pleasure and privilege to work with others in the LCF for the benefit of Limehouse, where I’ve been a resident for 20 years and about which I am passionate. I ask respectfully for your vote.
Geoff Sumnall C Eng FICE FCIHT GS/25.3.20
My contact information
email: geoffsumnall@hotmail.com telephone: 07743 356812
I wish to make the LCF more democratic and effective. By being so it would better help the community it serves through its present difficulties.
ABOUT LIMEHOUSE Limehouse is unique in its cultural, economic and physical diversity having a world famous heritage. It boasts the Limehouse Community Forum (The LCF), a resident-lead community organisation, working for the benefit of all residents, for well over 13 years.
- Limehouse is also one of the densest wards in London, being 3 times the London average.
- Limehouse suffers from the worst air quality in Tower Hamlets which impacts on community health.
- Limehouse has a shortage of green spaces, which impacts on community wellbeing.
- Limehouse has persistent crime and antisocial behaviour.
- Limehouse is in the path of Canary Wharf development which would further increase its population density and could seriously damage its social fabric, natural environment and renowned heritage as well as potentially reduce property values.
The Canary Wharf threat to Limehouse was recently confirmed by the approval of a 30 storey building on the Canary Wharf side of the Ward. This development represents over twice the height of the current maximum and is completely out of character with existing Limehouse development.
WHAT CAN the LCF DO? The LCF is well positioned to tackle these issues being a designated Neighbourhood Planning Forum. The LCF, as a planning forum, has identified and evidenced the priorities which need to be addressed. There is expertise in the LCF and in the community to manage the work required to submit our Neighbourhood Plan. It also has the ability to obtain the necessary funding from developer contributions and other funding sources such as the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
To make a difference to Limehouse, the LCF needs to be more ambitious.
In recent years its main activities have centred on social events, public meetings and responses to individual issues raised from within the community. Whilst these activities are popular and valuable, on their own they fall short of achieving a core objective of the LCF Constitution which is to protect and improve Limehouse for all its people.
WHAT WILL I DO? The challenges are great but so are the opportunities. I will actively pursue the following if elected:
Ensure the LCF Constitution is followed – past events show that the previous Constitution was not followed, such as arbitrarily holding an online vote for the Constitution rather than the real-time AGM approach.
- Make the LCF more efficient and democratic.- working groups have been set up operating in “silos” and requiring approval of their work by LCF Officers (Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary). I will set up committees including marketing and Membership, security and safety, social events, planning, the environment and youth development.
- The management team would meet regularly to coordinate the committees who would be proactive, professional and collaborative. This would make the whole of what we do greater than the sum of the parts.
- Expand Membership and involvement in the LCF - from a registered Membership over 650, the LCF only has less than 20 active Members on a regular basis. This severely limits what can be achieved.
The following are some of the many activities which would be undertaken or better accomplished by the LCF with more active Members and effective management: The LCF may be best known for its annual LIMEfest summer fair and other social events, where many Members join in to help out on the day. These events would be continued and extended by the Social Events committee, in collaboration with other LCF committees such as Marketing and Membership. New ways will be sought to involve local residents and businesses, both as participants and spectators. Community views will be considered to determine new events and Limehouse life, history and future will be of particular interest.
To become a designated Neighbourhood Planning Forum, LCF required 21 signatories but rarely more than 6 are currently involved in the planning process. Therefore, work which should have taken a few months so far has taken 4 years. But current LCF Membership data indicates over 60 Members are interested in planning, so a conversion needs to be made from those interested to those involved. With this, the LCF could then better help improve our natural environment and bring about a greener, cleaner, carbon neutral Limehouse.
If the LCF had more active Members and a proactive approach, crime and antisocial behaviour could be significantly reduced by more action taken on youth engagement in addition to enforcement. This could be done by forming a partnership between providers of facilities and services, youth specialists, funding agents and the local community, which the local authority and
other potential partners are willing to discuss. In Poplar, where youth engagement has been developed, a 60% reduction in crime and antisocial behaviour has occurred. MY PLEDGE As LCF Chair, with the approval of LCF Members, I would first help assemble the management team of Officers and Committee Chairs. Then I would help grow these committees from all those in our community who wish to be part of the exciting work in which the LCF is involved. I believe I am well placed to undertake this work having been an active Member of the LCF since its early days. I am a civil engineer and have worked in both the public and private sectors, building teams, departments and companies, including my own, on all types of projects of public benefit. Should I be elected, it would be a great pleasure and privilege to work with others in the LCF for the benefit of Limehouse, where I’ve been a resident for 20 years and about which I am passionate. I ask respectfully for your vote.
Geoff Sumnall C Eng FICE FCIHT GS/25.3.20
My contact information
email: geoffsumnall@hotmail.com telephone: 07743 356812