BrixtonBuzz

Lambeth Council has launched its new property licensing scheme, designed to tackle rogue landlords and improve conditions for people living in private rented accommodation in parts of the borough.

From September 2, landlords will need a licence to legally let any property to a single-family household or no more than two unrelated sharers, in four specified wards.

The selective licensing scheme was approved by Lambeth’s Cabinet in May, in a bid to improve property conditions and management, and tackle problems including anti-social behaviour (ASB) and deprivation.

Network Rail is advising passengers in south London to plan ahead if they’re travelling from Saturday 24th August to Sunday 1st September, as the company carries out a major track upgrade at Crystal Palace.

Here’s more details:

Between Tuesday 27 and Friday 30 August, Southern trains to and from London Bridge via Sydenham and New Cross Gate will start and terminate at Crystal Palace.

The Streatham Free Film Festival offers an exciting range of films and events for two weeks every September and 2024 marks their 9th year. The programme kicks off on Saturday 14th September and runs until Saturday 28th with all of the films being absolutely free and the festival completely volunteer powered.

Taking place every Wednesday afternoon in Streatham Library is a free drop-in centre offering advice to local residents struggling to pay their bills.

The library says:

Every Wednesday a cost-of-living link worker will be onsite, providing support to residents experiencing financial hardship or having issues related to their living costs.

It will include advice on maximising incomes, minimising costs, building financial resilience, and managing debt.

Dates and times

Location

Streatham Library

London, SW16 1PN

More Info

Streatham Library’s 50+ Group meets on the last Friday of each month from 10:30am-12pm for board games, card games, quizzes, puzzles and colouring.

Billed as an opportunity for a friendly chat and to catch up with old friends and make new ones, members are expected to chip chip in £1 a meeting to cover the costs of the tea, coffee and biscuits.

They say, “Sociable new members welcome. ”

Dates and times

Location

Streatham Library

London, SW16 1PN

Contact details

Vincia Bennett, Library Manager

The Crown & Sceptre has announced a series of live music Thursday nights, starting this week.

Here’s what’s coming up:

Thursday, 18th July – Typical Daydream

Typical Daydream kicks off our series with their vibrant alt-rock sound on the 18th of July. Get ready to be swept away by their energetic performance!

Thursday, 25th July – Funk Buddies

Funk Buddies take the stage on the 25th of July, bringing their infectious funk grooves that are sure to get you moving.

Thursday, 1st August – The Alternators

A Brixton Buzz Freedom of Information request has found that Lambeth Council’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Housing doesn’t actually live in Lambeth.

Labour’s Cllr Timothy Windle [right] has held the position since May 2022. He has an allowance of £11,786 for the Deputy role, on top of his jobbing Councillor allowance of £15,960.

The Lambeth Standing Orders state:

“Only registered voters living or working within the borough for the previous 12 months prior to an election will be eligible to stand as a councillor.

Three quarters of temporary housing occupants in Lambeth are in ‘nightly paid’ accommodation. This is costing the Council £14,000 per year for each person, according to papers released ahead of the Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee that will meet on 16th July.

In total Lambeth has 4,284 households in temporary accommodation. This is higher than nearby Southwark (3,714), Wandsworth (3,368) and Westminster (3,132). Residents are temporarily housed in the private sector.

All four constituencies in our Brixton Buzz patch returned Labour MP’S to Westminster as the votes for the General Election were counted overnight.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy won in Clapham and Brixton Hill; likewise for Florence Eshalomi in Vauxhall and Camberwell. Helen Hayes is once again the Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood.

Police were called this morning to the election office of independent candidate for Hove and Portslade, Tanushka Marah, who hails from Streatham.

As campaign coordinator Libby Barnes arrived for the penultimate day’s campaigning, she was unable to enter the building due to superglue inserted into the front door lock of the Marah’s office.

However her attention was quickly drawn to the graffiti on the shop hoarding above the office, which had been spray painted to omit the letters T and the HKA transforming the words VOTE TANUSHKA to appear as VOTE ANUS.