Subject: News

Bulletin from Greg Hands M.P. #305 Date: Friday, 15 July 2011 12:44:02 United Kingdom Time From: To: Greg Hands M.P. news@greghands.com

In this edition:

Issue 305 Friday 15 th July 2011

Greg Hands M.P.s Diary Website of the Week: Last chance to have your say on the future of the District Line Photo news: St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School Summer Fete PM announces phone hacking investigation Hands in Parliament: Hands condemns press blagging activities Hands in Parliament: Hands corrects wild misrepresentations about Sure Start in H&F H&F Cabinet to discuss proposals for new homes and jobs at West Ken H&F flats recycling scheme starts next week Chelsea & Fulham in the papers: Thames Water U-turn on Chelsea park Chelsea & Fulham in the papers: Burns Appeal success after a year How to contact Greg Hands M.P.

Since the last edition, Greg:

Campaigned extensively for more District Line trains on the Wimbledon branch. Today (15th July) is the last day of the TfL consultation. Please see website of the week below to have your say. Met clinicians form the Royal Brompton Hospital, Chelsea, to discuss the impact that any closure of the childrens cardiac services would have on other services at the worldleading hospital, potentially threatening the whole hospital. There is currently an NHS consultation into the future of childrens heart surgery in England. Attended and addressed the party at St Johns CE Primary School in Fulham to celebrate the retirement of headmistress Mrs Pauline Morazgalska after 31 years in charge. Attended and addressed the patrons reception of the Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham Conservatives held in Chelsea. Attended the annual Fulham Society summer reception at Lady Margaret School, Parsons Green. Toured the trading floor of Citibank in Canary Wharf to hear at first hand the impact of the Eurozone crisis and to gauge the strong market support for UK government policies to reduce the budget deficit. Attended the summer performance of the Chelsea-based English National Ballet School. Met representatives from the Serbian Centre in Fulham and the Serbian Library (located in Fulham Library) to explore the possibility of a new Serbian Centre in London. Welcomed to the House of Commons the Western Australian energy minister Hon. Peter Collier. Peter, from the Australian Liberal Party, helped Greg in his campaign for election in 2005. Was guest presenter at a training day for the Westminster Foundation for Democracy for visiting up-and-coming political leaders from the Balkans and the Caucasus. Attended the summer fair of the St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School, and was one of the judges of the cake baking competition! Welcomed the British Ambassador to Germany, Simon McDonald, for talks in Westminster about UK-German relations. Ran a surgery for residents of Chelsea and Fulham at Fulham Town Hall. Gregs surgeries are generally every Monday, at either Fulham Town Hall or Peter Jones, Sloane Square. To make an appointment, call 020 7219 5448 or reply to this bulletin.

Website of the Week:

Last chance to have your say on the future of the District Line
MOREMORNINGPEAKTIMETRAINS London Underground has announced plans for a new District Line timetable, after a review of demand on the relatively underused Olympia branch. The proposed timetable change will enable London Underground to re-route more trains via the Wimbledon Branch. If the plans get the go ahead, locally passengers would see five extra morning peak time trains on our stretch of the line from December 2011. The proposals will increase frequency on the Wimbledon Branch of the District Line and improve reliability for passengers. Like other regular commuters, I know a better District Line service is vital to residents and the proposed five extra trains on our stretch of the District Line will really help ease overcrowding and improve reliability for passengers. Its crucial we support Transport for Londons (TfLs) proposal to get a better District Line service. YOURHELPISVITALTOGETTHEEXTRATRAINS TfL is currently consulting on this proposal and its really important residents write to TfL to support the changes. The consultation closes today. You can respond to the consultation online at www.tfl.gov.uk/districtlineconsultation or you can email TfL directly at enquire@tfl.gov.uk - and feel free to copy me in as well on mail@greghands.com. You can also call TfLs customer services department on 0845 330 9880 (8am-8pm). It is really important that residents have their say and tell TfL just how crucial getting this extra capacity is for our stretch of the line. We need to show TfL how much local commuters support having more morning peak time trains to really enable TfL implement these changes on our stretch of the line, so please do respond to the consultation today.

Greg Hands M.P.

Photo news:

St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School Summer Fete

Greg Hands M.P. with fellow cake baking competition judges, including Cllr Thomas Crofts, at St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School summer fete.

PM announces phone hacking investigation

Speaking to the House of Commons, the Prime Minister said the inquiry would be split into two parts, with an investigation into the wrongdoing of the press and police, including the failure of the first police inquiry, and a full review of the regulation of the press. The section of the inquiry covering ethics and regulation of the press will report back within 12 months. The Prime Minister said the inquiry should be as "robust as possible and get to the truth fastest and get to work the quickest". In a statement in the House of Commons, Mr Cameron also announced changes to the ministerial code stating that ministers will have to record and publish details of all their meetings with newspaper and other media proprietors, senior editors and executives. And he said the Metropolitan Police would appoint a senior public figure to advise them on how to interact with the media. The inquiry will be established under the 2005 Inquiries Act and have the power to summon witnesses including newspaper reporters, management, proprietors, policemen and politicians of all parties to give evidence under oath and in public. Lord Justice Leveson will be assisted by a panel of senior independent figures with expertise in media, broadcasting, regulation and government.

Hands in Parliament:

Hands condemns press blagging activities

Monday 11 th July 2011 Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) (Con): When it comes to the wider inquiry, could we ensure that the press practice of blagging is included? It appears to mean using subterfuge and pretence to gain access to confidential and other personal information, and it has been alleged of other newspapers, including of a journalist who now works for the Leader of the Opposition. The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Jeremy Hunt): We must absolutely ensure that we do everything necessary to stamp out blagging. One of the most awful parts of this whole process is that we have discovered just how easy it is. In that respect, I would add that I believe that the role of phone companies is very important as well. They need to ensure that they are co-operating fully to ensure that it stops.

Hands in Parliament:

Hands corrects wild misrepresentations about Sure Start in H&F

Monday 11 th July 2011 Andrew Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab): There have been 45% cuts in the Sure Start budget in one year; nine centres deregistering because they have had more than 90% cuts and cannot function; and parents taking and winning judicial reviews to restore a basic service. In February the Minister said that she was monitoring the situation in Hammersmith and Fulham because there were particular concerns. Will she do more than monitor now and take some action while we still have any Sure Start centres left? The Minister of State, Department for Education (Sarah Teather): I know that the hon. Gentleman has raised this issue on many occasions. He may also be aware that last week we announced some changes to the Sure Start programme so that we will be piloting payment by results, for example. We will also require local authorities to publish information about what they are spending and on what services. If local authorities are systematically downgrading services, as he suggests, they will obviously not be eligible to benefit from payment by results, and we will be able to see that clearly from the transparency requirements that we are putting in place. Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) (Con): The Minister is right to be careful when faced with the wild misrepresentations on the issue from the Opposition Benches. Is she aware that Hammersmith and Fulham council has announced that it is committed not only to maintaining its existing 15 childrens centre venues, but to expanding them by a further one centre? Sarah Teather: I thank my hon. Friend for making that clear and putting it on the record.

H&F Cabinet to discuss proposals for new homes and jobs at West Ken
Another step towards creating thousands of new jobs and homes at Earls Court is to be decided at the next H&F Council Cabinet meeting. Councillors are being asked to take a decision on whether the council should enter into an exclusivity deal with, EC Properties Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital & Counties (Capco) which could eventually lead to a development bringing new, modern homes for people living on the West Kensington & Gibbs Green estates. If approved by both the Council and CapCos board, the parties will work exclusively for the next year to see if the final details of a land sale agreement to include the estates in the redevelopment area can be concluded. In order to enter into the proposed exclusivity agreement, EC Properties would pay the Council a non-refundable deposit of 5 million, and 10 million which is refundable if a deal is not agreed within the one year timeframe. In 2009 the Council signed a collaboration agreement with EC Properties and Transport for London (TfL), which also owns land in the proposed development area. The latest agreement gives the Council the time and resources needed to work on the proposal in detail to ensure it gets the best deal for estate residents, the wider area and the borough as a whole. EC Properties is one of three landowners, including Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council and TfL, working with Sir Terry Farrell on the Masterplan for the possible regeneration of the Earls Court & West Kensington Opportunity Area with the potential to create 7,500 new homes and 12,000 new jobs. Last month EC Properties submitted an outline planning application for the site, along with a detailed planning application for land at nearby Seagrave Road. Any future land agreement with EC Properties will be on the condition that a series of council tenants, leaseholder and freeholder guarantees, negotiated with an 80-strong resident steering group, can be met. These include: Brand new, modern homes in the development area for all secure council tenants Council tenants will be moved with neighbours where possible and will only have to move once Compensation for tenants, leaseholders and freeholders Discount schemes for resident leaseholder and freeholders who want to buy back into the scheme Early buy-out clauses for resident leaseholders and freeholders

Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, Leader of H&F Council said: This is yet another important stage in our desire to bring new jobs and homes to the area. I have said all along that the Council will not agree to anything unless, first and foremost, redevelopment benefits people living on the estates, followed by the wider area and then the borough as a whole. The set of guarantees negotiated with the residents themselves go way beyond what any other council has done and provides local people with the peace of mind they deserve. I also recognise that comprehensive regeneration will benefit London as a whole, providing economic opportunities and affordable housing for thousands of people. Maureen Way, who is a member of the West Kensington and Gibbs Green Resident Steering group said: Contrary to the rumours, many, many people on the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates want to see what improvement this development could bring to the area. If the development does go ahead, we believe that we have negotiated the best deal for residents. Details of the proposed agreement will be discussed by councillors at H&F's Cabinet on July 18.

H&F flats recycling scheme starts next week

A new scheme to make it easier than ever before for residents who live in flats to recycle starts next week (Monday, July 18)! Flats make up around 70 per cent of properties in Hammersmith & Fulham but the recycling rate from flats is estimated at just 10 per cent. From July 18 to September, all households with access to Smart Banks will be given a new re-usable bag to make it even easier to store recycling in your home and transport it to the recycling bank. Selected locations will also benefit from other improvements including: Converting some refuse chutes so that they can be used for recycling - this approach trebled recycling rates on one estate in Westminster. Installing recycling banks on each floor. Providing extra Smart Banks where coverage is limited.

The chutes and mini banks will take the same items for recycling as the Smart Bank. This now includes plastic pots, tubs and food trays. Recycling has never been so important, since the cost of disposing of rubbish rose by 20 per cent two months ago (April). It now costs 128 to dispose of a tonne of waste, compared to just 73 a tonne for recycling By using the new Smart Banks to recycle even more, residents in flats could play their part in helping to recycling an extra 4,400 tonnes over the next four years. that is the equivalent weight of 590 London buses! Cllr Greg Smith, Cabinet Member for Residents Services, said: "The best ways for H&F to avoid paying the high cost of waste disposal is for residents to recycle as much as possible. With so many residents living in flats, it is vital that we make it as easy as possible for them to do their bit. The council is making huge savings across the board as we look to respond to the national debt crisis and the more residents recycle, the more funds the council can direct towards the services that matter most to residents. As part of the scheme, a team of recycling promoters will be visiting blocks of flats to answer residents questions about recycling and to deliver the re-useable bags and an instruction leaflet. Funding for the initiative came from the London Waste and Recycling Board. In order to obtain the support the council created a flats inventory which contained information about nearly 250 blocks of flats describing existing refuse/recycling arrangements and identifying opportunities for service improvements. What can you recycle with the council? You can put the following in the borough's Smart recycling banks or orange sacks: Paper and card - Newspapers, magazines, catalogues, directories, leaflets, loose paper, card and cardboard (please flatten) Glass - Glass bottles and jars (no lids please) Cans, tins and aerosols Plastic bottles (please remove lids from plastic bottles and squash them if possible) Paper-based drinks and liquid food cartons (e.g. Tetra Paks) Plastic pots, tubs and food trays

The following items cannot be placed in Smart Sacks or Smart Banks: Food waste, cigarette ends or garden waste Broken glass, pyrex or window glass Paint, chemical containers or batteries Builders waste or rubble Foil or polystyrene Paper towels, tissues or nappies Textiles

You can click on www.lbhf.gov.uk/recycling for details of your nearest recycling facilities or call the Cleaner, Greener Hotline on 020 8753 1100 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, or email Cleaner.Greener@lbhf.gov.uk. You can also visit www.lbhf.gov.uk/flatsrecycling.

Chelsea & Fulham in the papers:

Juliet Eysenck, Kensington & Chelsea Chronicle Wednesday 13 th July 2011

Thames Water U-turn on Chelsea park

Campaigners fighting against plans to site a sewer access road through a Chelsea park have welcomed news it will now be located elsewhere. In 2009, Thames Water announced it wanted to build a 20-mile, 3.6billion tunnel, broadly following the river from west to east, to collect sewage discharged triggered by rainfall. The water company chose the riverside park Cremorne Gardens, Chelsea, as the best location for an access route to the tunnel. But this week, following a petition and months of campaigning, members of Friends of Cremorne Gardens and councillors from the Cremorne ward heard that Thames Water was no longer considering cutting through the park. Instead, it will look to use an existing council waste transfer station just a few metres along Lots Road. The latest proposal will be presented at phase two of the consultation process which will commence in autumn. Work is provisionally due to start in 2013 and finish in 2020. Melyssa Stokes, chairman of Friends of Cremorne Gardens, said: "Residents and the Friends of Cremorne Gardens are delighted Thames Water and the council have now finally agreed to use the RBKC-owned Cremorne waste centre, the actual location for the sewer and Thames Tunnel tideway works. "We have spent over two years trying to persuade Kensington and Chelsea Council and Thames Water that the loss of any part of the small one-acre garden for a construction site for the works makes no sense, particularly given the lengthy tenure of the Thames works. "The loss of the gardens would have been an enormous loss to the community." Councillor Gerard Hargreaves added: "The ward councillors and the residents have been working hard to save Cremorne Gardens, the council and Thames Water have been in discussions for some time. "It is good news that we now seem to have progress on this issue and I look forward to a positive result." A spokeswoman for Thames Water confirmed the access road plans had changed. She said: "During our phase one consultation, local residents raised concerns about our proposals to have a work site in the foreshore and our plans to use a strip of Cremorne Gardens for access to the site. "We've listened to this feedback and can confirm that, after constructive discussions with the council, we are no longer looking at these options and are instead concentrating on using the existing council depot."

Chelsea & Fulham in the papers:

Emma Heseltine, Kensington & Chelsea Chronicle Thursday 14 th July 2011

Burns Appeal success after a year

A psychologist will be hired to support burns patients at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital following a successful campaign to raise 100,000. Survivor of the July 7 terror attacks in London six years ago, Davinia Turrell this week announced the success of the hospital's Burns Appeal. She was treated for burns at Chelsea and Westminster having been injured in the tube bombing at Edgeware Road, and launched the appeal on July 7 last year - the fifth anniversary of the atrocity. Ms Turrell said: "I was honoured and excited that Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity asked me to launch their burns appeal, because I know that burns can have many lasting psychological effects on people, no matter the size and location of their injuries and scars. "When I was treated at the hospital, I had help from a post-traumatic stress councillor, but there wasn't a dedicated psychologist attached to the Burns Service. "Thanks to the generosity of everyone who donated money to the Burns Appeal, Chelsea and Westminster has now appointed clinical psychologist Dr Sally Norwood to run a dedicated screening service for the next two years. "I am delighted that this will improve further the already excellent quality of care that staff in the Burns Service provide to patients." The service currently treats around 500 new inpatients every year. It is the only unit in London providing specialist care for adults and children with complex burn injuries. Dr Norwood will make sure that all burns inpatients receive an assessment of their psychosocial needs on admission, as well as ongoing monitoring. Greg Williams, burns service lead at the hospital, said: "On behalf of the entire Burns Service, I would like to express my gratitude to all those individuals, including many former patients, who have so generously donated money. "We hope that Sally's appointment will help us to demonstrate the benefits of screening patients to identify potential issues, address them early, and help with recovery." About 500 donors gave money to the appeal, helping them to raise the 100,000 target.

5 ways to contact Greg Hands M.P.:

By Phone: By email: By post: In person: 020 7219 5448 mail@greghands.com Greg Hands M.P. House of Commons London SW1A 0AA Click here for details of how to book an appointment at Greg Hands M.P.s weekly surgery

www.greghands.com

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