I was one of a small number of people in the public gallery last night for the first Full Council meeting since June. It was a rather limited agenda when one considers how many issues need tackling in this borough, but we have come to expect that in recent years.  Before the meeting I met delegations of residents who wished to hand petitions to local councillors on issues including parking around Avery Hill Park and traffic calming measures needed on Montbelle Road.

I was struck by the obvious discomfort of the Council leader who, when invited to say whether he has discussed any cuts to Council spending after the next election if he remains in charge, seemed unable (unwilling?) to answer the question.  For those who don't remember, after the last election Labour slashed £24 million in spending and introduced a swathe of new charges for residents.  

I was more impressed by the young lad, Danny Harris, who came to present a petition of over 140 signatures for a new skateboard park in Avery Hill Park.  He asked to address the meeting because he never received a reply when he submitted his previous petition.  The Labour Cabinet Member said she'd never received it, but was keen to make amends.  He spoke more eloquently than many of the elected members who spoke last night and with more conviction.  I have long said we need more facilities for young people in this area.  I was pleased to see Cllr Spencer Drury also call for the existing skateboard park in Horn Park to be restored (the only one in Eltham).

As usual, questions about the manner of treatment dished out to residents of the Ferrier Estate were handled with a mixture of evasion and denial.  And we were told that Greenwich has had great success in getting kids to go to school - despite having one of the highest truancy rates in the country!  No wonder so few residents bothered to watch 'democracy' in action last night.

I had the pleasure of visiting two local schools this week, Wingfield School on the Ferrier Estate and Horn Park School.  The reason for visiting Wingfield was to congratulate children who had performed so brilliantly in the Blackheath Community Opera; Horn Park kindly invited me to join them at their end of year presentations.

I was struck by the warmth of the welcome at both schools, but also the enormous pride the children took in their achievements.  Both benefit from having some very dedicated teaching staff, some of whom I had the opportunity to meet.

As schools go on their summer break, and some look towards starting new schools in September, I'd like to say a huge 'thank you' to everyone who works so hard - including parents - to help children enjoy their childhood learning experience.  Enjoy the Summer - have a good rest and lots of fun.