Council assembly past themes
Democracy at the heart of the community
Themed debates at council assembly meetings started in April 2011 with 'the future for Southwark' debate in The Council Chamber, Southwark Town Hall, and followed with the 6 July 2011 themed debate on 'sports and young people' at Walworth Academy.
The latter was the first council assembly to be held outside the town hall at community-based locations, a development that continued for subsequent assemblies. Sports and young people took centre stage as the July 2011 meeting heard - and witnessed - the difference physical activities like basketball, gymnastics and athletics are making in the lives of Southwark's burgeoning young population.
12 October 2011: themed debate on 'the state of the borough'. This was held at Harris Academy, Peckham, and focused on the riots in August 2011.
29 November 2011: themed debate on 'housing' in The Charter School, Red Post Hill, Dulwich.
25 January 2012: themed debate on 'the environment' in Walworth Academy, Shorncliffe Road.
Each assembly was preceded by an hour long informal session, with attendance by members of the public at this and the main business meeting greatly in excess of previous years.
Community views
There's also a programme of community outreach in advance of each themed debate, seeking your views on the topic for discussion. This work is completed by the council's community engagement division through a combination of one to one conversations, focus group meetings, email communication, and online discussions.
The results are compiled into a dossier of 'community views' and circulated to all councillors in advance of the themed debate, providing a cross section of views to inform their thinking.
See the most recent compilation of community views here.
The next assembly and its themed debate:
- Older people - 28 March 2012.
This will be held at The Charter School, Red Post Hill, Dulwich SE24 9JH.
If you'd like to share your views on the needs of older people, contact the community engagement division on 020 7525 5645 or democracy@southwark.gov.uk
