Interview with new Leader Cllr Peter John

Published 3 June 2010

An activist council that’s intelligent, efficient and connects with local people is the vision of Southwark’s new Labour administration.

In the June issue of Southwark Life, the new Leader Cllr Peter John talks about his passion for Southwark and his plans for coping with the tough times ahead. Read the full interview below.

You've pledged to offer free healthy meals to primary school pupils. Why and when will this happen?

There are so many benefits which flow from eating a good school lunch including improved attainment and

concentration. We have the highest childhood obesity rates in the country but many children who are entitled to receive free school meals don't take them. Some other boroughs offer free meals already and it's proved to be hugely successful. We've made a commitment to introduce free, healthy school meals for primary children over the next four years. I hope we can roll it out for year one from September.

What will you be doing about housing in the borough?

We're looking at making every home warm, dry and safe; the basic things that people want and we think we can do that in four or five years. In June we're getting a stock condition survey of all council housing. Then we will be able to find out what we can afford to do, but we're absolutely determined to improve the quality of our stock. We have to be a good landlord.

You've pledged to double the borough's recycling rate, how?

It's about making sure anyone who lives in a flat is able to recycle. There have been some improvements in the last 12 months but they haven't gone far enough.

We've just got to make recycling easier for people. If you have to go 200 yards to drop off your recycling, you'll take the easiest option and drop it in the bin. The second thing

we're going to bring forward is food recycling and we're looking to do that as soon as possible.

And what about regeneration?

We're anxious to take the Elephant and Castle project forward. We've had too much uncertainty in that part of the borough. We also want to look at some more modest regeneration. For years people have been calling out for something to happen to Camberwell Green and Nunhead so we'll be looking at how we can deliver for them.

With cuts in public spending how can you deliver on promises like these but still balance the books?

I'm talking to officers about making some really significant savings in back office costs. I'm talking to neighbouring boroughs about where we can work together too. I think some people get panicked by this and think Lambeth will be running our housing and schools. It doesn't mean that, but councils are large organisations, where there's the possibility to merge back office costs.

You've talked about wanting to connect more with residents, how will you do that?

I want people to know who is running Southwark and who they should be holding accountable for the successes and failures. That's why I think it's really important that

myself as leader and my cabinet are out talking to people. I want to open up the opportunities for people to see us and question us. So we've set up a democracy commission to look at all aspects of how the council connects with residents through council assembly, contact with individual members and community councils.

What are the best things for you about living and working in Southwark?

It's a borough of such fantastic contrasts. You've got the South Bank regenerated to such brilliant effect and I love walking along the river past Tate Modern and seeing the great buildings and tourist attractions. But go

further south into the borough and you've got great parks like Burgess and Peckham Rye . East Dulwich has that almost village feel and there's the vibrancy of Peckham. They say if you're tired of London you're tired of life, and I think that's true of Southwark.

And what does it mean to you to be leading Southwark Council?

I just regard it as the greatest honour and privilege. I've been a councillor for eight years and leader of the Labour group for six and now to be able to implement some of the things we've thought about and dreamed about to make our borough a better place is a fantastic feeling. It's a job I just can't wait to get to grips with.