Residents First

One week left for street parties

There is only one week left for residents to apply to the council to hold a street party, to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Over the extended bank holiday, June 2-5, millions of people across the country will be celebrating 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II on the throne. But if residents in Hammersmith & Fulham want to join in with a Diamond Jubilee street party of their own, they will need to have applied to the council for permission by this Friday. There are currently 30 applications for jubilee parties.

The council has made it easier than ever for people to organise their festivities by cutting the amount of red tape they once had to trawl through to plan a community event.

Following successful street parties last year for the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton – now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – and positive feedback from residents, the council is once more looking forward to helping neighbours and friends get together without trudging through reams of red tape.

Last year, the council made it easier for small parties and fetes to be arranged, by cutting the number of forms that needed to be completed by hand to just one simple online form. Residents without a computer can ask to be sent a paper version of the form, which is only four pages long instead of the previous lengthy forms that often amounted to around 20 A4 pages.

Cllr Harry Phibbs, cabinet member for community engagement, says he hopes more people will set up parties this summer for the Diamond Jubilee and for the London 2012 Games, starting on July 27. The deadline for applications for parties is May 4 if it is for the Queen’s Jubilee and June 29 for the Olympics. Residents requiring a premises licence to sell alcohol at their events will need to apply at least six weeks before their planned event.

Cllr Phibbs says:

“Last year’s parties were an incredible sight and everyone had a fantastic time. This year, we are hoping that even more parties will be held, exceeding the 34 for the royal wedding. We are thrilled that by cutting bureaucracy and red tape, we have helped make it as easy as possible for local communities to gather, enjoy themselves and get to know each other, and celebrate these fantastic events happening right on our doorstep.

“We have stripped away all the drudgery and hours of completing tiresome bureaucratic forms that used to be necessary when organising a small event, and instead local people have more flexibility and time to concentrate on the fun side of these parties – after all, enjoying yourself is the most important thing about having a party!”

Under previous time-consuming central Government regulations, community groups were asked to apply for up to five separate licences and found it difficult to navigate through the numerous layers of bureaucracy and paperwork. The process could also be tedious which often led to delays or cancellations to community events.

Thames Water and the council's own highways contractor, Conways, have both agreed to supply barriers where street parties are taking place, free of charge.

If you would like to apply to have a small local event, such as a street party, visit www.lbhf.gov.uk/streetparties or contact the council on 020 8753 2480. For a list of all confirmed events taking place in the borough for the Queen’s Jubilee, visit: www.lbhf.gov.uk/diamondjubilee

Celebrations for the jubilee announced

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s succession to the throne and, to celebrate the occasion, residents in Hammersmith & Fulham will be able to enjoy events organised by the council.

Celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee take place all year, with the main focus on the extended bank holiday weekend of June 2-5, when millions of people up and down the country will be holding street parties and attending organised celebratory events.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is putting on celebratory events in Furnivall Gardens in Hammersmith, and Bishops Park in Fulham, on Sunday, June 3, 2012.

On Sunday, June 3, the Royal Family will join a 1000-strong flotilla of boats in a royal pageant that will travel from Chelsea at 3pm up the Thames to Tower Bridge. The full route however is over 13 miles long, including the mustering, which begins at Hammersmith, and the dispersal areas, which finally end at Greenwich Royal Naval College.

Archbishop and Council Leader open renovated church

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Reverend Rowan Williams, joined Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh to officially open a renovated Hammersmith church recently.

The outgoing Archbishop was guest of honour at St Andrew's Church, in Fulham Fields and was joined by more than 200 congregation members.

His visit marked the end of a £3m upgrade of the church which includes the STAR Centre, a new community facility to be used for classes, homelessness projects and a nursery.

Apply for your street party now

Residents have just one month left to apply to the council to hold a street party, to celebrate the celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Over the extended bank holiday, June 2-5, millions of people across the country will be celebrating 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II on the throne. But if residents in Hammersmith & Fulham want to join in with a street party of their own, they will need to have applied to the council for permission by May 4.

The council has made it easier than ever for people to organise their festivities by cutting the amount of red tape they once had to trawl through to plan a community event.

Currently 21 applications have been received, but the council is encouraging more residents to come forward, especially following last year's successful street parties for the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton - now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - and positive feedback from residents.

Last year, the council made it easier for small parties and fetes to be arranged, by cutting the number of forms that needed to be completed by hand to just one simple online form. Residents without a computer can ask to be sent a paper version of the form, which is only four pages long instead of the previous lengthy forms that often amounted to around 20 A4 pages.

Cllr Harry Phibbs, cabinet member for community engagement, says he hopes more people will set up parties this summer for the Diamond Jubilee and for the London 2012 Games, starting on July 27, and is calling on residents to begin planning now.

The deadline for applications for parties is May 4 if it is for the Queen’s Jubilee and June 29 for the Olympics. Residents requiring a premises licence to sell alcohol at their events will need to apply at least six weeks before their planned event.

Cllr Phibbs says:

“Last year’s parties were an incredible sight and everyone had a fantastic time. This year, we are hoping that even more parties will be held, exceeding the 34 for the royal wedding. We are thrilled that by cutting bureaucracy and red tape, we have helped make it as easy as possible for local communities to gather, enjoy themselves and get to know each other, and celebrate these fantastic events happening right on our doorstep.

“We have stripped away all the drudgery and hours of completing tiresome bureaucratic forms that used to be necessary when organising a small event, and instead local people have more flexibility and time to concentrate on the fun side of these parties - after all, enjoying yourself is the most important thing about having a party!”

Under previous time-consuming central Government regulations, community groups were asked to apply for up to five separate licences and found it difficult to navigate through the numerous layers of bureaucracy and paperwork. The process could also be tedious which often led to delays or cancellations to community events.

The two requirements of holding a small event or party now are that there must be community approval and that organisers make appropriate arrangements for diverting traffic.

If you would like to apply to have a small local event, such as a street party, visit www.lbhf.gov.uk/streetparties or contact the switchboard on 020 8748 3020. For a list of all confirmed events taking place in the borough for the Queen’s Jubilee, visit: http://bit.ly/H8GUwS.

Future of Irish Centre secured

The future of the Irish Centre has been secured after Hammersmith & Fulham Council struck a deal to sell it to the centre’s board of directors.

The Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith (ICCH) has agreed to buy the building, after they were able to raise funds and secure a loan from the Irish government.

The centre will now be redeveloped to provide a new Community Centre on the lower floors with residential accommodation on the upper floors. There will also be a café, bar, concert hall, offices, classrooms and rooms for hire, subject to planning permission.

H&F Council agreed in February 2011 to sell the centre on Blacks Road and seven other buildings in order to reduce its historic debt which at the time stood at £133 million.

Village Hall saved

A community hall in the heart of Shepherds Bush has been saved from closure after Hammersmith & Fulham Council agreed to sell it to a London charitable foundation.

Following lengthy negotiations, Shepherds Bush Village Hall in Bulwer Street has been sold to the Wigoder Family Foundation, allowing the council to spend the proceeds of the sale on front-line services.

In February 2011, the council chose to sell the hall and seven other buildings in order to reduce its historic debt, which at the time stood at £133 million.

The building is occupied by several popular community groups, including the Shepherds Bush Families Project, West and North West London Vietnamese Association and the West London School of Dance.

Fast Track joy

Voluntary groups from across the borough have reacted with joy to the news that they have won a share of a £300,000 cash windfall from Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

This year, the council is awarding three times more than last year through its popular Fast Track small grants scheme which provides individual grants of up to £10,000.

In total, 53 local community groups have been allocated a total of £143,000, with a further £157,000 to be allocated later in the year.

The winning groups come from all walks of life and represent the rich diversity of the borough.

H&F Council is one of the most generous boroughs in London in terms of voluntary sector budgets, with a total grants pot of almost £4 million. That equates to £21.60 per head.

Million pound boost for Sands End school and community

More than £1.6m is being spent on developing Hurlingham and Chelsea School and creating a new community hub for south Fulham.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council approved plans at a cabinet meeting last week to contribute £1.3m towards developing new community facilities at the secondary school, on Peterborough Road.

That money has been promised from the capital receipt the council will receive from the sale of the Sands End Community Centre in Broughton Road, while the rest of the funding - £320,000 - is coming from the school.

The scheme includes a new library for use by both pupils and local residents, and the refurbishment of a formerly unused area of the school, which has been turned into a purpose-built arts and crafts, pottery and textiles suite.

New community hub opens on Edward Woods Estate

A brand new, state-of-the-art community hub is set to open on the Edward Woods Estate later this year.

Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council has spent £665,000 transforming formerly derelict pram sheds into office space so that they can be used by a number of the borough’s voluntary groups, charities and not-for-profit organisations.

The community hub will be split between the ground floors of the Edward Woods blocks of Stebbing, Norland, Poynter and Boxmoor Houses, with the Boxmoor facility likely to be used as the main base for the hub.

Cllr Joe Carlebach, cabinet member for community care, said:

Borough is streets ahead for parties

The double countdown to an exciting year of celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics and Paralympics has well and truly begun and Hammersmith & Fulham Council is making it easier than ever for residents to organise street parties to commemorate these exciting events.

Following successful street parties last year for the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton – now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – and positive feedback from residents, the council is once more looking forward to helping neighbours and friends get together without trudging through reams of red tape.

Last year, the council made it easier for small parties and fetes to be arranged, by cutting the number of forms that needed to be completed by hand to just one simple online form. Residents without a computer can ask to be sent a paper version of the form, which is only four pages long instead of the previous lengthy forms that often amounted to around 20 A4 pages.