Waste Action Squad this week in Fitzrovia

Rubbish dumping and problems with waste are big problems for us all in Fitzrovia – and are certainly issues that come up with regularity at all of our meetings.

So we are pleased to share with you some of the steps that are being taken by Westminster Council to deal with this issue.

Here is a communication from Rob McCrae, the Senior City Inspector at Westminster Council about what is happening this week:

I would like to update you on the upcoming plans for a Waste Action Squad to tackle the challenge of dumped waste and littering.  The Waste Action Squad will be a multi-agency team working with the community to identify effective solutions to address dumping hotspots through a trial programme, across Westminster.

This will start on Monday 24th October 2022 with a week of action focused on hotspots within the Fitzrovia ward area.

  The key objectives for the team are:

·        To provide a highly visible operation that shows this is an area of focus and that we are acting against persistent problems.

·        To engage residents in a meaningful conversation about waste problems in their neighbourhood. To gather insight into how these could be tackled together and educate on the best ways of disposing of their waste to keep their streets clean and tidy.

·        To create an action plan following the engagement to tackle these issues.

Below is a timeline for the week of engagement, the Waste Action Squad will be available at various different times on different days throughout the week, from 11am through to 9pm around the area providing education and enforcement on street and engaging with our residents and businesses.

Day & Time

Area

Monday

PM:

14:00 – 16:00

Nightime:

19:00 – 21:00

 

AM: James Street j/w Oxford Street

Gazebo

PM: Bird Street/Barratt Street

 

Tuesday

PM:

11:00 – 13:00

Nightime:

15:30 – 17:30

 

AM: Great Portland Street Gazebo

PM: Great Titchfield Street

Wednesday

AM:

10:00 – 12:00

PM:

15:00- 17:00

 

AM: Wells Street

 

PM: Market Place (South) Gazebo

Thursday

AM:

12:00 – 14:00

PM:

16:00 – 18:00

 

AM: Langham Street

 

PM: Foley Street

Friday

AM:

12:00 – 14:00

PM:

16:00 – 18:00

 

 

AM: Hanson Street

 

PM: New Cavendish Street

AGM and ideas for community funding projects wanted

AGM and ideas for community funding projects wanted

The Fitzwest Forum AGM last week was a great chance to hear about ongoing and future projects funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and to hear Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg speaking about the Fitzrovia environment and how the Council are dealing with environmental issues. 

You can read the minutes here.

We were treated to interesting presentations on the following CIL projects:

 

  • All Souls School Playground Renewal
  • Carburton St Greening
  • Soho Poly Theatre
  • Market Place Greening and Development
  • New Cavendish Street Planters

 

More details are available on our website: CIL Projects

For those who couldn’t attend or didn’t get a chance to leave their ideas, we would very much like to hear from you.  These further ideas will be added to the suggestions from the AGM and the public meeting earlier in the year.

Ideas for funding should align to the Fitzwest Neighbourhood Plan and the recently amended priorities of Westminster Council which are:

 

  • Affordable housing (enabling)
  • Green transition
  • Sustainable and active travel
  • Community facilities
  • Accessible and inclusive public spaces

 

Please email us with your ideas on info@fitzwest.org

Agenda for AGM – Thursday 13th October 6pm

Please find details of the agenda below and do get in touch if you have any questions or comments.

Agenda for Fitzwest Forum AGM Thursday 13th October 6pm
  1. Welcome
  2. Authorisation of late meeting
  3. Presentation of accounts
  4. Elections to the executive including new volunteers
  5. Presentation(s) on CIL projects including Market Place
  6. Cllr. Paul Dimoldenberg to speak on environmental issues in Fitzrovia
  7. Discussion on possible CIL projects – you can read the notes from the CIL meeting in February here.

Invitation to AGM – Thursday 13th October 2022 – 6pm

Dear Fitzwest Forum Member

You are invited to the AGM on Thursday 13th October at 6pm.

Venue: Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, 25 Howland St, London W1T 4JG.

There will be the opportunity to learn a bit more about current Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) projects and how they are progressing, including plans for Market Place.

And if you are interested in joining the Executive or CIL committee and having a big say in how the CIL money is allocated, then you can find out how to do this as elections will be taking place.

It will be great to welcome you all in real life – after the last few years of virtual meetings!

 

Have a say in how CIL money is spent

Have a say in how CIL money is spent

As this long, hot summer draws to an end we wanted to update you on the progress of various CIL  (Community Infrastructure Levy) applications and awards.

We also wanted to tell you a bit more about CIL and how important it is for as many people as possible to have a say in how it is spent.

What is CIL?

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge paid by developers (not householders) when beginning a new development. FitzWest has access to 25% of CIL generated in our area and this means the Forum can submit projects it wishes to see implemented as well as endorsing projects submitted by other charitable organisations based in the area. Projects should meet the following criteria:

  • They should provide infrastructure which benefits those living and working in the area;
  • They should provide additional infrastructure for defined sections of the population where facilities and services are insufficient or lacking;
  • They should be non-discriminatory and meet all other legal requirements in the way they are delivered and operate;
  • They should meet policy objectives as set out in the Council’s City Plan 2019 – 40 and the Neighbourhood Plan 2020;
  • They should conform to guidance provided by the Council as set out on the website above.

A few projects have already been successfully applied for and accepted by Westminster Council for CIL funding. However, there is a constant supply of cash form new developments and it is really important that as many people as possible – residents, businesses and organisations – have a say in how this money is allocated.

This is your chance to be involved in making these decisions! We are looking for volunteers to be on our CIL Committee. This committee meets every couple of months and members also receive emails and applications to look at and comment on. It is up to you how much you would like to be involved and this is an important way to really influence and contribute how projects are funded.

If you would just like a simple admin role then we also need a secretary for the committee This would involve organising meetings and creating the agendas and minutes.

If you, or anyone you know would like to help make sure this funding goes to the right places, then please get in touch on info@fitzwest.org

Successfully funded CIL projects:

Greening Around New Cavendish Street – together with funding from Tesco, a selection of planters will be positioned in areas to deter rubbish dumping and will be maintained by local residents and businesses.

Soho Poly

University of Westminster Archive

Soho Poly Theatre – a contribution to funding the renovation of the theatre on Riding House Street.

Greening  Carburton Street – a resident-led project for funding to continue planting around this street and the planting will be maintained by local residents.

 

Full details of all CIL projects are available on Fitzwest Forum website