Councillor Lister writes to Putney

elderly care, the new FLASH scheme and residents concerns with late night drinking....

Making sure that elderly residents' care needs are properly met is a top priority for the council. This is an area of social services work which is regularly praised by inspectors and was a key factor in making Wandsworth a top four star authority in the recent Government league tables.

Now older people in Putney and Roehampton will be the first to benefit from a new electronic system that keeps the information on their community care needs in one place.

Community nurses are currently trialling the use of laptops in their visits to record assessments. If social workers and others involved in arranging care have all the information on an individual's needs at their fingertips it will save asking the same questions over and over again and speed up the whole process of switching on new care services..

Over the years many elderly householders in Putney have benefited from the council's free lock fitting scheme. Now this service forms part of a wider package of home security measures which also includes free smoke detectors and fire safety visits.

The joint initiative is being run by Victim Support in partnership with the council, fire brigade and Help the Aged.

The scheme is known as FLASH (Fire, Locks and Safety in the Home). I am sure many local people will be interested to find out how this service could help them feel more secure at home. You can find out more by calling Lorraine Wilson in the council's community safety team on 020 88771 6950.

All residents should now have received an advice leaflet from the council's licensing team setting out what they can do if a pub or bar near where they live becomes the source of increased problems of noise, vandalisms and disturbance.

We do have a number of town centre premises in Putney which now stay open later than before. The way the new legislation has been framed makes it clear that the onus is on local residents to take action if they have concerns.

We expect that most landlords will work with the council and police and run their premises properly. But it is vital that residents know just what their rights are so that they can act quickly if problems do arise.

If you need an extra copy of the leaflet just email me and I will be happy to put one in the post.

Edward Lister

elister@wandsworth.gov.uk

Edward Lister is the Leader of Wandsworth Council and a member for Putney's Thamesfield ward.