This is our brand new and exciting section to the WERA Website.
Every Two weeks we will publish an EXCLUSIVE Interview with those who work with WERA and manage services to the estate and Lambeth. We will ask the questions that you may well of always wanted to ask whether they be at the Housing, in politics or the police as well as many more...
If you would like to make a suggestion for a Question or suggest a person for an
interview then Contact us.
Can you please tell us who you are and what your position is?
Cllr Lib Peck. I am a Local Labour Councillor (and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration)
How long have you been doing this role?
I have been a Local Councillor since 2001 (and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration since 2008)
Can you please give a brief description of what your role involves?
As a local councillor my job is to help people and to try and make our neighbourhoods and our borough a better place to live. This means I get involved in many local issues and make sure residents’ views and issues are heard and looked at by the Council. The best part of my job is working hard with communities and then seeing the results. For instance, I and my fellow councillors have been campaigning for an extra bus service, it’s taken some time but we haven’t given up and we now have the possibility of a bus. I also take up work on behalf of individual residents on a wide variety of issues such as problems with housing or education or any of the services that the Council provides, and I work with local groups such as the Weir Link.
Please describe in which ways you work directly with WERA?
I attend as many WERA meetings as I can and I also work closely with the WERA committee
on areas of concern. Over the last 2 years, local labour councillors have worked
very hard with WERA to secure new windows for the estate. Once the money was committed
to this project, we have met with the major works team to resolve issues about design
and time-
If you had the power to change the law, what new law would you bring in?
I am proud to see improvements in Lambeth but I want to do more. When I see billions of pounds being spent on things like nuclear weapons its hard not to look at Lambeth and think about what we could achieve with a small fraction of that money, so if were to do one thing it would scrap our nuclear weapons and spend the money on improving homes, schools, hospitals and our environment.
What one thing do you think is the most important about working with residents?
Being able to listen – a much underrated skill in society. And being honest about what you can and can’t do.
Do you think Lambeth is getting better or worse and why?
Yes, I think Lambeth is getting better. We have better schools – and the improving results to prove it, more activities for young people, we involve and talk to community groups more frequently and have some fantastic and improving public spaces and leisure facilities. And Lambeth has won several awards recently that would suggest other people outside the borough think so too. However I am very aware that the bit of the borough that is in most need of improvement is housing – we still have far too many people living in overcrowded accommodation, poor quality housing and not enough of a customer focused housing service.
What one item could you most not leave home without?
My keys!
What do you most like about living/working in London?
Its diversity and dynamism.
Who is the most influential person you have ever met and why?
My parents have been the most influential people in my life.
In what ways do you think the Weir Estate residents association benefits its residents?
By keeping up the pressure on the Council and Lambeth Living to improve life for Weir estate residents; and by keeping residents informed and in touch with one another. I visit lots of estates and I can genuinely say that WERA is one of the best TRAs.
What makes you happy?
The sun shining, my family and friends, and an empty email inbox!
How important do you think having a community is?
Absolutely essential – it is one of the reasons I love my job and love living in this part of London
Please describe yourself in three words?
I did a quick straw poll of friends and the complimentary ones came up with: passionate, friendly and interesting (my six year old came up with freckly)
Could be more done to engage the younger generation in today's society?
I think young people are very engaged and aware of their community and society and
they have strong and valuable opinions -
How do you most like to relax after a hard day at the office?
My day often finishes at about 10 – so it tends to be wine and The Wire.
Who would be your ideal 'Come Dine With Me' Dinner Guests (max 4)?
Barack Obama, Elizabeth 1, George Mitchell (who secured the Northern Ireland peace negotiations), and Jamie Oliver because he can do the cooking (not one of my strengths)
What aspect of your job would you most like to Change?
Getting stuck in local government red tape.
Who inspires you?
People with clear principles who face obstacles and get on with life
When and how should residents and members of the community contact you?
Councillor Hipwell and I do a surgery at the Weir Link on third Tuesday of every
month between 7-
My email
is
Other Interviews:
Sabina Joseph... Click here to view
Steve Reed... Click here to view
Nick Ephgrave... Click here to view
Val Shawcross... Click here to view
Patrick Horgan... Click here to view
Lib Peck... Click here to view
Derrick Anderson... Click here to view
Cathy Deplessis... Click here to view
Chris Adamson... Click here to view
