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?  

    I'm the London Assembly Member for Lambeth and Southwark.  I sit on the London Assembly at City Hall. Part of that job is that I am also a member of the Fire Authority (the Committee that runs the Fire Brigade) and I am currently Deputy Chair of the Assembly's Transport Scrutiny Committee. 

 

  How long have you been doing this role? 

 I was elected here in 2000. I spent the first 8 years as Chair of the Fire Brigade but now we have a Conservative Mayor he gives the key roles to Conservative members. Technically I'm in opposition.

 

Can you please give a brief description of what your role involves?  

Our principle job is to scrutinise the work of the Mayor Boris Johnson, and the functional bodies of the GLA - Transport for London and the Police included.  But because my constituency covers a population of about 450,0000 people I spend a huge amount of time dealing with casework.  Everything from Planning issues to problems with bus routes.   The Civil Servant who set up the GLA refused to  admit that Assembly members would have casework. In fact it takes up a good half of my time. Its mostly done with groups and community organisations though such as Residents Associations - its not so much for individuals as City hall doesn't provide any personal care services of any kind.

 

If you had the power to change the law, what new law would you bring in? 

I am concerned about the impact of noise nuisance on people's health and well being. I would like to see a law to ban the use of boom boxes in cars and  over  loud  car stereos. I also don't see why we should put up with unnecessary helicopter noise in London. We should ban everything but emergency service uses. Businessmen can get to their golfing holidays by train!  

 

What is your favourite place to visit in London? 

I am very fond of that long stroll along to SouthBank from Westminster Bridge all the way to Shad Thames via the Eye, the Globe, Southwark Cathedral and More London.  

 

What do you think is the most important about working with communities? 

It’s important to remember that often people express anger because they feel unsupported and powerless in the face of Authority.   However tired I am, I always try and remember how 'hard pressed' community volunteers feel!  

 

Do you think London is getting better or worse and why?  

It’s getting better in many physical ways but I am deeply depressed about the continuing high level of drug dealing and abuse in our society and the appalling level of drunkenness.

 

What one item could you most not leave home without?

My Blackberry 

 

What do you most like about living/working in London?  
Its glorious mixing of peoples.  

 

Who is the most influential person you have ever met and why?             

David Blunkett - he taught me to 'practice fearlessness' however scared you are; if it’s important, you give it a go.  

 

In what ways do you think the residents associations benefit residents? 
  Residents Associations are a crucial link in the chain of information and influence between individual people and the community at large.  I wish we had more of them! I work with them a lot and find they aid my understanding of what is needed in the community.

 

What impact do you think your role has for those living in London?   

 I am part of the wider GLA system. It’s important that we have a democratic government for London - in the years without a GLC and GLA London suffered and deteriorated - the Underground became dilapidated and the bus service was gruesomely bad.  It’s important that we provide democratic leadership on all kinds of issues  - environmental protection is a big challenge for London with its polluted air.    

 

What areas are you directly responsible for?    

Over the last 8 years I know I had a beneficial impact on modernising the Fire Service in London.  We can measure it in the reduction of fire deaths in London. At the moment my job is to try and shine  a light and ask questions on the Mayor's Transport plans.  But very often it's on  the casework and local issues where I have most helped.

 

Please describe yourself in three words?

Affable, energetic and well organised 

 

Should more be done to improve facilities and engaging of young people in London?  

There's a lot to do in providing youth activities but often young people say to me that they would like better policing on the streets and in the buses  and tube. Young men are most often the victim of attacks and muggings and they need to feel the freedom and confidence to move safely around their own city without fear of violence.  

 

How do you most like to relax after a hard day at the office?  
That would be nice. 

 

Who would be your ideal 'Come Dine with Me' Dinner Guests (max 4)?  
I'd like to eat at home with my husband occasionally.  It's privacy I crave at the end of the day.

 

What aspects of society would you most like to see changed?   

 I'd like to see the end of age discrimination in our society. We see it in the way the media treats un-young women and in the uncaring way that elderly people may be dealt with in hospitals and social care.   I think age discrimination results in elder abuse and violence at one end of the spectrum.   I come across cases where   elderly people  get 'scammed 'out of their property and money  by their children and family members when they become vulnerable and dependent. Respect for the elderly would be a way of restoring some of their power.  

 

Who inspires you?

    This week Pastor Leke of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Congreve St)  did a good job of giving me some inspiration during a superb London Peace week service. Next week it will be someone else I see working in the community who gives me a kick in the right direction.  

 

When and how should residents and members of the community contact you?   
You can call me on 0207 983 4401  or email me on Valerie.Shawcross@london.gov.uk.  
You can write at  

Valerie Shawcross AM
LONDON Assembly Member
Lambeth & Southwark

City Hall
The Queen's Walk
London
SE1 2AA

 

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