£10,000 for Brockley Ward - who gets it? You decide... by proxy

"Y'know, a town with money is like a mule with a spinning wheel. No one knows how he got it and danged if he knows how to use it!"

Lyle Lanley, Marge vs The Monorail

If you had £10,000 of tax-payers' money to spend improving Brockley - what would you do? The obvious answer is to subsidise gambling for children at a new, publicly-funded betting shop on the high street. Sadly, in a representative democracy, it's the politicians who get the final say.

However, Brockley Councillor Dean Walton is asking for our help to decide how £10,000 of public money can be spent on local community projects that will improve Brockley ward.

Cllr Walton explains how the money can be used:

"This is money councillors can use to address so-called low level problems in the Ward that have fallen below the radar of Lewisham's services. This year we want to focus on three key themes of keeping young people active, improving the physical environment and designing out crime & anti-social behaviour if possible."

Last year, the Brockley Councillors allocated the cash to provide solar panels at two local primary schools, financial support for the Brockley Max Festival, improved gardens on the Wickham Road estate and tree planting in Tanners Hill. All very worthy, no doubt, but only 5 out of 10 for imagination. Now that Brockley is one big, socially-networked happy family, we must be able to do better. It's time to put the wisdom of crowds to the test.

Sue Luxton recently promoted a similar scheme in Ladywell on her blog. You may or may not think that any of her suggestions for her ward are worth nicking.

If you have an idea for an activity or project you would like to receive funding for, please contact Cllr Dean Walton by Friday 16 November 2007.

E-mail: cllr_dean.walton@lewisham.gov.uk
Phone: 020 8691 1046
Write to: Cllr Dean Walton, Lewisham Town Hall, Catford, SE6 4RU.

And tell us what you think here.