School & borough councillors join forces to stick it to the gum makers

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A request from local school children to clamp down on people who drop chewing gum is set to reach the highest reaches of national government.

Chancellor Gordon Brown can expect a letter from the leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, suggesting a higher tax on chewing gum manufacturers. It costs councils across the UK £150million annually to clear up the chewing gum dropped on the nations pavements. Cllr Burke has also vowed to continue with the Smarter Borough programme, which aims to improve the borough’s streets as well as dealing with a variety of environmental issues.

The school council at Fulham Cross School made the request to Cllr Burke and two other councillors on national ‘take your councillor to school day’ last Friday 14 October.

The 25-strong school council from the all-girl school on Munster Road, Fulham invited the three councillors to explain in more detail about the services Hammersmith & Fulham Council provides and discuss some of the issues surrounding school meals and the environment.

Cllr Burke said, “Councillors are the people’s intercom with council officers and I was delighted to visit Fulham Cross today, during Local Democracy Week, to listen to what the school council had to say.

I will now be writing to Gordon Brown to show my support for a levy on chewing gum companies – following the school council’s very persuasive arguments.”

The school council, which is made up of 11 to 16 year olds from every tutor group in each year, also made a presentation to councillors about school meals.

Head girl, Adesuwa Ekundayo, said, “I think between the teachers and students we have done quite a lot already on school meals. In the last few months they’ve got better but there is still more to do. We would like to see the price of the healthy food to come down a bit and introduce more variety of food with more flavours. We would also like students to become more involved in setting the menus.”

Council officers are now due to meet the school council and head teacher, Carol Jones, in the coming fortnight to discuss how meals can improve further.

Cllr Melanie Smallman, cabinet member for Education, said, “Being a councillor isn’t a glamorous job and things don’t always happen quickly but I believe we do make a difference. I have listened to what the school council has said today and hopefully the wheels have now been put in motion to further improve school meals, not just in Fulham Cross, but across the borough.”

The students spent two hours talking to councillors about the topics they have been working on in citizenship class as well hearing what councillors do on a daily basis.

Cllr Burke, continues, “I have been extremely impressed by the level of debate the school council has had today across a wide range of topics. As a councillor you have to try and balance the sometimes conflicting needs of the community, but they have proved that if you get involved and bring your ideas forward and then back them up with facts – then you really can change things – today is a prime example of local democracy in action.”

School council chair, Kadiga, said, “I would like to thank the councillors for visiting us today. I think it has been a great chance for us to talk about some of the ideas we have had on school meals and chewing gum.”

Headteacher, Carol Jones, said, “I can’t tell you how proud I am of the school council. They have intelligent debate, great ideas and come up with good solutions. It has been really lovely welcoming the Hammersmith & Fulham councillors here today. They have promised to give us a helping hand with some of our issues and I know some of the students are now thinking of going into politics.”

October 29, 2005