This evening saw an excellent deputation which the Liberal Democrat group invited to our full council meeting. The group included Barry Albin-Dyer OBE from FA Albins Funeral Directors. Barry’s family firm are a huge part of Bermondsey and have looked after local people for over a hundred years. They also bring back every member of the armed forces killed in Afghanistan and do a fantastic job in supporting devastated families. The Liberal Democrat motion was proposed by Councillor Denise Capstick who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq and requested that the council create a civic tribute for these service men and women who make their final journies to their resting places from Southwark. We suggested that we might want to recognise their names on a roll of honour or at council assembly meetings and we asked the Mayor of Southwark he would pass on the condolences of the people of the borough to the families.

We were also very pleased to be joined by Karen and Lucy from Help for Heroes and Jimmy Jukes and his team from Homes for Heroes. We had a really constructive debate about how the council could support troops returning from Afghanistan and I am delighted that the council’s cabinet agreed that they would see how the council can do more to help with housing and employment. The Liberal Democrat group will continue to do all that we can to support the campaigns to help our troops.