Chris Best

On my web site you can find out about me, my work in Sydenham and Lewisham Council. In short I have represented Sydenham ward since 1986 and believe I have a real understanding of the local issues having lived in and represented Sydenham for nearly 40 years. I am always ready to listen to what residents say and provide community leadership. Having been a Cabinet Member for 20 years including 3 years as Deputy Leader/Mayor I have considerable experience in the political leadership needed to run the Council. From 2022 - 24 I was Chair of the Healthier Communities Scrutiny Committee and the Chair of the South East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. I am currently the Chair of Safer Stronger Communities Committee.

I Chair SEE3, a Mary Portas pilot, to attract quality independent businesses to Sydenham, Kirkdale and Forest Hill - www.SEE3.uk.



Please visit my councillor web site as this provides links to Lewisham Council and factual information such as my Newsletters and the Ward Profile.



Please visit my Contact me page for way to get in touch or just send me an email - cllrchris.best@lewisham.gov.uk

I was delighted to see the Summer Reading Challenge taking place at Sydenham Library - open to children aged 4-11 as a free holiday activity. It’s all about reading for fun and developing children’s reading skills and confidence. The Challenge runs every year throughout the summer holidays. Children read six books over the summer holidays, tell us what you think about each book and collect fun rewards. Our libraries have a range of books including stories, illustrated books, information books, graphic novels (comics), dyslexia friendly books, poetry or audiobooks. When you sign up to the challenge you will receive a fun booklet with space to add your stickers and book reviews. You'll receive a sticker for each book you read as well as some exciting prizes. When you’ve finished the challenge you'll receive a certificate, a medal and a great big 'well done' from Lewisham Libraries.

There are plenty of other activities taking place in our parks and some fun events at Horniman Museum including music on the bandstand..

The Sydenham Assembly recently agreed to the distribution of the Community Infrastructure Levy that comes from contributions from building developers and there was £74k available to Sydenham Ward. NCIL this fund between a total of 6 local projects. This included £35k for Sydenham Library and £10k for James Ross Hunter Youth Support’s Sip n Talk Community project, £10k for.Lewisham Churches Care and Ageing Well based at the Grove Centre, ‘Inspiring Your Imagination’s Music’ scheme which will fund modern studio recording equipment for a youth music project at the TNG youth and community centre. Other projects funded include the Friends of Sydenham Community Library’s successful activities to bring children and adults to the library including Rhyme Time and Arts and Crafts; Singing and crafts sessions for older people. Finally a small amount for SEE3 – High Street Happenings which includes the Easter Bonnet workshop and parade, Halloween costume contest, indoor markets and the Sydenham Assembly meetings. The projects have all been approved and start from the 1 July 2025.

Years of Tory Government cuts have hit Lewisham hard and we are no longer able to produce our quarterly Newsletter delivered door to door so we will have an online Sydenham Assembly eNews - please sign up by emailing sydenhamassembly@gmail.com

Our latest eNews is here

Our top five priorities for Sydenham are - Bringing our community together - Health and Wellbeing - Vibrant high street - Keeping Sydenham clean and green - Crime and Antisocial behaviour. Previous Sydenham Assembly meetings are under the Get Involved page

We know the challenges our Labour Government faces and we have been out on the doorstep asking residents for their priorities and concerns. The top priorities are improving the NHS and providing more GP appointments, tackling the housing crisis and seeing more police on our streets. There is a plan to improve growth and Rachel has set out plans in the October budget and is now preparing a Spring Statement on the 26 March. As your local councillor I know public services are struggling with the cuts to funding over the last 14 years of this Tory Government. We are very concerned with rising demand for childrens and adults social care as well as temporary accommodation. This is a difficult time for local government and in setting a balanced budget we have used reserves. We will work with our Labour Government to deliver on the Labour Party manifesto which sets out the programme for change including delivering economic stability, setting up Great British Energy, cutting NHS waiting times, cracking down on anti-social behaviour and recruiting 6,500 new teachers.

It is truly inspirational to talk to Ellie and Rachel Reeves about their journey to the House of Commons. They were born in Lewisham and lived in Sydenham attending Adamsrill Primary School. So proud that Rachel is the first woman Chancellor of the Exchequer having been shadowing the role since May 2021.

Following the General Election in July 2024 Ellie was appointed Labour Party Chair and Minister of State without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office.

Please clickhere for Ellie's web site and further information. You can get in contact by writing to: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. Alternatively you can email at: ellie.reeves.mp@parliament.uk or call 020 7219 2668.

I have been promoting a career in social care and talking to Angela Rayner who started her career as a care worker and really understands the need to value carers and ensure they get a fair deal. I am proud Lewisham has signed up to the UNISON Ethical Care Charter - https://www.unison.org.uk/care-workers-your-rights/the-ethical-care-charter/ Read more about my campaign to value a career in social care in my blog ⬇️

Angela was elected as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.in March 2020 and following the General Election was appointed the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Deputy Prime Minister. Having had worked in social housing I am delighted to see Angela working to deliver the homes we need and protect private renters. We are working to build cohesive communities - places that offer a common vision and a sense of belonging for all in an environment where strong and positive relationships can be developed between people from different backgrounds in the workplace, in schools and within our neighbourhood.

Following his promotion to Shadow Secretary for Health and Social Care in November 2021 Wes was quickly on top of his brief. In December 2021, in response to growing waiting times in the NHS, he said the way to reduce waiting times was better pay and conditions, while keeping a check on the six figure salaries of managers and management consultants. He added: "The biggest priority is to recruit, train and retain staff for the long term." He also placed an emphasis on investment and reform. He said that the UK government should concentrate on boosting wages for the lowest paid in the health sector.

In June 2023, Wes said that the NHS requires three big shifts: "from an excessive focus on hospital care to more focus on neighbourhood and community services; from an analogue service to one that embraces the technological revolution; and from sickness to prevention." I have long advocated prevention and the benefits of looking after your own health.

It was a real pleasure to meet David and talk about his political career. Since entering the House of Commons in 2000, David has been at the forefront of the fight for social and racial equality. David led the campaign for Windrush British citizens to be granted British citizenship and paid compensation by the government, forcing the Home Secretary to guarantee the citizenship of Commonwealth nationals, set up a specialist Commonwealth Taskforce and establish a compensation scheme. In January 2016, the then Prime Minister David Cameron asked David to lead an independent review into the treatment of, and outcomes for, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals in our criminal justice system. The Lammy Review was published in September 2017 and included 35 wide-ranging policy recommendations for Government and the criminal justice sector. David was a member of the Government’s Serious Violence Taskforce from its formation in April 2018 until its dissolution after Boris Johnson became prime minister. Published in 2020, David’s second book Tribes explored the social and racial divisions in society. In it, David calls for us to challenge our common perceptions of British history and to forge stronger community ties. David was appointed the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice in 2020 and held the position until being promoted to Shadow Foreign Secretary in November 2021. Delighted that David is now our Foreign Secretary to contribute to making the world a safer place. The Labour Party position on Gaza is that every civilian death – Israeli or Palestinian - is a tragedy, and builds new barriers to a lasting peace. There needs to be humanitarian access and supplies to Gaza and a two-state solution.

Lewisham Council is working with our charity partners at Calico Projects to protect the beautiful Carnegie library in Sydenham for long-term community use. Opened in 1904, Sydenham was the first of five Carnegie libraries to be built in Lewisham. I have been working with my co-councillors to ensure that the much needed essential repair works were carried out in June and July. We are delighted that Sydenham Library is open for five days a week – Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri (10-5) and Sat (10-4) - with a much-improved reception area and a fantastic range of books as well as free wi-fi and access to computers and scanning. There are further improvements on the way using the Council capital fund to repair the roof and with Calico being allocated £35k from the NCIL fund to improve the rear courtyard and provide a café facing Home Park. This is a great community space with a range of activities for the whole family. Volunteers needed and welcomed. Find out more online here: www.sydenhamlibrary.co.uk or email contact@sydenhamlibrary.co.uk