For the first time, Southwark Council is holding a Leader’s Public Question Time, where the public can hold the Leader and the council’s cabinet directly to account.

The council is asking anyone who lives or works, or is interested in Southwark to suggest a question about their local council for the Leader, Councillor Peter John, to respond to.

Maybe you want to know what the future for the borough’s children might look like in terms of schools and nurseries, perhaps care for older people or how our parks are managed are more your area of interest, or maybe you want answers about how Southwark is addressing the housing crisis? All questions are welcome; the council will look at any suggestion and is open to whatever people want to directly ask the Leader of the council on the night.

The free event will be taking place on the evening of 22 October 2014 at City Hall,the home of the Greater London Authority in SE1, in the main debating chamber overlooking the Thames and Tower Bridge. Further details and timings will be announced soon.

Jumoké Fashola, award-winning radio and television broadcaster, famed Jazz singer and Southwark resident will chair the debate and keep the questions and answers moving in what promises to be a lively, exciting and challenging evening. Jumoké currently presents BBC London 94.9fm’s weekly faith and ethics magazine programme Inspirit and was named Religious Broadcaster of the Year in 2005, awarded silver at the BBC Gillard Awards 2013 and bronze at the BBC Gillard Awards in 2010.

In 2011 she was nominated in the Journalist of the Year category at the BEFFTA Awards and in the Series Category of the Jerusalem Awards. Her debut album, The Condition of Being a Woman has just been released.

Councillor Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said, “I am really looking forward to responding directly to the voice of people in Southwark. I don’t ever want the council’s leadership to be faceless or unaccountable in any way so I invite people’s questions, thoughts and opinions in order for us to be held to account publicly.

“I hope that by opening this forum to everyone that it will help to close the distance between residents and those responsible for delivering the services we provide for them. Let’s face it, everyone likes to be listened to and I can’t wait to hear people’s questions.”

Please register your interest in attending as we expect this to be a very popular event. Email councilnews@southwark.gov.uk to do so. You can also send in your questions beforehand to this same address or send questions via twitter using the hashtag #askpeterjohn to @lb_southwark.