Minutes for Council meeting, Sep 16 2009, 7.00PM official page

This is the time for Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests, or dispensations they may have in any matter being considered at this meeting having regard to the guidance attached to the agenda.

5.1 From Mr Christopher Sills to the Mayor:

‘What lessons has the Council learned from the first wave of swine flu in Hackney and what steps are being taken to ensure that consistent advice is being given to all those concerned should there be a further wave in the autumn which many experts predict?’

6.1 From Cllr Plouviez to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services:

‘At the last election, Labour pledged that by 2010 GCSE results in Hackney would exceed the national average. Could the Cabinet Member update me as to progress with this commitment?’

6.2 From Cllr Borris to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘Bristol City Council, following the success of its recent exhibition by the street artist Banksy, intends now to give its residents the chance to say which examples of street art they like and want to keep. Hackney's street art is also enjoyed by many people, so will Hackney Council follow this example and let residents decide?  And in the meantime, has the Cabinet Member given instructions to contractors that what remains of the mural in Church Street, on private property but recently half obliterated by this Council, will now be left alone?’

6.3 From Cllr Rathbone to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services:

‘At the last election, Labour pledged to add 1800 secondary school places in Hackney. Could the Cabinet Member update me as to progress with this commitment?’

6.4 From Cllr Middleton to the Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Sustainability

‘I have attended various meetings to learn of the suggestion of recycling food etc on the estates, but when I ask what system has been put in place to collect whatever the item is from the homes of disabled or vulnerable residents,  I am told there is no plan to do so. Surely in the days when we are supposedly offering a better service to all of our residents this matter should be looked at again urgently.’  

6.5 From Cllr Demirci to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services:

‘What support and reassurance can the Learning Trust offer parents of the nursery at Liliput Children’s Centre in my ward who are concerned about the possible closure of the facility and the impact on the availability of nursery places in the local area?’

6.6 From Cllr Glanville to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services:

‘Following the tragic fire at Thomas Fairchild, can the Cabinet Member give reassurances that parents, pupils and the wider community are being kept informed as to both education provision in the short term and the re-opening of the school?’

6.7 From Cllr Thomson to the Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Sustainability:

‘It is a very positive step that Hackney Council was one of the first local authorities to sign up to the 10:10 campaign to reduce emissions by 10% in 2010. Could the Cabinet Member update me on what steps the Council will be taking to meet this target?’

6.8 From Cllr Stops to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services:

‘Please let me know the progress of the Children’s Centre to be opened at Brook Community School. Can I also be told what is being done to ensure that all parents with young children know what facilities are available at the centre and are encouraged to use them?’

6.9 From Cllr Kemp to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games:

‘What is the Council doing to ensure that our young people in the borough can benefit from the opportunities around the Olympic Games?’

6.10 From Cllr Boyd to the Cabinet Member for Community Services:

‘The Council has put forward exciting new proposals for the development of Mabley Green to make it a more interesting, safe and family-friendly environment that more people will enjoy.  We have been involved with and support the masterplan which should help direct investment and attract additional funding for the park. But any capital investment must of course be matched by ongoing revenue funding. Can the Cabinet Member therefore give a commitment to properly maintain any new features or facilities, so that Mabley Green can in the future meet the high standards set by the best parks in Hackney.’

6.11 From Cllr Williams to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘I welcome news in the most recent Safer Neighbourhoods Team newsletter in which information is given on the work being done by dedicated police teams to tackle hate crime against Hackney’s LGBT community. Would the Cabinet Member highlight how the police are working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs to address the problem of homophobic crime?’    

“This Council:

- Welcomes the £167m investment in the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme from the Labour Government which has meant that 3 Hackney schools are currently being refurbished, with a further 3 secondary and 4 special schools being either rebuilt or refurbished.

- Endorses the Labour Government's commitment to invest £21.9billion of capital in schools from 2008-11 which means that every single primary, secondary, academy and special school will benefit from improvements.

- Is alarmed at reports that the Conservative Party would cut £4.5 billion from the BSF programme, which would mean that one in seven future rebuilding projects - a total of 360 schools - could not go ahead.

- Notes that the first phase of the refurbishments under the BSF programme have just finished resulting in state-of-the-art facilities, including an additional 9 classrooms at Stoke Newington School and 4 new classrooms and a refurbished dining block at Clapton Girls School. 

- Further notes that, on completion, the BSF works will enable both Stoke Newington School and Clapton Girls School to increase their capacity – resulting in an extra 470 places, including for sixth formers. 

- Welcomes Hackney Council's commitment to continue to invest in Hackney schools so that every young person being educated in the borough benefits from schools with excellent facilities - including new classrooms, laboratories, kitchens, IT facilities and sport areas.

- Is alarmed at reports that the Conservative Party would cut £4.5 billion from the BSF programme, which would mean that one in seven future rebuilding projects - a total of 360 schools - could not go ahead.

- Notes that the first phase of the refurbishments under the BSF programme have just finished resulting in state-of-the-art facilities, including an additional 9 classrooms at Stoke Newington School and 4 new classrooms and a refurbished dining block at Clapton Girls School. 

- Further notes that, on completion, the BSF works will enable both Stoke Newington School and Clapton Girls School to increase their capacity – resulting in an extra 470 places, including for sixth formers.

- Welcomes Hackney Council's commitment to continue to invest in Hackney schools so that every young person being educated in the borough benefits from schools with excellent facilities - including new classrooms, laboratories, kitchens, IT facilities and sport areas.”

Proposer: Cllr Demirici, Seconder: Cllr Thomson