Minutes for Council meeting, Mar 3 2010, 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.

Under Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, any Member who is in arrears of two months or more Council Tax must declare it at the meeting and abstain from voting on the budget (item 9).

‘Deputation to bring to the Council’s attention the concerns from Arden, Pitfields, St Johns, Geffrye and Hobbs Place estates regarding repairs and complacency of Hackney Homes, Pinnacle, and Hackney Council Staff.’

Deputation to be introduced by Cllr Sharer

Speaker: John Haley

6.1 From Mr Christopher Sills to the Mayor:

‘Would you agree that unemployment, particularly on the estates, is one of the most serious issues facing the people of Hackney? What steps are the Council taking to improve training opportunities for Hackney people as the result of the transfer of powers to the Council from the Learning and Skills Council, and what steps are the Council taking to ensure that people in Hackney know of the opportunities as they become available from the Olympics?’

7.1 From Cllr Shaikh to the Mayor:

‘Can you re-affirm this Council’s commitment to equal opportunities and state very firmly that you will take immediate and effective measures to eliminate any sign of racism if observed within the Council?’

7.2 From Cllr Stops to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘It was recently reported that crime is at its lowest in Hackney since 1999.  The  early roll out of Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Hackney has helped to contribute to this – can the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods assure me that he will do all he can to retain policing numbers in Hackney?’

7.3 From Cllr Shaikh to the Cabinet Member for Community Services: 

‘The performance of some of the private agencies directly paid by the Council for the purpose of providing personal care to people with disabilities in their homes provides me with some cause for concern.  As a result I believe that people with disabilities and their families do not receive the care they should. Can you tell us if there is a system of monitoring the service and what action is taken to bring to task the agencies which fail to provide the services?’

7.4 From Cllr Akehurst to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘At the last election in 2006, Labour said Hackney’s streets needed to be both cleaner and safer with graffiti, fly tipping and litter swiftly removed, alongside investment in our High Streets to make them more attractive places for local residents. Can the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods say if these promises have been delivered?’

7.5 From Cllr Borris to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘The removal of safety guards from streets has helped to declutter them but has had the unintended effect of removing lots of informal bike racks.  There is also a demand for more secure bike parking on estates, made more urgent by the fact that some residents are now being told not to chain their bikes to railings on walkways because they may be a fire risk, but they do not have room to store their bikes inside their flats.  What is the Council doing to increase provision for bike parking/storage both on streets and on estates?’

7.6 From Cllr Thomson to the Cabinet Member for Sustainability:

‘Hackney is often cited as the greenest borough in London. Could the Cabinet Member for Sustainability outline what we have done to earn this praise, and what steps we’ll be taking to improve on our success?’

7.7 From Cllr Borris to the Cabinet Member for Sustainability:

‘Will the Council investigate the best ways that Hackney Council, Hackney Homes and the Learning Trust can best utilise the recently-announced and very attractive feed in tariffs with the minimum of delay?’ 

7.8 From Cllr Williams to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services:

‘In 2006, the Mayor pledged to provide a safe place to go with things to do within half a mile of home for all young people. Can the Cabinet Member tell me what progress  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Under Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, any Member who is in arrears of two months or more Council Tax must declare it at the meeting and abstain from voting on the budget.

Members are asked to note that Appendix 10 will be tabled at the Council meeting.