Minutes for Council meeting, Mar 2 2011, 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 Question from Christopher Sills to the Mayor:

‘Would you agree with me that one of the problems faced by young single people in Hackney is housing and would the Council attempt to persuade charities like YMCA and YWCA to come to Hackney and build a hostel?’

6.1 From Cllr Laing to the Deputy Mayor:

‘Given the fantastic news that Hackney Council has improved its standing as one of the country’s best employers for LGBT staff, what further steps will the authority take during these more difficult financial times to ensure that our proud history of diversity will be maintained and improved in the years to come?’

 

6.2 From Cllr Russell to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘Cycling campaigners in London have been lobbying for sensors and cameras to be installed on lorries to help reduce the number of collisions with cyclists and pedestrians. Last month, a cyclist was tragically killed by an HGV at Dalston Junction. What steps can the Council take to raise awareness of this issue, and are there any plans for road safety campaigns locally to help educate road users of the dangers for cyclists?’

 

6.3 From Cllr Muir to the Cabinet Member for Community Services:

‘What steps is the Council taking to prepare for the transfer of public health duties and budgets from the NHS to the Council?’

 

6.4 From Cllr Bramble to the Cabinet Member for Finance:

‘In light of the proposed government cuts to housing benefits which we know will have big implications for many Hackney residents, what strategies has the Council got to facilitate the transition? For example - with children having to potentially travel further to school or families who have to move away from the local services they access. Does the Council plan to disseminate any guidance on the changes to residents?’

 

6.5 From Cllr Fajana-Thomas to the Cabinet Member for Crime, Sustainability and Customer Services:

‘It's very encouraging to see that crime in Hackney is at its lowest for a decade. However, fear of crime remains a concern for many residents. Could the Cabinet member outline what steps the Council and partners are taking to address this??’

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.

‘This Council:

 

·  Believes that access to justice is a right that should be available to all and, ensuring that individuals are not excluded from the courts system due to lack of finance was deemed fundamental to ensuring the principles of equality before the law when it was created in 1949.

 

·  Believes there are unexplored alternatives to these cuts which mean up to 77% of legal aid funding will be lost to all advice agencies in the borough.

 

·  Notes the evidence in Hackney which shows that a cut of £1 in legal aid will waste between £10 to £100 and has not been properly assessed by the Government.

 

·  Deplores the Government's proposal to make legal aid only available through a phone service when a large number of people in a multi-cultural area like Hackney use face to face services.

 

·  Notes the valuable support given to what is a high quality advice services in the borough by Team Hackney.

 

·  Is concerned that the proposal to remove from scope - employment advice, education welfare, debt advice and to reduce provision in family, immigration and housing advice - will have a catastrophic impact for those Hackney residents who will need advice at a time when government policy will result in lost jobs, benefits and tenancies. 

 

·  Feels particularly alarmed at the disproportionate impact that these proposals will have on women, protected groups as well as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic residents in the borough.

 

·  And in supporting the Justice for All campaign urges the Government to think again and talk to advice agencies in inner city areas

 

Proposer: Cllr Gordon

Seconder: Cllr Rathbone