Minutes for Council meeting, May 4 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:

‘According to the press there will be a shortage of school places in London in the next few years.  Is there a projected shortage in Hackney and what is the Council doing about it, as no one wants a repeat of the position two years ago when the Council was caught out on the number of secondary school places available?’

 

5.2  Question from Orena Wareham to the Mayor:

‘What steps are the Council taking to help young women over 18 who are homeless and are not pregnant, drug users, prostitutes or mentally ill, but are sleeping rough for the want of a little bit of help?’

 

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

‘New River is seeing its population of children growing at a much faster rate than most wards in the rest of London. This presents us with big challenges - not least for schooling. Are there any medium and long term plans to appropriately house schools and school children as the numbers of both grow?’

 

6.2 From Cllr Steinberger to the Cabinet Member for Finance:

‘What did this administration do to help big families when the previous Government cut their housing benefit substantially from £800 to £550 per week which for those big families was so vital to have every single penny?’

 

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

‘Could you provide an update on the Council's library strategy and the commitment to keeping all libraries open?’

 

6.4 From Cllr Steinberger to the Speaker:

‘Will the Speaker let us know the total number of invitations that she received during 2010/11, and also the number of citizenship ceremonies to which she was invited?  Of all invitations received, what is the total number of engagements that she attended as Speaker and what is the total number that the she declined during the 2010/11 year, and of those that she declined what are the reasons for declining?’

 

6.5 From Cllr Russell to the Cabinet Member for Crime, Customer Services and Sustainability:

‘Could you report back on the day that was held at Mossbourne which aimed to educate young people about how to stay safe, and update us on what steps are being taken to help and support young people to stay safe across the Borough as a whole?

 

6.6 From Cllr De Botton to the Cabinet Member for Crime, Customer Services and Sustainability:

‘What impact has the dispersal zone had at Manor House?

 

6.7 From Cllr Williams to the Cabinet Member for Finance:

The coalition government are moving towards the on-line/call-centre delivery model to deliver their universal credit. This is likely to be a big issue for Hackney as many of our more vulnerable users rely on face-to-face support. Are there any indications of any funding available from central government to help support the continuation of this in areas where there is a high demand? What are the likely impact of the changes, and what can the Council do to help prepare residents for this?

 

‘This Council notes:

 

1. The Health and Social Care Bill passing through Parliament.

 

1. The potential damage to the NHS and the health of Hackney residents likely to arise from the Bill's proposals for a disruptive reorganisation of the NHS at a time of reduced resources.

 

1. The particular risks to the ethos of the NHS implicit in the Bill's stipulation that 'any willing provider' may bid for GP commissioned services.

 

This Council believes:

 

1. These changes are likely to cause so much disruption and damage to the NHS and the health of Hackney residents that we have a responsibility to raise concerns on behalf of our residents' against them.

 

1. We should campaign on behalf of our residents' on this issue with the broadest possible coalition of health campaigners and stakeholders in Hackney and beyond.’

 

Proposer: Cllr Akehurst

Seconder: Cllr McShane

‘This Council notes:

 

i) the support of the Hackney Central AAP for the refurbishment of the old Hackney station ticket hall to create a new station entrance on Hackney Central's High Street;

 

ii) TfL's active support for the project, but its lack of funds to progress this at present;

 

iii) Network Rail's intention to bring the station into a rentable condition in April / May.

 

iv) that should the station be let for an extended period this would mean the chance of the station being refurbished is lost forever.

 

This Council therefore resolves to urgently seek to persuade Network Rail to keep the possibility open of the station being refurbished at some time in the future and particularly not to let the building on a long term lease.’

 

Proposer: Cllr Stops

Seconder: Cllr Plouviez