Minutes for Council meeting, Jul 20 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.

(i)  The Lion Club, 140 Pitfield Street, London N1 6JR  (1000+ signatures)  

‘We, the undersigned, appreciate and value the work of the Lion Club for Young People. For over 78 years it has provided a unique service for hard to reach children, young people and those at risk living in Hackney. We want to see this continue long into the future. Therefore we ask the Council to endorse the Club’s search for a sustainable financial future that will allow it to continue making sure every child and young person living in Hackney matters.’

 

Speaker: Alan Parry, Chair, Lion Club.

 

(ii)  Library Services  (1000+ signatures)

‘We, the undersigned, are firmly opposed to Hackney Council plans to cut front-line staffing by 25%, cut local library opening hours, cut public events by two thirds and downgrade library workers pay and responsibilities. We say no to the slow death of the Hackney Library Service and stand by library workers in their struggle against job losses and pay cuts.’

 

Speaker: Matthew Waterfall, Hackney Unison.

 

6.1  From Christopher Sills to the Mayor:

‘How long have the underground toilets in Stamford Hill been disused and what plans, if any, has the Council got to remove this eyesore which does not reflect well on the Council?’

7.1  From Cllr Muir to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘Following the terrible floods in Upper Clapton, will the Council press Thames Water to deal with claims for lost and damaged property promptly and fully?’

 

7.2  From Cllr Aussenberg to the Mayor:

‘Could you please inform the Council, for 2010/11 how much in total the Hackney Today costs to print and distribute, also for the same year, the total sum of revenue received through advertising and other means. In summary, what is the total cost of the shortfall Hackney residents have to pay through their Council Tax for keeping this paper in circulation?’

 

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

‘Could you provide an update on the works to improve Clissold Park?’

 

7.4    From Cllr Kelly to Cabinet Member for Children’s Services:

‘Given that there are Hackney residents wishing to open a free school in Hackney, could the Cabinet Member inform us how the majority group feels about Free Schools - secular or faith - and will they be supporting parents/carers who wish to open free schools in Hackney?’

 

7.5  From Cllr Bell to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services:

‘In view of the difficulties delivering a new youth centre on the site originally intended on Woodberry Down, could the Cabinet Member assure me that the current premises will have the necessary investment and improvements in management which will allow it to properly serve the young people of our area?’

 

7.6  From Cllr Jacobson to the Cabinet Member for Crime, Sustainability and Customer Services (Deputy Mayor):

‘At the March Council meeting, the Cabinet Member for Crime, Sustainability and Customer Services reported on what the Council was doing to reduce people's fear of crime in Hackney. Can she tell us what initiatives the council is introducing to actually reduce crime in the borough?’

 

7.7   From Cllr de Botton to the Cabinet Member for Housing:

‘Can the Cabinet Member for Housing set out the plans for the next phase of regeneration of the King's Crescent Estate in Brownswood Ward?’

 

7.8   From Cllr Thomson to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘Could you provide an update on the consultation and the Council’s liaison with Transport for London around the Stoke Newington gyratory?’

 

7.9   From Cllr Brown to the Cabinet Member for Crime, Sustainability    and Customer Services (Deputy Mayor):

‘Would you provide an update on what the Council is doing to support the Metropolitan Police's work to address the persistent problem of prostitution in Lordship and neighbouring wards?’

 

7.10  From Cllr Thomson to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the  Olympic and Paralympic Games:

‘Residents in Stoke Newington are concerned about a large Sainsburys that is planned for our ward. The concerns are varied - traffic, road safety, and the impact on local shops. What influence does the Council have in such matters and what reassurance can the Council offer concerned residents?’

 

Hard copies of this Annual Report have been sent to Members of the Council with this agenda. It can be found using the following link:

 

http://www.hackney.gov.uk/Assets/Documents/O-and-S-annual-report-10-11.pdf

‘This Council notes:

 

1.  That crime in Hackney is at its lowest level in 12 years, with a fall of more than 11,000 offences in the past nine years – one of the largest falls in overall numbers of any London borough. 

 

2.  An increase of over 30% since March 2009 in the confidence of Hackney residents in the local police and council to tackle crime.

 

3.  Recently released MPA figures which show that in two years the number of police officers in London will fall to just 31,460 from 33,260 in 2010, a fall of 1800.

 

4.  Proposals from the Metropolitan Police to reduce the number of Safer Neighbourhood Team Sergeants and allow other team members to be deployed away from their wards.

 

This Council believes:

 

1.  The reduction in crime is due to the excellent work of local police and the effectiveness of good partnership working in the borough. 

 

2.  That Safer Neighbourhood Teams have played a crucial role and have contributed to falling crime rates and provided much needed community engagement and reassurance.

 

3.  We should campaign on behalf of our residents to maintain the number of police on the streets and protect the integrity of Safer Neighbourhood Teams working in their wards.’

 

Proposer: Cllr Linden

Seconder: Cllr Mitchell

 

Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission:

To appoint Mr Shuja Shaikh as a non-voting member to represent the North London Muslim Association. This position has been vacant. 

 

Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission:

To appoint Cllr Michael Jones to replace Cllr Linda Kelly.

 

Licensing Committee:

To appoint Cllr Feryal Demirci to replace Cllr Linda Kelly.

To appoint Cllr Angus Mulready-Jones to replace Cllr Louisa Thomson.

 

Other Appointments:

To consider any other appointments notified.