Minutes for Council meeting, Jun 27 2012, 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.

‘We the residents of Colville Estate do not bring this deputation lightly, however, even after a meeting with the Deputy Mayor on 23 April 2012 those who attended the meeting and other residents and leaseholders are still in a high state of anxiety about what is happening to them and the state of the regeneration programme on Colville Estate. 

We would like to know why residents assured tenancy rights and needs are being ignored, why leaseholders are being offered packages which would mean they would have to leave their home and support networks, as their homes in their current area are way beyond their means.

We want assurances from this Council that residents would be contacted and given the respect they are due, to make this transaction from Colville to their new homes as easy as possible’.

Deputation to be introduced by: Councillor Kelly.

Speaker: Andrew Boff and Jenny Hutchinson

‘Hackney has for many years offered a welcome to people who are seeking sanctuary.  Many have lost homes and families and dignity but have brought new skills, music, food and labour to make this Borough what it is today.  In many ways, there is already a well established culture of hospitality and support here.

As a response, there is a move to try and have Hackney accredited as a ‘Borough of Sanctuary’ as part of the national grassroots movement ‘City of Sanctuary’.  This is a movement supported by the Refugee Council which seeks to bring together everyone who feels it is important for the place in which they live and work to be safe, hospitable and welcoming, countering hostile attitudes that can be abound.  Individuals, community groups, schools, businesses, faith groups and cultural organisations, as well as local government, are asked to commit to offering hospitality and support to refugees and other migrants and to evidence this by signing a pledge.  Hackney Council have confirmed their support for the aims of the Borough of Sanctuary movement and whilst there has not been an agreement to sign the pledge we are keen to ensure an ongoing dialogue and increase awareness of the Campaign’.

Deputation to be introduced by:  Councillor Rathbone

Speaker:  Catherine Bird

6.1  From Christopher Sills to the Mayor:

What steps are being taken to ensure that patients (particularly the elderly) discharged from hospital get adequate care on discharge and does this include temporary increase in their care packages, if appropriate?

7.1  From Cllr Kelly to the Deputy Mayor:

‘Could the Deputy Mayor enlighten this Council with the details behind the houses in London Lane and Ellingforth Road Hackney, which the Courts gave over to the squatter in 2011, worth £4.4m.

Last year, in a case in Hackney, East London, squatters were handed two whole streets worth a potential £4.4million.  Sixty illegal tenants had already lived rent-free in 22 rundown Victorian terrace houses in Ellingfort Street and London Lane, London Fields for many years’. 

7.2  From Cllr Ebbutt to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games:

‘What preparations are the Council making for the arrival of the Olympic torch on 21 July?’

7.3  From Cllr Jacobson to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘The Council has had installed a vehicle-activated speed limit sign on Cassland Road for a number of months now, flashing up the speed limit whenever it detects a vehicle travelling too fast. Can the lead member inform me how many times this sign was activated during the most recent month for which data is available and how this compares to similar figures for the months since this sign was installed?’

7.4  From Cllr Rathbone to the Mayor:

‘Could the Mayor outline his role on the Olympic Legacy Board in terms of securing the best possible deal for Hackney after the Games?’

7.5  From Cllr Stops to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games:

‘Will you join with me in welcoming to Hackney its newest creative industry - craft brewing. There are now four breweries in Hackney, four more a stones throw from the border.

What can the council do to showcase and support this industry, particularly over the Olympic period?’

7.6  From Cllr Mitchell to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services:

‘What progress has been made in making Young Hackney Stoke Newington an inclusive youth centre for the whole of the area, how many young people now use the youth centre, and what outcomes are being measured?’

7.7  From Cllr Williams to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘How many drivers within the Council’s own fleets are getting cycle awareness training to help make cycling safer on Hackney streets?  Can these be broken down by type of vehicle?’

7.8  From Cllr Gregory to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘In current times where identify theft and fraud are becoming more frequent, what is the Council doing to reduce the risks to Hackney residents when disposing of documents in the recycling bins and in general waste removal?  What support and advice does the Council give to residents when identify fraud occurs?’

7.9  From Cllr Rathbone to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games:

‘What is being done to minimise possible damage being done to the Marshes by the festivals and entertainment events planned in the run up and during the Games, and what the council’s role is in making sure that the ODA return Leyton Marsh as a green space?’  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

Hard copies of this annual report have been sent to Members of the Council with this agenda. It can be found on the council’s website at www.hackney.gov.uk/scrutiny

The Council notes: 

1.  Hackney Homes' front door replacement programme, circa 2006, on over 8,000 social housing properties with new doors manufactured by Gerda at a cost to-date of over £10 million.

2.  That soon after installation, many tenants and leaseholders began to report defective exterior fascia’s on this model of door causing the finish to “peel”, 

3.  Hackney Homes gave an assurance in 2008 that they would repair or replace all affected doors.

 4. That as of 2012 there are still a large number of Hackney Homes residents whose “Gerda” front doors are defective which have not been repaired or replaced.

The Council further notes that seemingly minor, but chronic cosmetic problems such as this have a negative effect on the appearance of individual properties and the wider neighbourhood and can accumulate to encourage crime and anti-social behaviour and to negatively impact on residents' quality of life and property values of adjoining private homes.

The Council calls on Hackney Homes to:

1.  Pro-actively investigate which of their tenants and leaseholders have been affected by this problem and make good the work.

 2. Review their procedures with regard to faults and “snagging” to ensure that any problems with future renovations of social housing in the borough are identified and dealt with promptly and efficiently. 

3.  Ensure that all costs associated with faulty doors are covered by the manufacturer.

Proposer:  Cllr Abraham Jacobson

Seconder:  Cllr Ian Sharer

This council questions how effective and efficient the Work Capability Assessment is at assessing peoples capacity for work and supporting them back to work when 40% of cases where people are deemed fit to work are being overturned at appeal.

The Government's strategy of assessing everyone in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance - even those with terminal illnesses or severe clinical medical conditions - at regular intervals on their ability to work; using computers not health care professionals to assess people capacity to work; and not consulting with GPs on their patients' health is unsophisticated and over simplified.

This council believes this clumsy, catch all approach is not fit for purpose and is not only wasting taxpayers money but is extremely harmful to people's health and well being.

We support the call by GPs for a more rigorous and safe system and will write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, asking the Government to rethink and reform the system for assessing people's capacity for work so that we can help people who genuinely can work into employment and not hound those that can't.

Proposer: Cllr Alex Russell

Seconder: Cllr Rick Muir 

1)  Scrutiny Commission

At the request of the Majority Group Whip, approve the revised membership (incorporating some changes to those agreed at the Council AGM), as set out below:-

Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission:

Cllr Oli de Botton

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble

Cllr Ed Brown

Cllr Gulay Icoz

Cllr Abraham Jacobson

Cllr Michael Jones

Cllr Chris Kennedy

Cllr Ned Mulready

Cllr Ian Rathbone

Cllr Saleem Siddiqui

Cllr Geoff Taylor

One Conservative vacancy

To fill the cooptee vacancy representing the Church of England Diocesan Board – Richard Brown

Community Safety and Social Inclusion Scrutiny Commission:

Cllr Margaret Gordon

Cllr Sally Mulready

Cllr Angus Mulready Jones

Cllr Tom Price

Cllr Ian Sharer

Cllr Patrick Vernon

Cllr Carole Williams

Governance and Resources Scrutiny Commission:

Cllr Rob Chapman

Cllr Tom Ebbutt

Cllr Rick Muir

Cllr Deniz Oguzkanli

Cllr Emma Plouviez

Cllr Louisa Thomson

Cllr Simche Steinberger

Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission:

Cllr Luke Akehurst

Cllr Katie Hanson

Cllr Ben Hayhurst

Cllr Daniel Kemp

Cllr Wendy Mitchell

Cllr Ann Munn

Cllr Benzion Papier

Cllr Alex Russell

Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission:

Cllr Bernard Aussenberg

Cllr Michelle Gregory

Cllr Susan Fajana Thomas

Cllr Clayeon McKenzie

Cllr Sharon Patrick

Cllr Daniel Stevens

Cllr Vincent Stops

2)  Others