June 07 update

Woodberry Down

Darren attended the EDC meeting on May 17th where the planning department of LB Hackney presented the masterplan application for the redevelopment of the estate. Although broadly supportive, there is mixed reaction from residents regarding the narrowing of seven sisters road through the estate, and the amount and arrangement of green space. All local residents are able to view the application and submit comments by several means including via the Hackney website.

Darren also attended an open community meeting on May 30th where residents were able to question planning officers, the masterplanning team and representatives from Hackney Homes.

Brian has attended two further meetings with the retailers. Berkley Homes, who are the developers for the Kickstart Phase, appears to be taking on board their concerns. They are now intending to provide ten retail units of appropriate sizes on the Woodberry Grove side of the “old school site”. We meet with them again on the 5th of June.

There was a double shooting a Woodberry Down over the bank holiday weekend – one victim, who was injured in the leg, was a local resident and innocent bystander. Darren visited his family to offer our ‘get-well wishes’ and discuss issues of community safety on May 30th.

As the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) programme has come to an end, the programme team has vacated its offices in the Robin Redmond centre. Darren has been in discussion with stakeholders to see if the new library facility in the centre can now be expanded to provide a greater number of books, computer facilities and homework space.

Drugs Action Team

Brian and Darren met with officers from the DAT on 25th May. We got some useful information about the range of services they currently offer and those intended for development. We also raised particular concerns about dealing on certain parts of Woodberry Down.

Police Community Advisory Panel

Feryat and Darren attended the CAP meeting on Wednesday 16th May.

Blackstock Road

We have a meeting with Islington police and councillors on 19th June.

Kings Crescent

As previously reported, new development partners for the estate were finally appointed at the Cabinet meeting on 26th of March. The builders are to be Durkan and the RSL are Canalside Housing Association. Canalside is itself a partnership of two established HAs - Metropolitan and Community – which was formed in the 1990s to take over some Hackney estates along the Regents Canal.

Temporary hoardings have already been erected around Westmill, Codicote and the boiler room. Deconstruction is scheduled to begin next month. This area will be grassed and gravelled over until long-term plans are agreed. Some may be used to provide extra parking.

The regeneration steering group, which Brian chairs, now involves the three sides – council, residents and development partners. This met on the 16th May and 30th May, and will again on 13th and 18th June. This is intended to lead up to an open day for all residents on Saturday 30th June.

The long-term timetable foresees approximately six months spent in detailed discussions with residents, before a masterplan is completed and the planning application submitted. The planning process will probably take another six months, with major works commencing next summer or autumn.

Labour Group AGM

At the AGM, Brian was reappointed as Assistant Chief Whip, and Darren and Feryat were re-elected to the Labour Group Executive.

The Cabinet and their responsibilities remain as before, with the exception of the creation of a new post for environmental sustainability. Mayor Pipe appointed Dalston councillor Sophie Linden to this position.

Annual Council – 9th May

At the annual meeting, Councillors Faizullah Khan and Ian Rathbone were elected Speaker (the ceremonial Mayor) and Deputy Speaker for the coming year.

We were pleased to be able to invite a number of residents to join us for the meeting and the reception afterwards. Most behaved well.

Renewal in power

The contract for the council’s electricity supply has just been relet. For the first time, Scottish Hydro-Electric secured the tender meaning that (within the confines of the national grid system) it will all come from renewable sources. It’s important to recognise that this applies not just to office buildings but to all the other infrastructure for which we are responsible including housing estates and street lighting.

Review of polling stations

The council conducts a review of polling stations between each municipal election, and the current one invites comments by the 31st of July. We would suggest replying pointing out the unsatisfactory nature of the Myddleton Grange station for residents living on Queens Drive, etc, given the objections received on polling day. The other stations seemed to operate okay.