July update

Councillors Report – July 2012 Hackney’s changing … ... at an unprecedented rate. Shoreditch as well as being host to a vibrant night life, is the biggest hub in the country for IT and creative industries. New clubs and housing have spread up through Hoxton and Haggerston towards Dalston, which is now becoming fashionable in itself. The far east of the borough has been changed completely by the Olympic park and development at Stratford. Locally the completion of Woodberry Down and Kings Crescent estates will transform large parts of the ward. But reputation tends to lag behind reality. The Radio 1 Hackney Weekend on 23rd and 24th June was organised by the BBC and the council, to help transform some of those attitudes. It was the BBC’s biggest event of the summer of 2012, and Hackney’s biggest event ever. About a third of the free 100,000 tickets went to local residents. The legacy of the event goes beyond this weekend and the performances. The Radio 1 Academy ran from 1-22nd June at the Hackney Picturehouse offering workshops and practical experience on fashion, music, film, radio, digital communications, journalism, comedy and business. More than 7,000 young people have been though the Academy, more than half of them from Hackney.

“Localisation” of council tax benefit Under the pretence of localising this benefit, the government are inflicting one of the most difficult set of choices yet on local authorities. Currently the rules about who qualifies are determined nationally. The full amount of whatever we have to pay out is paid back to us by the government. They claim they are “localising” this benefit. What that really means is that next year they are giving us 90% of what they do this year. Pensioners are protected but this merely means that recovering more from those of working age. This means pursuing people mostly already on benefits for a further amount which they probably won’t be able to pay. Many of them will end up being taken to court. We still won’t recover the full amount and will have to cut further. 2013/14 council budget We hope to have an indicative budget for next year available for discussion at our next group meeting. Kings Crescent masterplan out for consultation/refurbishment continues Formal consultation on the masterplan for the future estate has now closed but the documents can still be viewed here - Planning applications , application no 2012/0676. Residents have recently been raising objections to some of the proposed heights. The second stage of the refurbishment includes replacement of the electrical mains, all lifts, the installation of two tier door entry systems, and new roofs and windows for Weston and Lemsford. The first of the new doors is now operative at Lemsford. We were very sad to hear of the death of the TRA chair Vince Murrain this week. Vince had for many years worked hard to defend the interests of, and improve things on the estate. We send our condolences to his wife Jill and their three daughters. Finsbury Park Accord The final signed version is now available. Finsbury Park Haringey are currently consulting on changes to Finsbury Park including refurbishment of the tennis courts (including flood lights), track and outdoor gym (paid for, in part, by a pay and play system). There will be a new small pavilion and the park will be open till 10pm either 7 days a week or all weekdays (currently it usually closes at dusk). Comment by 6th July – link here http://www.haringey.gov.uk/finsburypark_consultation. Woodberry Down regeneration To date across the whole scheme, 278 new affordable dwellings and 131 private ones are completed and occupied. Another 211 affordable and 175 private units are due by the end of this year. Construction on “the old school site” is almost finished. The tower block is being fitted out with residents moving in between July and October 2012. Construction of Phase 2 which includes most of the rest of Brownswood, should begin later this year. The local labour figure is now 21% which surpasses the target. Hackney Cycling Conference Hackney hosted a conference this month which looked at issues faced by councils across London as they try to encourage residents to become cyclists. Infrastructure, road safety, culture, and the importance of cycling champions were all discussed alongside current hot topics such as whether the Dutch model of lane segregation really leads to safer roads for cyclists. St Johns Court The recently reformed TRA is holding a funday on Saturday 7th July. There will be refreshments, a bouncy castle and other activities. Alexandra National site Construction of the framework and cladding is now complete, and utilities are being installed. Much of the scaffolding has now been removed and the development can now be seen clearly from the street. The Olympic Torch in Brownswood – for about a minute! Come and join us welcoming the torch thru Brownswood at approx 4.47 on Saturday 21st July. A parade will leave Shoreditch Park at 10.30am and terminate in Clissold Park. The One Hackney Festival will be held in Clissold Park from noon that day. Councillors Brian Bell, Oli de Botton and Feryal Demirci