January Update

Council Budget

When the Local Government Finance Settlement was finally announced in December, the Coalition government were reducing Hackney’s formula grant by 11.3% and 7.6% in the years 2011/12 and 2012/13 respectively.

We were one of the worst affected authorities in the country, and together with our neighbours Tower Hamlets and Newham, the worst in London. By contrast those hotspots of deprivation Richmond-upon-Thames, Buckinghamshire and Surrey face reductions of 0.61% or less.

Lobbying on behalf of local government by amongst others Jules Pipe in his capacity as Chair of London Councils, forced the government to introduce transitional measures which would allow them to claim it was only a maximum of 8.9% this year.

We intend to again freeze the Council Tax in 2011/12 in order to qualify for a new grant equivalent to the yield that would otherwise be achieved from a 2.5% increase.

In July, we identified an initial £14m of savings and in October a further £6.6m, leaving between £24 and £28m to be found. Of this £17m was funding that Hackney passed on to the health service, police, voluntary sector etc, through our Local Strategic Partnership and we will have decide how much if any, to fund directly.

Other policies being implemented by the Coalition which will damage Hackney include
- possibly ending security of tenure in social housing
- reductions in police funding
- slashing affordable housing budgets
- knock-on effect on the voluntary sector
- changes to housing and other benefits, including scrapping EMA

Woodberry Down regeneration

The first two social rented blocks on the Old School Site are to be handed over in May 2011. Interim arrangements will be established for the new roads, parking and public open space prior to full completion. Landscaping along the New River has begun.

Most of the residents of Peak and Petherton have been decanted or accepted offers, and it has begun in Nichol and Needwood. A preliminary exercise to match residents from these to the new units available on the Old School Site show they are broadly compatible, except for those families requiring 5 bedrooms and above.

A planning application for the Pewsham site has been submitted after discussions between Berkeley Homes, council officers and the resident’s design group.

Work on the 268 Green Lanes site began on 25th October. A crane is shortly to be erected. 27 flats for social rent will be built there.

Discussions about the community, health and youth centres continue.

Kings Crescent Estate

The refurbishment of all retained units and previous voids is now complete.

The next package of works include
• new lobbies and door entry systems
• lift replacement
• lighting and lateral mains works
• new roofs to Weston and Lemsford

We are still awaiting a final decision on whether leaseholder recharges should be capped. However elements are now individually priced and exact amounts known.

The lift replacement programme is beginning in Therfield Court which is served by up to 3 lifts. However in other blocks where walkways have been closed off, there is only one and this will need careful management to minimise inconvenience to residents.

Consultation continues with residents to develop a vision for the future of the estate. It aims to submit a completed masterplan this spring which may be followed by an outline planning application. It will attempt to cost any future rebuild, and provide a design code to integrate new buildings with older.

Policing and community safety

The police and council have extended the dispersal zone around Manor House which appears to have been successful. After some initial arrests, the “gangs” involved got the message and are avoiding the area.

School results

For the second year in a row, Hackney has achieved above the national average with a set of excellent GCSE results. 58% of Hackney pupils achieved 5 GCSEs or more at grades A*-C, compared to 52% last year. In 2003 the figure was only 26%.
The SATs results from our local primary, Parkwood, make it the best in Hackney and again amongst the top 2% in the country.

Campaigning against the cuts

The Labour Party in Hackney will be supporting the TUC campaign which culminates in the national demo on Saturday 26th March. Further details can be found here –
TUC 26 March demo website: http://www.tuc.org.uk/alltogetherfor/march.cfm?theme=alltogether
Flyer: http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/MARCH_A5_FLYER_low_res.pdf
Facebook page for the demo: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=176812472328977

Alexandra National House

Lovells won the tender to rebuild Alexandra National, and took control of the site in early January.