Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

It's hard to believe that it's been twelve months since the last Christmas message that we posted on this blog. As another Christmas comes around, we reflect on the past year.

Not only were we re-elected in the May local elections, we also successfully campaigned for the reopening of Murray Grove Post Office.

Councillor Phil Glanville became the chair of the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission. Councillor Carole Williams became the chair of the Community Safety and Social Inclusion Panel. We have attended estate committee meetings across the ward, the community action panel and meetings to discuss the rebuilding of Thomas Fairchild school. We have lobbied for to extend the Decent Homes Programmes to even more blocks in Hoxton and have worked with police to address a number of community safety concerns.

In the past year we have found even more ways to keep in contact to inform you off all the work that we are doing on your behalf. Over the next year it will be even more important to keep you up to date with changing government policy and how these will affect you.

In light of those changes, we will continue to work hard for you in 2011.

Do let us have your thoughts and write to us about what Hoxton means to you. Also let us know the impact that government changes are having for you and your family and, in the meantime, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Question to Full Council

At the meeting of the full council on Wednesday 24 November, Hoxton Councillors asked the Mayor and his cabinet the following questions:

From Cllr Philip Glanville to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the 2012 Olympic Games:


Do you agree with me that the re-opening of Murray Grove Post Office is a vital investment in ensuring that local people have access to Post Office and financial services in one of the most deprived wards in the Borough?

From Cllr Clayeon McKenzie to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People's Services:


‘What actions have Hackney Youth Services taken in response to the closure of Blue Hut Youth Club in the summer?’

From Cllr Carole Williams to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:


‘In light of the recent publicity around the ROA Rabbit mural on Hackney Road, could the Cabinet member outline what steps were taken to deal with this case, and what the Council's policy is on street art?’

A full list of decisions made at the meeting of the full council are available on the council's website here.  This includes a motion that was agreed calling on the council to condemn the coalition government for the cuts that they are expected to make to the council's budget and their lack of clarity about the extent of their cuts.  We are very concerned about the impact that these cuts may have on vital public services and will update this blog as soon as more information is forthcoming.

Murray Grove Post Office Official Re-opening

Tuesday 30 November is a date to remember as that is when local residents, councillors, business owners, the Member of Parliament and the Mayor of Hackney came along to Murray Grove to mark the reopening of the post office.

We want to say a big thank you to everyone who signed our petition and who campaigned to make this day a reality.

But it doesn't end here.  Please, please use the post office as, without you, the business will be unsustainable.