Statement from Meg Hillier MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch

"I am shocked and horrified by the events in Hackney.

"The thugs behind this need to be dealt with by the police.

"Hackney has seen such progress in the last decade. We must condemn the violence. Hackney is a commnunity of diversity and tolerance and we need to make sure that these are the characteristics Hackney is known by, not the actions of some mindless, violent thugs.

"If people have grievances we must use the democratic process to resolve them."

"I have spoken to the Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Bending who I will be meeting urgently. I will also be meeting community leaders and business representatives later today to discuss the clean up and how we rebuild the community"

If you have any thoughts and suggestions about where we go from here after such awful events please let me know

Meg

Statement from Jennette Arnold AM

Over the past two nights, following similar disturbances in Tottenham and Enfield, Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest have all borne witness to devastating looting and violence.

Last Thursday in Tottenham, Mark Duggan, a father of four, lost his life during a police operation. Mr Duggan’s family subsequently organised a peaceful protest on Saturday only for it to be hijacked by a few thugs leading to widespread violence in the Tottenham constituency. I added my voice and support to David Lammy MP in Tottenham who condemned the opportunistic violence.

As the violence extended across London into Sunday and Monday, we moved well beyond any relationship between this violence and the death of Mark Duggan as a minority of opportunistic people used the unrest as an excuse to riot in their own communities, wreaking havoc on the streets of Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest.We have all been deeply shocked and angered by these events.

I have also been moved by the stories of heroism that are emerging and the work, foresight and sense of community of those taking part in local clean-up operations. But what action should we take to deal with the immediacy of the crisis and to consider preventing a repetition?

I have had discussions with police and community leaders in Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest. I have raised a number of concerns, witnessed Metropolitan Police senior staff willing to accept outside help, and was inspired by the commitment from all parties to moving forward together. Some had seen it all before and thought they would never witness it again; others were shocked to see for the first time scenes more redolent of an urban war zone.

It is easy to assume we have quick fixes. There has been much criminal activity and the police will, quite rightly, investigate that thoroughly.

But there are broader and more complex issues here. My position is this:

Enforce the law -- people I have spoken to do not want any 'no-go' areas for the police in London; criminal behaviour must be dealt with using the full force of the law.

Let the Independent Police Complaints Commission do it's job -- we argued for this body to exist as an alternative to the police service investigating itself. They need time to assemble the facts surrounding the death of Mark Duggan and to make recommendations.

Adopt economic policies that support local people -- the recession has left some people facing real hardship and there are concerns about social dislocation. We need policies that will enable investment and growth, rather than a focus on what will be the next area to be cut.

And we the community must continue with our message that we will not stand for this. We will work to bring the perpetrators to justice – they do not speak for us. We live in wonderful communities with strong senses of solidarity- we will not allow this to drag us down.

Jennette Arnold OBE AM

Hackney Mayor Jules Pipe responds to last night's events.

Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney, said: "I am appalled by the events of last night. These were people bent on violence who attacked not just property and local businesses but put residents in fear of their lives. The Council has cleared away all the debris from last night and Hackney is going about its business, but if we are to avoid a repeat of last night, I am urging families across London to make sure they know where their children are and to support the police in identifying perpetrators.

“The Council's cleaners were on the streets throughout the night and had cleared away all the debris, apart from a few burnt out cars, by 7.30am and I would like to pay tribute to them for their hard work. I would also like to thank the several hundred residents and volunteers who turned up at Hackney Town Hall this morning offering to help clean up the borough. This shows overwhelming generosity and community spirit and many were keen to go and help in other parts of London when it was clear the clean up in Hackney was already complete.”

East London Line Extension

Anyone travelling down Shoreditch High Street today will notice a marked difference. There is a new bridge in place that was not there yesterday. The road was closed at 4am when the country's largest mobile crane dropped into place this new section of the East London Line Extension. The work will go on until 5am on 31 March. The action can be viewed live on the Transport for London webcam here.

Wenlock Barn to Get Disable Parking Space

Following on from a written complaint regarding the lack of disable parking bays at Wenlock Barn Estate, Hoxton, Hackney Homes have finally agreed to replace one of the bays outside outside Wimbourne Court with a disabled parking bay.

The new bay will not be allocated to an individual property, but it will be an estate disabled parking bay which is for the use of any disabled driver who is living on Wenlock Barn Estate.

Watch this space to find out the location.

Cllr Carole Williams

Cows Seen Grazing in Shoreditch

Hoxton Councillors Clayeon McKenzie, Carole Williams and Phil Glanville, have been receiving information about cows seen grazing across Shoreditch. The latest herd was last spotted by Sheperdess Walk Park on Sunday lunch time.

Ward Councillors were called to the scene and found five hungry cows being fed by local residents. They are asking other residents to continue to do the same on a regular basis to keep the cows from going hungry and prevent the NSPCA being called out.

From appearances it is clear that the herd is going to continue to grow and increase in numbers with the likelihood of more being seen across the borough.

"Please continue to feed the cows," pleads Councillor Clayeon McKenzie. "Without the help of residents, we will be heading for disaster."

0% local tax rise AND boosts for key services.

Hackney’s part of the council tax is being frozen for the second year in a row - with a 0% rise for 2007/8.

Rising collection rates and efficiency savings at the Town Hall mean Hackney’s ruling Labour group is able to put more money into key services without putting up council tax.

Highlights of the 2007/8 budget were revealed to a meeting of the full council on Wednesday.

For the fifth year running Labour Mayor Jules Pipe will be setting a balanced budget that does not have to deal with overspends in previous years.

This is also the fifth year that there are NO cuts in services in Hackney’s budget – as well as extra money to fund residents’ key priorities.

The council has made almost £4 million in efficiency savings – money which is being ploughed back into key services.

The council tax collection rate is rising and is now at 90% - up 1% on last year – bringing in more money that can be spent on key services for residents.

Hackney’s Labour mayor Jules Pipe said: “Hackney Labour is very pleased we can deliver a 0% rise in local tax for the second year in a row.

“I am committed to keeping council tax down through improving the Council’s efficiency and driving up collection rates.

“Improved council efficiency means we can also put more money into the services that matter to you.”

Labour’s 2007/8 budget means boosts for key services including:

KIDS SWIM FREE: An extra £295K to fund free access to all residents under 18 to swimming lessons during school holidays – starting this Easter.

BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE: An extra £80K to extend the opening hours of the Hackney Service Centre from 8am-6pm Monday-Friday to 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday AND Saturday morning. More translating services for customers without English as a first language.

STREET WARDENS: Investment to secure the future for Hackney’s Street Wardens to help make our borough cleaner and safer. - In Hoxton this means our street wardens continue to be fully funded by the Council.

MORE RECYCLING: An extra £250K to roll out compulsory recycling across the borough including for plastics and to introduce blue bins for kitchen waste to all kerbside collections.

MORE TREES: An extra 500 trees on Hackney’s street this year alone – reducing our carbon footprint and making Hackney greener.

GREENER HACKNEY: An extra £1.3m to improve Hackney’s parks and green spaces

In addition, Hackney’s schools are getting an extra £11 million to continue the improvements in education in Hackney that have seen GCSE results improve from 32% in 2002 to 51% today.

Labour’s 2007/8 budget takes a further step forward and away from the financial mismanagement and instability of a hung council.

Back then, Hackney’s finances were in chaos, services were being cut and properties had to be sold to pay for the services that had to be maintained.

Since Jules Pipe became Mayor in 2002 the Council has finished every year without overspending and has put more investment into new services.

Hoxton Councillors Surgeries

Remember, this month there will be no councillors surgeries. Surgeries will start again in September.


Cllr Philip Glanville will hold his surgeries on the 3rd Wednesday of the month between 6 pm 7 pm at Provost Community Hall Murray Grove, London N1

Cllr Clayeon McKenzie will hold his surgeries on the 2nd Tuesday of every month between 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm at The Bell Club on Bowling Green Walk, Pitfied Street,

Cllr Carole williams will hold her surgeries on the 2nd Monday of each month between 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm at 16a Malcolm House on the Arden Estate

Carole, Clayeon and Phil

Decent Homes on Wenlock Barn Estate

Hoxton's largest Estate Napier Grove, has become the latest recipient of the Decent Homes Programme.

Recurring questions about starting dates for thre Decent Homes programme hinted at residents’ lack of confidence in the programme but, when scaffolding started going up and workmen began knocking on doors to gain entry to replace windows across the estate, things quickly changed.

We have been receiving positive feedback since work has been underway and we wanted to see for ourselves what was being done so spent time inspecting the new roof and windows on Napier Court.

New membrane, insulation board, felt covering and asphelt have gone down to inslute the block from both hot and cold weather. This should last for another 30 years but it could be compromised if there is ongoing unauthorised access to install satalite dishes.

The work should take 6-7 weeks to complete and we will be back again to see the finished product and we will continue checking on the programme as it roles out across the ward.

We welcome you comments about the decent homes programne. Let us know what you experience has been – positive or negative.

Carole, Clayeon and Phil

Decent Homes

Giving people homes that are decent to live in, within communities where they feel safe, secure and happy, must be central to our mission over the next four years. When Labour took control of the council in 2002, some tenants were living in homes that hadn’t been improved since the day there were built - where repairs hadn’t been carried out and which were hard to keep warm, windows were rotting and falling out and bathrooms were in a state of disrepair.

Things have changed dramatically over the past four years, however. Now, every estate across the ward has had some Decent Homes works done. Buckland Court has new windows, doors and bathrooms, Haberdasher Estate has had new doors and windows, as has Aske House and much of the Arden Estate. Now Wenlock Barn Estate has seen work begin on Brackyln Court, Evelyn Court and Napier Court and scaffolding has gone up on Cropley Court.

The Decent Homes programme is making a difference to the lives of tenants across the ward putting us on course to reduce the number of non-decent properties.

But the programme has not just been about improvements to homes it has resulted in greater involvement of tenants in decision making about their homes; it has created training and employment opportunities; and has stimulated improvement in housing services and will continue to do so as the programme does even more work.

We are mindful of the inconvenience that this work can cause and are working hard to improve the speed of the works to minimise this for residents. We have been speaking to the Manager of the Decent Homes Programme for Shoreditch about making it easier to make comments without having to come along to an Estate Committee meeting. You can post your comments on this blog about how best this can be done.

So far 332 new doors have been fitted to properties and 215 new kitchens and bathrooms installed.

Join the Labour Party

If you haven't yet considered joining the Labour Party, I would like to encourage you to do so.

Becoming a Labour Party Member will give you an opportunity to have your say about what happens locally as well as nationally.

To join today, go to https://www.labour.org.uk/joinbydirectdebit

Tony Blair Visits Hoxton

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair got our term as local councillors got off to a flying start when he visited Hoxton.

Tony Blair and Ruth Kelly came by to see for themselves the local warden scheme in operation, to speak to local residents and to take a look at the Digital Bridge project.

The Prime Minister met the deputy chair of one of the local TRAs, as well as residents. He listened their thoughts on the work the wardens have been doing over the past three years.

Residents welcomed the good work that the wardens have done and praised their hard work paying recognition to the impact they have made on local crime figures.

Jules Pipe, the Mayor of Hackney, was also present and detailed his vision for joining up with the good work that wardens do right across the borough. He said that the additional funds he put in to the scheme was well spent because of the impact they have made to a fall in crime figures as well as improvements to health and a noticeable reduction in enviro-crime.

Despite the assurance that residents now have following a sustained decrease in crime, there is still evidence of a fear of crime but this should improve as people get to know their local safer neighbourhood team. They can be easily contacted and, recent experiences have shown that they are rapidly responding to incidents in the ward.

Hackney Council Election Results 2006

Hackney Council Local Election results are in! After much hard work three Labour Councillors were elected to represent Hoxton Ward on May 4th 2006. Our names are Philip Glanville, Clayeon McKenzie and Carole Williams. We would like to thank everyone who came out to in the May 2006 Local elections.

The results clearly show that this was never a two horse race. Turn out for 2006 election was up to 2,506, that is 33.2% of eligable voters. There was overwhelming support, giving us a clear mandate to continue the good work started four years ago.

We have already committed to fulfilling six pledges. They are:

• holding regular meetings, coffee mornings and advice surgeries to hear your views and give you the latest information
• write to you regularly to keep you informed and let you know what we're doing on your behalf
• walk around hte neighourhood every week - noticing what's wrong and informing council officers so they can sort it out
• call and phone local residents to make sure we are listening to your priorities
• regularly raise residents concerns with the police to reduce crime further and
• making Hoxton safer, improve your homes and make sure that your children have decent schools and places to go

The 2006 Election results across Shoreditch were equally as good - proving you have a once again chosen a hard working group of councillors to deliver the priorities you help us to set.

A full list of Hackney Council local election results are available at http://www.hackney.gov.uk/index.htm/l-elections-publishing-results/elections-results.htmuk