Shoreditch Park to Host English Beach Soccer Tournament

Shoreditch Park will host England Beach Soccer Association 3 day Euro Cup Tournament in 2010.
A full sized beach soccer pitch complete with 1000 tons of sand and 4,000 seats will be in place between 7th and 22nd June.

The fixtures will be scheduled to coincide with a number of England's World Cup fixture and will be broadcast on a 30sq metre big screen.

A number of other programmes will also be scheduled to take place during the same period. There will be grass roots beach soccer programmes including coaching and competitions for all. And the England Beach Soccer Squad will be on hand to give tips and advice.

This is a fantastic and exciting opportunity for Shoreditch Park to host a FIFA accredited event and to provide residents with a world class facility over the World Cup.

We will provide you with further detail on the event as we receive them.

How to Have Your Say on Planning

As councillors we are often contacted by local residents who want to object to a planning applications.
This is a short guide and steps that you might want to take.  For complete information, please see the council website.

Meetings of the Planning Sub-Committee are held in public at Hackney Town Hall.

Planning Committee members will keep and open mind on applications and it is advised that you don't contact them before the meeting.

There is strict guidance for making decisions and they can only be based on:

• National Planning policy, London Plan 2008, set out by the Greater London Authority
• 'Saved' Hackney Unitary Development policies
• Council's policies outlined in the Hackney's emerging Local Development Framework
• Other 'material considerations' such as the planning history of a site and other development nearby the site

If you want to speak either for or against a particular planning application, can write to the council within 21 days of being notified of the application so your representations can be included in the planning agenda.  Include:

• The details of how the development will impact you and your community
• Why you support or object to a planning application

If you make representations or have asked to be notified, you will be informed of the date of the committee meeting relevant to that application.

Plan to arrive at the meeting at least 15 minutes before the start as the agenda can sometimes change.

If you have made written representations, you can also register to speak at the meeting.  Contact the committee officer on 020 8356 3338 or email by 4pm on the working day before the meeting.

If you register to speak, you will be given 5 minutes to get your points across.  If there are other residents who also want to make the same or similar points to you, you will need to divide the five minutes between you or nominate a spokesperson.

You can find further information on how to have your say at a planning sub-committee here, here and here.

New Ways of keeping in Touch

Hoxton Councillors started blogging in 2006 to keep local residents up to date with the work that we have been doing.  Then, in July 2009 we added the micro-blogging site, Twitter, to our list of communications too as well as a Facebook group.

At the start of a new year, we want to add a further option for local residents to keep up with news and developments so, if you would like to join our mailing list for regular news letters, why not send us an email, typing "subscribe" in the subject box and we'll add you to our list.

Severe Weather Update

Following our pre-Christmas post on preparations for severe weather, the country has been hit by freezing temperatures and heavy snow fall. After a thaw in the past few days, snow has again fallen throughout the night here in London.

On their website the council has issued a severe weather update, detailing the impact on services as well as progress on gritting the borough roads. The council had been well prepared for the cold weather, having ordered additional grit and salt. However, due to the extreme conditions nationally, the government made a statement to parliament announcing that councils will be asked to reduce their grit use by 25 per cent to ensure there would be enough to go round nationally. Hackney will continue to press for additional supplies.

More information is available on the council website and Hoxton Councillors have asked for an statement to be given at the next full Council meeting on 27 January 2010.

Reporting on Hoxton's Safer Neighbourhood Team

Residents at the last meeting of the Hoxton Community Action Panel, set the priorities for policing. Click here for information. Since then, the Metropolitan Police's have reported their statistics for Hoxton. These show that crime (total notifiable offences) is down on figures for last month and also for this time last year. All details are here on the Met website.

You can also read the latest edition of the Police and Council's Safer Neighbourhood newsletter for Hoxton here.

Volunteering with Crisis

This year Councillor Carole Williams will be volunteering with Crisis, the homelessness charity and has set up a fundraising webpage on the Crisis site. Click here.

As well as helping out over the Christmas period, she has also set herself a fund raising target to help with the work that Crisis is doing to end homelessness. If you would like to help Councillor Williams achieve her target why don't you think about clicking the link and making a donation? All funds go directly to Crisis.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Hoxton Councillors, Carole Williams, Phil Glanville and Clayeon McKenzie would like to take this opportunity to wish all Hoxton residents a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.


We'll be back working hard for Hoxton in 2010, in the meantime remember that Christmas is a time of giving and recieving and the result is usually a lot of wrapping paper so remember to recycle!

I'm sure that you'll catch a glimpse of us around the ward otherwise, we'll see you in the new year.

Hackney Prepared for a Sudden Cold Snap

It’s that time of year when we all start getting out our woolies and wrapping up warm in preparation for lashings of snow as another cold snap hits London.


The bookmakers have slashed their odds on a white Christmas and, after much of London came to a stand in February, residents across Hoxton want guarantees that the council are ready for another sudden and heavy downfall of snow. 

Though we have had only a light dusting of snow so far, Hoxton Councillors have been told that adequate preparations have been put in place to keep Hackney roads clear and safe for drivers as well as pedestrians.

We have asked for and received confirmation of the following facts and figures:

• Partners have been instructed to increase salt stocks from 100 tonnes to 170 tonnes.
• A review was held with contract partners in October to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place for a sudden freeze
  
• The Met Office forecast a milder and wetter season than last year, although much of the country has already seen freezing temperatures.
  

Hoxton Councillor, Carole Williams said, "The council's quick response to the heavy snowfall last year was made apparent as I walked through Hoxton in February.  The main roads as well as the side roads were well gritted. This year, I am pleased to see that the council  have an increased supply of salt and grit and that preparations have been put in place just in case the Met Office have it wrong and London is hit by a prolonged cold snap."

 If you are interested in facts and figures, here are some more:

• Over an average winter, salting lorries will be deployed about 40 times in Hackney, usually overnight.
• On every trip over 40% of Hackney’s entire road network are treated – about 102km
• Hackney's Red routes are treated by Transport for London and colleagues at Waste Services deal with treating footways
• The Council  commenced its winter standby service on 8 November and it will run for 18 weeks up to mid-March. This will be reviewed in late February and consideration will be given to extending it if necessary.

Tackling Hate Crime

Hoxton Councillors have met with local police for a second time to discuss hate crime. On Friday 4 December we met with the local Member of Parliament, Meg Hillier, Council Officers, Councillor Julius Nkafu, Chair of Hackney's Hate Crime Forum, LGBT Hackney Domestic Violence and Hate Crime Officer form Hackney Police as well as Police Officers from Tower Hamlets and Councillor from Weaver's Ward in Tower Hamlets.

Weavers and Haggerston Safer Neighbourhood Teams have recorded a number of attacks on members of the public and they have been working together to reduce incidents, to help the public stay safe while out and to speak to local community leaders to address the root causes.

Hoxton Councillors will continue to work with Councillors in Haggerston Ward as well as police and the council to address community concerns and fears.

CouncillorPhilip Glanville said, "Residents from across wards and boroughs have raised their concerns about attacks that have taken place on both sides of the borough boundary. The majority appear to have taken place across in Tower Hamlets. We are committed to working with Hackney Council to ensure that, working in partnership with Tower Hamlets Council, Tower Hamlets Police and local community the streets are made safe for all."

Councillor Carole Williams said, "This was a good opportunity for councillors to meet with partners and the owner of a local bar about tackling hate crime. We commend the work that has been done so far and welcome news that there will be another public meeting in the New Year to discuss the public's concerns."

Council Meetings for November 2009

Details and agendas for Council meetings scheduled for November 2009 are now available on the council website.

Meetings Hoxton Councillors will be attending include:

• Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commisson
• Community Safety and Social Inclusion Commission
• Overview and scrutiny Board

Click here for full details.

In addition councillors will also be attending neighbourhood and estate committee meetings.

Consulting on a Controlled Drinking Area

You may have heard that Hackney Council and partners are considering making Hackney a controlled drinking area to allow police the powers to seize alcohol from people causing a nuisance.

Hackney already has controlled areas or Designated Public Protection Orders but these are not borough-wide so problems can just move around the borough.

Hackney Council are seeking residents views and we would encourage you to respond if you feel strongly for the proposal or against the proposal.  You can read the further information and respond here.  The deadline for responses is 28 December 2009.

You can view all other consultations here.

Great news for Local People

We have passed another hurdle in our campaign to have Murray Grove Post Office reopened. Click here to read story in Hackney Gazette

Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change comes to Hackney

From 7-18 December 2009 in Copenhagen, delegates from 192 countries will meet to discuss and come to an agreement on:

• a new treaty to follow the Kyoto protocol which expires in 2012; 
• new targets for industrialised nations to reduce carbon emissions; 
• new targets for poorer nations to limit greenhouse gases; 

In preparation for that Ed Milliband, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change held a rally here in Hackney to discuss the impact that climate change is already having in the world. A live link to Kenya was arranged and Abdi spoke powerfully about how climate change is affecting the community there. He told us how the cycle of droughts used to last about 11 years but that this has been reducing. Now Kenya experiences droughts every 2 years. These are swiftly followed by floods and as a result, Kenya has lost up to 80% of their live stock, making it increasingly difficult for families to find food.

Kenya might seem like a long way away and what is happening there may seem to have no consequence for our lives but, Hackney is a very diverse community. The chances are that you will know someone who who is suffering as a direct result of this kind of environmental impact.

The messages were strong and clear. For those of us in the west reducing our carbon emissions is a lifestyle choice. But for people like Abdi in Kenya and other developing countries, it is a matter of life and death.

The plea was for all of us to reduce our carbon emissions.

You can read here what steps have taken to reduce emissions when Hackney Council signed up to the 10:10 campaign.

Full Council Meeting, Wednesday 28 October 2009

This month's council meeting will take place on Wednesday 28 October at Hackney Town Hall. The agenda is available on the website here.

Items of note on this months agenda include a question from Councillor Carole Williams on steps the council will be taking to improve response times of Safer Neighbourhood Teams when responding to reports of crime taking place on council estates.

Other questions will also be asked on Council Tax Levels for next year; the council's efficiency savings as well as Hackney Empire.

The council will also consider a motion to condemn the Mayor of London's recent announcement that he will increase bus and tubes fares, disproportionately affect Hackney residents.

No armed police patrols in Hackney

Hackney Central Councillors are now blogging here.  Their most recent post confirms Hackney's borough commander has announced that there will be no armed patrols in Hackney.  You can read the post here.

Should a Wind Turbine be Built on Hackney Marshes

This week Hackney Council launched a consultation on whether or not to use part of Hackney Marshes for the construction of a wind turbine. 

If this massive project goes ahead, it will make a considerable contribution toward reducing Hackney’s carbon emissions.  It will also provide green energy for the borough for the next 25 years and, rent from the for the land the turbine would sit on could be invested in sports and playing facilities on the Marshes.

Anyone can respond to the consultation so if want to have your say on whether this project should go ahead, click here.

Tackling Homophobic Crime

You may have heard recent news reports on homophobic crime. Hoxton Councillors have been concerned about these reports and have sought guarantees from Hackney's Cabinet Member with responsibility for Neighbourhoods that the Council are working with Hackney Police to reassure Hackney residents and tackle hate crime.  We have received the following response to a question that was raised at last month's full council meeting:

From Cllr Williams to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods: 'I welcome news in the most recent Safer Neighbourhoods Team newsletter in which information is given on the work being done by dedicated police teams to tackle hate crime against Hackney's LGBT community. Would the Cabinet Member highlight how the police are working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs to address the problem of homophobic crime?'

Each Borough Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) has a LGBT Police Liaison Officer who link into the Community Safety Unit; this is coordinated through New Scotland Yard.

Hackney Metropolitan Police Authority has 8 LGBT Police Liaison Officers and a coordinator who work in these roles voluntarily to support victims of homophobic crime. There is an East London Out Project (ELOP) based in Walthamstow that co-ordinate a 3 monthly meeting that brings all the LGBT Police Liaison Officers across the Borough's to tackle homophobic crime by sharing cross Borough intelligence. There is a further monthly networking meeting of LGBT Police Liaison Officers across the East London Borough's where they discuss and share ideas.

Recently Councillors Philip Glanville and Carole Williams also spent an evening with Hackney Police's LGBT Liaision Officer to get a first hand view of what the police are doing to work with local licence holders and club goers to keep residents safe while out.

We don't want anyone to be the victim of crime so would urge you to speak to the LGBT Liaison Officer for advice and information.  The number is 020 7275 3183 or you can email by clicking here.

Twitter

Hoxton Councillors are now all on Twitter.  We can be followed at Hoxton Labour tweeting about everything from council meetings, consultations, local news and views and diary engagements.

If you can also follow us here:

• Philip Glanville
• Clayeon McKenzie
• Carole Williams

Hackney One Carnival 27th September

The Hackney One Carnival, Hackney's main Cultural Olympiad activity, will take place on Sunday and will celebrate the diverse cultures that make Hackney so special.

The Route
The Carnival procession will start from the Town Hall at 11.30am, going north along Mare Street, Amhurst Road, Pembury Road and Hackney Downs Park. Arriving at Downs Park at approximately 12.30pm.

Sixteen Carnival groups will be taking part and the majority are a mixture of local community and voluntary sector groups and small enterprises. Each carnival group will contain 20 – 40 carnival participants. The groups' participants would consist of a wide range of Hackneys residents from all age groups, cultures and inclusive of disabled persons. With in Hackney there are some organisations that are not able to fully participate in the Carnival procession, so there is the opportunity for them to make a cultural offering at the park. They will be able to showcase their heritage/culture through their preferred medium such as dance, song poetry or theatre.

Volunteers and stewards
The event is providing volunteering opportunities for up to 50 individuals who have been drawn from the graduates from the Hackney 2012 Personal Best volunteering programme and it will give them invaluable work experience and form part of their accreditation assessment. The event will also be assisted by 30 professional stewards who will ensure safety measures along the the route.

Hackney 2012 Youth Ambassadors who are all young Hackney residents and have been part of a programme of peer to peer education and advocacy for the 2012 games and the opportunities available will also be actively involved in the day's events. They will support many of the activities will be taking place in the park.

Activities at Downs Park
Sporting activities for all abilities

All of the activities listed below will be available for Hackney's resident to participate in. There will be traditional sporting games that are intergenerational and fun. This will be delivered by the 2012 Unit and the 2012 Sports Coaches and school children that have taken part in the "2012 Personal Best" programme across Hackney.

Activities will include:

• Hackney's fastest man/woman
• Personal Bests
• Olympic sports – Discus, Shot putt, Javelin, Sprints
• Traditional sports events
• Egg and spoon race
• Sack race
• Wheelbarrow race
• Bean bag race
• Obstacle race
• Adults and Children's races
• Children's play/ activity area.

Audio Interview with Hackney's 2012 Olympic Champion, Dervish Konuralp

Dervish Konuralp is Hackney's Ambassador for the 2012 Olympics. He is also a Hackney resident and on 16 September he attended the full council meeting in Hackney Town Hall and agreed to be first interviewee on the newly launched Hoxton Labour audioBoo, which is a new online recording facility.

Dervish answered questions about being an Ambassador, volunteering for the 2012 Olympics and sporting facilities in the borough. You can listen to his interview below or by clicking here.