Agenda, decisions and minutes

2.1  The Speaker welcomed everyone to the meeting. The Speaker congratulated Councillor Maxwell on her recent election and welcomed her to her first Council meeting.

2.2  The Speaker announced the following dates to her civic events:

·  9 December – Gala Dinner

·  14 December – Carol singing outside Hackney Town Hall from 3.30pm

·  27 January 2017 – Holocaust Memorial Day

1.1  Apologies for absence from Members are listed above.

1.2  Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors McShane, Peters, Rahilly and Stops.

3.1  Councillor Rathbone declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 14 – Pensions Committee Annual Report 2015-16, as he took a pension.

3.2  Councillor Odze declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 15a Motion – Stamford Hill Road Safety Scheme, as he had worked for TfL in the past.

4.1  RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 20 July 2016 be approved, subject to the following comment:-

§  Councillor Steinberger stated that his comment at paragraph 6.2 had been taken out of context.

4.2  RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 October 2016 be approved, subject to the following amendments:-

§  Councillors Mulready and Munn were in attendance but not listed in the attendance list.

§  Paragraph 2.2 – the list of events were not all fundraising events

§  Paragraph 10.2 – Councillor Steinberger stated that the Conservative Group would be open to talks to discuss nominating a representative, inline with the Localism Bill.

§  Page 25 – the voting should state ‘Councillor’ Odze

Partial closure of Chatsworth Road

Chatsworth Traders and Residents Association and Lea Bridge Ward Labour Councillors request the partial closure of Chatsworth Road (from Dunlace Road to Rushmore Road) from 8.00am to 7.00pm on a Sunday when the market runs, and asks Hackney Council to press TfL to re-route the 308 bus as it has been done satisfactorily for some years when there has been a festival and Christmas Markets. This will make the market safer for users and help expand the community hub aspect of the market by using the whole road for community activities. As has been presented previously from a survey response of over 630 local residents, 86% supported this.

  The deputation will be introduced by Cllr Ian Rathbone

The deputation spokesperson is Damian Patchell, Acting Chair of Chatsworth Road Traders and Residents Association

5.1  Councillor Rathbone introduced the deputation on behalf of the Chatsworth Road Traders’ and Residents’ Association.

5.2  Damian Patchell, Acting Chair of Chatsworth Road Traders’ and Residents’ Association, stated that they had been in discussions with the Council over the past six years regarding the request for the partial closure of Chatsworth Road (from Dunlace Road to Rushmore Road) on a Sunday when the market runs. Mr Patchell requested that the Council press TfL to re-route the 308 bus, which had previously been done for festivals and Christmas Markets. Residents believed that this would make the market safer for users and help expand the community hub aspect of the market. He added that from a survey response, over 630 local residents, 86% had supported this proposal.

5.3  Mr Patchell stressed the importance of promoting a safe environment surrounding the market and referred to a few instances when a vehicle had hit one of the market stalls. The closure of the road would promote a sustainable market and support local traders.

5.4  Councillor Patrick was a Kingspark Ward Councillor and also welcomed the proposals. She believed that the 308 bus service should be diverted permanently to help support the development of the market, as it had successfully been done on a number of occasions. 

5.5  Councillor Odze recognised the long history of the market, which dated back to the 1930s. Councillor Odze referred to the proposed partial road closure and stated that the emergency services should also be consulted to ensure that any measures taken would not prevent access for emergency vehicles.

5.6  In response to a question from Councillor Stops regarding the proposed diversion of the 308 bus route, Mr Patchell stated that the diversion would effectively only be located 0.6m away and therefore the impact on local residents would be minimal.

5.7  Councillor Demirci responded to the deputation and thanked everyone involved in transforming the market and the surrounding area, which had seen a huge amount of regeneration. Councillor Demirci was aware of the requests for the partial road closure and diversion of the 308 bus route and acknowledged the results of the survey. The suggested bus diversion had been discussed with TfL which had not been supported, due to an increase in journey times and costly long delays.

5.8  Councillor Demirci advised that the Fire Commander confirmed that Chatsworth Road was a crucial route for the fire service, which was also confirmed by the Resilience Manager at Homerton Hospital. The Metropolitan Police also shared the views of the other stakeholders. Therefore, the relevant stakeholders believed that an emergency vehicle access only along Chatsworth Road would give rise to serious conflict to pedestrians and could not support a full closure at this point.

5.9  Councillor Demirci stated that the Council was not against road closures, however it was unable to agree to this proposal at the current time.

6.1  From Cllr Michael Levy to the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement:

“In light of deplorable incidents where fireworks were thrown at members of the community including young children and a visitor to this country what measures does the Council employ to ensure that sales of fireworks are restricted to adults only.”

6.2  From Cllr Sharon Patrick to the Deputy Mayor:

“Could the Deputy Mayor please let me know what Hackney is doing to consult looked after children about the service provided to them. Also could she update the Council on the latest education results for looked after children, and how this compares to the rest of the country?”

6.3  From Cllr Kam Adams to the Mayoral Adviser for Advice Services and Preventing Homelessness:

“In light of the recent official figures that show homelessness has risen to the highest level for nearly a decade can the Mayoral Adviser for Advice Services and Preventing Homelessness tell us the latest figures on the number of homeless people in the borough?”

6.4  From Cllr Sophie Cameron to the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement:

“What has Hackney council done to follow up on the issues raised by the deputation regarding ASB in relation to street sex work, in the Lordship Park area of Clissold and Stamford Hill West wards; which was brought to full council in January this year?”

6.5  From Cllr Clare Potter to the Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Human Resources:

“In December 2015 the government announced they plan to deliver 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 with the aid of a new apprenticeship levy. Can the cabinet member for Employment, Skills and Human Resources describe the work being carried out within the council to take advantage of this levy so that we maximise the opportunities for Hackney residents?”

6.6  From Cllr Jessica Webb to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Business and Investment:

“Can the cabinet member for Planning, Business and Investment detail what the council is doing to support Well Street Market, particularly its re-launch on 3 December 2016 which includes a teenage market?”

6.7  From Cllr Sophie Conway to the Mayoral Adviser for Advice Services and Preventing Homelessness:

“November 25th was the International day for the elimination of violence against women, could the Mayoral Adviser for Advice Services and Homelessness update members on the work the council is undertaking to support women experiencing domestic violence in Hackney?”

6.8  From Cllr Christopher Kennedy to the Deputy Mayor:

“How is Hackney planning to protect our excellent schools from the loss of local authority support that is threatened by current government plans to dramatically reduce local education authority funding?”

6.1  From Cllr Michael Levy to the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement:

“In light of deplorable incidents where fireworks were thrown at members of the community including young children and a visitor to this country what measures does the Council employ to ensure that sales of fireworks are restricted to adults only.”

Response from Cllr Selman:

Cllr Selman stated that the Council’s Licensing Authority ensured that licences were correctly issued for the purposes of selling fireworks, on the basis that the licence holder could demonstrate that they were a ‘fit’ person to hold the licence. Cllr Selman advised that this year the Licensing Authority received eleven applications, but issued only ten licences after receipt of an objection from Trading Standards.

On an annual basis, Trading Standards conducted age restricted test purchases of fireworks in partnership with the Police. This year there had been two action days conducted using Police cadets. It was an offence to set off fireworks in the highway, street, thoroughfare or public place and enforcement was undertaken by the Police, so any illegal use of fireworks should be reported to the Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Cllr Selman added that in the lead up to November, the Council Community Safety Team carried out re-assurance patrols across the borough, including activities in and around Gillett and Dalston Square.

In response to a supplementary question, Cllr Selman stated that she would find out what work was being done in schools to educate children on the dangers of fireworks.

6.2  From Cllr Sharon Patrick to the Deputy Mayor:

“Could the Deputy Mayor please let me know what Hackney is doing to consult looked after children about the service provided to them. Also could she update the Council on the latest education results for looked after children, and how this compares to the rest of the country?”

Response from Deputy Mayor Bramble:

The Deputy Mayor advised members that the Hackney’s Children in Care Council, Hackney Gets Heard, gave looked after children the opportunity to shape and influence the corporate parenting that they received at every level. It gave young people the opportunity to have a say about the things that really mattered in their lives, helping to shape the overall strategy for looked after children and young people in Hackney.

Children and young people, through Hackney Gets Heard, led work in 2015 to develop and re-design the previous Hackney Pledge.  This was re-launched in a comic book format as the ‘Hackney Promise to Children and Young People in Care’ in summer 2015.  Following work with young people through Hackney Gets Heard to ratify priorities, Hackney’s revised Corporate Parenting Strategy for 2016-19 was approved by the Corporate Parenting Board in March 2016.  Ofsted inspectors praised this piece of work and the Hackney Promise as an example of good practice in the recent Ofsted inspection.

Young people, through Hackney Gets Heard, were also involved in producing leaflets for children and young people about the services they received, staff  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.1  Mayor Glanville congratulated Councillor Yvonne Maxwell on her recent election and welcomed her to the meeting.

7.2  Mayor Glanville referred to the Housing and Planning Act and the recent victory on Pay to Stay. The Government had now scrapped compulsory Pay to Stay plans to force councils to charge higher-income tenants rents of up to market rates. Mayor Glanville highlighted one of the consequences of the Housing and Planning Act would have been a £500,000 cost of this implementable policy, with uncertain rent rises and a tax on tenants and aspiration. He was pleased to announce that Right to Buy Two had now been postponed until 2018.

7.3  Mayor Glanville stated that the Mayor of London had set out new planning rules to speed up the building of more affordable housing, alongside plans for how record-breaking investment of £3.15billion would support 90,000 new affordable homes in the capital. He referred to the benefit cap of £23,000, how this affected residents in the borough and how the Government needed to do more.

7.4  Mayor Glanville discussed the issue of education and the challenges faced due to funding cuts. Mayor Glanville referred to the Government’s support of grammar schools with funding of £50million, and plans which could leave the Council with £20million less for its schools over the next three years, equivalent to £1,000 per pupil. He stressed the importance of promoting equality and providing funding for much needed school places in state education, which the Council would continue to do. This resulted in Hackney having some of the best GCSE results and primary school results in the country. He urged all residents to respond to the consultation being undertaken to shape the response to the Government’s education agenda.

7.5  Mayor Glanville advised that the Council would soon be launching its consultation on the future of Britannia Leisure Centre. The consultation would look at safeguarding the leisure centre and improving facilities, as well as creating a permanent site for a new secondary school, in consultation with the City of London.

7.6  Mayor Glanville paid tribute to Councillor Nicholson for standing up for local businesses and challenging the Government on business rates and Councillor McShane for setting out clearly where the Council stood on Sustainability and Transformation Plans NHS.

7.7  Councillor Levy responded to the Mayor’s statement on behalf of the Conservative Group. Councillor Levy paid tribute to former Councillor Jacob Landau for Springfield Ward who had sadly passed away. Councillor Levy stated that he was a gentleman and devoted Councillor over the years, mentor and friend. A one minute silence was held in tribute to former Councillor Jacob Landau.

7.8  Councillor Sharer responded to the Mayor’s statement on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group. Councillor Sharer stated that the Council was against hate crime and referred to a number of incidents which had taken place in the north of the borough over the previous couple of weeks, some of which were racially motivated. He welcomed the motion on hate crime which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

RESOLVED that:

1.  The report of the Council’s independent adviser on Members’ Allowances be noted.

2.  The inclusion of Mayoral Advisers in a revised Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2016/17 be agreed.

3.  The recommended Special Responsibility Allowance for the role of Mayoral Adviser to be set at £14,963.06 be agreed.

8.1  Yinka Owa, Director of Legal, introduced the report for the proposed in-year changes to the Council’s Members’ Allowances scheme for 2016/17, following the resignation of the previous Mayor, Jules Pipe CBE. Following the appointment of Mayor Glanville, he had decided to appoint two Mayoral Advisers.

8.2  Sir Rodney Brooke CBE DL introduced his report and stated that as Mayoral Advisers were not included in the current Members’ Allowances Scheme, he had provided a number of recommendations on the proposed remuneration of Mayoral Advisers. Sir Rodney Brooke stated that it was not unusual for additional advisors to be appointed and there was a recommendation for the Special Responsibility Allowances for the role of Mayoral Adviser to be set at £14,963.06. The two Mayoral Advisers were as follows:-

§  Councillor Sem Moema – Mayoral Adviser for Private Renting and Housing Affordability.

§  Councillor Rebecca Rennison – Mayoral Adviser for Advice Services and Preventing Homelessness.

8.3  Councillor Odze stated that he would be abstaining from the vote, however this was not personal to the individual Mayoral Advisers. Councillor Odze objected to additional special responsibility allowances being implemented in the current economic climate.

8.4  Mayor Glanville explained that there were a range of portfolios in the new Cabinet. There were two existing part-time Cabinet Members which allowed two new Mayoral Advisers to be created without a need to increase the members’ allowances fund.  

RESOLVED that:

1.  The report of the Council’s independent adviser on Members’ Allowances be noted.

2.  The inclusion of Mayoral Advisers in a revised Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2016/17 be agreed.

3.  The recommended Special Responsibility Allowance for the role of Mayoral Adviser to be set at £14,963.06 be agreed.

Votes

For: Many

Against: None

Abstentions: 3

RESOLVED that the CHSAB Annual Report 2015/16 be noted and endorsed.

9.1  Councillor McShane introduced the report and commended the work of the City & Hackney Safeguarding Adults Board.

  RESOLVED that the CHSAB Annual Report 2015/16 be noted and endorsed.

RESOLVED:

i)  To adopt sections 4 and 5 of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2013 (“the Act”) so that it’s provisions enabling the Council to affix traffic signs and street lighting to buildings shall apply to the London Borough of Hackney from the day appointed for this purpose;

ii)  To fix the Appointed Day, from which the adopted provisions in paragraph 3.1(i) above take effect, as 15 January 2017 pursuant to section 3 of the Act;

iii)  Delegate power to the Group Director, Neighbourhoods and Housing to publish notices of the aforementioned resolutions pursuant to section 3(4) of the Act;

iv)  Delegate power to the Group Director, Neighbourhoods and Housing to exercise powers under Section 4 and 5 of the Act for the purpose of affixing traffic signs and street lighting onto buildings.

10.1  Councillor Demirci introduced the report and commended it to Council.

RESOLVED:

i)  To adopt sections 4 and 5 of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2013 (“the Act”) so that its provisions enabling the Council to affix traffic signs and street lighting to buildings shall apply to the London Borough of Hackney from the day appointed for this purpose;

ii)  To fix the Appointed Day, from which the adopted provisions in paragraph 3.1(i) above take effect, as 15 January 2017 pursuant to section 3 of the Act;

iii)  Delegate power to the Group Director, Neighbourhoods and Housing to publish notices of the aforementioned resolutions pursuant to section 3(4) of the Act;

iv)  Delegate power to the Group Director, Neighbourhoods and Housing to exercise powers under Section 4 and 5 of the Act for the purpose of affixing traffic signs and street lighting onto buildings.

RESOLVED that the Commission’s report and the response to it from the Executive, be noted.

11.1   Councillor Anna-Joy Rickard introduced the report and commended it to  Council. Members were advised that the report highlighted the following:

·  The need for a service that was fit for the complexity of individual lives as well as local community circumstances and was built around people and their places.

·  Service redesign work across the whole place and system including how frontline staff could work holistically with service users to meet their needs at the first point of contact.

·  Reductions in public expenditure imposed by the Government and how Hackney Council would manage them.

11.2   Councillor Sharman advised Members that the Commission explored vulnerable groups of people with mental health issues. It was highlighted that the response from the Governance and Resources Scrutiny Commission reflected that the Council must not only rely on external organisations when delivering public services.

11.3   Councillor Taylor commended the report and expressed that there was both economic issues and a lack of communication in the delivery of public services. It was highlighted that Hackney Council could not afford to operate inadequate services with the current level of reductions in public expenditure.

11.4   Councillor Anna- Joy Rickard highlighted that the Council must focus on the residents who required Hackney Councils services, it was explained that the responses in the report outlined the Governance and Scrutiny Commission directives.

RESOLVED that the Commission’s report and the response to it from the Executive, be noted.

RESOLVED that the Commission’s report and the response to it from the Executive, be noted.

12.1  Councillor Rahilly introduced the report and stated that developments over recent years had seen transformational change to Hackney’s schools and increased opportunities for many children and young people living in the Borough. The ever changing nature of the Borough meant that it was important that the Council understood both the challenges faced by children, young people and families and also what more needed to be done to ensure that Hackney was a great place to grow up for all children.

12.2  The review was set within the context of the Council’s wider review, Hackney a Place for Everyone, which sought to understand the impact of changes in the Borough on its residents. The Council wanted to ensure that the views and interests of children and young people played a full part in the response.

12.3  Councillor Kennedy welcomed the report and thanked the work of everyone involved in the Commission. Councillor Kennedy referred to the key areas of action and requested that the recommendations in the report be taken forward.

12.4  Councillor Coban also welcomed the report and thanked Councillor Rahilly for leading on the Commission. Councillor Coban stated that the Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission put children and young people at the heart of everything they did in the borough.

12.5  Councillor Odze stated that there was a technical problem with the numbering in the report and was surprised to see that the report did not provide all-inclusive opportunities for all diversities.

12.6  Deputy Mayor Bramble welcomed the report and confirmed that all of the recommendations would be taken forward. The report highlighted that there were now more opportunities for children and young people that were not there before. The issues surrounding housing and opportunities for young black males were acknowledged and would be used as part of a framework model going forward. She stated that it was important to work collectively as a Council to ensure that Hackney was a place for everyone.

12.7  Mayor Glanville also commended the report and recognised the work that had been done in making Hackney a place for everyone.

RESOLVED that the Commission’s report and the response to it from the Executive, be noted.

13.1 Councillor Sade Etti introduced the report to Members highlighting the six new powers that had been introduced to replace a range of provisions to tackle anti-social behaviour. The Commission felt it was important to identify if the new powers would assist the council and its partners to improve their response to reports of ASB for the benefit of all residents. Councillor Sade Etti drew Members attention to the four recommendations tabled in the report. 

13.2 Councillor Selman commended the report and highlighted that the Community Safety Social Inclusion Scrutiny Commission must work to improve new ASB enforcement.

13.2 Councillor Sade Etti highlighted that intervention was key and continued by thanking the Council, all Councillors and external participants for contributing to the review – Hackney Homes Board and ASB Champion, Hackney Downs Ward Panel, Hackney Metropolitan Police, Thames Reach and the Wenlock Barn TMO.

RESOLVED that the Commission’s report and the response to it from the Executive, be noted.

RESOLVED that the Pensions Committee’s Annual Report for 2015/16 be noted, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

14.1  Councillor Chapman introduced the report which detailed the role of the Pensions Committee and summarised the key activities in 2015/16 that demonstrated how the Committee had fulfilled its role effectively, acting in its capacity as quasi-trustees of the Council’s Pension Fund.

14.2  The Pensions Committee had focused heavily on how it could manage the potential impacts of climate change on the financial position of the Fund. A special strategy meeting had been held in January 2016, which had resulted in the development of a series of resolutions, as set out in the report, with work beginning in Q4 2015/16 to be taken forward into the new municipal year.

14.3  Councillor Chapman advised that the Pensions Committee commenced two investment programmes during the year, with investments of £53m and £48m being made to new multi-asset and emerging markets respectively. These had been fully invested by 31 December 2015. Councillor Chapman took the opportunity to thank relevant officers and advisers for another successful year.

14.4  Councillor Taylor welcomed the report and referred to the issue of divesting on ethical grounds. He stated that it was important to look at how energy would be supplied in the future and finding places to invest, with sustainable sources of energy, which produced a long term return.

14.5  Councillor Chapman added that it was about science, not politics, and stressed the importance of protecting the interests of the 22,000 members of the pension scheme.

RESOLVED that the Pensions Committee’s Annual Report for 2015/16 be noted, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Council notes that:

i)  Transport for London recently developed a road safety scheme for the Stamford Hill junction with the following stated objectives:

·  Improve safety for all road users

·  Create a nicer environment for local residents and businesses
·  Reduce journey times for pedestrians crossing the junction
·  Protect bus journey times

·  Reduce traffic speeds

·  Make the area more attractive as a destination for people to shop

ii)  Hackney council support for a scheme.

iii)  The scheme was funded.

iv)    There were no substantive objections.

v)       This road junction is busy and has a history of collisions. The scheme was designed to save casualties.

This Council supports a road safety scheme at this junction and calls on Transport for London to revisit its decision not to proceed.

Proposed: Cllr Vincent Stops

Seconded: Cllr Chris Kennedy

Councillor Stops introduced the motion and stated that Transport for London had a statutory duty to promote road safety and a proposal had been put forward for a road safety scheme at Stamford Hill junction, with the objectives listed in the agenda. Councillor Stops explained that there were no substantive objections regarding the proposed scheme and objections had been concentrated on one part of the community. TfL had subsequently objected to the proposals and the Council called on TfL to revisit its decision not to proceed.

Councillor Kennedy seconded the motion and referred to the local implementation plan, which put pedestrians as a main priority. Councillor Kennedy stated that it was a modest proposal which would make street users safer. He indicated that certain opposition members had written to TfL objecting to the scheme, suggesting that they did not promote road safety.

Councillor Odze was not in support of the motion and believed that the proposal would not assist in promoting road safety and would in fact reduce road safety. Councillor Odze stated the provision of a 100m bus lane would create confusion. He believed that the best option was to prevent illegal U turns by redesigning the traffic lights at the junction and re-introducing two right turns.

Councillor Steinberger was also not in support of the motion and stated that the local community ambulance scheme had written to object to the proposals.

Councillor Levy was also not in support of the motion and referred to bus journey times in the surrounding area.

Councillor Moule supported the motion and referred to the success of the Narroway Scheme, which was previously objected to. He added that the junction was a death trap and urged TfL to support the proposed road safety scheme.

Councillor Demirci responded to the motion and stated that TfL had rejected the proposed road safety scheme due to the level of objections received from the surrounding communities. Councillor Demirci stated that in 2001, 244 people died on the roads within the Borough, which had now reduced to 80. Councillor Demirci urged the Council to support the motion and to call on TfL to revisit its decision in order to reduce the number of road fatalities further, with cross party agreement.

RESOLVED:

Council noted that:

i)  Transport for London recently developed a road safety scheme for the Stamford Hill junction with the following stated objectives:

·  Improve safety for all road users

·  Create a nicer environment for local residents and businesses
·  Reduce journey times for pedestrians crossing the junction
·  Protect bus journey times

·  Reduce traffic speeds

·  Make the area more attractive as a destination for people to shop

ii)  Hackney council support the scheme.

iii)  The scheme was funded.

iv)    There were no substantive objections.

v)       This road junction is busy and has a history of collisions. The scheme was designed to save casualties.

This Council supports a road safety scheme at this junction and calls on Transport for London to revisit its decision not to proceed.

For: Many

Against:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15a

This Council condemns the recent racist and anti-Semitic attacks in Hackney. We are proud that Hackney is a diverse and tolerant borough. However, we note the importance of always ensuring that there is no place for hate in our borough.

We therefore propose to:

·  Listen to residents’ perceptions of cohesion and hate crime in the Borough using the Council’s Annual Survey.

·  Analyse recorded incidents of hate crime for any pattern in terms of perpetrator profile, victim vulnerability and location hotspots.

·  Use meetings between the Police and officers from across the Council (‘Partnership Tasking Meetings’) to look at what the Council and other agencies can do to support the police in preventing hate crime and re-assuring the public. 

·  Support the police in securing prosecutions, for example through CCTV monitoring and the preservation of evidence by council enforcement officers.

·  Use Home Office funding to employ a Community Co-ordination Officer to support cohesive communities and to counter messages of hate.

·  Support third-party reporting through the Community Alliance to Combat Hate (CATCH) (http://www.catch-hatecrime.org.uk/) 

·  Develop a Hate Crime Strategy with community input.

Proposed: Cllr Ned Hercock

Seconded: Cllr Soraya Adejare

(During the debate Councillor Chapman moved under council procedure rule 16.1 (xiv) to extend the meeting beyond 10pm. This was duly seconded by Councillor Odze).

Councillor Odze proposed an amendment to the motion, this was formally seconded by Councillor Levy.

Councillor Hercock highlighted that the incidents which took place in Haringey were unacceptable. It was stressed that the Council was against these actions and stood alongside the public against hate crime. The actions that had taken place portrayed violence and fear for the residents of Hackney.

Councillor Odze stated that the leadership of the Council would create a hate crime strategy, and that symbols of hate would not be tolerated in Hackney. It was further reported that the public must be aware of the Council’s objection to the recent events.

Councillor Adejare seconded the motion and drew attention to a statement which was made in relation to an increased number of hate crime incidences since the 2016 UK referendum. Councillor Adejare was in support of the motion being proposed at Council and shared her personal experiences of hate crime with the Members of the Council. It was stressed that hate crime was a criminal activity and must be recognised.

All Members declared that they embraced the level of diversity of different cultures and religions and ethnic minorities within the borough, it was stated that this was something that Hackney was proud of.

Councillor Levy stated that he was grateful for the motion being brought to Council and was strongly opposed to divisions within the community.

Councillor Selman stated that the diversity of Hackney was one of its greatest strengths. Members were advised that the percentage of hate crimes had increased to 70% in comparison to London’s national average of 19%, it was further reported that there had been a decrease in the number of hate crime incidents in relation to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Muslim individuals.

Members were informed that the Council would support the police in securing prosecutions, for example through CCTV monitoring and the preservation of evidence by council enforcement officers. Members were assured that evidence would be referred to the Community Safety Team. It was further reported that Home Office funding had been secured to support the work with local partners in the reduction of hate crime.

Councillor Chapman contributed to the debate and welcomed the motion, he expressed that he was in support of Councillor Odze’s amendment to the motion.

Councillor Sharman made reference to one of the motions proposals in relation to analysing the recorded incidents of hate crime for any frequent patterns. Councillor Sharman stated that there was no pattern with hate crime incidents as they were irrational actions, it was added that the Council must discuss hate crime convictions with the Government as it was felt there was not enough prosecutions in comparison with the number of hate crime incidences.

Councillor Fajana-Thomas welcomed the motion and contributed to the debate, it was expressed that hate crime offenders became more confident when  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15b

RESOLVED that the appointment or nomination of appointment of Members to Outside Bodies on behalf of the Council as listed in the Schedule, be agreed.

RESOLVED that the appointment or nomination of appointment of Members to Outside Bodies on behalf of the Council as listed in the Schedule, be agreed.

RESOLVED that the membership of the Children’s and Young People’s Scrutiny Commission be agreed, as set out below:

Cllr Soraya Adejare, Cllr Mete Coban, Cllr Tom Ebbutt, Cllr Christopher Kennedy, Cllr M Can Ozsen, Cllr James Peters, Cllr Tom Rahilly, Cllr Ian Rathbone, Cllr Caroline Selman, Cllr Yvonne Maxwell and Cllr Emma Plouviez.

Co-optees – Rabbi Judah Baumgarten, Richard Brown, Shuja Shaikh, Jo McLeod, Jane Heffernan, Sevdie Sali Ali and Ernell Watson.

RESOLVED that the membership of the Children’s and Young People’s Scrutiny Commission be agreed, as set out below:

Cllr Soraya Adejare, Cllr Mete Coban, Cllr Tom Ebbutt, Cllr Christopher Kennedy, Cllr M Can Ozsen, Cllr James Peters, Cllr Tom Rahilly, Cllr Ian Rathbone, Cllr Caroline Selman, Cllr Yvonne Maxwell and Cllr Emma Plouviez.

Co-optees – Rabbi Judah Baumgarten, Richard Brown, Shuja Shaikh, Jo McLeod, Jane Heffernan, Sevdie Sali Ali and Ernell Watson.