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Agenda and decisions

Venue: Council Chamber, Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, London E8 1EA

Contact: Natalie Williams, Governance Officer 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

The Mayor's Civic Awards

Following nominations, three individuals and three organisations will be recognised for their contribution to the lives of Hackney residents.

2.

Apologies for Absence

3.

Deputy Speaker's Announcements

4.

Declarations of Interest

Members are invited to consider the guidance which accompanies this agenda and make declarations as appropriate.

5.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 308 KB

To consider the minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of Council on 26 October 2022

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the previous Extraordinary meeting of Council held on 26 October 2022, be agreed as a true and accurate record of proceedings

6.

Petition

Hackney Council should urgently reconsider their plans for motorcycle and scooter parking charges, or risk devastating impacts to the lives and livelihoods of riders and those who rely on them.

 

We are extremely concerned about the effects that these changes will have on riders who live and work in Hackney. We believe that the proposals will be detrimental to the economy and life of Hackney. These changes are disproportionate, unjustified and not evidence based.

 

Our concerns include:

 

1.  Damage to the economy of Hackney and the livelihoods of those who work in Hackney

 

The proposed parking charges will make it impossible for many riders to work or visit businesses in Hackney. This includes commuters, delivery riders and couriers, but also volunteer riders who provide vital support to the NHS, such as Blood Bikers or the Bike Shed Community Response.

 

Around half of all motorcycle journeys are for commuting, however the proposals will make it impossible for most who commute into Hackney by motorcycle or scooter to continue to do so. For riders who are able to continue to commute the £6 an hour costs could add up to £13,800 over a year.

 

It’s a mistake to assume that in all cases walking, cycling or public transport offer a viable alternative. Many riders tell us that as a result of these charges they would be forced to give up working in Hackney, or move to live in another borough. This will impact not only these individuals but the economy of Hackney.

 

2.  The proposals are disproportionate and unfair to riders

 

The evidence presented by the Council doesn’t support the changes. Charging motorcycles and scooters the same amount as cars fails to meet the Council’s duties of fairness and proportionality. It fails to account for the amount of space motorcycles take up, the fact that motorcycles do not cause congestion, or the lower levels of pollution they produce.

 

With the increasing popularity of new micro-mobility modes it makes no sense to treat motorcycles and scooters as equivalent to cars, when in reality they are more similar to other 2-wheeled modes. An electric motorcycle for example has similar impacts to an e-scooter or cargo bike, but their riders are penalised under these proposals just for having a licence and number plate.

 

3.  Lack of appropriate consultation or evidence

 

Many riders who would be affected by these new charges have not been aware of the consultations about them. We are extremely concerned that the changes will go ahead without reasonable engagement with those who it will affect the most. In addition, the Council’s evidence base used to support these charges is flawed, and shows a fundamental misunderstanding of motorcycles’ overall behaviour and impact. For example it relies on the false belief that motorcycles and scooters are worse for air quality than cars, based on unreliable research which compares 30 year old motorcycles and scooters without catalytic converters with 20 year old cars with catalytic converters.

 

 

Hackney Council should reconsider their plans in light of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 6.

Decision:

RESOLVED: That the petition be referred to Cabinet without any recommendations

 

 

 

7.

Questions from Members of the Public

The deadline for questions from members of the public is 12 noon, four clear working days before the meeting (Wednesday, 16 November). If you wish to submit a question you can do so by emailing governance@hackney.gov.uk or via the Council’s website: https://hackney.gov.uk/menu#get-involved-council-decisions

.

 

A supplementary agenda setting out any public questions received after the publication of the main agenda will be circulated shortly after this deadline.

 

 

From Kofo David to the Mayoral Adviser for Housing Needs & Homelessness

 

With the level of support given to rough sleepers through the pandemic we now know that it is possible to do a lot for rough sleepers. What support is the Council giving to rough sleepers during the winter months amidst the cost of living crisis?

8.

Questions from Members of the Council

8.1  From Cllr Garbett to the Mayoral Adviser for Older People and Carers 

 

Hackney has the largest amount of unclaimed pension credit in London. What has the Council done in the past to address this and what are you doing to address this now? 

 

8.2  From Cllr Troughton to the Mayor

 

One in four Hackney residents rely on buses as their main means of transport including many in King’s Park, where there are already very high levels of deprivation, that depend heavily on the 236 and 242. With the Government failing to invest in sustainable and affordable public transport, Transport for London’s proposals would leave many King’s Park residents even more isolated and poorer. Can the Mayor please update us on his campaign to save our buses, so we can report back to the thousand or more residents who signed the petition calling for a sustainable and affordable way to travel?

 

8.3  From Cllr Binnie-Lubbock to the Mayoral Adviser for Private Rented Sector and Housing Affordability 

 

Many residents who are private renters are reporting real difficulties with the cost of living and in particular private rent increases. Can the Mayor's Advisor for Private Renting and Affordability share with the Council the work she has been doing in recent months to address these concerns?

 

8.4  From Cllr Patrick to the Cabinet Member for Finance, Insourcing and Customer Service

 

Hackney residents are struggling with the rising cost of living ? mortgage payments, rent, food, and household bills are all rising. What is the Council doing to support residents in light of the financial crisis and what support is it receiving from central government in order to help?

 

8.5  From Cllr Walker to Cabinet Member for Housing Services and Resident participation

 

The Council’s draft Resident Engagement Strategy (2022-25) has pledged to create a residents-first culture at the heart of our housing service. Following consultation, how will the strategy ensure resident voice and participation across different tenures to drive improvements and ensure that poverty, social isolation and poor health are tackled head-on?

 

8.6  From Cllr Desmond to the Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Delivery, Inclusive Economy & Regeneration

 

Hackney Downs Councillors have been campaigning to protect Kidzmania children's soft play centre, which is threatened by development by Peabody Housing Association. How can the Council help protect this popular centre and persuade Peabody to adapt their plans to ensure it survives and prospers?

 

8.7  From Cllr Ogundemuren to the Cabinet Member for Employment, Human Resources and Equalities

 

Given the cost of living crisis, public sector workers need a pay rise. Can the Cabinet Member give an update on the 2022 / 2023 pay claim made by the unions and when does she expect staff to see an increase?

 

8.8  From Cllr Oguzkanli to the Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care, Voluntary Sector and Culture

 

Can the Cabinet Member give assurances that the Council will work with partners and stakeholders to make sure that the future of St Leonard’s hospital remains a fully comprehensive health  ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

9.

Elected Mayor's Statement

10.

Strategic Plan pdf icon PDF 123 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: 

 

1.  That the Strategic Plan be adopted.

 

2.  That an annual cycle of progress updates  be considered by Full Council in May of each year, linked to the Annual Meeting (AM).

11.

Pensions Committee Annual Report pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: To note the contents of the report

12.

Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report pdf icon PDF 62 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: To note the contents of the report

 

13.

Motions

13a

Cash Welcome Here

 Hackney Council notes: 

 

Since the pandemic, shops and services increasingly only accept cards as a method of payment. According to Which, around 1 in 5 consumers have been stopped from making cash payments.

 

So far this financial year, 1 in 3 payments made at the Council’s Self Service Payment Centre were cash payments. A record £3.32 billion in cash deposits and withdrawals were handled at Post Office’s branches in July 2022, and they report that personal cash withdrawals are up 20% since last year.

 

Going cash-free excludes many people.

 

1.  People on lower incomes often rely on cash and avoid cards as they may be waiting for payday, trying not to bounce a direct debit or worrying about going into an overdraft ? average overdraft rates have recently increased from 12.34% to 27%.  Cash is more easily ring fenced. 

2.  Older people often struggle to use cards and fear associated scams. 

3.  Children learn the value of money by using coins and notes.

4.  Staff in many cash-free businesses interviewed by Victoria Councillors confirmed that cash machines often fail, and then cash is temporarily accepted. 

5.  Staff often receive a smaller share of tips on cards. 

6.  Between 1.3 and 2 million UK adults do not have a bank account. This figure includes refugees and homeless people without the documents to get a bank account.  A cash-free society could be devastating for them.

7.  People leaving abusive partners often need to hide money away, leaving no trace.

 

As more shops go cash-free, the options dwindle for those who need to use cash. No one has voted for this and it has not appeared in any manifesto.

 

The government has promised to protect access to cash in the Financial Services and Markets Bill, but not to mandate cash acceptance. 

 

Hackney Council therefore commits to: 

 

·  Establishing Hackney as a #cashwelcomehere borough, supporting the campaign started in Victoria Ward, and promoting an inclusive economy by encouraging local businesses and ensuring that council-run facilities accept cash and other payment methods.

·  Lobbying the Government to include a mandate for businesses to accept cash in the Financial Services and Markets Bill.

 

Proposer: Cllr Clare Joseph

 

Seconder: Cllr Penny Wrout

Decision:

RESOLVED:

 

To note that:

 

Since the pandemic, shops and services increasingly only accept cards as a method of payment. According to Which, around 1 in 5 consumers have been stopped from making cash payments.

 

So far this financial year, 1 in 3 payments made at the Council’s Self Service Payment Centre were cash payments. A record £3.32 billion in cash deposits and withdrawals were handled at Post Office’s branches in July 2022, and they report that personal cash withdrawals are up 20% since last year.

 

Going cash-free excludes many people.

 

1.  People on lower incomes often rely on cash and avoid cards as they may be waiting for payday, trying not to bounce a direct debit or worrying about going into an overdraft ? average overdraft rates have recently increased from 12.34% to 27%.  Cash is more easily ring fenced. 

2.  Older people often struggle to use cards and fear associated scams. 

3.  Children learn the value of money by using coins and notes.

4.  Staff in many cash-free businesses interviewed by Victoria Councillors confirmed that cash machines often fail, and then cash is temporarily accepted. 

5.  Staff often receive a smaller share of tips on cards. 

6.  Between 1.3 and 2 million UK adults do not have a bank account. This figure includes refugees and homeless people without the documents to get a bank account.  A cash-free society could be devastating for them.

7.  People leaving abusive partners often need to hide money away, leaving no trace.

 

As more shops go cash-free, the options dwindle for those who need to use cash. No one has voted for this and it has not appeared in any manifesto.

 

The government has promised to protect access to cash in the Financial Services and Markets Bill, but not to mandate cash acceptance. 

 

To commits to: 

 

·  Establishing Hackney as a #cashwelcomehere borough, supporting the campaign started in Victoria Ward, and promoting an inclusive economy by encouraging local businesses and ensuring that council-run facilities accept cash and other payment methods.

·  Lobbying the Government to include a mandate for businesses to accept cash in the Financial Services and Markets Bill.

 

Proposer: Cllr Clare Joseph

 

Seconder: Cllr Penny Wrout

 

13b

Climate and Ecology Bill

Hackney Council notes: 

 

·  That in June 2019, Hackney Council declared a climate emergency and committed to become a net zero carbon borough by 2040 and is developing a climate action plan to achieve this.

 

Hackney Council also notes: 

 

·  The work of Hackney Council to reduce carbon emissions, reverse biodiversity decline and tackle toxic air pollution 

·  That in 2022, Hackney has again been a Healthy Streets Scorecard leader with 70% of suitable streets covered by a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), the top score, and School Street schemes at 45% of all schools covered, the highest total number

·  That there is a Bill before Parliament—the Climate and Ecology Bill according to which the Government must develop an emergency strategy to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees celsius  above pre-industrial levels

·  That less than 5% of Hackney’s carbon emissions are from the Council’s corporate operations and buildings

·  That the Council cannot tackle the climate emergency alone and the Conservative Government needs to step up with a plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions much sooner than the current target of 2050 

·  The lack of ambition shown by the Conservative Government since 2010 in tackling the climate emergency

·  That many other London councils have joined the UK100 network of highly ambitious local government leaders and it is the Hackney Council's intention to bring forward its net zero target to 2030 so it can join the UK100 network.

 

Hackney Council further notes: 

 

·  The Climate and Ecology Bill requires that the UK to play its fair and proper role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with limiting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial temperatures; and

o  ensures that all the UK’s consumption emissions are accounted for;

o  protects and restores biodiverse habitats along overseas supply chains;

o  restores and regenerates the UK’s depleted soils, wildlife habitats and species populations to healthy and robust states, maximising their capacity to absorb CO2 and their resistance to climate heating and flooding;

o  sets up an independent Citizens’ Assembly, representative of the UK’s population, to engage with Parliament and Government on these issues

 

Therefore, Hackney Council resolves to: 

 

·  Support the Climate and Ecology Bill;

·  Write to Diane Abbott MP and Meg Hillier MP letting them know that this motion has been passed — urging Meg Hillier MP to sign up to support the Bill, and thanking Diane Abbott MP for already doing so; and

·  Write to Zero Hour, the organisers of the cross-party campaign for the Bill, expressing the Council’s support.

 

Further, Hackney Council pledges to: 

 

·  Continue to assess our largest impacts on the climate and ecology, prioritise where action needs to be taken and measure and monitor progress towards clear targets 

·  Reduce our emissions at source and limit the use of carbon offsets as part of the global effort to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis; 

·  Work with residents and our local business, voluntary, community & faith organisations, groups and public sector bodies to cut the emissions generated by non-Council sources in the borough,  ...  view the full agenda text for item 13b

Decision:

RESOLVED:

 

To note that:

 

That in June 2019, Hackney Council declared a climate emergency and committed to become a net zero carbon borough by 2040 and is developing a climate action plan to achieve this.

 

To also note that:

 

·  The work of Hackney Council to reduce carbon emissions, reverse biodiversity decline and tackle toxic air pollution, such as switching its energy supply to 100% renewable sources, establishing Hackney Light and Power, a Community Energy Fund, supporting walking cycling and public transport, increasing the recycling rate in the borough by 11%, and planting 5,000 new street trees.

·  That in 2022, Hackney has again been a Healthy Streets Scorecard leader with 70% of suitable streets covered by a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), the top score, and School Street schemes at 45% of all schools covered, the highest total number

·  That there is a Bill before Parliament - the Climate and Ecology Bill  - according to which the Government must develop an emergency strategy to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels

·  That less than 5% of Hackney’s carbon emissions are from the Council’s corporate operations and buildings

·  That the Council cannot tackle the climate emergency alone and the Conservative Government needs to step up with a plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions much sooner than the current target of 2050 

·  The lack of ambition shown by the Conservative Government since 2010 in tackling the climate emergency

·  That many other London councils have joined the UK100 network of highly ambitious local government leaders and it is the Hackney Council's intention to bring forward its net zero target to 2030 so it can join the UK100 network.

 

To further note that:

 

The Climate and Ecology Bill requires that the UK to play its fair and proper role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with limiting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial temperatures; and

 

o  ensures that all the UK’s consumption emissions are accounted for;

o  protects and restores biodiverse habitats along overseas supply chains;

o  restores and regenerates the UK’s depleted soils, wildlife habitats and species populations to healthy and robust states, maximising their capacity to absorb CO2 and their resistance to climate heating and flooding;

o  sets up an independent Citizens’ Assembly, representative of the UK’s population, to engage with Parliament and Government on these issues

 

To:

·  Support the Climate and Ecology Bill;

·  Write to Diane Abbott MP and Meg Hillier MP letting them know that this motion has been passed

·  Write to Zero Hour, the organisers of the cross-party campaign for the Bill, expressing the Council’s support.

 

 

Proposer: Cllr. Gilbert Smyth

 

Seconder: Cllr. Richard Lufkin

 

13c

Fireworks and Sky Lanterns

Hackney Council notes:

 

·  Fireworks can be a source of significant problems, fear and distress for many animals. They can cause psychological distress and injuries as animals attempt to run away or hide from the noise.

·  The noise generated by fireworks has been found to be the most common cause for fear responses in dogs. The loud and sudden noise can also be a trigger for PTSD-related symptoms in humans. The debris can also pose a hazard to other animals.

·  The short-lived nature of firework noise can make it difficult for the police or local authority officers to pinpoint locations and take action.

·  Fireworks can be a risk to public safety when lit in small garden spaces in which people of all ages including children can be injured and there is a risk to fire safety for private and public property.

·  In October 2022, fireworks were let off into a large crowd of people at Stratford shopping centre. Over the years, there have been a number of incidents involving fireworks in Hackney including a two year old sustaining burns. 

·  Fireworks and sparklers are only permissible for purchase from registered sellers for private use on selected dates of the year including: 15th October to 10th November, between 26th to 31st December, 3 days before Diwali and 3 days before Chinese New Year. It is possible to purchase fireworks outside of the dates above but only from retailers with a specific licence.

·  An estimated 200,000 sky lanterns are released every year in the UK. As the popularity of sky lanterns increases, so too does the risk to animals and the environment.

·  Sky lanterns are a danger to animals, a fire risk, an aviation hazard and a litter nuisance. When ingested, sharp parts can cause internal bleeding in animals. Animals can become entangled in fallen lantern frames and suffer from injury or stress trying to free themselves, and sometimes starve to death from being trapped.

·  In Wales, sky lantern releases are banned on council-owned land and property. In other countries, sky lantern release is considered environmentally irresponsible and classed as a crime. In England, although almost 200 councils have voluntarily banned sky lanterns on council-owned land, it remains legal to release paper lanterns.

 

Hackney Council therefore resolves:

 

·  To require the advertisement of all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries well in advance of the event.

·  To actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people and measures to mitigate the risks. (As examples of possibilities: a public campaign of Rocket 'o'Clock having people fire them at the same time so the impact is shorter. It could even be a campaign on sharing food rather than sharing fireworks (The council may have other ideas and is not expected to use these examples if a better resolution is found)

·  To encourage local firework suppliers to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks (less than 70 dB) for public and private display.

·  To only use ‘quieter’ fireworks (less than 70  ...  view the full agenda text for item 13c

13e

APPROVED Minutes 23.11.22 pdf icon PDF 189 KB

Additional documents: