Agenda and minutes

1.1  No apologies for absence.

2.1  The order of business was as per the agenda.

3.1  Cllr Lufkin declared he was employed by IPSOS Mori.  There was reference to this organisation under item 5.

4.1  The minutes were agreed.

5.1  The Chair welcomed to the meeting Cllr Carole Williams - Cabinet Member Employment, Skills and HR; Dan Paul - Head of HR and Organisational Development; Annie Gammon – Director of Education/Head of Hackney Learning Trust from London Borough of Hackney.  Hamida Rogers – Associate Director from FRCE and Sian Davies – Executive Principal from the Primary Advantage Federation.

5.2  The Chair advised the discussions would cover 3 key areas:

1.  Recruitment and retention

2.  Cost of living and economic drivers impacting on recruitment and retention

3.  Resolution and strategies.

5.3  The session commenced with the Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and HR outlining the council’s response to the questions sent in advance of the meeting.  The main points were:

5.3.1  The report highlighted the challenges and barriers the council faced in relation to recruitment.  Particularly in relation to the changes in the labour market, cost of living in Central London and the public sector pay freeze local government has been experiencing since 2010.

5.3.2  The economic drivers and disparity were outlined in the report on pages 1 - 2.

5.3.3  Hackney is similar to many other London boroughs and there are challenges across the whole labour market.  Related to the hollowing out of the labour market, lack of increases in pay and how this is impacting on an individual’s physical affordability to live in inner London.

5.3.4  In response to the question about housing the Cabinet Member advised this was not her portfolio and asked the Commission to contact Cllr Moema if they required more detail than the information provided in the report or had further questions.

5.3.5  In relation to ages and seniority within the council.  Hackney’s workforce is a little older in comparison to the general population in the borough.  The council does not have a young workforce but equally the council has not experienced any trouble recruiting young workers. 

5.3.6  There are a number of mechanisms used by the council to increase recruit, one of these mechanisms is the Council’s corporate Apprenticeship Programme.  Whilst the Council has not placed any age limit on the council’s apprenticeship scheme they do attract a large number of younger applicants.

5.3.7  There is the Hackney 100 programme work experienced programme.  This aims to equip young people with employment work experience whilst at school and college.  This is part of developing a pathway into employment.  The Council is also using some of the apprenticeship levy to up skills the employees of the council.

5.3.8  The Council has analysed its gender pay gap as well as the ethnicity pay gap.  There were pleased to report that Hackney has a positive result for the gender pay gap.  The Cabinet Member pointed out women are not paid more than men.  They have found the council has a high number of women in high paid positions within the organisation, therefore the overall gender pay gap for the organisation is positive.

5.3.9  This year they have analysed their ethnicity pay gap.  The council has identified that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1  The Chair referred to the Commission’s work programme on pages 125-130 of the agenda.

6.2  The Chair advised the next meeting would be the Night Time Economy Summit on 16^th October 2019.  The commission was holding an engagement session with stakeholders about the night time economy and the vision for Hackney’s night time economy.

6.2.1  The proposed themes for discussion were outlined to be:

1.  An inclusive night time economy - what would an inclusive night time economy look like?

2.  A sustainable night time economy in Hackney - is the current night time economy sustainable and what is its impact on the environment?

3.  Jobs - How do we get good quality and sustainable jobs in the sector? 

The meeting would not focus on the licensing policy but aimed to engage with stakeholders about the future of the night time economy in the borough.  This engagement session aimed to give residents and businesses an opportunity to help shape the vision for Hackney’s night time economy.

6.2.2  The Chair explained the format of the session would be like the BMAE business engagement event the Commission held in July 2018.  There would be discussion groups with 4-6 people on each table.

6.2.3  The Chair informed the Commission he had invited Amy Lamé the Night Czar Chair to the session.  The Chair was still awaiting a response.

6.2.4  The Chair informed there would be representation of young people voices at the session.  The Chair of the Hackney Young Futures Commission (HYF) would be in attendance.  The Chair informed the Commission the Hackney Young Futures Commission recently completed their consultation with young people around the borough and received 2400 responses.  The data was currently being analysed and the feedback report was expected in October 2019.

6.2.5  In the discussions Members suggested the local pub watches in the borough were invited to the engagement session.  The Chair agreed.

6.2.6  The Chair advised ward Councillors from wards with an active night time economy would be invited to the session.

6.2.7  The Chair informed the Commission the following people were listed as invitees to the meeting:

·  Relevant Ward Cllrs - Dalston, Hackney Wick, Hoxton East and Shoreditch, Stoke Newington and Hoxton West

·  local businesses – including Pub Watches

·  Tenant Resident Associations (resident groups)

·  Hackney Young Futures Commission.

6.2.8  In addition the above, the following council departments and relevant Executive Members would be invited to the session.

·  Relevant Cabinet Members

·  Area Regeneration Department

·  Planning Department

·  Licensing Department and Licensing Chair.

6.2.9  Members enquired about the start time for the night time economy event.

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer confirmed it would be 7pm.

6.2.10  In response to Members discussion about engaging a variety of local businesses at the session.  The Overview and Scrutiny officer explained it was hoped that by taking the meeting out into the community and holding it in a local licensed premises; this would encourage other business owners to attend.

6.2.11  In the discussion Members also referred to the Future Shoreditch plan  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.1  None.