Agenda item
Questions from Members of the Council
7.1 From Cllr Binnie-Lubbock to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport
In light of the news we heard in the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Committee this month that the Council is likely to fail to meet its 2040 retrofit target and that it could take over 4 decades to retrofit the whole stock, how does the Council plan on offsetting this carbon cost to meet the Climate Action Plan’s 2030 target?
7.2 From Cllr Smyth to the Mayor
Would the newly elected Mayor publicly declare her commitment to Hackney being a Fairtrade borough?
7.3 From Cllr Garbett to the Cabinet Member for Housing Services and Resident Participation
There are 111 neighbourhoods in Hackney requiring urgent adaptation to heat waves, the fourth highest level in the UK according to University of Manchester research. How is the Council prioritising this adaptation for these neighbours - with a focus on protecting the most vulnerable residents?
7.4 From Cllr Turbet-Delof to the Cabinet Member for Finance, Insourcing and Customer Service
As we enter the winter months, the cost of living crisis continues to leave many in poverty, having a profound impact on residents’ mental health. What support is the Council making available for the winter months ahead to both support residents' financial circumstances and their mental health?
7.5 From Cllr Binnie-Lubbock to the Mayor
In the last 5 years, what is the net-loss of mature trees in Hackney?
7.6 From Cllr Walker to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport
Balls Pond Road has been disproportionately impacted by traffic congestion. Can the Cabinet Member confirm that Balls Pond Road will remain under review, ensuring an ongoing dialogue with residents and other stakeholders to investigate long-term solutions to traffic flow and calming, air quality and noise pollution?
7.7 From Cllr Garbett to the Deputy Cabinet Member for Private Rented Sector and Affordability
What is the average time and the longest time it has taken for applications for landlord licensing to be processed, and how many are waiting to be processed?
7.8 From Cllr Anna Lynch to Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services
In light of the ongoing catastrophe in Israel and Gaza and the trauma and distress this has caused many in the communities that we represent, can the Cabinet Member for Community Safety advise on what support the Council has provided for those communities living in our borough?
7.9 From Cllr Narcross to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport
Following the tragic death of a cyclist on Whiston Road, many residents are concerned that the road remains far too dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. What action is the Council taking to reduce traffic speed and vehicle number to ensure it remains a safe route for those who use it?
7.10 From Cllr Young to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport
The New River Path is a much-loved place to stroll along and enjoy nature. What is the Council doing to improve access for all, explore options for safe cycle routes away from the peaceful pedestrian path
and enhance biodiversity?
7.11 From Cllr Gordon to the Cabinet Member for Finance, Insourcing and Customer Service
We know Councils have undergone significant cuts in Government funding since 2010 - in Hackney we’ve had a real terms cut of 41%. Can the Cabinet Member reassure us that services for our most vulnerable residents will be protected in the coming financial year?
7.12 From Cllr Rathbone to the Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care, Voluntary Sector and Culture
The Clapton Portico building was meant to have opened this autumn as the new home of the Lower Clapton GP surgery but has still not done so. Please could the Cabinet Member for Health update Members on the progress of building work here?
7.13 From Cllr Joseph to the Deputy Cabinet Member for Housing Needs and Homelessness
The Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission has focussed on the stressful and isolating impacts of life in temporary accommodation. Can the Cabinet Member tell us what is being done to mitigate the potentially isolating effects of temporary accommodation, to monitor children’s welfare and to improve families quality of life?
Minutes:
7.1 From Cllr Binnie-Lubbock to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change,
Environment and Transport
In light of the news we heard in the Living in Hackney Scrutiny
Committee this month that the Council is likely to fail to meet its 2040
retrofit target and that it could take over 4 decades to retrofit the whole
stock, how does the Council plan on offsetting this carbon cost to meet
the Climate Action Plan’s 2030 target?
Response from the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment
and Transport
Cllr Coban highlighted the lack of ambition from central government on
the retrofit programme. Councils and cities were leading the way towards
climate transition in respect of retrofit. Over 50% of Hackney’s housing
is social housing and the Climate Action Plan (CAP) set out the strategy
of how the Council was working to achieve net zero. The Council targets
were to reduce its own emissions by 45% by 2030 and borough wide by
2040. It was difficult due to the lack of central government funding and
the regulatory framework required to deliver the retrofit programme. Cllr
Coban noted GB Energy’s investment to local councils to support the
transition.
Last year the Council rejoined the UK 100 network of local leaders who
had pledged to lead a rapid transition to Net Zero. The Council had also
engaged, through London Councils, with other London boroughs in the
development of their climate action plans and with forums that
progressed net zero ambitions. Today the Council launched the second
round of the Community Energy Fund to help reduce emissions from
Council buildings. It was acknowledged that the Council had to be more
creative in supporting residents on the journey to net zero.
The Speaker briefly adjourned the meeting between 7.50pm and 7.52pm to assist a Councillor who had become unwell.
The Council Climate Action Plan had set out an implementation plan for
initiatives over the next 3 years that reduced emissions from council
buildings. The approach required the council to be smart and deploy
resources from other budgets to benefit, for example, from the Social
Housing Decarbonisation Fund. The Council considered corporate
buildings and businesses to reduce energy and grow green jobs.
Supplementary Question:
Would the Cabinet Member outline how the Council were going to offset
the 2040 retrofit target?
Technologies had changed rapidly and new funding opportunities
emerged. The Council had to set out what it was doing to meet the
emissions targets; and to be prepared for technologies when they were
unlocked which provided benefits to residents.
7.2 From Cllr Gilbert Smyth to Mayor Woodley
Would the newly elected Mayor publicly declare her commitment to
Hackney being a Fairtrade Borough?
Response from Mayor Woodley
Mayor Woodley reconfirmed Hackney was a fair trade borough. Social
justice was key for fair and equitable trade which recognised climate
change impacted everyone on the planet. It was noted that not everyone
suffered to the same degree and climate change further exacerbated the
inequalities in society. Fair and equitable trade was key to climate justice
and the systems and processes supported farmers and producers to
ensure they received fair prices for their products. This commitment also
enabled the Mayor to meet the manifesto commitment to remain
committed to being a fair trade borough.
The Mayor outlined her support to Hackney’s growing community which
had taken produce out to local community park spaces and used local
skills and fair trade suppliers. As a Council fair trade was considered a
business model that prioritised people and the planet and brought
businesses under one banner to promote fair trade.
The Mayor thanked Cllr Smyth for his work as Fair Trade Champion and
acknowledged his commitment to ensuring Hackney was reconfirmed as
a fair trade borough. The proposed activities were a tribute in celebration
of the 30th anniversary of Fairtrade.
7.3 From Cllr Garbett to the Cabinet Member for Housing Services and
Resident Participation
There are 111 neighbourhoods in Hackney requiring urgent adaptation
to heat waves, the fourth highest level in the UK according to University
of Manchester research. How is the Council prioritising this adaptation
for these neighbours - with a focus on protecting the most vulnerable
residents?
The Speaker noted the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport was answering the question.
Response from the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment
and Transport
Cllr Coban highlighted the record temperatures seen across London and
the wild fires experienced last year. It was important to keep flagging the
implementation of the Climate Action Plan and how the Council was
supporting transition and adaptation. Mayor Woodley, in her previous
Cabinet role, had led on the Green Infrastructure Strategy to make
streets more resilient. The Council had planted 5000 street trees since
2018 and actions in the implementation plan will support the most
vulnerable residents. An important initiative was to increase the street
tree canopy from 20-30% as trees matured. Trees played an important
role in helping to cool our streets and made a positive contribution to
new build developments as a result of meeting urban green factor
standards.
When temperature warming was an issue the Council worked with its
partners to support vulnerable individuals and communities during heat
waves with measures that included providing advice on staying cool,
checking on homeless people, providing water, and advising on existing
cool spaces in public areas.
In addition, the Council collaborated with climate resilience groups to
strengthen the response to the Climate Action Plan. Research by the
University of Manchester indicated the need for government
commitment to adequately fund adaptation measures. The cost of
adaptation measures around energy systems had been expensive,
however, as part of the £61m Climate Action Plan and Green New Deal
Hackney saw record levels of investment to help in adaptation and
support vulnerable residents.
Supplementary Question:
How are residents included in the Climate Action Plan implementation
and does the council consider this a public health priority?
Cllr Coban indicated the Council had committed to continued
conversations with residents as part of the 3 year implementation plan
and to have conversations with residents in many formats including ward
forums and scrutiny commissions, to strengthen proposals as they
moved forward.
7.4 From Cllr Turbet-Delof to the Cabinet Member for Finance, Insourcing
and Customer Service
As we enter the winter months, the cost of living crisis continues to leave
many in poverty, having a profound impact on residents’ mental health.
What support is the Council making available for the winter months
ahead to both support residents' financial circumstances and their
mental health?
Response from the Cabinet Member for Finance, Insourcing and
Customer Service
Cllr Chapman noted continued concern from the impact of the cost of
living crisis on many residents. Last week the Mayor and Cllr Chapman
had written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to demand adequate
funding for Council services. Since 2010 the Council had seen a £150m
reduction in external funding. After years of campaigning local housing
allowances had finally been unfrozen, however the Customer Support
Fund, which had provided £5.6m last year, had not been mentioned in
the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and this fund remained uncertain
going forward with the services provided to residents at risk.
The Council faced tougher choices ahead due to the lack of sustainable
funding for resident services. Hackney Council continued to support
residents through the Money Hub which had helped residents to claim
benefits they had been entitled to claim. The Council had planned to
meet its manifesto commitment by increasing council tax discounts for
those residents least able to pay. As winter approached the Council had
organised events such as the Winter Warmer event and promoted warm
spaces and hot meals to support residents. The council approach
supported residents through the cost of living crisis by more connected
and preventative measures in line with the poverty reduction framework.
Building connections with and between voluntary and community
organisations was important to strengthen support to residents. The
Here to Help team had produced an updated cost of living support guide
that provided information for example on bills, money and debts. Funds
from the Housing Support Fund had been used this year to provide food
and fuel vouchers to support residents. The Council had supported
Hackney Fuel Network’s Just Giving Campaign to provide extra funds to
community organisations to help residents through the winter. These
organisations provided places for connection and community. Even with
support, significant hardship was experienced through the winter months
which impacted mental health.
Supplementary Question:
It was estimated that £28m goes unclaimed in benefits in the borough.
What else can the Council do to ensure residents receive their
entitlements?
Cllr Chapman advised that it was a problem the Council was aware of
and the Money Hub and other voluntary organisations had been
successful in identifying and had supported residents to claim benefits.
Members helped by referring residents they meet to the Money Hub and
other organisations.
7.5 From Cllr Binnie-Lubbock to the Mayor
In the last 5 years, what is the net-loss of mature trees in Hackney?
Response from the Mayor
Mayor Woodley indicated that the council had an ambitious plan to add
to the street trees across the borough following the declaration of the
climate emergency. The Council had added 5000 street trees over the
last 2 years and now had 15,000 street trees and 60,000 trees in parks
and open spaces. The Mayor championed the borough tree map, which
had been regularly updated, and which helped educate people to learn
the benefits that trees brought which included air purification, promotion
of species diversity, and health and well-being benefits. A small
proportion of mature trees, approximately 38, had been removed due to
disease, subsidence, or adjacent development. The Council had sought
to replace trees in a suitable location nearby and plant multiple young
trees in recognition of the number of trees required to replace the
benefits of a mature tree. Mayor Woodley acknowledged support from
partners that helped maintain the tree canopy in Hackney.
Supplementary Question:
Can the Mayor confirm 38 trees had been lost in the last 5 years? How
long will the new trees take to produce the equivalent carbon capture
store to the trees that had been lost?
The Council was confident that the number of trees lost was correct. It
was noted that it does take a number of years for young trees to replace
mature trees that had been lost, however, replacement demonstrated
the council commitment to retain the benefits that mature trees offered.
7.6 From Cllr Walker to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change,
Environment and Transport
Balls Pond Road has been disproportionately impacted by traffic
congestion. Can the Cabinet Member confirm that Balls Pond Road will
remain under review, ensuring an ongoing dialogue with residents and
other stakeholders to investigate long-term solutions to traffic flow and
calming, air quality and noise pollution?
Response from the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment
and Transport
Cllr Coban outlined the work undertaken with Cllr Walker on Balls Pond
Road regarding traffic that reduced congestion and improved air quality.
It was noted that interventions had to be cross-borough, in conjunction
with London Borough of Islington. The Council was committed to
strengthen monitoring through traffic counting and other measures to
better understand the data. Air quality monitoring had also been used as
it was a concern identified by residents. Cllr Coban had met with his
London Borough of Islington counterpart and had committed to bring
partners together to address the issues. The Council recognised this as
a priority and wanted to identify measures to get the right response.
Supplementary Question:
Can Cllr Coban commit to ensuring plans to address congestion and air
pollution included engagement with residents and Transport for
London?
A Main Road Strategy had been developed to complement the Transport
Plan. This had proposals that worked to reduce traffic by 15% by 2026.
The Council recognised the importance of the Main Road Strategy and
a Bus Strategy and noted the 6% reduction in traffic in Hackney
compared to pre-pandemic. It was recognised that not all schemes had
been right; some roads had been disproportionately impacted by
schemes and the Council had made changes as a result. The council
was committed to remaining open and listening to ensure it delivered the
changes for residents.
The Speaker noted that the meeting had come to the end of the 30 minutes allocated timeframe and those questions that had not been answered (7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.12, 7.13) would receive a written response included at APPENDIX B
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