Agenda item

Question (a) from ErnestasJegorovas to Councillor Watts, Leader of the Council.

Does the council agree that the goverment was wrong to cut Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and as its attack on education continues, in particular on Further and Higher Education, that providing support to post-16 students should be a key priority. Will you pledge now to ringfence the budget for Islington Year 12 Bursary to provide students the neccesary support?

 

Reply:

 

Yes, of course.  Cutting the EMA was very wrong and we introduced the Islington Bursary, while I was the Executive Member, to reduce the damage.  Over 300 children a year receive £300 and many say they are only able to stay on in further education because of it.  We made a manifesto commitment to keep the bursary.

 

Supplementary question:

What has been done to support STEM Academy Tech City to make sure students don’t become NEET?

It is a challenging situation and the poorest Ofsted report I have ever seen.  We continue to be concerned about the standards at the Academy and continue to work with them, but can only do so to the extent they choose to, which underlines how ridiculous government policy is; we run great schools.

 

Question (b) from Greg Foxsmith to Councillor Convery, Executive Member for Community Safety

How many cycles have been stolen in the Borough in the last 12 month period for which figures available and how many have been recovered?

 

Reply:

 

1,021 bicycles were reported stolen between 1/11/14 and 31/10/15.  Of these, 36 were recovered and linked to an offence/returned to owner.  However, it should be noted that many more cycles are recovered by the police but for various reasons cannot be traced to an original owner or linked to a specific theft offence.

Question (c) from Claire Poyner to Councillor Webbe, Executive Member for Environment and Transport

What did the Council do to promote National Walking Month this year?

 

Reply:

 

On foot is the best way to see Islington.  We’ve got extensive information on the website on the Get Active pages; there are 20 maps and sound maps of walks in the borough.  My favourite is around the graveyards in Bunhill and through the markets and the squares of Clerkenwell.   

 

Supplementary question:

 

That is impressive if you are connected to the internet, but what have you got for those who are not and what plans have you got for next year?

 

Reply:

We support a number of walking groups across Islington and will work with you on what we may be able to do next year.  For those who can’t get on line we have very good wayfinders and walking routes across the borough.  I’ve certainly found it helpful and know some need updating, we will try to find the resources where we can.  We will keep trying to obtain Transport for London funding for walking.

 

 

Question (d) from Katie Dawson to Councillor Convery, Executive Member for Community Safety

 With the latest crime figures showing rocketing crime levels in Islington, what action are currently taking to turn this around?

 

Reply:

Katie Dawson was not present in the chamber and a written reply will be sent.

 

Question (e) from Anita Frizzarin to Councillor Webbe, Executive Member for Environment and Transport

How many Islington Council lorry drivers and Islington contractors' lorry drivers have been trained on how to deal with cyclists on the road by swapping places with cyclists, as Catherine West said would happen when she was leader, with evidence please and confirmation of what proportion that is of the total number of drivers, both Council ones and those of Islington-employed contractors?

 

Reply:

Welcome again Anita.  Nice to see you with a different question about drivers.  93 of 115 lorry drivers have completed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC), which includes them swapping places with cyclists and the vulnerable road user course is a standard part of the DCPC.  Our lorry drivers will complete regular training over the next five years to keep their competence certificate.  Similarly we expect our contractors to use accredited drivers.

 

Supplementary question:

On Sunday I photographed an Islington van at traffic lights in the cycle box.  He saw me taking pictures and looked puzzled; he didn’t know why I was.  How does this training filter down to van drivers?  I will send the picture to all of you.

Reply:

 

Please do send it to me.  All drivers get access to the training and I will look into this specific case in detail.  We expect high standards and don’t want conflict between cycles and lorries and want drivers to experience what it is like to be a cyclist.  

 

 

Question (f) from Benali Hamdache to Councillor Convery, Executive Member for Community Safety

 

Are people from black and ethnic minority groups more likely to be stopped and searched than white people in Islington?

Reply:

This question was asked and answered at the most recent meeting of Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee.  You are about 2.5 times more likely to be stopped and searched in Islington if you and black and ethnic minority than if you are white.  There are lots of complex reasons for this, but this disproportionality is lower here than almost any other borough in London; stop and search is done tactically and done well in this borough.

Supplementary question:

That sounds positive but the figures show that arrests are in decline, it is 18% now and was 25% last October, why is that?

Reply:

I am delighted that you have the data.  The figures are true.  We’ve set the Police target to increase the proportion of stop and searches that result in arrests, but don’t regard 1 in 5 to be a bad number; if stop and search was used arbitrarily we would expect a much lower rate.  It is used to physically take weaponry off young people on our streets.  If Police didn’t use it there would be many more dangerous situations in this borough; the stabbings would not have happened had those individuals been stopped and searched.  We have high levels of transparency, report the figures to community boards and to Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee and made the figures public.  It is a very fair question, but we are proud of Police performance and alongside other measures Stop and Search is an essential tool if the Police use it fairly and proportionately.

Question (g) from Ben Hickey to Councillor Webbe, Executive Member for Environment and Transport

At the last meeting of Full Council, Councillor Webbe and Councillor Murray committed to look into whether islington would sign up to the "London as a National Park City" initiative.  Will they update this meeting on their findings?

Reply:

We did discuss the National Park City initiative at a previous meeting, I believe it was raised by ex-Councillor Barry Edwards, the Chair of Islington’s Friends of Parks organisation. We have been able to distribute the information to all councillors to make them aware and sought further information with Councillor Murray regarding the details of the proposal and I am delighted that the next Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has looked at it as well and we warmly welcome the aims of the National Park City, especially making London a cleaner, healthier, better place to live.  We already have very strong planning policies and strategies in place with similar aims and there are no direct financial implications for the council and no plans to formally designate London as a national park and remove planning plans.  Based on our current understanding of the proposal we are able to recommend that this council supports it.  If it becomes a financial burden in the future we will have to reconsider, but currently we do support it.

Supplementary question:

Thank you, that’s great to hear.  Could you ask ward councillors to submit agreement and encourage councillors to respond?

Reply:

As a council we support it, I speak on behalf of all.


Question (h) from Tim Shand to Councillor Hull, Executive Member for Finance and Performance

Why is there not easily accessible wi-fi access for members of the public at Council meetings?

Reply:

Thank you for your question. The historic fabric of the Town Hall requires particular care when installing ICT services as we don’t have the raised floors, false ceilings and service ducts that are common in modern buildings and we require more wireless access point to address poor coverage caused by the solid construction.  However, Digital Services are looking to provide wi-fi to visitors.  As an interim solution councillors and staff can access wi-fi on the first floor and the next step is to extend this to visitors.  I understand this will be available from February 2016.

Question (i) from Shaughan Dolan to Councillor Shaikh Executive Member for Economic and Community Development

Charities and the third sector play an essential role in Islington and their importance has only been magnified in recent years.  As Local Authorities make difficult financial decisions across the country it is often charitable organisations that step in and fill the gap.  I hope this council will share my sadness that the Ethical Property Company has decided to serve notice on the 8 charities based at 1B Waterlow Road, with no offer of help or support to ensure they find future accommodation.  Will Islington Council work with the charitable organisations based at 1B and the Ethical Property Company to ensure that these organisations remain in Islington and find suitable and affordable accommodation so they can continue their vital work in our Borough?

Reply:

Councillor Watts responded for Councillor Shaikh:  Thank you for your question.  Despite the huge cuts we continue to support the voluntary sector with grant funding and are looking at further ways to provide support.  It is clear that rising cost pressures are a challenge to the voluntary sector in the borough and to community groups.  Our strategy is to help the sector cut costs and to collaborate on properties and to help them get the best value financial and legal services.  We will work with the sector.

 

Supplementary question

 

There is some urgency.  Will you meet with the organisations?

Reply:

Yes, we will be in touch to ensure we understand the needs and how we can help.

 

 

Questions were taken from the floor in the remaining time available:

Question from Catherine Bailey to Councillor Convery, Executive Member for Community Safety

 

A lot of evidence has been given to council officers about an anti-social behaviour problem which has been going on for 8 years or more and the council is equalising blame and trying to neutralise the problem and I want assurances that resources are not being wasted and that the council will now do something.

Reply:

 

I share your concern and frustration, especially with historic progress.  I am very conscious that one of the toughest challenges is dealing with relatively low level nuisance behaviour, but that over time for the people affected this can become a very big deal indeed.  One problem is that most of the tools available don’t apply; in extreme circumstances we will consider evictions, but very high standards of proof are required; we can’t just evict people.  The first choice is to pursue mediation, but where the problems are insurmountable and clear, we will certainly act.

Question from a resident of Packington Street to Councillor Murray, Executive Member for Housing and Development

There is a planning application by the council to infill car park and garage areas belonging to two big housing blocks, but the consultation has not been adequate.  These are in the pre-planning stage at the moment, but I am fearful that we will be railroaded.  We have engaged in the consultation only to find out about extraordinary omissions; why haven’t we been told about the new development at 13 Windsor Street?  Why were residents overlooking the development not involved in the consultation?

 

Reply:   

 

The proposal for Windsor Street is a residential development, which will be an improvement on overlooking car parking, but we spoke in some detail about the process going forward at the meeting.

 

Question from Jen Cronin:

Thank you for your responses so far and the legal advice from the QC regarding the investments the council pension funds holds in fossil fuel industry.  However, I understand that advice is out of date and don’t believe the legal duty prevents ethical investment.  Given that the Environment Agency pension fund set a precedent, would Islington Council take a prudent decision to review its investment in fossil fuels?

Reply by Council Greening, Mayor of the Council and Chair of Pension Sub Committee

 

Thank you for your question.  I am happy to talk to you further.  The Environment Agency is an interesting one and it conflicts with the advice we have been given.  I am happy to engage with this as long as we can remain within the legislation and to focus on ways to invest in sustainable forms of energy production.