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Agenda item

Questions from Members of the Public

Minutes:

 

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

The Supreme Court has ordered the UK Government to present a plan to reduce air pollution by the end of 2015 because it is too high, and Islington has to do its bit to bring about that reduction. Most air pollution comes from transport, and only one third of people in Islington drive. Is Islington council going to be intimidated by a minority who want to carry on driving and parking anywhere they like and not go ahead with the proposed Controlled Parking Zones, although extended CPZs would help achieve a reduction in the illegally high air pollution that we are all forced to breathe in against our will, and which is particularly harmful to young children?

 

Reply:

 

Thank you for your question and welcome back again.  This Council is committed to tackling air quality.  As evidenced by our own Air Quality Strategy, the Diesel Surcharge, campaign for Transport for London to change its vehicles and the 20 MPH speed limit.  We go forward with what residents tell us.  It is hardly the record of a Council that is intimidated, more the record of a Council that is taking a national lead on these matters.

Supplementary question:

69% of households in the borough don’t own a car, but suggest to us that you want to put in a CPZ a couple shout loudly and you are terrified.  Can you explain what frightened you so much?

Reply:

Nothing frightened us.  We undertook a nine week consultation and asked residents to tell us what they thought about a range of proposals.  We think it is only fair to ask residents and to listen to what they say.  In two areas residents what measures to go ahead and we listened to what they said.  Anita, you make a strong case for air quality, but only 31% of residents own a vehicle; this is a progressive policy over time.

 

Question (b) from David Wilson to Councillor Watts, Leader of the Council:

Last year Council, in debating a motion on the Right to a Fair Trial, recognised that 2015 would be the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and resolved to promote the celebrated qualities of that historic document throughout this year.  What has the Council done to fulfil that commitment?

 

Reply:

David, thank you for your question, it’s nice to see you again.  The Library and Heritage Service promoted the Magna Carta within the Council’s Word Festival 2015.  Included in the events was an Alternative Magna Carta gathering in Clerkenwell.  This alternative celebration recognised the importance of the Magna Carta in curtailing the powers of the executive, but also challenged and appraised modern Britain’s attitude to civil liberties in a modern setting.  In addition to this event we also added new titles to the library stock on the Magna Carter.  I have a list available if you would like it.

Supplementary Question:

That’s great to hear, I wondered what plans you have for the remainder of the year.

Reply:

The Library and Heritage Service will continue to do what it can to promote the Magna Carta.  I could also recommend a good episode of Horrible Histories that my children love.


Question (c) from Greg Foxsmith to Councillor Webbe, Executive Member for the Environment and Transport:

Last year I was encouraged to hear from the Executive Member for the Environment that the Council would look into the viability of joining Elthorne Park and Sunnyside Gardens by closing the stretch of Sunnyside Road between them.  Has that assessment been completed, and does the current Exec member support that proposal for making a larger green space in the North of the Borough?


Reply:

I too share the concerns and agree that it is right for the Council to look into closing Sunnyside Road to traffic and making it part of Elthorne Park, but unfortunately the cost is prohibitive.  The cost of closing the bus stand and related landscaping is in excess of £700K.  The Tory government continues to impose massive cuts and sadly we are not able to proceed.

Supplementary question:

Thank you for your constructive answer.  I would be grateful if you would send me the costings?  I would like to work with you, I know that Jeremy Corbyn MP supports the proposal.  It may not be possible this year, but it is a proposal that won’t go away.

Reply:

I would be happy to share the information.  I too look forward to the day that Jeremy Corbyn becomes Prime Minister.


Question (d) from Jayne Kavanagh to Councillor Watts, Leader of the Council
 

The council website states that, 'Islington is a diverse and vibrant borough and in recent years, like many inner London boroughs, Islington has received new refugee communities from troubled parts of the world'. Can you tell me how many refugees and asylum seekers have been received in Islington in the last 5 years including as part of the Gateway programme? 

 

Jayne Kavanagh was not present at the meeting and a written reply will therefore be sent.
 

 

Question from Rachel Bloch to Councillor Watts, Leader of the Council:

 

On Sept 12 in Parliament Square at the Refugees Welcome rally Jeremy Corbyn finished his speech by stating: 'Open your hearts, open your minds and open your attitude towards supporting people who are desperate and need somewhere safe to live'. What steps is Islington taking to resettle refugees from Syria and to make this a reality in our borough?


Thank you for your question, it is very welcome.  I am delighted to see you today.  I spoke about this issue a little earlier, but I want to talk about the challenges we face.  We are determined to make the scheme work and for Islington to do its bit to help humanitarian cases caused by the war in Syria.  When the government was still saying that we won’t take any more, we worked with London Citizens and offered to take 50 refugees.  The housing crisis means that we cannot provide housing, so London Citizens went off to find private housing.  We have since been appalled by the deaths of Aylan Kurdi and others whilst trying to make the sea crossing.  The government has now said we will take 20,000; we have been shamed by Germany.  The Lebanon is currently taking 2 million, the government’s action is too little too late and they are only offering one years’ money to take in people who are very vulnerable and who have serious medical and other problems.  One years’ funding is not enough, but we would get round that if not for the more significant problems caused by the government’s attacks on the benefit system.  For the first few years the government envisages the welfare system picking up living costs.  Because of the cruel cuts to benefits and not building affordable housing, we cannot find any flats in Islington where the refugees can be securely placed.  It’s not just our residents that are cruelly affected by this, but refugees as well.  We are not prepared to say we will take them and then house them in Haringey.  Because of the high cost of the area, the scheme doesn’t work.  London Citizens have found some private flats at affordable rates, but not enough.  We are working really hard to change it, we have lobbied the Mayor of London and the Home Office, we are working with other councils and Citizens UK and have spoken at vigils and meetings.  We want to do our bit; if this scheme is going to work nationally it will be because London takes part.

 

Supplementary question:

 

That will help in the future, but how are we going to help people who are desperate now it’s getting colder.

Reply:

 

We are campaigning and we are collecting goods; tents and clothing at the Mildmay Community Centre and the Town Hall.  My thanks for the generosity of Islington residents; it is touching and heart-warming.  We have to keep campaigning.


Question (f) from Benali Hamdache to Councillor Caluori, Executive Member for Children and Families:

 

What efforts have local schools made to comply with statutory requirements under the Prevent strategy? How much training has been done of local teachers and governors to identify extremism and build appropriate strategies to tackle these issues?

 

Reply:

Councillor Watts replied on Councillor Caluori’s behalf.  You asked about the Prevent Strategy.  This is a new duty which has only just come into force.  Schools and the government are anxious to get it right.  We try to keep schools together; we have issued training and guidelines and are helping governors to understand the requirements.  These are difficult and complex rules and whilst we all agree that preventing people from being radicalised is very important, this duty is complex and a lot of weight has been placed on schools to do it quickly.  It is important to do it as well as we can without affecting community cohesion.  We don’t want people to feel criticised just for being Muslim.  We are looking at it as a child protection issue and will be issuing a new set of guidance in a sensitive way.  We don’t want to see good schools ailed and academised by Ofsted for not getting it right.

 

Supplementary question:

I totally agree that this is a burden on schools, but what consultation are they doing with community groups to build an inclusive strategy and not a climate of fear?

Reply:

We have fantastic working relationships with all faith groups and community groups across Islington.  There has been a lot of consultation by staff with expert longstanding knowledge, but it is important to remember that each school is responsible for implementing the scheme; it is up to the governors to decide how to implement it.  Two of the more diverse and fantastic schools, well versed in the issues you describe are leading on this in the borough.  We are committed to tackling violent extremism and keeping residents safe.  This is not an easy thing and we need to help schools get it right.


Question from Jessie Godwin, aged 15, to Councillor Watts, Leader of the Council

Many local authorities are refusing to take refugees from Syria under the resettlement programme unless the government pledges 5 years of full funding in advance. What is Islington's position on this?

 

Jessie Godwin was not present at the meeting and a written reply will therefore be sent.

 

 

The meeting was then opened to questions from the floor.

Question 1 from
ErnestasJegorovas to Councillor Hull, Executive Member for Finance and Performance:

Will you listen to Islington residents and Corbynistas and produce an anti-cuts budget that this council needs?

Reply:

We will fight every step of the way, but we will set a balanced and legal budget.  The alternative is Tory administrators being parachuted in to set an even worse budget.  None of us went into politics to do that.  Campaigning is the only answer.

Supplementary question:

Jeremy Corbyn has said he’ll join you on the picket line.

Reply:

No, he hasn’t.  We can’t set an illegal budget.

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