Here is a round up of the some the latest news from Haringey Council this month. You can see my video from Black Pound Day below:

Last Saturday, Haringey became the first council to support Black Pound Day

I’m proud that Haringey was the first local authority to give its official backing to Black Pound Day. Residents were asked to shop at a Black owned business – whether in their neighbourhood, or online – at some time during the day. Haringey is home to many excellent Black-owned businesses that serve the local community well.

As one of London and the country’s most multi-ethnic areas, it’s even more important that we show leadership on issues that promote diversity and equality in our community. We take the view that supporting the Black Lives Matter movement is not just about keeping Black people alive, but is also about improving the lives that Black people live.

Haringey’s place, street and building names must reflect our values

thank the residents who have been in touch raising long-standing concerns about some street and building names in Haringey. The cause of particular ire have been Black Boy Lane in Tottenham, and Rhodes Avenue in Alexandra Ward. Some names that may have been appropriate in years gone past, simply do not reflect the values of modern day Haringey.

A real discussion about how we to memorialise historical figures is long-overdue, especially now following the re-positioning of the Colston statue in Bristol during a the Black Lives Matter protest. We are beginning that conversation, and developing a clear policy of how the Council will consider and process requests for change.

You can see my full statement here and submit your views to Leader@haringey.gov.uk.

There will of course be public consultation on the outcome of the review.

Council House Building Delivery Update

The impact of the housing crisis has only been deepened by this pandemic, and as a council it’s more important than ever that we fulfil our promise to build council houses.

Construction has started on 331 council homes across seven sites, and Cabinet has just agreed to add seven new sites to the housing deliver programme – meaning the council has sites for social housing in every ward in the Borough.

The council will also will also begin building 4 desperately needed Four bed homes in Harringay Ward this autumn.

Today, Cllr Emina Ibrahim, Cabinet Lead for Housing & Estate Renewal, announced the proposed names for three of the Council’s new Housing Developments.

Windrush House (the Welborne site on Chestnuts Road in Tottenham)

Rosa Luxemburg Apartments (1A Ashley Gardens)

Joy Gardner House (Templeton Road).

Supporting the Voluntary & Community Sector

The Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) has played an absolutely vital role in Haringey’s Covid-19 response. At the last Cabinet meeting, the Council took the decision to provide the VCS with additional financial support. We allocated £600k to be available as hardship funding for the VCS; £250k for operating costs available for rapid allocation to the sector, a further £250k for critical support for projects providing those additional value, to residents and the community and £100k to extend the current 3 month rent holiday for organisations in Council buildings to 6 months.

Selective Licensing consultation

With the issue of overcrowding in HMOs being exacerbated by Covid-19, it’s important that we demand high quality private rented accommodation, alongside our commitment to social housing. We will be consulting the public on introducing selective landlord licensing schemes in two areas (one to the east of the East Coast Mainline, and the covering Hornsey and Stroud Green Wards) to tackle issues such as poor housing conditions, antisocial behaviour, and lax health and safety standards.

Changes to the Cabinet

There have been a number of changes made to the Cabinet this month. Cllr Seema Chandwani has been appointed as the Statutory Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Kaushika Amin has taken on the role of Cabinet member for Children, Education and Families, and Cllr Matt White is taking on the role of Cabinet Member for Corporate and Civic Services. Cllr Zena Brabazon has left the Cabinet, but will remain as the Deputy Leader of the Labour Group.

Keep up to date with how the Council is delivering the Labour Manifesto

This month, the Council will be:

• Approving a Bursary scheme to support up to 30 young people from deprived backgrounds to go to university

• Updating our Empty Homes Policy to take a more robust approach to bring long term empty properties back in to use through greater use of Compulsory Purchase and Empty Dwelling Management Orders,

• Approving our Affordable Energy Strategy

Tom, what I have shared with you is only a snapshot of what the Council is doing, and the things that we are delivering for Haringey residents. The easiest way to keep up to date with the work of the Council is for you to follow us on twitter

Finally, yesterday the Council has published it’s Coronavirus Local Outbreak Management Plan. You can find details and the latest statement from Haringey Council’s Director of Public Health, Dr Will Maimaris, here. As lock down eases, we have to ask that you keep your own personal defences up. Public Health England advice is that Coronavirus will be endemic in our society for at least the next 12 months. We must all stay physically distant from those from outside of our family (or our bubble) wear face masks on public transport and when in prolonged proximity with others and continue to frequently and thoroughly wash our hands.

Nevertheless, being positive, summer is coming. I hope that you all enjoy the weather, and remain in good health.