Stamford Hill Neighbourhood Forum

Recent news reports in the Hackney Gazette and Hackney Citizen have accused the neighbourhood ward forum proposed for Stamford Hill of being a “front” for “Conservative and Lib Dem Councillors looking to build a power base”.

Lib Dems in North Hackney pointed out that they were in favour of the forum but only one Lib Dem councillor had joined the committee, and that was to represent his constituents. Councillor Dawood Akhoon had been elected as Vice Chair, but after the first founding meeting of the forum he had not been invited to attend any further meetings.

“We're in favour of local decisions being made locally” said Cazenove councillor, Dawood Akhoon. “I  joined the forum to represent all the people of Cazenove ward, with the agreement of my fellow councillors and colleagues in the party. Although I'm not happy that the committee is so heavily dominated by another party, it would be quite wrong not to be involved.  But I cannot continue to support them unless they involve me in meetings".

Councillor Akhoon added:
 “I will be just as happy to sit with any other forum that is applying or which is accepted by the Council.  The legislation is here and we cannot avoid it. It is important that the democratically elected councillors  involve themselves in the process and do not stand aloof.”

Lib Dem Councillor Abraham Jacobson added,
“There are real problems in this area which have to be addressed. Too many applications are refused and then allowed on appeal.  Some buildings allowed in the past should never have been built.  The Council's enforcement department is also far too weak, almost a joke. These forums are not ideal but they must accept anyone who lives or works in the area as members. I have been encouraging my constituents to get involved. It is only if all residents do so that we can make them representative of the whole community”

Recently there have been reports of separate forums being proposed to cover parts of the same area but with different aims.
Tony Harms, Lib Dem spokesman for Stoke Newington said,
“The proposed neighbourhood overlaps historic Stoke Newington which is still the main focus for residents' identity.  We are looking at the possibility of starting a neighbourhood forum on this basis but it needs established stakeholders to become involved and take charge. We have been looking at a number of projects in the area and are keen to hear from anyone, of any party or none, who is interested.”

But the Lib Dems also say that the proposed Stamford Hill Neighbourhood area is too large and the forum lacks democratic accountability
“There are serious problems with this Stamford Hill proposal” said Simon de Deney, chair of Hackney Lib Dems. “ The area is far too large for one small group to represent.   People are bound to believe, perhaps rightly,  that their area is being imposed on by an unelected and self-selected body.  And there are real problems with this Stamford Hill Group. Their constitution is vague and unprofessional and leaves a great deal unsaid. It's unclear how residents who are invited to join would in fact influence its governance or aims.

“What we would propose instead are directly elected community councils, similar to parish councils in rural areas, based on the 2014, Council wards . The councillors would be chosen in elections open to everybody.”
He called on the council to help implement such councils for which the legislation is already in place.