Islington residents, businesses and community groups have been consulted about new ways to improve neighbourhoods by cutting red tape, promoting local shops and businesses, and giving local communities more influence on local government decision making.
Under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, councils can consult local people and lodge proposals for government action through changes in legislation.
In Islington, 12 proposals have been submitted to government, ranging from protecting local shopping areas and boosting businesses to giving the council the final word on controlling the number of off-licenses and gambling premises.
The environment would get a boost too, with the council proposing it use powers to veto skyscrapers and protect wildlife.
Cllr Terry Stacy, Leader of Islington Council, said:
"There are plenty of things people in Islington think the government should get a move on and sort out.
"Changes in legislation mean that, as a council, we can do more for local people to make their lives better.
"We've submitted our top 12 ideas - now we want to see some government action."
Islington Council asked local people for their ideas and submitted the best 12 to the government under the Sustainable Communities Act.
SHORTLIST OF ISLINGTON COUNCIL PROPOSALS:
* Protecting local shops and businesses; this proposal aims to protect and promote the diversity of small neighbourhood shops - often the lifeblood of the local community.
* Saturation of licensed premises; to tackle anti-social behaviour, loss of variety in shopping areas and noise. This proposal says there should be no more off-licenses and gambling premises beyond current levels.
* Local decision-making on tall buildings; the London Mayor has the last say on whether or not a tall building can go ahead. Buildings of up to 37 stories have been granted in the south of the borough but local councillors should decide if skyscrapers are appropriate.
* Protecting biodiversity on railway corridors; new measures to protect the wildlife that lives alongside railway tracks - one of the few places in built-up areas that habitats can live undisturbed.
* Controlling Temporary Event Notices (TEN); businesses, community groups and others can apply for a TEN with just ten days notice and only the police can object. We've asked that the notice period be extended to allow the council and local people time to object. This aims to tackle noisy events, antisocial behaviour and promote safety.
* Transfer of ownership of the licensing and enforcement of footways along the red routes (currently managed by TfL); as a strategic transport authority, TfL's control should be restricted to red routes (roads) and not the footway. Local authority control over red route footways means better enforcement of advertising and pavement cafes in busy town centres brought in line with our non-red routes.
* Temporary community use of empty business premises/smarter empty business premises; empty buildings reduce property supply and can attract problems. Community and third sector groups could use empty properties and businesses should keep their premises tidy.
* Local decision-making on how business rates are spent; at present, the money we collect in business rates goes straight to government. We propose a return to how things used to be: we collect and then we decide how it gets spent.
* Extending London Living Wage; the higher cost of living in London means the national minimum wage is not enough. Islington Council already pays this to directly employed staff but we could require it to be paid by all our contractors, too.
* Tapering council tax on empty homes; so local authorities can provide a disincentive to leave them empty.
* Business recycling; this proposal would make all businesses consider recycling their waste which could save them money and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
* Gas checks for leaseholders; for tenants' safety, any leaseholder who sublets a property must have a written record of the gas safety checks carried out.
ENDS
Page Last Updated: 19 August 2009