InfoIslington - Islington Reference Library

Air Quality Progress Report 2011

The London Borough of Islington progress report for 2011 finds that there has been a very slight increase in emissions across the borough, and therefore the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) will be fully retained.

 

Islington Empty Property Strategy 2010 - 2013

Islington has an empty property strategy, which aims to increase the availability of good quality, decent homes by encouraging and supporting owners to bring their properties back into use.

The Council will first work informally with empty property owners to bring the property back into use. The Council can help with grants (subject to availability) and advice so that the property can produce an income for empty property owners and at the same time, a much needed home for a family.

If, after all methods of assistance and persuasion, the empty property owner does not bring the property back into use, the Council will consider formal action to compulsorily purchase the property.

Islington Voluntary and Community Sector Grants Fund Awards

The Council  has agreed the grants it will provide to  the voluntary sector this coming year. It has allocated an extra £1 million to alleviate part of the cuts from government funding. See the Funding Awards Report.

Newspapers in London Libraries

A new edition (May 2011) of the list of Newspapers in London Libraries compiled by the City Business Library is available here. As many libraries are currently revising their newspaper holdings it is advisable to contact them before travelling.

Welfare Benefits

This page on the Council website gives advice on where to get advice on welfare benefits locally. It guides you to a benefits calculator, changes in benefits and local advice services.

Islington Tobacco Control Review 2010

 The Health Profile for Islington 2009 (Association of Public Health Observatories) records smoking prevalence in the adult population as 27.5% with 215 deaths attributed directly to smoking.

Islington PCT commissioned an independent review on reducing smoking in Autumn 2009. Particular elements of the study were to consider:

 ·  Raising the profile of the agenda

  ·  Coordination of the smokefree agenda

 ·  The configuration, organisation and delivery of Stop Smoking Services

 

 

 

Islington Fairness Commission Final Report

On Thursday June 9 the Commission published its final report with 19 recommendations for a fairer Islington, including:

* All employers in Islington should pay their directly employed staff at least the London Living Wage. This should also apply to contracted staff wherever possible

* Major employers in the borough should publish pay differentials to show the difference between pay for those at the top and bottom of the organisation

* The council will seek to pass a by-law to stop payday loan companies from operating in Islington and also take strong action against illegal loan sharks

* Employers in Islington should help support young people into training and employment or help them set up their own business

* A single phone number should be set up so Islington residents can get faster action to deal with antisocial behaviour

* Unused communal space in Islington - especially on estates - should be freed up and made accessible and useful to local residents

Prof Richard Wilkinson, chair of the Islington Fairness Commission, said: "Islington is marked by some of the starkest contrasts between wealth and poverty in the country.

"Large differences in income and wealth increase the social distances between people and add to distinctions of class and status.

"To want to create a classless society without reducing income differences is like wanting to get slim without reducing the calories.

"Success will require much more than the implementation of the recommendations made in this report. But Islington is taking the lead in addressing issues of inequality."

Annual London Survey 2011

The London Survey is a major annual opinion survey of Londoners, commissioned by the Mayor and the Greater London Authority.

The latest survey shows Londoners are more worried about money than in previous years, with education and training seen as a top priority.

The top priority for Londoners this year is education and training. Related issues such as job creation and youth opportunities have also become more important to the city’s residents in 2011.

Crime, safety and policing still remain high in terms of public priority but Londoners are less worried about crime in their local areas and feel safer walking alone at night in their neighbourhoods.

Housing: A Growing City

With the highest average incomes in the country but the least space to grow, demand for housing in London has long outstripped supply, resulting in higher housing costs and rising levels of overcrowding. The pressures of housing demand in London have grown in recent years, in part due to fewer people leaving London to buy homes in other regions. But while new supply during the recession held up better in London than in other regions, it needs to increase significantly in order to meet housing needs and reduce housing costs to more affordable levels.

 This edition of Focus on London authored by James Gleeson in the Housing Unit looks at housing trends in London, from the demand/supply imbalance to the consequences for affordability and housing need.

Child Poverty

The Campaign to End Child Poverty has recently published a child poverty map of the United Kingdom which provides local authority and constituency information for England down to ward level. Islington has the second highest level of any local authority with 46% of children growing up in poverty.