Why are you standing for election?

I’ve been a councillor in my home ward for almost 8 years. I’ve learnt a lot and I’ve done my best to use that knowledge to assist anyone in our neighbourhood who’s asked for help. Sometimes that involves a direct intervention at the Council, but it often entails explaining how a particular system works and armed with that, encouraging people to stand up for themselves. We’re living in an age when people feel increasingly disempowered so I’d like to continue as a councillor and help people get what’s rightfully theirs.

More recently I’ve been an opposition councillor, with a quite different perspective on the Council. I’ve seen ‘under the bonnet’ of the Town Hall, and believe me, there’s much that could be improved. If we were to win the Council alongside the Greens and a Green Mayor, we’d have a real chance of sweeping away complacency and failing systems. A fresh administration would breathe new life into Hackney services like housing and social care which have underperformed for years. That would make a tangible difference to thousands of people’s lives, which is what it’s all about isn’t it?

What are three things you are most excited about in our manifesto for Hackney?

One thing I’m very conscious of is a growing gulf of understanding that exists between my neighbours. Too often we’re living in isolated bubbles, hecticly getting on with our own lives, and not seeing what’s happening up the road. It can leave people isolated, and unaware that possible solutions to the challenges they face are not so far away.

I think the Council could do much more to bring people together and empower them to deal with problems collectively, so I’m particularly proud of the ideas we have for Community Wealth Building, and especially plans for a network of Community Hubs. The idea is that we re-energise under utilised community spaces with a buzz of free or cheap activities. They would range from council service drop-ins to skills training, fitness events, business startup advice, creative classes, study sessions and community celebrations. I see so much spirit of enterprise and great ideas in Hackney, and we want to provide the launch pads for those to take off.  

I’m also fed up with the Council referring to Hackney’s housing crisis as though it’s an inevitability. Yes, it is profound, and complex – so it has to be tackled on many fronts. We would put less emphasis on sweet-talking developers, which has resulted in an over-supply of small flats and a tragic lack of family homes.  Instead we’d enforce rules for landlords to raise standards – not just private landlords, but housing associations and the Council too. And one policy I particularly like is a public register of vacant properties across the borough, to encourage residents to work with us by reporting empty houses and buildings.  Together we could keep track of where space is available, why it’s not being used, and get it reoccupied as fast as possible. 

And finally, although this isn’t in our manifesto, I think it’s a real failing that there is no systematic public review of the casework raised by councillors. Published stats to identify faultlines in the Council’s service delivery would enable swift intervention to put things right – so I’ll be pushing for that.

What’s one thing residents might not know about you?

When I was in my early 20s I spent six months living at a Peace Camp at Greenham Common in Berkshire. We were protesting about the use of UK airbases to house American cruise missiles. I still like camping, but I’m hoping I won’t have to go back to living at the side of the road to protest US Military aggression, but the way things are going, who knows………..!

Promoted by E. Henton on behalf of Penny Wrout, c/o 5 Brayford Square, E1 0SG