It is pretty easy to get your voice heard in Islington.  There are a whole range of ultra-local committees that meet on issues directly affecting us in the area – these meetings are always open to the public.  Last night I went to West Area Committee which focusses on our patch of Islington (Kings Cross, Barnsbury, South Holloway).  A whole range of things came up from bins, dog poo to refurbishing Highbury Corner.  Of direct interest to Kings Cross, residents, Councillors and council staff covered:

• why the bin men can’t put the lids back on the bins and why the bins are left all over the place.  There was an acknowledgement that this is progress from five years ago when the debate was about the huge piles of refuse everywhere
• the tipping around the skip on Pembroke Street
• dog poo on the public pavements around the Bemerton – enforcement isn’t as good as it is on the leafier side of the Cally.  Cllr Smith (Lab. Holloway) moved a resolution to improve street cleaning in areas where people lived as opposed to the over-focus on the Angel.
• why dog control orders keep being delayed for three months, every three months
• benches on the Cally Road keep disappearing – there is nowhere for older people to sit
• ‘neighbourhood management’ – how council money being spent in the most deprived areas can be managed better.  About £60k will come to North Kings Cross.

These meetings are not a laugh a minute, but it is serious stuff, though the sparring between the political groups all seems pretty futile in the face of real local problems.  There were about 15 members of the public there.  Anyone can attend and if you don’t want to stand up and ask a question they can be submitted in writing (or I can raise something for you if you let me know).  There is also tea and biscuits.  The next committee is on the 7th January at 1930 – will publicise it here nearer the time.