Tower Hamlets news

Cllr Oliur Rahman: waiting to hear from you at the Town Hall

Real nappies advice at Nappuccino
Tower Hamlets parents and carers can get to grips with real nappies at a special “Nappuccino” event. On Thursday, 22nd November at the Whitechapel Idea Store the council will be working with Washable Nappy Company to give advice on using real nappies. Providing parents with a great opportunity to meet mums and dads who are already using real nappies, they will be able to find out the benefits of going green. Taking place from 10.30am to 12.30pm, residents can apply for a voucher worth £40 to buy real nappies at the event. Residents must register for the event, as spaces are limited, and bring along proof of identity and address in order to obtain a voucher.
•For more information or to register for the Nappuccino event, please contact Ruhina Akter on 020-7364 6931 or email ruhina.akter@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

There’s still time to give your views on housing allocations
Residents have just a few days left before the council’s consultation on housing allocations closes. The way in which the council and the Common Housing Register Partners operate the borough’s housing list is governed by legislation. After the Localism Act came into force last year, councils have much greater freedom to amend their lettings policies and housing allocation practices to ensure they suit local needs and people. The council is planning to introduce a number of changes which can be found at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/consultation along with a short survey where residents can give their views on the proposed changes.
•The consultation closes on 23rd November 2012. For more information contact the Housing Application Team on 020-7364 2826.

Drop-in sessions are being held to help parents apply to primary schools through the new admission system
Tower Hamlets Council is holding a series of drop in sessions in November to help parents with their applications for primary schools, as well as to explain the changes to the admissions system. The new system will apply to children and families starting primary school in September 2013 and will give families in Tower Hamlets a fairer chance of securing a place at a local primary school.
The change is in recognition of the increasing localised pressure on school places and the need to address the acute deficit of primary school places in the east of the borough. The new system will support the Council’s existing measures such as the expansion of some schools and plans to increase primary school provision which is already alleviating the problem.
The system establishes geographical priority areas known as catchment areas for all the applicants. In the event of oversubscription priority is given to children who live the furthest distance to the nearest alternative school within their catchment area. This will ensure that families within a school’s catchment area are not disadvantaged because they live slightly further away from a nearby school than other applicants.
Parents will also be able to assess their prospects of gaining a place at their preferred school from the information provided on school catchment areas and the number of applications each school receives. The changes will not affect those children who have special needs or children who are looked after as they will still retain top priority in the new school admission arrangements. Priority will also still be given to children who have an elder sibling already attending a school in September 2013.
Parents wishing to find out more about how these changes will affect their application, or learn more about the system are invited to come along to any of the following drop-in sessions:
•Wednesday, 21st November, 10am-12 noon, 2.30-4.30pm
Tredegar Community Centre, Bow
•Friday, 23rd November, 10am-12 noon, 2-4pm
St. Hilda’s East Community Centre, Bethnal Green
•Tuesday, 27 November, 10am-12 noon, 2-4pm
St. Matthias Community Centre, Poplar
•Thursday, 29th November, 10am-12 noon, 2-4pm
Island House Community Centre, Isle of Dogs
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said: “Last year 86 per cent of families in the borough gained a place at their first choice school with 94 per cent getting a place at one of their top three choices. I hope to continue this trend with the new admissions policy which will give all families an equal chance of attending a nearby school.”
Cllr Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, added: “Residents are urged to come along to one of our drop-in sessions to find out about our new fairer admissions policy which seeks to ensure that as many families as possible are able to access a local school place of their choice.”
The closing date for all applications is Tuesday, 15th January 2013.
•Residents can get further information on the new admissions policy and apply online at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/schooladmissions

Deadline extended for the Voluntary and Community Sector strategy
Charities, voluntary organisations and community groups now have more time to give their views on the draft Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) strategy. Drafted in consultation with local organisations, the VCS strategy will guide the work of Tower Hamlets’ thriving voluntary and community sector from April 2013.
Comments on the draft strategy can now be made until 31st December, at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/consultation
•The Council’s third sector team has also organised a new consultation session on 18th December, 1pm-5pm, at York Hall, 5 Old Ford Road, E2 9PJ, to replace the session on 12 November which had to be rescheduled.
To book your place at this session contact Nasim Ahmed on 020 7364 3218 or email nasim.ahmed@towerhamlets.gov.uk