Here’s to welcoming in 2011, says London Mayor Boris Johnson
As Londoners and visitors get set to welcome 2011 at events and parties across the capital, large crowds will also be gathering along the banks of the River Thames for the spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks display organised by the Mayor of London.
The event at the London Eye will feature lighting effects in the run up to midnight and music mixed live by BBC Radio 1’s Nihal. The award-winning DJ has also created a special ‘London mix’ of tunes, which will accompany the fireworks for the first time.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “There is something exhilarating and primal about the flashing lights and noisy explosions of a fireworks display, especially on New Year’s Eve. With our dazzling display we want to capture the dynamism, colour and energy that are the hallmarks of our great city. Some tough decisions have had to be taken this year, but as we go into 2011, let’s look forward to future growth and successes ahead, embracing the opportunities of the coming year with confidence and optimism.
“However you bring in the New Year, have a wonderful time. Here’s to welcoming in 2011!”
In his video message to be seen on his YouTube site the Mayor says: “2010 has been a momentous year for London. We’ve installed on our streets what I’d venture to say is the best bike hire scheme anywhere in the world. We’ve secured the funding for Crossrail. We’re upgrading the Tube network. We’re going to continue with a world class bus service and of course we continue to make our streets safer. We’re planting thousands of new trees across London and beautifying and upgrading our parks. I have no doubt that London is going to become an ever more attractive and safer place to live.
“I’m going to help lead this country out of recession next year. 2011 is going to be a very exciting year. We’ve got the Royal wedding. And of course we have the Olympics to look forward to. The single biggest and most exciting project we’re all going to be engaged in as Londoners for the last 50 years.
“By the end of 2011, my friends, we will have banished the last bendy bus from the streets of our city and we will have a new generation, lighter, cleaner, greener, hop on, hop off, Routemaster style vehicle on the streets of London. It’s going to be a fantastic year, I hope everybody enjoys it. Have a fantastic and wonderful new year!’
More from the London Mayor’s Office on YouTube.
Economy and Opportunity
LBH Local Economic Assessment
Headlines
Briefing note by Shawnee Keck (Policy and Performance Team) for CSSI Scrutiny Commission on Monday 10 January 2011
http://mginternet.hackney.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=12132
1. Demographic Change and Hackney’s Labour Market
‘Outcomes in the social housing sector remain the same as a decade ago’.
‘Polarity still exists and is more acute’
‘Our employment rate, qualifications and occupations levels have soared, but only within the new population. With the growth of this new population, polarity is also increasing rapidly.’
‘Approximately 20% of the borough lives on incomes of £15,000 or less. The average annual income for the poorest 10% of the population is £7,266 … for the richest 10% it is £79,775. Benefit levels have barely changed and the rise in qualifications is indigenous in only Level 2s or A Levels. We have an estimated 14,000 residents affected by housing and welfare reforms in the next 3-5 years.’
‘33,000 residents, 23% of the population, are on unemployment benefits, with the majority on Incapacity Benefit. The unemployment rate, JSA and IB numbers have not changed over the past decade’
‘Social housing based worklessness interventions are not reaching the same population that is claiming unemployment benefits.’
‘Programme evaluations show that Hackney’s worklessness programmes have not reduced unemployment’
2. Business and Enterprise
‘The residential economy is a key growth area made of food and beverage, retail, personal services and private housing firms.’
3. Growth, Development and Opportunity
‘Hackney has the 2nd largest economy in East London and the lowest share of employment and businesses in the Central Activity Zone/City Fringe.’
‘We are a unique economy with very marketable attributes that need careful consideration’
‘The City Fringe [within Hackney] only purchases 1.4% of its products from Hackney. More potential opportunity can be found in business-to-business sales within the Borough than external sales to City firms.’
‘The residential economy in Hackney is growing rapidly … Our town centres are poised to meet this demand, not for visitors, but for people who live here. Almost 2/3 of visitors to Dalston are Hackney residents and 50% of residents responded that they purchase groceries and necessities within the borough. The 20,000+ new households need somewhere to shop and these businesses create local jobs. Ignoring the potential of the residential economy will reduce the desirability of the new town centres and economic activity zones’
[The local economy is so incompetently governed that 50% of residents responded that they purchase groceries and necessities outside the borough]
4. Economic Policy Changes and Horizon Scanning
‘Future economic development funding will be transferred to incentive based schemes encouraging local private sector growth’
5. Recommendations
‘Support the residential economy. Business development based on the needs of residents will fill a long hidden need of basic products to live on. Helping businesses to thrive and serve our new and existing residents is guaranteed growth and will compliment the progress we have made turning Hackney into a vibrant place where people choose to shop and do business.’