Interview with
Brian Marsh
former Hackney Councillor
13/7/98
1.What are the dates that you were a Hackney Councillor?
1972-1982 Moorfields (home ward) elected as one of two successful Labour party
candidates, other candidates included the National Front. THe HQ for their
"national" organisation was at Great Eastern Street EC2.
1982-86 Stood again in Moorfields but with collapse of NF due to the successful
planning objection removing their HQ increasing the Liberal vote making them
the members for the ward. Switched votes and low turn-outs were militating
factors.
My efforts were diverted to community management commitees of various voluntary
bodies which I had helped found during my previous term of office. These still
exist in the main. The difference is that they are now trusts or charitable
companies limited by guarantee.
1986-1994 Elected in dalston ward and served two terms concentrating on environmental
& community issues both at local and London wide level. This as a consequence
of the Greater LOndon Council abolitrion and diminution of strategic responsibilities
into Section 101 committees. These were comprised of delegated members from
the 32 London Boroughs & the City of London. They were vital for the implementation
of legislation eg. Road Traffic Act, Environmental protection act 1991. There
was also a European representation dimension in liason with MEP's, Associuation
of Metropolitan Authorities (AMA) & Association of London Authorities
(ALA). The Greater London Arts Council and London Borough Grants Committee
played a lower key and diminished role after the subsequent removal of the
Inner London Education Authority.This was bitterly opposed as with the GLC
but forced through the "paving" of bills. I played a part as LBH
representative at various times. I was an Inner London Magistrate and Governor
of various educational bodies throughout, this was not a consequence of elected
membership but obviously connected. I was also active in International Twinning
and Trade Union liason, again complimentary. I retired from the bench in 1996
after Adult, family Panel & Juvenile Court experience. I remain a School
Governor and Magistrates member but more lower key.
1994-98 Elected as Labour Party member (one of two) for North Defoe ward in
Stoke Newington.
1998 stood as Labour party candidate (one of three). My two colleagues were
elcted. I narrowly missed out to a Liberal Democrat possibly because of unmerited
but justified identification with 'old guard' Councillors.
My future intentions are as a Trustee of various environmental groups and
bodies dealing with provision for the elderly with disabilities particularly
in the Shoreditch area but with wider remits, where art can influence the
"built environment" and greening" has been and will be a priority.
I retain local interest and perhaps some influence in education across the
age ranges, and in planning and environmental bodies in national forums.
My full time occupation was as a computer systems hardware engineer with GPO/BT
throughout the above period and prior to it.This was working on contracts
to large City firms and institutions. I also was an elected officer of the
POEU/CWU City Branch over the period. I represented 2000/3000 members and
I served in various capacities from Deputy Chairman to Welfare Officer. Various
changes throughout the time leading to privatisation meant taking part in
delicate and fraught negotiations.
2. Could You give some background to the Ellingfort
Road Redevelopment and how over 15 years or so the plans have changed?
As above I represented a neighbouring ward during that time and served on
the planning committee, as well as chairing the economic development committeee
which was in the Chief Executives area and nominally could co-ordinate planning,
leisure and community initiatives. Theoretically it could resolve inter directorate
rivalries and jealousies. This with some limited success but more pertinently
I started the site visit & local constituent liaison process. Following
the Watts riots in California the UK government sent a Commons study group
to examine the "have not" and deprivation through institutionalised
racism comparisons with inner city areas in the UK. The conclusion was injections
of monies (75% capital 25% revenue) spending to regenerate failing economies
and voluntary networks. This from the DoE and DTI (environment and industry
ministries central funds). This was later made more vital by the subsequent
Brixton "riots" and the Scarman report. "Partnership"
schemes with twinned neighbouring boroughs and joint projects of Greater London
Council, Inner London Education Authority & the Local Health Authority
were given individual project budgets. Discrete Council units were to co-ordinate
these with advice from community "forums" of voluntary groups. These
to be allied with Employment schemes of a temporary nature. STEP and YOP were
two of such and lent themselves to the lifestyle of artists and educators,
sometimes synonymous and were carried through "off the shelf" schemes
which in some cases made real local pipe dreams. Local mobility arrangements
through the purchase of mini buses by religious groups were another relevant
feature enabling choirs and other similar performing arts to progress.
In the London Fields area CPO powers to create an Industrial Improvement Area
created a temporary blighted housing stock, lasting almost to the present
day. Squatted properties were recognised and regularised as short life licenses
eventually to become cheap but not particularly salubrious accomodation attractive
to low income artists. Inter locking communities of similar minded people
formed with the added ingrediant of cultural centres such as the Chinese Centre,
Asian Womens Advice and the All Nations Club (largely Afro Carribean). Broadway
Market gradually revived with a sprinkling of ethnic retail businesses. In
addition to residential properties used as studios many of the larger manufacturing
buildings in former Eastern refugees ownership were converted into smaller
units incorporating design and arts enterprises.The larger rag trade industry
died on its feet having survived in constant liquidity due to fashion changes
and enthrallment to the West End stores being terminated. This sector rose
from its ashes with the new refugees from Asia and Africa with their distictive
cultural attractions and self sufficiencies. The spin off's were reflected
in Art forms and more enlighted activities in the local junior and primary
schools and churches augmented by Partnership funding. Similar village type
experiences were taking place in Dalston, focused on Ashwin Street and Ridley
Road Market, Stoke Newington Church Street, Clissold Park, and Leswin Road
Fire Station, Hackney Downs, Lower Clapton & the Huddlestone Centre and
Hoxton Street, Hoxton Hall & Shoreditch Park, Finsbury Park & Gillespie
Road & the Sobell Centre, Chats Palace, Chatsworth Road, Daubeney Fields
& Hackney Marshes.
Co-ordinating bodies such as People in Partnership, ( later Hackney Community
Action), Festival Support Group and Hackney Arts Forum ably abbetted by the
Planning Directorate and the Further Education department of the ILEA, and
the local police assisted the Network of Religious Groups, tenants associations,
Arts companies, sports clubs and youth organisations.
Inevitably community politic, personality clashes, and rival misconceptions
and corruption allegations flitted in and out but in the main the message
got through and no serious conglagrations ensued. This apart from the traditional
bonfire night event which took on an artistic form. Regrettably a small number
of fatal racist attacks disd occur and were exploited to create some alienation
but faults of individuals rather than organisations.
Across Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets a similar scene was being played out
with resident artist groupings. With similar catalysts of street and open
space Festivals and parades providing vehicles for local expressions and talents
with a political message, not all bread and circuses however. The initial
four year lifespan of the partnership was extended to a tapering off seven
years co-inciding with the demise of three of the partners referred to earlier.
Diluted legacies persist but a lot of confrontation has gone to be replaced
by different challenges such as drug addictions, care in the community, and
solitary isolation. New thinking in building design and community empowerement
may address this with the arts still having a key role to play.
What do you feel is Council policy towards artists
and creative people now?
As previously stated there has been an enthusiastic embracing of "best
value" arrangements on a localised "neighbourhood" basis.Paradoxically
this has meant a diminution of local arts groups. Some of the people involved
have transferred into the tenant/resident groups working with surviving privatised
council community empowerement units based on fairly large estates and acquanting
themselves through estate committees and neighbourhood conferences. The resulting
decisions are fairly swiftly put out to open competition with exhortation
to spend quickly and stay within budget. Hurried schemes are offered by ad
hoc groups of consultants using researchers not evidently familiar with local
history and folk lore. The danger is that further mythology will be created
and reflected in the ambience generated. Church restorations seem to be counterbalancing
these moves by recording local realities, this has been a familiar pattern
elsewhere in London. It is also difficulkt to pinpoint the "prime movers"
who are almost certainly profit only motivated. The brave intention of raising
community awareness through IT seems likely to reach only a small proportion
of local consciousness. The renaissance of library/information centres may
assist the competition process especially among younger citizens. Some of
the incoming monies are for temporary exhibitions which could convert to more
permanent ones subject to popular approval, these could of course be manipulated.
Hardly "grass roots" but should not be discouraged because it is
not so identified. If these sites are allied to the proposed clear zones improving
already existing local inset schemes increasing as live/work developments
are approved and recognised it could be good. The key to my mind, is traffic
reduction and management. Not a novel concept but one which seems to be getting
more universal acceptance including the council officer structure.Links to
design in housing and employment are increasing with Holly Street being a
fair example. Chickens coming home to roost? I hope so but time will tell
if it is a useful permanent improvement. In all probability the creativity
will not convert and be squeezed out as with Notting Hill and Covent Garden,
the signs are already there in South Shoreditch and Spitalfields.
Do you have a particular memory or anecdote relating
to your work in Hackney?
One personal amusing anecdote is that as a newly elected member being groomed
for greater things I was asked to chair a working group selecting a local
sculptor fopr a commission. It was a package funded work to be placed outside
the new Leisure Centre in Shoreditch Park named "The Brittania"
to commemorate a local music hall destroyed in the war. The panel consisted
of Greater London Arts, local business an uninvolved local artist/teacher
and myself. A "Javelin Thrower" in bronze by a local woman artist
was selected, erected and remains there to this day.
When the time came for the official Duke of Edinburgh opening I was invited
to be part of the welcoming group at the last minute (half an hour before)
by the economic officer of the Councils Planning Department. Being at work
in the City I rode my push bike to the centre which lies in a hollow, the
front entrance being obscured by gates. On arrival at the top I was waved
through by the local bobby well known to me through co-operative work on the
local community festival. Negotiating the wide downward sweep of the driveway
the delegation were amused to greet not the Royal Roller but me on a bike.
That arrived three minutes later to the relief of the Mayor who was mildly
embarrassed but later confessed to seeing the funny element. He remains a
friend.