Here is a briefing on the scheduled Cabinet meeting, outlining the key items in the report pack.

The Hackney Council Cabinet is scheduled to meet to discuss a range of issues, including financial reports, property acquisitions, educational strategies, and planning guidance. A key focus of the meeting is to discuss strategies for the future, with the aim of improving the lives of residents.

Education in Hackney

The cabinet will be asked to approve Hackney's Education Strategic Plan 2026-29, a plan that aims to address challenges such as falling pupil numbers and increasing complexity of special education needs. The Hackney Education Strategic Plan 2025-28 sets out how the council will cultivate a future where every child and young person can access an excellent education. The report pack says that the council engaged with residents, schools and settings to co-create the plan. The plan's core commitments are to be resolutely anti-racist, to work in genuine partnership with parents and carers, and to champion the health and wellbeing of all young people. These principles guide priorities such as enhancing Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision, ensuring equity for underserved groups, and fostering a sustainable school system.

Also up for discussion is the Hackney Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion 3 Year Strategy, which aims to ensure that all children and young people with SEND in Hackney receive high-quality education and support as close to home as possible. According to the report pack, around 20% of children and young people in Hackney have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) or receive SEN Support, which is greater than the London and national averages. The report pack states that the strategy is a product of extensive co-production, adhering to the principles of the Lundy Model¹.

Property and Finance

The Cabinet is scheduled to discuss the 2025/26 Overall Financial Position Report - October 2025, which will provide an update on the council's financial status.

Also to be discussed is the Capital Update and Property Disposals and Acquisitions Report. According to the report pack, this includes a proposal to purchase two sites comprising 174 self contained dwellings to add to the Council's supply of much needed Temporary Accommodation. The acquisitions are described as an investment to save initiative , which will reduce the cost to the Council of providing temporary accommodation as well as improving the quality of accommodation for the families occupying the dwellings. The report pack also mentions a £0.141m investment in Road safety improvements at Green Lanes, which will seek to improve two crossings including installing a parallel crossing which will give priority to pedestrians and cyclists, allowing them to cross safely without dis-mounting and encouraging more active travel.

The report pack states that following the approval of the Council's Corporate Asset Management Strategy (CAMS) at October Cabinet, the attendees will discuss a delegation to the Group Director Finance & Corporate Resources to enable the Council to take forward the financial sustainability negotiations and discussions to take place for the disposal of property assets. This delegation will support the delivery of the financial sustainability element of the CAMS, the delivery of capital receipts to fund the Corporate Transformation Programme and ensure the council obtain best values from any property asset disposals.

The report pack also advises that the Cabinet will discuss a change to the council's accounting policy regarding the way they treat borrowing costs for assets under development. The council is changing its policy to capitalise the interest on borrowing costs for appropriate schemes in its housing and other regeneration programmes to take this cost pressure off both the Housing Revenue Account and the General Fund.

The Kings Hall Leisure Centre Refurbishment Project is also scheduled to be discussed, regarding the appropriation of the Kings Hall Leisure Centre site for planning purposes.

Planning Documents

The Cabinet will also consider the adoption of several planning documents. These documents are intended to provide additional guidance to supplement existing planning policies.

The Adoption of the Retrofit Supplementary Planning Document is on the agenda. According to the report pack, this document provides guidance on how buildings can be extended in a well designed and sustainable manner to the benefit of the environment.

The Adoption of the Commercial Alterations and Extensions Supplementary Planning Document is also scheduled to be discussed.

The Adoption of the Residential Alterations and Extensions Supplementary Planning Document is also scheduled to be discussed. According to the report pack, this document provides guidance for the design process through to the assessment of any planning applications on residential properties throughout Hackney. It sets out the planning policy context and outlines Hackney's development context, and details design principles for various residential alterations and extensions.

Article 4 Directions

The report pack indicates that the attendees will discuss an Article 4 Direction to Remove Permitted Development Rights for Change of Use from Use Commercial, Business & Service (Class E)² to Residential (Class C3)³ in Ridley Road, Dalston E8.

The report pack also indicates that the attendees will discuss the Confirmation of Article 4 Direction to Remove Permitted Development Rights in Brownswood Conservation Area.

The report pack also indicates that the attendees will discuss the Confirmation of Article 4 Direction to Remove Permitted Development Rights in Beck Road Conservation Area.

Other Items

The Cabinet is also scheduled to discuss the Care Charging Review - Policy Change Recommendations.

There is also scheduled to be a deputation from Sandra Stewart, introduced by Councillor Kam Adams, regarding Opposition to Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) implementation in Hoxton.

The report pack also includes the unrestricted minutes of the previous meeting of Cabinet held on 24 November 2025, and the Unrestricted Minutes of the Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee held on 6 October 2025, for noting.

Some items on the agenda will be discussed in private due to the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.