This week in Hackney:

• Benabo Court Redevelopment Approved Despite Conservation Concerns
• Licensing Committee to Decide on Coffee House and Bar Licence Applications
• Council to Commission Children's Homes and Discuss Decarbonisation Schemes

Benabo Court Redevelopment Approved Despite Conservation Concerns

The Planning Sub-Committee met on Wednesday and approved planning application 2024/2544 for Benabo Court, located at the corner of Sandringham and Ferncliff Road. You can read the full report here. Anchor Hanover Group, a provider of housing and care for older people, sought permission to demolish the existing independent living retirement apartment block and erect a new one with 72 units for people over 55.

While the development is 100% affordable, with all units designated for social rent, concerns were raised about its impact on the St Mark's Conservation Area. The report noted that the proposed height of six storeys could appear as a slightly jarring contrast to the prevailing three-to-four storey scale. Despite these concerns, the committee granted conditional planning permission, subject to the completion of a legal agreement.

Key aspects of the proposal include:

• Replacing 31 residential units with 72, all designed as specialist housing for older persons.
• A mix of 69 one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units.
• Sustainability measures aimed at meeting net-zero carbon targets.
• Landscaping, tree planting, and green roofs, with a target Urban Greening Factor (UGF) score of 0.4¹.

The development will be subject to a Section 106 agreement, which could include contributions towards employment training, electric vehicle car club, highway works, and biodiversity net gain monitoring.

Licensing Committee to Decide on Coffee House and Bar Licence Applications

The Licensing Sub Committee E met on Monday to discuss a new premises licence for Duzce Traditional Turkish Coffee House and a variation of an existing premises licence for Damsel. You can read the full report here.

Duzce Traditional Turkish Coffee House, located at 158A Stoke Newington Road, N16 7UY, applied for a new premises licence to supply alcohol for consumption on the premises from 11:00 to 22:00, Mondays to Sundays. The application faced objections from the Licensing Authority and local residents. Concerns were raised about the requested hours exceeding policy guidelines, allegations of illegal gaming machines, and potential public safety issues.

Damsel, located at 70-72 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8DP, applied to vary its premises licence by removing conditions related to table meals and door supervisors. The Police objected to the removal of these conditions, arguing that it would undermine licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.

The committee was also scheduled to consider Temporary Event Notices (TENs).

Council to Commission Children's Homes and Discuss Decarbonisation Schemes

The Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss several contract awards and procurement strategies. You can read the full report here.

Key items on the agenda include:

• Commissioning a partner provider to run two children's homes in Hackney. This aims to provide suitable accommodation for Children Looked After, fulfilling the council's legal obligation under the Children Act 1989.
• Appointing suppliers to a framework agreement for Supported Internship placements for young people aged 16 to 24 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Awarding a contract to Asset Plus to deliver the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) 4 project, installing heat pumps into nine schools and saving an estimated 659 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). This aligns with the council's commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2030 for core council operations.

Other Matters

• Colville Heat Network: The Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee is scheduled to discuss a general exception notice concerning the Colville Heat Network procurement strategy. You can read the full report here. An amendment to the procurement strategy is needed to achieve the best value for money in the project.
• Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission: The Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission is scheduled to meet to discuss the new council homes programme, a refresh of the housing associations compact, and recent scrutiny reports, letters and responses. You can read the full report here.
• Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission: The Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission is scheduled to meet to discuss the achievements of the council administration from 2022-2026, and to plan its work programme for the coming year. You can read the full report here.
• Standards Committee: The Standards Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss its annual report, the terms of reference, and the minutes of the previous meeting. You can read the full report here. Also on the agenda is a report on compliance on member use of ICT.
• Licensing Sub Committee A: The Licensing Sub Committee A met on Monday, but no agenda or transcript was provided. You can read the full report here.
• Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission: The Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission is scheduled to meet to discuss access and quality of local GP services, a commissioning review of local enhanced services in primary care, and the Healthwatch Hackney annual report. You can read the full report here.
• Hackney Procurement Board: The Hackney Procurement Board is scheduled to convene to discuss several key procurement decisions. You can read the full report here.
• Licensing Sub Committee B: The Licensing Sub Committee B is scheduled to meet to discuss licensing concerns for several establishments in the Hackney Wick area, including a new premises licence application and a request to vary an existing licence. You can read the full report here.

Upcoming Meetings

• The Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission will meet on Wednesday 09 July 2025 to discuss the new council homes programme, a refresh of the housing associations compact, and recent scrutiny reports, letters and responses. You can read the full report here.
• The Licensing Sub Committee D will meet on Tuesday 15 July 2025 to discuss licensing matters. You can read the full report here.
• The Licensing Committee will meet on Wednesday 16 July 2025 to discuss licensing matters. You can read the full report here.

This week in Hackney:

• Licensing Sub-Committee Approves Piscos Extension, Rejects Gocci's Expansion Plans
• Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission Examines Healthcare Quality and Social Care Challenges
• Upcoming Meetings: Colville Heat Network, Planning Decisions, and More

Licensing Sub-Committee Approves Piscos Extension, Rejects Gocci's Expansion Plans

The Licensing Sub-Committee D met on Tuesday to consider applications to vary premises licences for Piscos and Gocci. You can read the full report here. The committee, chaired by Councillor Joe Walker, approved the extension for Piscos but rejected the application for Gocci.

For Piscos, located at 16 Stoke Newington Road, the committee approved an amendment to condition 25, extending the use of the external area until 00:00 Monday to Sunday, and allowing smoking outside on Fridays and Saturdays from 00:00 to 02:00. This decision came despite objections from local residents who cited concerns about crime, disorder, public safety, public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

The applicant, Mohamed, stated that Piscos is a cozy, neighbourhood eatery/ cocktails bar with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. He outlined additional steps they would take to promote the four licensing objectives¹, including restricting alcohol sales to seated customers, installing CCTV, and implementing a Challenge 25 policy².

For Gocci, located at 468 Kingsland Road, the committee rejected an application to include hours for recorded music and the supply of alcohol, as well as to remove conditions related to off-sales and alcohol display. The Licensing Authority had raised concerns that the proposed changes amounted to a change of use from a kebab shop to a bar, which could negatively impact the licensing objectives.

The Licensing Authority noted that the proposed hours were well in excess of LP3 (Core Hours)³ and that the applicant should demonstrate that the premises had, or was seeking, the appropriate planning permission for the proposed use, having regard to LP5 (Planning Status)⁴.

Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission Examines Healthcare Quality and Social Care Challenges

The Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission met to discuss quality accounts from local healthcare providers, adult social care, and substance misuse support in the borough. You can read the full report here.

Key discussion points included:

• Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Quality Account: The commission reviewed the Homerton's Quality Account for 2024/25, highlighting achievements such as low mortality rates and the launch of 'Call for Concern' in response to Martha's Rule[^5]. Councillor Ben Hayhurst, Chair of the Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission, raised concerns about the impact of savings targets on place-based partnerships. [^5]: Martha's Rule gives patients and families a 24/7 route to trigger a rapid review if they are concerned about a condition change.
• Adult Social Care CQC Inspection: Helen Woodland, Group Director, Adults Health and Integration, provided an update on the upcoming Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of Adult Social Care services. She announced that the Housing with Care sites achieved a Good rating across the board.
• Substance Use Support in Hackney: Simon Young, Substance Misuse Partnership Lead in Public Health, and Andrew Trathen, consultant in public health, provided an update on substance use support in the borough. Councillor Ian Rathbone asked about the highest number of deaths last year and why further work needs to be done to define the strategic approach to alcohol-related harms.
• St Joseph's Hospice Quality Account: Dr Rachel Black, chief executive, and Jane Naismith, outgoing deputy CEO, presented the St Joseph's Hospice Quality Account. Councillor Sharon Patrick asked how the hospice sees itself working with the new legislation on assisted dying.

Other Matters

• Cabinet: The Hackney Council Cabinet met on 23 June 2025, and among other items, considered the borough's financial position, approved a capital investment in the Hackney Museum, adopted the Evening and Night Time Economy Strategy, and agreed to consult on an extension to the Public Spaces Protection Order for Wick Woodlands and surrounding areas. The Cabinet also approved the creation of a Housing Advisory Panel. You can read the full report here.
• Constitution Committee: The Constitution Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday was cancelled. You can read the full report here.

Upcoming Meetings

• The Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday 07 July 2025 to discuss a general exception notice concerning the Colville Heat Network procurement strategy. You can read the full report here.
• The Licensing Sub Committee E will meet on Monday 30 June 2025 to consider a premises licence application for Duzce Traditional Turkish Coffee House, and an application to vary a premises licence for Damsel. You can read the full report here.
• The Planning Sub-Committee will meet on Wednesday 02 July 2025 to discuss a planning application for Benabo Court, a report on the committee's terms of reference, and the minutes of the previous meeting. You can read the full report here.
• The Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission will meet on Thursday 10 July 2025 to discuss various health-related matters. You can read the full report here.
• The General Exception Notices will meet on Monday 07 July 2025 to discuss the Colville Heat Network procurement strategy. You can read the full report here.
• The Licensing Sub Committee A will meet on Monday 07 July 2025 to discuss licensing matters. You can read the full report here.
• The Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission will meet on Monday 07 July 2025 to discuss skills, economy, and growth-related issues. You can read the full report here.
• The Standards Committee will meet on Tuesday 08 July 2025 to discuss standards-related issues. You can read the full report here.
• The Licensing Sub Committee B will meet on Tuesday 08 July 2025 to discuss licensing matters. You can read the full report here.
• The Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission will meet on Wednesday 09 July 2025 to discuss living-related issues in Hackney. You can read the full report here.

This week in Hackney:

• Hackney Faces £37 Million Overspend, Reserves Dwindling
• Licensing Sub-Committee to Decide on Extended Hours for Two Establishments
• Skills Commission Examines Council Asset Management and Fleet Decarbonisation

Hackney Faces £37 Million Overspend, Reserves Dwindling

Hackney Council is grappling with a significant financial crisis, facing a £37 million overspend in its general fund, driven by rising demand for temporary accommodation and social care services. The Audit Committee met on Wednesday to discuss the dire situation, with Naeem Ahmed, Group Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, warning that the council's reserves could be exhausted within two years if current spending continues. You can read the full report here.

The overspend is largely attributed to:

• Demand-led service pressures in temporary accommodation, children's social care, and adult social care.
• A £19 million deficit in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Ahmed outlined measures being taken to address the crisis, including spend reduction initiatives and a review of agency assignments. He also emphasized the need for swift action to avoid government intervention or even a Section 114 notice¹, which is essentially bankruptcy for local government.

If I'm honest with you, if the statutory override was to come to an end in March 2026, we'd be possibly in a position where probably half of local authorities would almost tip into exceptional financial support, requiring some sort of government intervention, or even to a greater extreme of requiring a Section 114, which is essentially bankruptcy for local government.

Naeem Ahmed, Group Director of Finance and Corporate Resources

The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is also facing a £13.7 million overspend, primarily due to pressures in repairs and maintenance. Ahmed highlighted the establishment of an HRA Finance Improvement Board to address these issues.

The committee also discussed the Corporate Transformation Programme, which aims to modernize the council and improve services. However, the council's limited reserves and the expiration of the statutory override for SEND funding pose significant challenges to its financial sustainability.

Licensing Sub-Committee to Decide on Extended Hours for Two Establishments

The Licensing Sub Committee D is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to consider applications to vary the premises licences for Gocci and Piscos. You can read the full report here.

Gocci, located at 468 Kingsland Road, is seeking to extend its terminal hours for recorded music and alcohol sales, as well as remove several conditions related to off-sales and alcohol display. The Licensing Authority has raised concerns that the proposed changes may negatively affect the promotion of licensing objectives².

Piscos, located at 16 Stoke Newington Road, is seeking to amend a condition related to the use of its external area, proposing to extend the hours until midnight. Local residents have objected to the application, citing concerns about crime, disorder, public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

The sub-committee will need to balance the interests of the businesses with the concerns of local residents and the need to uphold licensing objectives.

Skills Commission Examines Council Asset Management and Fleet Decarbonisation

The Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission met on Monday to discuss corporate property management and fleet decarbonisation. You can read the full report here.

On corporate property, the commission reviewed the council's progress on asset transformation, focusing on ensuring that all assets are working for the council and reflecting the emerging financial position and new priorities. Chris Pritchard, Director of Strategic Property Services, noted that the council's commercial and VCS portfolios now generate approximately £10 million per year, compared to £1.8 million in 2010.

The commission also discussed fleet assets and decarbonisation, with Norman Harding, Fleet Manager, noting that the council has 106 battery electric vehicles (BEV) in its fleet and is using hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) to power its diesel vehicles, reducing their carbon footprint by 96%.

The commission also discussed its work programme for the coming year, including potential topics such as business support, the Growth Skills Levy, the transport strategy, and the night time economy strategy.

Other Matters

• Licensing Sub Committee E: The Licensing Sub Committee E was scheduled to convene remotely to address licensing matters within the borough. The agenda included a review of past meeting minutes, a discussion on hearing procedures, and decisions on applications for license variations for Yuki and Gindungo. No video was provided. You can read the full report here.
• Audit Committee: Councillor George Gooch declared an interest as both himself and his partner are employed by NatWest Group and own shares and other stock options in NatWest Group, which is a direct competitor of some of the institutions mentioned in Agenda Item 8, and so he abstained from that item. You can read the full report here.

Upcoming Meetings

• The Cabinet will meet on Monday 23 June 2025 to discuss the borough's financial position, capital projects, a Public Spaces Protection Order, and the creation of a Housing Advisory Panel. You can read the full report here.
• The Licensing Sub Committee D will meet on Tuesday 24 June 2025 to discuss applications to vary premises licences for Piscos and Gocci, as well as temporary event notices. You can read the full report here.
• The Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission will meet on Tuesday 24 June 2025 to discuss adult social care, quality accounts from Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and St Joseph's Hospice, and substance use support. You can read the full report here.
• The Health and Wellbeing Board will meet on Thursday 26 June 2025 to discuss vaping, health equity, community engagement, substance use, and the Better Care Fund. You can read the full report here.
• The Licensing Sub Committee E will meet on Monday 30 June 2025 to consider a premises licence application for Duzce Traditional Turkish Coffee House, and an application to vary a premises licence for Damsel. You can read the full report here.

This week in Hackney:

• Housing Ombudsman Report Spurs Action Plan and Scrutiny Overhaul
• Homelessness Crisis Deepens: Hackney Grapples with Rising Demand and Limited Resources
• Licensing Sub-Committee to Review Bar 161 Licence Amid Crime and Nuisance Concerns

Housing Ombudsman Report Spurs Action Plan and Scrutiny Overhaul

Hackney Council is under pressure to improve its housing services following a damning special report by the Housing Ombudsman¹. The Scrutiny Panel met on Thursday to discuss the report's findings and recommendations, and to establish a Budget Scrutiny Task and Finish Panel to review resource allocation. You can read the full report here.

Richard Blakeway, the Housing Ombudsman, presented the report, highlighting issues such as:

• Poor service delivery in repairs, leaks, damp, and mould.
• Ineffective complaint handling.
• Weak knowledge and information management.
• Lack of prioritisation and risk management.

Mr. Blakeway emphasized the need for a cultural shift within the council, stating that issues were compounded by pre-existing weaknesses rather than solely caused by external factors like the cyber-attack of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the purpose of the investigation was:

whilst our primary role is resolving individual disputes, obviously, as an ombudsman service, we also have a responsibility to look at the causes of complaints and why are we seeing complaints, identify patterns and be proactive about that and try and prevent service failure happening.

Councillor Caroline Woodley, the Mayor of Hackney, welcomed the report and acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in culture, repairs, record keeping, and complaints handling. She emphasized the importance of supporting staff with the right structures and systems.

Deputy Mayor Guy Nicholson described the report as a sobering reminder and a great opportunity to improve services for residents.

The panel questioned Mr. Blakeway and council officers on various issues, including funding, comparison with other local authorities, transparency, and accountability. Councillor Soraya Adejare asked about the impact of funding cuts, while Councillor Alastair Binnie-Lubbock inquired about Hackney's performance compared to other boroughs.

The panel approved the establishment of a Budget Scrutiny Task and Finish Panel to review the council's budget development and resource allocation. Councillor Margaret Gordon was appointed as chair of the panel.

Homelessness Crisis Deepens: Hackney Grapples with Rising Demand and Limited Resources

Hackney faces a growing homelessness crisis, with a significant increase in approaches and numbers in temporary accommodation (TA). The Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission was scheduled to discuss the Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation (TA) Supply Transformation Programme on Monday. You can read the full report here.

According to the report pack:

• Homelessness approaches and numbers in TA are up by 11.4% between March 2024 and March 2025, and 20.2% between March 2023 and March 2025.
• Suppliers are withdrawing from the market, and units used for TA are reducing due to regeneration schemes.
• Competition for TA is intense in London.

Across London, boroughs budgeted to spend £600m on homeless services in 2024-25 but overspent by £330m, a 60% increase. Over 183,000 Londoners are living in temporary accommodation, which is 1 in 50 Londoners.

The transformation programme aims to manage demand, increase the supply of TA, and increase income received from TA. Risks to the programme include external factors leading to rising demand, insufficient new TA supply, capacity constraints, and potential changes to housing benefit regulations.

The commission was also scheduled to discuss its work programme for 2025/26, including potential topics such as the Housing Ombudsman Special Investigation Report Action Plan, the Housing Services Transformation Programme, and anti-social behaviour.

Licensing Sub-Committee to Review Bar 161 Licence Amid Crime and Nuisance Concerns

The Licensing Sub-Committee B met on Monday to consider a premises licence review for Bar 161, located at 161 Mare Street. You can read the full report here. The review was requested by the Hackney Licensing Service due to concerns over crime, disorder, and public nuisance.

The report pack detailed alleged breaches of licence conditions between September and November 2024, including customers consuming alcohol outside the premises, amplified music without authorisation, and failure to provide CCTV footage to the police.

The Licensing Authority suggested that the licence be revoked or modified, with restrictions on late-night refreshment, alcohol sales, and additional conditions such as a refusals book and staff training.

The Metropolitan Police Service supported the review and requested that the licence be revoked, citing continual breaches and a lack of confidence in the management's ability to operate within the licence.

The sub-committee was also scheduled to consider a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for Night Tales, located at Units 13-15 Bohemia Place. Environmental Protection had objected to the TEN due to concerns about public nuisance, citing recent noise complaints.

Other Matters

• Procurement Board: The Hackney Procurement Board met to discuss contracts for penalty charge notice enforcement, employer's agent services for the New Homes Programme, and electrical testing. You can read the full report here.
• Pensions Committee: The Pensions Committee met to discuss investment performance, responsible investment, and fund management. You can read the full report here.

Upcoming Meetings

• The Cabinet will meet on Monday 23 June 2025. You can read the full report here.
• The Licensing Sub Committee D will meet on Tuesday 24 June 2025. You can read the full report here.
• The Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission will meet on Tuesday 24 June 2025. You can read the full report here.
• The Health and Wellbeing Board will meet on Thursday 26 June 2025. You can read the full report here.
• The Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission will meet on Monday 16 June 2025. You can read the full report here.
• The Licensing Sub Committee E will meet on Tuesday 17 June 2025. You can read the full report here.
• The Audit Committee will meet on Wednesday 18 June 2025. You can read the full report here.