This week in Hackney:

• The Cabinet voted to close Sir Thomas Abney Primary School, St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Oldhill Community School, and St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School.
• The Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission discussed neurodevelopmental pathways for adults, children and young people with autism and ADHD.
• The Licensing Sub Committee A was scheduled to elect a chair and discuss temporary event notices.

Cabinet - Tuesday 22 April 2025

The Hackney Council Cabinet voted to close Sir Thomas Abney Primary School, St Mary's Church of England Primary School, and Oldhill Community School, and to merge the pupils of those schools with nearby schools. The cabinet also voted to close St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School. The cabinet discussed concerns raised by the public and councillors about the closures, and the support that would be available to pupils and staff.

School Closures and Mergers

The cabinet made the following decisions regarding school closures and mergers:

• Sir Thomas Abney Primary School: The cabinet agreed to discontinue (close) Sir Thomas Abney Primary School and amalgamate (merge) the student body with Holmleigh Primary School. They also agreed to increase Holmleigh Primary School from one form entry to two forms of entry, and to add special educational needs provision for language resources.
• St Mary's Church of England Primary School: The cabinet agreed to discontinue (close) St Mary's Church of England Primary School.
• Oldhill Community School: The cabinet agreed to discontinue (close) Oldhill Community School and amalgamate (merge) the student body with Harrington Hill Primary School. They also agreed to increase Harrington Hill Primary School from one form entry to two form entry and to add additional resourced provision for autistic children.
• St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School: The cabinet agreed to discontinue (close) St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School.

Councillor Anntoinette Bramble, Statutory Deputy Mayor of Hackney and Cabinet Member for Education, Young People and Children's Social Care, said that these decisions were difficult but necessary, because:

Every time a school doesn't have enough children to take up the places, and there is less money brought into those schools, all of that, not just the everyday education in those lessons is at risk, but actually that rich extracurricular activities that children love, parents and carers love, that schools love to provide.

She also stated that Hackney had gone from being the worst providers of education in London to being some of the best providers of education in the country.

The cabinet reports cited falling pupil numbers, financial deficits, and a lack of prospective increase in pupil numbers as the reasons for the closures.

Public Questions

Prior to the cabinet's discussion, Councillor Bramble addressed questions submitted by members of the public.

• Maria asked how the council could propose there were enough school places, given difficulties in securing them. Councillor Bramble responded that census data from January 2025 indicated 613 unfilled reception places and 3,955 unfilled classes from reception to year six. She added that schools could expand if birth rates increased.
• Amanda Bentham asked why the council refused to look at true mergers and allow voluntary redundancy¹. Councillor Bramble said that this would bring a whole school community into a redundancy situation, which would not be fair. She also said that the council had written to the Secretary of State to ask for powers to amalgamate schools in response to school roll numbers. ¹: Voluntary redundancy is when an employer offers redundancy to employees who volunteer to leave their jobs.
• Ronnie asked if all options had been revised, stating a belief that St Dominic's had the space to accommodate future plans around SEND provision and community hubs. Councillor Bramble responded that St Dominic's had a projected deficit of over £1 million, which limited its potential to recover financially.
• Sarah Byrne asked why the Mayor and Deputy Mayor had not prioritised voluntary redundancy or securing staff in Hackney. Councillor Bramble reiterated that voluntary redundancy would increase the amount of staff potentially unemployed.

Councillor Questions

Councillors also posed questions to Councillor Bramble:

• A question was asked on behalf of Councillor Turbot Delof, regarding what assurances could be given to Hackney parents, families and residents on the learnings taken from the school closure process. Councillor Bramble responded that the voices of residents were critical and that the council would always strive to improve its consultations.
• Councillor Rao asked why the council had not been able to come up with a proposal which allowed the specialist staff at Old Hill to ensure that SEND children could be transferred to an educational setting which guarantees the continuity of their teaching staff. Councillor Bramble responded that staff affected by school closures do not have redeployment rights due to statutory guidance. She did note that Harrington Hill would be establishing a new additional resource provision for children with autism, and that the governing body would advertise these roles internally, including to staff from Old Hill.
• Councillor Lynne asked for assurances that Hackney Council's strong relationship with Roman Catholic schools, priests, and the Westminster Diocese would continue. Councillor Bramble confirmed that the council would continue to work on those strong relationships, stating that faith schools are very much part of the Hackney family of schools.

Equalities Impact Assessments

Each of the cabinet reports included an Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA). These assessments considered the impact of the proposals on pupils, families and staff, addressing the impact by protected characteristics as defined in the Equality Act 2010. The EIAs explained how the impacts were being mitigated and demonstrated how the council was working with school governing bodies to seek to ensure everyone’s needs would be met if the schools closed.

Financial Implications

The potential closures and/or amalgamations will incur costs such as redundancies, site security, the write off of any school deficits and maintenance, as well as other incidental costs. The overall costs of closure for the four schools was estimated to be £9.2 million, which includes £8.4 million of one-off costs and £0.8 million of additional recurring costs linked to site security and maintenance.

Other Matters

The cabinet also observed a minute's silence in acknowledgement of the death of Pope Francis.

Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission - Wednesday 23 April 2025

The Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission and the Children and Young People's Security Commission met in a joint session to discuss neurodevelopmental pathways for both adults, children and young people with autism and ADHD¹. The discussion focused on current challenges, waiting times, early identification, and support for those awaiting assessment, as well as the impact of delays and the transition to adult services. The commission also received updates on the Autism Friendly Neighbourhoods Pilot and the Autism Hub feasibility study.

Neurodiversity Overview

Perpetua Knight, Deputy Director for Mental Health and Disabilities at North East London level, and Sarah Darcy, CYP Strategic Lead in Citi and Hackney, provided an overview of neurodiversity, defining it as a group of conditions affecting brain development and function, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. They noted that autism affects over 1% of people in the UK, while ADHD affects about 5% of children and 3-4% of adults, but that these figures are likely underestimates due to underdiagnosis and challenges in data collection.

Key legislation and strategies mentioned included:

• The All Age Autism Strategy for City and Hackney (2020-2025)
• The national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026
• The Autism Act 2009
• The Equality Act 2010

They highlighted challenges faced by individuals with autism and ADHD, such as long waiting lists for diagnosis, health inequalities, and limited accessible services.

Approach to Inclusion for Children and Young People

Yvonne Wade, Head of SEND at the London Borough of Hackney, outlined Hackney's approach to inclusion, highlighting key phases of work over the last three years, including the launch of the SEND strategy in 2022, becoming Autism Education Trust (AET) partners, and the development of an online platform called Virgo to support schools in identifying children with speech, language and communication needs and autistic children.

She also discussed the Partnerships for Inclusion in Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) project, funded by NHS England, which involves seven primary schools in Hackney and aims to foster a strength-based approach to supporting children with neurodiversity.

Children and Young People: Diagnostic Pathways

Sarah Darcy and Dr Susan Crocker, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Joint Head of Community CAMHS at the Homerton Healthcare Foundation Trust (HHFT), presented an overview of the diagnostic pathways for children and young people, noting a significant increase in demand for autism and ADHD assessments.

Sarah Darcy presented data on referrals to the CAMHS Single Point of Access (SPA) and waiting times for assessments, noting that only 42% of referrals met the criteria for a full neurodevelopmental assessment. The average waiting times ranged from 11.5 months for the 0-5 pathway to 16-19 months for the 5-18 pathways.

Dr Susan Crocker discussed the diagnostic pathways in more detail, explaining the different pathways for under-5s and over-5s, as well as the pathways for children with co-occurring mental health problems or learning disabilities. She also highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on waiting lists and the challenges of meeting the increasing demand with limited resources.

Dr Crocker presented a hub and spoke model, which had recently won an NHS England SEND Award, and which aims to provide needs-based support and joint assessments within existing intervention pathways, reducing waiting times and improving patient satisfaction.

Adult Services and Pathways

Penny Heron, Joint Strategic Commissioner for Learning Disabilities and Autism at the London Borough of Hackney, and John Bradley, Operational Lead for Autism and ADHD services at the East London Foundation Trust (ELFT), provided an overview of adult services and pathways, including needs-based offers and diagnostic pathways.

Penny Heron mentioned the Learning Disabilities and Autism Acute Liaison Nurse at the Homerton, the Wellbeing Network, and social care support through Care Act assessments and the Autism Drop-Ins at the Opportunities Hub in Hoxton.

John Bradley discussed the ADHD and autism pathways in more detail, noting the limited resources available for adult diagnostic services and the long waiting lists for assessment. He also highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on service delivery and the increasing number of women seeking diagnosis.

He noted that GPs have started taking on ADHD medication reviews, and that the ICB is funding GPs to train and work in clinics to help with the backlog.

He also stated that referrals for assessments are now being sent to private providers via the right to choose scheme, which is funded by the NHS.

Autism Friendly Neighbourhoods Pilot

Matthew Quinn, a service user, provided an update on the Autism Friendly Neighbourhoods Pilot, which aims to promote access to services and environments for autistic people by making reasonable adjustments and raising awareness among primary care staff. He spoke about the importance of understanding autism as a different thinking style and sensory perspective, and the need to involve autistic people in co-producing solutions.

Concerns Raised and Future Actions

During the discussion, councillors raised concerns about the over-medicalisation of neurodiversity, the lack of support for adults after diagnosis, and the need for more co-production and strength-based approaches.

Councillor Anna Lynch said she found the meeting quite depressing, and that we've completely used a medical model to describe something where we just, it's a bit like being left handed. We've just got something that's a little bit different in our brains.

Several councillors suggested lobbying the government for increased funding for adult diagnostic and support services, and exploring ways to replicate the PINS model for adults.

The commission agreed to add an update on primary care in Hackney to the work programme for July 2025, and to revisit the issues of Healthy Weight and Disabled Facilities Grants in February 2026.

Licensing Sub Committee A - Thursday 24 April 2025

The Licensing Sub Committee A convened to address several key items, including the election of a chair, review of minutes from the previous meeting, and a standing item concerning temporary event notices. The committee was also scheduled to discuss its hearing procedures.

Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing Procedure

The meeting was scheduled to include a review of the Licensing Sub-Committee hearing procedure. According to the agenda, the hearing would proceed in a series of steps, including:

• An introduction by the chair
• An outline of the report by the Licensing Officer
• Presentation of the applicant's case
• Presentations by Responsible Authorities² and other persons
• A discussion led by the chair
• Closing remarks
• Final clarification
• A period of consideration
• Announcement of the decision by the chair

The Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing Procedure document outlines the rights of the press and public to report on meetings, including filming, recording audio, and using social media, provided it does not disrupt the meeting. It also provides guidance to councillors on declaring interests, including Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs) and Other Registrable Interests (ORIs).

Temporary Event Notices

The committee was scheduled to discuss temporary event notices as a standing item. The agenda did not provide specific details about the notices to be considered.

This week in Hackney:

• The Corporate Committee reviewed the annual performance of the Noise Service and the Healthy Catering Commitment (HCC) scheme.
• The Pensions Board discussed responsible investment policies, scheme member survey results, and the Stewardship Code submission.
• The Licensing Sub Committee C was scheduled to discuss a premises licence application for Wick Road and a temporary event notice for The Tram Depot.

Corporate Committee - Monday 14 April 2025

The Corporate Committee convened on 14 April 2025, to discuss the Healthy Catering Commitment, the annual performance report of the Noise Service, and the committee's work programme. No decisions were required as part of the meeting.

Noise Service Annual Performance

The committee reviewed the annual performance report of the Noise Service for 2024. The report detailed how the council addresses noise nuisance, including both statutory noise nuisance and noise arising from anti-social behaviour.

The report highlighted that the service uses an integrated enforcement approach, bringing together various enforcement services to address noise issues. Noise nuisance reports are divided into categories: commercial operations and residential premises, with residential issues being treated as anti-social behaviour. Environmental Protection Officers (EPOs) focus on noise from commercial premises, while uniformed officers handle residential noise complaints. The service operates an out-of-hours noise nuisance service on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. The report included data on the volume of noise reports, a breakdown of noise types, and noise hotspot locations. The council launched NoiseWorks in January 2022, a case management system for noise reports. The number of Temporary Event Notices (TENs) received has decreased since the end of Covid-19 restrictions. There has been an increase in construction noise complaints, but a decrease in enforcement notices issued due to the introduction of a First Response Officer.

The report also highlighted the work undertaken with licensed premises, including the use of weekly tasking meetings and the Intelligence Hub to identify and address noise issues. The council also runs a business-friendly licensing and regulation project, offering consultations and advice to businesses.

Healthy Catering Commitment (HCC) Report

The Corporate Committee reviewed a report on the Healthy Catering Commitment (HCC). The HCC is a scheme run by London boroughs, with support from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Mayor of London, that recognises businesses committed to reducing saturated fat and salt, offering healthier options, and providing smaller portions.

The report noted that the scheme has been delivered in Hackney since April 2017, and aims to reduce access to unhealthy food high in saturated fat, salt, and sugar. The project is primarily aimed at businesses in areas of high deprivation. There are currently 88 businesses signed up to the HCC project in Hackney. Hackney introduced a sustainability section to the HCC in April 2024, covering food waste, menu sustainability, and packaging.

The report noted that Hackney is a diverse borough, and targeted strategies may be needed to engage with different communities. The Hackney lead has also taken on the role of social media lead for the London-wide HCC network.

Corporate Committee Work Programme 2024/25

The committee noted their work programme for 2024/25¹.

Pensions Board - Tuesday 15 April 2025

The Hackney Council Pensions Board met to discuss the work of the Pensions Committee, responsible investment, and the board's work programme for the coming year. The board reviewed the results of a scheme member survey on responsible investment and provided feedback on the Responsible Investment Policy and Investment Engagement Policy. They also discussed the outcome of the Stewardship Code submission and agreed to increase the frequency of board meetings.

Responsible Investment and Engagement Policies

The board discussed the Responsible Investment Policy and the Investment Engagement Policy, providing comments to be shared with the Pensions Committee in June 2025. These policies outline the Fund's approach to integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into its investment decisions.

The Responsible Investment Policy was updated to include key themes identified in a recent scheme member survey, including: protecting the natural environment, peace, justice and strong institutions, and corporate governance.

The Investment Engagement Policy was updated to reflect scheme members' views, with over 60% of respondents feeling the Fund should engage with companies, and a further 25% believing the Fund should engage depending on the situation. The policy recognises three main levers to reflect responsible investment aims: invest, engage, and exclude.

Scheme Member Survey Results

The board reviewed the results of the January 2025 Pension Fund scheme member responsible investment survey. The survey sought the views of scheme members on a range of responsible investment issues. A total of 1,025 responses were received, out of 20,623 scheme members contacted.

Key findings from the survey included: the highest percentage of respondents (43.5%) were pensioners, followed closely by active contributing members (41.1%), the majority of respondents (89.3%) stated their employer was the London Borough of Hackney, just under 86% of respondents knew their pension contributions are invested to help ensure the Pension Fund can generate sufficient returns, the highest response (just over 35%) related to those who think the pension should be invested in a way that does no harm to the environment or society, the majority of respondents (82.4%) stated that climate change, human rights and equality should be important when the Pension Fund thinks about how it invests its money, when asked to rank six different issues, human rights came highest, followed by climate change and then animal welfare and endangered species, and the highest number of comments received (123) related to investing in ethical and socially responsible companies.

The survey also asked respondents how the Pension Fund should respond if it invests in a company via an actively managed pooled investment fund that has a poor approach to climate change or human rights. Just under two thirds of respondents felt that the pension fund should take direct action.

Stewardship Code Submission

The board noted the successful outcome of the 2024 UK Stewardship Code submission. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) confirmed on 6 February 2025, that Hackney Pension Fund had successfully met the FRC’s standard of reporting for the UK Stewardship Code and would be listed as a signatory of the Code.

The FRC provided the Fund with feedback on how to improve future submissions. The board discussed proposed actions for the 2025 submission, including: reviewing and strengthening commentary around purpose and strategy, recruiting a dedicated fund resource to support stewardship activities, enhancing reporting by capturing how the Fund has identified market-wide and systemic risks and how effective collaborative engagements have been undertaken, and reviewing the Fund’s voting policy and ensuring it is communicated to the Fund’s investment pool, the London Collective Investment Vehicle (LCIV) and passive manager.

Pensions Board Work Programme and Meeting Frequency

The board adopted the work programme for 2025/26 and agreed to increase the frequency of board meetings to four per year. This decision was informed by The Pension Regulator’s (TPR) new Code of Practice, which came into force in March 2024. The code states that ‘The governing body should spend an appropriate amount of time running its scheme. In most cases, the governing body will need to meet at least quarterly’.

Licensing Sub Committee C - Wednesday 16 April 2025

The Licensing Sub Committee C meeting included discussion of a premises licence application and a temporary event notice. The meeting was also scheduled to elect a chair and agree on the minutes of the previous meeting. Due to the meeting being held remotely, a guide detailing the procedure for licensing sub-committee hearings under the Licensing Act 2003 was included in the report pack.

Shadow Premises Licence: 331 Wick Road

Johal Properties London Limited applied for a shadow premises licence for 331 Wick Road, Hackney, E9 5DH. A shadow licence is a duplicate licence that can be activated should the original licence be surrendered or revoked.

The applicant was seeking authorisation for the following licensable activities and times: Films (indoors) Friday and Saturday 11:00-00:00, Live Music (indoors) Friday and Saturday 11:00-00:00, Recorded Music (indoors) Friday and Saturday 23:00-00:00, Late Night Refreshment (indoors) Monday to Thursday 23:00-23:30, Friday and Saturday 23:00-00:30, Sunday 23:00-23:30, Supply of Alcohol (On Sales) Monday to Thursday 12:00-23:30, Friday and Saturday 11:00-00:30, Sunday 12:00-23:30, and Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 07:30-00:00, Friday and Saturday 07:30-00:00, Sunday 11:00-00:00.

The current premises licence was granted on 6 February 2006. Temporary event notices have been given in the last twelve months at this premises.

Two representations were received from local residents on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm. One representation noted that the premises had a long history of being terrible neighbours and that in September 2024 they were open without permission beyond 04:00 with all the disturbance and misery that goes with that. The representation also stated that the hours requested in the application would clearly create Public Nuisance, and raised concerns about customers driving to the venue and parking in the surrounding roads, causing disturbance and nuisance on arrival and departure.

If the sub-committee was minded to approve the application, it was suggested that the conditions from the existing premises licence be applied to the new licence. These included: mandatory conditions relating to the supply of alcohol, including ensuring that staff do not carry out irresponsible promotions, that free potable water is provided on request, and that an age verification policy is adopted, conditions derived from the operating schedule, including providing illumination to the exterior of the pub, checking toilets regularly, and displaying anti-drink drive and drug prevention signs, and conditions derived from responsible authority representations, including reporting all instances of crime and disorder to the police, participating in the local pub watch scheme, and employing SIA registered door supervisors.

Temporary Event Notices - Unit J2, The Tram Depot

The sub-committee was scheduled to discuss a temporary event notice (TEN) for Unit J2, The Tram Depot, 38-40 Upper Clapton Road E5 8BQ.

This week in Hackney:

• The Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee was scheduled to discuss contract variations for substance misuse services and the award of an emergency accommodation contract.
• The Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission discussed Hackney's transport strategy for 2026-2036, focusing on sustainability and public consultation.
• The Hackney Procurement Board was scheduled to discuss awarding a contract for heating and hot water system maintenance.
• The Constitution Committee discussed proposed amendments to council procedure rules and a review of the council's constitution.
• The Licensing Sub Committee B considered licensing applications for Kingsland Road and Stoke Newington Road premises.
• The Audit Committee reviewed the Auditor's Annual Report, highlighting financial sustainability challenges.
• The Scrutiny Panel discussed manifesto commitment delivery and the Corporate Transformation Programme.

Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee - Monday 07 April 2025

The Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee (CPIC) meeting on 7 April 2025 was scheduled to cover contract variations, awards, and updates on various projects.

The committee was scheduled to discuss a contract variation of £2.5 million for the Hackney and City Integrated Drug and Alcohol Service, bringing the existing contract value to £29 million. The variation was proposed to cover the financial year 2025/26, with potential for further funding in 2026/27 pending government confirmation. The report stated that since 2021, Hackney had received grant funding from central government to help reduce harms related to drug and alcohol use, and that this funding had been used to deliver new pieces of work, including commissioning bespoke services, as well as to help enhance the core treatment service currently delivered by Turning Point.

The committee was also scheduled to discuss a report proposing the creation of a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for emergency accommodation. The report stated that Hackney Adult Social Care (ASC) spends circa £1.4m per annum on hotel, guest house and B&B accommodation, and that the proposed DPS would help Hackney achieve reduced fixed rates and therefore reduce costs for the council.

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report setting out the approach to strengthen the council's supply chain and ensure compliance with legislation and regulations, while improving service delivery, in relation to scaffolding and roofing.

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report seeking approval to award a contract for consultancy support to accelerate the council's transformation work on prevention and demand management across demand-led service areas, and to develop high level business cases identifying significant financial savings.

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on recent contract awards for construction works and associated services for four council housing development projects. The projects covered by the report were: Colville Estate Regeneration Phase 2C, Fairbank Estate, Frampton Park Estate, and Pedro Street.

Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission - Monday 07 April 2025

The Skills, Economy and Growth Scrutiny Commission met to discuss Hackney's transport strategy for 2026-2036, focusing on sustainability, public consultation, and addressing resident concerns.

Councillor Sarah Young, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport, emphasised the importance of sustainability and evidence-based decision-making in transport policy. Tyler Linton, Assistant Director Streetscene, explained that the new strategy aims to balance the various needs of the transport system while minimising harms like carbon emissions and air pollution. Tobias Newland, Senior Transport Planner, presented the draft evidence base for the strategy, which is available online.

The presentation highlighted that 87% of residents' trips are already by public transport, walking, or cycling, and 65% of households do not own a car. However, bus ridership has declined by 20% in the last decade, and road casualties have plateaued since 2015. The council is aiming to install 3,000 electric vehicle charging points and expand car clubs to promote sustainable car use.

Councillors discussed the challenges of achieving the Mayor of London's net-zero emissions targets, which require a radical reduction in traffic. Tyler Linton stated that the target is achievable with the right package of measures, including demand management, investment in public transport, and behaviour change initiatives.

Councillor Penny Wrout raised concerns about consultation fatigue and ensuring that residents understand how their views will be used. Councillor Ali Sadek asked about reaching harder-to-reach groups and ensuring a balance of perspectives.

Councillor Liam Davis raised concerns about Lime bikes and accountability for poor parking and bike quality. Tyler Linton responded that the council has contractual leverage with Lime regarding obstructions and is working with them to improve performance. Councillor Jasmine Martins raised concerns about Lime bikes blocking access for disabled users and carers.

Councillor Liam Davis asked about the reasons for the decline in bus ridership in Hackney. Tobias Newland explained that bus patronage declined during Covid-19 and has been slow to recover.

Councillor Gilbert Smyth raised several questions and suggestions, including LTN design, equitable access, deliberative engagement, smart traffic signals, scooters on pavements, through traffic, and LTN dispensations.

Councillor Patrick Pinkerton asked about monitoring the impact of inaccessible rail stations and lobbying for full accessibility. Councillor Clare Potter raised concerns about road traffic accidents and asked how quickly the council can act on resident reports. Councillor Sadek asked about engagement with Islington Council regarding the Matthias Road LTN.

The commission discussed the work programme for 2024/25 and agreed to progress with corporate assets in June.

Hackney Procurement Board - Tuesday 08 April 2025

The Hackney Procurement Board was scheduled to convene to discuss several key procurement decisions, including contract awards and business cases.

The Hackney Procurement Board was scheduled to consider the award of a contract to a specialist contractor for maintaining communal heating and hot water plants, as well as associated equipment within dwellings. The proposed contract was to be awarded to Bidder E for an initial term of three years, with the option to extend for an additional two years (1 + 1). The contract value was reported to be £1,518,946 (£1,822,735 including VAT). The report pack stated that funding for this contract would come from the Revenue H3002 budget, which also supports in-house operatives. It also noted that rates are fixed until April 2026, with annual adjustments thereafter based on BCIS indexation, estimated at 4.5% per year. The contract structure was designed to allow flexibility, enabling a gradual shift to in-house services. A projected £50,000 cost saving was expected in the first year, with spending monitored to ensure budget compliance and mitigate financial risks.

The Hackney Procurement Board was scheduled to receive a report on the Electrical Testing Business Case. The minutes of the previous meeting of the Hackney Procurement Board on 31 January 2025 record that this report had been deferred from that meeting.

The Hackney Procurement Board was scheduled to receive a verbal update on the review of the action tracker.

The Hackney Procurement Board was scheduled to review the Hackney Procurement Board Timetable for 2024-2025. The next meeting was scheduled for 13 May 2025.

Constitution Committee - Tuesday 08 April 2025

The Constitution Committee was scheduled to meet on 8 April 2025 to discuss proposed amendments to the council's procedure rules and a one-year review of the council's constitution.

The committee was scheduled to consider a report outlining proposed amendments to the council's procedure rules, which are detailed in Part 4, Section A of the constitution, as well as the council's Petition Scheme, which is referred to in Rule 12. These proposed amendments were intended to address issues identified in a previous report to the committee and the Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC).

The proposed amendments included:

• Reducing the time allocated for the Elected Mayor to make a statement and responses from Opposition Group Leaders.
• Requiring the submission of questions from the public 8 clear working days in advance of a meeting.
• Reducing the number of questions per Councillor from two to one.
• Formally recording the custom and practice of deputations and petitions not being permitted at the Annual Meeting or budget setting meetings of Full Council.
• Limiting Opposition Groups to one item of opposition-sponsored business per municipal year.
• Introducing a limit on the number of motions that can be debated at any Council meeting to a maximum of one per meeting.

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report on the one-year review of the refreshed constitution, which was approved by Full Council on 24 July 2023 and implemented on 4 September 2023. The review took the form of a survey that was sent to elected members, council staff, and selected members of the public.

Licensing Sub Committee B - Tuesday 08 April 2025

The Licensing Sub Committee B of Hackney Council scheduled a meeting to discuss licensing applications in the borough. The meeting was scheduled to consider a premises licence application for 462 Kingsland Road and a variation to an existing premises licence for Pisco’s, 16 Stoke Newington Road. The committee was also scheduled to discuss temporary event notices as a standing item.

Kwame Otiende applied for a premises licence for 462 Kingsland Road, E8 4AE, to authorise plays, films, live music, recorded music, supply of alcohol (on-sales), and late night refreshment. The applicant proposed measures to address the licensing objectives¹, and agreed to conditions with the police, including reduced hours for the sale of alcohol and opening hours. The Licensing Authority submitted a representation citing concerns that the hours applied for were in excess of the council's core hours policy², and that the premises had residential flats directly above and across the road, and that granting the application may undermine the prevention of public nuisance.

Mishkiperu Ltd applied to vary the premises licence for Pisco’s, 16 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XN, to extend late night refreshment and supply of alcohol on Friday and Saturday, and to include live music and recorded music on Friday and Saturday. The Environmental Health Authority submitted a representation citing concerns about the prevention of public nuisance, stating that regulated entertainment is generally incompatible with Victorian terrace buildings where the commercial premises adjoins residential. The Police also submitted a representation on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, and the prevention of public nuisance.

Audit Committee - Wednesday 09 April 2025

The Hackney Council Audit Committee convened to review financial performance, risk management, and audit activities.

The committee received the Auditor's Annual Report 2023/24 from Farvis Mazars, which confirmed an unqualified opinion on both the council and pension fund accounts. The report highlighted no significant weaknesses in value for money arrangements, but noted increasing challenges to the council's financial sustainability. Two objections to the accounts were under consideration.

Naeem Ahmed, the group director for finance and resources, provided a finance update, noting a general fund overspend of nearly £37 million as of January. To mitigate this, the council has paused revenue contributions to the capital programme, revised borrowing repayment amounts, recognised a surplus in business rates, and revised interest income estimates. Naeem Ahmed emphasised that using reserves to cover the overspend was not sustainable and that difficult decisions were needed to ensure long-term financial resilience.

Deidre Worrell, interim director of financial management, reported that the housing revenue account (HRA) was forecasting a break-even position, but with an operational expenditure overspend of £14.8 million, mainly due to repairs, legal disrepair, and resident safety costs.

Deidre Worrell also provided a treasury management update, noting long-term borrowing at £166 million and an investment portfolio of £46 million.

Diane Benjamin, director of social power, presented the children and education directorate risk register. Key risks included managing partnerships with agencies to ensure child wellbeing, delays in responding to subject access requests (SARS) due to the cyber attack, budget pressures impacting service demand, and serious safeguarding failures in schools.

Helen Woodland, group director for adults, health and integration, presented the adults, health and integration directorate risk register. The most significant risk was increased demand, with overall demand in adult social care increasing by 43%.

Michael Sheffield, corporate head of audit, anti-fraud and risk management, presented the performance update, noting that the capital monitoring report was covered in the finance update. He also noted that the Synergy risk had been de-escalated due to improvements in the system's stability.

Michael Sheffield then presented the audit and anti-fraud progress report, noting that the completion rate for the audit plan was below target due to staff availability. He also noted an increase in limited and no assurance audit reviews, often concerning third-party organisations or IT arrangements.

Finally, Michael Sheffield presented the internal audit annual plan for 2025/26.

Scrutiny Panel - Thursday 10 April 2025

The Hackney Council Scrutiny Panel met to discuss key issues facing the borough, including manifesto commitment delivery, responses to the Corporate Peer Challenge, the Corporate Transformation Programme, and scrutiny improvements. The panel approved the Scrutiny Panel Response and Proposed Action Plan.

Mayor Caroline Woodley gave an update on the delivery of key manifesto commitments, achievements, and priorities for the next 18 months, highlighting successes in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with over £20 million secured in funding, the 10 by 10 programme for children, and the King's Hall Leisure Centre refurbishment. She also outlined priorities including housing, tackling poverty and inequality, and climate leadership.

The Mayor also addressed key recommendations from the Corporate Peer Challenge review, grouping actions under 'Delivering for Residents', 'Securing Hackney's Future', and 'Modernising Together'.

Responding to public questions, Mayor Woodley acknowledged concerns about satisfaction levels among older people and outlined work to improve access to information and carer support services, including the City and Hackney Dementia Alliance. She also addressed transparency and oversight of Hackney Council in its role as a freeholder, particularly regarding its responsibilities towards tenants and leaseholders at The Makers Building.

Kieran Reid, Director for Corporate Strategy and Transformation, and Sam Humphrey, Transformation Program Manager, presented an overview of the Corporate Transformation Programme, designed to secure Hackney's future by solving problems and meeting challenges differently, and creating an enabled, effective, and efficient council.

The presentation outlined the programme's structure, governance, and alignment with the council's strategic plan, focusing on putting residents first, securing Hackney's future, and changing together. The programme aims to address financial challenges, improve service delivery, and modernise the council's operations.

Councillor Alastair Binnie-Lubbock raised concerns that the Corporate Peer Challenge was being used to justify a reduction of opportunities for the public and members of the council to scrutinise the executive. Councillor Ben Hayhurst sought clarity on the use of capital receipts and whether they were being used for day-to-day expenses or invest-to-save initiatives.

The panel approved the Scrutiny Panel Response and Proposed Action Plan in response to the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny’s 2024 report ‘LB Hackney - Scrutiny Improvement Review’. Councillor Billy Lubbock raised concerns that the actions in recommendation four did not fully reflect what came out of the peer review.

This week in Hackney:

• The Licensing Sub Committee A was scheduled to consider a premises licence application for The Pizza Club on Kingsland Road, with representations from the police and the licensing authority.
• The Planning Sub-Committee was scheduled to discuss planning applications for the King's Hall Leisure Centre and Lamb Lane, as well as the New Homes Programme.
• The Licensing Sub Committee E met to consider licensing applications for The Corner Shop, Church of St Peter De Beauvoir Town, and The Midyeci, and also discussed a Temporary Event Notice for Recycle Vinyl.

Licensing Sub Committee A - Monday 31 March 2025

The Licensing Sub Committee A of Hackney Council met on Monday 31 March 2025 to consider a premises licence application and temporary event notices. The main item on the agenda was an application for a premises licence for The Pizza Club, located at 550 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AH. Mr Zaid Anwar applied for the licence, seeking authorisation for late night refreshment (collection and delivery) every day from 23:00 to 04:00, with an extension to 05:00 on New Year's Day. The proposed opening hours were the same as the refreshment hours, with a starting time of 11:00 each day.

PC 3288CE Amanda Griggs of the Metropolitan Police Service Licensing Unit, made a representation on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. PC Griggs stated that the hours applied for were far outside the council's licensing policy LP3 Core Hours¹. The police were concerned about noise and nuisance from customers attending the premises late at night, and the risk of disruption to local residents. The police suggested amended hours. Channing Riviere, a Principal Licensing Officer, made a representation on behalf of the Licensing Authority on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance, noting that the hours sought were far in excess of the council’s licensing policy LP3 Core Hours.

The committee was also scheduled to consider any temporary event notices² that had been received. No video of the meeting was available at the time of writing.

Planning Sub-Committee - Wednesday 02 April 2025

The Planning Sub-Committee of Hackney Council scheduled a meeting for Wednesday 2 April 2025, to discuss planning applications and related matters. The agenda included consideration of planning permission and listed building consent for the King's Hall Leisure Centre, and a planning application for Lamb Lane, as well as other items.

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider applications for planning permission and listed building consent for the King's Hall Leisure Centre at 39 Lower Clapton Road. According to the report pack, Hackney Council sought permission for extension, part-demolition and refurbishment of the existing Leisure Centre to include new entrance to Clapton Square and erection of replacement sports hall to rear, together with associated amendments to car parking, landscaping and public realm. The report pack included a detailed analysis of the site's context, conservation implications, and planning history, as well as summaries of consultation responses from various stakeholders, including Sport England and Historic England.

The sub-committee was also scheduled to discuss a planning application for 10-24 Lamb Lane, London, E8 3PL. The applicant, Lamb Lane Partnership Limited, sought permission for demolition of existing building and erection of a part 5, part 6 and part 7 storey building to provide 19 residential units and 946 sqm of commercial floorspace (Use Class E³) including rooftop terraces and associated facilities. The report pack included analysis of the proposal against Hackney's Local Plan 2033⁴ and the London Plan⁵, and covered topics such as land use, urban design, conservation and heritage impacts, standard of accommodation, impact on amenity, transportation, energy and sustainability.

The sub-committee was scheduled to receive a report concerning the development of Hackney Council’s New Homes Programme. The report pack stated that the Housing for Section 106 sites that were included as part of the programme were currently under discussion at the Greater London Authority, with the aim of delivering 400 new homes.

The sub-committee was scheduled to review a document listing delegated decisions made between 25 January 2025 and 20 February 2025. The delegated decisions document included a list of planning decisions that had been determined by officers under delegated powers. No video of the meeting was available at the time of writing.

Licensing Sub Committee E - Thursday 03 April 2025

The Licensing Sub Committee E of Hackney Council met to consider licensing applications for three premises, as well as review minutes from a previous meeting and discuss temporary event notices. The Public reports pack included details of premises licence applications for The Midyeci, Church of St Peter De Beauvoir Town, and The Corner Shop.

The committee considered an application for a premises licence for The Corner Shop, 123 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JE. The LSC Report- 123 Shoreditch High Street notes that the premises already holds premises licences. The Metropolitan Police Service submitted a representation against the application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and the prevention of public nuisance. The police requested that the sub-committee refuse this application, but suggested that if the sub-committee were minded to grant any additional hours, they should consider a condition mandating the use of an ID scanner at the entry.

The committee also considered an application for a premises licence for Church of St Peter De Beauvoir Town, Northchurch Terrace, London N1 4DA. The New Report - Church of St Peter Northchurch Terrace notes that the premises is not currently licensed under the Licensing Act 2003, but has submitted several temporary event notices in the past year. Representations were received from both the Environmental Health Authority (Environmental Protection) and the Metropolitan Police, but were later withdrawn based on agreed conditions. One representation was received from other persons on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance.

The committee also considered an application for a premises licence for The Midyeci, 501-505 Kingsland Road, London, E8 4AU. The LSC Report- 501-505 Kingsland Road notes that the premises currently has a premises licence granted on 5 October 2021. Two representations were received from local residents on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

The committee also considered a Supplementary Agenda item 9 relating to a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for Recycle Vinyl at 1 Birkbeck Mews. A report included in the supplementary agenda pack indicated that a counter notice had been issued regarding the TEN. The TEN Report - 1 Birbeck Mews stated that the event was scheduled for 5 April 2025, from 11:00 to 23:00, with the provision of recorded music and the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises. The grounds for issuing the counter notice were that the event would undermine the licensing objectives related to the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.

The committee also reviewed the minutes from the Licensing Sub Committee D meeting held on Tuesday 4 March 2025 for review. Councillor Gilbert Smyth, Fairtrade Champion, was recorded as the Chair, and the committee approved an application for a premises licence for MOJO and Creams, 229 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HE, with specific conditions and hours. No video of the meeting was available at the time of writing.