The Hackney Council Cabinet met on Monday 20 July 2026, approving significant capital investments for children's services and rejecting property disposals in favour of community-led alternatives. The meeting also saw the adoption of a new Graffiti Removal Policy and noted the council's overall financial position.

Capital Investments for Children's Services Approved

The Cabinet approved significant capital investments totalling £1.1 million for children's services. This includes £1 million for the refurbishment of Woodberry Down Primary School's kitchen and dining facilities, which were severely damaged by a sewage flood. The funding will ensure a permanent, resilient, and cost-effective solution, eliminating the need for temporary setups and restoring full operational capacity. Additionally, £100,000 was allocated for urgent safety groundworks and a replacement canopy at Linden Children's Centre, following a structural collapse that posed health and safety risks and impacted the centre's environment. These investments aim to enhance child wellbeing, ensure statutory compliance, and maintain essential services.

Property Disposals Rejected in Favour of Community Alternatives

In a decision aligned with the administration's election manifesto, the Cabinet rejected the proposed disposal of two Council properties: 28-32 Ellingfort Road and 77 Brooksby's Walk. The decision to reject these disposals was made following public engagement and a subsequent review, with the Cabinet committing to establishing a time-limited process to evaluate credible, community-led alternatives. This approach aims to address the Council's financial pressures while prioritising community ownership and public hands for assets. The administration's manifesto emphasised the necessity of placing assets into community ownership and public hands.

New Graffiti Removal Policy Adopted

A new Graffiti Removal Policy was approved by the Cabinet, aiming to provide clearer definitions and a more consistent approach to managing graffiti and street art across Hackney. The policy distinguishes between graffiti and street art, prioritising the removal of offensive, discriminatory, or hate-based content. It also outlines criteria for removal, reporting mechanisms, and responsibilities for private property owners. The policy aims to balance artistic expression with the need to maintain clean, safe, and inclusive public spaces, with delegated authority given to the Director of Environment & Climate Change for minor future amendments.

Overall Financial Position Noted

The Cabinet noted the Council's overall financial position as at May 2026, which indicated a forecast overspend of £5.4 million on the General Fund. The report highlighted cost pressures in children's services, particularly concerning Special Educational Needs (SEND), and the continuing demand for adult social care. The Cabinet also delegated authority to the Director of Corporate Strategy & Transformation, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities and Adult Social Care and the Mayor, to award grants under the Crisis and Resilience Fund VCS Grants programme and to reprofile expenditure for poverty reduction initiatives.

Britannia Masterplan Update

The Cabinet received an update on the Britannia Masterplan - Phase 2b, noting that the cost of delivering the project was likely to exceed the current approved budget of £196.875 million. Revised estimated funding requirements were approved, and authority was delegated to the Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Resources, to explore all avenues to mitigate the Council's risk in relation to the disposal of new homes on the site. The Cabinet will receive quarterly updates on the scheme.

Other Decisions

The Cabinet approved the unrestricted minutes of the previous meeting of Cabinet held on Monday, 29 June 2026. The minutes of the Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee held on 1 June 2026 will be considered at a future meeting. Consideration of the Hackney SEND Reform Plan & Post-Inspection Plan was deferred to the September Cabinet meeting to allow members more time to review the report. Finally, the Cabinet approved the nomination of Andy Ehiogu as a Local Authority Governor for Benthal Primary School, effective from 28 July 2026.

The meeting resolved to exclude the press and public during the discussion of remaining agenda items due to the likely disclosure of exempt information.