The Hackney Cabinet met on Monday 30 September 2024 to discuss a range of significant issues, approving substantial funding for the Household Support Fund and the Kings Hall Leisure Centre refurbishment project. The Cabinet also agreed to consult on proposals to close or merge several primary schools due to falling pupil numbers and approved a new home-to-school travel policy.

Household Support Fund Allocation Approved

The Cabinet authorised the Council to accept a grant of £2,822,258.58 from the Department for Work and Pensions for the Household Support Fund 6 programme, which will run from October 2024 to March 2025. This funding will be distributed to voluntary and community sector organisations and external bodies to provide crisis support to Hackney residents facing financial hardship, particularly during the winter months. The decision was made to largely continue the existing programme, building on lessons learned from previous iterations. The guiding principles for the programme include sustainability, early help, building connectivity between services, ensuring eligibility focuses on those facing financial hardship, consistency in approach, timeliness of delivery, avoiding a funding cliff edge for residents, continuity of work with frontline services, and robust governance. A portion of the funding will also be used to mitigate the impact of Universal Credit migration and to capture learning about poverty. The programme will focus on supporting children and families, vulnerable people known to the Council, and breaking down barriers to reach wider groups at risk of poverty. Advice-based initiatives will also be funded to help residents achieve longer-term financial stability.

Kings Hall Leisure Centre Refurbishment Project Approved

The Cabinet approved the Kings Hall Leisure Centre (KHLC) refurbishment project to proceed to the next stage, including submitting necessary planning and listed building consent applications. Capital costs of up to £71.442m were approved, with funding streams and revenue impacts noted. The decision to proceed with a major refurbishment and the addition of new facilities, including a training pool, a compliant two-court sports hall, enhanced health and fitness facilities, and a new level entrance on Clapton Square, was made to address the building's end-of-life condition issues and meet current operational demands. The project aims to balance operational considerations, project costs, and heritage and planning requirements. The refurbishment will upgrade failing building fabric and mechanical equipment to modern performance standards, and has secured £3.287m in grant funding from the Government's Public Sector Decarbonisation Grant. The project is expected to deliver significant social value, with the contractor committed to £13.7m in social value outcomes, including apprenticeships and local employment. The refurbishment is projected to increase net income by £272k per annum. Alternative options considered and rejected included mothballing the centre or undertaking a do minimum refurbishment, both deemed less viable or offering less value for money.

School Estate Strategy Review: Proposals for School Closures and Amalgamations to be Consulted On

The Cabinet considered proposals to address falling pupil numbers and surplus school places across Hackney. Following a review of the School Estates Strategy, which aims to ensure sufficient and sustainable school places, proposals were put forward for consultation. These include the closure of St Dominics RC Primary School and St Mary's C of E Primary School on 31 August 2025. For Sir Thomas Abney Primary School, two options will be consulted on: closure and amalgamation with Holmleigh Primary School, with Holmleigh expanding to two forms of entry and operating from the Sir Thomas Abney site, or closure on 31 August 2025. Similarly, for Oldhill Community Primary School, options for consultation include closure and amalgamation with Harrington Hill Primary School, with Harrington Hill expanding to two forms of entry and operating from its current site, or closure on 31 August 2025. The reasons for these proposals are attributed to declining birth rates, families leaving the borough, and the enduring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have led to a significant surplus of primary school places. The Council has explored various measures to mitigate these pressures, but these have not been sufficient to ensure the long-term sustainability of all schools. The proposals aim to ensure that schools remain financially stable and can continue to provide high-quality education. The Council has also considered the impact on pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and is committed to providing targeted support to mitigate risks. The financial implications of these proposals, including redundancy costs and the write-off of school deficit balances, have been estimated.

New Home to School Travel Policy Approved

The Cabinet approved a new home to school travel policy for Hackney, to take effect in the autumn term 2024. This policy consolidates existing arrangements into a single document and reflects updated statutory guidance from the Department for Education. The policy aims to promote sustainable and independent forms of travel, while ensuring that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive necessary support. The policy shifts the emphasis from organised transport to more independent travel options, such as travel training and personal travel budgets, where appropriate. It clarifies eligibility criteria for free travel assistance for children of compulsory school age and outlines discretionary support for post-16 students and adult learners with EHCPs. The consultation on the new policy received 91 responses, with a strong majority supporting the continuation of travel support and expressing concerns about the appropriateness of independent travel training for all SEND pupils. The policy aims to ensure that travel assistance is provided in a way that best meets the pupil's needs, promotes independence, and represents good value for money.

Public Spaces Protection Order (Alcohol Control) Renewed

The Cabinet approved the renewal of the existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in relation to alcohol control. This order, made under Section 59 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, will last for a period of three years. The PSPO aims to control alcohol-related anti-social behaviour (ASB) in public spaces, ensuring that residents can enjoy these areas safely. The renewal follows a consultation where 90% of respondents supported the continuation of the order. The PSPO allows authorised officers and police to confiscate alcohol from individuals engaging in anti-social behaviour, with breach of the order being a criminal offence. The decision was made to address the detrimental effect of alcohol-related ASB on the quality of life in the borough and to ensure Hackney has an effective response to such issues.

Updated Appointments and Nominations

The Cabinet agreed to the appointment of councillors to Outside Bodies on behalf of the Council, as listed in Appendix 1 of the report. They also noted the Mayoral Appointed Representatives, as listed in Appendix 2.

Note: This summary is based on the information publicly available in the provided documents. The meeting status was CONFIRMED_HELD, allowing for definitive statements about discussions and decisions.