The Cabinet of Hackney Council met on Monday 28 April 2025, where they discussed a range of important issues including the council's financial position, proposals for improving private rented accommodation, and the safety of women and girls in public spaces. Key decisions made included the approval to consult on new licensing schemes for private rented properties and the acceptance of grant funding for green initiatives and support for homeless individuals.

Single-Sex Provision and Women's Safety

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a deputation from Soraya Kandakor, a self-described sex realist, concerning single-sex provision in public facilities and the safety of women and girls. Kandakor argued that unisex facilities, such as those proposed for the King's Hall redevelopment, do not adequately safeguard women and girls and could lead to indirect sex discrimination, citing the Supreme Court's ruling in the For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers case. She highlighted concerns about potential voyeurism and the increased risk of sexual assault in unisex changing rooms, referencing a Sunday Times article. Kandakor also pointed to the Hackney Equality Plan 2024-2026, suggesting it had not adequately considered the protected characteristic of sex and had consulted focus groups from every protected characteristic except sex.

Councillor Susan Fajana Thomas, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, acknowledged the concerns raised and noted the council's existing work on violence against women and girls. However, she sought clarification on how these efforts were integrated with the council's equalities brief and ongoing consultations.

Councillor Ian Williams, Lead Member for Leisure, stated that the council would take time to thoroughly consider all the potential implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling and assured that Hackney would continue to stand by all of our communities, including trans siblings and against all forms of hate, discrimination and violence. He clarified that the information quoted in the Sunday Times article was not supported by local information and that most violence against women is committed by current or former partners. The council reiterated its commitment to women's safety through various programs, including funding single-sex refuge provision and trauma support. Councillor Williams also emphasised that associating male violence with trans inclusion would be avoided to prevent transphobic implications and to acknowledge that transgender people are twice as likely to be victims of crime. He confirmed that Hackney's Equality Plan 2024-26 does consider both sex and gender, and that the council is working through the implications of the Supreme Court judgment and refreshing its data collection strategies. The Mayor concluded that this would be an ongoing dialogue.

Financial Position and Children's Centres

The council's overall financial position for the financial year 2024-25 was presented, revealing an increase in the projected overspend to approximately £37.5 million. This was attributed to ongoing demand pressures on adult and children's social care and homelessness prevention, necessitating the use of reserves to balance the budget. The report also recommended an increase in children's centre fees by withdrawing subsidies for fee bands 3 and 4 and uplifting fees for bands 1 and 2, in recognition of the national expansion of the 30 hours funded childcare entitlement.

Councillor Garbutt questioned the savings generated by these changes to children's centre subsidies and whether the council was still considering closures. Councillor Chapman explained that the proposed changes were forecast to generate up to £1.1 million in additional income by removing subsidies for families with incomes over £55,000. Savings related to the reconfiguration or closure of children's centres, amounting to around £1.9 million, are also part of the medium-term financial plan. The outcome of a learning review on children's centres will inform future decisions, with feedback from the Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission being considered.

Private Rented Sector Licensing

A significant proposal was presented to introduce a renewed selective licensing scheme and an additional licensing scheme for private rented properties. This initiative aims to improve housing standards for private renters, addressing concerns about poor housing conditions, anti-social behaviour, and deprivation in certain wards. The proposed selective licensing scheme would cover 17 wards, targeting non-HMO properties, while an additional licensing scheme would apply borough-wide to HMOs not covered by the mandatory licensing scheme. The wards of Haggerston, Hoxton East, Shoreditch, Hoxton West, and Woodbury Down are not included in the selective licensing proposal as the current evidence base does not support it, though they will continue to be monitored.

Councillor Garbutt raised concerns about enforcement, asking for a commitment to issue improvement notices as soon as a hazard is identified. Councillor Moem confirmed that under current powers, improvement notices are issued for Category 1 hazards, and for Category 2 hazards where deemed necessary. The council aims to work constructively with landlords and residents to resolve problems and prioritises prevention. The report outlines a timeline for these steps, and a statutory consultation will be launched to gather feedback from all stakeholders.

Other Discussions

The meeting also included discussions on:

• Capital Update and Property Disposals and Acquisitions: Approval was sought for the acceptance of grants from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero for green initiatives, as well as additional funding from the Local Authority Housing Fund to accommodate homeless individuals. The report also covered the acceptance of part surrender of car park land to support public sector housing and an indemnity letter for works at the PFI library.
• Green Lane Cycle Track: Former Councillor Vincent Stops questioned the council's publication of casualty data before and after the implementation of the Green Lane Cycle Track scheme. Councillor Young provided figures indicating a reduction in accidents involving bikes since the scheme's introduction, with 13 accidents recorded in the three years prior and eight in the 31 months since. However, Mr. Stops contested these figures and requested the publication of the full report for public data review.
• Connect to Work Scheme: The council announced the acceptance of a £6 million grant over five years to fund the Connect to Work scheme, aiming to support 1,400 residents with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or who are economically disadvantaged. Councillor Reid questioned the number of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) recipients in Hackney and whether the scheme would cover those who might lose benefits under proposed government changes. Councillor Williams stated that as of January 2025, 17,095 residents were in receipt of PIP, and the impact of changes would depend on individual circumstances. The council highlighted its existing support services for residents with disabilities and its commitment to helping residents into work.
• Housing Revenue Account (HRA): Concerns were raised about the financial state of the HRA, with projections indicating a deficit of nearly £14 million. Councillor Root questioned the current reserves and how the council would meet its promises for stock improvement and repairs. Councillor Chapman assured that the capital programme remains intact and that a new HRA Finance Improvement Board would be established to oversee financial operations and streamline strategies. He also stated that service charges would only be increased if fairly justified.
• Minutes of Previous Meetings: The unrestricted minutes of the previous Cabinet meeting and the Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee were noted and approved. The latter included the awarding of a contract for improvements at the West Reservoir.