Subscribe to updates
You'll receive weekly summaries about Hackney Council every week.
If you have any requests or comments please let us know at community@opencouncil.network. We can also provide custom updates on particular topics across councils.
Cabinet - Monday 21 July 2025 6.00 pm
July 21, 2025 Cabinet View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required) Watch video of meetingSummary
Open Council Network is an independent organisation. We report on Hackney and are not the council. About us
Here's a summary of the Hackney Council Cabinet meeting:
The Cabinet of Hackney Council convened to discuss financial matters, community initiatives, and planning policies, with a focus on sustainability and resident well-being. Key decisions included addressing a budget deficit, approving property transactions, and launching consultations for updated planning guidance.
- Hackney Downs Park Basketball Courts and Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) Refurbishment
- Shacklewell Primary School Roof Replacement and Solar Installation
- Property Disposals
- Lease of 96-98 Leonard Street
- Purchase of 161 Queen's Drive
Capital Programme and Property Management
The Cabinet approved several capital projects and property transactions.
The council approved £105,000 for the Hackney Downs Park Basketball Courts and MUGA refurbishment, supported by external grant funding. Additionally, £120,000 was approved for roof replacement and solar installation at Shacklewell Primary School.
The Cabinet authorised the disposal of several properties deemed surplus to the council's needs: 18-20 London Lane (including 13a Englefield Road), 14 Dalston Lane, and land at Pearson Street. These disposals aim to reduce management costs and generate capital receipts for the council's transformation programme.
A lease was approved for Disco Wheel Ltd at 96-98 Leonard Street to generate income for the General Fund.
To address homelessness, the council authorised the purchase of 161 Queen's Drive, which will provide 34 temporary accommodation units.
Financial Performance and Savings
The Cabinet reviewed the overall financial position, noting a £9.372 million deficit. Councillor Robert Chapman, Cabinet Member for Finance, Insourcing and Customer Service, attributed this to pressures in providing essential services to vulnerable residents.
The Cabinet approved savings proposals for the general fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA), totalling £14 million and £3.5 million respectively, to address a budget gap and reduce reliance on reserves. These savings are to be achieved through efficiencies and income generation measures.
The Cabinet also discussed the Fair Funding Review, expressing concerns about potential resource shifts away from London boroughs.
Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Strategy
The Cabinet adopted the refreshed Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy 2025-2035, following a year-long engagement with community partners. Councillor Walker and Councillor Kendi worked with officers and VCS partners to outline new approaches to working strategically with the VCS in the face of reduced resources. The strategy focuses on resourcing the sector, partnership and collaboration, and devolving power and decision making to the sector.
The Cabinet also discussed the Voluntary and Community Sector Grants Programme Redesign, which accompanies the VCS strategy. The programme will relaunch on 1 August and will move away from project grants towards core funding, particularly for advice, community infrastructure and lunch clubs.
Councillor Binney Lubbock asked how the voluntary sector redesign will improve the lives of disabled residents, and what safeguards are in place to ensure that services for disabled residents by BCS organisations do not deteriorate as the cuts to Council funding and to PIP kick in, as well as the ongoing uncertainty about EHCPs. Councillor Walker responded that the Council takes very seriously the legal, regulatory and our own policy commitments to ensure that our most vulnerable residents are protected.
Councillor Tobit D'Aloft asked if a risk assessment had been conducted on the potential closure or downsizing of small to medium BCS organisations due to the reduced funding and what mitigations are in place. Councillor Walker responded that a comprehensive equalities impact assessment had been done, and that the council's grant programme is just one mechanism of support for the BCS in Hackney and we are not the largest funder in many of those cases.
Housing Improvement Plan and Ombudsman Response
The Cabinet approved the Housing Improvement Plan and Housing Ombudsman response. Councillor Guy Nicholson, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing Management and Regeneration, stated that the plan is designed to improve the Council's housing service and to improve the lives of tenants and residents on Council estates or those living in homes owned by the Council.
Councillor Binnie Lubbock asked who is accountable for missed milestones and targets, and whether the service has the resources to deliver. Councillor Nicholson responded that the Council as a whole is accountable, and that the service is resourced to deliver.
Councillor Wright asked about the consultant's report and whether the new housing advisory panel is Hackney's response to the recommendation to strengthen the assurance in place for councillors to have oversight of compliance with the regulatory standards. Councillor Nicholson responded that the Hackney panel's composition was indeed developed following a high-level review of other assurance structures adopted by other local authority social landlords.
Local Development Scheme
The Cabinet approved an update to Hackney's Local Development Scheme (LDS) and an agreement for the Group Director for Climate, Homes and Economy to approve minor amendments. Councillor Nicholson stated that the update includes minor adjustments to the Stamford Hill and Future Shoreditch Area Action Plans. The Stanford Hill Area Action Plan update is to do with the planning inspector confirming the dates that the inspector will be holding the examination in public. The Shoreditch Area Action Plan update is because it's a recipient of a central government grant, which is aimed at enhancing local plan delivery.
North London Waste Authority Joint Waste Strategy
The Cabinet approved the North London Waste Authority Joint Waste Strategy for 2025-2040. Councillor Sarah Young, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, stated that the strategy's vision is towards a low waste North London, reducing the impact of waste to meet the challenges of the climate emergency.
Planning Policy Documents
The Cabinet approved the draft Residential Extensions and Alterations Supplementary Planning Document, the draft Commercial Extensions and Alterations Supplementary Planning Document, and the draft Retrofit Supplementary Planning Document for public consultation.
Supported Accommodation for Single Homeless People
The Cabinet noted the executive response to the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission review in supported accommodation for single homeless people with complex needs. Councillor Etti stated that the report cuts across three services, which is house management and regeneration, health, adult social care, voluntary sector and culture, and benefit and homeless prevention.
Youth Justice Strategic Partnership Plan
The Cabinet agreed to recommend the Youth Justice Strategic Partnership Plan to full council for approval.
Exempt Business
The Cabinet moved into a private session to discuss exempt business related to the Council Housing Acquisition Programme and the Capital Update and Property Disposals and Acquisitions.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
-
... the Cabinet of Hackney decided to note the council's overall financial position as of May 2025, including the overspend and mitigation initiatives, and to approve the General Fund and HRA savings outlined for incorporation into future budget and rent setting reports.
-
...to approve a capital update, property disposals, and acquisitions, as detailed in exempt information.
-
...to improve housing services, the Cabinet approved a Housing Improvement Plan and a Housing Ombudsman response, addressing issues like health and safety, repairs, complaints, and data management.
-
...to delete the CHE S589 Council Housing Acquisition Programme due to exempt reasons.
-
CED S494 Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy Refresh
For DeterminationHackney's Cabinet adopted the refreshed Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy 2025-2035 on 21 July 2025. The decision was to adopt the strategy which sets out how the council will work with the voluntary and community sector. The council will be developing accompanying short-term action plans against each theme in the strategy.
-
Hackney Council's Cabinet approved the scheme for the Climate, Homes & Economy Directorate and the Children & Education Directorate on 21/07/2025. This included approving £105k for Hackney Downs Park basketball courts and MUGA refurbishment and £120k for Shacklewell Primary School roof replacement and solar installation. The Cabinet also authorised the disposal of three properties and the purchase of one property, and approved a new lease for 96-98 Leonard Street.
-
CHE S584 Update of Hackney’s Local Development Scheme and Agreement for Group Director Approval for Minor Amendments
For DeterminationThe Cabinet of Hackney Council resolved to approve the update to the Planning Service Local Development Scheme concerning the Stamford Hill and Future Shoreditch Area Action Plans on 21 July 2025. They also delegated authority for any subsequent minor amendments to the Local Development Scheme to the Group Director, Climate, Homes and Economy, in consultation with the lead member.
-
CHE S351 North London Waste Authority Joint Waste Strategy
For DeterminationHackney's Cabinet decided on 21/07/2025 to approve the North London Joint Waste Strategy for 2025-2040. The Cabinet also delegated authority to the Director of Environment & Climate Change to update and approve the strategy following minor amendments.
-
CHE S233 Residential Extensions and Alterations
For DeterminationThe Cabinet of Hackney Council on 21 July 2025 resolved to approve the draft Residential Extensions and Alterations Supplementary Planning Document for public consultation. Authority was delegated to the Group Director, in consultation with the lead member, to approve the final designed version of the SPD for consultation in September.
-
CHE S486 Commercial Extensions and Alterations
For DeterminationThe Cabinet of Hackney Council decided to approve the draft Commercial Extensions and Alterations Supplementary Planning Document for public consultation on 21 July 2025. They also delegated authority to the Group Director, in consultation with the lead member, to approve the final designed version of the SPD for consultation in September.
-
CHE S487 Retrofit Supplementary Planning Document
For DeterminationHackney Council's Cabinet decided on 21 July 2025 to approve the draft Retrofit Supplementary Planning Document for public consultation. Authority was delegated to the Group Director, in consultation with the lead member, to approve the final designed version of the SPD for consultation in September. The decision included approving the draft Retrofit Supplementary Planning Document for public consultation and delegating authority to the Group Director, in consultation with the lead member, to approve the final designed version of the SPD for consultation in September.
Attendees
Topics
No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.
Meeting Documents
Reports Pack
Additional Documents