Here is a summary of the scheduled items for the Hackney Council meeting on 23 July 2025.

The council is scheduled to discuss a range of topics, including the Members' Allowances Scheme, Violence Against Women and Girls, the Strategic Plan, and the Youth Justice Strategic Partnership Plan. Also to be discussed are the Audit Committee and Licensing Committee Annual Reports, and a proposal from the Hackney Independent Socialist Group regarding community consultation and engagement.

Here are some of the topics scheduled for discussion:

Youth Justice Strategic Partnership Plan

The council is scheduled receive a report regarding the Youth Justice Strategic Partnership Plan 2025-28. The plan outlines how youth justice services in the area are to be provided and funded, and how the youth offending teams are to be composed, funded, and operated. The report notes that the Youth Justice Board (YJB) requires the annual/three-year plan to be signed off at Full Council as a condition of the YJB Grant.

The plan emphasises safeguarding, prevention, early intervention, and responding to local needs, and highlights the partnership's shared commitment to a child first and strength-based approach which is aligned with the Hackney STAR-R model (Systemic, Trauma Informed, Anti Racist and Restorative). The document includes the partnership's anti-racism position statement, acknowledging systemic racism and committing to practice which is anti racist and actively champions social justice.

The key priorities of the plan are:

• Health: Improving data collection and analysis, continuing the YJS Nurse Pilot, further developing the Health Passports, establishing an Integrated Health Team, and providing health training for practitioners.
• Education: Prioritising the recruitment of an additional Virtual School Worker to support re-engagement and greater understanding of children's educational journeys.
• Victims & Restorative Justice: Embedding the Victim Code, conducting self-assessments, implementing the Pan London Victim Strategy, developing audit and training programmes, recognising children as victims, expanding reparation and restorative justice offers, and gathering victim feedback.
• Early Intervention & Diversion: Continuation of the Turnaround project, and maintaining the Engage project.
• Youth and Parent Voice: Creating a Youth Justice Volunteers programme and enhancing the Participation Lead role.
• Child First: Committing to undertaking the YJB Child First Self-Assessment tool.
• Anti-Racism & Reducing Disproportionality: Embedding anti-racist practice, and in particular addressing disproportionality in custodial remands and sentences.
• Staff Development & Wellbeing: Prioritising CPD, AIM3, 'Child First', 'Good Lives Model', SaLT and Health training, alongside support for vicarious trauma and wellbeing.
• Violence Reduction: Reducing violence through partnerships with Community Safety and Young Hackney and routine attendance at the extra familial harm panel.

Strategic Plan Annual Update

The council is scheduled to receive the Strategic Plan Annual Update Report 2024-25. The report provides an overview of the initiatives and actions taken across the three core themes in the Strategic Plan: For a Fairer, Safer Hackney; For a Greener, Healthier Hackney; and For Every Child in Hackney. It also provides detailed updates on the objectives and activities relating to the Mayoral priorities of Housing & Homelessness, Poverty & Inequality, and Climate Change.

The report notes that Hackney Council has faced significant reductions in funding since 2010, but continues to prioritise essential services. The council's Corporate Transformation Strategy provides the strategic framework for a programme of organisational change to ensure the council is able to deliver high-quality services.

The report highlights achievements and progress in several areas:

• Fairer, Safer Hackney:
  • Tackling poverty and inequality through the Poverty Reduction Framework and expansion of the Resident Support Scheme.
  • Ensuring access to safe and stable homes through direct delivery of new homes and estate regeneration.
  • Making Hackney safer through the Community Safety Partnership Plan and interventions to reduce violence.
• Greener, Healthier Hackney:
  • Climate action through the Climate Action Plan and sustainable transport initiatives.
  • Improved health outcomes through new GP surgeries and a focus on prevention and lifestyles.
• Every Child in Hackney:
  • Supporting children and families through Children & Family Hubs and expanded SEND provisions.

Members' Allowances Scheme

The council is scheduled to consider the Members' Allowances Scheme 2025/26. The scheme is based on the independent report and recommendations of Sir Rodney Brooke CBE DL, Chair of London Councils Independent Remuneration Panel, and takes into consideration the London Council's report, 'The Remuneration of Councillors in London 2023'.

The Members' Allowances Scheme historically takes account of the officer national pay settlement in its formulation. As there is no agreed settlement in place yet for April 2025, the 2024/25 scheme rates are being rolled forwards for 2025/26 to meet legal obligations until the national pay settlement for local government negotiations are concluded.

The report notes that the London Councils Report of the Independent Panel on the Remuneration of Councillors in London 2023 made the recommendation of a substantial increase in the basic allowance for a Councillor, but in light of the current financial situation this is not considered to be affordable this year.

Audit Committee Annual Report

The council is scheduled to receive the Internal Audit Annual Report 2024/25. The report provides details of the performance of Internal Audit during 2024/25 and the areas of work undertaken, together with an opinion on the soundness of the control environment in place to minimise risk to the council.

The report notes that the Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS) were replaced by the Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS) on 1 April 2025. The report also includes a summary of assurance levels arising from reviews carried out in 2023/24, definitions of assurance levels, Internal Audit progress against key performance indicators, and a comparison of assurances for key financial systems.

Licensing Committee Annual Report

The council is scheduled to receive the Licensing Service Annual Report 2023/24 and 2024/25. The report informs the Licensing Committee of the activities and performance of the Licensing Service during the years 2023/24 and 2024/25, and shows aims and targets for the forthcoming year. The report provides an update on the main operational functions of the Licensing Service in terms of applications, policy and enforcement.

During 2023/24, the Licensing Service generated an annual income total of £978,821, of which £450,407 is attributable to the late night levy. During 2024/25, the Licensing Service generated an annual income total of £1,020,981, of which £447,980 is attributable to the late night levy.

Opposition Sponsored Business

The council is scheduled to discuss a proposal from the Hackney Independent Socialist Group regarding community consultation and engagement. The proposal calls for the council to address its poor reputation for listening to public opinion and to improve transparency in decision-making.

The proposal suggests that the council should take a strategic approach to consultations, ensure maximum input from residents and stakeholders, and think outside the box for funding sources to assist with the consultation process. The proposal also suggests that the council should work with residents and stakeholders to define what it means by 'co-production'.

Labour Motion: Together Against Violence Towards Women and Girls (VAWG)

The council is scheduled to discuss a motion from the Labour group regarding Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The motion notes that an estimated one in four women experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, and that the mental health impact is particularly disturbing. The motion also notes the importance of local authorities resourcing domestic abuse services which support victims and address perpetrator behaviour.

The motion resolves to:

• Conduct a review of the Hackney Council's current commissioning practices for VAWG services to ensure they align with statutory guidance.
• Work towards preventing the erosion of vital services and safeguarding the lives of vulnerable women and children.
• Ensure comprehensive education on healthy relationships is available in all Hackney schools.
• Work with survivors and local specialists and 'by and for' services to understand the impact of VAWG and domestic abuse in Hackney as the council develops the next strategy to address these issues.

Joint amendments to the motion have been submitted by the Green and Hackney Socialist Independent Groups.

Questions from Members of the Public

The council is scheduled to hear questions from members of the public on a range of topics, including:

• Representation of young people's viewpoints
• Support for rough sleepers during high temperatures
• Online application form for housing registration
• Solar panels on council estates
• High-polluting diesel vans distributing Lime bikes
• Participatory budgets for council-owned estates

Questions from Councillors

The council is scheduled to hear questions from councillors on a range of topics, including:

• Take-up of benefits
• Community use of council-run community centres
• A-level courses at BSix College following its merger with New City College
• Lobbying the government for rent controls
• St Mary's Secret Garden in Haggerston
• Status of recently closed or repurposed school sites
• Spending on Amazon Cloud Services
• Investment to improve transport networks
• Court proceedings for non-payment of council tax
• Lifts capital modernisation programme
• Use of glyphosate
• Steps to address anti-racism following the Child Q police misconduct hearing

Appointments to Committees

The council is scheduled to consider the appointment of Councillor Margaret Gordon to the position of Vice Chair of the Constitution Committee for the municipal year 2025/26.

Section 85 Local Government Act 1972 – Resolution To Extend Six Month Rule

The council is scheduled to consider a dispensation for Councillor Levy from the statutory requirement to attend meetings of the Council until 30 November 2025 due to ill health.

Re-Appointment of Independent Person to the Standards Committee

The council is scheduled to consider the re-appointment of Feryal Ertan to the role of Independent Person (Standards) for a further term of 4 years until the end of the 2028/2029 municipal year.

Calendar of Council Meetings 2025/26

The council is scheduled to approve the proposed calendar of meetings for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.