The Cabinet of Hackney Council met on Monday 2 March 2026 to discuss the council's financial position, budget, and strategic plan. Key decisions included the approval of the People and Organisational Development Strategy and the setting of the 2026/27 budget and Council Tax.

2026/27 Budget and Council Tax Report

The Cabinet recommended to Full Council the approval of the 2026/27 General Fund Revenue Budget and the Council Tax rate for the upcoming financial year. This included a recommendation to bring forward the projected 2025/26 General Fund balance of £19.0m into 2026/27 with the aim of increasing it to £22m - £24m over the medium term. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) projected 2025/26 balance of £13.5m is also set to increase to £16.8m by the end of March 2027.

The report detailed the proposed General Fund fees and charges for implementation from 1 April 2026. It also confirmed that the Mayor, Cabinet, and Corporate Leadership Team would act to deliver approved savings plans and develop robust plans to close Medium Term Financial Plan budget gaps, ensuring a year-on-year balanced position. The summary of the HRA Budget and Rent setting report was noted.

Authority was delegated to the Group Director of Finance and Corporate Resources to implement any virements required to allocate provision for demand and growth pressures, subject to evidence. The allocation of resources to the 2026/27 capital programme was approved, as was the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy for 2026/27, with a maximum expenditure limit of £19.3m. Authority was also delegated to the Section 151 Officer to authorise the implementation of this strategy at the conclusion of the financial year, contingent upon a comprehensive assessment of the Council's overall financial position.

The prudential indicators for Capital Expenditure, Capital Financing Requirement, Authorised Limit and Operational Boundary for External Debt, Affordability Prudential Indicators, and Treasury Management Prudential Indicators for 2026/27 were noted and agreed. The authorised limit for external debt of £1,241m for 2026/27 was agreed as the statutory limit.

The Council Tax Base for 2026/27 was confirmed as 80,163.35. The Cabinet approved the calculation of the Council Tax Requirement for 2026/27 as £124.236m, resulting in a Band D Council Tax of £1,549.79 for Hackney purposes. Including the Greater London Authority (GLA) precept, the total Band D Council Tax is £2,060.30. It was noted that the increase in the Council's Council Tax requirement for 2026/27 is not excessive and does not require a referendum. The Treasury Management Strategy for 2026/27, criteria for lending, financial limits, and the Minimum Revenue Provision statement were also approved.

The report noted that an exempt appendix (Appendix 7b) was considered separately. The decision to abandon the F S532 2026/27 Budget and Council Tax Report - Exempt Appendix indicates that this specific part of the report was not proceeded with.

2024/25 Overall Financial Position Report - December 2025

The Cabinet noted the overall financial position of the Council as at December 2025, which indicated an overspend. Initiatives to mitigate this overspend were also noted. A key decision was the approval for the Council to enter into a Section 75 Partnership Agreement with the Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to support transformation initiatives in City and Hackney. Authority was delegated to the Group Director of Finance and Corporate Resources to disburse the funding in accordance with the Section 7 agreement, in conjunction with the Group Director Children & Education. This agreement aims to facilitate further integration with the council's key health partner and support transformation activities aligned with the strategic priorities of the City and Hackney Place Based Partnership.

People & Organisational Development Strategy

The Cabinet approved Hackney's People and Organisational Development Strategy 2025-28. This strategy outlines how the council will invest in its colleagues and create an environment for them to thrive, enabling the delivery of high-quality services to residents. The approval of this strategy and new values is intended to help Hackney build a skilled, motivated, and resilient workforce to support the council's ongoing transformation.

Strategic Plan Annual Report 2026

The fourth and final annual update of the council's current Strategic Plan was noted. This report provided an update on progress towards delivering the Strategic Plan priorities and outcomes for the third year of its term. No specific decisions were required as part of this report.

Nomination for Appointment of Local Authority Governor - St Scholastica Catholic Primary School

The Cabinet approved the nomination of Davina Attara as a Local Authority Governor for St Scholastica Catholic Primary School, with an effective date of 10 March 2026. The appointment to the Governing Body remains a matter for the Governing Body itself at its next meeting. This decision follows the process set out in the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012, which allows local authorities to nominate individuals for these positions.

Other Business

The Cabinet approved the recommendations from the Restricted Minutes of the Previous Meeting of Cabinet and the Unrestricted Minutes of the Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee. A decision was made to exclude the press and public during the discussion of remaining agenda items on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information. No questions from the public were received.