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.
Corporate Committee - Wednesday 18 March 2026 6.30 pm
March 18, 2026 at 6:30 pm Corporate Committee View on council websiteSummary
Open Council Network is an independent organisation. We report on Hackney and are not the council. About us
The Corporate Committee of Hackney Council met on Wednesday 18 March 2026, approving a new Planning Code of Conduct for Councillors and noting updates on the Corporate Peer Challenge. The committee also deferred decisions on the Annual Performance review of Markets, Shop Fronts & Street Trading and the Fees and Charges review until the next municipal year.
Corporate Peer Challenge Update
The committee received an update on the Council's response to the recommendations from the Local Government Association's (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC). The initial CPC took place in September 2024, with a follow-up visit in October 2025. The Council accepted all eleven recommendations and developed an Action Plan. The progress review report in late 2025 acknowledged significant progress, noting a renewed sense of confidence and organisational reset,
stronger alignment between Mayoral priorities and corporate delivery, improved governance, progress on transformation and digital recovery, and strengthened partnership and economic development activity. The CPC recommendations have been integrated into the Medium-Term Financial Plan, the Transformation Programme, and the new Strategic Plan. The formal engagement with the LGA peer team is now complete.
Planning Code of Conduct
A new Planning Code of Conduct for Councillors was approved. This code aims to ensure that planning decisions are made openly, impartially, with sound judgement, and for justifiable reasons. It applies to all Councillors involved in the planning process, including informal occasions. The new code replaces the existing Planning Code of Practice and has been expanded to cover all councillors, not just those on the Planning Sub-Committee. Key objectives include providing clarity and advice to elected councillors, ensuring impartial decision-making, and protecting the council and individual members from allegations of unfairness. The code addresses training requirements, councillor and officer roles, ward councillor roles, interests, gifts and hospitality, predisposition, predetermination and bias, pre-application and post-submission discussions, lobbying, officer reports, site visits, officer presentations, public speaking, permitted considerations for decisions, voting, deferral of applications, the political whip, planning appeals, planning enforcement, and review of previous decisions. The code will be reviewed annually, and the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Assistant Director Planning and Building Control, has been delegated authority to make any necessary changes, including those to comply with statutory requirements for future training.
Annual Performance Report of the Noise Service 2024/25
The committee noted the annual performance report for the Noise Service for the period of January to December 2025. The report details the volume and types of noise reports received, including those related to music, construction, and anti-social behaviour. The service integrates statutory noise nuisance and noise arising from anti-social behaviour to ensure appropriate action is taken. The report highlights the use of the NoiseWorks case management system, which allows residents to log reports and view their case progress online. It also details the operational challenges of the out-of-hours service, including unpredictable demand and the resource intensity of dealing with complex cases. The report includes detailed charts breaking down noise reports by type and by ward, as well as identifying noise hotspots. The report also covers Temporary Event Notices (TENs), noting that Hackney receives a disproportionately high number, and discusses construction site noise, with a significant increase in complaints over recent years.
Annual Performance Review of Markets, Shop Fronts & Street Trading
This item was deferred until the 2026/27 municipal year.
Fees and Charges Review
This item was also deferred until the 2026/27 municipal year.
Corporate Committee Work Programme 2025/26
The committee noted the latest draft of its work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year. The work programme includes planned discussions on various reports and reviews throughout the year.
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.
-
Corporate Peer Challenge update
Recommendations ApprovedThe Corporate Committee of Hackney Council decided to note the contents of the report on 18 March 2026. The report provided an update on the Council's response to recommendations from the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge. Mitigations are in place through strengthened governance, financial boards, and transformation oversight.
-
Consideration of Minutes Of The Previous Meeting and actions from the previous meeting
Recommendations ApprovedThe Corporate Committee of Hackney Council approved the minutes of their previous meeting held on 12 November 2025. The committee also approved the Pay Policy Statement for Chief Officers 2026/27. The Assistant Director Planning and Building Control will provide further guidance on supporting residents and businesses in the planning process and amend the section on lobbyists in the new Planning Code of Conduct.
-
Annual Performance review of Markets, Shop Fronts & Street Trading
Recommendations ApprovedThe Corporate Committee of Hackney Council on Wednesday 18 March 2026 approved recommendations. The item was deferred until the 2026/27 municipal year.
-
Planning Code of Conduct (for the Hackney Constitution)
Recommendations ApprovedThe Corporate Committee of Hackney Council approved the new planning code of conduct for Councillors on 18 March 2026. The committee also delegated authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Assistant Director Planning and Building Control, to make changes to the code.
-
Annual Performance Report of the Noise Service 2024/25
Recommendations ApprovedThe Corporate Committee of Hackney Council noted the Annual Performance Report of the Noise Service 2024/25 on 18 March 2026. The report provided an update on noise nuisance for the period January to December 2025.
-
Corporate Committee Work Programme 2025/26
Recommendations ApprovedThe Corporate Committee of Hackney Council decided to note the latest draft of the Corporate Committee work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year on 18 March 2026. The work programme includes items such as the Environmental Enforcement Annual Performance Report, Business Regulation Service Delivery Plans, and Corporate Peer Challenge updates.
-
Fees and charges review
Recommendations ApprovedThe Corporate Committee of Hackney Council deferred the fees and charges review until the 2026/27 municipal year. This decision was made on 18 March 2026.
Attendees
Topics
No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.
Meeting Documents
Agenda
Additional Documents