The Council meeting on Thursday 28 May 2026 saw the election of the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the municipal year 2026/27, alongside the formal noting of the Mayoral and Council election results. The meeting also established the composition of the Cabinet, its committees, and the broader structure of the Council's committees, commissions, panels, and boards for the upcoming year.

Election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker

Councillor Antoinette Fernandez was elected as the Speaker for the Municipal Year 2026/27, and Councillor Nisa Sharif was elected as the Deputy Speaker. A vote of thanks was extended to the outgoing Speaker, Councillor Sharon Patrick.

Mayoral and Council Election Results 2026

The Council formally noted the results of the Mayoral and Councillor elections held on 7 May 2026. These results confirmed Zoë Garbett as the elected Mayor of Hackney, alongside the election of numerous councillors across various wards, including Soraya Adejare and Florence Schechter for Brownswood ward, Sam Mathys, George Sheldon Grün, and Rachel Maguire for Clissold ward, and Charlie Lawrie, Ian David Sharer, and Emma Neath for Cazenove ward. Other newly elected councillors included Zoë Garbett and Rachel Nkiessu-Guifo for Dalston ward, Gemma Per-Bo and Paul Anderson for De Beauvoir ward, Izzy Castello-Cortes, Pascale Frazer-Carroll, and James Tilden for Hackney Central ward, Alastair Binnie-Lubbock, Laura-Louise Fairley, and Dylan Law for Hackney Downs ward, Aaron Briddon, Tyrone Scott, and Jam Anker for Hackney Wick ward, Siobhan MacMahon, Charlene Concepcion, and Nisa Sharif for Haggerston ward, Zoe Holman, Anna Lynch, and Robert Chapman for Homerton ward, Kam Adams, Janet Lee, and Mihai Chereji for Hoxton East & Shoreditch ward, Nicholas Blincoe, Ben Lucas, and Jas Crowe for Hoxton West ward, Abi Kingston, Jasmine O'Connor, and Emmanuel Onapa for King's Park ward, Antoinette Fernandez, Bettina Maidment, and Sally Zlotowitz for Lea Bridge ward, Brenda Puech, Anntoinette Bramble, and Kwame Otiende for London Fields ward, Ülgen Semerci and Cathy Troupp for Shacklewell ward, Simche Steinberger, Michael Levy, and Shaul Krautwirt for Springfield ward, Benzion Papier and Hershy Lisser for Stamford Hill West ward, Jacob Cable, Ifhat Shaheen, and Reiner Tegtmeyer for Stoke Newington ward, Rolf Dekker, Joanna Sumner, and Daniel Rea for Victoria ward, and Sarah Young and Florence Cullen Davies for Woodberry Down ward.

Composition of Cabinet and Council Committees

The Council noted the composition of the Cabinet and the appointment of Cabinet Members and Deputy Cabinet Members for the 2026/2027 Municipal Year, as well as the establishment of and appointments to Cabinet Committees. The Elected Mayor's Scheme of Delegation for the same period was also noted. The Council further resolved to establish its Committees, Commissions, Panels, and Boards for the 2026/2027 Municipal Year, approving the appointments to these bodies and the nominations for their Chairs and Vice-Chairs. This included the Appointments Committee, Audit Committee, Corporate Committee, Pensions Committee, Planning Sub-Committee, Standards Committee, Licensing Committee, and various Scrutiny Commissions and Panels. The composition of the Cabinet includes Mayor Zoë Garbett, with Councillor Dylan Law serving as Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Safer Homes and Housing Services, and Councillor Florence Schechter as Cabinet Member for Finance, Resident Services and Digital. Other Cabinet Members appointed include Councillor Alastair Binnie-Lubbock for Regeneration, Planning and Inclusive Neighbourhoods, Councillor Soraya Adejare for Children, Young People and Early Intervention, Councillor Jacob Cable for Climate, Clean Air, Energy and Transport, Councillor Sally Zlotowitz for Healthy Communities and Adult Social Care, Councillor Rachel Nkiessu-Guifo for Inclusive Economy, Skills, High Streets and Markets, and Councillor Sam Mathys for Culture, Nightlife, Resilience and Business Standards. Deputy Cabinet Members appointed include Councillor Laura-Louise Fairley for SEND Support and Councillor Abi Kingston for Homelessness Prevention and Temporary Accommodation.

Calendar of Meetings

The proposed calendar of meetings for the 2026/27 Municipal Year was approved, with the Director of Legal, Democratic and Electoral Services authorised to make any necessary changes to the schedule throughout the year.

Budget and Council Tax Report

The Council approved the budget for 2026/27, which included a 4.99% increase in Council Tax. This decision followed the rejection of proposed amendments from the Conservative Group, which sought a zero Council Tax rise, and the Green Group, which included increased funding for the community and voluntary sector, youth services, and libraries. The approved budget prioritised investment in libraries, street cleaning, housing delivery, tackling homelessness, children and education services, and environmental initiatives aimed at achieving Net Zero targets. The Council Tax requirement for 2026/27 was set at £124.236m, resulting in a Band D Council Tax of £1,549.79 for Hackney's services, with a total Band D Council Tax of £2,060.30 including the Greater London Authority precept.

The Right to Grow Motion

The Council unanimously adopted the principle of the right to grow on suitable council-owned land. This resolution aims to provide renewed focus on affordable, healthy food and sustainable production methods, acknowledging the cost-of-living crisis and the importance of community food growing for health, social justice, and climate action. The Council committed to working with local resident groups and external partners, such as Hackney Food Network and Incredible Edible, to identify suitable land and embed the principles of the right to grow across the borough. Amendments proposed by the Green Group and the Hackney Independent Socialist Collective Group, which sought to broaden participation and address systemic inequalities, were not carried.