A bold, ambitious and balanced budget to build on Hackney’s achievements: Council announces new proposals
Continued investment in making Hackney even better, alongside frontline support for those most in need, is at the heart of the Council’s budget plans for 2026/27.
Hackney Council has published its proposals to deliver a balanced budget for the next financial year.
Thanks to careful financial planning over several years, as well as additional funding from the Labour government, the Council has announced that it’s in a stable financial position.
As a result of several factors, including increased government investment and changes to the way government funding is allocated to local authorities, Hackney’s core funding will increase by 25% over the period from 2024/25 to 2028/29.
The budget papers, which are subject to agreement by councillors at a full Council meeting on 4 March, set out how the Council will fund its statutory services as well as deliver against its strategic priorities.
This includes plans to maintain Council Tax discounts up to 90% for households on low incomes, alongside £144m to tackle homelessness, £50m on maintaining and improving council homes, and £130m to support financially vulnerable residents.
The proposals were published alongside a new report setting out how the Council has delivered on its priorities over the last four years. Hackney’s Strategic Plan Report highlights major achievements between 2022 and 2026, including building the UK’s best new social housing, ranking top in the country for primary school year six SATs results and launching a first-of-its-kind solar energy project on housing estates to help reduce residents’ energy bills.
Key achievements include:
- Building RIBA award-winning council homes
- Damp and mould cases in council homes reduced by 60%
- More than 970 residents supported into employment and apprenticeships each year
- 4,000 solar panels on 27 housing blocks, helping cut electricity bills by up to 15%
- 33 Green Flag Awards, the highest number awarded to parks and green spaces in London
Read more about the Strategic Plan achievements in the summary report.
“We’ve achieved some incredible milestones over the last four years, and this budget is about building on those successes to make our borough even better for everyone.
“That means not only putting forward a balanced budget, but ensuring that it is serving a bold and ambitious plan that delivers real benefits for people in Hackney. This budget prioritises support for those most in need, while continuing to invest in what makes Hackney such a vibrant place to live.
“From children’s breakfast clubs to lunch clubs for older people, Young Hackney youth clubs, refurbished libraries, award-winning parks, leisure centres and council homes, help with the cost of living, community safety and the joy of celebrating Hackney’s creativity and talent in our schools and iconic venues, this is a budget shaped for Hackney’s residents.”
Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney