Mayor announces Cabinet changes
Mayor of Hackney, Caroline Woodley, has announced changes to her Cabinet to help deliver on her priorities to tackle the housing crisis, combat poverty, and maintain Hackney’s position as a climate leader.
The changes will see Deputy Mayor Guy Nicholson become Cabinet Member for Housing Management and Regeneration, taking responsibility for Housing Services in addition to his existing role. Cllr Clayeon McKenzie will step down after nine years as Cabinet Member for Housing Services and Resident Participation.
Deputy Mayor Anntoinette Bramble will expand her remit to cover children’s services and young people. She will be supported by Cllr Anya Sizer, who takes up a new role as Deputy Cabinet Member for Families, Early Years and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Local Government has over the last decade been subject to compounding national and local challenges that have put great pressure on services and budgets. Gripping these challenges has been my central focus since becoming Mayor and is why I have set out three key priorities: tackling the housing crisis and homelessness, combating poverty and inequality, and maintaining Hackney’s position as a climate leader.
It is also why I have asked my Deputy Mayors to take on further responsibilities in their leadership of two vital service areas - housing services and children’s services.
Across the country, housing and children’s services have seen first hand the consequences of the previous government’s failed policies, which have resulted in increasing levels of need in our communities and huge pressures on public services. It is imperative to respond to these challenges in a way that best serves the residents of Hackney. I am therefore announcing a series of changes in how the Council is administered. I will bring housing services into Deputy Mayor Guy Nicholson’s portfolio. I am also expanding Deputy Mayor Anntoinette Bramble’s children’s services and young people role.
In order to ensure appropriate support is in place across the breadth and depth of the children’s portfolio, I have asked Cllr Anya Sizer to take on a new role as Deputy Cabinet Member for Families, Early Years and SEND.
Over the past year, Cllr Sizer has excelled in her role as Member Champion for special educational needs and disabilities, and I am confident she will bring her knowledge and experience to bear in assisting Deputy Mayor Bramble in providing a high quality service for Hackney’s children and young people, and supporting me in my London Council's role as Shadow Executive for Children and Young People.
This also means that Cllr Clayeon McKenzie will be stepping away from his role as Cabinet Member for Housing Services and Resident Participation, resigning from a post he has held with pride for nine years and continuing to support this administration as a councillor.
I am personally incredibly grateful to Cllr McKenzie for his commitment and dedication to the people of Hackney. He has been crucial in navigating the Council through the obstacles placed in front of us by the national housing crisis, and has constantly advocated for our communities.
As Mayor, I am determined to do everything in my power to ensure Hackney residents are getting the services they need and deserve. I look forward to building on the good work of my colleagues, and seizing control of the challenges ahead.
Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney
The changes are set to take effect after the Council's Annual Meeting on 14 May.