Mayor of Hackney responds to government Spending Review

In Hackney, we have one of the most ambitious programmes for building new Council homes in the country – but we know we need to do more, and have called for help from central government through the Securing the Future of Council Housing campaign. That’s why the overall increase to local government funding and the £39bn committed to affordable housing announced in the spending review is so welcome. 

Not only will a fair share of this funding support my ambition to build 1,000 new social rent homes for the borough, but also the promise of multi-year settlements, including a 10-year social rent settlement, gives us greater certainty in managing our 32,000 council-managed homes as we hit the crunch point for London council housing finances. 

Funding announced for children’s services, schools and SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) support will ensure we continue to get help to children early. It’s been good to see steadily increasing support from this government for family hubs, breakfast clubs and, alongside the Mayor of London, a firm commitment to free school-meals. I will continue to push for more to be done to lift children out of poverty and to ensure children who need specialist support do not hit a cliff-edge when they reach adulthood. 

I also welcome the commitments set out in the review to funding energy and meeting net zero targets. To cut bills, tackle fuel poverty and accelerate to net zero, the government is funding the Warm Homes Plan with a total of £13.2 billion. I will continue to roll out community energy and decarbonisation projects in Hackney that reduce residents’ bills.

I join Sadiq Khan in calling for London’s fair share of any future infrastructure investment, which would support growth not just here but nationwide. London Councils is also clear that any changes to the future of local government funding must continue to acknowledge the unique pressures we face in the capital, such as the enormous cost of temporary accommodation.

The spending review shows a government that has listened to many of the concerns we’ve raised and, despite the difficult financial picture nationally, is ready to address the challenges.

Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney