Here's a summary of the Hackney Council Cabinet meeting:

The Cabinet approved a grant from Sport England to boost physical activity, new fees for markets and street trading, an updated financial plan for the Kings Hall Leisure Centre refurbishment, and a strategy to eliminate violence against women and girls. The Cabinet also heard a deputation regarding the impact of traffic schemes on Graham Road.

Hackney Place Partnership: Sport England Grant

The Cabinet approved a fourth variation to the existing grant funding agreement with Sport England and accepted a Lottery Grant of £1,680,376. They also accepted an in-principle funding award of £293,000, which is ring-fenced to improve multi-use games areas (MUGAs) in the borough. The Hackney Place Partnership aims to increase physical activity as a contributor to good health.

Markets, Street Trading, and Shop Front Fees and Charges

The Cabinet approved the implementation of revised fees and charges for permanent and temporary street trading, shop fronts, and storage, as detailed in Appendix 2a_ Proposed fees and charges for street trading Shop Fronts To be implemented January 2 and Appendix 2b_ Proposed fees and charges for street trading Shop Fronts To be implemented January 2, starting 1 January 2026. This decision follows a statutory consultation period and is in accordance with Section 32 of the London Local Authorities Act 1990.

The approved measures include:

• Phased repayment of arrears and transition to real-time payment by 2027/28.
• Continued application of annual CPI-based increases, passed onto traders from 1 April 2026, and every year thereafter.
• Application of the annual North London Waste Authority (NLWA) disposal charge, passed onto traders starting 1 April 2026, and every year thereafter.

Authority was delegated to the Group Director, Housing, Climate & Economy, in consultation with the Cabinet Member, Councillor Susan Fajana-Thomas OBE, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, to finalise any minor adjustments before implementation.

The report before the cabinet stated that:

Hackney's markets and street trading spaces are the beating heart of our local economy, supporting hundreds of small and micro-businesses, celebrating our diverse communities, and contributing to the vibrancy of our high streets.

The report also stated that the changes were about securing the long term future of Hackney's markets, not short term savings.

The decision was made because the council is legally required under Section 32 of the London Local Authorities Act 1990 to recover the full costs of operating its markets and street-trading services from licence fees rather than through the General Fund.

The report noted that over the past five years, no inflationary or cost-based uplifts have been applied, despite significant increases in the service's core operating costs, including:

• Waste-management charges rising from £667k in 2020/21 to £926k in 2025/26.
• Electricity costs almost doubling since 2021/22, reaching around £250k annually.
• Increased equipment, infrastructure, and compliance costs.

The report stated that continuing to absorb these costs would generate an unlawful deficit.

The report also stated that the revised modelling forecasts total revenue of £3.478 million in 2025/26 based on current occupancy levels, which is expected to eliminate the historic £193,000 subsidy, cover the £258,000 operational cost increases for waste & cleansing, and offset £154,000 in electricity and infrastructure inflation.

The report included a table that broke down the revenue by department:

The report stated that without the proposed increases, the service would face an estimated shortfall of £450k–£600k in 2025/26, breaching statutory requirements and risking cuts to service provision.

The report also stated that benchmarking shows Hackney's fees remain mid-range compared to London boroughs and private operators, with Broadway Market and Ridley Road still priced competitively for their footfall levels.

The report included a summary of the consultation responses, which showed that the key themes from feedback from phase one centred primarily on:

• Transparency of waste management recharges
• Rising operational costs (including electricity and equipment)
• Fairness in site-by-site apportionment of fees
• Desire for improved communications and more detailed cost breakdowns
• Suggestions for waste compactor or greener disposal methods

The report stated that in response to the consultation feedback, the Council:

• Established a Waste Costs Working Group, bringing together representatives from Markets, Waste Services, Legal, Finance, and trader groups.
• Held five online and in-person meetings with stakeholders and the working group members
• Visited Millfields Depot (8 July 2025)
• Carried out and published a revised Waste Audit (March 2025)
• Reassessed the recharge model, which informed the recalibration of the original recharge proposal, reducing the overall Markets waste charge from £1.325m to £925,986.
• Conducted a second consultation on a reduced increase in fees & charges.

The report stated that this represents a reduction of approximately £400,000 in costs originally proposed to be recharged to the service.

The report also stated that the Feedback received also led to:

• Reduction of waste recharges by £400k.
• Introduction of phased payment reform.
• Deferred implementation from 1 April 2025 to 1 January 2026 to support transition.

The report stated that a second consultation was launched on 4 September 2025 and closed on 15 October 2025, and that this consultation incorporated updated financial data, a revised waste cost model, and proposed amendments to storage and electricity charges to better reflect trader feedback.

The report stated that over 120 traders and stakeholders participated across five in-person drop-in sessions and three online meetings, and that feedback was constructive, with participants welcoming the revised waste cost allocations and increased engagement, while also raising the following points:

• A desire for greater visibility of how staffing costs are distributed between market sites.
• Requests to delay implementation until 2026 to allow financial planning and further operational adjustments.
• Ongoing concerns from some traders regarding electricity reliability, gully cleaning, and anti-social behaviour in specific market areas.

The report included a table summarising the key issues raised through the consultation process and how they have been addressed in this report.

The report stated that a number of traders and Members, including Councillor Zoë Garbett, raised concerns that not all issues (particularly waste and staffing) were fully resolved prior to reconsultation, and that officers recognise this feedback and have committed to continuing work on these items through the Markets-Waste Governance Group.

The report stated that all proposals have been reviewed and approved as legally compliant with the London Local Authorities Act 1990.

The report included a risk assessment, which stated that based on historic trends, a 5–10% surrender rate post-implementation would equate to a potential income reduction of £130,000–£260,000, and that this has been modelled into a risk-adjusted forecast and will be reviewed monthly as part of the budget monitoring process currently in place with the Council's finance team.

The report also stated that any trader facing financial hardship as a result of the new fees will be able to request support via a hardship application process or explore entry into supported trading schemes (e.g. Trading Places).

The report included an implementation plan, which is designed to ensure that the introduction of revised fees and charges is smooth, transparent, and equitable, and that by phasing in arrears recovery, providing clear communications, and offering direct support, the council is reducing the risk of disruption to trader operations and market vibrancy.

The report stated that the implementation of the revised fees and charges will follow a phased programme to ensure stability, clarity and continued engagement with traders, and that in response to the consultation feedback the following support measures will be implemented:

• Transitional Period: Arrears will be recovered over 11 months to minimise impact on traders' cash flow.
• Hardship Fund: Available to traders facing acute financial difficulty, assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• Communications Toolkit: Multilingual comms, FAQs, step-by-step guides, and infographics to explain fee changes.
• Direct Officer Support: Drop-ins, phone lines, and email support to answer queries and troubleshoot issues.
• Digital Enablement: Procurement of an online booking and payment system for temporary traders, improving accessibility and efficiency.

Kings Hall Leisure Centre Refurbishment Project

The Cabinet approved capital costs for the Kings Hall Leisure Centre Refurbishment project of up to £90.92m, an increase of £19.478m from Cabinet’s approval on 30 September 2024, and noted the funding streams and revenue impact associated with this.

Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2025-2029

The Cabinet approved the Eliminating Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG) Strategy 2025-2029. Hackney's current Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2022 - 2025 needs to be replaced, and the new strategy will be informed by new national and MOPAC strategies, expected to be published in autumn 2025.

Emergency Planning & Response Review

The Cabinet considered the Emergency Planning & Response Review and Sean Ruth Review London Borough of Hackney final report V3.2.

The Local Government Association (LGA) provides guidance for councillors on civil emergencies.

Update to the Planning Enforcement Policy

The Cabinet considered the Update to the Planning Enforcement Policy.

Landlord Licensing Consultation Outcome and Implementation Decision

The Cabinet considered the Landlord Licensing Consultation Outcome and Implementation Decision.

Future Shoreditch Area Action Plan Proposed Submission Version

The Cabinet considered the Future Shoreditch Area Action Plan Proposed Submission Version.

Hackney Economic Development Plan and Circular Economy Strategy

The Cabinet considered the Hackney Economic Development Plan and Circular Economy Strategy.

Public Spaces Protection Order (Wick Woodland, Hackney Marshes and the surrounding areas) 2025

The Cabinet considered the Public Spaces Protection Order (Wick Woodland, Hackney Marshes and the surrounding areas) 2025.

Update on the City and Hackney Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy, 2024-29

The Cabinet received an update from the Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care, Voluntary Sector and Culture on the City and Hackney Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy, 2024-29.

Local Authority Member appointment to the New Regents College Management Committee

The Cabinet considered the Local Authority Member appointment to the New Regents College Management Committee.

Deputation: Impact of traffic schemes on Graham Road and call for urgent investment

The Cabinet heard a deputation led by Sophie Jobson, introduced by Councillor Zoë Garbett, Dalston Ward Councillor, regarding the impact of traffic schemes on Graham Road and calling for urgent investment.