Hackney Citizen

Council’s £51 million budget gap likely to increase if ‘Fair Funding Review’ left unchanged

Hackney Council’s £51 million budget gap is likely to increase as a result of government funding cuts, the Town Hall has warned. At a recent scrutiny panel meeting Naeem Ahmed, group director finance ...
Hackney Citizen

Council accused of ‘salami slicing’ library budgets

Whilst Hackney Council has been investing in its libraries, with major refurbishments of Hackney Central Library and Stoke Newington Library building underway, Hackney Unison has warned that the new ...
Hackney Citizen

Candice Lin, review – ‘These fabulations may be familiar to those of us who wince at the triviality of our own lives’

These fabulations may be familiar to those of us who wince at the triviality of our own lives spent scrolling and shopping for trinkets while others wreak unbearable harm on our neighbours through ...
Hackney Citizen

De-selection of ‘excellent’ councillors sparks allegations of Labour ‘lack of transparency’

In response, Councillor Sital Punja, deputy leader of Hillingdon Labour, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that “Hillingdon Labour are focused on one thing and that is winning next year’s ...
Hackney Citizen

‘Speechless’: Council tells NHS staff to stop writing letters in support of SEND families

Parents who fear their children’s lives are at risk due to unsuitable housing say they’ve been left “speechless” by their local council reportedly asking NHS staff to stop writing letters supporting ...
Hackney Citizen

Frank Watson review – ‘recounting the many minor mysteries of fraying English life in tucked-away spots’

The images in this show are mainly drawn from the series Circling Saturn and Rollercoasting which recount the many minor mysteries of fraying English life in tucked-away spots. Why does a low concrete ...
Hackney Citizen

‘Mould kills! Safe council homes now!’ – Protesters call for housing reform on first day of Awaab’s Law

To mark the first day of Awaab’s Law, the message ‘Mould Kills! Safe Council Homes Now!’ was projected onto the Town Hall building at 6pm. Awaab’s Law is named after Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old boy ...
Hackney Citizen

‘It’s not f***ing okay’ – Tempers flare at council debate over Hackney’s ‘ties’ with Israel

“It is not f***ing okay!”, said Cllr Alastair Binnie-Lubbock, arguing that the subtext of Labour’s amendments was tacit approval for Israel’s “murdering innocent people”. Though he apologised to the ...
Hackney Citizen

‘A litany of concerns’: Hackney councillors discuss Palantir contract with Homerton

Campaigners have raised a ‘litany of concerns’ regarding a potential contract between a Hackney hospital trust and a controversial US data company.
Hackney Citizen

‘Excessive’ sanctions at Hackney school left children ‘demoralised, without clear improvement in behaviour’

Parents allege that changes brought in by the Community Schools Trust – including excessive detentions for minor disobedience – have caused a decline in the mental health of pupils, and staff to leave ...
Hackney Citizen

Hackney Council CEO faces contempt of court charges in ongoing leaseholder dispute

Hackney Council’s CEO is facing charges of contempt of court after the local authority missed a legal deadline to carry out maintenance works, despite a judge’s warning. In her role as the borough’s ...