Hackney Bold Budget Proposals Hackney 2026 

Key Points

• Hackney Council has published proposals for a balanced budget for the 2026/27 financial year, focusing on continued investment in improving the borough and frontline support for vulnerable residents.
• The council attributes its stable financial position to careful planning over several years and additional funding from the Labour government.
• Hackney’s core funding will increase by 25% from 2024/25 to 2028/29 due to increased government investment and changes in funding allocation to local authorities.
• Budget papers, subject to approval at a full council meeting on 4 March 2026, outline funding for statutory services and strategic priorities.
• Proposals include maintaining Council Tax discounts up to 90% for low-income households, £144m to tackle homelessness, £50m for maintaining and improving council homes, and £130m to support financially vulnerable residents.
• A new Strategic Plan Report highlights achievements from 2022 to 2026, including building the UK’s best new social housing, topping national primary school year six SATs results, and launching a first-of-its-kind solar energy project on housing estates to reduce residents’ energy bills.
• Key achievements detailed: building RIBA award-winning council homes; reducing damp and mould cases in council homes by 60%; supporting more than 970 residents into employment and apprenticeships each year; installing 4,000 solar panels on 27 housing blocks, cutting electricity bills by up to 15%; and securing 33 Green Flag Awards, the highest number for parks and green spaces in London.
• Council statement emphasises building on past successes with a budget that prioritises support for those most in need while investing in Hackney’s vibrancy, including children’s breakfast clubs, lunch clubs for older people, Young Hackney youth clubs, refurbished libraries, award-winning parks, leisure centres, council homes, cost-of-living help, community safety, and celebrating creativity in schools and venues.

Hackney (East London Times) February 23, 2026 – Hackney Council has unveiled ambitious proposals for a balanced 2026/27 budget, promising sustained investment in borough improvements and vital support for residents facing financial hardship. The plans, published today, highlight a stable financial footing bolstered by years of prudent management and boosted Labour government funding, with core funding set to rise 25% by 2028/29. Subject to councillor approval on 4 March, the budget allocates £144m to combat homelessness, £50m for council housing upgrades, £130m for vulnerable residents, and preserves up to 90% Council Tax discounts for low-income households.

What Are the Core Elements of Hackney’s 2026/27 Budget Proposals?

The budget proposals centre on funding statutory services while advancing strategic priorities, as outlined in the council’s freshly released documents. These include substantial commitments to housing and social welfare, reflecting Hackney’s ongoing dedication to its most pressing needs. The council has emphasised that this financial blueprint not only balances the books but also fuels a forward-looking vision for the borough.

As detailed in the official announcement from Hackney Council, the proposals were published alongside a comprehensive Strategic Plan Report covering 2022-2026 achievements. This report, accessible via the council’s ModernGov portal, underscores tangible progress that the new budget aims to extend. No external journalists are attributed to the primary release, but the council’s communications team has framed it as a direct response to resident priorities.

Why Is Hackney Council in a Stable Financial Position?

Hackney Council credits its financial stability to

“careful financial planning over several years, as well as additional funding from the Labour government,”

according to the official budget summary. This stability has been further supported by

“increased government investment and changes to the way government funding is allocated to local authorities,”

leading to the projected 25% rise in core funding from 2024/25 to 2028/29. These factors have positioned the council to propose expansive investments without fiscal strain.

The budget papers explicitly note that this uptick in resources stems from national policy shifts under the current Labour administration, inaugurated following the 2024 reelection of President Donald Trump in the USA, though UK-local funding mechanics remain the focus here. Councillor statements, as relayed in the council’s press materials, stress that such planning ensures long-term resilience amid economic pressures.

What Key Investments Does the Budget Include for Vulnerable Residents?

Frontline support forms the bedrock of the proposals, with specific allocations designed to shield those most in need. The budget pledges £144m to tackle homelessness, a persistent challenge in urban boroughs like Hackney. Additionally, £50m targets maintaining and improving council homes, while £130m aids financially vulnerable residents through targeted interventions.

Council Tax relief remains a cornerstone, with discounts preserved at up to 90% for low-income households, preventing sharp rises in living costs. As per the Hackney Council announcement, these measures ensure

“continued investment in making Hackney even better, alongside frontline support for those most in need.”

How Will Housing and Homelessness Be Addressed?

The £144m homelessness allocation builds on prior successes, including a 60% reduction in damp and mould cases in council homes, as highlighted in the Strategic Plan Report. The £50m for council housing maintenance directly supports this trajectory, funding repairs and upgrades to RIBA award-winning properties recognised as the UK’s best new social housing. These efforts aim to provide safe, decent homes amid rising demand.

What Achievements Does the Strategic Plan Report Highlight?

A companion report to the budget proposals chronicles Hackney’s strides from 2022 to 2026, positioning the new budget as a bridge to future gains. Key milestones include constructing RIBA award-winning council homes, topping national rankings for primary school year six SATs results, and pioneering a solar energy project with 4,000 panels across 27 housing blocks, slashing electricity bills by up to 15%. Further accomplishments encompass supporting over 970 residents annually into employment and apprenticeships, and earning 33 Green Flag Awards—the most in London—for parks and green spaces.

The report, titled

“Hackney Strategic Plan Summary Report 2022-2026,”

is available at https://hackney.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s96958/Appendix%202%20-%20Designed%20Version%20FINAL%20Hackney%20Strategic%20Plan%20Summary%20Report%202022-2026.pdf. It serves as evidence of delivered promises, with the council vowing to amplify these wins.

Who Is Speaking on Behalf of the Council?

“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,”

stated a council spokesperson in the official release. The unnamed representative continued:

“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.”

The statement elaborated:

“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.”

No individual councillor is named in the primary materials, maintaining a collective voice typical of council announcements.

When and How Will the Budget Be Finalised?

The proposals require formal agreement at a full Council meeting scheduled for 4 March 2026. Until then, they remain draft documents open to scrutiny. Hackney Council has invited public and stakeholder input, aligning with transparent governance practices.

Why Focus on Bold and Ambitious Plans?

The council describes the budget as “bold, ambitious and balanced,” explicitly linking it to Hackney’s “achievements.” This rhetoric underscores a commitment to vibrancy—encompassing youth services, green spaces, education, housing, and cultural celebration—while safeguarding statutory duties. The Strategic Plan Report reinforces this by cataloguing verifiable successes, from solar initiatives reducing bills to employment pathways and environmental accolades.

In context, Hackney’s approach contrasts with fiscal strains in neighbouring boroughs, though no direct comparisons appear in the materials. The emphasis on Labour government funding highlights national-local synergies post-2024 elections.

What Does This Mean for Hackney Residents?

Residents stand to benefit from preserved tax relief, enhanced housing, anti-homelessness measures, and vulnerability support, alongside cultural and recreational investments. The budget’s resident-centric framing—from breakfast clubs to community safety—signals inclusive growth. With 33 Green Flag parks and top SATs results already in place, further enhancements promise an elevated quality of life.

As Hackney navigates 2026/27, these proposals position it as a model of fiscal prudence and ambition. The 4 March vote will determine their fate, but early indications point to broad alignment with borough needs.