Key Points
- Zoë Garbett wrote her first Hackney Gazette column as Mayor of Hackney and said it was a privilege to do so as a longstanding resident, councillor and activist.
- She said Hackney had made history by giving the Green Party overall control of the council for the first time.
- The column says the council is working to turn an empty council-owned building into a community gym as part of its “Who Owns Hackney” investigation.
- Garbett said the council is speeding up repairs and using drones to reduce the need for intrusive scaffolding on council blocks.
- She said a £3.5 million cost-of-living fund has been launched to support low-income households through Hackney’s voluntary organisations.
Hackney (East London Times) July 18, 2026 – As reported by Zoë Garbett of the Hackney Gazette, the Mayor of Hackney used her first column to set out the council’s early priorities, including housing repairs, community use of council property and support for low-income residents. Garbett framed the column as both a personal milestone and a political moment, noting that Hackney had elected the Green Party into overall control of the council for the first time.
Why did Zoë Garbett describe writing the column as a privilege?
Garbett said that, as a longstanding resident, councillor and activist, writing her first Hackney Gazette column in the role of mayor was a privilege. Her remarks placed the column in the context of her long connection to the borough and her first months leading the council.
She also pointed to the Green Party’s victory as a significant vote of confidence from local residents. The column presents that result as the starting point for a programme focused on practical delivery rather than symbolic change.
What is the council doing with empty buildings?
One of the central points in the column is the council’s plan to repurpose an empty council-owned building into a new gym for the community. Garbett said this would be the first example of the council’s “Who Owns Hackney” investigation, which is intended to identify space that can be made available to local people.
The announcement links property use with community access, suggesting the council wants to bring underused buildings back into active public life. The column does not give further detail on the building itself, but it presents the project as an early test of the new administration’s approach.
How is Hackney dealing with repairs and scaffolding?
Garbett said the council is speeding up repairs across Hackney, including on council blocks where residents have complained about disruptive scaffolding. She said drones are being used to reduce the amount of overbearing scaffolding needed, which she described as a measure that can disrupt daily life.
The emphasis in the column is on making repairs more efficient while limiting inconvenience for tenants and leaseholders. This part of the statement suggests the council is trying to balance maintenance work with the experience of people living in affected buildings.
What support has been announced for households?
The mayor said Hackney has launched a £3.5 million cost-of-living fund to support low-income households. According to the column, the money will be delivered through Hackney’s voluntary organisations, which already play a major role in local support services.
The funding is presented as a response to financial pressure on residents and as part of the council’s wider social support offer. Garbett did not set out the full breakdown of the fund in the text provided, but she identified it as one of the administration’s immediate actions.
Background
Hackney Council’s current direction is being shaped by the Green Party’s first period of overall control in the borough. Garbett’s column uses that political change to introduce early policy priorities, especially on housing, public space and help for residents facing higher living costs.
The “Who Owns Hackney” investigation appears to be part of a broader effort to review council assets and identify practical uses for empty space. The column also reflects a wider local government focus on repair backlogs, estate maintenance and community access to services.
Prediction
For Hackney residents, these measures may lead to more visible use of vacant council property, quicker repair work and targeted help for households under financial strain.
If the gym project, repair changes and cost-of-living support are delivered as described, they could improve confidence in the new administration among tenants, community groups and low-income families. The impact will depend on how quickly the council can turn the promises into day-to-day results across the borough.
