We do not believe that amalgamating the extremely challenging housing portfolio with an existing, busy, full-time regeneration cabinet portfolio on top of  Deputy Mayor duties, is the best the Council can offer to residents. This confirms to us that Housing is yet to receive the priority it deserves.

Hackney’s Housing Services are £16 million overspent and the department has the Housing Regulator breathing down its neck, following failings on ​repairs, complaint handling, plus damp and mould.  The department has been trying to spend its way out of trouble, and now finds itself in debt on every budget item it lists.  As an opposition group we brought our concerns to the Mayor months ago and don’t understand why it’s taken her so long to act.  

Deputy Mayor Nicholson, now finds himself with a monumental task on his hands, and we fear that mixing his current regeneration portfolio with responsibility for maintaining council stock, could potentially lead to ill-considered ​further gentrification in an effort to make up budget deficits.

We also believe that in the name of democracy, the Cabinet and Chair​s of Scrutiny Commissions should reflect the democratic make-up of all political groups elected by Hackney residents.