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Hackney Council has adopted a new plan to ensure that as Dalston continues to grow, the town centre community will benefit.The Dalston Plan aims to protect the much-loved character of Dalston, support local businesses, create a greener town centre and ensure that new homes and workspaces are created.As well as guiding new development to benefit the town centre community over the coming years, it protects the future of Ridley Road street market and Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, and looks to improve public spaces.Shaped by the views and ideas of thousands of local residents and businesses through the ‘Dalston Conversation’, the Plan ensures that any changes in Dalston respect, retain and enhance the area’s unique character. It prioritises:Safeguarding the long-term future of Ridley Road street market, through improvements to public spaces along the street, and ensuring any new development incorporates new shops and doesn’t result in the loss of street market pitches. A £1 million upgrade of the market was completed in 2023;Guaranteeing that much-loved green spaces such as Dalston Eastern Curve Garden remain as community assets;Building new homes, including plans for genuinely affordable homes at Kingsland Shopping Centre, alongside new workspace and community spaces;Supporting Dalston’s creative and night-time economy by helping cultural and creative spaces thrive while making the area safer and more inclusive;Investing in green and sustainable transport such as improving cycling and pedestrian routes to help tackle the impact of climate change and improve air quality.Read the Dalston Plan here

Young people’s achievements were marked at an annual award ceremony yesterday evening at Hackney Town Hall.The Hackney Youth Awards celebrates young people from 6 to 19 (or up to 25 SEND), who have been nominated by youth workers, partner organisations and commissioned providers in the borough.Nominations were received across eight categories, which were reviewed and shortlisted by an independent panel of young people who supported organising the event, along with Young Hackney staff and Young Hackney Event Ambassadors. More than 250 guests attended the event, including event nominees and their families, which is now in its 9th year. Deputy Mayor Cllr Bramble, and Cllr Shelia Suso-Runge, the Speaker of the Council, attended the evening, along with other senior members of the council.The event was hosted by Martha Newman, one of the Young Speakers of Hackney & Romeo Bremmer, a Hackney Youth Parliament Member, who was also the senior winner of the Inspirational Young Person Award. When asked about the awards, Romeo said:  ”Living and growing up in Hackney, I see so many amazing things that young people are doing and recognising [that] is so important.”Noah Schwartz, winner of the Young Explorer Award, spoke about about it felt like to win an award:  ” It's such an incredible opportunity to be able to go on that stage and see something that I did be celebrated (...). I think knowing that our achievements have been seen (...) really makes us feel like we can do more in the future.”Audience members were treated to a thrilling group dance performance by E-Kidz, who hail from Concorde Youth Hub and a solo singing performance from Makaiya during the night too. The full list of winners from the 9th Hackney Youth Award.Positive Choice & Achievement Award: Junior winner: Rushane RaymondSenior winner: Sheniyah RileyYoung Explorer Award:Junior winner: Yasser Ilyas SaidaniSenior winner: Noah SchwartzCreativity, Innovation & Ambition Award: Young Hackney Ending Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG): Young Leaders projectTamba Ngegba Young Leader Award: Chelsey MurphyProject of the Year Award: Leaside Year of Partnerships 2024Outstanding Volunteer Award:Junior winner: Aima MohamoudSenior winner: Serena KamaraOvercoming Adversity Award:Junior winner: Dean PluckSenior winner: Oscar WarrInspirational Young Person Award:Junior winner: Malu Wilson-PereiraSenior winner: Romeo Bremmer

Today’s Spring Statement shows the severe financial constraints the government is working under – a challenge I know well, having to balance the Council’s budget in a time of rising demand and competing pressures.What is clear is that it will take time for the government to reverse more than a decade of underinvestment in public services. But despite the challenging decisions being made, we can see a strong direction of travel in terms of housing ambition and also welcome the continuation of essential crisis support that will help us to meet some of the urgent needs faced in Hackney. Just this week, the Chancellor announced a £2 billion injection of new grant funding to deliver up to 18,000 new social and affordable homes. New homes are desperately needed in Hackney and I’ll be working with the GLA to secure as many as possible for our borough. Earlier this month the Department for Work and Pensions confirmed how much Hackney will receive in Household Support Fund (HSF) grant funding for the coming financial year. HSF enables the Council to help those experiencing financial hardship in the borough through holiday food support for families eligible for free school meals, crisis payments to children and their families known to our Children’s Social Care services, refugees with the right to remain in the UK, and residents living in temporary and supported accommodation.Crisis funding has been vital for supporting Hackney’s residents, but we know that sustainable, long-term funding for local government is essential. In the recent funding settlement, the Government provided Hackney with an extra £25 million to support our communities over the coming year. Whilst it does not reverse the harm inflicted on public services by the previous government, it has enabled the Council’s finances to remain on stable footing and maintain initiatives such as the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which cuts council tax bills for over 17,000 low income households.In Hackney, we will always do all that we can to help residents who need additional support. For me that has meant upholding our commitment to early help and intervention for children with special educational needs and disabilities and recognising how important it is to continue this support in preparing for adulthood. We are also well placed to build on the Government drive to support people into work. We have a strong track record in supported internships, supported employment and apprenticeships. This month has already seen the launch of the Green Skills Hub, an exciting partnership with the London Legacy Development Corporation and Build East Skills Centre, which will support local people from diverse backgrounds to develop skills in retrofitting and sustainable construction, helping them secure long-term sustainable jobs. Hackney Council and my administration remain ambitious for our borough, tackling the housing crisis, poverty and climate change.This spring we will bring our local Economic Development Plan and Circular Economy Strategy to Cabinet for approval, demonstrating how we will shape inclusive growth locally, working together for a greener, healthier and fairer Hackney for all.Caroline WoodleyMayor of Hackney

An action plan to ensure Hackney Council builds on its success over the last two decades has been agreed by the Council’s Cabinet after a report praised Hackney as “an inclusive, exciting and ambitious council, committed to delivering for its residents.”The Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge report has recognised Hackney Council as a strong, high-performing Council, highlighting its understanding of communities in the borough, its ambitions for addressing inequality, and the positive outcomes delivered for residents. The report has been published after a team of senior officers and councillors from other UK councils carried out a four-day visit to Hackney, meeting over 100 councillors, staff, partners and residents.The report also provides valuable recommendations to help the Council build on its strengths, including suggestions on addressing the urgency of the Council’s financial challenges, working with external partners, supporting elected members, and transforming how the Council works to deliver the changes needed.Read moreLGA Corporate Peer Challenge ReportHackney’s Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan ReportHackney’s Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan Report (accessible version)