Hackney’s housing chief out in mayor’s cabinet reshuffle
Cllr Clayeon McKenzie. Photograph: Hackney Council
Hackney’s housing lead is to step down from the cabinet in May as part of a major reshuffle by borough leader Caroline Woodley.
Cllr Clayeon McKenzie (Labour, Hoxton) is to resign as cabinet member for housing services and resident participation after nine years in the role.
Alongside his current brief, Cllr Guy Nicholson (Labour, Homerton) will take over from McKenzie and serve as cabinet member for housing management.
In a statement yesterday, Mayor Woodley said: “Across the country, housing and children’s services have seen first hand the consequences of the previous government’s failed policies, which have resulted in increasing levels of need in our communities and huge pressures on public services.
“It is imperative to respond to these challenges in a way that best serves the residents of Hackney. I am therefore announcing a series of changes in how the council is administered.”
Cllr Anntoinette Bramble is also set to take on a larger brief covering children’s services and young people.
She will be assisted by Cllr Anya Sizer, who has been promoted to deputy cabinet member for families, early years and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
McKenzie is to leave a post he has “held with pride”, the mayor added, and will support the administration from the backbenches.
“I am personally incredibly grateful to Cllr McKenzie for his commitment and dedication to the people of Hackney,” Woodley said.
“He has been crucial in navigating the council through the obstacles placed in front of us by the national housing crisis, and has constantly advocated for our communities.”
The changes are to take effect after the council’s annual meeting on 14 May.
Hackney Greens are glad to see new leadership on Hackney housing services following our call for Cllr McKenzie to step down last year.
https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2024/07/25/green-councillors-hackney-housing-services-chief-quit-multiple-failures/
We wish Cllr McKenzie well and thank him for his years of service in a challenging role. It has been clear for a long time that Hackney's housing services have been failing residents. We expect that the report from the Housing Ombudsman due to be published soon will be damning. We have witnessed residents living in appalling conditions and housing that risks the health of their families. Repairs works are often incomplete and require multiple visits.
We remain concerned that the pace of retrofit, to help save residents money on heating, is just too slow. The new head of housing service improvement has a huge task ahead, which includes salvaging the target of net zero housing by 2040. This task will be all but impossible if Labour pushes ahead with proposed cuts to the housing budget. To fix a leaky roof or a failing service you need more investment not less. Residents are now expected to pay for historic mismanagement with increased service charges.
Overall responsibility falls to the Mayor we look forward to a statement from Mayor Woodley about what her new vision for housing improvement will be with this change of personnel.