Cabinet reshuffle triggers opposition concerns over housing failures

Hackney Greens co-leader Alastair Binnie-Lubbock. Photograph: Green Party

Opposition councillors have warned that Hackney faces an uphill battle to improve its social homes following the resignation of the Town Hall’s housing chief this week.

On Tuesday, Mayor of Hackney Caroline Woodley announced changes to her top team, with cabinet member for housing services and resident participation, Cllr Clayeon McKenzie, to “step away” from his role after nine years.

Taking over is deputy mayor and cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Guy Nicholson, who will cover housing management on top of his existing portfolio.

Reacting to the news, Hackney’s Green group told the Citizen they were “glad to see new leadership”, following their calls for Cllr McKenzie to step down last year.

“We wish Cllr McKenzie well, and thank him for his years of service in a challenging role,” said Green co-leader Cllr Alastair Binnie-Lubbock.

“It has been clear for a long time that Hackney’s housing services have been failing residents.

“We expect the report from the housing ombudsman, due to be published soon, will be damning.”

Cllr Binnie-Lubbock added that his party was concerned by the “appalling” conditions residents were living in, posing hazards to their health, while repairs were “often incomplete and required multiple visits”.

Meanwhile, the Independent Socialists – a splinter group of three councillors who left Hackney Labour last year – questioned the mayor’s decision to add the “monumental task” of fixing housing to Nicholson’s brief.

Speaking to the Citizen, they said: “We do not believe amalgamating the extremely challenging housing portfolio with an existing, busy, full-time cabinet portfolio – on top of deputy mayor duties – is the best the council can offer residents.”

They also raised concerns that mixing Nicholson’s new role with his current responsibilities could lead to “ill-considered further gentrification in an effort to make up budget deficits”.

L-R: Independent Socialists Penny Wrout, Claudia Turbet-Delof and Fliss Premru. Photograph: courtesy Hackney Independent Socialist Group

Nicholson’s fellow deputy mayor, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, is also taking on an expanded brief covering young people and children’s services.

Drawing attention to the state of the borough’s housing revenue account (HRA) and recent failings on repairs, maintenance and complaints, the Independents added: “The housing department has been trying to spend its way out of trouble, and now finds itself in debt on every budget item it lists.”

Last week, Hackney’s finance chief Cllr Robert Chapman responded to similar criticisms over the HRA.

He argued that the borough was not alone in facing these financial pressures, and stressed that council was dealing with higher demand and greater responsibility over housing.

This situation had been “made worse by the previous government”, he said.

The Green group echoed the Independents in acknowledging the “huge” job in front of the new housing chief, including meeting the borough’s net-zero housing target by 2040.

Cllr Binnie-Lubbock added that the council’s ambition for net-zero emissions across Hackney’s homes by 2040 would be “all but impossible if Labour makes proposed cuts to the housing budget”.

Hackney’s HRA has an overspend nearing £14m, driven mainly by legal disrepair cases, building maintenance and staffing costs.

To balance this account, earlier this year the cabinet approved plans for £3.4m in budget savings “on items that do not directly affect core services”.

This included charging new council tenants five per cent more on rent, while also claiming back money from residents’ credit balances that have been left untouched for more than six years.

Conservative councillor Simche Steinberger. Photograph: Josef Steen / free for use by LDRS partners

Cllr Simche Steinberger, deputy leader of Hackney’s Conservative group, was also concerned by the mayor giving her deputies a larger in-tray.

He added that cabinet members were taking too much steer from the council’s corporate staff.

Speaking to the Citizen, he said: “The whole, current system doesn’t help residents in Hackney. I don’t see much input from individuals.

“I see it as more officer-led. There needs to be more leadership.”

Following Tuesday’s announcement, the Citizen asked the council if Cllr McKenzie’s resignation was a consequence of the housing department’s failures during his tenure.

In 2024, the housing watchdog found the Town Hall guilty of “severe maladministration” over its handling of repairs, including delays in addressing damp, mould and leaks.

This fuelled the Greens’ calls for McKenzie to quit over “multiple failures” last summer.

The Citizen also asked the mayor to explain why adding to Cllr Nicholson’s already full plate would help the borough respond to pressure on housing services.

A council spokesperson said the Town Hall would not be adding any further comment.

Hackney Labour also declined to comment.

When asked, the local authority said it was awaiting confirmation from the housing ombudsman’s office regarding the publication date of the watchdog’s annual report.

The cabinet changes are set to take effect after the council’s annual meeting on 14 May.