Posts by Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter
Hackney couple could end up paying more in service charges despite High Court victory
John and Adenike Williams were previously awarded £20,000 in damages by Hackney Council for wrongly placing their children in foster care
Read MoreHackney Co-op slammed for damp and mould failures as Awaab’s Law comes into force
Housing Ombudsman says his latest report shows the need for a new law requiring landlords to fix hazards sooner
Read More‘It’s not f***ing okay’ – Tempers flare at council debate over Hackney’s ‘ties’ with Israel
The council has faced pressure from Green party and Independent Socialist councillors to end its twinning relationship with Haifa, but Hackney Labour party has accused its opponents of political game-playing
Read MoreCouncil chief executive hauled in front of judge as resident alleges contempt of court
A Hackney leaseholder alleges the council has breached a court-ordered deadline to complete works on his property in a long-running legal disrepair case
Read More‘Beautiful Gothic Dalston school shut last year – we want to turn it into art and music space’
Hackney Council listed Colvestone Primary School as an Asset of Community Value after shuttering it in 2024
Read More‘Speechless’: Council tells NHS staff to stop writing letters in support of SEND families
Hackney parents whose children have special educational needs and disabilities say they are shocked by the request seen in leaked emails
Read MoreRidley Road traders warn rent rise will force them out
Worries that proposals to raise licence fees could force them out for good
Read MorePopular Hackney venue teases plenty more gigs as council backs 5am closing time
Director of music and comedy theatre Evolutionary Arts Hackney (EartH) in Hackney says later hours will put an end to its ‘hand-to-mouth’ existence and support its long-term survival
Read MoreBroken lifts, loss of hot water and overdue repairs: Hackney Council pays out ‘astonishing’ £572,000 in compensation
Hackney councillor told officers she had gone two months without hot water in her housing block
Read More‘The spirit of a place’ – How Dalston painters and potters fought back to save studio block from closure
Hackney Council moved to sell off Ashwin Street’s creative workspaces earlier this year, but artists have now bought the site after refusing to give up
Read MoreCouncil says ‘no hard plans’ to close nurseries this year after legal challenge
Town Hall shelved plans to close two children’s centres, but questions linger over lessons learned from the debacle
Read MoreHackney Council more than doubles its debt in one year – but what is the Town Hall spending on?
Hackney Council’s borrowing is below average for London, but its debt burden is set to rise five-fold by 2028
Read MoreIconic Hackney estate made famous by rent campaign set for sweeping regeneration
New Era residents took on their former landlord and won – now their homes are due for large-scale refurbishment
Read More‘Ridiculous’: Council blocks juice bar from putting tables outside due to ‘encroachment’ on nearby park
Owner of Faith in Nature’s Juices says he doesn’t understand why tables and chairs stretching five metres are not in line with council policy
Read MoreFamilies warn they could quit Hackney after nursery fee hikes
Parents say the borough has become an unaffordable place to raise children
Read MoreHousing officers halt imminent strikes in hope of ‘good faith’ talks
Three further strikes set for late August ‘still on the table’ in case negotiations break down
Read MoreHackney Council staff set strike dates over ‘Deliveroo-style’ housing service
Housing officers are fearful of the Town Hall’s restructure plans and claim around 9 in 10 jobs in their team are at risk
Read MoreHackney man given court summons over council tax despite paying his bill
Hackney Council cancelled the summons as a “gesture of goodwill” but resident Earl Dawkins says they should apologise
Read MoreFor years we’ve fought’: Hackney studio branded ‘Abbey Road of photography’ beats third demolition bid
Holborn Studios is not to be demolished, after the High Court overruled the Planning Inspectorate
Read MoreWarehouse venue got twice as many supporters as objectors over dancefloor plan – it wasn’t enough
The number of representations made to the licensing committee in support of the application was double those opposing
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