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Council news
New Cabinet and Member Champion roles announced as part of changes to Council’s Cabinet
20th May 2024
Mayor of Hackney, Caroline Woodley, has announced three new Cabinet and Deputy appointments and six Member Champions to help Hackney Council realise its commitments to becoming a fairer, greener, healthier and safer borough that works for every child in Hackney.The changes were announced by the Mayor on 15 May at her first annual council meeting since being elected to the role.Former Deputy Cabinet member Councillor Sade Etti will now serve as a full Cabinet member for Housing Needs and Homelessness, while Councillor Sam Pallis and Councillor Joe Walker will provide additional support as Deputy Cabinet Members.Councillor Pallis will oversee the work around developing an inclusive economy, focusing on empowering local businesses, cooperatives, and social enterprises, as well as fostering community wealth building. Councillor Walker will be the Deputy Cabinet Member for Strengthening Neighbourhoods, with a particular emphasis on supporting the Voluntary & Community Sector and supporting resident engagement.Cllr Pallis is due to start his new role on Monday 3 June, while Cllr Walker will start his position over the summerThe six new member champions will each support the Cabinet by advocating key priorities: Climate Justice and Fairtrade Champion: Councillor Gilbert Smyth will advocate for a just transition and fairtrade.Disability and Inclusion Champion: Councillor Joseph Ogundemuren will work across services, supporting inclusion and the development of the disability forum.Green Infrastructure Champion: Councillor Sarah Young will champion new green initiatives as well as support delivery of the Green Infrastructure Strategy.Heritage Champion: Councillor Sheila Suso-Runge will help to ensure the stories of Hackney’s rich heritage reflect people as well as historic buildings and assets.No Place for Hate Champion: Councillor Ian Rathbone will highlight the ongoing work in Hackney to ensure it is no place for hate.SEND Champion: Councillor Anya Sizer will champion the cause of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), with a focus on social, emotional and mental health.None of the new appointments will incur additional special responsibility costs over the current Cabinet arrangements. A full list of the Cabinet and their roles and responsibilities can be found at https://hackney.gov.uk/cabinet
Hackney’s Citizens’ Climate Jury makes its recommendations
16th May 2024
Hackney’s first ever Citizens’ Climate Jury of 15 local people — including a carer, brewer and retired teacher — has made a series of recommendations on how the borough can prepare for hot weather and heatwaves, a key risk as London’s climate changes.Over the course of four workshops during April and May, participants heard evidence from a range of speakers, discussed the problems that extreme heat can cause, and explored ways that Hackney can prepare, adapt and respond to a changing climate.The group has now made a series of nine recommendations to the Council on how it and everyone in the borough can work together to prepare for the risk of heatwaves in a fair way that protects those who are most at risk. The jury’s recommendations focus on six key themes - greening; vulnerable groups; new builds; communications and community engagement; hospital care; and upgrading existing buildings. By July, Hackney Council will consider and publish their response to all the recommendations to let residents know how they will be taken forward as part of the Council’s Implementation Plan, which sets out how the borough will end its contribution to climate change in a way that is equitable and inclusive. One of the members of the jury, Addie, reflected on her initial expectations for taking part in the jury. She said: “When I heard about the opportunity, I was slightly surprised but also really pleased about the fact that the Council were really willing to create this kind of space to hear people’s views. It suggested to me that they’re actually willing to do something about it.”Another member of the jury, Archie, said: “At first I was a little sceptical, but actually it got off to a really strong start and everyone was engaging and it felt really open.”Participant Tonte added: “I think it's fantastic. We have people who came to speak to us about climate change, and at the end of the day we will make recommendations for the Council to support people in the community, which is great.”Members of the jury were selected by lottery to ensure the group broadly reflected the borough’s population across a number of characteristics including age, gender, and ethnicity. After learning more about some of the potential solutions and adaptations to extreme heat, participant Archie said: “I definitely feel much more hopeful about tackling the major effects of climate change.”Addie added: “I’m really embracing this opportunity. If I can manage to create a little change in my little borough, in my little part of London, then if Hackney can achieve it, what can other boroughs achieve?”The Citizens’ Climate Jury was designed and independently facilitated by public engagement specialists Involve. Participants were recruited by Sortition Foundation.For updates on the Council’s response to the jury’s recommendations, sign up to the Greener Hackney newsletter: https://hackney.gov.uk/newsletters What is a citizens’ jury? A citizens’ jury brings together a group of people, selected by lottery, who broadly reflect the entire community. The participants learn about a topic, discuss ideas, and then make recommendations about what should happen and how things should change. Citizens’ juries are particularly effective for addressing complex or controversial issues. Bringing in the informed judgement of the public helps decision makers to tackle these issues in a way that works for everyone.