Independent Socialists launch Hackney People’s Forum in challenge to council’s ‘top-down’ approach

Cllrs Fliss Premru, Penny Wrout and Claudia Turbet-Delof flanked by residents. Image: Independent Socialists

Hackney’s Independent Socialists have launched a new “people-powered” forum for residents to share their views on how opposition members should push for change from the Town Hall.

The group of councillors, all three of whom quit Hackney Labour last year, hailed the “successful start” to the initiative.

They say they welcomed roughly 60 attendees across the first two meetings, held in the borough’s north and south districts last week.

Residents shared their “urgent” concerns including on housing, climate, democracy, and the support available for young people and older generations.

The councillors say the responses have led to a list of actions that they have collectively agreed to support “until we see real and meaningful change”.

Speaking to the Citizen, joint leader Cllr Claudia Turbet-Delof (Victoria) said “people-powered change is coming for Hackney”.

“Unsurprisingly, housing and the security of having an affordable and decent home was a priority in both forums, along with action for climate, democratic processes, youth and support for older adults,” she added.

Residents voiced issues across the board. Image: Independent Socialists

Fellow Victoria ward councillor and joint leader Penny Wrout told the Citizen the group was “delighted by the turnout” given the cold weather.

“Overwhelmingly, housing was a focus, but [people] also want action on democracy and the way the council engages and consults with the community and encourages participation.

“Certainly, it’s very much a top-down approach. We feel, and I think people generally feel, that if you want to combat the wider disillusionment in politics, it has to be more grassroots-up.

“You have to listen to what people have to say and what they want — not tell them what you’re going to do and then implement it,” she said.

Cllrs Wrout, Turbet-Delof and Fliss Premru (Clissold) hope to hold the forums every few months to gather feedback on what they have achieved and to gauge people’s changing priorities.

In the last year, the Labour-run Town Hall has faced sharp criticism over critical services like housing, including how it has handled people’s concerns.

In November a consultation on the proposed closure of two children’s centres was quashed after the council lost a legal challenge and conceded that they had not been clear enough with residents about the plans.

The campaign group Morning Lane People’s Space (MOPS) notably quit the council’s engagement panel last October, citing a “corrupt and top-down” planning approach to the Tesco site at 55 Morning Lane.

But the local authority last year also set up a new Citizens’ Climate Jury, giving 15 residents a say in how the borough should shape its climate policies.

Hackney Council also runs neighbourhood panels, resident liaison groups and tenant scrutiny panels “to monitor the council’s housing performance”.

Mayor of Hackney Caroline Woodley said: “It is our top priority as a council to engage residents in our activities, using a wide range of venues to convene meetings, sharing information through our libraries and community hubs, as well as our website, the consultation hub, circulating e-newsletters, the Love Hackney newspaper and more.

“Whether addressing the climate crisis, energy bills and the cost of living or raising casework, we absolutely want to hear from residents and enable them to shape more effective ways of working.

“We have active councillors across parties out each week door-knocking, holding and attending ward meetings and events, organising walkabouts with officers and advice surgeries.”

Update: this article was amended at 10.10am on 14 January 2025 to add a comment from Mayor of Hackney Caroline Woodley.