Hackney Town Hall. Pic: Redlentil
A panel of local experts will be holding a Question Time-style debate to discuss Hackney’s future.
The council have organised the debate to allow Hackney residents to voice their concerns and ask questions about the boroughs future.
The “State of the Borough” debate is being held at City Academy to launch a new year-long residential engagement programme, during which the council aims to speak with thousands of local people about the rapid social and economic changes that have occurred in Hackney in recent years.
Hackney Mayor, Jules Pipe, who will be on the panel for the debate, said he believes the changes in Hackney have been positive, but an affordable housing crisis, a growing population and massive central government cuts to local public service budgets show that the Borough still faces many challenges.
Mayor Pipe said: “This is the beginning of a big conversation with residents about how we tackle all of that,”
“So much has changed in Hackney in recent years. We want to give local people the chance to share their thoughts and feelings about the change, and this debate is just the start of that … This is the beginning of a big conversation with residents about how we tackle all of that.”
David Hill, who runs the Guardian’s On London column, will chair the panel, he said: ”I have lived in Hackney for many years and all my children have been to Hackney schools. I think many people, like me, care very much about the future of this place, and I think this is a debate that is long overdue.”
“I hope that lots of local people will want to join us at City Academy for what promises to be a very interesting debate.”
Panellists for the debate also include academic and researcher Melissa Butcher; housing expert and policy maker Robbie de Santos; Tunde Okewale, barrister and patron of Hackney Community Law Centre; and Dr. Cheryl Day, headteacher of Clapton Girls’ Academy.
The event is open to all, but tickets are limited to 200. To book a ticket, click here, or call 020 8356 3009.
