Key Points
- Hackney Mayor urges halt to library review
- Council receives unexpected funding for services
- Cabinet to reconsider proposed library cuts
- Local groups welcome pause in changes
- Debate continues over long‑term library funding
Hackney (Extra London News) February 6, 2026 – The Mayor of Hackney has asked the borough’s Cabinet to pause a controversial review of library opening hours after the council secured a fresh funding package aimed at protecting frontline services. As reported by Sarah Thompson of Extra London News, Mayor Caroline Woodley wrote to Cabinet members on Thursday, urging them to “suspend any decisions that would reduce access to our public libraries until the full implications of the new funding are understood”.
According to Thompson, the move comes after Hackney Council was notified of an additional revenue support grant from the government, which officials say could help avoid some of the service reductions previously proposed.
In her letter, the Mayor said: “Libraries are not a luxury; they are a vital part of our community infrastructure, especially for children, older residents and those on low incomes.”
The request has been welcomed by local campaigners and library‑user groups, who had warned that cuts to opening times would disproportionately affect vulnerable residents. As noted by David Nkosi of the Hackney Citizen, the Mayor’s intervention marks a significant shift in tone from earlier council statements that appeared to accept library‑hour reductions as inevitable.
Why did the Mayor intervene?
The Mayor’s intervention follows months of pressure from residents, councillors and trade unions over plans to review library hours as part of the council’s wider budget‑setting process. As reported by Sarah Thompson of Extra London News, the review was initially framed as a way to “modernise” library provision while managing a projected multi‑million‑pound shortfall.
According to Thompson, the proposed changes included potential reductions in opening hours at several branches, including Homerton, Clapton and Hackney Central, as well as questions about staffing levels.
In a statement to Extra London News, a council spokesperson said: “We were exploring options to balance the budget while minimising the impact on residents, and the library review was one of several measures under consideration.”
As detailed by David Nkosi of the Hackney Citizen, local campaigners argued that the review would hit the borough’s most deprived communities hardest.
Nkosi wrote: “Residents in wards with high levels of child poverty rely on libraries for homework clubs, job‑search support and warm spaces during winter.”
In her letter to Cabinet, Mayor Woodley cited these concerns and pointed to the new funding as a reason to pause.
She stated: “Given that additional resources are now available, it would be premature to lock in decisions that could permanently diminish access to our libraries.”
What does the funding boost mean?
The funding package referred to by the Mayor forms part of the government’s 2026–27 local‑government settlement, which allocates extra revenue support grants to several London boroughs. As reported by Sarah Thompson of Extra London News, Hackney is expected to receive several million pounds more than previously anticipated, although the exact figure has not yet been published in full.
According to Thompson, senior council officers have told Cabinet that the additional grant could reduce the scale of cuts required in adult‑social‑care, children’s services and other frontline departments.
In a briefing note cited by Thompson, officials said: “The revised settlement allows us to reassess some of the more difficult choices we had been facing.”
As noted by David Nkosi of the Hackney Citizen, the Mayor has argued that libraries should benefit from this reassessment.
Nkosi wrote: “The Mayor is making the case that libraries are not ‘discretionary’ services but essential hubs for education, digital access and social connection.”
In her letter, Mayor Woodley added: “We must use this new financial headroom to protect, not dismantle, the services that keep our communities strong.”
How have Cabinet members reacted?
Cabinet members have acknowledged the Mayor’s request but have stopped short of committing to a permanent halt to the library‑hours review. As reported by Sarah Thompson of Extra London News, Cabinet is due to meet later this month to discuss the revised budget and the implications of the new funding.
According to Thompson, some Cabinet members have expressed sympathy for the Mayor’s position but say they must first see detailed financial modelling before deciding whether to suspend the review.
As noted by David Nkosi of the Hackney Citizen, opposition councillors have seized on the Mayor’s intervention as evidence that earlier proposals were “rushed and ill‑considered”.
Nkosi quoted Councillor Amina Khan, Labour group leader, as saying: “If the Mayor now believes we can avoid cutting library hours, then the review should be shelved immediately.”
In a statement to Extra London News, the council’s Cabinet spokesperson said: “We are reviewing all options in light of the updated funding position and will make decisions that are in the best interests of Hackney residents.”
What are local groups saying?
Community and campaign groups have broadly welcomed the Mayor’s call for a pause, while warning that long‑term funding for libraries remains uncertain. As reported by Sarah Thompson of Extra London News, Hackney Libraries Action Group described the Mayor’s letter as “a step in the right direction” but said it did not go far enough.
According to Thompson, the group has called on Cabinet to commit to maintaining current opening hours until at least 2027 and to publish a clear strategy for library funding beyond that date.
As noted by David Nkosi of the Hackney Citizen, local parents and carers have also voiced relief at the prospect of avoiding cuts.
Nkosi quoted parent Fatima Ahmed as saying: “My children use the library every week for reading and homework help. If the hours were cut, we simply wouldn’t have another safe, free space like this.”
In a joint statement, Hackney Trades Council and Unison’s local branch said: “Library staff have been under immense pressure for years. Any reduction in hours would only increase workloads and reduce the quality of service.”
