Hackney Council is preparing to reverse plans to reduce library opening hours across the borough after a recent improvement in its financial position, following confirmation of increased funding from central government.
The proposals were first announced in October 2025, when the council said it needed to review opening hours at all eight Hackney libraries to save more than £773,000 amid what it described as severe budget pressures.
At the time, council leaders argued the move was the only realistic option to prevent permanent library closures, prompting a public consultation that drew strong opposition from residents and trade unions.
Days after that consultation closed, the Mayor of Hackney confirmed she would formally ask the council to abandon the review entirely, citing a significantly improved financial outlook for the borough.
In a statement, Mayor Caroline Woodley said: “I have always said that if our financial situation changed, I would act. Thanks to a fairer funding agreement from central government we now have the breathing space to reconsider. That is why I am asking the Cabinet to halt the review into reducing library hours.”
She added: “I know how much our libraries mean to our residents. They are safe havens, study spaces for young people, and vital hubs for digital access and community support.”
The shift follows confirmation in December that Hackney would benefit from a multi-year settlement under the government’s Fair Funding Review, delivering a 25% increase in core funding over the next three years.
Mayor Woodley said the additional funding would be directed toward hundreds of council services, including parks, libraries, youth clubs and street cleaning.
The proposed cuts previously sparked a fierce backlash from unions, with Hackney Unison accusing the council of “salami-slicing” public services.
The union urged residents to reject all options in the consultation and called on the council to push for additional government funding instead of reducing library provision.
Speaking after the mayor’s announcement, Hackney Unison libraries lead Michael Burns welcomed the move, saying: “We had not been made aware that the pending outcome of a Fair Funding Review was a potential mitigation against the cuts […] which would have wielded yet more devastation on the fabric of our communities.”
“Our hope now is that Hackney Council commits to keeping our lifeline service open, staffed and safe across the borough,” he added.
The mayor’s request to halt the review will be presented to the council cabinet at its next meeting, with approval expected to keep all existing library opening hours unchanged.
The announcement comes as Hackney Central Library recently reopened following refurbishment works completed earlier this month.
Meanwhile, a £4.4 million refurbishment of Stoke Newington Library remains ongoing after the building closed in March 2024, with council officials warning works are likely to continue beyond spring 2026.
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