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Annual Council - Thursday, 16th May, 2024 7.30 pm

May 16, 2024 View on council website Watch video of meeting
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Summary

Councillor Anjna Khurana was elected as Mayor of Islington for 2024/25, with Councillor Jason Jackson as her deputy. Outgoing Mayor, Councillor Gary Heather, was thanked for his service to the borough. Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz announced a refreshed Executive, with new responsibilities and some changes in personnel. The Council also approved a number of constitutional amendments relating to the operation of scrutiny, changes to the Members’ Allowances Scheme and procurement rules, and the membership and terms of reference for the Council’s committees.

Election of new Mayor and Deputy Mayor

Councillor Anjna Khurana was elected as the new Mayor of Islington for 2024/25, having been nominated by Councillor Una O'Halloran, who had acted as her mentor when she was first elected to the Council. Councillor Nurullah Turan seconded the nomination, highlighting Councillor Khurana's commitment to challenging inequality, her advocacy for accessible public toilets, and her role in the campaign to return the Hanley Primary Care Centre to NHS control.

Anjana always ensures that there's equality and inclusivity wherever she's present, advocating for disabled and disadvantaged groups. She will challenge inequalities wherever they may be present, trying to make Islington a better place. - Councillor Nurullah Turan, seconding the nomination for Councillor Khurana to be the new Mayor of Islington.

The new Mayor appointed Councillor Jason Jackson as her Deputy.

Councillor Gary Heather, the outgoing Mayor, and his Mayoress, Tricia Clarke, were thanked for their work over the previous year. Councillor O'Halloran particularly noted Councillor Heather's approachability and humility while in office.

You had time to listen, you had time to say thanks, you understood a Mayor it is a privilege to serve. You are a real community champion. - Councillor Una O'Halloran, moving the vote of thanks to Councillor Heather.

Councillor Heather thanked Council staff, particularly the staff in the Mayor's office and his chauffeur, Sir Tan, for their support. He also paid tribute to his chosen charity for the year, Voluntary Action Islington.

Volunteer Action Islington, I love you. - Councillor Gary Heather thanking his chosen charity for the year.

Councillor Heather recounted some of the engagements he had attended during his term as Mayor, including the opening of a new library at Moreland Primary School by Queen Camilla, an event at the Wasteland Recycling Centre at Cottage Road (praising the contractor, Vital Energy, for both their environmental work and charitable fundraising through the Cripplegate Foundation), a football tournament run by Vital Energy (where he had missed a penalty in goal, to the delight of the goalkeeper, who had let in a goal to the Mayor the previous year), and an event at Bigfield Park.

Councillor Heather also recounted being mistaken for the President during a visit to the Toy Project.

New Executive announced

Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz announced a refreshed Executive, with new responsibilities and some changes in personnel:

  • Councillor Diarmaid Ward will continue as Deputy Leader, but now with responsibility for Finance & Performance.
  • Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford will now have responsibility for Inclusive Economy, Culture & Jobs. Councillor Comer-Schwartz noted that Islington has become a national leader in community wealth building and she felt that the cultural sector should now be incorporated into this work.
  • Councillor Rowena Champion will continue with responsibility for Environment, Air Quality & Transport.
  • Councillor Sheila Chapman joins the Executive as Executive Member for Equalities, Communities & Inclusion. Councillor Comer-Schwartz praised Councillor Chapman's work in the voluntary sector and her role as Chair of the Children's Services Scrutiny Committee.
  • Councillor Una O'Halloran will now have responsibility for Homes & Neighbourhoods. Councillor Comer-Schwartz announced that new build planning would be brought together with housing maintenance in this portfolio to ensure a singular focus on management of housing finances.
  • Councillor Michelline Safi Ngongo will continue with responsibility for Children, Young People & Families.
  • Councillor Flora Williamson joins the Executive as Executive Member for Health & Social Care. Councillor Comer-Schwartz highlighted Councillor Williamson's experience of campaigning on health issues and noted that as Chair of the Policy & Performance Scrutiny Committee she had led scrutiny of the council's approach to funding challenges.
  • Councillor John Woolf will continue with responsibility for Community Safety. He will now also be responsible for licensing and the night-time economy.

Approval of constitutional amendments

The Council approved a number of amendments to its Constitution.

Scrutiny

The Council agreed to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review. These included:

  • The creation of five new scrutiny committees, each with a specific focus. The new committees will replace the previous Housing, Children's Services, Health & Care, Environment & Regeneration, and Policy & Performance Scrutiny Committees.
  • The introduction of a new Councillor Right to Refer procedure, replacing the previous Councillor Call for Action Protocol.

The new scrutiny committees are:

  • Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee. This committee will scrutinise the council’s corporate functions, including finance, procurement, resident voice, equalities, and corporate performance.
  • Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee. This committee will continue to act as the council's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, scrutinising the council's and NHS's work on health and social care in the borough. It will also have specific responsibility for scrutinising the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board.
  • Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee. This committee will continue to act as the council's Education Scrutiny Committee, scrutinising the council's work on children and young people in the borough. It will also have responsibility for scrutinising the council's corporate parenting functions.
  • Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee. This committee will continue to act as the council’s Crime and Disorder Committee, scrutinising the council's work on crime and community safety in the borough. It will also have specific responsibility for scrutinising the work of the Safer Neighbourhoods Boards.
  • Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee. This committee will scrutinise the council's work on the environment, climate change and transport in the borough.

The new Councillor Right to Refer procedure gives all councillors the right to refer any local government matter in their ward that is of significant community concern to the relevant scrutiny committee. The procedure is intended to be a measure of last resort once other approaches have been exhausted.

Other constitutional amendments

The Council approved a number of other constitutional amendments, including:

  • Amendments to the Members' Allowances Scheme.
  • Amendments to the Procurement Rules.
  • Amendments to the Terms of Reference of the Pensions Board.

The amendments to the Members' Allowances Scheme included increasing the allowance payable to the Independent Person appointed to the Standards Committee.

The amendments to the Procurement Rules updated the procurement thresholds in line with Procurement Policy Note 11/23.

The amendments to the Terms of Reference of the Pensions Board clarified the allowance arrangements for members of the Board.

Appointment of representatives to serve on outside organisations

The Council approved the appointment of councillors to a number of outside organisations, including the London Council, the Local Government Association, the Angel Business Improvement District, and the Archway Town Centre Management Board.

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford
Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford  Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Culture & Jobs •  Labour Party •  Mildmay
Profile image for Councillor Valerie Bossman-Quarshie
Councillor Valerie Bossman-Quarshie  Labour Party •  Bunhill
Profile image for CouncillorJanet Burgess MBE
CouncillorJanet Burgess MBE  Carers Champion •  Labour Party •  Junction
Profile image for Councillor Rowena Champion
Councillor Rowena Champion  Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality & Transport •  Labour Party •  Barnsbury
Profile image for Councillor Sheila Chapman
Councillor Sheila Chapman  Executive Member for Equalities, Communities & Inclusion •  Labour Party •  Junction
Profile image for CouncillorJilani Chowdhury
CouncillorJilani Chowdhury  Labour Party •  Barnsbury
Profile image for Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner
Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner  Deputy Leader of the Independent and Green Group •  Independent •  Laycock
Profile image for CouncillorTricia Clarke
CouncillorTricia Clarke  Labour Party •  Tufnell Park
Profile image for Councillor Paul Convery
Councillor Paul Convery  Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Pensions Committee •  Labour Party •  Caledonian
Profile image for Councillor Fin Craig
Councillor Fin Craig  Chief Whip, Labour Group •  Labour Party •  Arsenal
Profile image for Councillor Joseph Croft
Councillor Joseph Croft  Chair of Health, Wellbeing & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committe and Mental Health Champion •  Labour Party •  St Mary's and St James'
Profile image for CouncillorTroy Gallagher
CouncillorTroy Gallagher  Small Business, Co-ops & Social Enterprise Champion •  Labour Party •  Bunhill
Profile image for CouncillorSatnam Gill OBE
CouncillorSatnam Gill OBE  Labour Party •  Tufnell Park
Profile image for Councillor Phil Graham
Councillor Phil Graham  Independent •  Bunhill
Profile image for Councillor Benali Hamdache
Councillor Benali Hamdache  Leader of the Independent and Green Group •  Green Party •  Highbury
Profile image for Councillor Ruth Hayes
Councillor Ruth Hayes  Chair of Environment, Climate Change and Transport Scrutiny Committee •  Labour Party •  Clerkenwell
Profile image for Councillor Gary Heather
Councillor Gary Heather  Labour Party •  Finsbury Park
Profile image for Councillor Dr Sara Hyde
Councillor Dr Sara Hyde  Executive Member for Health and Social Care •  Labour Party •  Caledonian
Profile image for Councillor Bashir Ibrahim
Councillor Bashir Ibrahim  Young People's Champion •  Labour Party •  Arsenal
Profile image for CouncillorJason Jackson
CouncillorJason Jackson  Mayor •  Labour Party •  Holloway
Profile image for Councillor Clare Jeapes
Councillor Clare Jeapes  Recycling Champion •  Labour Party •  Canonbury
Profile image for Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong
Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong  Green Party •  Highbury
Profile image for CouncillorJenny Kay
CouncillorJenny Kay  Private Renters Champion •  Labour Party •  Mildmay
Profile image for CouncillorRoulin Khondoker
CouncillorRoulin Khondoker  . •  Labour Party •  Arsenal
Profile image for CouncillorAnjna Khurana
CouncillorAnjna Khurana  Labour Party •  Tollington
Profile image for Councillor Martin Klute
Councillor Martin Klute  Chair of Planning Committee •  Labour Party •  St Peter's and Canalside
Profile image for Councillor Ben Mackmurdie
Councillor Ben Mackmurdie  Labour Party •  Clerkenwell
Profile image for Councillor Hannah McHugh
Councillor Hannah McHugh  Chair of Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee and Equalities Champion •  Labour Party •  St Mary's and St James'
Profile image for Councillor Praful Nargund
Councillor Praful Nargund  Labour Party •  Barnsbury
Profile image for CouncillorMatt Nathan
CouncillorMatt Nathan  Independent •  Clerkenwell
Profile image for Councillor Toby North
Councillor Toby North  Labour Party •  St Peter's and Canalside
Profile image for Councillor Una O'Halloran
Councillor Una O'Halloran  Leader of the Council. •  Labour Party •  Caledonian
Profile image for Councillor Michael O'Sullivan
Councillor Michael O'Sullivan  Labour Party •  Finsbury Park
Profile image for Councillor Gulcin Ozdemir
Councillor Gulcin Ozdemir  Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee •  Labour Party •  Tufnell Park
Profile image for Councillor Saiqa Pandor
Councillor Saiqa Pandor  Women and Girls Champion •  Labour Party •  St Mary's and St James'
Profile image for CouncillorCaroline Russell
CouncillorCaroline Russell  Business Manager, Independent and Green Group •  Green Party •  Highbury
Profile image for Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo
Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo  Executive Member for Children, Young People & Families •  Labour Party •  Hillrise
Profile image for Councillor Asima Shaikh
Councillor Asima Shaikh  Deputy Business Manager, Independent and Green Group •  Independent •  Finsbury Park
Profile image for Councillor Marian Spall
Councillor Marian Spall  Armed Forces Champion •  Labour Party •  Hillrise
Profile image for Councillor Heather Staff
Councillor Heather Staff  Chair of Licensing Committee and Migrants Champion •  Labour Party •  Laycock
Profile image for Councillor Nurullah Turan
Councillor Nurullah Turan  Labour Party •  Laycock
Profile image for Councillor Diarmaid Ward
Councillor Diarmaid Ward  Labour Party •  Holloway
Profile image for Councillor Nick Wayne
Councillor Nick Wayne  Chair of Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee •  Labour Party •  Canonbury
Profile image for Councillor Angelo Weekes
Councillor Angelo Weekes  Executive Member for Community Safety •  Labour Party •  Mildmay
Profile image for Councillor Flora Williamson
Councillor Flora Williamson  Executive Member for Finance and Performance •  Labour Party •  Tollington
Profile image for Councillor John Woolf
Councillor John Woolf  Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods •  Labour Party •  Canonbury
Profile image for Councillor Claire Zammit
Councillor Claire Zammit  Arts Champion •  Labour Party •  Holloway

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

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