This week in Islington:

Licensing Sub-Committee D Meeting Held

The Licensing Sub Committee D met on Thursday 07 August 2025. Read the full story here.

Unfortunately, no video was provided, so we are unable to provide further details about the meeting.

Upcoming Meetings

• Licensing Sub Committee D on Wednesday 20 August 2025 will review premises licences. Link to meeting

This week in Islington:

Sunnyside Community Center Faces Closure Threat Amid Funding Cuts

The future of the Sunnyside Community Center¹ is uncertain after Islington Council announced it is considering closing the center due to budget cuts. Read the full story here.

• Vital community hub: The Sunnyside Community Center, located on Hazellville Road, provides essential services and activities for residents of all ages, including childcare, youth programs, senior services, and community events.
• Impact on vulnerable groups: The closure of the center would disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, such as low-income families, children, and seniors, who rely on the center's services for support and social interaction.
• Community backlash: The proposed closure has sparked outrage among residents, who have launched a petition and organized protests to save the center.
• Council's justification: The council claims that the closure is necessary to address a budget shortfall and that it is exploring alternative options for providing services to the community.
• Potential outcomes: If the council proceeds with the closure, the Sunnyside Community Center could be shut down as early as September, leaving a significant void in the community.

This decision highlights the difficult choices that local governments face in balancing budgets and providing essential services, and the potential impact of those choices on vulnerable populations.

Licensing Sub-Committee to Review Premises Licences

The Licensing Sub Committee D is scheduled to meet to review premises licences. Read the full story here.

• Licensing Act 2003: The Licensing Sub-Committee is responsible for making decisions on applications for new premises licences, variations to existing licences, and reviews of existing licences under the Licensing Act 2003.
• Licensing Objectives: In making its decisions, the Licensing Sub-Committee must have regard to the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.
• Cumulative Impact Areas: The Licensing Sub-Committee must also consider Islington's Licensing Policy 3, which states that there is a presumption of refusal for applications for new licences or variations to existing licences in cumulative impact areas, unless the applicant can demonstrate that the operation of the premises will not add to the cumulative impact on one or more of the licensing objectives.

These discussions are crucial for ensuring that licensed premises in Islington operate responsibly and do not have a negative impact on the local community.

Other Matters

• The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee discussed the challenges of homelessness in Islington, reviewed tenancy satisfaction measures, and assessed housing performance. Councillors agreed to a plan for gathering evidence on homelessness, and heard that while Islington's temporary accommodation figures are better than the London average, they are still a concern. No video was provided. Read the full story here.

Upcoming Meetings

• Licensing Sub Committee D on Thursday 07 August 2025 will review premises licences. Link to meeting

This week in Islington:

Holloway Prison Redevelopment Faces Objections Over Height and Density

Islington Council's Planning Committee approved a procedural amendment to the redevelopment of the former Holloway Prison site¹, despite significant public opposition. Read the full story here.

• What's the change? The amendment moves details about the number of homes and building heights from the development description into planning conditions.
• Why the controversy? Critics fear this paves the way for future applications to increase building heights and the number of dwellings with less public scrutiny.
• Community concerns: The council received 58 objections, citing concerns about decreased sunlight, overdevelopment, increased traffic, and a lack of affordable housing.
• Applicant's justification: Peabody Construction Limited stated the amendment is an enabling exercise to allow for future changes required by the Building Safety Act and to adapt to viability and construction changes.
• Council's defense: Planning officers argued the amendment is procedural and any material changes would require a detailed planning application with full public consultation.
• Councillor Diarmaid Ward's question: Councillor Ward asked how the applicant would reduce the number of social rent homes. Planning officers responded that the applicant would have to apply for a Section 73 application² or a whole new application, and that they would have to provide a new viability assessment to justify the reduction.
• Housing delayed is housing denied: Lauren Thomas, an economist, argued that requiring the applicant to start from scratch would undermine new housing in Islington.
• Chair's perspective: Councillor Martin Klute, Chair of the Planning Committee, acknowledged public suspicion but emphasized the amendment's procedural nature, driven by legislation and case law. He clarified that the second staircase legislation was not in place when the application was first approved, and that other major applications in the borough were facing the same problem.

This decision highlights the tension between facilitating development and addressing community concerns about density, height, and affordable housing, particularly in large-scale projects.

Health Board Approves Strategy Amidst Concerns Over GP Access and Mental Health

The Islington Health and Wellbeing Board approved its Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030, outlining priorities for improving residents' health and independence. Read the full story here.

• Strategy goals: The strategy aims to improve life expectancy, healthy life expectancy, and reduce health inequalities, focusing on four priority areas: Start Well, Live Well, Age Well, and Healthy Environments.
• Public consultation: Amendments were made following public consultation, including a greater focus on mental health, physical activity, and support for vulnerable groups.
• Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment: The board noted a draft assessment showing good access to pharmacies, but also highlighted resident confusion about when to seek pharmacy services.
• NHS Ten Year Plan: An update on the NHS ten-year plan emphasized neighbourhood health services, prevention, and GP access.
• GP access challenges: Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Families, raised concerns about the difficulty of seeing a GP and the use of email consultations.
• Young Black Men's Mental Health Programme: The board discussed a program designed to improve mental health outcomes for young Black men, including school-based interventions and barber shop outreach.
• Cultural competency: Curtis Ashton, Director for Young Islington in the Council, reported that the System Change and Innovation Programme trained a number of partners across the system to be culturally competent, anti-racist, anti-discriminatory in approach. He said that this pillar will not be continued with going forward due to a lack of funding.

This meeting highlighted the council's commitment to addressing health inequalities and improving access to services, while also acknowledging ongoing challenges in primary care and mental health support.

Executive to Consider Peer Review Action Plan and Procurement Strategy

The Islington Council Executive is scheduled to meet to discuss an action plan responding to a Local Government Association (LGA) peer review, a procurement strategy for supported accommodation, and Article 4 Directions³. Read the full story here.

• LGA Peer Challenge: The Executive will consider an action plan to address recommendations from an LGA peer review, covering areas like leadership, governance, and financial planning.
• Supported Accommodation: The Executive will consider a procurement strategy for a support provider to manage No. 1 Stacey Street, a supported accommodation facility for 30 single people experiencing homelessness.
• Article 4 Directions: The Executive will be asked to confirm the second tranche of Article 4 Directions, which would withdraw permitted development rights for changes of use from Class E to dwelling houses.
• Progressive Procurement: The Executive will be asked to note the report and recommendations of the Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee on supporting Islington's communities through progressive procurement.

These discussions reflect the council's focus on continuous improvement, addressing homelessness, and protecting local businesses and housing quality.

Other Matters

• The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss the 2024-25 Scrutiny Report, central government policy and reforms, and the 2025-26 Scrutiny Initiation Document. Read the full story here.
• The Licensing Committee convened to amend the membership of Licensing Sub-Committee D. Read the full story here.

Upcoming Meetings

• Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 22 July 2025 will discuss homelessness in Islington, tenant satisfaction measures, housing performance, and the committee's work programme for the coming year. Link to meeting
• Licensing Sub Committee C on Tuesday 22 July 2025 will consider applications relating to premises licences for Jiak Malaysian Street Food, SUD Italia, and Smokey Boys. Link to meeting

This week in Islington:

Community Garden Approved Despite Play Space Loss

Islington Council's Planning Sub-Committee B approved the conversion of a disused ball court on the Delhi Outram Estate into a communal garden and play area, even though it goes against the council's local plan. Read the full story here.

• Departure from policy: The council acknowledged the plan violates policy SC2 of the SDMP¹ because it eliminates a play space without replacing it.
• Justification: Planning officers argued the ball court had been derelict for 20 years, and the community garden's benefits outweighed the loss.
• Youth engagement concerns: Councillor Diarmaid Ward questioned how young people would be involved, given the loss of play space. The planning officer said engagement wasn't required for the assessment.
• Community-led design: The applicant stated the garden would be co-designed with residents, in collaboration with Octopus Communities, and would include features like planters, benches, and a tool storage shed. They also stated that they had engaged with the Copenhagen Youth Project to involve young people in the project.
• Security worries: Councillor Benali Hamdache raised concerns about garden management and security. The applicant said Octopus Communities would manage it for nine months, then residents would take over.
• Youth voices: Councillor Clare Jeapes expressed a desire for future planning policy to ensure that youth voices are heard when considering the reduction of play spaces. She noted that sports are sometimes presented as an anti-social activity, rather than something to be encouraged.

This decision highlights the tension between providing community amenities and adhering to established planning policies, particularly regarding youth engagement and the provision of play spaces.

Health Committee Hears About Pharmacy First and Estates Strategy

The North Central London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) met to discuss community pharmacy services and the North Central London (NCL) estates and infrastructure strategy. Read the full story here.

• Pharmacy First: Almost all pharmacies in NCL offer the Pharmacy First service, providing advice and NHS medicines for seven common health conditions without a GP appointment.
• Self-Care Medicines Scheme: 84% of NCL patients using the Self-Care Medicines Scheme would have gone to their GP if the scheme wasn't available.
• NCL Estates Strategy: The ICB aims to invest in local care infrastructure, allocating 5% of ICS capital for prioritised local care schemes.
• Primary Care Baseline Analysis: A comparative assessment of GP practices showed a correlation between the quality of the estate and the service the general practice can provide.

These discussions highlight efforts to improve access to healthcare services and invest in local care infrastructure, but also point to challenges in securing capital funding and addressing health inequalities.

Pensions Board Discusses Fund Performance and Risk Management

The Islington Pensions Board met to discuss the pension fund's performance, administration, and risk management. Read the full story here.

• Fund Performance: The board reviewed the pension fund performance from 1 January to 31 March 2025, as detailed in the BNY Mellon interactive performance report and a presentation by Apex, the independent investment advisers, on the fund managers' quarterly performance.
• Pension Administration Performance: The Pensions Board reviewed the performance data for the administration activities of the council's Pensions Office, and to note the number of members auto-enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), information on the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP), compliments and complaints, any new Internal Audit Investigations, the Scheme Advisory Board Update, and developments on the Pensions Dashboard.
• Pension Fund Draft 2024/25 Year End Accounts: The Pensions Board reviewed the Funds 2024/25 draft year end accounts. The main highlights included an increase in net assets of £77 million to £2,038 million.
• Pensions Risk Register: The Pensions Board noted the contents of the report and revisions made to the Pensions Risk Register (PRR). The report pack stated that the PRR outlines the key objectives of the Islington Pension Fund and its administration, and establishes the methodology for implementing proactive risk management.

These discussions are crucial for ensuring the long-term financial security of Islington's pension fund members and managing risks associated with pension administration.

Healthwatch Islington Faces Abolition Amidst Strong Local Impact

The Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee heard about the upcoming abolition of Healthwatch England and the local Healthwatch network, while also learning about Healthwatch Islington's work and future plans. Read the full story here.

• Government announcement: The government announced that both Healthwatch England and the local Healthwatch network would be abolished, with patient engagement functions being split between local authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICB).
• Healthwatch Islington's focus: Healthwatch Islington highlighted key areas of focus for the coming year, including increasing engagement with residents, working with demographics that Healthwatch Islington has not historically reached, and improving systems for recording demographics and measuring impact.
• Vaping concerns: Councillor Toby North raised the issue of vaping among young people, and asked if Healthwatch Islington had any insights from their conversations with young people on this topic. Ms Saksena responded that the messaging around vaping was deeply confusing for young people, as it is presented as a positive alternative for smokers but a dangerous choice for non-smokers.
• Independence concerns: Councillor Marian Spall expressed her sadness at the news of the abolition of Healthwatch, and asked Ms Saksena about her hopes and fears for the future, and what councillors could do to help. Ms Saksena responded that one of the main concerns was where the independence would sit, and that councillors could look to protect some kind of independent scrutiny of services within the local area.
• Convening role: Councillor Benali Hamdache noted the convening role that Healthwatch plays in bringing together statutory health and voluntary community centre partners.

This news raises concerns about the future of independent patient advocacy and engagement in Islington, particularly for vulnerable communities.

Council Debates PIP Cuts, Private Renters, and Gaza

Islington Council discussed a range of topics at its meeting, including proposed cuts to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), support for private renters, and the conflict in Gaza. Read the full story here.

• PIP Cuts: Councillor Phil Graham proposed a motion to oppose the Labour Government's proposed £5 billion cuts to PIP, arguing that these cuts would negatively impact disabled people, their families, local authorities, and the NHS.
• Private Renters: Councillor Jenny Kay proposed a motion to support private renters in Islington, noting that over a third of homes in Islington are privately rented and the challenges faced by private renters, including affordability and poor housing conditions.
• Gaza: Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner proposed a motion regarding Gaza and calling for an arms embargo. The motion was later withdrawn.

These discussions reflect the council's engagement with national policy issues and its commitment to addressing local challenges related to housing, social welfare, and international affairs.

Temporary Event Notice at Drip Sparks Noise Concerns

The Licensing Sub Committee A was scheduled to consider a temporary event notice (TEN) for Drip, 27 Clerkenwell Road, but no transcript was provided. Read the full story here.

• Noise complaints: The report pack stated that a number of noise complaints have been made to Islington's ASB Team since the current premises licence holder took over.
• Environmental Health objection: The Neighbourhood Engagement team objected to the TEN application because of breaches of a section 80 notice[^2].
• Change of use: The proposed use as a bar would require a change of use application, and there is no record of a corresponding application for this proposed change of use.

This case highlights the challenges of balancing commercial activity with the need to protect residents from noise and other disturbances.

Upcoming Meetings

• Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on Monday 14 July 2025 will discuss the committee's scrutiny report for the year 2024-25, an introduction to central government policy and reforms, and the scrutiny initiation document for 2025-26. Link to meeting
• Licensing Committee on Monday 14 July 2025 will discuss changes to the membership of its sub-committees. Link to meeting
• Health and Wellbeing Board on Tuesday 15 July 2025 will discuss the Health and Wellbeing Strategy consultation outcomes, a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment update, the Young Black Men's Mental Health Programme, and the board's annual work plan. Link to meeting
• Planning Committee on Tuesday 15 July 2025 will consider a non-material amendment to a previously approved planning application concerning the redevelopment of the former Holloway Prison site. Link to meeting
• Executive on Thursday 17 July 2025 will discuss an action plan following a Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge, a procurement strategy for supported accommodation, and the confirmation of Article 4 Directions. Link to meeting
• Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 22 July 2025. Link to meeting
• Licensing Sub Committee C on Tuesday 22 July 2025. Link to meeting