This week in Islington:

• The Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee discussed Progressive Procurement, heard from Councillor Sheila Chapman about Access Islington Hubs and other topics, received a performance update, and considered the council's Annual Workforce Report.
• The Licensing Sub Committee B was scheduled to discuss an application for a review of an existing licence at Zapp, 2-7 Clerkenwell Close, and an application for a new licence at Kings Cross Continental Stores, 26 Caledonian Road.
• The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee met, but no video was provided.
• The Employment and Appointments Committee agreed a shortlist for the post of Corporate Director of Climate and Environment.
• The Employment and Appointments Committee was scheduled to discuss a shortlist for the post of Corporate Director of Homes and Neighbourhoods, and to appoint a new chair.
• The Employment and Appointments Committee was scheduled to discuss a shortlist for the post of Director of Family Help and Safeguarding.

Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee - 05 November 2024

The Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee met on 5 November 2024. The meeting considered a range of topics, including a review of the council's procurement strategy, an update from the Executive Member for Equalities, Communities and Inclusion, a corporate performance update, and an annual workforce report.

Procurement

The committee received a presentation on the Procurement Act 2023, which is due to come into force in February 2025. The committee also considered a report on the progress of its ongoing scrutiny review of the council's Progressive Procurement Strategy, which is intended to embed social value¹ into the council's procurement practices.

As you may recall from previous emails, the committee has been scrutinizing the council's procurement practices for some time, and has made a number of recommendations for improvement. This latest meeting is a continuation of that work, and the committee is clearly keen to ensure that the council is making the most of the opportunities presented by the new Procurement Act to deliver social value.

The committee heard from a representative of the Social Value Portal, who gave a presentation on the council's performance in relation to social value. He highlighted that the council had achieved an average of 30% social value on its affordable workspace programme, which is significantly higher than the national average of 20%. He also suggested that the council could achieve even more social value if it embedded social value into its standing orders, and made it a requirement for all procurements above £100,000.

The committee was broadly supportive of the recommendations made by the Social Value Portal, but raised some concerns about the practicalities of implementing them. For example, Councillor Ruth Hayes asked how the council could ensure that social value commitments were genuinely additional, and did not simply displace existing pro bono work. Councillor Jason Jackson also asked about the challenges of ensuring that people of the global majority benefit from the council's commitment to social value.

In response, the Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Culture and Jobs, Councillor Belle Bradford, explained that the council was already taking steps to address these concerns, such as by developing a directory of local businesses owned by people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds. She also highlighted the council's work with anchor institutions, such as Arsenal Football Club, to promote social value within their supply chains.

The committee agreed to continue its scrutiny review of the Progressive Procurement Strategy, with a view to making recommendations to the Executive in the new year.

Equalities, Communities and Inclusion

Councillor Sheila Chapman, Executive Member for Equalities, Communities and Inclusion, provided an update on a number of topics, including the Access Islington Hubs, the Bright Lives Wellbeing Coaching service, the VCS Grant Programme, the Black Cultural Centre, the council's service for refugees and migrants, community cohesion, and the Challenging Inequalities Strategy.

The committee heard that the Access Islington Hubs, which provide advice and support to residents on issues such as money, housing, and employment, are performing well, with over 80,000 residents having used the hubs since they were launched. The committee also heard that the Bright Lives Wellbeing Coaching service, which provides one-to-one coaching to residents experiencing issues such as anxiety, mental health, and domestic violence, is also having a positive impact, with 96% of service users not requiring statutory or acute interventions after receiving coaching.

The committee also heard about the successful launch of the council's Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Grant Programme for 2024-2028, with £2.7m of grant funding being awarded to 51 organisations across six themes. Councillor Chapman explained that the programme is being delivered using a 'funding plus' model, which provides support to organisations to ensure they are sustainable, as well as providing funding.

The committee also discussed the Black Cultural Centre, which was due to open the following day. The committee heard that the centre will host events and activities celebrating Black culture and will be delivered by four black-led organisations. Councillor Chapman explained that the council had committed £330k to refurbishing the building and will cover the running costs for the first year.

The committee heard about the challenges facing the council's service for refugees, migrants and people subject to No Recourse to Public Funds. Councillor Chapman explained that over 900 asylum seekers were currently accommodated by the Home Office in two hotels in Islington. She also said that she was concerned about the number of asylum seekers in the borough and that she would be meeting with the Home Office to discuss the situation.

The committee heard about the council's work on community cohesion, following a community conversation event held on 1 October 2024. Councillor Chapman explained that the event had resulted in a number of themes emerging, including the speed of fake news and misinformation online, fear in communities, the impact of funding cuts on VCS organisations, and a lack of ESOL classes.

Finally, the committee considered a report on the progress of the Challenging Inequalities Strategy, which was launched in 2021. The report pack indicated that the council plans to refresh the Challenging Inequalities Strategy in 2025/26.

The committee welcomed the update from Councillor Chapman and asked a number of questions about her portfolio, particularly in relation to the Access Islington Hubs and the Black Cultural Centre. Councillor Hyde asked about the council's plans to evaluate the impact of the Bright Lives Wellbeing Coaching service. Councillor Weeks asked about the lessons learned from the previous unsuccessful procurement of the Black Cultural Centre. Councillor De Juarez-Armstrong asked about the variation in usage of the Access Islington Hubs across different wards. Councillor Osterman asked about the council's plans to address the challenges facing the council's service for refugees and migrants. Councillor Pandle asked about the council's plans to tackle racism and to ensure that its staff are reflective of the communities that it serves.

Performance and Workforce

The committee received a corporate performance update for the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year. It heard that the council is managing the approved general fund budget well, with a net overspend of £0.6m at quarter one.

The committee discussed the council's performance in relation to its workforce. The report pack indicated that sickness absence in quarter one was 8 days per employee, which is lower than the London Councils average, and that the percentage of the workforce who are agency staff was 16.96%, which is higher than the London Councils benchmark of 15%.

The committee asked a number of questions about the council's performance, particularly in relation to its use of agency staff. Councillor Galbally asked about the council’s plans to implement a four-day working week and whether this could help to address issues with staff recruitment and retention. Councillor Jackson asked about the apprenticeship programme and whether it was providing genuine opportunities for new entrants to the workforce.

The committee also reviewed the council's annual workforce report.

The report highlighted the council’s commitment to equality, equity, diversity and inclusion. It noted a number of positive trends, including a steady increase in the percentage of Black, Asian, and Multi-Ethnic colleagues, a reduction in the mean gender pay gap, and an increase in the number of employees with disabilities in the top 5% of earners. The committee welcomed the report and asked a number of questions about the council's performance in relation to equality, equity, diversity and inclusion, particularly in relation to the ethnicity pay gap, and the proportion of BAME employees in senior positions.

Licensing Sub Committee B - 06 November 2024

Islington Council's Licensing Sub Committee B met on 6 November 2024. The meeting considered an application for a review of an existing licence at Zapp, 2-7 Clerkenwell Close and an application for a new licence at Kings Cross Continental Stores, 26 Caledonian Road.

Zapp, 2-7 Clerkenwell Close

The application for a review of Zapp's licence at 2-7 Clerkenwell Close was made by Mr Robert Cunningham, a local resident. He alleged that the business was failing to meet a range of the conditions that were attached to its licence, including the rules that riders should not smoke or congregate in the immediate vicinity of the premises and that riders should not loiter near residential properties.

Mr Cunningham stated that Zapp's riders were intimidating and menacing, that they posed a risk to public safety by riding their e-bikes on pavements, and that they caused noise and nuisance late at night by shouting, playing loud music, smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol.

The application was supported by Islington Council's Licensing Authority and Community Safety teams, Islington's Police Licensing Team and two residents.

Kings Cross Continental Stores, 26 Caledonian Road

The second application was for a new premises licence for Kings Cross Continental Stores at 26 Caledonian Road. The applicant, Drink With Dignity Ltd, described the premises as a community licensed premises offering high quality food and drinks and proposed to open between 9am and 11.30pm Sunday to Thursday, and 9am to 12.30am Friday and Saturday.

The application received one representation from a resident objecting to the proposed licensing hours.

No transcript of this meeting was made available.

Employment and Appointments Committee - 05 November 2024

The Employment and Appointments Committee held a meeting to shortlist candidates for the post of Corporate Director of Climate and Environment.

Shortlisting of Corporate Director of Climate and Environment

The committee discussed the applications for the role of Corporate Director for Climate and Environment and decided on a shortlist of candidates to invite for interview. The salary for the role will be in the range of £128,704 - £154,390.

The meeting was held in private from this point on in line with the council's Officer Employment Rules to preserve the anonymity of the applicants. The meeting decided to approve the shortlist of candidates. The next stage in the process will be to interview the shortlisted candidates at the next meeting of the committee on 3 December 2024.

Employment and Appointments Committee - 05 November 2024

The Employment and Appointments Committee held a meeting to discuss the shortlisting of candidates for the role of Corporate Director of Homes and Neighbourhoods.

Corporate Director of Homes and Neighbourhoods

The committee was scheduled to agree a shortlist of candidates for the role of Corporate Director of Homes and Neighbourhoods.

The report pack said the salary will be in the range of £128,704 - £154,390. The report says that the appointment of a senior officer to the post will support the delivery of the council’s missions and objectives and that the postholder will have a key role in supporting, enabling and monitoring the delivery of the Islington Together 2030 Plan.

No transcript for this meeting was available.

Employment and Appointments Committee - 05 November 2024

The Employment and Appointments Committee met to consider applications for the post of Director of Family Help and Safeguarding.

Director of Family Help and Safeguarding

The committee was scheduled to consider a report from the Director of Human Resources about the shortlisting of candidates for the post of Director of Family Help and Safeguarding. An appendix, not available for public inspection, contains information about the candidates, who will be interviewed by the committee at a later date. The salary for the role is expected to be in the region of £116,721 - £131,742.

The report pack said that the appointment of a senior officer to the post will support the delivery of the council’s missions and objectives and that the successful candidate will, as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, be expected to play a key role in delivering the council's Islington Together 2030 Plan, which sets out the council's ambition to make Islington a fairer place for all.

No transcript was available for this meeting.

This week in Islington:

• The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee discussed the proposed Islington Care Leavers and Housing Protocol, the Islington Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report, the Child Protection Annual Report 2023-24, and the Inspection of Youth Justice Services in Islington.
• The Executive said goodbye to Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz, approved a £500,000 Sanctuary Grant Programme for groups supporting refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum, agreed the next stage of the Resident Experience Programme, and adopted a new policy for vacant school caretaker houses.
• The Planning Sub-Committee A rejected an application for the change of use of garages at Priors Estate for commercial car hire, and approved the refurbishment and extension of a restaurant at 50 Florence Street.
• The Licensing Sub Committee A was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application from the London Lebanese Grill on Blackstock Road, and an application for the sale of alcohol from The Bottle Cocktail Shop on Essex Road.

Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee - 22 October 2024

The committee endorsed the proposed Islington Care Leavers and Housing Protocol and noted both the Islington Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report and the Child Protection Annual Report 2023-24. The committee also noted the Inspection of Youth Justice Services in Islington.

Islington Care Leavers and Housing Protocol

The committee discussed the proposed Islington Care Leavers and Housing Protocol, a document intended to help ensure that no care leaver aged under 25 becomes homeless. The protocol would commit the council to rehousing any care leaver who becomes homeless, regardless of their location or connection to the borough, and it would establish a joint approach to rehousing care leavers between Homes and Neighbourhoods and Children's Services. Director of Housing Operations, Ian Swift, described the protocol as quite a radical document and explained that the government had adopted a similar approach after consulting with Islington Council. Councillor Michelin Ngongo-Safi, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families, suggested an amendment to the protocol to clarify that housing services will work with a personal adviser when rehousing care leavers, rather than may work with one. Swift agreed to make the amendment, as well as to add a commitment to a tell us once approach to information sharing between housing and children's services. Councillor Hannah McHugh asked about how the needs of young people with disabilities or special needs would be assessed and met when they are being rehoused. Swift explained that only a small number of properties are suitable for people with mobility issues, and that only four adapted properties had been let in the last 12 months. Councillor Claire Zammit said that she had heard from care leavers who had found it difficult to find accommodation after turning 21 and had experienced a bureaucratic process when engaging with housing services. She suggested that a more trauma-informed approach be developed to avoid re-traumatising care leavers.

Islington Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report

The committee discussed the Islington Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report. Alan Caton, Independent Chair and Scrutineer for the Islington Safeguarding Children's Partnership (ISCP), said the ISCP was very effective, but that police funding for the partnership was woeful, and that the partnership needed to make better use of data. Councillor Gulin Ozdemir, Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, asked about the impact of domestic violence on children, and Caton said he was pleased that the numbers are coming in so that they can be monitored. Deborah Idris, Interim Director for Safeguarding and Family Support, explained that domestic violence is the most common reason for referrals to children's social care from the police. Curtis Ashton, Director for Young Islington, observed that the increase in reports of domestic violence was not necessarily negative, and could be an indication of improved reporting. Councillor Saiqa Pandor asked what training staff receive to sensitively approach subjects that are taboo in some communities. Amber Harris-Cooper, ISCP Training and Quality Assurance Manager, explained that ISCP training covers issues such as forced marriage and FGM. Mary Clement, representing the Roman Catholic Diocese, asked about incentives for foster families to take on children with complex needs. Idris explained that recruitment is a challenge, but the council is working hard to recruit more foster carers. Councillor Hannah McHugh asked about the ethnic breakdown of the ISCP's workforce. Caton said this data is not currently available, but the ISCP will be focusing on this issue. Councillor Claire Zammit raised concerns about the lack of a next steps section in the report in relation to youth services. Ashton responded by saying that youth services are a priority for the council and are routinely reviewed.

Child Protection Annual Report

The committee discussed the Child Protection Annual Report 2023-24. Idris explained that the report was very sort of data driven and outlined some of the key findings, including an increase in the number of contacts to children's social care, and the fact that Black and mixed ethnicity children are over-represented in the children's social care system. Nick Turpin, representing the Church of England, asked about the number of children on child protection plans who also have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Idris committed to providing this data offline. Councillor Hannah McHugh asked about the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to monitor children's social care services. Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong asked for more information on the work that is being done to reduce the disproportionate number of children from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds who are referred to children’s social care by the police. Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner asked whether the report provides meaningful analysis of the data and whether it makes any recommendations. Idris said that the report is drawn from a much larger data set and that she would be happy to provide more detailed information. Ozdemir asked whether there is any data on the number of young carers in Islington. Idris explained that the council is “trying to clean the data around young carers” and that a new agency, Family Action, has been commissioned to support young carers.

Youth Justice Service Inspection Report

The committee discussed the Inspection of Youth Justice Services in Islington. Ashton provided an overview of the report and explained that the service received an outstanding score. He explained that a review of the 25 most prolific offenders in Islington had found that many of them had experienced adverse childhood experiences. Councillor Paul Convery, substituting for Councillor Valerie Bossman-Quarshie, described the report as a sobering experience but also a disappointing reminder of the state of the youth justice system in Islington in 2016. He praised the “breathtaking” transformation of the service since then. Susie Graves, Secondary School Parent Governor Representative, asked whether the low school attendance rate of children open to the youth justice service was linked to the issues of persistent absence and elective home education. Ozdemir asked whether there is an up-to-date alternative provision (AP) document available for parents to access. Turpin asked whether the youth justice service is working with schools to prevent exclusions from happening. Cinko-Oner asked what happens to children who are excluded from AP. Ashton said that the youth justice service would ensure that any child who is excluded from AP would still receive education. Jegorovas-Armstrong asked about the sustainability of the youth justice service, given financial pressures. Jon Abbey, Director of Children’s Services, said youth services are a priority and have been protected from cuts.

Executive - 24 October 2024

The Executive of Islington Council met to discuss a range of matters, including the adoption of a new policy for vacant school caretaker houses, the Sanctuary Grant Programme, and agreeing the next stage of the Resident Experience Programme.

Resident Experience Programme

The Executive agreed to progress to the next stage of the Resident Experience Programme and agreed to an investment of £4.411m to fund it. The aim of the Resident Experience Programme is to improve access to council services and deliver a more joined up resident experience. The Executive noted that the Council’s current performance on answering resident calls was not meeting targets.

The Resident Experience Programme is an initiative by Islington Council that aims to improve how residents access council services. It will transform resident experience and access channels by using technology to enhance existing contact channels and introduce new digital options, as well as by working closely with partners to provide the right support at the right time. It seeks to understand the challenges residents face when interacting with the council. This will be delivered through several workstreams, including: contact centre consolidation, data orchestration, online improvements and channel shift, service redesign, and culture, change, and communication.

Sanctuary Grant Programme

The Council will use government funding to deliver a £500,000 grant programme to support a range of projects in the borough that deliver services to refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum. An innovative participatory grant making approach will be used, with a Sanctuary Grants Community Panel, comprised of people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary in the UK, overseeing the programme.

The Children’s Workforce

The Executive noted a report from the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee on the challenges of recruiting and retaining staff in the borough’s children’s workforce and agreed to provide a response at a later date. The Committee’s report highlighted the perceived inequality between professions, with teaching staff and social workers feeling that their work was more valued than those working in youth work or play work, and the significant pressure on school staff to support children with mental health difficulties.

New Build Homes

The Executive noted a report from the Housing Scrutiny Committee on the Council’s New Build Homes programme and agreed to provide a response at a later date. The report detailed evidence that the Committee received from residents of the Parkview Estate about the disruption caused by construction projects, and made eleven recommendations, including exploring innovative partnership arrangements with other developers, and investigating different models for funding affordable housing.

Corporate Performance Update

The Executive noted that performance in a number of areas was off-target, including persistent absence rates in schools, the percentage of household waste being recycled, and call waiting times at the Council’s contact centres.
The Executive noted a letter from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which highlighted issues with the Council’s approach to managing complaints.

Vacant School Caretaker Houses

The Executive approved the adoption of a new policy for vacant caretaker houses at Islington’s Community Schools. The policy sets out the Council’s commitment to first seek to repurpose vacant school caretaker houses for use by other Council services, then offer it for use as key worker accommodation and only sell the houses if neither of these options are suitable.

Communal Heating Service Standards

The Executive agreed to increase service provision for the borough’s communal heating systems, following a public consultation.

Procurement of Housing Maintenance Contracts

The Executive agreed to a procurement strategy for the maintenance of communal mechanical systems in the borough’s council homes using the Fusion 21 framework agreement, and agreed to the procurement of a separate borough wide contract for ventilation systems.

Procurement of Legal Advice

The Executive approved a procurement strategy for the engagement of external legal advice from barristers and solicitors using the London Boroughs’ Legal Alliance (LBLA) fourth generation framework agreements.

Door Entry & Access Control Systems

The Executive approved a procurement strategy for the maintenance of door entry and access control systems across the Council’s housing stock using an Open Procedure.

Update on Care UK Contract

The Executive agreed to a number of recommendations in relation to a contractual matter with Care UK, the details of which are exempt from publication.

Active Travel

The Executive noted a report from the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on Active Travel in the borough and agreed to provide a response at a later date. Councillor Rowena Champion, the Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Transport, praised the work done by the council to promote active travel and improve air quality in the borough.

At the end of the meeting, Councillor Comer-Schwartz stepped down as Leader of the Council. Councillor Ward proposed a vote of thanks, praising her leadership.

Planning Sub Committee A - 21 October 2024

The meeting considered two planning applications: one for the change of use of residential garages to commercial car hire at garages at Priors Estate, Cumming Street and the other for the refurbishment and extension of a restaurant at 50 Florence Street. The application to change the use of the garages at Priors Estate was refused, while the application to extend and refurbish the restaurant at 50 Florence Street was approved subject to conditions.

Garages at Priors Estate

The application requested permission for the continued use of the garages at Priors Estate, Cumming Street for commercial car hire. Planning officers recommended that the application should be approved, because Islington’s Strategic and Development Management Policies (2023) strongly encourage the redevelopment of existing car parks, and because they judged that the commercial use was less intensive than use by residents.

The committee heard objections from a local resident, who raised concerns about increased noise and air pollution and the applicant, Peabody Trust, being unable to enforce planning conditions.

Councillor Paul Convery noted that the applicant had not provided details of the business operating from the garages, or its operation. Councillor Diarmaid Ward agreed with the residents' concerns about Peabody and their management of sites. The committee voted unanimously to reject the application.

50 Florence Street

The application requested permission for the refurbishment and extension of a restaurant at 50 Florence Street, including the installation of a basement extension. Planning officers recommended approval of the application because it would bring heritage benefits to the building, which is locally listed and located within the Upper Street (North) Conservation Area.

The committee heard from a local resident, who expressed concern about increased noise from the restaurant, and that the proposed opening hours were inappropriate. They highlighted that the council had previously received noise complaints when the building operated as a pub. The applicant responded that the business would operate at a much lower capacity than the previous pub.

Councillor Convery acknowledged the residents' concerns regarding noise, but concluded that the impacts could be managed. The committee voted unanimously to approve the application.

Licensing Sub Committee A - 22 October 2024

The Licensing Sub-Committee A meeting on 22 October 2024 was scheduled to consider two licensing applications: one for The Bottle Cocktail Shop, and one for the London Lebanese Grill.

London Lebanese Grill

The application for the London Lebanese Grill at 151-153 Blackstock Road, N4, was for a new premises licence. The application requested permission for the sale of alcohol for consumption both on and off the premises from 11am to 11pm, Monday to Sunday. Representations in objection to the application were received from the Metropolitan Police, the Council's Licensing Authority, the Council's Environmental Health Team, and Councillor Diarmaid Ward ¹.

The Bottle Cocktail Shop

This application for The Bottle Cocktail Shop at 128 Essex Road, N1 was for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises only between the hours of 10am and 11pm, Monday to Sunday. A representation objecting to the application was received from the Council's Licensing Authority.

No transcripts were provided for this meeting.

This week in Islington:

• The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the state of Islington's Community Centers, hear an update on the council's work to reduce homelessness and rough sleeping, and review the newly-drafted protocol for working with families who are homeless under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989.
• The Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee reviewed the performance of the Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, and heard evidence about a scrutiny review of adult social care accommodation.

Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee - 14 October 2024

The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee met this week to receive a presentation on the state of Islington's Community Centers. You may recall from previous emails that the Committee has been increasingly focusing on the role of community centers in the borough, and their importance in providing a range of services to local residents.

No transcript for this meeting was made available.

This meeting also received an update on the council's Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy for 2024-2029.

Islington Council defines a strategy as a document that sets out the high-level approach the council will take to achieve its priorities.

The strategy contains a range of commitments intended to tackle homelessness in Islington, including:

• Preventing and relieving homelessness through early and tailored intervention
• Eliminating rough sleeping by helping people into settled housing
• Improving housing options available to meet the needs of Islington residents
• Providing accommodation and resettlement services to refugees and migrants

The committee also received an update on the council's work with internet service providers to install broadband connections on council estates. The report pack stated that the three companies installing fiber on the council's estates are Hyperoptic, Community Fibre and G.Network.

The report stated that, as of October 2024, over 25,500 properties are now able to connect to full fiber broadband. This reflects the council's commitment to improving digital connectivity for its residents. The council's stated aim is to deliver full fiber broadband to 90% of council homes by the end of 2025.

The committee also received an update on the council's Voids Programme. The report described the process the council uses to bring empty properties back into use, from the initial notification of a void to the final letting.

The committee considered a new draft of the Joint Protocol on Section 17 Families between Children's Social Care and Homes and Neighbourhoods. The protocol sets out how the two departments will work together to support families who are homeless under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989.

The Children Act 1989 is a law that deals with how local authorities should care for children. Section 17 of the act gives local authorities powers and duties to provide services for children in need.

Finally, the committee reviewed the work programme for 2024/25. It lists the items that are scheduled for discussion at future meetings, including further discussion of Community Centers, updates on the council's work to install fiber broadband, and reports on the council's performance in managing its housing stock.

No transcript for this meeting was made available.

Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee - 15 October 2024

The Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee met to review the performance of the Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust.

Prosper Mafo, Managing Director of the Islington division at the Trust, provided an update on the Trust, including its merger with the Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey NHS Trust to form a new North London NHS Foundation Trust. The new Trust is expected to be launched on 1 November 2024.

You may recall from previous emails that this is the latest in a series of mergers of local NHS Trusts. As you may recall, this Committee considered a report on the proposed merger of the Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust and the Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust at its meeting on 11 June 2024.

The committee discussed the performance of the Trust's mental health services, with a particular focus on the recovery rate targets for talking therapies, and support services for carers of people with dementia. Councillor Tricia Clark raised concerns about the recovery rate targets for talking therapies, which are currently set at 50%. Councillor Mick Gilgunn asked about support services for carers of people with dementia. The committee also discussed the use of Clozapine, an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia, and expressed concern about its side effects. Councillor Clark asked about the Trust's work to address stigma surrounding mental health within BAME communities.

Ian Swift, Director of Housing Operations at the council, gave evidence about a scrutiny review of adult social care accommodation in the borough. He explained that the council does not have any sheltered accommodation for older people and that this type of accommodation is now largely provided by housing associations.

Councillor Benali Hamdache asked for more details about the accommodation available to older people in the borough. Mr Swift explained that, although the council is not planning to build any new sheltered accommodation, it does offer a “right-size moves” scheme, which helps older people to move from larger accommodation to smaller accommodation. He also highlighted the Seaside and Countries Home Initiative, which allows people to move from Islington to sheltered housing on the coast.

Councillor Hamdache also asked about the impact of the Right to Buy on the availability of sheltered housing. Mr Swift confirmed that Right to Buy does have an impact on the availability of sheltered housing, as some properties are sold to private owners. He also said that the council is reviewing the management framework for over 50s accommodation, as some of the existing schemes are no longer fit for purpose.

Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz asked about the council’s progress in delivering accessible homes in new builds. Mr. Swift explained that the council is delivering on the 10% target for accessible homes in its new builds. Councillor Comer-Schwartz also asked if the council had considered intergenerational living as a model for future housing developments. Mr. Swift stated that the council had been asked to investigate this model, but that the priority at the moment is to meet the needs of homeless households.

Finally, Jonathan O'Sullivan, the Director of Public Health, presented a performance report for the council's public health team. He explained that the report covers the period from January to March 2024. He highlighted a number of key areas where the council has made good progress, including increasing uptake of the NHS Healthy Start scheme, and maintaining the high quit rate for smokers using stop smoking services.

Councillor Comer-Schwartz asked about the impact of homelessness on the performance of drug and alcohol treatment services. Mr. O’Sullivan agreed that homelessness does have an impact on treatment outcomes and said that the council is investing in outreach services to engage with people who are homeless.

Councillor Clark asked about recruitment pressures within the drug and alcohol treatment services and how the service is reaching people leaving prison. Mr. O’Sullivan said that the council has been able to recruit new staff to meet the increased demand for services and that it is able to offer treatment to people while they are still in prison. Councillor Clark also asked about smoking cessation and relapse rates, noting that she has observed fewer young people smoking, and asked if this was a generational trend.

Councillor Hamdache asked about immunisation rates, which have remained static. Mr. O’Sullivan said that the council is working hard to increase immunisation rates, but that they have been “stubbornly” low for a number of years. He said that the council is working to better understand the reasons why people are not getting their children vaccinated and to address those concerns.

Councillor Burgess asked if the council’s public health team works with the housing team to reach vulnerable residents who live on estates. Mr. O’Sullivan confirmed that the public health team does work with the housing team to provide support to residents on estates. He said that the council recognises the importance of stable accommodation for people who are recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

This week in Islington:

• The Licensing Committee considered proposed amendments to the membership of one of the council's Licensing Sub-Committees.
• The Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee heard about a range of topics, including the state of street cleansing in the borough, the Archway Leisure Centre retrofit project, and the annual report of the Executive Member for Environment, Equality and Transport.
• The Pensions Committee was scheduled to discuss the performance of the Islington Pension Fund, and a draft of the 2023/24 annual report.
• The Licensing Sub Committee D was scheduled to consider an application from Collective Acting Studio for a variation to their premises licence.

Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee - 08 October 2024

The Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee met this week to consider a range of issues relating to the environment, climate change and transport in Islington.

The committee heard a presentation from Bill Simfield, Acting Head of Operational Services, and Mark Fontaine, Operations Lead for Street Cleansing, on the state of street cleansing in the borough. This was a follow up to the Committee's Scrutiny Review of Net Zero Carbon 2030 - Active Travel, which was discussed at the Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee meeting on 03 September 2024. The review looked at the Council’s programme of projects, initiatives and promotion of different forms of active travel, including the barriers to active travel.

The committee were very interested in the presentation on street cleansing. This is a topic that is often raised by residents, and the committee is keen to ensure that the council is doing everything it can to keep the borough's streets clean. In particular, the committee raised concerns about the council's use of the private company, Kingdom, to carry out enforcement against environmental crime.

Councillor Caroline Russell questioned whether it was appropriate for the council to be using a company whose staff are paid out of the fines that they issue. She suggested that this could lead to a situation where enforcement officers are more likely to issue fines to people who are less able to afford them, and asked how this approach sat with the council's values. Councillor Russell's concerns reflect a wider debate about the use of private companies to carry out public services.

The committee also expressed concern about the council's plans to reduce the frequency of street cleaning in some areas of the borough. Councillor Gary Heather noted that some side streets in town centre areas get a lot of litter, and that reducing the frequency of street cleaning in these areas could lead to a build-up of rubbish. He also argued that the council should be prioritizing enforcement against more serious offences, such as fly-tipping, rather than focusing on littering.

The committee heard a presentation from Martijn Kormans, Director for Climate Change and Transport, and Felice, Energy Project and Programmes Officer, on work to retrofit Archway Leisure Centre to reduce its carbon footprint.

The retrofit is part of the council's wider efforts to decarbonise its buildings and achieve its target of becoming a net zero carbon borough by 2030. The committee was supportive of the project and expressed interest in learning more about the technology being used to decarbonise the building.

Councillors expressed concern about the cost of decarbonising council buildings, and asked whether the government would provide more funding to help councils meet their net zero targets. Councillor Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Environment, Equality and Transport, responded by saying that the council was doing everything it could to secure funding from central government, but that it was also looking at other ways to fund its decarbonisation programme, such as through borrowing and through partnership working with other organisations.

Finally, the committee heard a presentation from Councillor Champion on her annual report. The report highlighted the progress that had been made on a number of key areas, including tree planting, recycling, and the delivery of liveable neighbourhoods. The committee was generally supportive of the report, but raised a number of questions about the council's performance in some areas, particularly in relation to recycling.

This reflects a growing concern about the council's performance on recycling, which has been a recurring theme in recent meetings. At the Executive meeting on 05 September 2024, for example, Councillor Champion acknowledged that the council was still struggling with recycling rates and outlined the steps that were being taken to improve the situation, such as investing in estate-based recycling.

Councillors asked why the council was not making faster progress on improving its recycling rate, and whether it planned to introduce a detailed action plan for improving its recycling rate over the next few years. Councillor Champion responded by saying that the council was working on a new waste reduction and recycling plan, which would set out a detailed strategy for improving recycling rates.

The committee also discussed the impact of the government's new Extended Producer Responsibility regulations on recycling. The regulations will require producers of packaging to pay a proportion of the cost of recycling their products, which the council hopes will lead to a reduction in the amount of packaging used and an increase in recycling rates.

Pensions Committee - 07 October 2024

The Pensions Committee met this week to receive a report on the recent performance of the Islington Pension Fund. This is a regular item on the committee's agenda, and the report provides an update on the fund's assets and liabilities.

No video of the meeting was provided.

This committee frequently discusses the performance of the Islington Pension Fund, including the fund's asset allocation, fund manager performance and the funding of the Pension Scheme.

The committee also considers issues relating to the fund's investment strategy, and the council's commitment to investing the Islington Pension Fund ethically. In previous emails, we have reported on the council's efforts to divest from companies that profit from fossil fuels or arms sales, and to invest in companies that are committed to social and environmental responsibility. This is a reflection of the council's commitment to tackling climate change and promoting social justice.

This meeting also considered the Fund's investment in impact investment. The report pack included a draft of the annual report for 2023/24, which outlined the progress that had been made on impact investing. The report noted that the fund had not yet made any impact investments, but that it was working to develop a strategy for impact investing and was considering a shortlist of impact investment funds.

The committee was scheduled to review and note the report and its contents. The committee is responsible for setting the fund's investment strategy and for monitoring its performance. However, the committee can delegate certain decisions to officers, such as the decision to make specific investments.

The committee also reviewed the draft Pension Annual Report for 2023/24, which was prepared by the Corporate Director of Resources. The report included details of the fund's performance in the most recent quarter, its asset allocation, a summary of its financial report, including its income and expenditure for 2023/24, and statements of responsibility for the pension fund. It also included the Fund's statutory statements (including the Investment Strategy Statement, Funding Strategy Statement, Governance Policy Statement, and Communication Policy Statement), and a glossary of terms.

The report also provided an update on the fund's pooling arrangements, the exercise of shareholder voting rights, and the funding of the Pension Scheme.

The committee was informed that a summary of the draft annual report would be distributed to pension members at the Annual General Pension Meeting, which was scheduled to be held on 30 September 2024.

The committee also received an update on the fund's administration. The report pack detailed its performance against key benchmarks, including the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure, compliments and complaints, and a Scheme Advisory Board update.

It also included minutes from the Board's meeting on 31 July 2024, which listed the topics discussed, including pension administration performance, the Risk Register, and a draft of the 2023/24 pension fund accounts. It also noted Councillor Paul Convery's comments on the fund's performance and investment strategy, and an update on the Pensions Dashboard.

The Committee also received an update on the Pension Fund's Risk Register. The Risk Register is a document that identifies and assesses the risks facing the fund. The report noted that the Committee had previously recommended that the Risk Register needed to be revised, and that work was ongoing to achieve this.

Finally, the Committee was asked to review the Pension Board's forward work programme. This included the following:

• 10 December 2024: Pensions Administration performance for the period August to October 2024, Risk Register Review, Pension Fund performance for the period 1 July to 30 September 2024, update on draft response to government’s consultation on LGPS pooling deadline 31 March 2025, and an update on the actuarial valuation as at 31 March 2025.
• 3 March 2025: Pensions Administration performance for the period November 2024 to January 2025, Risk Register review, Pension Fund performance for the period 1 October to 31 December 2024, review of agreed objectives and targets for 2024/25, and a review of draft response to government’s consultation on LGPS pooling before submission.
• 16 June 2025: Pensions Administration performance for the period February to April 2025, Risk Register review, Pension Fund performance for the period 1 January to 31 March 2025, and a review of the Scheme Advisory Board feedback/report.

The report pack also included minutes from the Board's meeting on 31 July 2024, which listed the topics discussed, including pension administration performance, the Risk Register, and a draft of the 2023/24 pension fund accounts. It also noted Councillor Convery's comments on the fund's performance and investment strategy, and an update on the Pensions Dashboard.

Licensing Sub Committee D - 08 October 2024

The Licensing Sub Committee D met this week to consider an application from Collective Acting Studio at 2 Tiltman Place for a variation to their premises licence.

No video of the meeting was provided.

Licensing Committee - 08 October 2024

The Licensing Committee met this week to consider a report on proposed changes to the membership of one of the council's Licensing Sub-Committees. The committee is responsible for overseeing the council's licensing function, which includes the granting of licences for the sale of alcohol, late night refreshment and entertainment.

No video of the meeting was provided.

This week in Islington:

• The Pensions Committee were scheduled to receive a report on the estimated funding position of the Islington Pension Fund, review the implementation of the Fund's investment strategy, and consider a shortlist of impact investment funds.
• The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee heard about a forthcoming review of community centres, received an update on the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy and the purchase of ex-Right to Buy homes, and considered a new protocol for the support of young care leavers.

Pensions Committee - 26 September 2024

The Pensions Committee met this week and were scheduled to receive a number of reports, but no transcript was made available for this meeting.

You may recall from previous emails, such as the one for 14 September 2024, that the Pensions Committee has been increasingly focusing on impact investing. This reflects the council's commitment in its 2022 manifesto to ensure that the Islington Pension Fund will be invested ethically and will not be invested in companies that profit from fossil fuels or arms sales. This meeting continued that trend, with the Committee being asked to consider a shortlist of impact investment funds for officers and advisors to conduct due diligence¹ on.

The Committee was also asked to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Resources to make the required commitment of around £120m to cover the projected gap in the Fund's private debt allocation. The Council's Governance Policy Statement sets out how the Pension Fund is governed and managed. It states that the Pensions Committee is responsible for setting the Fund's investment strategy and for monitoring its performance. However, the Committee can delegate certain decisions to officers, such as the decision to make specific investments.

The Committee was scheduled to receive a report on the estimated funding position of the Islington Pension Fund. This is a regular item on the Committee's agenda, and the report provides an update on the Fund's assets and liabilities. The report pack included a report prepared by Mercer, Islington Pension Fund's actuary². The Committee was scheduled to note the report's summary findings.

The Committee was also scheduled to review the implementation of the Pension Fund's investment strategy. The strategy was agreed in June 2020, and the report outlines the progress that had been made on implementing it since the previous meeting in July 2024.

The report pack also included the draft Pension Annual Report for 2023/24, which was prepared by the Corporate Director of Resources and was scheduled to be reviewed by the Committee. The report provided an update on the Fund's recent performance, including fund manager performance, asset allocation, pooling arrangements, the exercise of shareholder voting rights, and the funding of the Pension Scheme. It also included the draft statement of accounts, the fund's statutory statements (including the Investment Strategy Statement, Funding Strategy Statement, Governance Policy Statement, and Communication Policy Statement), and a glossary of terms.

The Committee was asked to review and note the report and its contents. The Committee was also informed that a summary of the draft annual report would be distributed to pension members at the Annual General Pension Meeting, which was scheduled to be held on 30 September 2024.

The Committee was scheduled to receive a report reviewing progress on the Fund's four-year business plan and seeking their views on the plan's objectives for the coming year.

Finally, the report pack included an update from the London CIV who manage investments on behalf of the Islington Pension Fund. The Committee was scheduled to note the update.

The London CIV pools the investments of 32 London boroughs to achieve economies of scale and reduce costs. It currently manages over £50 billion of assets. In 2021, Islington Council decided to increase its investment in the London CIV, and the CIV now manages a significant proportion of the Islington Pension Fund.

The Committee also received an update on the restructuring of the Fund's passive equity portfolio, which is managed by Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM).

The restructuring was intended to ensure that companies on the UN’s list of businesses involved in activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory deemed compliant in human rights abuses are excluded from the Fund’s investments.

This followed a motion passed by the Council in 2022, which called on the Pension Fund to divest from companies that are complicit in human rights abuses in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Council's motion was controversial, with some councillors arguing that it was not appropriate for the council to take a political stance on this issue.

At its July meeting, the Committee had instructed the Corporate Director of Resources to consult with Pension Fund members on the proposed restructuring of the Pension Fund and carry out the necessary equalities impact assessment³. The report informed the Committee that LGIM had confirmed that they would not be able to accommodate Islington’s request to exclude companies from the passive equity portfolio on ethical grounds. The Committee was informed that officers were seeking further advice from legal counsel and would report their findings to the Committee in due course.

The Committee was asked to note the update.

Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee - 26 September 2024

The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee met on 26 September 2024 to consider a range of issues relating to housing and homelessness in Islington.

The committee heard about a forthcoming review of community centres in the borough, received an update on the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy and the purchase of ex-Right to Buy homes, and considered a new protocol for the support of young care leavers. The committee was also briefed on rough sleeping data for the borough and reviewed the performance of the Housing Department against its targets.

As in previous meetings, such as the one for 11 September 2024, the committee expressed concern about the increase in homelessness in the borough. Councillors asked what the council was doing to address the issue, and whether enough resources were being allocated to homelessness prevention.

The meeting papers provided details of the financial challenges facing the council, particularly in relation to temporary accommodation. For example, the cost of nightly booked emergency accommodation is relatively high, compared to other temporary accommodation. This reflects a trend of rising demand for temporary accommodation, which has been discussed at previous meetings. You may recall, for example, that at the Executive meeting on 05 September 2024, Councillor Diarmaid Ward, the Executive Member for Finance and Performance, expressed concern about the council's ability to manage demand for temporary accommodation within its budget.

This meeting also included a discussion of the council's performance in relation to leaseholders and the establishment of a new leaseholder forum. Councillor Ward reported that the council's performance in relation to leaseholders was pretty good and that the council was working to improve communication with leaseholders.

The committee also discussed the council's consultation on potential changes to communal heating hours, reflecting its concern about the impact of the cost of living crisis on Islington residents, which has been a recurring theme in recent meetings.

This week in Islington:

• The Audit and Risk Committee held a deep dive on the state of Islington's parking and commercial property income, after expressing concern about volatility and shortfalls in both areas.
• The Planning Sub Committee B approved the construction of a new sixth storey at 123 Golden Lane, and the change of use of disused garages on Bingfield Street to create 8 affordable workspace units.
• The Council debated a range of topics, including a motion to increase support for residents experiencing catastrophic bleeding, the establishment of a new Special Responsibility Allowance for the leader of the second largest opposition group, and efforts to tackle the scourge of racism and fascism.
• The Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to consider the scrutiny initiation document for a review of Adult Social Care accommodation, and to hear reports on Healthwatch Islington's performance and work plan.
• The Licensing Sub Committee C considered an application from Bodegare Ltd. for a new premises licence to store and sell alcohol at 11 Hercules Street.

Audit and Risk Committee - 16 September 2024

The committee noted the progress reports on the parking and commercial income budgets, the external and internal audit progress reports, the fraud investigation report, and the whistleblowing monitoring report. The committee discussed the external audit progress, the performance of the parking and commercial property portfolios, and compliance with internal audit recommendations.

External Audit

Grant Thornton UK LLP¹ has been appointed as the council's new external auditor, replacing KPMG². The committee discussed the progress made by the new auditors in their audit of the council's 2023-24 accounts. The auditors reported that they are aiming to complete their fieldwork during the second half of October and issue their audit opinion in November, ahead of the statutory deadline of 28 February 2025. The auditors confirmed that they had not identified any significant risks to the council's financial sustainability.

Councillor Paul Convery asked whether the new auditors had identified anything that the previous auditors had missed. Rashpal Kangura from Grant Thornton replied that they had not identified any significant risks or weaknesses in the council's financial arrangements, but their work was still ongoing. Councillor Convery noted that the committee was getting a service here, which is an improvement, significant improvement compared to the previous auditors.

Councillor Convery also asked about the auditors' review of the pension fund. The auditors confirmed that they had engaged their own actuaries to review the underlying assumptions used in the pension fund valuation and had not identified any indicators of misstatement. They noted that if the council were to change its assumptions in the future, they would need to discuss this with the auditors to ensure that they were still comfortable with the assessment.

Parking Budget

The committee discussed a report on the performance of the parking budget. Councillor Convery noted that members had been very concerned about the volatility of the parking income and expenditure and highlighted that the projected deficit for the parking revenue account had increased from £4.2 million at this time last year to £12.8 million at year-end.

He sought reassurance from Jed Young, Corporate Director of Homes & Neighbourhoods, that the parking budget was now under control. Mr Young explained that the parking budget was affected by a number of factors, including a reduction in the number of parking permits sold, a decrease in the amount of time people are parking for, and an increase in the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued to unregistered vehicles.

He said that the service was taking action to mitigate these risks, including working with the council's enforcement contractor, NSL, on revised enforcement practices, enhancing debt recovery activity, and working with other boroughs on the issue of unregistered vehicles.

The committee raised concerns about the sustainability of relying on PCN income from the introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs). Councillor Caroline Russell ³ noted that as people become more aware of the LTNs, the number of PCNs issued will inevitably decrease. She asked how the council was modelling this in its budget projections.

Mr Young explained that the service had modelled a higher level of non-compliance when a new scheme is introduced, which then tapers down over time. He said that the model had tracked pretty well against actual data, but acknowledged that the council would eventually need to find other sources of income to replace the revenue from LTNs.

Councillor Russell also raised the issue of the impact of heavier electric vehicles on road surfaces, and questioned whether they should be charged more for parking than conventional vehicles. Councillor Convery stated that the council's current policy is to discount parking charges for EVs because they produce no tailpipe emissions, but acknowledged that this could be reviewed in the future.

Councillor Nick Wayne asked about the projection for parking permit income, which showed a significant increase over the next few years. He questioned whether this was realistic, given the trend of declining car ownership in the borough and the fact that the council had recently increased permit charges.

Mr Young acknowledged that the council was probably at the edges of elasticity in terms of permit pricing, and that further increases could lead to a decrease in revenue. He said that the service was keeping a close eye on permit sales and would revise its projections if necessary.

Commercial Income Budget

The committee then discussed a report on the commercial income budget. Councillor Convery noted that the directorate had a negative variance of £1.1 million, mainly due to the termination of a single tenancy. He asked Stephen Biggs, Corporate Director of Community Wealth Building, to explain the council's strategy for its commercial property portfolio and whether it should be reconsidered.

Mr Biggs explained that the council's strategy had historically been to hold onto surplus property to generate rental income rather than selling it to generate a capital receipt. He said that this strategy had been successful in the past but had become more challenging in recent years due to the declining property market, particularly in the office sector.

Councillor Hyde asked about the net yield of the council's commercial property portfolio. Mr Biggs said that the yield varied significantly across different types of property, but was generally in the region of 4-5%, which Councillor Convery described as a very low yield. He suggested that the council should consider disposing of some of its assets and investing the capital receipt in other ways.

Mr Biggs acknowledged that this was an option that the council would need to consider, but highlighted that there were other factors to take into account, such as the social value of some of the properties. He said that the council was currently reviewing its options and would report back to the committee in due course.

The committee discussed the possibility of disposing of community centres. Mr Biggs reassured the committee that no decisions had been made, and that any disposals would be subject to a thorough review process, taking into account the social value of the centres.

Councillor Convery suggested that the committee recommend that the council undertake a proper net yield appraisal of all of its properties, to identify those which are most problematic. He also highlighted the potential for development opportunities in some areas, particularly in Brewery Road where there is a growing creative economy. He concluded by noting that the government's new focus on economic growth could create fresh opportunities for the council in the commercial property sector.

Internal Audit

The committee then reviewed the Internal Audit Annual Report for 2023-24. Councillor Convery noted an increase in the number of limited and no assurance internal audits reported to the committee, and asked whether this was a cause for concern.

Nasreen Khan, the Head of Internal Audit, Investigations and Risk Management, explained that this was partly due to the council undertaking more complex activities, as well as the internal audit service having increased capacity to carry out more audits. She assured the committee that management was typically well engaged with internal audit recommendations, and that the increase in findings was a positive sign that the service was identifying and addressing weaknesses in the council's controls.

The committee discussed the rate of implementation of internal audit recommendations, with Councillor Alan Finch raising concerns about two audits where there had been limited or no assurance and only moderate implementation of actions. Ms Khan explained that there was a genuine reason for the delays in these cases, and that there was not a culture of ignoring internal audit recommendations. She added that the corporate management team regularly reviewed outstanding actions, and that progress was discussed with managers as part of their performance reviews.

Councillor Anne Begg expressed concerns about the continued appearance of the same service areas in the list of audits with limited assurance, particularly schools and Tenant Management Organisations (TMOs). She asked whether there was a cultural issue in these areas, and whether the committee should escalate its concerns.

Ms Khan responded that the internal audit service was working closely with the schools finance team to address recurring issues, and was providing training to school staff. She added that a new resource had been put in place to review the financial arrangements of TMOs, which she hoped would have a fundamental impact on their performance.

Fraud Investigation and Whistleblowing

The committee noted the Annual Fraud Report for 2023-24 and the Bi-Annual Whistleblowing Monitoring Report covering the period 1 February 2024 to 31 July 2024.

Councillor Convery highlighted the importance of probity in the council's housing operations, given the perception that the council's housing portfolio was a really profitable way of scaling the council. He praised the work of the housing investigations team, noting that they had recovered 47 properties in 2023-24.

However, he also expressed concern that the scale of potential fraudulent activity was likely to be much higher than the number of cases currently being discovered, and asked how the council could ramp up its activity in this area.

In addition to their formal discussion of the reports, the committee also received an informal verbal update on the council's financial position. Councillor Convery expressed concerns about continued pressure on the council's finances, particularly in relation to parking and commercial rent shortfalls.

Planning Sub Committee B - 17 September 2024

Islington Council's Planning Sub Committee B approved three applications. Permission was granted for the change of use of disused garages under Bingfield Street to create 8 affordable workspace units. Listed building consent was granted for internal works at 54 Newington Green. The committee also approved the erection of a two-storey mansard roof extension at 123 Golden Lane, also known as Concordia House, to provide additional office floorspace.

123 Golden Lane

The application from Bywater Properties Ltd. was to redevelop the roof of the existing five-storey office building on Golden Lane to create a sixth floor, with a new zinc-clad mansard roof. This would increase the office floorspace in the building by 427 square metres. As part of the application, all of the windows would be replaced with new double glazed, crittal style windows and double glazed timber sash windows to match the existing windows, and new doors would be installed, including new louvred doors to the bin store on Honduras Street.

The applicant, represented by Theo Michel, explained that their proposal was about retaining existing buildings and bringing them back into use in line with sustainability goals. He argued that the proposal would bring back into use a building which was becoming unusable in its current condition. The committee agreed that

it's welcome to see an old building like this have its life extended.

The existing mansard roof dates from 1979 and is considered to be unattractive. A member of the committee noted:

I think it is quite a characterful building

The building is in the St Luke’s Conservation Area and the replacement mansard roof will be larger than the existing one. The St Luke’s Conservation Area Design Guidelines state that no visible roof extensions will be permitted on this building, but the committee agreed with the planning officer that the existing mansard roof is already visible from the street and is unattractive, and the proposed roof extension, while larger, is of a much higher design quality.

The committee heard from the only objector to the proposal. Dipam Patel of Triac Services Ltd. explained that he was objecting on behalf of his client, Serra Eluvai, the owner of 125 Golden Lane. He explained that the building is a prize-winning building, designed by Joe Hagen, who included a roof terrace overlooking London. He argued that the proposed development would impact this terrace by overshadowing it and creating an overbearing presence.

Kevin Francis, a daylight and sunlight consultant speaking for the applicant, explained that there would be some impact to the roof terrace on 125 Golden Lane:

the proposed development fails to meet that 21st of June test.

He went on to argue that this was an acceptable loss as the terrace already fails to meet the BRE guidelines for sunlight. He added that the terrace would continue to receive good levels of sunlight in summer months, when it would be most likely to be in use.

The committee noted that the applicant had sought to minimise the impact on the terrace by reducing the size of the proposed roof at pre-application stage.

The proposed development will include 20 cycle spaces for staff in the basement, and two accessible cycle spaces on the ground floor.

The committee queried how visitors to the building, especially couriers, would access the cycle parking if it was expected that they would use the basement cycle parking.

David Lomax of Walthaeston Architects, speaking for the applicant, explained that the two accessible spaces on the ground floor were oversized so that they could be used by cargo bikes. He added that there would be channels installed on the stairs to allow people to wheel their bikes down to the basement.

Councillor Bliney Hamdash expressed concern that there was only limited cycle parking for visitors and asked whether the applicant would consider paying for the installation of Sheffield Stands on the street. Mr Michel agreed to consider this. Councillor Hamdash suggested a contribution of up to five Sheffield Stands.

Councillor Toby North suggested adding a condition requiring the applicant to provide further information about the types of windows that would be installed.

Councillor Diarmaid Ward welcomed the proposal and stated that he was:

particularly struck by the fact that of the addition of more accessible toilets and the new cycle parking it really is uplifting this very attractive building for the modern era.

The committee resolved to grant planning permission, with the condition that the applicant engages with officers about contributing to the cost of up to five Sheffield Stands for visitor cycle parking, and the amendment to the materials condition suggested by Councillor North.

Bingfield Garages

The first application on the agenda was from Islington Council to change the use of a block of eight disused garages under Bingfield Street to eight separate class E studio units² for use as affordable workspace. The proposal included the removal of the existing boundary wall to Bingfield Park and the provision of a new refuse store and timber-clad storage container.

Alison Minto, speaking for the applicant, said that the units would be used for a range of purposes:

generally office use, but...it gives scope for small businesses and micro businesses who may be prototyping or doing some elements of kind of creative work.

Councillor North noted that the Class E designation would allow a wide range of uses, including industrial processes. He sought an assurance that the operational management plan would address the possibility of noisy or disruptive uses.

The applicant, Graham Hughes, explained that the units would be heated with electricity because there is no gas supply. Councillor Hamdash expressed concern that the development did not include any proposals to green the site and expressed disappointment that no new planting was proposed. Mr Hughes responded that there is a longer-term ambition to extend the park into the site, but that this is not possible currently because of budgetary constraints.

The committee resolved to grant planning permission for the development with an amendment to Condition 5 requiring the applicant to provide information about the proposed uses of each of the units, and an informative that the ambition for a longer-term greening of the site should be considered in any future planning applications.

54 Newington Green

The final application was a Listed Building Consent application from Blakeney & Bond Ltd. for internal works at 54 Newington Green. This was for alterations to the layout of the existing ground floor kitchen to improve the visibility of the window and a bressumer beam. It also proposed the removal of a kitchen island to allow a better appreciation of the proportions of the room.

Councillor Diarmaid Ward expressed concern about the sustainability of the proposal, as it involved removing existing kitchen units, but the Planning Officer explained that Councillor Caroline Russell, the applicant, had explained that the existing units were being replaced with units that she already owned and which she would otherwise have had to dispose of.

The committee resolved to grant Listed Building Consent for the application.

Council - 19 September 2024

The Council approved changes to its constitution to create a new allowance for the leader of the second largest opposition group. It also approved changes to its capital programme, including the reallocation of £12.852 million from a decarbonisation scheme. Finally, the Council approved six motions, most notably on a cross-party basis, to take more action to tackle catastrophic bleeding, create a safer night time economy, and challenge racism and fascism.

Racism and Fascism

The Council approved a cross-party motion to stand together against racism and fascism, which was proposed by Councillor Sheila Chapman and seconded by Councillor Benali Hamdache.

The motion condemned the recent riots in Southport, which were triggered by the murder of three young girls and fuelled by far-right activists spreading misinformation online. Councillors agreed that social media platforms and their use by right-wing extremists have created a ‘perfect storm’ for far-right conspiracy and extremist ideologies resulting in the domestic terrorism we witnessed across the UK.

Councillor Chapman spoke about a recent event for refugees and asylum seekers organised by Muslim Welfare House, which provides a range of services to the local community. She was moved by hearing about people's experiences and committed to working to improve their situation.

The motion also noted the important role played by Islington Faiths Forum, which brings people together from different faiths, as well as Islington's status as a Borough of Sanctuary.

The motion resolved to:

• Support the government's review of the role of tech companies in the riots.
• Urge the government to crack down on the press and any instigators of hate.
• Address the role that 14 years of austerity has played in creating a culture of hate and blame.
• Further promote the work of the Council’s Hate Crime Prevention Champions, who are trained volunteers working to tackle hate crime in Islington.
• Continue to actively work with the borough's diverse communities to promote community cohesion.
• Be purposeful and explicit in council communications in condemning racism.

A number of councillors, including Councillor Cinko-Oner, Councillor Ibrahim, Councillor Hyde, Councillor Graham and Councillor McKee, spoke passionately in support of the motion. Councillor Cinko-Oner suggested that the council take part in the Show Racism the Red Card day of action by wearing red on 18 October, which was endorsed by the meeting's Chair.

Stop Fatalities From Catastrophic Bleeding

The Council approved a motion proposed by Councillor John Woolf and seconded by Councillor Hannah McHugh to take further action to reduce the number of fatalities from catastrophic bleeding. This includes working with community stakeholders to identify locations for new bleed control kits, which contain equipment that can be used to help control serious bleeding. The motion noted the work of the Daniel Baird Foundation, which was set up in memory of Daniel Baird, who was fatally stabbed in 2017.

The motion states that: In many tragic cases, these deaths are preventable and seeks to ensure that we are constantly data led.

The motion was also supported by Councillor Russell from the Green Party.

A Safer Night Time Economy

The Council approved a motion proposed by Councillor Angelo Weekes and seconded by Councillor Heather Staff to make Islington's nighttime economy safer.

This follows an announcement in the recent King’s Speech that the government plans to introduce a new law that would make spiking a specific criminal offence. This was welcomed by councillors, who resolved to write to the government for further information about the plans.

The motion also noted the council’s support for Operation Rana, which was launched by the Metropolitan Police in 2021 to tackle drink spiking. In Islington, this has involved the police working with licensed venues to raise awareness of drink spiking, share crime prevention advice, and distribute materials, such as drink covers, to help reduce the risk of spiking.

The motion also highlighted the importance of the WAVE training scheme, which aims to provide those working in licensed premises with the skills they need to identify and support vulnerable customers. The scheme covers a range of topics, including drink spiking, violence against women and girls, and mental health.

Councillor Staff spoke about the experience of a friend who was the victim of drink spiking at a club where they were working as a DJ. They said that the incident had had a massive impact on their friend and wanted to see more action taken to prevent such incidents from happening again.

The motion was also supported by Councillor Russell from the Green Party.

Play in Islington

The Council approved a motion, proposed by Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong and seconded by Councillor Caroline Russell, to continue its work to improve play facilities for children and young people in Islington.

The motion noted that: Play is an important part of every child’s development and essential both to their health and happiness. It also noted that Playing outdoors can help children to develop self-confidence and social skills, as well as keep healthy.

The motion resolved to:

• Continue to change the way the council approaches place by promoting play and investing in physical activity.
• Protect and prioritise funding for adventure playgrounds, which provide free, safe spaces for children to play.
• Recognise the achievements of playworkers and publicly promote their work.
• Continue to celebrate Playday and to celebrate the UN's International Day of Play next year.

Two Child Benefit Limit

The Council approved a motion, proposed by Councillor Cinko-Oner, to condemn the government's two child limit for child benefit and its associated rape clause, which requires women to disclose that a third or subsequent child was conceived as a result of rape or during an abusive relationship in order to be eligible for child benefit.

The motion notes that: Since its introduction in 2017, the policy has pushed 250,000 children into poverty, impacting disproportionately on lone parent families, larger families and children from ethnic minority backgrounds.

An amendment to the motion, proposed by Councillor Comer-Schwartz, added wording that acknowledges that: The new Labour Government has committed to abolishing the two-child limit, but not yet the rape clause.

The motion as amended resolves to:

• Write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to demand the abolition of the two child limit and the rape clause.
• Continue to raise awareness of the two child benefit cap and the services available to support residents to claim benefits to which they are entitled.
• Publish a statement condemning the rape clause and the two child limit.

A New Deal for Workers

The Council approved a motion, proposed by Councillor Turan and seconded by Councillor Williamson, calling on the government to improve workers' rights.

The motion welcomes a new green paper on employment rights published by the Labour Party, which includes proposals to:

• Ban zero hours contracts.
• Give workers day one rights to sick pay, holiday pay, and parental leave.
• Create a single status of 'worker' for all but the genuinely self-employed.

The motion resolves to:

• Write to the government calling for the green paper's proposals to be implemented within the first 100 days of the next Labour government.
• Write to the government urging for a change to the immigration rules that apply to domestic migrant workers. The motion notes that the current rules mean that many workers are forced to stay in abusive relationships in fear of losing their visa status.
• Call on the government to make jobs, pay, and workers' rights a central part of its vision for the future.
• Continue to work with trade unions and encourage Islington residents to join a union.

Constitution Update

The Council approved a report containing a number of changes to its constitution. These include:

• Amending the language in the constitution so that it acknowledges that there may be more than one opposition group on the council. This is necessary because four councillors recently left the Labour Party to form the new Islington Independents group.
• Adding wording to the constitution to create a new Special Responsibility Allowance for the Leader of the second largest opposition group. The amount payable will be 35% of the allowance paid to the Leader of the largest opposition group.
• Increasing the size of the Licensing Regulatory Committee from four to five members to ensure the committee’s political balance properly reflects the political balance of the Council.

Capital Programme 2024/25 Quarter 1 Budget Changes

The Council approved a report detailing changes to its capital programme for 2024/25. This includes:

• Reallocating £12.852 million from a scheme to decarbonise council buildings. The report notes that the cost to complete these works has increased but not the grant funding available, making the schemes unviable and unaffordable to the council at this time.
• Terminating a new-build housing scheme at Elmore Street and Lindsey Mews. The report notes that it has been determined that the scheme will not deliver value for money.
• Adding £3.366 million to the capital programme to reflect a technical accounting adjustment to capitalise existing expenditure for the Disabled Facilities Grant, which helps residents adapt their homes to better meet their needs. The grant is funded by central government.
• Adding £1.790 million to the capital programme for the Future Work Phase 2 scheme, which supports residents to find employment. This is a technical accounting adjustment and is not an approval for new council spend.

Petitions

No petitions were submitted.

Mayoral Announcements

The Mayor spoke about a number of recent engagements they had attended, including events to celebrate Windrush Day, Pride, Armed Forces Week, Refugee Week, and the anniversary of the D-Day landings. They also spoke about their work to raise awareness of hidden disabilities, and their support for their chosen charity, Brickworks Community Centre, which provides a range of activities for local residents.

Leader's Announcements

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz, spoke about the death of Ahmed Habib, a young man who was fatally stabbed in Finsbury Park. She said the council was working with the police to support the community. She also spoke about:

• The new Labour government's plans to ban dangerous weapons and invest in a new Young Futures Programme.
• The council's work to support adult carers, celebrate D-Day and Armed Forces Day, and promote Refugee Week.
• The council's commitment to making Islington a Borough of Sanctuary, which seeks to create a welcoming environment for refugees and asylum seekers.
• The council's efforts to improve the lives of working people.
• The anniversary of the Finsbury Park terror attack and the importance of unity against hate.
• The council's successful challenge to the Metropolitan Police's use of live facial recognition.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Cinko-Oner, responded to the Leader's announcements, expressing her sorrow at Ahmed Habib's death. She said that she welcomed the end of Conservative rule and hoped that the new Labour government would tackle the challenges ahead. She also said that many Islington residents had voted for candidates with policies bolder than those proposed by the national Labour Party, and urged the council to adopt a more radical agenda.

Questions From Members of the Youth Council

Five questions were asked by members of the Youth Council:

• Young Mayor, Tyra, asked the Leader of the Council what plans she had to improve the lives of young people in Islington, particularly in light of the recent change in government.
• Deputy Young Mayor, Amira, asked the Executive Member for Community Safety how the council was supporting young people from different faiths and ethnic backgrounds to feel safe in Islington following the racist marches and riots that had taken place over the summer.
• Young Councillor, Merriam, asked the Executive Member for Equalities, Communities & Inclusion what the council had been doing to tackle racism.
• Young Councillor, Mairan, asked the Executive Member for Homes & Neighbourhoods what support systems were available for young people experiencing poverty and homelessness.
• Young Councillor, Billy, asked the Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Culture & Jobs what the council was doing to ensure that Islington continued to have a vibrant cultural offer for young people, particularly in light of the fact that some cultural organisations had recently moved out of the borough.

Questions From Members of the Public

Four questions were asked by members of the public:

• Sheridan Cates asked the Executive Member for Finance and Performance what percentage of Islington pensioners that are eligible to receive Pension Credit were known to be claiming it. The Pension Credit scheme is a benefit for people over State Pension age that tops up their weekly income. She expressed concern that many pensioners were missing out on this important benefit and urged the council to do more to support residents to make a claim, including potentially working again with the charity Policy in Practice, which had previously worked with the council on a similar project.
• Rona Topaz asked the Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods about plans for a residents' lounge at the new Holloway Park development, where Peabody is the registered provider. She asked why a two-tier system was being implemented, whereby private tenants would have automatic access to the lounge, but social tenants would have to opt in and pay an additional fee. She said that she was in favour of a “tenure blind” approach, whereby all residents would have the same access rights.
• Pete Gillman asked the Leader of the Council if she would commit to working with other local authorities to call on the government to restore powers that had been removed from councils since Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister in 1979. He highlighted that the Conservative Party had been systematically reducing the powers of local government for over 40 years and wanted to see this trend reversed. He expressed concern that the Labour Party's Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, had indicated that a Labour government would seek to remove bureaucratic impediments for developers, which he feared could lead to a further reduction in the powers of local authorities. The Leader responded by saying that she would be happy to work with other local authorities to call for more powers to be devolved to councils. She said that Islington Council had been a leader on this issue in the past, having successfully led a campaign that made the 2016 Housing and Planning Act inoperable.
• David Harrison asked the Executive Member for Climate and Transport what plans the Council had to promote walking in Islington, particularly in light of the recent improvements to Clerkenwell Green and the opening of the New Green Link Walk, which runs from Peckham to Epping Forest, passing through Clerkenwell. Councillor Champion responded by saying that the council was committed to promoting walking and had a number of schemes underway, including its Liveable Neighbourhoods programme. She said that the programme was about creating quiet streets, safe, connected walking and cycling routes, attractive community spaces, but also getting to really, really incorporate things like child friendly features, shade and seating, as well as of course pavement improvements, which we know are so important. She also said that the council was working with organisations such as Footways to develop new walking routes.

Questions From Members of the Council

Seven questions were asked by councillors:

• Councillor Clarke asked the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families about the future of Islington's adventure playgrounds, which are run by the Islington Play Association. She asked for reassurance that the playgrounds would continue to be funded and that the staff who work in them would have their terms and conditions protected. This follows an announcement by the Islington Play Association that it is planning to reduce staff pay by 20%.
• Councillor Heather asked the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families about the job security and housing arrangements of caretakers who work in schools in Islington. This follows a case in her ward, where a school caretaker had been made redundant and given notice to vacate their home as part of a school reorganisation.
• Councillor Paul Convery asked the Executive Member for Equalities, Communities & Inclusion how many voters were turned away from polling stations at the recent general election because they did not have a valid form of photo ID.
• Councillor Russell asked the Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods how the council supports vulnerable residents when lifts on their estates break down. This follows a number of lift outages that have recently taken place in her ward.
• Councillor Hamdache asked the Executive Member for Equalities, Communities & Inclusion for an update on the council's plans to find sites for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Islington.
• Councillor Pandor asked the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families about the impact that Islington’s Youth Justice Service has had on improving outcomes for young people.
  
• Councillor Hayes asked the Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Transport about the impact of the climate emergency on residents in Islington and what the council is doing to prepare for its future effects.
  

Councillor Nanda asked the Executive Member for Equalities, Communities & Inclusion about the recent riots against ethnic minorities and asylum seekers and what

This week in Islington:

• The Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Health discussed the merger of the North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, the North Central London Integrated Care Board's (NCL ICB) Estates and Infrastructure Strategy for 2024, and the Committee's own work programme.
• The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee noted the council's provisional Key Stage 2 and 4 results for 2024, and considered reports on its SEND framework and persistent absence in secondary schools.
• The Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee discussed the Leader of the Council's annual presentation, the Council's 'Progressive Procurement Strategy', and scrutinized the first quarter budget monitoring report for 2024/25.

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Health - 09 September 2024

The Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Health met to consider a range of reports, but no transcript was made available for this meeting.

Merger of North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

This was a report on the proposed merger of the North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

This is the latest in a series of mergers of local NHS Trusts. As you may recall, this Committee considered a report on the proposed merger of the Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust and the Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust at its meeting on 11 June 2024.

The report identified four clinical service areas which would be prioritised for early integration following the merger:

• Cancer
• Research and development
• Colorectal surgery
• Surgical hubs¹

It listed a number of benefits expected to be achieved as a result of the merger, categorised as benefits for patients, for local communities and for staff of the Trusts.

NCL Estates and Infrastructure Strategy 2024

This report provided an update on the North Central London Integrated Care Board's (NCL ICB) Estates and Infrastructure Strategy for 2024.

The report pack stated that a public consultation was held to consider two options to reduce the number of maternity and neonatal units from five to four. The options considered were:

• Option A - retaining these services at the Whittington Hospital but closing them at the Royal Free Hospital
• Option B - retaining these services at the Royal Free Hospital but closing them at the Whittington Hospital

The report stated that no decision had been made about this service change and that feedback from the consultation would inform a decision-making business case which would be considered by the NCL ICB and NHS England London Region Specialised Commissioning.

Merger of Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust and Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust

This was a report detailing the proposed merger of the Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust and Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust to create a new Trust called North London NHS Foundation Trust.

This is a reminder that local NHS Trusts are increasingly merging to create larger organisations.

Work Programme

This was an update on the committee's own work programme for 2024-25.

The report pack listed the following possible items for inclusion in future meetings:

• Health inequalities fund
• Smoking cessation & vaping
• Strategic role of GP Federations
• Vaccination initiatives
• Paediatric service review
• Primary care commissioning and the monitoring of private corporations
• The efficacy of online GP consultations
• Increases in the number of people being charged for NHS services

The report pack suggested that the committee should consider its own Terms of Reference when considering suitable topics for inclusion in its work programme.

Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee - 10 September 2024

This meeting considered four reports: one on persistent absence in secondary schools, one on the council's SEND framework, one on the council's provisional school results for 2024, and a Quarter 4 2023-24 performance report. The committee also considered its own work programme for 2024-25.

As in previous meetings, the issue of persistent absence was of particular concern to councillors, who noted that Islington schools were still lagging behind other inner London boroughs. They asked how the council monitored persistent absence rates and whether they were accurate. Councillor Paul Convery also highlighted the significant range in persistent absence rates across different schools in the borough and asked how the council was investigating the causes of this. The committee also discussed off-rolling, which is when children are removed from a school roll without the knowledge or consent of their parents. Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner asked what the council was doing to address this issue.

The committee received a report on Islington Council's provisional school results for 2024, which showed that results were encouraging. They heard from Ben Dunn, Assistant Director for School Improvement, who explained that the results were encouraging, with improvements at all key stages. He highlighted the fact that these pupils had all experienced significant disruption to their education during the pandemic.

The committee also considered a report on the council's SEND framework and transitions update, but asked no questions on this topic, perhaps because, as John Abbey, Director of Children's Services acknowledged, the report was unclear.

Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee - 12 September 2024

This meeting discussed the Leader of the Council's annual presentation, evidence on the Council's 'Progressive Procurement Strategy', the first quarter budget monitoring report for 2024/25 and received a summer update on the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

Leader's Presentation

Councillor Comer-Schwartz, Leader of the Council, presented an annual report on the state of the Council.

As in previous presentations, she highlighted the financial pressures facing the council, and the unprecedented demand for services, particularly for Temporary Accommodation. This is consistent with the concerns raised in previous emails about the council's finances. For example, in the email for 03 August 2024, we reported that Councillor Diarmaid Ward, the Executive Member for Finance and Performance, had described the council's financial position as incredibly challenging.

Councillor Comer-Schwartz presented a new [Delivery Plan 2024-26](https://democracy.islington.gov.uk/documents/s37990/Annual+Leaders+Presentation+-+final.pdf) which sets out the organisation's key objectives for the next two years. She explained that the Council had developed a new set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure transparency, grip and pace in delivery.

Councillor Comer-Schwartz's presentation was similar in content and tone to the presentation she gave at the Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee meeting on 24 July 2024.

Scrutiny Review of Progressive Procurement

The Committee received an update on the Council's 'Progressive Procurement Strategy'.

Officers explained that the strategy had been developed in 2020 and contains 25 commitments, supported by 222 actions.

Councillor Comer-Schwartz and Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford, the Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, were in attendance at this part of the meeting. They both regularly attend this committee to discuss issues relating to procurement and the local economy.

Budget Monitoring Q1 2024-25

As in previous years, this report contained details of the Council's financial performance in the first quarter of the financial year. Officers presented a revised general fund forecast position of an overspend of £0.648m for the year.

Councillors expressed their concern about the projected increase in council tax.

Medium Term Financial Strategy

The committee received a summer update on the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

This report was discussed at length, and Councillors expressed their concern that the budget position was very challenging. The report highlighted the significant budget gap of £23.098m in 2025/26.

Other Business

Before concluding the meeting, the Committee agreed:

• To hold a one-off meeting with Thames Water to scrutinise their operations in Islington
• To move consideration of the 'Annual Workforce Report' to the December meeting of the Committee.

This week in Islington:

• The Licensing Sub Committee B discussed an application for Techspace Goswell Road to open 24/7 and sell alcohol, and for Myddleton Arms to add a private dining area.
• The Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee discussed engagement and greener spaces, the Active Travel Scrutiny Review, and their future workplan.
• The Executive agreed to lease the land at 16-34 Graham Street to Islington Boat Club¹ for a peppercorn rent of £1 per year, reviewed a budget report, adopted several new policies around schools, development projects, anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood policy, and received findings from two scrutiny reviews.

Licensing Sub Committee B - 05 September 2024

The Licensing Sub Committee B met this week to consider two applications, one for a new premises licence and one for a variation to an existing licence. The Licensing Sub-Committee is responsible for considering applications for new licences, and for changes to existing licences for the sale of alcohol, late night refreshment and entertainment. This committee makes its decisions in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003² and the council's own Licensing Policy.

Techspace, Technique Building, 140 Goswell Road

The first application considered at the meeting was from Techspace for the Technique Building at 140 Goswell Road. They had applied for a new premises licence for the sale of alcohol and showing of films for consumption on and off the premises.

The application listed the operating hours as 24 hours a day, but stipulated that the sale of alcohol would be allowed between 12:00 and 22:00 Monday-Friday and 12:00 - 20:00 on weekends.

This application is similar to the recent application from The Shoap, considered at the Licensing Sub-Committee A meeting on 22 August 2024, which also sought to extend the hours during which alcohol would be sold.

In a statement included in the meeting report pack the applicant explained that:

The operating hours state 24 hrs, this reflects the fact that the building is accessible to members 24 hours a day, because of the international timescales some of their members work to.

The application was subject to 26 representations from local residents. Residents often submit representations when a licence application is made, as it allows them to raise any concerns they have about the impact of the proposed activity on their neighbourhood. The representations made by residents on this application reflected a number of concerns, including the potential for noise nuisance from the premises. The meeting papers did not include the full text of the representations received.

The meeting papers also included comments from the council's planning department. They noted that the proposed activities were not consistent with the Use Class³ of the building, which is B1(a)⁴, and that:

The application is for a premises licence which relates to the internal areas of the first and 4th floor areas only....The licence is not for the general public to be allowed into the premises for the sale or consumption of alcohol for to view films.

It is likely that the Sub-Committee will have taken these comments into consideration when making their decision.

No transcript for this meeting was made available.

Myddleton Arms, 52 Canonbury Road

The second application considered at the meeting was from the Myddleton Arms at 52 Canonbury Road. They were applying for a variation to their existing licence to allow the first floor of the premises to be used as a private dining area for up to 30 people until 23:00. The application was subject to three representations from local residents. The representations concerned the potential for noise nuisance, and the impact of the proposed activities on the amenity of the area.

The meeting papers included the applicants' responses to the representations, in which they stated that:

...[A]n intimate dining room...for a limited number of guests and the environment would not be suitable for loud noise levels.

The papers also included suggested conditions agreed with the Metropolitan Police, Islington’s Noise Team and Trading Standards Team. These conditions included the requirement for an incident log, the implementation of Challenge 25 and CCTV requirements.

As you may recall, applications for variations to existing premises licences are governed by the Licensing Act 2003. The Act sets out the four licensing objectives that licensing authorities must consider when determining applications:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

In addition to these, the sub-committee is also required to consider the council's own Licensing Policy when determining applications.

These applications are often complex, and the sub-committee must balance the interests of the applicant with the interests of local residents. It is likely that the sub-committee will have taken all of these factors into consideration when making their decision.

No transcript for this meeting was made available.

Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee - 03 September 2024

At this meeting, the Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee discussed the Islington Citizens' Panel on engagement and greener spaces, the Active Travel Scrutiny Review, and their future workplan. A deputation was also heard on motorcycles as active travel. The Committee agreed on the Scrutiny Initiation Document (SID) for their new scrutiny topic, with some additions, and agreed the Active Travel Scrutiny Review report.

Islington Citizens' Panel

The Committee received a presentation on the Islington Citizens' Panel which focused on climate resilience, in particular greening the borough and building community resilience.

The panel was delivered as part of the Council's commitment in its Vision 2030 strategy to deliver a climate citizens’ panel.

...as part of that strategy, we committed to delivering a climate citizens panel to make sure that we were hearing from residents and getting their input on what we need to do in order to get to net zero and respond to the climate crisis.

The Council partnered with the Sortition Foundation to recruit 34 residents using a democratic lottery. The process ensured a demographically representative sample and ran from April to July 2024. It included a range of activities such as presentations from external speakers, discussions and the development of proposals.

The feedback from this panel will be used to inform the Council's Climate Action Plan, Green Infrastructure Strategy and its approach to managing extreme weather events. A report outlining the discussions and recommendations is due to be published in Winter 2024.

Councillors were particularly impressed with the work of the panel and the way in which the Council had managed the project, in particular the:

• high level of engagement from residents;
• focus on inequality;
• measures taken to ensure inclusivity, such as paying residents the London Living Wage for their time and providing food, childcare and transport.

...the fact that everyone was paid living wage and you kind of dealt with all the issues like transport and kind of childcare and food, and it just sounds like absolutely tip-top best practice.

It was agreed that the report on the Citizens' Panel should be brought back to the Committee in early 2025. The Chair suggested that panel members could be invited to attend the meeting.

There was some confusion from some Councillors about whether the Panel would also be engaging residents on the issues included in the Scrutiny Initiation Document (SID), such as street cleaning, enforcement and accessible streets. Officers confirmed that this would be for future engagement projects and that the focus of the Citizens Panel was on climate adaptation and building resilience.

Scrutiny Review of Net Zero Carbon 2030 - Active Travel

This was a report back on the Committee's previous scrutiny review, which took place between October 2023 and April 2024, on the topic of Active Travel.

'Active travel' refers to any form of human-powered transportation, such as walking and cycling as opposed to using motorised vehicles.

The review looked at the Council’s programme of projects, initiatives and promotion of different forms of active travel, including the barriers to active travel.

The report was agreed and will now be submitted to the Council's Executive for a decision.

The eleven recommendations made in the report included:

• a review of the Council’s footway renewal programme to ensure pavements in the worst condition are prioritised;
• the removal of unnecessary street furniture to declutter pavements and cycleways;
• exploring how the Council can work with Adult Social Care and Children's Services to support more people to take up cycling;
• commissioning a study into the relationship between pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair and pushchair users.

You can read the full list of recommendations here.

Scrutiny Initiation Document (SID)

Councillors discussed the SID for the new scrutiny topic, ‘Inclusive Streets’. They agreed on the scope of the review, which covers greening, street cleansing and accessibility, and the evidence that will be considered.

...this isn't just about greening, this is about street cleansing. It's about that sort of stuff as well. And it's also about the way that impinges negatively on our areas and whatever.

However, there was some discussion about whether the Islington Citizens' Panel would be used to engage residents on all of the issues outlined in the SID. There were also some suggestions from Councillors on who should be invited to give evidence to the Committee. The Committee agreed that Council officers should reconsider who they invite to the first evidence session to ensure they can speak about all aspects of the scrutiny topic, including street cleaning, enforcement and accessible streets.

Councillor Russell suggested that the Committee should be mindful of consultation fatigue amongst residents when considering who to invite.

...many of the disability organisations like Transport for All and Inclusion London are talking about consultation fatigue, and so I think if we're hearing from people, they need to sort of understand what the outcomes are that come from giving evidence to us, and how that feeds back into council policy, and actually to see some change.

The Committee agreed that residents should be invited to give evidence to the Committee on their experiences of Islington’s streets.

Councillor Edd suggested inviting Rosie Apperley, the project coordinator for Nature Neighbourhoods, to a future meeting.

Deputation on Motorcycles as Active Travel

A deputation was received from Rachel from the Motorcycle Action Group and Ben from Save London Motorcycling who spoke about their request for the Council to adopt an 'evidence-based proportionate policy approach to motorcycles'.

...Islington doesn't have a specific policy approach to motorcycles. The council's transport strategy doesn't consider us. But in real-world policy, we're lumped in with general traffic and treated as a form of car. This is clearly irrational and counterproductive.

They argued that:

• motorcycles, in particular electric motorcycles, are a sustainable and active mode of transport and should be recognised as such in the Council’s transport strategy;
• the Council’s current approach to motorcycles is irrational because they are subject to many of the same charges as cars, despite not having the same impact, in particular when it comes to parking.

We see this in particular in the residents' parking permits for motorcycles. The charges are half that of cars, but bikes aren't half of a car. We're a different mode with different impacts. And there's no justification for charging electric motorcycles at all under the terms of the policy.

They drew on the example of other Councils, such as Oxford City Council, which they argued are more progressive in their approach to motorcycles.

Councillor Heather argued that the Council would need to balance the positives of motorcycles, such as reduced emissions, with the negatives, such as noise pollution.

I agree with you about motorcycles being part of the transport strategy of the Council and it would be a rational approach. But I think that you've explained some all positive things, but there would be some negative considerations as well.

In response to the issues raised during the deputation, officers agreed to:

• take away the suggestion of including a specific section on motorcycles in the Council's Transport Strategy;
• share further information on how they define active travel and how this is influenced by the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.

One-off Reports

Councillors discussed which topics they would like to receive one-off reports on during the year. They agreed on the following:

• Thames Water, with a focus on water quality in London.
• The Climate Action Net Zero Carbon Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which sets out how Islington can achieve net zero carbon in new developments.
• Leisure, although there was no discussion about what the focus of the report should be.

Councillor Jeapes suggested that the Committee should also receive a short report on a £1.5m variance in the Council’s parking budget. It was decided that Council officers should discuss with the Chairs of the Corporate Resources and Audit Scrutiny Committees which Committee would be the most appropriate to scrutinise this.

Councillor Heather argued that the Committee should also have oversight of the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee budget.

...this environment should look at the budget and how it is worked out within our own section every year. We should have a sort of financial report somehow coming here where we can see what things look like.

No decision was made on this.

Executive - 05 September 2024

The Executive is the council's main decision-making body. It is made up of 10 Labour councillors, including the Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader. The Executive is responsible for making decisions on a wide range of issues, including the budget, council tax, housing, planning, and environmental services. The Executive meets every month, usually on a Thursday. The meetings are open to the public, and residents can ask questions of the Executive members.

Islington Boat Club

The Executive approved a recommendation to grant a new lease to Islington Boat Club for the premises at 16-34 Graham Street. As you may recall, the previous lease for the site was terminated in early 2023, following a period of uncertainty about the club's future.

Councillor Diarmaid Ward, the Executive Member for Finance and Performance, commended the report and explained that the club had appointed new trustees and developed a new business plan. He said that we do need to closely monitor that as well and closely uh hold the boat club to account on their business plan and that the lease would include break clauses if things went wrong.

This echoes the situation with the sports pavilion on Wray Crescent which was discussed at the Planning Sub-Committee meeting on 23 July 2024. In that case, the committee approved the application for the construction of a new pavilion, despite concerns from residents, on the basis that the council would monitor the situation closely.

Councillor Una O'Halloran, the Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, also welcomed the report, noting that:

so many children with special needs get the opportunity where we don't you know to experience going on a boat or lessons and things...it's just it's really great

The decision to grant a new lease to the club was welcomed by local residents and stakeholders.

Budget Monitoring

Councillor Diarmaid Ward introduced a report that summarised the council's budget position for the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year. As in previous years, the council is facing a challenging financial situation, with a forecast overspend of £0.648m. Similar concerns were raised by Councillor Watts at the Executive meeting on 18 July 2024 when he noted the significant financial challenges associated with managing the council's housing stock, and the increasing demand for temporary accommodation.

Let's be in no doubt that we're going to have an incredibly challenging year forward though, an incredibly challenging budget process moving forward to the budget in March.

The report also noted several key pressures and opportunities across a range of council services:

• Adult Social Care: Adult Social Services was forecasting a £1.065m overspend, mostly attributed to the unavailability of care home places in the borough, and the associated costs of placing people outside of the borough. The report noted that private providers were due to open new care homes this financial year and this pressure was therefore expected to be short-term. A pressure of £1.180m was forecast due to shortfalls in commercial rent income from properties at Old Street. The council was due to receive £0.5m in additional social care funding from central government in 2025/26.
• Planning: A £0.626m shortfall in planning income was forecast due to a downturn in planning activity.
• Parking: The council was forecasting a £1.550m shortfall in parking income, attributed to a delay in the implementation of Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs), and an increase in parking operational costs.
• Leisure: An overspend of £0.336m was forecast in leisure services as a result of the temporary closure of Sobell Leisure Centre, which had been closed for an estimated seven months due to flooding.
• Temporary Accommodation: There was a £1.399m overspend in temporary accommodation. The report noted that this was due to an increase in the number of people presenting as homeless, a position compounded by the relatively high cost of nightly booked emergency accommodation, in comparison with other temporary accommodation.
• Capital Programme: The report noted several areas of slippage and acceleration within the capital programme. The largest project in the programme was the redevelopment of Finsbury Leisure Centre which was due to deliver 100 new council homes and a new leisure centre. Following a review, the scheme costs had increased and the council had agreed a virement⁵ of £6.115m to the project.
  
• Schools: Schools in Islington were forecasting a total deficit of £10.397m by 2025/26 and 17 schools were currently reporting a deficit. To help manage this position, the council was continuing to implement its School Organisation Plan.

The council noted the report.

Fair, Inclusive and Accessible Housing Services Commitment

Councillor Una O'Halloran introduced a report on a new 'Fair, Inclusive and Accessible Housing Services Commitment' for the council's housing services. The commitment set out how the council would respond to the needs of residents who may be vulnerable or who require additional support in order to access the council's services. Councillor O'Halloran said the policy was developed with the support and input from a wide range of our stakeholders including residents, the Islington Housing Partnership⁶ and the Octopus Network⁷.

The report noted that the policy had been benchmarked with other landlords including Hammersmith and Fulham, Waltham Forest, Kingston, Hackney, Haringey, Newlon Housing Trust, Clarion Housing, Barnet Homes, Havering, and Westminster Councils, as well as Newlon Housing Group, Clarion Housing Group, Hyde Housing, One Housing, Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association, SHIAN Housing Association, the L&Q Group, the Guinness Trust, Barnsbury Housing Association, Peabody Housing Association, and Southern Housing.

The council agreed the report.

Anti-Social Behaviour Policy

Councillor O'Halloran also introduced a new Anti-Social Behaviour Policy. She said the policy:

clearly outlines the council's approach to tackling anti-social behaviour offering a clear definition as to what constitutes anti-social behaviour...and the processes therein

The policy had been developed following a recommendation from a review of ASB services that the council should have a single corporate ASB policy. The report noted that the policy would explain the council's approach to residents, define ASB, describe how to report ASB, and explain the council's powers and responsibilities in responding to ASB. The report also noted that the policy had been benchmarked against other councils.

The policy was agreed.

Good Neighbourhood Management Policy

Councillor O'Halloran also presented a new Good Neighbourhood Management Policy. She explained that this policy was part of a neighbourhood policy and would:

seek to set clear standards of neighbourly behaviour to promote positive behaviours and build resilient communities in the borough

She also noted that the policy would:

closely complement the work that councillor John Woolf is championing to invigorate the work doing to tackling anti-social behaviour by fostering a culture of tolerance understanding and harmonious coexistence amongst its residents and tenants

The report noted that the policy had been developed following a determination from the Housing Ombudsman that the council should have a Good Neighbourhood Management Policy to manage behaviour that did not meet the ASB threshold, and following a recommendation in the Ombudsman's spotlight report on noise complaints.

Councillor Paul Convery raised concerns that the policy would give the council's caretakers too much power to decide what can and can't be left in communal areas and gave an example of residents being prevented from leaving items in communal corridors that add to the attractiveness of the area.

i can assure you there's been huge amounts of work done on fire safety and what is an allowed acceptable outside properties

Councillor O'Halloran responded by saying that we have to sometimes move plant pots bikes and everything else to keep residents safe, and that she would not put anybody's safety at risk.

residence safety has to come first

The council agreed the policy.

Complex Anti-Social Behaviour Review

Councillor John Woolf, the Executive Member for Community Safety, introduced the findings of a review into Complex ASB undertaken by the council's Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee. He commended the report, saying the:

recommendations are spot on

and noted that the committee had made a call for a public health approach to tackling asb which permeates um the asb policy that we've just approved. He thanked the committee for their diligent work.

Councillor Flora Williamson, who had chaired the scrutiny committee, also spoke about the review:

i just want to put on record also um how i and other members of committee felt like the council staff were very open to this and though it kind of um it was very clear that council staff are really passionate to try and tackle complex asb even if they felt that there was still room to go

She commended the council staff for being open to kind of scrutinizing themselves and looking at what could be done better.

Linda, a resident of Lakewood, asked to meet with Councillor Woolf to discuss the report, as she was doing some really interesting work with some criminologists social scientists and data scientists at [City University](https://www.city.ac.uk/) just down the road. Councillor Woolf agreed to meet.

The council agreed to note the findings of the review.

Access to Health and Care Services in Islington Review

Councillor Flora Williamson, the Executive Member for Health and Social Care, introduced the findings of a scrutiny review into Access to Health and Care Services in Islington.

i just want to put on record my thanks um to uh last year's um health and social care committee scrutiny committee for doing this important work

The report reviewed access to GP practices and Adult Social Care. She said the committee had made a number of recommendations and looked forward to working through the recommendations around what we can what we can implement over the year.

The council agreed to note the findings of the review.

Other Business

• The council agreed to note a budget monitoring report for the first quarter of the financial year.

• The council agreed to adopt a School Organisation Plan. Councillor Michelline Safi Ngongo explained the plan was necessary because:

  the number of children not just in Islington across London and we start to see it even outside London is still continue to decline. That means doing nothing is not an option we need really to continue to do everything and by putting our children first.

• The council noted a decision taken under urgency procedures to surrender the leases for the council-owned office blocks at 45 and 69 Old Street.

The Licensing Sub Committee A met on Thursday 22 August 2024 to discuss two applications for changes to existing premises licences in Islington.

Licensing Sub Committee A - 22 August 2024

This week's meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee considered two applications for variations to existing premises licences. The Licensing Sub-Committee is responsible for considering applications for new licences, and for changes to existing licences for the sale of alcohol, late night refreshment and entertainment. This committee makes its decisions in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003¹ and the council's own Licensing Policy.

The Upper Place, First Floor, Nags Head Market, 22 Seven Sisters Road, N7 6AG

The first application was from The Upper Place, a bar located on the first floor of Nags Head Market at 22 Seven Sisters Road, N7 6AG. The owners applied to vary the existing premises licence to allow: sales of alcohol until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, an hour later than currently allowed and opening hours until 10:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, also an hour later than currently allowed. The application also proposed changes to a number of the licence conditions.

One local resident objected to the application, arguing that the changes to conditions mean that:

The exceptions to Islington’s cumulative impact policy on which the original Premises Licence was granted in June 2023 will no longer be applicable...

The resident also stated that:

...[M]any would say that we have not seen any high standards of management since the premises licence was granted last year. Our streets are still heavily littered by the market and other takeaway outlets. No-one clears it up.

As you may recall, applications for variations to existing premises licences are governed by the Licensing Act 2003. The Act sets out the four licensing objectives that licensing authorities must consider when determining applications:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

The applicant responded to the resident’s objections, and a copy of this response was included in the report pack, but not published on the council website.

Licensing applications often result in representations from local residents, particularly when the application relates to a cumulative impact zone, such as this one. This reflects the importance of these committees, and the role they play in ensuring that the needs of residents are considered when making licensing decisions.

The Shoap, 406 St John Street, EC1V 4NJ

The second application considered in the meeting was from The Shoap at 406 St John Street, EC1V 4NJ. They applied to vary the existing premises licence to allow:

• Sales of alcohol from 8am to 10pm from Monday to Sunday. The current licence allows sales from 11am to 10pm, Mondays to Saturdays only.
• Opening hours until 10:30pm from Monday to Sunday. The current licence allows opening from 8am to 10pm, Mondays to Saturdays only.
• Opening hours until midnight on 30 November (St Andrews Day), 25 January (Burns Night), Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The current licence allows this, but only until 11pm.
• Opening hours until midnight for Scotland national football team and Scotland national rugby union team international matches.

The applicant also proposed a change to condition 12 of the licence to allow:

Alcohol... to be served on the premises as an ancillary to a food order to customers who are seated with the exception of a maximum of 8 persons standing while waiting for a table or seating to become available during busy periods.

One local resident objected to these changes, arguing that the applicant is attempting to:

...[C]ircumvent the Council’s cumulative impact designation...

The applicant responded to the resident’s objections, and a copy of this response was included in the report pack, but not published on the council website.

No transcript for the meeting was made available.

The Licensing Sub Committee A met on Thursday 22 August 2024 to discuss two applications for changes to existing premises licences in Islington.

Licensing Sub Committee A - 22 August 2024

This week's meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee considered two applications for variations to existing premises licences. The Licensing Sub-Committee is responsible for considering applications for new licences, and for changes to existing licences for the sale of alcohol, late night refreshment and entertainment. This committee makes its decisions in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003¹ and the council's own Licensing Policy.

The Upper Place, First Floor, Nags Head Market, 22 Seven Sisters Road, N7 6AG

The first application was from The Upper Place, a bar located on the first floor of Nags Head Market at 22 Seven Sisters Road, N7 6AG. The owners applied to vary the existing premises licence to allow: sales of alcohol until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, an hour later than currently allowed and opening hours until 10:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, also an hour later than currently allowed. The application also proposed changes to a number of the licence conditions.

One local resident objected to the application, arguing that the changes to conditions mean that:

The exceptions to Islington’s cumulative impact policy on which the original Premises Licence was granted in June 2023 will no longer be applicable...

The resident also stated that:

...[M]any would say that we have not seen any high standards of management since the premises licence was granted last year. Our streets are still heavily littered by the market and other takeaway outlets. No-one clears it up.

As you may recall, applications for variations to existing premises licences are governed by the Licensing Act 2003. The Act sets out the four licensing objectives that licensing authorities must consider when determining applications:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

The applicant responded to the resident’s objections, and a copy of this response was included in the report pack, but not published on the council website.

Licensing applications often result in representations from local residents, particularly when the application relates to a cumulative impact zone, such as this one. This reflects the importance of these committees, and the role they play in ensuring that the needs of residents are considered when making licensing decisions.

The Shoap, 406 St John Street, EC1V 4NJ

The second application considered in the meeting was from The Shoap at 406 St John Street, EC1V 4NJ. They applied to vary the existing premises licence to allow:

• Sales of alcohol from 8am to 10pm from Monday to Sunday. The current licence allows sales from 11am to 10pm, Mondays to Saturdays only.
• Opening hours until 10:30pm from Monday to Sunday. The current licence allows opening from 8am to 10pm, Mondays to Saturdays only.
• Opening hours until midnight on 30 November (St Andrews Day), 25 January (Burns Night), Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The current licence allows this, but only until 11pm.
• Opening hours until midnight for Scotland national football team and Scotland national rugby union team international matches.

The applicant also proposed a change to condition 12 of the licence to allow:

Alcohol... to be served on the premises as an ancillary to a food order to customers who are seated with the exception of a maximum of 8 persons standing while waiting for a table or seating to become available during busy periods.

One local resident objected to these changes, arguing that the applicant is attempting to:

...[C]ircumvent the Council’s cumulative impact designation...

The applicant responded to the resident’s objections, and a copy of this response was included in the report pack, but not published on the council website.

No transcript for the meeting was made available.

The Licensing Sub Committee D met on Tuesday 06 August 2024 to discuss a Premises Licence Variation application by Astro at 4 Exmouth Market, London.

Licensing Sub-Committee D - 06 August 2024

The Licensing Sub-Committee D met this week to consider an application for a variation to the premises licence for Astro, a bar at 4 Exmouth Market, London. The application sought permission to extend the bar's licensed hours for the sale of alcohol and opening to the public until midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and until 2am from Thursday to Saturday. Currently, the bar's licence permits the sale of alcohol until 11pm Sunday to Wednesday and until 12am Thursday to Saturday.

Applications for variations to existing premises licences are governed by the Licensing Act 2003.¹ The Act sets out the four licensing objectives that licensing authorities must consider when determining applications:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

The Licensing Sub-Committee received three representations from local residents objecting to the application on the grounds of potential public nuisance. The residents expressed concerns about noise and anti-social behavior associated with the later closing time. They also argued that granting the application would set a precedent for other businesses in the area to extend their hours.

As Astro is located within the Clerkenwell Cumulative Impact Area, the sub-committee was required to consider Licensing Policy 3 when determining the application. This policy, adopted in February 2016, creates a presumption of refusal for applications for new premises licences or variations to existing licences that are likely to add to the cumulative impact of licensed premises in the area, unless the applicant can demonstrate that there will be no negative impact.

Similar concerns about cumulative impact have been raised in previous Licensing Sub-Committee meetings. For example, at the meeting of Licensing Sub-Committee A on 27 June 2024, Councillor Watts expressed concern about the extensive hours requested for the sale of alcohol at Flora Cafe, which is also located in a cumulative impact zone.

In response to the residents’ concerns, the applicant emphasized Astro’s good relationship with its neighbours and provided assurances that noise would be kept to a minimum. The applicant also highlighted several mitigating measures, including a no vertical drinking policy, a booking-only system for late customers, and the employment of SIA-registered door staff from 9pm until 30 minutes after closing. SIA, or Security Industry Authority, is the organization responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom.

The sub-committee will now consider the application and the representations received and will publish their decision within five working days of the hearing.

The Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee met on 29 July 2024 to discuss a range of topics including the draft Climate Action and Net Zero Carbon Supplementary Planning Document, Thames Water, and the selection of a new scrutiny topic for 2024/25. The Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee meeting was held on Tuesday 30 July 2024, and included scheduled discussions on the council's end of year budget position, its performance against a range of targets, and its spending plans for the next few years. The Islington Pensions Board met on Wednesday 31 July 2024 to discuss a range of issues relating to the performance and administration of the Islington Pension Fund.

Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee - 29 July 2024

The Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee meeting on Monday 29 July 2024, saw councillors discuss a range of issues, including plans for a new Climate Action Supplementary Planning Document, the performance of Thames Water, and the selection of a new topic for its next scrutiny review. The meeting began with a presentation from officers on the draft Climate Action and Net Zero Carbon Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The SPD, which sets out how Islington Council will deliver its Local Plan policies on sustainable development, will include detailed guidance on reducing carbon emissions from new developments, and improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings. The committee heard that the SPD will cover a wide range of issues, including energy efficiency, sustainable transport, and green infrastructure. The document is intended to provide greater certainty for developers about what the council expects from them, and to ensure that all new developments are built to the highest possible environmental standards. The committee also heard from officers about the council’s plans to introduce a new Retrofit Handbook alongside the SPD. The handbook will provide advice for homeowners on how to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, and highlight some of the financial support that is available to help with the cost of retrofitting. This document is separate from the SPD to allow for easier updating as technologies change, and to reflect that it does not carry the same formal weight. You may recall that a number of previous emails have discussed the significant financial challenges associated with retrofitting the UK's existing housing stock, and the difficulties of accessing suitable grant funding to carry out this work. This was also a topic of discussion during the recent Executive meeting on 18 July 2024 which considered proposals to redevelop the Finsbury Leisure Centre.

Councillors welcomed the draft documents and praised the work of officers in bringing them forward. However, they also raised a number of issues and sought assurances from officers about how these would be addressed. One of the key concerns related to the need to ensure that the council’s approach to retrofitting was inclusive, and would meet the needs of all residents, particularly those living in social housing. Councillors heard from officers about the work that the council is doing with housing associations to support them to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, and the bids that have been submitted to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

Another concern related to the need to ensure that the council’s approach to sustainable development did not disproportionately impact on disabled residents. This concern has also been raised in the context of the council’s People Friendly Streets programme, which has been the subject of several recent emails. Councillors asked officers to provide further details about how the SPD would address this issue.

Councillors also sought assurances that the SPD and the Retrofit Handbook would be updated regularly to take account of changes in technology and policy. They were told that the documents would be reviewed on an annual basis, and that updates would be made as required. Councillors also asked officers to ensure that residents were kept informed about the development of the SPD. They were told that a public consultation on the draft document would be launched later in the year.

Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee - 30 July 2024

The Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to meet on Tuesday 30 July 2024, to discuss a range of financial matters. The meeting was expected to include a presentation on the draft 2024/25 budget, which will set out the council’s spending plans for the next financial year. The committee was also scheduled to receive an update on the council’s financial performance in 2023/24, and to consider a number of reports on the council’s procurement processes. One of the most interesting items on the agenda was a proposal for the committee to undertake a review of the council’s procurement processes and how they can be used to deliver wider social benefits. You may recall that this topic was also discussed at the recent meeting of the full council on 11 July 2024. In particular, the review was expected to focus on how the council can use its purchasing power to support local businesses and to create jobs for Islington residents. As you know, the council has been a long-standing advocate of using its procurement processes to achieve social value, and this review is an opportunity for the committee to scrutinise how effective the council has been in this area. The review was also expected to examine how the council can improve its procurement processes to make them more efficient and effective.

Islington Pensions Board - 31 July 2024

This week saw the Islington Pensions Board meet to discuss the performance of the Islington Pension Fund. The committee considered several reports on the fund, covering performance, administration, and risk management. Attendees heard from Apex, the council’s independent investment advisers, who provided an analysis of the performance of the fund’s investments. This is similar to the recent Pensions Committee meeting on 24 July 2024, where councillors heard that the pension fund will begin the process of divesting from companies that have commercial interests in the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.

This week, Islington Council held 5 meetings: the Planning Sub Committee A, the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Health, the Licensing Sub Committee C, the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, and the Pensions Committee. The Planning Sub Committee A meeting on 23 July 2024 approved the construction of a new sports pavilion on Wray Crescent Open Space despite concerns from local residents about the loss of trees. The Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Health met on 25 July 2024 to discuss a range of topics including the ‘Start Well’ programme, access to primary care, and dental services. The Licensing Sub Committee C meeting, also on 25 July 2024, considered an application for a new premises licence for W1 Curates at 6-9 Timber Street. The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee met on 23 July 2024 and discussed supported internships, school organisation and the children's workforce. The Pensions Committee meeting on 24 July 2024 included discussions of the Pension Fund's recent performance, its decarbonisation policy, and the use of shareholder voting.

Planning Sub-Committee A - 23 July 2024

The Planning Sub-Committee approved three applications at its meeting on Tuesday 23 July 2024. These were the demolition of a disused caretaker’s house at Vittoria Primary School on Treaty Street to be replaced by a sensory garden, the redevelopment of Toffee Park on Ironmonger Row to provide a new family hub and improved facilities at the adventure playground, and the construction of a new sports pavilion at Wray Crescent Open Space on Wray Crescent. The meeting's agenda, including links to the applications and supporting documentation, can be found here.

The Planning Sub-Committee has responsibility for determining planning applications in the borough. They must make their decisions in accordance with the Islington Local Plan, the National Planning Policy Framework, and other relevant legislation.

The most contentious application considered at the meeting was the proposal for Wray Crescent Open Space. The application sought permission to demolish the existing sports pavilion, which has been out of use since 2018, and replace it with a new building of a similar size.

This application, which is similar to the proposal for the redevelopment of the Sunnyside Community Center discussed at the full council meeting on 11 July 2024, reflects the council's commitment to improving sports facilities in the borough.

The new building will be single-storey and include new changing and toilet facilities, a new community room, and a kitchen. It is intended that the community room will be available to hire, providing a valuable resource for local people. This is in line with the council's stated aim of providing high-quality community facilities.

There were a significant number of objections to the application, with 42 objections and seven comments of support received during the consultation period. Similar concerns were raised by residents during the consultation for the redevelopment of the Finsbury Leisure Centre, which was discussed at the council's Executive meeting on 18 July 2024. The redevelopment of the Finsbury Leisure Centre was also met with significant local opposition.

These objections are consistent with a national trend of increased scrutiny of planning applications, as residents become more aware of the impact of development on their local area.

Many of the objections related to the design and appearance of the proposed building, which is to be constructed in grey brickwork with a grey zinc roof and grey window frames. The council’s Design and Conservation officers shared these concerns but the committee decided that the use of these materials was appropriate.

This decision highlights the complex balance that planning committees must strike between aesthetic considerations, functional requirements, and budget constraints.

A number of objectors also raised concerns about the loss of trees to facilitate the creation of a new storage space. Six trees, part of a tree vegetation group, and a hedgerow were proposed to be removed to create the storage space. In response, the committee added a condition to the application that 12 new trees should be planted.

This decision reflects the council’s commitment to protecting trees and increasing canopy cover in the borough, as set out in its Urban Forest Policy.

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Health - 25 July 2024

The Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Health met on 25 July 2024 for their first meeting of the 2024/25 municipal year. The meeting was scheduled to include an update on the ‘Start Well’ programme following a recent public consultation on proposed changes to maternity, neonatal and children’s surgery.

This committee scrutinises the work of the North Central London Integrated Care Board (ICB) which has responsibility for planning, buying and monitoring health services for the residents of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington.

The 'Start Well' programme reflects the ICB's responsibility for ensuring the provision of a comprehensive health service across the five boroughs. Scrutiny of the ICB is particularly important as it is not directly accountable to the residents of the boroughs it covers. Instead, accountability is provided through scrutiny by this committee.

No transcript for the meeting was made available.

Licensing Sub Committee C - 25 July 2024

The Licensing Sub Committee C met on 25 July 2024 to consider an application for a new premises licence for W1 Curates at 6-9 Timber Street. The application, which sought permission to sell alcohol until 11pm from Sunday to Thursday, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday, was met with objections from a number of local residents.

The Licensing Sub-Committee is responsible for considering applications for new licences for the sale of alcohol, late night refreshment and entertainment. This committee makes its decisions in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, and the council's own Licensing Policy.

Licensing applications often result in representations from local residents, particularly when the application relates to a cumulative impact zone, such as this one.

The meeting report pack contains several representations from residents concerned about the impact of the application on their neighbourhood.

This reflects the importance of these committees, and the role they play in ensuring that the needs of residents are considered when making licensing decisions.

No transcript for the meeting was made available.

Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee - 23 July 2024

The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee met on 23 July 2024. The committee were scheduled to discuss a number of topics including supported internships, school organisation, the children's workforce, and their principal topic of scrutiny for 2024-25: “Attendance - Persistent Secondary School Absences”.

The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee scrutinises decisions made about children and young people in the borough. One of their most important roles is to hold the council's executive to account for its decisions in this area.

No transcript for the meeting was made available.

Pensions Committee - 24 July 2024

The Pensions Committee met on 24 July 2024 to discuss the performance of the Islington Pension Fund. The committee received several reports on the performance of the fund, including a report on the fund's progress towards its decarbonisation goals. The committee also discussed the impact of shareholder voting on corporate governance, and the potential for the Islington Pension Fund to use its influence to promote positive change.

The Pensions Committee has responsibility for ensuring that the Islington Pension Fund is properly managed and that the interests of its members are protected.

The committee's discussions about the fund's decarbonisation goals reflect the increasing importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations for investors.

No transcript for the meeting was made available.

The Islington Council held four meetings in the last week: the Licensing Sub Committee B, the Planning Committee, a postponed unnamed meeting, and the Executive.

Redevelopment of the Finsbury Leisure Centre

The most impactful meeting this week was the Executive meeting on Thursday, 18 July 2024, where the council reaffirmed its commitment to the controversial redevelopment of the Finsbury Leisure Centre at Norman Street.

The proposed redevelopment would see the demolition of the existing leisure centre and its replacement with a new leisure centre, housing, and a medical centre. The scheme is currently estimated to cost £157.668m.

Despite significant community opposition, the council maintains that the scheme is viable and will deliver much-needed housing, a new medical centre, and an updated leisure facility.

During the meeting, a member of the public questioned the financial viability of the project, citing concerns about the falling property market in the area and the reliance on the sale of private flats to fund the scheme.

In response, Stephen Biggs, Executive Director of Place, stated that the council had taken a prudent assumption of sales values and that the scheme remained viable and fully funded.

Another resident raised concerns about the loss of green space, stating that the redevelopment would sacrifice one of the last open communal spaces in one of the most densely populated areas in the country.

Councillor Halloran responded by emphasizing the council's commitment to building new homes, stating that every single councillor, it is our number one priority to build homes, homes, homes.

The redevelopment of the Finsbury Leisure Centre has been a contentious issue in Islington for some time, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.

This latest meeting suggests that the council remains committed to the scheme despite ongoing opposition.

People-Friendly Streets Individual Exemption Policy

The Executive meeting on Thursday 18 July 2024 also saw the council formally adopt a new exemption policy for its people-friendly streets programme. The decision follows a trial period of the policy, under which 79 individual exemption permits were granted to residents with a disability or chronic health condition. These residents rely on private vehicles for transportation and were found to be substantially disadvantaged by the re-routing of journeys required due to traffic filters installed as part of the people-friendly streets programme.

Mr. Martin, a disabled business owner and resident of Islington, delivered a deputation before the meeting, highlighting what he believed were serious flaws with the policy. He argued that the council was attempting to shrink-wrap the vast array of disabilities into just two, criticized the policy's reliance on the applicant's level of pain as a qualifying criterion, and argued that it represented a deliberate attempt to exclude more than include. He urged the council to free the disabled and rethink their policies.

Councillor Champion, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality, and Transport, defended the policy, arguing that it struck a balance between the needs of disabled people and the council's commitment to creating a greener, healthier Islington.

Councillor Champion acknowledged that the council may have been slow to recognize the need for exemptions for disabled people but maintained that the adopted policy was the result of extensive consultation and considered all circumstances, including the council's legal obligations under the Equality Act.

Licensing Sub Committee B

The Licensing Sub Committee B meeting on Monday, 15 July 2024 was convened to consider an application for a new premises licence for Dreamery Ice Cream Shop at 21 Halliford Street. The application, made by Dreamery London Ltd, sought permission for the sale of alcohol on and off the premises from 9am to 9:30pm, Monday to Sunday, and until the start of permitted hours on New Year's Day.

The sub-committee approved the application with conditions, following representations from residents about potential public nuisance.

Planning Committee

The Planning Committee meeting on Monday 15 July 2024 considered three applications:

• 176-178 York Way: The committee granted permission for the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of an 8-storey commercial building for lab-enabled office floorspace, a makerspace, community space, and affordable workspace.
• William Martin Court: Permission was granted for changes to William Martin Court at 65 Margery Street, including converting the building from staff accommodation to temporary accommodation for families of Maltese nationals receiving medical treatment in the UK.
• 1 Torrens Street: The committee approved a stopping up order for three sections of footway at 1 Torrens Street as part of a previously approved planning application.

Unnamed Postponed Meeting

The meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 16 July 2024 was postponed. No further details were provided.

Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee

No video was provided for the Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting on Thursday, 18 July 2024.

The Islington Council held five meetings this week: the full council, the Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee, the Health and Wellbeing Board, the Audit and Risk Committee, and the Standards Committee.

Full Council

The most significant decision made this week was at the meeting of the full council, which discussed a petition calling for the Sunnyside Community Center to be redeveloped. The center is in a state of disrepair and the petition called for a full refurbishment. The Council agreed to consider the petition as part of its review of community centres. The meeting was held on Thursday 11 July 2024.

The council also debated parking in Barnard Park. In a deputation from The Friends of Barnard Park, Ms Green complained that cars parking on the grass were damaging it and making the park less accessible. In response, Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz said that:

“We are committed to creating a greener, healthier Islington, and that includes protecting our parks and green spaces,” she said. “Illegal parking is not only unsightly, but it can also damage the environment and put pedestrians at risk.”

The Council agreed to note the concerns of the Friends of Barnard Park.

During the meeting Councillor Paul Convery, Chair of the Pension Fund Committee, announced that the pension fund will begin the process of divesting from companies that have commercial interests in the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. This decision comes after the dissolution of Parliament caused the death of the controversial Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, which would have prevented councils from taking this kind of action.

Now we therefore consulted with Council who advised that divestment at any time would clearly fall foul of that bill's provisions once enacted and would in effect do so retrospectively. However, the good news, with the dissolution of parliament six weeks ago that bill died and with the formation of the new Labour government last week there is in my view no possibility of such legislation being laid in parliament in the foreseeable future.

The full council also agreed to several appointments to committees, including the appointment of Councillor Diarmaid Ward as the chair of the Finance and Performance scrutiny committee.

Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee

The Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee met on Monday 08 July 2024 and discussed the performance of Adult Social Care, the performance of Moorfields Eye Hospital, and the Committee's workplan for 2024-25.

The Committee noted the reports on Adult Social Care, and Moorfields but asked for more information about the transition between Children and Adult Social Care to be brought to their next meeting. The Committee resolved to approve their workplan for 2024-25.

The Committee also discussed their plans for the year ahead, and agreed to focus their work on reviewing adult social care accommodation.

Health and Wellbeing Board

The Health and Wellbeing Board met on Tuesday 09 July 2024. They discussed and approved the Smokefree Generation Islington strategy. This plan aims to reduce the rate of smoking in the borough to below 5% by 2030.

Audit and Risk Committee

The Audit and Risk Committee met on Monday 08 July 2024 to discuss the Council’s principal risks.

Members noted with concern the number of risks assessed as red or amber. The Committee were content with the proposed Audit Committee Work Plan for the year ahead, and noted the Audit Committee Response Tracker.

Standards Committee

The Standards Committee met on Tuesday 09 July 2024 and discussed the Localism Act 2011 and its application to councillor conduct, agreeing to update the council's procedures. Councillors also received an update on recent complaints made against councillors.

In the past week, the Islington Council held the following meetings:

Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee

The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday, 25 June 2024 was postponed. No further details were provided.

Standards Committee

The Standards Committee meeting on Thursday, 27 June 2024 took place, but no video was provided for this meeting.

Licensing Sub Committee A

The Licensing Sub Committee A meeting on Thursday, 27 June 2024 discussed three applications for licensed premises in Islington. All three licence applications were granted.

Flora Cafe

The meeting began by considering an application by Flora Cafe for a new premises licence at 5-15 Cromer Street, Islington. The applicant, Mr Fioralba Kociu, was represented by Mr Robert Sutherland of Kingsley Licensing.

Councillor Watts expressed concern about the extensive hours requested for the sale of alcohol:

Councillor Watts: ...looking at the application in front of me and it says sale by retail of alcohol off the premises, Monday to Sunday, 8am to 11pm. So that's 15 hours a day, 7 days a week... and this is in a cumulative impact zone.

Mr Sutherland responded by explaining that the hours requested were a formality, and the shop would likely not be open for those hours:

Mr Sutherland: ...the hours applied for on the application are there, as you rightly point out, they are quite extensive. But realistically, a business of this kind, which is going to be very much geared towards, as my client has indicated, the local community, is highly unlikely to be open, I would have thought, anything like 15 hours a day.

The sub-committee approved the application.

216 St Pauls Road

Next, the sub-committee heard an application from Vagabond Wines for a new premises licence at 216 St Pauls Road, Islington. The application was presented by Mr James Clark of John Gaunt & Partners, who explained the nature of the business:

Mr Clark: ...they are not your average wine bar... their business model very much focuses on the tasting of wine.

He elaborated on the business model:

Mr Clark: ...they are very keen to emphasize this is not a vertical drinking establishment...you can't come in and just have a pint at the bar, you can't come in and just have a glass of wine at the bar. In order to consume alcohol on the premises, you have to purchase one of these cards which are pre-loaded with a set amount of money.

The sub-committee had no questions for Mr Clark and approved the application.

Rush Cocktails

Finally, the sub-committee heard an application for a variation to the licence for Rush Cocktails at 186 Essex Road, Islington. The application was to change the designation of the premises from a 'restaurant' to a 'bar'.

The application was presented by Ms Lauren Wright of John Gaunt & Partners on behalf of the applicant, Ms Surinder Ram. Ms Wright explained:

Ms Wright: This is simply just to change the operating style of the premises... the reason why my client's looking to change it is she wants to be able to offer more flexibility.

The sub-committee had no questions for Ms Wright and approved the application.

Executive

The Executive meeting on Thursday, 27 June 2024 covered several important topics, including the council's budget, the procurement of accommodation for young people, and updates to the Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy.

Council Budget

Councillor Diarmaid Ward began the discussion by thanking officers for their work in managing the council's budget amidst austerity:

We've endured a decade of austerity, and the bottom line here is, we're doing okay. It's not quite a break-even position, but it's almost there.

The council made £11.647m of savings in 2023-24, as detailed in Appendix 3_Delivery of Agreed 23-24 Savings to the 2023-24 Quarter 4 Budget Monitoring Report - Executive.

Councillor Ward warned of huge challenges in the coming year and noted an increase in complaints, which he attributed to the council's efforts to listen to residents' issues.

Young People Supported Accommodation Pathways

The Executive approved the Young People Supported Accommodation Strategy 2024_Executive, which aims to increase the number of supported accommodation places for young people aged 16-25 to 200. Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz emphasized the need for readily available accommodation for at-risk youth:

...we need to be able to have accommodation readily available for children at risk, especially those aged 16 to 25.

The strategy aims to keep young people closer to the borough and provides a more flexible procurement framework to address the current market's challenges.

Housing Repairs and Maintenance Policy

The Executive also approved an updated Repairs and Maintenance Policy. Councillor Paul Convery highlighted the council's efforts in carrying out 112,000 repairs annually, up from 90,000 the previous year. The updated policy includes commitments to proactive checks on roofs and gutters, and a guide will be published to explain the policy in more narrative terms.

This week's meetings underscored the council's commitment to managing its budget effectively, supporting at-risk youth, and maintaining high standards in housing repairs and maintenance.

In the past week, the Islington Council held a Planning Sub Committee B meeting on Tuesday, 18 June 2024.

Planning Sub Committee B

The most impactful meeting this week was the Planning Sub Committee B, which convened on Tuesday, 18 June 2024, to discuss two significant planning applications: 48 Great Sutton Street and 33-37 Corsica Street. The meeting was chaired by Councillor Ruth Hayes and included discussions on design, sustainability, and community impact.

33-37 Corsica Street - Demolition and Replacement House

The application for 33-37 Corsica Street involved the demolition of an existing house and the erection of a replacement house. This proposal sparked considerable debate due to its potential impact on the local environment and community.

Key Discussions:

• Tree Preservation: One of the main concerns was the removal of an Indian bean tree in the front garden. The tree was causing structural damage to the existing house, and its removal was deemed necessary. However, the applicant proposed planting 12 new trees on the site to mitigate this loss.
• Sustainability: The new house would feature high sustainability standards, including a biodiverse green roof, air source heat pumps, and solar panels. Despite these measures, the development would not achieve net zero carbon, leading to a financial contribution of £1,500 towards carbon offsetting.
• Community Impact: Objectors raised concerns about the height of the new building, potential loss of light, and the impact on the pavement width. The applicant addressed these concerns by setting the building back from the highway and increasing garden space.

Decision: The committee approved the application with conditions, including a financial contribution of £9,000 towards planting three new trees in the locality and a Section 278 highways agreement for changes to the highway. The decision was made considering the Islington Local Plan and national planning policies.

48 Great Sutton Street - Conversion to Office Space

The application for 48 Great Sutton Street involved converting a two-bedroom flat into office space. The flat had poor daylight quality and was deemed unsuitable for residential use.

Key Discussions:

• Daylight Quality: The existing flat had very poor daylight quality, making it an unsuitable living space. The conversion to office space was seen as a more appropriate use of the building.
• Cycle Parking: The proposal included indoor cycle storage, but due to space constraints, the committee discussed the possibility of providing off-site cycle parking by replacing a bollard with a Sheffield stand.

Decision: The committee approved the application with a condition to secure a financial contribution for off-site cycle parking. This decision aligns with the council's Bunhill and Clerkenwell Area Action Plan and aims to support local businesses while improving the quality of the built environment.

This week's meetings highlighted the council's ongoing efforts to balance development with community needs and environmental sustainability. The focus on tree preservation, high sustainability standards, and appropriate land use continues to be a central theme in the council's work.

In the past week, the Islington Council held several meetings, including the Licensing Regulatory Committee on Monday, 10 June 2024, the Licensing Sub Committee D on Tuesday, 11 June 2024, the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on Monday, 10 June 2024, the Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 11 June 2024, and the Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, 13 June 2024.

Licensing Sub Committee D

The most impactful meeting this week was the Licensing Sub Committee D, which convened on Tuesday, 11 June 2024, to discuss new premises licence applications for Filo at 81 Holloway Road and Brunch on the Green at Units 1-3, 34 Islington Green. Both applications were granted with specific conditions to address community concerns and ensure compliance with the council's licensing policies.

Filo, 81 Holloway Road, London, N7 8LT - New Premises Licence

The committee reviewed the application for a new premises licence for Filo, located at 81 Holloway Road, London, N7 8LT. The applicant sought to extend the hours for licensable activities, including the sale of alcohol and late-night refreshments.

Key Discussions:

• Revised Hours: The applicant proposed revised hours, ceasing licensable activities at midnight and closing the premises at 00:30, seven days a week. For New Year's Eve, the hours would remain the same, with any additional needs addressed through a Temporary Event Notice.
• Community Concerns: Interested parties expressed concerns about potential noise disturbance and the length of the delivery window. They noted historical issues with other premises in the vicinity and the need to adhere to the Licensing Policy’s framework hours, which stipulate a closing time of 11pm.
• Applicant's Mitigation Measures: The applicant's legal representative highlighted measures to reduce disturbance, such as double glazing and a dispersal policy agreed with the Noise team. The applicant also agreed to appoint a noise consultant and implement noise control measures.
• Conditions and Concessions: The applicant agreed to several conditions, including restricting the off-licence supply of alcohol to 10pm and ensuring no internal combustion engine vehicles are used for deliveries.

Decision: The committee granted the licence with the following conditions:

1. Sale of alcohol on supplies from 10:00 until 23:00 Sundays to Thursdays, and 10:00 until 00:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
2. Sale of alcohol off supplies from 10:00 until 22:00 Sundays to Thursdays, and 10:00 until 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
3. Playing of recorded music from 10:00 until 23:00 Sundays to Thursdays, and 10:00 until 00:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
4. Performance of live music from 10:00 until 23:00 Mondays to Sundays.
5. Premises open to the public from 10:00 until 23:00 Sundays to Thursdays, and 10:00 until 00:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
6. Licensable activities extended from the end of permitted hours on New Year’s Eve to the start of permitted hours on New Year’s Day.
7. Additional condition: No internal combustion engine vehicles for deliveries.

The decision was made considering the Licensing Act 2003, national guidance, and the council’s Licensing Policy.

Brunch on the Green, Units 1-3, 34 Islington Green, London, N1 8EU - New Premises Licence

The committee also reviewed the application for a new premises licence for Brunch on the Green, located at 34 Islington Green, London, N1 8EU.

Key Discussions:

• Business Model: The applicant described the business as a small restaurant seeking to sell alcohol between 11am and 10.30pm. The focus would be on food, with alcohol offerings primarily consisting of wines and cocktails.
• Community Engagement: The applicant highlighted their engagement with the community, obtaining signatures of support from neighbours and addressing objections.
• Operational Details: The applicant clarified that there would be no vertical drinking, and the environment would be ambient with no live music. Waste management procedures were already in place, and the business would use a private outdoor space to mitigate noise.

Decision: The committee granted the licence with the following conditions:

1. Sale of alcohol on supplies only from 11:00 until 23:00 Mondays to Sundays.
2. Premises open to the public from 07:00 until 23:00 Mondays to Sundays.

The decision was made considering the Licensing Act 2003, national guidance, and the council’s Licensing Policy.

For further details, you can refer to the Printed minutes 30012024 1830 Licensing Sub Committee D.

Other Meetings

• Licensing Regulatory Committee on Monday, 10 June 2024: No video was provided for this meeting.
• Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on Monday, 10 June 2024: No video was provided for this meeting.
• Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 11 June 2024: This meeting was postponed.
• Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, 13 June 2024: This meeting was postponed.

This week's meetings highlighted the council's ongoing efforts to address community concerns through licensing regulations and ensure compliance with local policies. The focus on community engagement and proactive policy development continues to be a central theme in the council's work.

In the last week, the Islington Council held two meetings: the Planning Committee on Tuesday, 04 June 2024 and the Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, 06 June 2024.

Planning Committee

The Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday, 04 June 2024, focused on a single planning application for a site located on the corner of Margery Street and Yardley Street. The application had already been appealed for non-determination by the applicant. The committee ultimately agreed to refuse the application based on several key issues, including design, impact on heritage assets, residential amenity, and carbon emissions.

Key Reasons for Refusal

1. Design and Appearance

   • The proposed building was criticized for its incongruous appearance and corporate character in a primarily residential area.
   • Specific issues included the design of the fenestration, the relentless street elevation, and a poorly detailed cantilevered corner entrance.

2. Impact on Heritage Assets

   • The proposal was deemed to adversely affect the character and special architectural and historic interest of nearby Grade II listed buildings and the New River Conservation Area.

3. Residential Amenity

   • The proposed development would result in unacceptable harm to the amenity of neighboring residents through loss of daylight and privacy.

4. Affordable Workspace

   • The proposed affordable workspace unit was criticized for its poor standard of amenity, awkward layout, and lack of natural light.

5. Whole Life Carbon Emissions

   • The application failed to adequately address whole life cycle carbon emissions, including pre-construction demolition emissions.

6. Servicing Arrangements

   • Concerns were raised about the proposed servicing arrangements, which involved reversing vehicles on Yardley Street, a cycle route.

Public Objections

• Margery Street Tenants and Residents Association and Wilmington Square Society both supported the refusal.
• Concerns included loss of daylight, impact on heritage assets, privacy, noise, and inappropriate densification of office use in a residential area.

Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee

The Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday, 06 June 2024. The meeting focused on the new committee's remit, performance management, and the selection of a scrutiny topic.

Performance Management

The committee reviewed the performance management system, Islington Check-ins, introduced on April 1, 2023. This system replaced the previous model, Quality Conversations, and involves monthly check-ins between managers and team members, with a review every four months. The committee discussed the communication and engagement campaigns carried out to introduce the new approach, including workshops for managers and online resources. They also reviewed the results from a recent all-colleagues survey, which showed improvements in managerial effectiveness in dealing with inappropriate behavior and poor performance.

Selection of Scrutiny Topic

The committee discussed potential scrutiny topics for the year. The primary focus was on community wealth building and procurement practices. The committee agreed on the importance of scrutinizing how the council's procurement practices can deliver social value and community wealth building. This includes ensuring that the council's spending benefits the local community, supports local businesses, and addresses inequalities.

Other Discussions

• The committee agreed on the need to monitor the council's response to complaints and ensure high-quality responses to residents' concerns.
• There was a discussion on the importance of ensuring that the council's services are accessible to all residents, particularly those who may not be aware of the services available to them.
• The committee also discussed the need for a focus on equalities and how this can be integrated into the scrutiny of procurement practices.

This week's meetings highlighted the council's ongoing efforts to address key issues in planning and performance management. The focus on community engagement, proactive policy development, and ensuring social value in procurement practices continues to be a central theme in the council's work.

This week, the Islington Council held four meetings: the Licensing Sub Committee C on Tuesday, 21 May 2024, the Licensing Committee on Tuesday, 21 May 2024, the Executive on Thursday, 23 May 2024, and the Audit and Risk Committee on Tuesday, 21 May 2024.

Licensing Sub Committee C

The Licensing Sub Committee C met on Tuesday, 21 May 2024. No video was provided for this meeting.

Licensing Committee

The Licensing Committee also met on Tuesday, 21 May 2024. No video was provided for this meeting.

Executive

The Executive meeting on Thursday, 23 May 2024, covered several impactful topics, including appointments, leases, and a response to a scrutiny report.

Appointments for 2024-2025 The Executive approved appointments to the London Grants Committee and the LGPS London Collective Investment Vehicle. These appointments are crucial for ensuring that Islington has a voice in regional funding and investment decisions.

Grant of Lease to Sunnyside Community Centre Councillor Halleran introduced the grant of a lease to Sunnyside Community Centre. This move strengthens the community lease for Sunnyside Gardens, which has been a vital community space since 1997. The formal registration as a charity in 1992 and the ongoing support from the council highlight the importance of this community hub.

This is a good news story because anybody that knows Sunnyside Gardens have occupied this site since 1997. — Councillor Halleran

Grant of Sublease for 2-4 Old Street Yard Councillor Bell-Bredford discussed the grant of a sublease for 2-4 Old Street Yard to Fair Share, a national charity focused on food distribution. This decision mitigates financial pressures from an empty building and brings in a tenant that adds social value to the community.

This paper allows us to mitigate that pressure by filling it with a high-quality tenant in the form of Fair Share. — Councillor Bell-Bredford

Executive Response to the 2022/2023 Scrutiny Report from Adult Social Care Transformation Councillor Williamson presented the Executive's response to the scrutiny report on adult social care transformation. The report includes 11 recommendations focused on modernizing practices, fostering collaboration, and implementing smart travel solutions.

Broadly, the recommendations fall into modernisation of practice, collaboration and culture change, and smart travel. — Councillor Williamson

Executive Committee Arrangements The Executive discussed the importance of integrating voluntary and community sector work into the main executive meeting, rather than as a sub-arrangement. This change aims to give these sectors the prominence they deserve in council governance.

Audit and Risk Committee

The Audit and Risk Committee met on Tuesday, 21 May 2024, with Councillor Diarmaid Ward in attendance. Key topics included social care market instability, training for committee members, and the draft unaudited annual governance statement.

Social Care Market Instability The committee discussed the instability in the social care market, particularly concerning adult social care overspend. The need for a monitoring format to track market instability was agreed upon.

Any wobbles in that social care market has a very, very immediate impact on the adult social care budget. — Meeting Transcript

Training for Committee Members A review of training for committee members was conducted to ensure all members are up-to-date with necessary skills and knowledge.

Draft Unaudited Annual Governance Statement The draft annual governance statement was reviewed, highlighting the council's internal controls and governance framework. The importance of monitoring progress on governance issues was emphasized, with plans to bring a six-month update to the committee.

We plan to bring a six-month update for next year. — Meeting Transcript

This week's meetings highlighted the council's ongoing efforts to strengthen community spaces, address social care challenges, and ensure robust governance practices. The focus on community engagement and proactive policy development continues to be a central theme in the council's work.

This week, the Islington Council held three meetings: the Housing Scrutiny Committee on Monday, 13 May 2024, the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 14 May 2024, and the Annual Council on Thursday, 16 May 2024.

Housing Scrutiny Committee

The Housing Scrutiny Committee focused on the development and progress of housing projects, broadband infrastructure, and a new homelessness prevention strategy.

Housing Development The council is committed to starting 750 new homes by 2027, with key projects at Phidgby Legendre Centre, South Bemerton, Volley Road, and Harvest. However, financial pressures and planning delays were acknowledged, with some schemes only funded up to the planning stage.

Broadband Infrastructure Efforts to enhance broadband infrastructure are ongoing, with negotiations with providers like BT Open Reach in the final stages. The council aims to ensure that infrastructure work does not leave streets and roads in poor condition post-installation.

Homelessness Prevention Strategy A new strategy was introduced, emphasizing a holistic and trauma-informed approach. The council is proactive in purchasing properties for temporary housing, aiming to spread these acquisitions across various neighborhoods to avoid concentration in poorer areas.

The strategy aims to reduce rough sleeping and ensure that those in temporary accommodation are housed as locally as possible and for the shortest time. — Meeting Transcript

Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee

The Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee covered community safety, corporate performance, and council transformation projects.

Community Safety Councillor John Wolfe presented on community safety, highlighting the five-year violence reduction strategy and the youth safety strategy. Significant reductions in public order crime types were noted, and the importance of partnership working with the police was emphasized.

Wolfe noted significant reductions in public order crime types, including motor vehicle crime, robbery, knife crime, and firearms discharges. — Meeting Transcript

Corporate Performance Issues such as the use of agency staff and the recruitment of IT staff were discussed. The need for innovative solutions to rising costs was highlighted.

Council Transformation Projects Updates on initiatives like the Access Islington Hubs and the Somali community plan were provided. The importance of delivering early intervention and prevention services was emphasized.

Annual Council

The Annual Council meeting focused on changes in council roles, budget pressures, and various administrative updates.

Council Role Changes Several councillors were acknowledged for their work, and new executive members were appointed. Councillor Chapman will manage equality, communities, and inclusion, while Councillor Halloran will address new housing builds and maintenance.

Budget and Housing Challenges The impact of budget pressures on the new home build program and the rising need for housing maintenance were discussed. The goal is to manage housing finances effectively and maintain high-quality housing stock.

Procedural Votes Several items, including a constitutional update and the appointment of councillors to political positions, were voted on and agreed upon without opposition.

This week's meetings underscored the council's commitment to addressing housing needs, enhancing community safety, and managing budget pressures. The focus on realistic and evidence-based recommendations, as well as the emphasis on community engagement and feedback, reflects a proactive approach to policy development and community welfare.

This week, the Islington Council held three meetings, with significant discussions taking place during the Children's Services Scrutiny Committee meeting on Monday, 29 April 2024 and the Housing Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday, 30 April 2024. The Licensing Sub Committee C meeting had no summarized notes available, and the Licensing Regulatory Committee meeting was cancelled.

Children's Services Scrutiny Committee

The Children's Services Scrutiny Committee focused on several critical areas concerning education and support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Key decisions and discussions included:

• School Attendance and Performance: The committee addressed the issue of school attendance, particularly the impact on Black Caribbean families, proposing inclusive educational settings and attendance awareness courses. This decision aims to enhance student engagement and reduce absenteeism, which is crucial for improving educational outcomes.

• SEND Transitions: The council reviewed the SEND transitions report, acknowledging the increase in students with SEND and the strain on resources. They discussed the implementation of a new template for education, health, and care plans to simplify processes. This is a vital step towards providing better support for SEND students during their transition phases.

• Elective Home Education: A significant increase in elective home education was discussed, with concerns about the impact on school funding and support for home-educated students. This highlights a growing trend that the council needs to address to ensure all students receive adequate educational resources.

Housing Scrutiny Committee

The Housing Scrutiny Committee tackled issues related to ongoing housing projects and new build recommendations. Key areas of focus included:

• Staffing Structure Review: The committee recommended a review of the staffing structure within the new homes development team to improve project management and outcomes. This could lead to more efficient handling of housing developments.

• Alternative Funding and Delivery Models: There was a decision to explore alternative funding and delivery models, including the potential for a council-owned development company. This approach could offer new ways to manage and fund housing projects, although it carries risks of inefficiency or lack of transparency.

• Resident Engagement Improvement: The committee agreed to overhaul resident engagement strategies following significant resident testimonies. Enhanced engagement is expected to improve project management and resident satisfaction.

• Prefabricated Building Methods: Interest in prefabricated building methods was expressed as a way to accelerate housing construction. This method could lead to faster completion times and cost savings, though it requires careful consideration of quality and planning.

Both meetings this week highlighted the council's ongoing commitment to addressing key issues in education and housing. The focus on improving support for SEND students and enhancing housing project management through better engagement and innovative methods demonstrates a proactive approach to community welfare and development.

This week, the Islington Council held a notable meeting concerning urban development and community welfare. The Planning Sub Committee A meeting on Thursday, 25 April 2024 focused on the approval of a dark supermarket in the Angel Central Shopping Centre.

Approval of the Dark Supermarket

The committee approved the application for a dark supermarket, which is essentially a fulfillment center for online grocery orders, with no walk-in customer access. This decision was based on the potential utilization of vacant space and the provision of local employment opportunities. The approval came with conditions aimed at mitigating potential negative impacts:

The approval was contingent on additional conditions including a revised operational management plan, a point of contact for residents, and a requirement for a new transport statement after one year of operation. — Meeting Transcript

These conditions reflect the council's effort to balance economic benefits with community impact, ensuring ongoing review of the supermarket's effects on the area.

Broader Traffic and Delivery Issues

An interesting occurrence during the meeting was the extensive discussion on existing traffic and delivery issues at the Angel Central Shopping Centre, unrelated to the supermarket application. This discussion highlighted broader concerns about area management and the enforcement of existing regulations.

This underscores the council's responsiveness to community feedback beyond the immediate application at hand. — Meeting Transcript

This theme of responsive governance aligns with previous discussions, such as those in the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee meeting on Monday, 15 April 2024, where the importance of data and community feedback in shaping policies was emphasized.

Overall, the decision to approve the dark supermarket, while addressing broader traffic and community concerns, illustrates the council's approach to urban development: cautious yet progressive, with a clear focus on sustainable practices and community welfare.

This week, the Islington Council held two meetings, with significant discussions taking place during the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee meeting on Monday, 15 April 2024. The key topics included adult social care access, drug and alcohol services, and community safety and health services.

Adult Social Care Access

The committee decided to implement a charter for primary care service access, aiming to enhance service accessibility and choice for residents, including those with disabilities. This decision is expected to increase patient satisfaction and streamline access to care, promoting a higher standard across healthcare services.

Drug and Alcohol Services Review

Continuation and expansion of outreach and support programs were agreed upon, with a particular focus on naloxone distribution and overdose prevention. This move addresses the high prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in the community by enhancing support and prevention measures. The implications could be significant, potentially leading to a decrease in overdose incidents and broader community awareness of substance abuse issues.

Community Safety and Health Services

The council plans to increase the integration of health services with community safety measures. This holistic approach includes mental health and substance abuse considerations, which could potentially reduce crime rates and improve public health outcomes.

An interesting point raised during the meeting was the urgent need for improved data collection and sharing across services to better address community health and safety challenges. This highlights a recurring theme we've discussed before: the importance of data in shaping effective community services and policies.

Unfortunately, the details of the meeting held on Tuesday, 16 April 2024, by an unknown committee are not available as the notes have not yet been summarized. We will keep an eye on this and update you in future communications.