At the Annual Council meeting, Councillor Jason Jackson was elected as Mayor of Islington, becoming the first black man to hold the post. Councillor Rosalyn Ngongoro was appointed as Deputy Mayor, and councillors were assigned to various committees and outside organisations. The council also formally appointed Paul Clarke as Interim Section 151 Officer¹.

Mayoral Speeches and Thanks

The meeting began with tributes to the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Anjna Khurana, who was praised for her enthusiasm, inclusivity, and community engagement during her term. Councillor Khurana reflected on her year, highlighting the connections she made across the borough and the work of her chosen charity, Brickwork Community Centre.

Councillor Una O’Halloran, Leader of the Council, welcomed Councillor Jackson as the new Mayor, and Councillor Benali Hamdache, Leader of the Independent and Green Group, thanked Councillor Khurana for her service. Councillor Khurana also gave a speech thanking the councillors and officers who had supported her during her time as Mayor.

Councillor Jackson then gave his acceptance speech, reflecting on his journey from Nigeria to Islington and his commitment to serving the borough. He announced that Islington Giving would be his mayoral charity for the year. He said:

This moment is not just a personal milestone. It is a collective celebration. A celebration of who we are, a celebration of how far we've come, a celebration of what becomes possible when people are seen, supported and given a chance to leave.

Appointment of Deputy Leader and the Executive

Councillor O’Halloran announced changes to the Executive, with Councillor Flora Williamson taking over as Executive Member for Finance and Performance, and Councillor Dr Sara Hyde joining the Executive. The Updated Appointment of Councillors to the Executive 2025-6https://democracy.islington.gov.uk/documents/s41320/Updated%20Appointment%20of%20Councillors%20to%20the%20Executive%202025-6.pdf details the responsibilities of each Executive member.

Political Balance and Committee Appointments

The council agreed to the Proportionality report May 2025https://democracy.islington.gov.uk/documents/s41245/Proportionality%20report%20May%202025.pdf, which outlines the allocation of seats on committees to reflect the political composition of the council. The council has 44 Labour members and 7 Independent and Green Group members. An alternative allocation of seats was agreed by both groups, ensuring representation for the Independent and Green Group on various committees.

The Updated Appointment of Councillors to Political Positions Committee Memberships 2025-6https://democracy.islington.gov.uk/documents/s41326/Updated%20Appointment%20of%20Councillors%20to%20Political%20Positions%20Committee%20Memberships%202025-6.pdf details the appointment of councillors to political positions, chairs and vice-chairs, and membership of committees for the year 2025/26. Pardeep Bhatti was appointed as a co-opted member of the Audit and Risk Committee, and Rachael Tiffen and Yemi Mustapha were appointed as Independent Persons for Standards.

Appointments to Outside Organisations

The council approved the Updated Appointments to Outside Bodies Council 2025-6https://democracy.islington.gov.uk/documents/s41322/Updated%20Appointments%20to%20Outside%20Bodies%20Council%202025-6.pdf, which lists the appointments of representatives to various outside organisations, including London Councils committees, the Local Government Association, and other local bodies such as the Angel Business Improvement Board.

Appointment of Interim Section 151 Officer

Following the resignation of the permanent Corporate Director of Resources, Paul Clarke was formally appointed as Interim Section 151 Officer, until a permanent appointment is made.