Islington Council met on 18 September 2025, and voted to establish a twinning agreement with Azaria, a Palestinian town in East Jerusalem, as a gesture of friendship and solidarity. Councillors also approved updates to the council's constitution and Members' Allowances Scheme, and discussed a quarterly monitoring report.

The meeting included:

• A discussion of the council's response to growing anti-migrant sentiment.
• A presentation from Eastlington Giving, the Mayor's charity.
• Questions from the Youth Council and members of the public.
• A debate on a motion to support the people of Palestine.

Twinning Agreement with Azaria

The council voted to approve a formal statement of friendship, solidarity, and a twinning agreement between Islington and Azaria, a Palestinian town located in East Jerusalem. Councillor Ozzaman introduced the motion, emphasising that it was:

not just a symbolic gesture. It is a powerful way to formally acknowledge our existing relationship with the partners we work with in the region.

Councillor Cinko-Oner seconded the motion, expressing pride in Islington's unity and calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza. She also urged the council to fully divest from any companies complicit in genocide.

Councillor Chowdhury supported the motion, highlighting the importance of showing the world that Islington stands for peace. Councillor Hamdash seconded the motion, expressing heartbreak at the ongoing situation in Palestine and wishing that the government was listening.

Other councillors spoke in favour of the motion, including Councillor Diarmaid Ward, who reflected on his experience teaching English and leading human rights workshops in Azaria and Abidiste. He also expressed pride that the council had tabled a cross-party motion to reach out the hand of friendship to Azaria.

Councillor Heather noted the need for balance in the debate, saying that she wanted to stand in solidarity with all peace-loving people, but not with warmongers. Councillor Graham called for a recorded vote to send a message to the far-right that Islington stands united against their lies and nonsense.

The motion was carried with a recorded vote.

Leader's Announcements

Councillor Una O'Halloran, Leader of the Council, addressed the council, reflecting on the work done over the summer to support residents and make the borough a fairer place. She condemned the so-called free speech rally and the growing hostility towards migrants across the country, saying that these actions go against everything Islington stands for. She also expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and thanked Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner, Deputy Leader of the Independent and Green Group, for her partnership in bringing the motion forward.

Councillor O'Halloran also mentioned the opening of six new accessible toilets in the borough, a community clean-up event organised by Councillor McHugh, and Arsenal's Together Against Suicide campaign, which was attended by Councillor Hyde, Executive Member for Health and Social Care, and other councillors.

Councillor Hamdash responded, acknowledging the racist sentiment and violence that too many Islington residents have been victims of. He criticised the Labour group for filling question time with silly partisan attacks on the Green Party, rather than addressing serious issues such as cuts to core funding and CEND reform¹. He stated that he has voted for every single policy compliant housing scheme that was put in front of him, and that Labour councillors were responsible for deferring housing on the Barnsbury estate and rejecting social housing on Vorley Road.

Presentation from Eastlington Giving

Isabel and Kieran from Eastlington Giving gave a short presentation to the council on their work. Isabel explained that Eastlington Giving is a coalition of funders, businesses, local people, and organisations working together to drive lasting change in Islington. To date, they have raised and distributed over £11 million to Islington based community projects and organisations.

Kieran, a former young grant-maker, spoke about the skills he developed through the programme, including financial skills, interviewing skills, decision-making skills, teamwork, and empathy. He also highlighted the importance of Islington Given in giving young people a say and empowering them to become future leaders.

Questions from the Youth Council

Four questions were posed by members of the Youth Council to members of the executive.

• Zayden Hipgrave asked Councillor Sheila Chapman, Executive Member for Equalities, Communities & Inclusion, about plans for an Islington Pride event. Councillor Chapman responded that the council is proud of its history of LGBTQ+ inclusion and celebrates diversity throughout the year. She mentioned the Pride staff forum, events organised by Forum Plus², and exhibitions at Islington's museums and libraries. She also expressed interest in working with the Youth Council to expand Pride month events and improve communication with young people.

• Rayana Abidaramah asked Councillor Safi-Ngongo about plans to improve Youth Safety in the borough. Councillor Safi-Ngongo responded that the safety of young people is a priority and that the voices of young people will be included in the new Youth Safety Strategy, which will be launched in November. The strategy will include priorities such as prevention, early intervention, mentors, and well-being support.

• Arisa Ahmed asked Councillor Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality & Transport, about plans to bring the visions and values of young people to the council's policy making, including ensuring that implementation of Liveable Neighbourhoods goes hand in hand with tackling economic and social inequalities. Councillor Champion responded that the council is committed to taking as many recommendations as possible from the Rethinking Green Transitions report and will be working on co-designing how to take it forward.

• Ayman Yusuf asked Councillor O'Halloran about plans to ensure young people learn about democracy in the borough, given that 16- and 17-year-olds will be given the right to vote. Councillor O'Halloran responded that ensuring the voices of young people are heard and represented is an important priority and that the council has been working on this through Democracy Week and the annual youth debate.

Questions from Members of the Public

Members of the public posed questions to members of the executive.

• Alistair Harper asked Councillor John Woolf, Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, about plans to work with the Mayor of London and the Labour Government to unlock more homes in Islington for social rent. Councillor Woolf responded that maximising social rent in Islington is a top priority and that the council is working proactively with the Mayor of London and the Labour Government to make it happen. He also announced that the council has secured more funding for one of its new build sites on the Elthorne estate, allowing it to increase the amount of social housing being delivered there.

• Lucy Facer asked Councillor Champion when the council is planning to publish an up to date Air Quality strategy plan. Councillor Champion responded that an updated air quality action plan is due for public consultation later this month, in September. She said that the delay hasn't impacted on the work that the council has been doing and that air quality across the borough has improved significantly.

• Daisy Goodall asked Councillor Dr Sara Hyde, Executive Member for Health and Social Care, about how the council's motion to 'Boycott the anti-boycott bill' has had an impact on decisions around procurement. Councillor Hyde responded that the council's progressive procurement strategy sets out its commitment to ethical and socially responsible procurement and that the motion has helped to shape the council's internal progressive procurement toolkit.

  In a supplementary question, Daisy Goodall asked Councillor Hyde to confirm that the council uses Oracle products and whether any ethical screening of the company has taken place, given the company's collaboration with the Israeli government. Councillor Hyde said that she would get a written response, but that the council has divested its pension funds and has passed motions showing solidarity with the people of Palestine.

• Jonathan Ward asked Councillor Hyde about the redevelopment of the Pavilion in Wray Crescent Park. Councillor Hyde responded that the council is working hard to deliver a brand new mixed use community and sports building for Wray Crescent, as well as making some improvements to the wider path. She said that the project is currently being reviewed to explore ways to reduce costs while maintaining a high-quality design.

  In a supplementary question, Jonathan Ward stated that the removal of trees is to create an unneeded storage area that is outside the building, and asked if members of the executive will be present when the chainsaws arrive and the trees are being cut down. Councillor Hyde responded that she was not sure where he got that information from, and that she stands on her integrity and would not stand in a public meeting on public record saying something that she did not know to be true. She also said that she cannot pledge to be there day in day out as the construction happens, as she has responsibility for public health and all of the adult social care commissioning in the borough.

• Jackson Caines asked Councillor Flora Williamson, Executive Member for Finance and Performance, whether the council agrees with the government that Islington has been getting too much money, given that the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said that government plans to change the way local authorities are funded will hit inner London councils the hardest. Councillor Williamson responded that the government has been £5 billion being backed into local authorities across the entire sector, and that this Labour government has given Islington £31 million extra.

Questions from Members of the Council

Members of the council posed questions to members of the executive.

• Councillor Diarmaid Ward asked Councillor Woolf about the potential consequences of Green Party candidates' campaigns against new council and social housing developments. Councillor Woolf responded that if the Greens had successfully blocked all the schemes they opposed since 2014, approximately 1,600-1,700 homes might not have been built in Islington.

  In a supplementary question, Councillor Ward asked Councillor Woolf to commit to writing to the Leader of the Opposition and asking him to reassure us that Islington Green Party do not consider new desperately needed social housing building projects to be an Islington Labour pet project. Councillor Woolf agreed to write to the Leader of the Opposition and listed a number of 'pet projects' that the council is undertaking to maximise social housing.

• Councillor Nanda asked Councillor Woolf how the council can convince opposition colleagues that they need to stop opposing council homes. Councillor Woolf responded that despite huge challenges, the council has continued to build with over 600 genuinely affordable council homes across 40 locations, benefiting more than 2,500 residents.

• Councillor Potts asked Councillor Woolf how families are settling into their new homes on the Wedmore Estate, and what further steps are being taken to improve social housing in the borough. Councillor Woolf responded that it is truly heartening to see happy families in their new homes and that the council is focusing on the human impact, on the joy, the relief and the stability that these homes bring. He also mentioned that the council has recently recruited more housing officers, is conducting welfare checks on all residents in its housing stock, and is investing £200 million to make its homes better, safer and greener.

• Councillor Ward asked Councillor Williamson how the council is helping families navigate cost-of-living pressures. Councillor Williamson responded that the council has provided, and continues to provide, a range of support, including the Household Support Fund, grants to residents in severe financial hardship, support to claim full benefit entitlement, help with energy bills, and funding to local VCS organisations.

• Councillor Hamdash asked Councillor O'Halloran what impact moving the Executive meeting to 5pm will have on democratic scrutiny from the public and councillors. Councillor O'Halloran responded that the decision was made in accordance with the council's constitution and reflects operational needs. She said that democratic scrutiny is not compromised by this change and that the council's scrutiny committees remain the appropriate and effective forums for detailed examinations of policies and performance.

  In a supplementary question, Councillor Hamdash said that making the meeting this early would limit the ability of campaigners, parents, and residents to get here and have their opportunity to be heard. Councillor O'Halloran responded that other councils across London start their executive meetings at different times and that she engages with schools and parents regularly.

• Councillor Bossman-Quarshie asked Councillor Safi-Ngongo how Islington's young people have performed following the outcome of this year's A Level and GCSE results, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Councillor Safi-Ngongo responded that the current data is still provisional, but that it shows that Islington young people perform broadly in line with expectation. She said that the council is still aware about the impact that COVID-19 had on young people and is providing them with help and support.

• Councillor Zammit asked Councillor Safi-Ngongo what events, if any, the council is planning to hold for National Care Leavers week. Councillor Safi-Ngongo responded that the council is working with an organisation called Care to Dance and will be having a dancing section, as well as an annual award ceremony to celebrate the school achievement for young people.

Constitution Update

The council approved the amendments to the constitution as set out in the Constitution Update - September 2025 report. These included updating references to officer roles and directorates, clarifying the membership of the Pensions Committee, and other minor amendments and typographical corrections.

Members' Allowances Scheme 2025/26

The council approved the Members Allowances Scheme report to Council September 2025 final, including payment of the standard meeting attendance allowance to the new co-opted Independent Member to be appointed to the Pensions Committee, noting the application of the automatic uplift in Members' Allowances, back dated to 1 April 2025, and approving updates to Part 7 of the Council's Constitution to reflect the changes to the Members' Allowances Scheme. The Independent Remuneration Panel Report 2023 was also noted.

Quarterly Monitoring Report

The council noted the decision detailed in the monitoring report September 2025 and the attached appendix. The report concerned the urgent contract award for the Community Equipment Service.

Councillor Hyde explained that the report detailed the urgent key decision that was taken by the Corporate Director of Health and Adult Social Care on 8 September to award an urgent contract related to the Community Equipment Service, as the previous contractor, NRS Healthcare, had fallen into insolvency. She said that a further urgent key decision was taken late today on the same issue as it became necessary to award the contract to an alternative provider.

The council approved the award of a contract to Essex Cares Limited for the provision of a community equipment service for a period of up to a maximum of 36 months, including optional extensions. The service will continue to be funded via pooled budget arrangements between Islington, Whittington Health, and North Central London Integrated Care.

The Urgency key decision - Community Equipment - Essex Cares Limited report stated that NRS Healthcare, who were commissioned to provide services to 21 London boroughs through the London Community Equipment Consortium, entered insolvency on 1 August 2025. As a result, it was necessary to take an urgent decision on a new contract award, to ensure the continuity of a community equipment offer for Islington residents.

The Appendix - Equalities Impact Assessment - Community Equipment Service noted that the main findings are that there are positive and negative impacts on some people with protected characteristics from this contract award – positive in relation to service continuity and negative in relation to potential changes to how the service operates and potential delays during mobilisation. This will be mitigated through robust contract oversight and a phased transition period.

Appointments Report

The council approved the recommendations in the Appointments Report - 18 September 2025, appointing Councillor Ozdemir to the Finsbury Park Trust and Councillor Gallagher to the Corporate Parenting Board.