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Council - Monday, 17th November, 2025 7.00 pm

November 17, 2025 Council View on council website

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“Will Camden scrap the two-child limit consideration?”

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Summary

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The Council meeting scheduled for Monday 17 November 2025 was set to cover a wide range of topics, with a significant focus on child poverty and the future development of the Euston area. The agenda also included discussions on the council's approach to becoming a circular economy borough and updates on various strategic plans.

Themed Debate: Child Poverty

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a themed debate on child poverty in Camden. The report prepared for this debate provided background information on the issue, outlining existing challenges at both national and local levels. It also detailed current actions and future plans by Camden Council to address child poverty. Councillor Marcus Boyland, Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families, and Councillor Camron Aref-Adib, Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living, were scheduled to introduce and sum up the debate respectively. Contributions were expected from experts and community representatives, followed by questions and discussion.

Statement by the Leader of the Council and Questions

Councillor Richard Olszewski, Leader of the Council, was scheduled to make a statement, followed by responses from the Leaders of the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Groups, Councillor Tom Simon and Councillor Steve Adams. Members of the Council would then have had the opportunity to ask questions to the Leader and Cabinet Members.

Euston Area Plan Update

A key item on the agenda was an update on the Euston Area Plan (EAP). This plan, originally adopted in 2015, has been updated to reflect changes in circumstances at Euston, including the High Speed Rail (HS2) project and evolving Council priorities. The report presented to the Council sought approval for the Euston Area Plan Proposed Submission Draft for submission to the government for examination. This included delegations to the Executive Director Investment, Place and Opportunity to make minor changes and to manage the process following public consultation. The EAP aims to guide transformational change in the area, focusing on delivering new homes, jobs, open space, and improved transport connections.

Update on Themed Debate: Becoming a Circular Economy Borough

Following a previous themed debate, an update was scheduled on the council's progress towards becoming a circular economy borough. This would likely have involved a summary of actions taken and any recommendations for future steps.

Motions

The meeting agenda included several motions for consideration:

  • Motion 1: This motion, proposed by Councillor Adams and seconded by Councillor Stark, aimed to address concerns regarding proposed works to the Alexandra Road Estate. It sought to pause the project until a fully modelled, comprehensive retrofit could be developed to safeguard the estate's integrity and residents' wellbeing.
  • Motion 2: Proposed by Councillor Tom Simon and seconded by Councillor Judy Dixey, this motion noted research on the impact of the two-child limit on benefit payments and resolved to formally note opposition to this policy, urging the Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister to advocate for its scrapping. It also called for MPs for Holborn and St Pancras, and Hampstead and Highgate, to commit public support to the campaign, and for the number of children in a family to be considered when hardship grants are given out.
  • Motion 3: Proposed by Councillor Edmund Frondigoun and seconded by Councillor Liam Martin-Lane, this motion noted the council's responsibility as a freeholder of land south of Hampstead Heath and the duty to control development so as not to negatively impact the Heath and views towards London. It resolved to instruct officers to bring a report to Council outlining how a policy limiting the height of any new building within this arc to below 8 storeys (or 24 metres) tall could be created, while maintaining the un-enclosed feel of the Heath.

Other Scheduled Business

The agenda also included standard council business such as approving minutes of previous meetings, declarations of interest, special announcements, communications, and deputations and petitions. Additionally, there were reports from the Cabinet, Audit and Corporate Governance Committee, Scrutiny Committees, and other council committees. The council was also scheduled to consider business from the ordinary council meeting of 25th September 2025, and make appointments to formal council bodies. A report on the waiver of the six-month councillor attendance rule for a member on maternity leave was also listed.

The meeting was scheduled to be webcast, with members of the public having the right to film, record, or photograph the proceedings for reporting purposes.

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Nasrine Djemai
Councillor Nasrine Djemai Cabinet Member for New Homes and Community Investment • Labour • Haverstock
Profile image for Councillor Patricia Leman
Councillor Patricia Leman  Deputy Mayor •  Labour •  Camden Square
Profile image for Councillor Sagal Abdi-Wali
Councillor Sagal Abdi-Wali Cabinet Member for Better Homes • Labour • Camden Square
Profile image for Councillor Steve Adams
Councillor Steve Adams Leader of the Conservative Group • Conservative • Frognal
Profile image for Councillor Nasim Ali OBE
Councillor Nasim Ali OBE Labour • Regent's Park
Profile image for Councillor Meric Apak
Councillor Meric Apak Labour • Kentish Town South
Profile image for Councillor Camron Aref-Adib
Councillor Camron Aref-Adib Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living • Labour • Highgate
Profile image for Councillor Ajok Athian
Councillor Ajok Athian Labour • Primrose Hill
Profile image for Councillor Kemi Atolagbe
Councillor Kemi Atolagbe Chair of the Housing Scrutiny Committee • Labour • Haverstock
Profile image for Councillor Joseph Ball
Councillor Joseph Ball Labour • Kentish Town South
Profile image for Councillor Lotis Bautista
Councillor Lotis Bautista Labour • King's Cross
Profile image for Councillor Marcus Boyland
Councillor Marcus Boyland Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families • Labour • Gospel Oak
Profile image for Councillor Patricia Callaghan
Councillor Patricia Callaghan Cabinet Member for Safer Communities and Deputy Leader • Labour • Camden Town
Profile image for Councillor Linda Chung
Councillor Linda Chung Chair of Resources and Corporate Performance Scrutiny Committee • Liberal Democrats • Hampstead Town
Profile image for Councillor Nina De Ayala Parker
Councillor Nina De Ayala Parker Labour • South Hampstead
Profile image for Councillor Judy Dixey
Councillor Judy Dixey Whip of the Liberal Democrat Group • Liberal Democrats • Belsize
Profile image for Councillor Edmund Frondigoun
Councillor Edmund Frondigoun Labour • St Pancras and Somers Town
Profile image for Councillor Janet Grauberg
Councillor Janet Grauberg Liberal Democrats • West Hampstead
Profile image for Councillor Adam Harrison
Councillor Adam Harrison Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden and Deputy Leader • Labour • Bloomsbury
Profile image for Councillor Nancy Jirira
Councillor Nancy Jirira Deputy Leader of the Opposition • Liberal Democrats • Fortune Green
Profile image for Councillor Matthew Kirk
Councillor Matthew Kirk  Liberal Democrats •  Belsize
Profile image for Councillor Izzy Lenga
Councillor Izzy Lenga  Chief Whip •  Labour •  South Hampstead
Profile image for Councillor Rishi Madlani
Councillor Rishi Madlani  Chair of Pension Committee •  Labour and Co-op Party •  Bloomsbury
Profile image for Councillor Liam Martin-Lane
Councillor Liam Martin-Lane  Labour •  King's Cross
Profile image for Councillor Shah Miah
Councillor Shah Miah  Labour •  St Pancras and Somers Town
Profile image for Councillor Jenny Mulholland
Councillor Jenny Mulholland  Member of the Adoption, Fostering and Permanence Panel •  Labour and Co-op Party •  Gospel Oak
Profile image for Councillor Richard Olszewski
Councillor Richard Olszewski Leader of the Council • Labour and Co-op Party • Fortune Green
Profile image for Councillor Andrew Parkinson
Councillor Andrew Parkinson  Conservative •  Frognal
Profile image for Councillor Nazma Rahman
Councillor Nazma Rahman  Labour •  West Hampstead
Profile image for Councillor Larraine Revah
Councillor Larraine Revah  Chair of Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee •  Labour •  Gospel Oak
Profile image for Councillor Lorna Jane Russell
Councillor Lorna Jane Russell  Green •  Highgate
Profile image for Councillor Tom Simon
Councillor Tom Simon  Leader of the Opposition •  Liberal Democrats •  Belsize
Profile image for Councillor Robert Thompson
Councillor Robert Thompson  Labour •  Kilburn
Profile image for Councillor Anna Wright
Councillor Anna Wright  Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care •  Labour •  Highgate

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

Meeting Documents

Agenda

Agenda frontsheet 17th-Nov-2025 19.00 Council.pdf
Supplementary Agenda 17th-Nov-2025 19.00 Council.pdf

Reports Pack

Public reports pack 17th-Nov-2025 19.00 Council.pdf

Additional Documents

Minutes 25092025 Council.pdf
Written Council Questions 17th-Nov-2025 19.00 Council.pdf
Themed Debate Child Poverty.pdf
Unconsidered business from the ordinary Council meeting on 25 Sept 2025.pdf
Waiver of Six Month Attendance Rule.pdf
Euston Area Plan report.pdf
EAP Appendix A - Proposed submission draft.pdf
EAP Appendix B - EQIA.pdf
EAP Appendix C - EAP Reg 18 Consultation Report.pdf
Full Council Debate Follow up Report - Circular Economy.pdf
EAP Appendix E - EAP Update Sustainability Appraisal report.pdf
Motions 17 November 2025.pdf
Appointments to Formal Council Bodies.pdf
EAP Appendix D - EAP draft policies map.pdf
UNISON Deputation Richard Cobden School and low paid workers REDACTED.pdf
Reference to November Council Euston Area Plan Update.pdf
Amendments to Motions 17 November 2025.pdf