Councillor Afzal Akram
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Positions, Voting Record & Activity Summary
Councillor Paul Douglas's recent activity in 2025 highlights a strong focus on financial oversight and proactive lobbying efforts. In September, he assured the Budget Scrutiny Committee that spending was under control and financial pressures were being actively monitored. He also provided a detailed overview of the council's lobbying strategy, emphasizing the involvement of Councillor Grace Williams through the London Councils Leaders Committee and direct engagement with local MPs by individual Cabinet members to advocate for parliamentary support.
This recent emphasis on financial prudence and strategic advocacy builds upon a foundation of consistent engagement in council proceedings observed in 2024. During that year, Councillor Grace Williams was a key figure in discussions on governance, financial management, and resident welfare. Her contributions in July addressed concerns for vulnerable children, procedural clarity for public speakers, and motions on civility. Later in the year, her work within the Budget Scrutiny Committee underscored the importance of the Corporate Peer Review for assessing progress and financial health. Councillor Williams consistently advocated for transparent communication regarding consultation rationale and stressed the council's commitment to finding savings while safeguarding resident feedback and the impact on protected groups. A significant and ongoing priority for her has been reforming funding utilization to better support those with acute needs, including initiatives like income maximization and the Discretionary Hardship Fund, informed by the Local Council Tax Support Scheme consultation. She also affirmed the council's housing responsibilities and presented the growth strategy, highlighting investments in cultural sectors, council-run businesses, and housing.
While Councillor Douglas's 2025 activities are specifically detailed around financial scrutiny and lobbying, Councillor Williams' 2024 work provides a broader context of her dedication to resident welfare, financial management, and strategic growth. The 2025 focus on financial oversight by Councillor Douglas, coupled with the detailed lobbying efforts, suggests a strategic approach to securing resources and ensuring fiscal responsibility. Councillor Williams' earlier work on resident welfare and funding utilization for acute needs indicates a consistent commitment to supporting vulnerable populations, which may be indirectly supported by the financial oversight and lobbying efforts in 2025.
Key themes across both years include financial management and resident welfare. Councillor Douglas's recent focus is heavily on financial oversight and lobbying, while Councillor Williams' earlier work encompassed a wider range of governance, resident welfare, and strategic growth. The evolution of focus appears to be a deepening of financial scrutiny and advocacy in the most recent year, potentially to support the broader council objectives outlined in previous years. Councillor Douglas's most significant recent contributions lie in his assurance of financial control and his detailed explanation of the lobbying process. Councillor Williams' significant contributions in 2024 include her advocacy for vulnerable children, her emphasis on transparent consultation, and her strategic vision for council growth and funding utilization. A consistent area of interest for Councillor Williams has been ensuring adequate support for those with acute needs and advocating for fair financial practices.
Yearly Activity Timeline
In 2025, Councillor Paul Douglas focused on financial oversight and lobbying efforts. During a September Budget Scrutiny Committee meeting, he assured the committee that spending was under control and financial pressures were being monitored. He also detailed the lobbying process, noting Councillor Grace Williams' participation through the London Councils Leaders Committee and individual Cabinet members' engagement with local MPs to advocate for parliamentary lobbying.
Councillor Jemma Hemsted was active in October, proposing a motion to bolster support for local businesses. Her concerns included rising employer's national insurance, new parking controls, unfair rent increases, uneven police resource distribution, road closures, and business rate reform. The motion called for specific actions such as writing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, reverting parking controls, ensuring fair rent practices, discussing police resource allocation, considering road closure impacts, and lobbying for a fair business rate deal. She also sought information on preventing business closures on Cherrydown Avenue.
Monthly Activity in 2025
During October 2025, Councillor Jemma Hemsted was active in one council meeting. She proposed a motion to increase support for local businesses, citing concerns about rising employer's national insurance, new parking controls, unfair rent increases, uneven distribution of Metropolitan Police Service resources, road closures, and the impact of business rate reform. The motion called for specific actions, including writing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to oppose the NI increase, reverting parking controls, ensuring fair rent practices, discussing resource allocation with the MPS, considering business impacts of road closures, and lobbying for a fair business rate deal. Councillor Hemsted also inquired about measures to prevent business closures on Cherrydown Avenue.
Meetings in October 2025
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During the September 3rd, 2025 Budget Scrutiny Committee meeting, Councillor Paul Douglas, Portfolio Lead Member for Finance and Resources, addressed concerns about spending, reassuring the committee that it was under control and financial pressures were being closely monitored. He also elaborated on the lobbying process, explaining that London Councils typically lobbies the Government on behalf of London Boroughs. Councillor Douglas highlighted that Councillor Grace Williams participated in this lobbying through the London Councils Leaders Committee, and that individual Cabinet members were contacting local MPs for Waltham Forest to advocate for parliamentary lobbying on behalf of the authority.
Meetings in September 2025
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Councillor Afzal Akram attended the Council meeting on July 17, 2025. He participated in the debate on the Labour Group Motion, voting in favor of an amendment proposed by Councillors Best and Saumarez, though it was unsuccessful. He also inquired about signage on Cherrydown Avenue, asking:
Can the size of the signage on Cherrydown Avenue be increased due to the high numbers of PCNs and that any money from the fines were ringfenced for roads and pavements in the area?
Meetings in July 2025
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In May 2025, Councillor Afzal Akram's activities included abstaining from votes and questioning council leadership. He abstained from voting on the Declaration of a Nature Emergency and the Waltham Forest Local Development Scheme Update. He also questioned Councillor Ahsan Khan, Deputy Leader (Housing and Regeneration), about a reported case of a homeless person receiving compensation after complaining to the Ombudsman, asking:
It was reported in the local press, that a homeless person complained to the Ombudsman and was awarded compensation. Could the Portfolio Holder tell us how many other cases are with the Ombudsman the moment, and also what changes the service has made subject to this ruling so it does not happen again. Also, as custodians of this authority, we should be notified and not left to read in the local press.
Apologies for absence from Cllr Afzal Akram were recorded at the Whipps Cross Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee meeting on May 1st, 2025, although it is unclear if this refers to the current meeting or a previous one.
Meetings in May 2025
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In April 2025, Cllr Afzal Akram attended the Council meeting on April 24th. He was absent from the Budget Scrutiny Committee meeting on April 23rd, for which Cllr Emma Best substituted. During the Council meeting, Akram actively participated in budget discussions, seconding Amendment B to the budget and council tax setting motion, speaking during the debate, and voting in favor of Amendment B while voting against Amendment A and the substantive motion. He also voted against amending the Scheme of Members' allowances and abstained from voting on the Treasury management strategy, the Declaration of a Nature Emergency, and the Waltham Forest Local Development Scheme Update. Akram questioned Councillor Ahsan Khan, Deputy Leader (Housing and Regeneration), regarding a reported case of a homeless person receiving compensation from the Ombudsman, stating: > It was reported in the local press, that a homeless person complained to the Ombudsman and was awarded compensation. Could the Portfolio Holder tell us how many other cases are with the Ombudsman the moment, and also what changes the service has made subject to this ruling so it does not happen again. Also, as custodians of this authority, we should be notified and not left to read in the local press.
Meetings in April 2025
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During February 2025, Councillor Afzal Akram attended both the Budget Scrutiny Committee meeting and the Special Council meeting on the Annual Budget and Council Tax Setting. While present at the Budget Scrutiny Committee, no specific contributions from him were recorded. At the Council meeting, he actively participated in the budget and council tax setting process, seconding Amendment B, speaking during the debate, and voting in favor of Amendments A and B. He voted against the substantive motion regarding the budget and council tax setting and against the motion to amend the Scheme of Members' allowances. He abstained from the vote on the Treasury management strategy. In a debate on on-street parking controls, he seconded a further amendment proposed by Councillor Emma Best, voted for the amendment, and abstained on the motion as amended.
Meetings in February 2025
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Activity Timeline
Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.
148 meetings · Page 1 of 30
Budget, Performance and Coordinating Committee - Wednesday, 25th November, 2026 7.00 pm
Council - Thursday, 22nd October, 2026 7.30 pm
The Council meeting on Thursday, 22 October 2026, saw members agree to a motion supporting young people's potential and to confer the Freedom of the Borough on Mr Gordon Turpin. The meeting also included updates on the council's financial position and scrutiny reports.
Budget, Performance and Coordinating Committee - Wednesday, 23 September 2026 - 7.00 pm
The Budget, Performance and Coordinating Committee was scheduled to consider a range of important financial and strategic matters for Waltham Forest Council. Key discussions were scheduled to focus on the council's financial performance, including budget monitoring and the refresh of its Medium Term Financial Strategy, alongside updates on significant regeneration projects and safeguarding partnerships.
Council - Thursday, 16 July 2026 - 7.30 pm
The Council meeting on Thursday, 16 July 2026, saw the approval of a significant motion reaffirming the council's commitment to trans, non-binary, and intersex inclusion, alongside the adoption of amendments to the council's constitution and the approval of the annual treasury management review. Key decisions also included the agreement on the scheme of members' allowances for 2026-27 and various appointments to council committees and outside bodies.
Decisions from Meetings
76 decisions · Page 1 of 16
Treasury management mid-year review 2026-27
From: Council - Thursday, 22nd October, 2026 7.30 pm - October 22, 2026
The Council of Waltham Forest approved the treasury management activities from 1st April 2026 to 30th September 2026. This decision was made on 22nd October 2026. The council noted the treasury management activities as detailed in the 2026-27 Treasury Management Strategy Mid-Year Report.
Recommendations Approved
Audit & Governance Committee Annual Report 2025-26
From: Council - Thursday, 22nd October, 2026 7.30 pm - October 22, 2026
The Council of Waltham Forest noted the Audit and Governance Committee Annual Report 2025-26 on 22 October 2026. The report summarised the committee's work on governance, risk management, financial reporting, treasury management, and audit assurance.
Recommendations Approved
Appointments
From: Council - Thursday, 22nd October, 2026 7.30 pm - October 22, 2026
The Council of Waltham Forest Council on 22 October 2026 approved appointments to various committees and groups. Councillor Demetrius Williams, Councillor Rose Mary Warrington, Councillor Simone McNichols-Thomas, Councillor Luke Glazzard, Councillor Anna Rose Kerr, Councillor Rob Gardner, Councillor Peter Richardson, Jackie Kearns, and Surinder MacNulty were appointed to specific roles.
Recommendations Approved
Freedom of the borough nomination
From: Council - Thursday, 22nd October, 2026 7.30 pm - October 22, 2026
The Council of Waltham Forest Council on Thursday 22 October 2026 resolved to approve recommendations regarding the Freedom of the Borough nomination. It was noted that persons rendering eminent services to the Borough may be admitted as honorary freemen and that Mr Gordon Turpin's services merit this honour. A special meeting will be held to confer the Freedom of the Borough on a date to be confirmed.
Recommendations Approved
Scrutiny Annual Report 2025-26
From: Council - Thursday, 22nd October, 2026 7.30 pm - October 22, 2026
The Council of Waltham Forest approved the Scrutiny Annual Report 2025-26 and endorsed the proposed 2026-27 work programmes on 22 October 2026. The Council noted the report and appendices, which summarised committee activity and outlined forward plans.
Recommendations Approved
Summary
- Meetings attended
- 148
- Average per month
- 0.7
- Decisions recorded Not all decisions are recorded, so this may significantly underestimate the number of decisions actually made.
- 76