Councillor Alison Inglis-Jones

During the October 2025 Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting, Councillor Alison Inglis-Jones, representing Clapham Common in Abbeville, declared no pecuniary interest. She voiced strong concerns about the poor communication and responsiveness of housing associations, including Southern Housing, Notting Hill Genesis, and Peabody, citing issues with outdated contact information and difficulties in reaching representatives. She highlighted a specific case involving a vulnerable resident experiencing repeated electricity disruptions due to a neighbor's actions, which was exacerbated by the housing association's lack of communication. Inglis-Jones also questioned the prioritization of repairs for vulnerable tenants, particularly those with disabilities facing prolonged issues with essential facilities like lifts, and inquired about the existence of a tenant vulnerability map to guide repair efforts. As Chair of the Sub-Committee, she addressed the report's mention of financially unviable repairs for structural defects and subsidence, and the Council's strategy of encouraging residents to relocate. She advocated for greater publicity of housing association properties as alternative accommodation options for residents. Finally, she noted that the Committee's Work Programme included a review of the 'New Model for the Call Centre' in January 2026.

During September 2025, Alison Inglis-Jones served as a substitute for Councillors Joanne Simpson, Diogo Costa, and Saleha Jaffa at the Planning Applications Committee meeting held on September 9th.

During July 2025, Alison Inglis-Jones was elected as the Chair of the Housing Scrutiny Subcommittee. In her role as Councillor for Clapham Common and Abbeville, she also participated in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, where she declared no pecuniary interest. Her contributions to this meeting focused on highway maintenance and infrastructure, specifically questioning the council's engagement with utility companies on footpath repairs following water main bursts, seeking clarification on the proposed lane rental scheme, and inquiring about communication strategies for major works on the A23 and Tulls Hill Gyratory. She also specifically asked about the evaluation process for highway repairs and resurfacing on two roads within her ward.

During the May 2025 Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting, Councillor Alison Inglis-Jones, representing Clapham Common and Abbeville, strongly advocated for increased funding for Centre 70, emphasizing its critical role in supporting individuals and families and stating,

We could not live, we could not survive our weekly sessions without Centre 70. It simply would not be possible and therefore I will make a plea for any additional funding.

She also highlighted challenges in accessing support systems and called for named contacts and improved collaboration between Lambeth and Centre 70. Inglis-Jones raised concerns about the debt escalation process, particularly pre-legal notices, and the fear they instill, questioning how to ensure individuals feel heard and that dialogue is possible. She also expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of remote advice services like Step Change for highly vulnerable individuals, suggesting local services might be more effective in securing responses from Lambeth.

During April 2025, Alison Inglis-Jones's voting record on budget proposals at the Annual Council meeting on April 23rd was contradictory. One account shows her voting in favor of the Green Group Alternative Budget, the Liberal Democrat Group Alternative Budget, and the original budget recommendations. However, another report indicates she voted against the Green Group and Liberal Democrat Alternative Budgets, while still supporting the original budget recommendations.

During March 2025, Councillor Alison Inglis-Jones was active in two council meetings. In her capacity as Food Poverty Champion for Clapham Common and Abbeville, she raised a supplementary question regarding traffic issues at the corner of Abbeville and Elms, requesting a site visit by traffic officers and the Cabinet Member to assess the problems and discuss solutions. In a separate meeting, representing Clapham Common and Abbeville, she inquired about the status of library user surveys, specifically asking about the 2024 survey and future plans for 2025 and 2026. She emphasized the importance of acting on survey findings, stating,

In 2023, there was a survey of library users. I wondered what happened in 2024. Bear in mind that library users might see the effect of restructuring slightly differently. Would there be a plan for a 2025 survey and a commitment to act on any potential shortfalls or indeed improvements and act on those responses?

In January 2025, Councillor Alison Inglis-Jones participated in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on January 21st. Representing Clapham Common and Abbeville, she declared no interests. During discussions on employment, skills, and training for disadvantaged groups, she actively questioned Councillor Marcia Cameron. Her inquiries focused on the timeline for strategic support for individuals with complex barriers, the challenges faced by older individuals (over 40) in accessing services and using the portal, and the availability of work coaches at job centers for diverse age groups and those with disabilities or mental health challenges. She highlighted the importance of community connectivity, referencing a successful reintegration case. Councillor Inglis-Jones sent her apologies for the Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on January 16th.