Andrew Achilleos | Councillor for Whalebone, Barking and Dagenham

Cllr Andrew Achilleos

Labour Party Whalebone Chair, Overview & Scrutiny Committee

Positions, Voting Record & Activity Summary

Last updated: about 2 months ago

Andrew Achilleos has demonstrated a consistent and evolving commitment to council governance and oversight across his years of service, with a pronounced focus on financial stewardship and service delivery in recent years.

Key Themes and Priorities:

Across his council service, Achilleos has consistently prioritized effective governance, procedural standards, and the scrutiny of council operations. His work as Deputy Chair and then Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee highlights a dedication to ensuring accountability and transparency. In more recent years, his focus has sharpened significantly on financial management, particularly in the face of economic challenges like inflation, and the protection of essential services, especially for vulnerable groups like children.

Evolution of Focus:

While his earlier involvement in 2025 showcased a broad engagement with committee oversight, financial management, and service delivery (including specific interests like the BD Energy Limited report and the Dagenham Girl Pipers), his 2026 activity reveals a more concentrated and urgent focus on budgetary challenges. The shift from general scrutiny to direct leadership in budget discussions, particularly concerning the budget support reserve and inflation's impact on children's services, indicates a deepening concern for the immediate financial health of the council and its ability to maintain services.

Most Significant Contributions (Recent Years):

In 2026, as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Achilleos's most significant contribution was leading critical budget scrutiny meetings. His direct engagement with the implications of inflation on the budget gap, especially for children's services, and his stated commitment to >avoiding significant cuts for three years <, underscore his proactive approach to mitigating financial pressures. This leadership in addressing immediate budgetary concerns is a defining aspect of his recent work.

In 2025, his contributions included a sustained period of active participation in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, demonstrating a strong commitment to its functions. His detailed questioning on the BD Energy Limited report and his advocacy for the Dagenham Girl Pipers' honorary nomination showcase his engagement with both operational and symbolic aspects of council work. His role in addressing children's care issues and advocating for robust governance measures also stands out.

Patterns and Consistent Areas of Interest:

A consistent thread throughout Achilleos's council service is his dedication to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and its role in holding the council accountable. He consistently demonstrates a keen interest in financial matters, expenditure control, and the effective delivery of services. His engagement with issues concerning children's services appears to be a recurring and significant area of focus, particularly in his more recent, high-level responsibilities.

Yearly Activity Timeline

In January 2026, Andrew Achilleos, as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, led a meeting focused on budget scrutiny. He guided discussions on the budget support reserve and the implications of inflation on the budget gap, particularly for children's services. Achilleos acknowledged the challenges posed by late paperwork distribution and expressed a commitment to avoiding significant cuts for three years.

Monthly Activity in 2026

In January 2026, Andrew Achilleos, as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, presided over a meeting on January 12th. He initiated the meeting by proposing a revised order of proceedings to prioritize the budget scrutiny report. Achilleos facilitated discussions on the budget, posing questions about the budget support reserve and the potential impact of not factoring in inflation on the budget gap, particularly for children's services. He acknowledged the late distribution of budget paperwork due to its complexity, which limited the committee's review time. Ultimately, Achilleos expressed a goal of avoiding significant cuts for three years and thanked the members for their contributions.

Meetings in January 2026

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 12 January 2026 7:00 pm, NEW - 12 January 2026

Andrew Achilleos, as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, opened the meeting and proposed a change to the order of proceedings to address the budget scrutiny report first, followed by the scrutiny of fees and charges. He also moved to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

During the budget discussion, Achilleos facilitated the conversation, asking clarifying questions and directing them to other speakers. He inquired about the budget support reserve and its potential use, as well as the impact of not factoring in inflation on the budget gap, particularly concerning children's services.

I propose to hear item 5 which is the budget scrutiny report first due to the nature of the report and this will be followed by item 4 which is the scrutiny of the fees and charges 2026. Do members agree the proposed changes for the proceedings?

I move that these minutes are a correct record of the meeting. Do members agree?

The budget support reserve increased from $15.4 million to $32 million at the start of the 25-26 financial year. I mean, the fact that the budget support reserve has gone up, is that not another pot that we could essentially lean into? Because, and sorry, and on another note, you mentioned about that some local authorities are not factoring in inflation and utilising that as a way to bring down the gap. And obviously you highlighted that that could have specific repercussions in services, and particularly children's services. But have you got an indication on, if we did do that, what impact would that have on the 9.6? How would that balance that down? How much would that bring that figure down by?

He also noted the late arrival of budget paperwork due to its complex nature, impacting the committee's review time.

I should, just for the benefit of anybody watching the webcast and for the minutes, say that due to the complex nature of the settlement this time round, the committee didn't receive the paperwork until Thursday. So we haven't had the full amount of time that we would,

Achilleos summarized the discussion by expressing a desire to achieve three years without significant cuts and salami slicing, and thanked members for their answers.

Well, I think I like your vision of three years without significant cuts and salami slicing. So, let's see if we can deliver that. But, no, thanks for those answers.

Throughout 2025, Cllr Andrew Achilleos was a consistently active participant in council proceedings, notably serving as Deputy Chair and later Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. His involvement spanned seven months, demonstrating a commitment to committee oversight and governance. A key theme of his activity was ensuring the effective functioning of council meetings, managing agendas, facilitating discussions, and upholding procedural standards. He actively engaged in scrutinizing council operations, particularly in areas such as financial management, expenditure control, and service delivery. Achilleos demonstrated a keen interest in the BD Energy Limited report, posing detailed questions about energy usage, capacity, resident communication, and financial governance. He also championed the Dagenham Girl Pipers' nomination for the Honorary Freedom of the Borough, highlighting their cultural significance. Furthermore, he played a crucial role in addressing issues related to children's care and support, including the EHCP process, and advocating for robust governance measures. His contributions also included voting in favor of key financial strategies and overseeing the conferral of honorary titles.

Monthly Activity in 2025

During November 2025, Andrew Achilleos was active in two council meetings, primarily in his role as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. In the meeting on November 5th, he opened the session, confirmed minutes, and introduced agenda items, including the EHCP process. He provided positive feedback on presentations and asked specific questions regarding staffing levels for educational psychologists, therapists, and the number of legal challenges related to EHCP assessment delays. Under his chairmanship, the committee resolved to note various reports and actions, including those on fly-tipping and the EHCP process, and added an additional meeting to the work programme. In the Assembly meeting on November 19th, he managed the proceedings, guiding discussions on multiple agenda items such as the Leader's statement, safeguarding reports, and waste plans. He also reminded members about meeting etiquette and facilitated the 'Questions with Notice' segment, ensuring proper procedure was followed.

Meetings in November 2025

Assembly - Wednesday, 19 November 2025 7:00 pm - 19 November 2025

Andrew Achilleos, in his capacity as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, opened and managed the Assembly meeting on November 19, 2025. He guided the proceedings through various agenda items, including the Leader's statement, appointments to the political structure, the Local Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report, the Annual Youth Justice Plan, the Treasury Management Statement, and the East London Waste Plan. In each instance, he asked the relevant councillors to present their reports and then sought agreement on the recommendations. He also reminded members about meeting etiquette, specifically regarding mobile phone use during the webcast. During the 'Questions with Notice' segment, he reiterated the rules for supplementary questions and then facilitated questions from Councillor Linda Rice and Councillor Quadri, directing them to Councillor Ghani and Councillor Haroon for responses, respectively. He also apologized to Councillor Tuami for mispronouncing their name.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 5 November 2025 7:00 pm - 5 November 2025

Andrew Achilleos, as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, opened the meeting, welcomed attendees, and confirmed the minutes from the previous meeting, stating:

I move that these minutes are a correct record of the meeting. Do members agree?

He introduced the agenda item concerning the EHCP process and invited Councillor Kangethe (or Cangeffy) to present the report. Following the presentation, Achilleos provided positive feedback, noting that his initial questions were answered by the end of the presentation and that the presenters had been proactive. He then posed two specific questions: one about the number of educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists in the borough, and another about the number of legal challenges faced by the council in the last 12 months due to delays in the assessment process. He then opened the floor to other committee members for questions.

Under his chairmanship, the committee also resolved to note the contents of the report and actions taken to address fly-tipping, endorse the Days of Action programme for fly-tipping, note the Be First update report, note the report and include findings within the final review regarding the EHCP Process, and add an additional OSC meeting to the work programme.

During the October 8th, 2025 Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, Andrew Achilleos, in his capacity as Chair, opened the session, welcomed attendees, and established meeting protocols. He moved for the acceptance of the previous meeting's minutes and introduced agenda items, including a fly-tipping update and a B first update, inviting relevant directors to present. Throughout the meeting, Achilleos managed time constraints, repeatedly urging members to be concise with their questions and answers due to a packed agenda. He also proposed that the Committee investigate the Local Authority's failure to consistently apply a legal threshold test for ECHP Needs Assessment cases and invited a member of the public to an informal meeting to discuss Key Lines of Enquiry.

Meetings in October 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 8 October 2025 7:00 pm - 8 October 2025

Andrew Achilleos, as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, opened the meeting, welcomed attendees, and outlined meeting protocols. He moved that the minutes from the September 10th, 2025 meeting be accepted as a correct record. He introduced the first agenda item, a fly-tipping update, and invited the Director of Public Realm to present. During the subsequent question and answer session, he emphasized the need for concise questions and answers due to a packed agenda, stating:

I'm just going to ask members if you can please be concise with your questions and to the point and similarly for the answers as well because I'm just mindful that we have an incredibly packed agenda this evening and have already extended the meeting until half past nine.

He managed the time constraints, indicating that outstanding questions would be answered in writing and that members who did not get to ask questions would be prioritized in the next item. He also proposed that the Committee investigate why the Local Authority failed to consistently apply a legal threshold test for ECHP Needs Assessment cases and invited a member of the public to an informal meeting to review Key Lines of Enquiry.

Achilleos then introduced the next agenda item, a B first update, inviting the interim managing director to present. He facilitated the start of the question and answer session for this item, again reminding members to be brief due to time limitations.

During September 2025, Andrew Achilleos was active in three council meetings, primarily in his role as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. He opened and facilitated these meetings, ensuring procedures were followed and welcoming attendees. A significant portion of his activity involved leading discussions and posing clarifying questions on the BD Energy Limited report, focusing on energy usage, capacity issues, resident communication, and financial governance. He specifically questioned the discrepancy between reported lower energy usage and winter capacity limitations, asking,

So, why did that happen, and were there any – what discussions were had with residents over that period? Were there any concessions on what they paid if they weren't able to access the energy that they needed? If you could give some information, that would be great.

He also probed the reasons for the energy center exceeding its designed capacity, stating,

Surely that was a decision taken by the company to expand to those additional properties. If you didn't have the capacity to do that, why did you do it?

Furthermore, he raised concerns about governance measures in light of past audit reports, inquiring,

what new governance measures are being introduced to ensure Barking and Dugnam Energy demonstrate responsible financial management and transparency?

In other meetings, Achilleos managed agenda items including the confirmation of minutes, party formations, leader's statements, and various program updates. He also played a key role in an Extraordinary Meeting, Ceremonial Council, where he strongly supported the nomination of the Dagenham Girl Pipers for the Honorary Freedom of the Borough, remarking,

The Dagenham Girl Pipers, as far as I'm concerned, are part of the fabric of Dagenham. They're part of our identity.

He also oversaw the conferral of the title of Honorary Older Woman of the London Borough of Barking in Dagenham to Jean Alexander.

Meetings in September 2025

Extraordinary Meeting, Ceremonial Council - Wednesday, 24 September 2025 8:00 pm - 24 September 2025

Andrew Achilleos, in his capacity as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, opened and guided the Extraordinary Meeting, Ceremonial Council on September 24, 2025. He welcomed attendees, handled apologies and declarations of interest, and introduced the nomination for the Honorary Freedom of the Borough to the Dagenham Girl Pipers. He spoke in strong support of this nomination, stating:

The Dagenham Girl Pipers, as far as I'm concerned, are part of the fabric of Dagenham. They're part of our identity. And I echo what Councillor Waker said regarding the Remembrance Marches. I've got fond memories of every year, Remembrance Day in Dagenham Village, of the Girl Pipers leading the march in the parade. They put Dagenham on a global stage, and I think they thoroughly deserve this recognition and this honour. And I actually, when I was in a charity shop the other week, found their global tour album on vinyl and bought it. And I've been playing it to my little girl for the past couple of months, just so that we never really forget the Dagenham Girl Pipers, even if they're not here, to play in person. Thanks.

Following the speeches, he called for and announced the agreement of the vote for this nomination. He then moved to the next agenda item concerning the conferral of the title of Honorary Older Woman of the London Borough of Barking in Dagenham to Jean Alexander, and after the related speeches and vote, he declared the meeting closed.

Assembly - Wednesday, 24 September 2025 7:00 pm - 24 September 2025

Andrew Achilleos, in his capacity as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, opened the Assembly meeting on September 24, 2025. He welcomed attendees, reminded them of meeting protocols, and specifically welcomed Councillor Lucy Lee to her first Assembly meeting. He then systematically guided the Assembly through the agenda. This included addressing apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting. He also handled the discussion and voting on the new party formation and allocation of seats, acknowledging Councillor Quadrant's disapproval of the report's recommendations. Achilleos facilitated the leader's statement, appointments, and updates on the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme and a memorandum of understanding with Queen Mary University London. He also addressed motions and questions with notice. Finally, he thanked the Assembly for their attendance, declared the meeting closed, and requested members to remain seated for an upcoming ceremonial council meeting.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 10 September 2025 7:00 pm - 10 September 2025

Andrew Achilleos, as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, opened the meeting, welcomed attendees, including cabinet members and officers, and ensured the meeting procedures were followed. He moved that the minutes of the previous meeting be accepted as a correct record.

He then facilitated the discussion on the report from BD Energy Limited. He introduced Neil Pearce, the Head of Sustainability and Climate Change, to present the report and subsequently managed the question and answer session. Achilleos posed several clarifying questions to the presenters regarding energy usage, capacity issues during winter, discussions with residents about energy access and concessions, and contingency planning for system resilience.

He specifically asked:

Just off the back of that, before I bring in Councillor Rahman and Councillor Youssef, kind of building on what Ingrid said, in Section 4.6 of the report, it outlines that energy usage in LBBD is lower than the benchmark. Yet, in the risks, and by your own admission just now, there wasn't the capacity to supply for the demand in the winter 24-25. So, why did that happen, and were there any – what discussions were had with residents over that period? Were there any concessions on what they paid if they weren't able to access the energy that they needed? If you could give some information, that would be great.

He also inquired about the reasons for the energy center needing to meet a greater capacity than designed:

Just quickly, you said, I'm just struggling to understand why it's having to meet a greater capacity than it was designed to meet. Surely that was a decision taken by the company to expand to those additional properties. If you didn't have the capacity to do that, why did you do it?

Furthermore, he raised concerns about governance measures in light of past reports from Ernest Young and Grant Thornton, asking:

Yes. Thank you so much for this. I have another question in terms of the governance. So given the past concerns raised by the Ernest Young and Grant Thornton, what new governance measures are being introduced to ensure Barking and Dugnam Energy demonstrate responsible financial management and transparency?

Achilleos also prompted discussions on tariff reviews, potential changes for residents with communal boiler systems, and the impact of new IT infrastructure and billing systems on vulnerable customers.

In July 2025, Andrew Achilleos was active in two council meetings in his capacity as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. During the July 2nd meeting, he indicated that the committee would seek further information on the Council's Expenditure Control Panel and would prioritize reports where they could add value due to a full Work Programme. On July 23rd, Achilleos presided over the Assembly meeting, managing the agenda, outlining meeting procedures, and facilitating the approval of previous minutes. He led tributes and a minute's silence for former Councillor David Smith and oversaw the presentation and discussion of various reports, including the Leader's Statement, Treasury Management Annual Report, children's care and support self-evaluation, financial regulations, and the appointment of independent persons. He concluded the meeting by confirming no further business and declaring it closed.

Meetings in July 2025

Assembly - Wednesday, 23 July 2025 7:00 pm - 23 July 2025

Andrew Achilleos, as Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, presided over the Assembly meeting on July 23, 2025. He began by outlining meeting procedures, including reminders about the webcast, agenda, mobile phone etiquette, and the importance of concise and relevant questions. He called for apologies for absence, noting those from Councillor Dulwich and Councillor Rahman, and confirmed no declarations of interest were made. Achilleos moved that the minutes of the May 14, 2025 meeting be approved as a correct record, which was subsequently agreed. He then directed the Chief Executive to present the report on the death of former Councillor David Smith, invited members to offer tributes, and led the Assembly in a minute's silence. Throughout the meeting, Achilleos managed the agenda, introducing each item and inviting relevant individuals to present reports. This included the Leader's Statement, the Treasury Management Annual Report, the children's care and support self-evaluation report presented by Councillor Jones, and reports on the council's financial regulations and the appointment of independent persons presented by the Leader and Monitoring Officer respectively. For each report, Achilleos solicited comments or questions and confirmed when recommendations were agreed. He concluded by stating there were no motions or advance questions for specific items and no other urgent matters. Finally, he thanked attendees for their presence and declared the meeting closed at 19:45.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 2 July 2025 7:00 pm - 2 July 2025

As Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Andrew Achilleos stated that he would request further information regarding the arrangements for the Council's Expenditure Control Panel for essential and business-critical spend. He also indicated that due to a full Work Programme, the Committee would request reports where they could add value, rather than solely for informational purposes.

In June 2025, Cllr Andrew Achilleos served as Deputy Chair and was present at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on June 4th. However, the available documentation does not indicate that he spoke or took any specific actions during the meeting.

Meetings in June 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 4 June 2025 7:00 pm - 4 June 2025

Cllr Andrew Achilleos served as Deputy Chair and was present at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on June 4, 2025. However, the available documents (minutes and reports pack) do not indicate that he spoke or took any specific actions during the meeting.

During the Annual Meeting of the Assembly on May 14, 2025, Councillor Andrew Achilleos voted in favor of the Budget Framework 2025/26 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2027/28.

Meetings in May 2025

Annual Meeting, Ceremonial Council - Friday, 16 May 2025 7:00 pm - 16 May 2025

Cllr Andrew Achilleos was present at the Ceremonial Council meeting on May 16, 2025. However, the meeting minutes and reports pack indicate that he did not speak or take any specific action during the meeting.

Annual Meeting, Assembly - Wednesday, 14 May 2025 7:00 pm - 14 May 2025

During the Annual Meeting of the Assembly on May 14, 2025, Councillor Andrew Achilleos voted in favour of the Budget Framework 2025/26 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2027/28. This vote was recorded in both the minutes and the public reports pack.

During April 2025, Cllr Andrew Achilleos attended the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on April 2nd in his role as Deputy Chair. The minutes did not record any specific statements or actions made by him during this meeting.

Meetings in April 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 23 April 2025 7:00 pm - 23 April 2025

Cllr Andrew Achilleos served as the Deputy Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and was present at the meeting on April 23, 2025. However, the available documents do not indicate that he spoke or took any specific actions during the meeting.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 2 April 2025 7:00 pm - 2 April 2025

Cllr Andrew Achilleos was present at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Wednesday, 2 April 2025, in his capacity as Deputy Chair. No specific statements or actions by him were recorded in the minutes.

During March 2025, Cllr Andrew Achilleos attended the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on March 12th as Deputy Chair. However, the minutes do not indicate that he spoke or took any specific actions during the meeting.

Meetings in March 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 12 March 2025 7:00 pm - 12 March 2025

Cllr Andrew Achilleos attended the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on March 12, 2025, in his capacity as Deputy Chair. However, the minutes do not record him speaking or taking any specific actions during the meeting.

In February 2025, Cllr Andrew Achilleos was appointed Deputy Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the Assembly meeting on February 26th. The Labour Group Secretary nominated him for the position, and the Assembly resolved to appoint him. He was present at the Assembly meeting. He is also the Deputy Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, but was absent with apologies from the previous meeting on January 22, 2025, and there is no record of him speaking or participating in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on February 12th.

Meetings in February 2025

Assembly - Wednesday, 26 February 2025 7:00 pm - 26 February 2025

Cllr Andrew Achilleos was present at the Assembly meeting on January 29, 2025. He was nominated for and appointed to the position of Deputy Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Labour Group Secretary advised of his nomination, and the Assembly resolved to appoint him.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 12 February 2025 7:00 pm - 12 February 2025

Cllr Andrew Achilleos is the Deputy Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. He was absent with apologies from the previous meeting held on January 22, 2025. There is no record of him speaking or participating in this meeting on February 12, 2025.

During January 2025, Cllr Andrew Achilleos was noted as being on apology for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on January 22nd.

Meetings in January 2025

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 22 January 2025 7:00 pm - 22 January 2025

Cllr Andrew Achilleos was noted as being on apology for the meeting.