Ben Mackmurdie - Councillor for Islington (Clerkenwell)

Councillor Ben Mackmurdie

Labour Party Clerkenwell

Email: Ben.Mackmurdie@islington.gov.uk

Council: Islington

Council Profile: View on council website

Committees: Licensing Committee Annual Council Licensing Regulatory Committee Licensing Sub Committee A Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee (Committee Member) (Committee Member) Licensing Sub Committee C Licensing Sub Committee B Council (Committee Member) Planning Sub Committee B (Substitute)

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Activity Timeline

Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.

56 meetings · Page 2 of 12

Council Committee Member

Freedom of the Borough, Council - Friday, 21st November, 2025 3.00 pm

Islington Council held a special meeting to award the Freedom of the Borough to Arsenal Women's Football Club in recognition of their UEFA Women's Champions League win in 2024-25. The motion was proposed, seconded, and then supported by several councillors, before being passed unanimously. Representatives from Arsenal Women's Football Club attended the meeting to accept the award.

November 21, 2025
Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee Committee Member

Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 11th November, 2025 7.30 pm

The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee met to discuss homelessness, temporary accommodation standards, and housing complaints. The committee reviewed evidence for the Scrutiny Review on Homelessness 2025-26, including a report on challenges finding face-to-face help with homelessness applications and a London School of Economics (LSE) report on temporary accommodation. Members also discussed surveying standards in council-owned temporary accommodation, the annual housing complaints report, and a quarterly review of housing performance.

November 11, 2025
Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee Committee Member

Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 22nd September, 2025 7.30 pm

The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee met to discuss community safety, policing, housing repairs and homelessness in Islington. The committee received updates on community safety initiatives, progress towards compliance with Awaab's Law[^2], and the state of homelessness and temporary accommodation in the borough. They also heard a presentation from Streets Kitchen, a grassroots organisation working with the homeless.

September 22, 2025
Committee Committee Member

Council - Thursday, 18th September, 2025 7.15 pm

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.

September 18, 2025
Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee Committee Member

Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 22nd July, 2025 7.30 pm

The Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee met to discuss tenancy satisfaction, homelessness and housing performance in Islington. Councillors heard that overall tenant satisfaction is above the London median, but that complaints handling and asbestos management require improvement. The committee also began its scrutiny of homelessness in the borough, hearing about the financial challenges, customer journeys, and rough sleeping initiatives.

July 22, 2025

Decisions from Meetings

5 decisions

Contract award for general build repairs and maintenance works 1030542

From: Planning Sub Committee B - Monday, 7th July, 2025 7.30 pm - July 07, 2025

...to approve the award of new contracts for general build repairs and maintenance works to Herts Heritage Building and Roofing Ltd, JOS Property Services Ltd, Komfort Services, and Polyteck Building Services Ltd, each for a maximum term of 48 months and an estimated total value of £4,600,000 (excluding VAT).

Recommendations Approved

Procurement and contract award for the supply of diesel fuel for Council fleet vehicles 1030424

From: Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 12th May, 2025 7.30 pm - May 12, 2025

...to award a 24-month contract to Certas Energy Limited for the supply of diesel fuel for the Council's fleet vehicles, pursuant to the Crown Commercial Services Liquid Fuels 3 framework.

Recommendations Approved

Stacey Street Somewhere Safe to Stay Hub - extension of contract 1030022

From: Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 12th May, 2025 7.30 pm - May 12, 2025

...to accept additional funding from the Greater London Authority and extend the contract with Single Homeless Project to continue providing support services at the Stacey Street Somewhere Safe to Stay Hub until March 31, 2026.

Recommendations Approved

Recordable decision - Contract extension for support for rough sleepers

From: Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 12th May, 2025 7.30 pm - May 12, 2025

...to extend the contract with Via Community Ltd for drug and alcohol support for rough sleepers for 12 months at a value of £378,185.89.

Recommendations Approved

Recordable decision taken by Director of Housing Operations - contract variation for Assessment & Reconnection Team

From: Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 12th May, 2025 7.30 pm - May 12, 2025

...to extend the contract for the Assessment & Reconnection Team, which supports people with a recent history of rough sleeping, for a 12-month period.

Recommendations Approved

Summary

Meetings Attended: 56

Average per Month: 2.2

Decisions Recorded: 5