Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 July 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 July 2023 be agreed as a correct record and the Mayor be authorised to sign them.

If you have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest* in an item of business:

§  if it is not yet on the council’s register, you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent;

§  you may choose to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest that is already in the register in the interests of openness and transparency. 

In both the above cases, you must leave the room without participating in discussion of the item.

If you have a personal interest in an item of business and you intend to speak or vote on the item you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent but you may participate in the discussion and vote on the item.

*(a)    Employment, etc - Any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

(b)     Sponsorship - Any payment or other financial benefit in respect of your expenses in carrying out duties as a member, or of your election; including from a trade union.

(c)      Contracts - Any current contract for goods, services or works, between you or your partner (or a body in which one of you has a beneficial interest) and the council.

(d)     Land - Any beneficial interest in land which is within the council’s area.

(e)      Licences - Any licence to occupy land in the council’s area for a month or longer.

(f)      Corporate tenancies - Any tenancy between the council and a body in which you or your partner have a beneficial interest.

(g)     Securities - Any beneficial interest in securities of a body which has a place of business or land in the council’s area, if the total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body or of any one class of its issued share capital. 

This applies to all members present at the meeting.

No Declarations were received.

(i)           Apologies

(ii)          Order of business

(iii)         Declaration of discussion items

(iv)        Mayor’s announcements

(v)          Length of speeches

(i) Apologies

From Cllr Poyser, Klute, Jackson, Cinko-Oner, Gallagher, Spall, O’Sullivan.

(ii) Order of business

The order of business was as per the Agenda.

(iii) Declaration of discussion items

No items were declared.

(iv) Mayor’s announcements

The Mayor had attended numerous community festivals, celebrations, and events in the borough over recent months. They interacted with residents, celebrated achievements, and participated in various activities. Highlights of the Mayor’s activities included joining Eid celebrations, attending football tournaments and sports awards, unveiling a plaque dedicated to Michael Collins, raising awareness about Bleed Control Kits, and working closely with Voluntary Action Islington to promote volunteering.

The Mayor had also supported students during A-level results day, attended award ceremonies recognising the efforts of council staff and carers, and engaged in various community events. These included the book launch of "Betwixt 2 Shores" by William Henry, about his life journey from Antigua to the UK and his experiences as a black man from the Windrush generation. The Mayor had also participated in walkabouts to promote civic pride in Nag’s Head town centre, and had attended the Costermonger’s Harvest Festival at Guildhall and St Mary-le-Bow Church with the London Pearly Kings and Queens.

The Mayor had invited Islington Young Mayor and Youth Council, who were in attendance this evening, to the Mayor’s parlour in September to discuss their ideas for improving the borough from a young person’s perspective.

The Mayor expressed their honour and enjoyment in serving as the Mayor of Islington during this time.

The Leader was pleased to join the Mayor at Streets Fest and A Level results day recently, where they had seen the achievements and enthusiasm of young people.

The Leader expressed horror at the Prime Minister's recent announcement to weaken the government’s climate emergency pledges, especially in the context of recent extreme weather events worldwide. The Leader highlighted incidents such as wildfires in Europe, a devastating American wildfire, flooding in Libya, and the UK September heatwave, emphasizing that the climate crisis was an urgent issue with immediate consequences. They criticized the Government for not taking sufficient action to combat climate change and noted the public health crisis in London due to poor air quality, which contributed to thousands of premature deaths and healthcare costs.

The Leader praised the council's actions, including the introduction of low-traffic neighbourhoods, school streets, and cycleways to promote walking and cycling. The Leader noted the council’s commitment to consult on and co-design Liveable Neighbourhoods, with the Mildmay Liveable Neighbourhood being the latest example. They emphasised that these initiatives not only benefited the environment but also saved lives, improved road safety, and supported local businesses.

The Leader concluded by reaffirming the Council's dedication to the well-being of its residents and their commitment to have taken radical actions to enhance the lives of the local community, in line with the Labour Group’s manifesto vision of a fairer, greener, and safer Islington.

Response from the Leader of the Opposition

The Leader of the Opposition began their response by celebrating the achievements of the Council, including: the introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, that had allowed families and residents to safely cycle and walk around the borough; the new buildings at Highbury Fields, and in particular the new toilets; and the buying back of council homes to help residents, homeless people and refugees and ensuring everyone in Islington has a place to live.

The Leader of the Opposition disagreed with the decision to close Sobell Ice Rink, commenting that it was a service that had encouraged, particularly, young girls to get into sport and be active. The Leader of the Opposition noted that the planned replacement with a soft play centre doesn’t offer this, and they wanted a facility that encouraged all to stay active. The Leader of the Opposition also commented on recycling rates falling to a new low of 27%. They wanted the council to look at new ways to encourage recycling and help save the planet.

No petitions were received.

The Council debated the petition submitted to the previous meeting. It was noted this petition had received over 5000 signatures.

The Lead Petitioner introduced the petition and spoke for two minutes:

·                 The Petitioner expressed their disappointment and suggested that the consultation had not been fair.

·                 The Petitioner proposed that there was room for both the proposed Ninja Park and the ice rink in the Sobell Leisure Centre.

·                 The Petitioner suggested that the closure had disproportionate impact on minority groups and female sports and suggested that the council had not fully considered the impact of the decision.

·                 The Petitioner noted how long there has been an ice rink at the Sobell and commented on the potential loss of the rich and diverse history associated with Sobell Ice Rink.

·                 They concluded that closing Sobell Ice Rink was a significant loss for Islington’s communities.

Councillor Turan moved the motion to debate the petition. Councillor Ngongo seconded. Councillor Jegorovas-Armstrong contributed to the debate. Councillor Turan exercised their right to reply.

The following main points were made in the debate:

·       In August 2022, Sobell Leisure Centre experienced major floods due to a Thames Water mains burst on Hornsey and Tollington Road, resulting in damage to the entire ground floor.

·       After a thorough public consultation, the decision was made not to reinstate the Sobell ice rink.

·       In May 2023, the Executive initiated a consultation to replace the lost facilities with a new offer aimed at increasing physical activity, especially among young people.

·       The Council received a total of 1,003 responses during the six-week consultation period, with 54% of survey respondents reporting no impact if the ice rink was not reinstated.

·       Alternative operators and usage models were explored, but none provided a viable solution for reinstating the ice rink.

·       The Council mitigated the impact on most of the affected clubs, allocating them time at the Lee Valley regional facility. Plans were made to introduce holiday programmes for young people to access the regional facility through a sports development partner.

·       The Council's new Islington Active Together Strategy aims to empower communities to be more physically active, with a focus on marginalised groups and individuals with long-term health conditions.

·       Fun and enjoyable physical activities are seen as crucial in breaking down barriers, especially for children and young people.

·       Anticipated usage levels for the new active zone are expected to rise significantly, benefiting a wider demographic of residents.

·       For 13 years austerity has had a significant impact on the council budgets, and the ongoing cost of living crisis is threatening the budgets even further. The only way to tackle these issues is for central government to allocate more funding.

·       The plan aims to provide young people with the best start in life, recognizing the importance of physical activity for various aspects of their well-being, including combating obesity, improving health, and enhancing mental health.

·       Councillors emphasised the importance of physical activity, even in activities like soft play, for children's development, including coordination, fitness, and motor skills.

·       A Green Party Councillor advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 252.

Question (a) from Young Mayor Ameera Abdi to Cllr Ward, Executive Member for Finance, Planning and Performance:

During the last 12 months the cost-of-living crisis has been adversely impacting Islington’s families. What specific support can the council provide to young people to minimise this impact?

Response:

Thank you Ameera for your question. Working with organisations across the borough, our Labour-run Council has acted over the last year to support local people through the Tory cost of living crisis.

In 2022/23 we supported 420 young people (aged 18-25) into paid work, and a further 58 in the first quarter of this year (April – June 2023).  Next month the council is opening two Youth Employment Hubs in Caledonian ward and Finsbury Park, providing young people with access to one-to-one careers guidance, employability skills training, opportunities to meet employers and support to look and apply for apprenticeships and jobs. This is all part of the Labour-run Council’s manifesto commitment to support 5000 people into work, and creating an inclusive economy, which keeps wealth in Islington and uses its reach to provide better services for local people.

In addition, our Labour-run Council is providing Free School Meals for all primary school children as we have done since 2009, saving families around £440 per child every year, and last year the Council quadrupled the size of the childcare bursary scheme from £40,000 to £160,000 – and we are protecting it for 2023/24.

Supplementary Question:

How will you help those in secondary school and under working age to combat the cost-of-living crisis?

Response:

I will be very happy to meet with you to talk about this in more detail.

Question (b) from Deputy Young Mayor Areeb Ahmed to Cllr Ngongo, Executive Member for Children, Young people and Families:

We recently meet the Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley at the community event held in the borough. How is the council working with the Police locally to improve youth safety in ethe borough. Please provide examples to support our understanding of what is being done.

Response:

Thank you, Areeb, for your question. The Labour-run Council always works closely with the police to make our borough safer for local people, and especially our young people. We do this through regular meetings with the police where we discuss at-risk children, sometimes with other professionals such as social work

Another example of how this can be done is via the Safer Schools officers that exist in schools in the borough to ensure that children and young people are kept safe in and around school premises.

The Police and the Council also work together closely via a joint team called Islington Collaboration Action Network (I-CAN). This service supports children and young people who are at risk of exploitation. In our manifesto last year, Islington Labour committed to increasing our early intervention and prevention programmes, to identify at risk children, to mobilise support and prevent situations escalating.

Our Targeted Youth Support team works in the community to engage with young people  ...  view the full minutes text for item 253.

Question (a) from Nick Collin to Cllr Champion, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Transport

We have observed that the majority of Islington’s tradespeople and small businesses, who rely, directly or indirectly, on cars and vans, have a serious concern that Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) are bad for business.  This is particularly as a result of longer journey times, congestion on boundary roads, limited parking and increased fines.  Do you recognize this concern from the consultation carried out to date on the planned Barnsbury. Laycock Liveable Neighbourhood (LN), and how do you propose to address it?

Response:

Thank you for your question Nick. In our manifesto for the Local Elections last year, we committed to “co-design and consult on the introduction of Liveable Neighbourhoods across the borough” and our Transport Strategy, agreed in 2019 stated that we would create People Friendly Streets in local neighbourhoods where through traffic will be reduced to ensure that local neighbourhoods are more enjoyable places to live, and walk or cycle through. That is why we are delivering Liveable Neighbourhoods across the borough with current schemes in development in The Cally, Barnsbury and Laycock and Mildmay.

We want to make sure that we make Islington cleaner, greener and healthier, while also supporting local businesses to thrive. Our Council’s Progressive Procurement Strategy means that we aim to use more of our council spending with local businesses and we work with local businesses in the design of our Liveable Neighbourhood schemes.

Many studies have shown that in the long term, where these schemes are implemented, business footfall increases as more people are walking and cycling, and popping into shops as they travel. For example, data from the Stoke Newington LTN in Hackney showed increased footfall and increased spending with local businesses along Church Street.

With regard to the impact on boundary roads, our own monitoring reports show that boundary road traffic volumes are minimally affected with an average of a 3% reduction across the borough. We have published extensive monitoring reports which are available to view on the council’s website. We will continue to monitor traffic volumes as part of the development of future Liveable Neighbourhoods including Barnsbury and Laycock. 

The development of schemes such as the Barnsbury and Laycock Liveable Neighbourhood include three phases of public engagement, we are currently within the second phase of this engagement and would welcome all comments and suggestions during this time from all residents and business. Engagement is currently open until Sunday, 22 October 2023.

Supplementary Question

Can you agree to meet with us face to face so we can explain in detail why we are so alarmed by the proposals? Can you also please explain how the new liveable neighbourhood relates to Council’s stated aim of ‘supporting local businesses to thrive’?

Response:

Yes, I am happy to meet with you and others. Many parts of Highbury have benefited from LTNs and liveable neighbourhoods already. We are now looking holistically at LTNs and liveable neighbourhoods rather than just small  ...  view the full minutes text for item 254.

Question (a) from Cllr Convery to Cllr Champion, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Transport

The Council has signed Memoranda of Agreement with 3 hire e-bike operators since October 2021. Please will you set out the safety and conduct requirements of e-bike operators; and in total say how much financial contribution has been received by the Council from the 3 operators over the 2 financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23; and say how that funding has been allocated by the Council.

Response:

Thank you for your question, Paul. As you’re aware, the Council determined to make sure that the use of dockless e-bikes in Islington is as fair as possible for everyone who uses our roads and pavements.

Last year, nearly one-and-a-half million trips were taken on dockless bikes in the borough. This shows that the bikes are popular and research shows that they are being used by people who didn’t previously cycle often.

But we also know that some users can leave them carelessly around the borough, blocking pavements and making it more difficult for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs to get around. That’s why, over the summer, we announced plans to introduce a network of new dockless bike parking spaces, to help ensure that the borough’s pavements are more welcoming and easier to use.

This means that we will introduce 50 spaces by the summer 2024, prioritising stations, shopping centres, and other busy areas, with a view to expanding on this in the future. Eventually the aim is to have a network across the borough, meaning that users can only park in designated bays.

With regard to the memorandum of understanding, the council is working very closely with the three hire bike operators to address concerns regarding the safety and conduct of the use of these hire bikes. This working relationship is particularly important because there is currently no legislation in place that gives clear powers to local authorities to licence and manage operators. The Department for Transport is planning to introduce new legislation that would allow local authorities to manage rental schemes (and enforce on issues such as parking), however we are still waiting for confirmation of the timetable for this legislation. Following a discussion at London Councils' Transport and Environment Committee, TfL and London boroughs will now also be exploring the design of one coordinated future scheme to manage dockless e-bikes (and e-scooters in boroughs that are part of the trial) in London, through a contract, to improve parking while increasing the quality and sustainability of services in London. In the meantime, the council is regulating its operators through Memorandum of Understandings which contain provisions that address safety and conduct requirements.

The Memorandum of Understandings commit our operators to specific safety specifications for all their bikes, including internal tracking devices, front and back lights, and company contact numbers clearly displayed. They also specify conduct requirements for the operators, including the removal of bikes if badly parked by the operator within a set timeframe and geo-fencing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 255.

Councillor Ward moved the recommendations in the report. Councillor Hamdache contributed to the discussion. Councillor Ward exercised their right to reply.

The recommendations were put to the vote and CARRIED.

RESOLVED:

a)    It be noted that the Executive has recommended that Council adopts the new Local Plan;

b)     To adopt the new Local Plan (attached as Appendices 5-7 to the report) with the main modifications as set out in the Inspectors’ report and appendices 1-4 to the report, as well as the Council’s additional modifications as set out in appendix 10 to the report, and the new Policies Map attached as Appendix 8 to the report.

c)     That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Community Wealth Building, to prepare and publish an Adoption Statement in accordance with section 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, and all other necessary procedural requirements following adoption of the new Local Plan.

d)     That authority be delegated to the Corporate Direction of Community Wealth Building in consultation with the Executive Member of Finance, Planning and Performance to make any typographical amendments and other minor corrections to the new Local Plan documents as required prior to publication.

e)     It be noted that the current Local Plan, which consists of the Core Strategy (2011), Development Management Policies (2013), Site Allocations (2013) and Finsbury Local Plan (Bunhill and Clerkenwell Area Action Plan (2013), will be superseded in its entirety by the new Local Plan.

f)       It be noted that a consolidated version of the Integrated Impact Assessment which includes the Sustainability Appraisal and Equalities Impact Assessment has been created and updated to consider the Inspectors’ final modifications and was attached at Appendix 9 to the report.

Councillor Ward moved the recommendations in the report.

The recommendations were put to the vote and CARRIED.

RESOLVED:

a)     That the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts strategy for 2023/24 be approved, and it be noted that approving the strategy does not commit the council to using it.

b)     That responsibility for the adoption of the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts strategy be delegated to the Section 151 Officer, if it is considered appropriate to do so at the end of the financial year in the context of the council’s overall financial position.

The Mayor noted that a supplement to the report had been circulated.

Councillor Hyde moved the recommendations in the report. Councillor Comer-Schwartz contributed to the discussion.

The recommendations were put to the vote and CARRIED.

RESOLVED:

a)    That Victoria Lawson be appointed as the new Chief Executive of Islington Council;

b)    That Cllr Shaikh be appointed to the Finsbury Park Trust for a three year term until September 2026, or until a successor is appointed.

c)     That Cllr Khurana be appointed to the Fostering and Adoption Panel until the end of the municipal year, or until a successor is appointed.

Where a motion concerns an executive function, nothing passed can be actioned until approved by the Executive or an officer with the relevant delegated power.

·       Motion 1: A Metropolitan Police Service that Islington can trust

·       Motion 2: Age Friendly Islington

·       Motion 3: Boycott the Anti-Boycott Bill 

·       Motion 4: Islington Child Friendly Community  

Motion 1: A Metropolitan Police Service that Islington can trust.

Councillor Woolf moved the motion. Councillor Weekes seconded. Councillor Russell contributed to the discussion. Councillor Woolf exercised their right to reply.

The motion was put to the vote and CARRIED.

RESOLVED:

i.          To urge the Met to accept the Casey Report in full – including the finding that the force is institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic.

ii.          To ensure our local Borough Commander agrees to:

o   A 10-point action plan—practical, tangible actions, developed with our community, and implemented swiftly, in response to Baroness Casey’s report

o   A Public Charter—outlining your commitments to neighbourhood policing in Islington.

o   A Memorandum of Understanding—between the local authority and the BCU to ensure effective communication and accountability

o   Public participation in policing—with effective ward panels that are representative and responsive; with Independent Advisory Groups that are empowered and supported; active engagement and collaboration with refugees, migrants, young people, minoritized groups and the Global Majority

o   Children as children—for there never to be a horrific incident in Islington like that experienced by Child Q and for a strong commitment to prevention and diversion

o   The highest standards—only the very best officers in our borough; rigorous SLT review, monitoring and oversight for any officer under investigation; the very best training for Islington’s police officers, including that suggested through Valerie’s Law

o   Stability and visibility—with an end to the carousal system; an end to high abstraction rates; more PCSOs and School Safety Officers: the very best SNTs in London

o   A swift response—to all incidents in Islington

o   Thorough investigations— with an improvement in outcomes for all crimes, including our priority areas such as an increase in sanction and detection rates for DV, plus watertight cases brought swiftly to the CPS

o   Clear communication—with the Victim’s Code at the heart of what the Police does

o   A trauma-informed approach— so safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment guide your approach and interactions

o   A joined-up approach—across boroughs, teams and partnerships

o   An anti-racist, anti-misogynistic, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic and anti-ableist force— with a laser focus on equality and inclusivity; an end to disproportionality and adultification; an active commitment to stamp out all forms of hate, misogyny, prejudice and discrimination

o   Policing by consent— earning and maintaining trust and confidence in our community by being embedded in our community, listening to our community and understanding our experiences and needs

iii.          To ensure our BCU Commander is accountable for the actions taken in our Borough, including those of central specialist units.

iv.          To continue to listen to local people through our Safer Spaces conversations, learning from residents where they feel least safe and make improvements

v.          To continue to support the safety of young people as outlined in our Youth Safety Strategy, which includes listening to and responding to the voices of young people

vi.          To continue to prioritise the reduction of Violence Against Women and Girls as outlined in our VAWG Strategy, which includes putting survivors centre stage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 259.