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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Upper Street, N1 2UD. View directions

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Items
No. Item

1.

Mayoral Announcements

a)     Apologies for absence

b)     Declaration of interests

c)     Order of business

d)     Mayor’s Announcements

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(a)   Apologies

 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Craig, Kay, Klute, Pandor and Shaikh.

 

(b)   Declaration of interests

 

None.

 

(c)   Order of Business

 

The Mayor advised that the order of business would be as per the agenda.

 

(d)   Mayor’s Announcements

 

The Mayor welcomed all new councillors who had been elected in the May 2022 local elections. The Mayor said it was fantastic to see so many councillors in the Council Chamber. It was the first time the Chamber was at full capacity since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

 

The Mayor highlighted several recent events he had attended. The Mayor was delighted to present awards to local people at the Civic Awards ceremony in March. The awards showcased the wonderful work being done across the borough and the very best of Islington.

 

The Mayor had celebrated the contribution of the Irish community in Islington by attending a number of special events throughout March. The Mayor had also attended the Irish Embassy, who had hosted a celebration of the mayoral charity, ICAP, on their 25th anniversary.

 

The Mayor was honoured to attend the national day of reflection on the Covid-19 pandemic from the steps of Islington Town Hall on 23 March.

 

The Mayor had participated in a number of Iftars across the borough and across London, commenting that the Street Iftar at Finsbury Park was particularly poignant.

 

The Mayor had celebrated St George’s Day by leading the flag raising event at Islington Town Hall and had joined Islington Veterans Association at their monthly breakfast club. The Mayor had also joined a service of remembrance for Anzac Day, and had attended the Polish Airman’s Association for their annual Easter lunch with veterans. 

 

The Mayor has attended the Islington Tribune summit on Violence Against Women and Girls alongside the Leader and others. The Mayor was pleased to contribute to the discussion and action plan going forward.

 

The Mayor was delighted to host a fundraising tour of the Tower of London, and had joined other mayors for the annual Macmillan Volunteers Gala dinner. The Mayor was also honoured to open the markets at the London Stock Exchange to celebrate the contribution of the Irish community to London and to raise awareness and profile of the mayoral charities.

 

The Mayor had attended the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. The Mayor was also delighted to lead the annual Whittington Walk from Whittington Hospital to Mansion House with all London Borough Mayors and Lord Mayors.

 

The Mayor had visited the National Autistic Society on City Road to learn more about the challenges people with autism face. The Mayor noted the importance of public services being inclusive for all.  The Mayor had also re-opened the school library at Prior Weston School, had attended St Joseph’s Hospice with the Speaker of Hackney, and had visited Pentonville Prison to discuss the mental health challenges faced by those in the justice system.

 

2.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 352 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 March 2022 be agreed as a correct record and the Mayor be authorised to sign them.

 

3.

Announcement of the Young Mayor and Young Deputy Mayor

Additional documents:

Minutes:

This item was deferred to a future meeting.

4.

Vote of Thanks and Presentation of Commemorative Badges to Outgoing Mayor and Consort

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Bossman-Quarshie moved a vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Gallagher. The vote of thanks was seconded by Councillor Mackmurdie. It was commented that the Mayor had made a significant contribution to the borough over the past year. The Mayor had worked to celebrate and champion the borough’s Irish and LGBTQ+ communities, and had helped to raise awareness of mental health issues and causes.

 

The Mayor thanked his fellow councillors, commenting that it was an honour and privilege to be the first Irish born Mayor of Islington. The Mayor spoke about the importance of the mayoralty and the positive impact that the Mayor can have on local people and the borough’s communities. The Mayor spoke about the work of his charities, forum+, ICAP and James’ Place; and thanked all of those who had supported him during the year.

 

 

5.

To Elect the Mayor of the London Borough of Islington for the ensuing Municipal Year

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Poyser, seconded by Councillor Ngongo, moved that Councillor Spall be elected as the Mayor for the ensuing municipal year.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Councillor Spall be elected as the Mayor of the London Borough of Islington for 2022/23.

 

The Council adjourned while Councillor Spall was invested with the robes of office.

6.

Declaration of Acceptance of Office by the Mayor

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor accepted by office by making the required declaration.

 

The Mayor advised that her consort would be Helen Spall.

 

The Mayor thanked her colleagues, friends and family. The Mayor congratulated Councillor Gallagher on his year as Mayor. The Mayor announced that her charities would be Ronald Macdonald House and the Whittington Health Charity.

 

 

7.

Appointment of the Deputy Mayor

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor appointed Councillor Heather to the role of Deputy Mayor.

 

Councillor Clarke was appointed as the Deputy Mayor’s Consort.

 

8.

Election of the Leader of the Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Ward moved that Councillor Comer-Schwartz be elected Leader of the Council. Councillor Ogunro seconded. The motion was put to the vote and CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Councillor Comer-Schwartz be elected Leader of the Council.         

 

The Leader thanked her fellow councillors and spoke about her priorities; including tackling inequality; making Islington the best place for young people to grow up; creating a cleaner, greener, healthier borough for all; addressing the climate emergency and the cost of living crisis; building new genuinely affordable homes, and supporting people into work.

9.

Appointment of the Deputy Leader and the Executive pdf icon PDF 217 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Comer-Schwartz introduced the paper, welcomed new members of the Executive, and paid tribute to councillors who had stood down from the Executive.

 

The Council noted the following appointments made by Councillor Comer-Schwartz as Leader of the Council:

 

·        Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Finance, Planning and Performance - Cllr Diarmaid Ward

·        Executive Member for Inclusive Economy and Jobs- Cllr Santiago Bell-Bradford

·        Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality & Transport - Cllr Rowena Champion

·        Executive Member for Equalities, Culture & Inclusion - Cllr Roulin Khondoker

·        Executive Member for Children, Young People & Families - Cllr Michelline Safi Ngongo

·        Executive Member for Homes and Communities - Cllr Una O’Halloran

·        Executive Member for Health and Social Care - Cllr Nurullah Turan

·        Executive Member for Community Safety - Cllr John Woolf

10.

Constitution Update pdf icon PDF 469 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Hyde moved the recommendations in the report. The recommendations were put to the vote and CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the amendments to the Constitution, set out in the appendices to the report, be agreed.

11.

Calculation of Political Balance (Proportionality) pdf icon PDF 304 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Hyde moved the recommendations in the report. The recommendations were put to the vote and CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)               That the Council note the political balance of the Council is:

-        48 Members of the Labour Group

-        3 Members of the Green Group

 

(ii)              That the allocation of seats be approved, in order to comply with the political balance regulations requiring seats to be allocated proportionately to the political groups on the Councill, as detailed in the report submitted.

 

12.

Appointment of Councillors to Political Positions and the Appointment of Chairs and Vice Chairs and Membership of Committees pdf icon PDF 255 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Hyde moved the recommendations in the report. The recommendations were put to the vote and CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)              That Council note that the Labour group have notified the following appointments:

Leader of Group

Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz

Deputy Leader of Group

Councillor Rowena Champion

Chief Whip

Councillor Sara Hyde

Deputy Whips

Councillors Anjna Khurana & Jason Jackson

Chair of Group

Councillor David Poyser

Vice-Chair

Councillor Angelo Weekes

Secretary

Councillor Jilani Chowdhury

Treasurer

Councillor Satnam Gill

Social Secretary

Councillor Phil Graham

Ordinary Member Posts

Councillors Gary Heather & Bashir Ibrahim

 

(ii)             That Council note that the Green group have notified the following appointments:

Leader of Group

Councillor Caroline Russell

Deputy Leader of Group

Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong

Group Business Manager

Councillor Benali Hamdache

 

(iii)           That the following appointments be made to the Policy and Performance Committee for 2022/23 or until successors are appointed:

 

POLICY & PERFORMANCE COMMITTEE (16 Councillors)

 

Councillor Jenny Kay (Chair)

Councillor Hannah McHugh

Councillor Gulcin Ozdemir (Vice Chair)

Councillor Praful Nargund

Councillor Jilani Chowdhury

Councillor Saiqa Pandor

Councillor Jason Jackson

Councillor Matt Nathan

Councillor Tricia Clarke

Councillor Angelo Weekes

Councillor Sheila Chapman

Councillor Bashir Ibrahim

Councillor Gary Heather

Councillor Phil Graham

Councillor Heather Staff

Councillor Caroline Russell

 

Substitutes:

 

Councillor Janet Burgess

Councillor Troy Gallagher

Councillor Dave Poyser

Councillor Benali Hamdache

Councillor Nick Wayne 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iv)           That the following appointments be made to the remaining committees for 2022/23 or until successors are appointed:

 

CHILDREN’S SERVICES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (8 Councillors)

Councillor Sheila Chapman (Chair)

Councillor Fin Craig

 

Councillor Valerie Bossman-Quarshie (Vice Chair)

Councillor Gulcin Ozdemir

 

Councillor Rosaline Ogunro  

Councillor Saiqa Pandor 

 

Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong

Councillor Janet Burgess

 

 

Co-opted Members for Education related issues:

 

Roman Catholic Diocese – Mary Clement

 

Parent Governor Representative (Primary) – Jon Stansfield

 

Parent Governor Representative (Secondary) – Zaleera Wallace

 

Substitutes:

 

Councillor Jilani Chowdhury 

Councillor Paul Convery 

 

Councillor Praful Nargund

Councillor Toby North 

 

Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner

Councillor Caroline Russell

 

 

 

ENVIRONMENT & REGENERATION SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (9 Councillors)

Councillor Tricia Clarke (Chair)

Councillor Ruth Hayes

Councillor Gary Heather (Vice Chair)

Councillor Claire Zammit 

Councillor Clare Jeapes

Councillor Angelo Weekes

Councillor Fin Craig

Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong 

Councillor Mick Gilgunn

 

Substitutes:

 

Councillor Praful Nargund

Councillor Caroline Russell

 

 

 

 

 

HEALTH AND CARE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (8 Councillors)

Councillor Jilani Chowdhury (Chair)

Councillor Fin Craig

Councillor Joseph Croft (Vice Chair)

Councillor Mick Gilgunn

Councillor Clare Jeapes  

Councillor Claire Zammit

Councillor Tricia Clarke

Councillor Caroline Russell

 

Substitutes:

 

Councillor Janet Burgess

Councillor Dave Poyser

Councillor Nick Wayne

Councillor Benali Hamdache

.

 

HOUSING SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (8 Councillors)

Councillor Jason Jackson (Chair)

Councillor Mick O’Sullivan

Councillor Marian Spall (Vice Chair)

Councillor Mick Gilgunn

Councillor Rosaline Ogunro 

Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner

Councillor Valerie Bossman-Quarshie

Councillor Benali Hamdache

 

Substitutes:

 

Councillor Jilani Chowdhury

Councillor Phil Graham

Councillor Ben Mackmurdie

Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong

 

 

Resident Observers:

 

Rose-Marie McDonald

Dean Donaghey

 

 

 

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE (4 Councillors and 2 Independent Members, as below)

Councillor Nick Wayne (Chair)

Councillor Janet Burgess

Councillor Flora Williamson (Vice Chair)

Councillor Sara Hyde

 

 

Substitutes:

 

Councillor Angelo Weekes

Councillor Satnam Gill

 

 

Independent Members:

Alan Begg

Alan Finch

 

HEALTH AND WELLBEING BOARD (15 members, as below)
Members of the Board are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Appointment of representatives to serve on Outside Organisations pdf icon PDF 210 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Hyde moved the recommendations in the report. The recommendations were put to the vote and CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(i)              That the following list of appointments to outside bodies for 2022/23, for the remainder of the year or until successors are appointed, be agreed:

 

Outside Body

Term of Office

Member(s)

London Council Committees:

Leaders Committee

One Year

Leader: Cllr Comer-Schwartz

 

Deputies:

Cllr Champion

Cllr Ward

 

Associated Joint Committee - Transport and Environment Committee

One Year

Cllr Rowena Champion

 

Deputies:

Cllr Phil Graham

Cllr Poyser

 

London Councils Forums:

Greater London Employment

 

One Year

Cllr Ward

Deputy: Cllr Bell-Bradford

Local Government Association:

LGA General Assembly

One Year

 

Cllr Comer-Schwartz

Cllr Champion

Cllr O’Halloran

Cllr Ward

Others:

Angel Business Improvement Board

One Year

Cllr Klute

Archway Town Centre Management Board

One Year

Cllr Burgess

Cllr Chapman

 

Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant Schemes Panel

One Year

 

Cllr O’Halloran

Cllr Gallagher

Cross River Partnership

One Year

Cllr Bell-Bradford

Finsbury Park Town Centre Management Group

One Year

Cllr Heather

 

Groundwork London Local Authority Strategic Board

One Year

Cllr Champion

 

Islington Community Chest Panel

One Year

Cllr O’Halloran

Cllr Zammit

Cllr Bossman-Quarshie

Substitute: Cllr Woolf

London Road Safety Council

One Year

Cllr Champion

Deputy: Cllr Gilgunn

Nags Head Town Centre Management Group

One Year

Cllr Heather

Cllr Zammit

Newable

 

One Year

Cllr Bell-Bradford

North London Waste Authority

One Year

Cllr Champion

Cllr Ward

Reserve Forces and Cadets

One Year

Cllr Gallagher

Safer Neighbourhoods Boards

One Year

Cllr Woolf

Cllr Jackson

 

 

(ii)             That the following list of appointments to outside bodies to take effect on the date indicated, for the term of office indicated, or until successors are appointed, be agreed:

 

Outside body

Member(s)

Term of Office

Date Appointment to take effect

Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust

Cllr Shaikh

Three years

June 2022

Central London Forward

Cllr Comer-Schwartz

Cllr Bell-Bradford

Two years

May 2022

Clerkenwell Charities

Cllr Nathan

Cllr Hayes

Four year term

September 2022

Dame Alice Owens

Cllr Comer-Schwartz

Cllr Safi Ngongo

Three years

May 2022

Finsbury Park Trust

Cllr Heather

Deputy: Cllr Shaikh

Three year term

December 2022

Islington United Charities

Cllr Safi Ngongo

Cllr McHugh

Four year term

September 2022

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Health

Cllr Clarke

Cllr Chowdhury

Four year term

May 2022

Pensions Board

Cllr Poyser

Four year term

May 2022

Richard Reeves Foundation

Cllr Ozdemir

Four year term

May 2022

Sadlers Wells Foundation

Cllr Hyde

Three year term

May 2022

Schools Forum

Cllr Weekes

Four year term

May 2022

St Lukes Trustee Ltd

Cllr Hayes

Cllr Ogunro

Four year term

June 2022

St Sepulchre United Charities

 

 

Cllr Mackmurdie

Cllr Graham

Four year term

May 2022

University College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Cllr Gill

Three year term

June 2022