Agenda item

Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Leader of the Council, addressed the Committee and focused on the council’s agreed priorities in the new Corporate Plan, Islington Together 2030, and the challenges facing the Council.

The Leader highlighted the outcomes of the Lets Talk Islington engagement exercise; this survey of over 6,000 residents found that nearly half of respondents did not believe Islington was a fair and equal place to live, the differences in income and opportunities were the biggest sources of inequality, and affordable housing and safety were the top priorities of residents. These findings had informed the Islington Together 2030 plan.

The Leader highlighted three issues that were the root cause of inequality; poverty and affordability, quality of life, and power and agency. The Corporate Plan sought to address these through its five priorities; child-friendly Islington, fairer together, a safe place to call home, community wealth building, and greener, healthier Islington.

The Leader commented on the financial challenges facing the council following continued government austerity and noted that recent findings from the Housing Ombudsman and Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman had indicated where the council needed to improve services for residents. In particular, the Leader highlighted the impact of damp and mould in council housing, and the work underway to clear the council’s complaints backlog. Since the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s report found fault in the council’s complaints management, the council had invested in transforming its communications with residents, and call waiting times had been cut by 66%.

The Leader commented on the importance of the council’s Challenging Inequality programme and the need to embed this approach in all of the council’s activities to address inequalities head-on. The Leader highlighted several examples of the council adopting best practice, including the council’s pioneering approach to Community Wealth Building, its dedication to the natural environment and Net Zero Carbon, the council’s focus on health inequalities through projects such as the Young Black Men and Mental Health Programme, and noted that Islington led the way nationally in the roll out of school streets and encouraging sustainable transport. The council was also prioritising services to support young people and keep them safe.  

The following main points were noted in the discussion:

·        Following a question on the role of Access Islington Hubs, it as confirmed that these Hubs offered advice for those experiencing financial hardship, provided by the council’s Income Maximisation (IMAX) team.

·        A member asked about the council’s support for those with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and if the council was effectively communicating its offer in this area. In response, the Leader highlighted the importance of universal services, such as free school meals for primary school children, and noted that the size of the NRPF team had tripled over recent years. NRPF services were promoted through social workers and schools.

·        A member welcomed the council’s ambition but commented on the limited funding available to local authorities. It was queried what scope the council had to lobby central government for a fairer funding deal. In response, the Leader commented that the council had recently recruited a public affairs team to support the council in lobbying central government and others. It was important for councils to work together at a regional and national level to lobby for increased funding for priority issues.

·        A member asked what the Leader’s biggest concern was. The Leader responded that the budget was the most pressing issue at the moment; as after years of government austerity, the options for further cuts in services were limited, particularly while demand was increasing. It was essential to focus on early intervention, consider doing things differently, and to prioritise key services. The Leader would always prioritise residents and frontline services, and it was important to listen to residents to make sure the council was delivering services in an effective way that met their needs.

·        Councillor Ward, Deputy Leader of the Council, contributed to the discussion, and noted the council’s resident experience programme that sought to transform communication with residents. A new council telephone system would go live the following week which would make a significant difference in interactions with the council.

·        A member asked how the council could best support struggling local businesses, how the council can encourage local businesses to employ Islington residents, and if it was possible to give local businesses training on how to take part in procurement exercises. In response, the Leader summarised the work of the Community Wealth Building department, including the distribution of grants to local businesses, and the importance of considering social value in procurement. The council also had a role in brokering contracts between local institutions and local businesses, supporting residents into employment, and helping to support employability through skills development.

·        A member commented on the range of challenges faced by local authorities and asked if the Leader was confident that the council had the right team in place to address these. In response, the Leader commented on the recent senior officer recruitment and that she was excited to have new and diverse voices around the table. The Leader also commented on the difficulties faced by the sector; and that almost all local authorities were facing financial challenges. It was essential to act with financial prudence, consider different ways of working, and act responsibly by managing risks.

·        A member asked about the need to take difficult decisions and the Leader’s “red lines”; in response, the Leader spoke of the importance of safety and the need to protect vulnerable children and adults.

·        A member queried the council’s agreed budget savings and noted that £4.1m of savings were currently RAG rated Red and Amber; it was asked if the council had been too ambitious in its savings proposals, and if future savings were going to be more difficult to achieve as a result. In response, the Leader emphasised the importance of setting a balanced budget and it was crucial to manage the council’s finances carefully. Councils that had issued Section 114 notices had faced government intervention, and decisions had been taken out of the hands of local councillors. The Council had a responsibility to make sure this never happened.

·        Following a question, the Leader commented on the importance of robust emergency planning, particularly around major events.

The Committee thanked the Leader for her attendance.