The Cabinet Member Signing meeting was scheduled to discuss the appointment of new trustees for the Haringey Culture Collective. The report pack outlined recommendations for these appointments and noted the initiation of an open recruitment process.

Appointment of New Trustees for Haringey Culture Collective

The meeting was scheduled to consider the appointment of two new Trustees to the Board of Haringey Culture Collective (HCC). This action was recommended by the existing HCC Board of Trustees. The report pack indicated that an open recruitment process for additional Trustees had also been initiated, with a view to presenting further recommended candidates for Council approval in May 2026.

The report pack stated that the HCC Board was originally established with five Trustees, comprising three Council officers and two independents. A skills audit had been conducted by the existing Trustees, identifying areas where expertise was needed, such as cultural leadership, community representation, and specialist knowledge. The Board had agreed to both target suitable individuals for appointment and to launch an open recruitment process to ensure transparency and representation.

The report pack highlighted that appointments of members of the public to the boards of Council-owned companies and charities fall under the Leader's delegated authority, as per the Council's Constitution, and should be based on recommendations from the organisation's governing board. It was noted that Trustees are unpaid, and therefore, this decision was not expected to incur significant expenditure or have financial implications for the Council.

The report pack also mentioned that in July 2025, Cabinet had approved the creation of Haringey Culture Collective as a charitable company limited by guarantee to deliver the London Borough of Culture 2027 programme. The governance model agreed by Cabinet included the Council retaining sole membership and appointment rights, while ensuring the Board included independent cultural experts.

Two individuals were recommended for appointment:

• Emete Kirton: Described as an Art Director and Partner at HATO Studio and HATO Press, she was noted for her strategic design experience, a track record in inclusive cultural projects, and being a local resident of N17. Her background spans fashion, food, design, and community-led creative ecosystems.
• Marcus Davey: Identified as the former Chief Executive and Artistic Director at the Roundhouse, he was noted for over 25 years of senior cultural leadership, expertise in large-scale creative governance, and a strong connection to Haringey through long-term residency and engagement with the borough's music and youth arts services. He was also recognised with an OBE and CBE for services to the arts and young people.

The report pack indicated that the HCC Board had initiated a public recruitment campaign for up to two additional Trustees, aiming to reflect the Rebel Borough spirit and prioritising transparency, collective action, and community leadership. Priority areas for this open recruitment included legal expertise, financial expertise, and community representation, with specific focus on groups such as Latine, Black British/African/Caribbean, Turkish/Kurdish heritage, LGBTQI+, disabled residents, and local residents more broadly. The open call for recruitment was scheduled to close on 20 April 2026.

The report pack stated that these appointments would support the Council's strategic aims under Theme 7 of the Corporate Delivery Plan 2024-2026: a Culturally Rich Borough, by expanding cultural opportunities, strengthening community engagement, and delivering the London Borough of Culture 2027 as a flagship inclusive programme.

The report pack also included comments from statutory officers. The Director of Finance confirmed no direct financial implications. Strategic Procurement noted the report and confirmed no procurement-related matters preventing approval. The Director of Legal and Governance stated there were no direct legal implications, and the proposal was permitted under the Council's Constitution. The Equalities section highlighted the Council's Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act (2010) and noted that the programme's target groups and the focus on opening up opportunities in the creative sector align with these duties. The recommended Trustees were seen as strengthening the Board's ability to make decisions informed by the needs of diverse communities, and the open recruitment round was expected to further ensure the Board reflects the borough's diversity.