The Islington Council Executive met to discuss a range of reports, including the 2024/25 budget outturn, treasury management, corporate performance, children's services, digital strategy, housing partnerships, and access to health and care services. The Executive approved recommendations related to budget allocations, debt write-offs, contract variations, and the adoption of a new Digital and Data Strategy. They also approved the procurement strategy for an affordable workspace and supported continued collaboration on housing and homelessness.

Budget, Performance and Monitoring

2024/25 Budget Monitoring Outturn

The Executive reviewed the 2024-25 Quarter 4 Budget Monitoring Report, noting the council had achieved a balanced financial position. Councillor Flora Williamson, Executive Member for Finance and Performance, thanked council officers and her predecessor, Councillor Diarmaid Ward, for their work in achieving this.

Key points from the report included:

• A General Fund overspend at directorate level of £15.592m, offset by a forecast underspend in corporate budgets of £11.903m.
• The General Fund was balanced through the application of available corporate contingencies of £3.740m.
• A proposal to transfer the £5 million General Contingency budget to General Balances to improve financial resilience.
• Temporary accommodation costs continued to rise, with Housing Needs reporting an overspend of £6.826m, driven primarily by a £5.682m overspend on temporary accommodation.
• The Parking service reported a £1.179m overspend due to underachieved income targets.
• There was a £1.661m shortfall in commercial property income.
• 68% of agreed budget savings for 2024/25 had been delivered in full.

Councillor Ben Ali raised concerns about the rising costs of temporary accommodation and asked if the trend of month-on-month increases had stabilised since January 2025. An officer responded that there were some potential green shoots with demand levels starting to reduce slightly, but it would take time to feed through the system.

Councillor Ministers asked about savings delivery, noting that the council had delivered 68% of savings with 7% undeliverable, and asked if this was in line with other council performances. An officer responded that they did not benchmark themselves in that regard, as the context and savings initiatives may differ between boroughs.

The Executive agreed recommendations 1.1 to 1.15 and noted the exempt appendix.

Treasury Management Outturn 2024/25

The Executive noted the Treasury Management Outturn Report 2024/25, a technical report required by the Prudential Code¹. Councillor Williams noted that the council was overachieving its income targets and saving on borrowing costs, and was compliant with all KPIs.

Corporate Progress and Performance Update, Quarter 4

The Executive reviewed the Corporate Progress and Performance Update for Quarter 4, the end of the year 2024/25, noting strong performance across all missions. Councillor Flora Williamson highlighted that the council had supported 5,575 residents into work and 780 apprenticeships over the past three years, and secured an additional £8 million in benefits for residents in the past year alone. She also noted that Islington was a top-performing borough for care leavers, managing homelessness, rates of active travel, and on the 2025 Climate Action Scorecard.

Councillor Champion echoed the praise for the Climate Action Team and emphasised that the council's position on the Climate Action Scorecard was due to it being a council-wide priority.

Councillor Ministers noted that the Ombudsman report indicated that Islington had 50% more upheld decisions compared to other boroughs, and asked what the council was doing to align with other boroughs. Councillor Williamson responded that her focus was on Islington and doing its best, and that the council should always aim to do better. She also directed Councillor Ministers to the annual complaints report going to the Corporate Resources, Economy and Scrutiny Committee for more detail.

The Executive agreed recommendations 1.1 and 1.2.

Child-Friendly Islington

Executive Response to the Children's Services Scrutiny Committee Review of the Children's Workforce

The Executive agreed recommendations 1.1 to 1.3 in response to the Children's Services Scrutiny Committee Review of the Children's Workforce. Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Families, thanked the children's services team for their work. She noted that the report provided an opportunity to challenge themselves and improve the workforce, empower the next generation, and support them in becoming social care workers or teachers.

A councillor asked about the recommendation to bring back awards for the education workforce, which was not directly addressed in the report. Councillor Safi-Ngongo responded that they would look at it, but the council already had Care Awards and other ways of thanking staff.

Empowering People

Digital and Data Strategy

The Executive agreed recommendations 1.1 to 1.4 to adopt the council's first Digital and Data Strategy. Councillor Flora Williamson introduced the strategy, stating that it was a collective vision to create a digitally inclusive Islington where every resident, business, and community partner can get the most out of life, home, and work. The strategy has three missions: simplifying access to council services, empowering teams and partners, and harnessing data and collaboration.

A councillor raised concerns about the use of AI, particularly co-pilot, and asked about training and support for staff on its appropriate use and potential pitfalls. An officer responded that the council's acceptable use policy was being updated to reflect acceptable use of AI, and that an ethics board was being set up. They also noted the importance of considering the sustainability of AI and its impact on the digital carbon footprint. The councillor also suggested that councillors' use of co-pilot and AI should be considered, as they are also data handlers. Councillor Una O'Halloran, Leader of the Council, agreed to take that point to Jackie for member development.

A Safe Place to Call Home

The North London Housing Partnership & External Grant Awards

The Executive agreed recommendations 1.1 to 1.4 to continue to host the North London Housing Partnership (NLHP) and perform its financial administration. Councillor John Woolf, Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, noted that the partnership had secured over £55 million in the last eight years and was one of the most successful sub-regional partnerships within London.

Procurement Strategy for Garrett Street Affordable Workspace

The Executive agreed recommendations 1.1 and 1.2, approving the procurement strategy for an operator to lease and manage an upcoming affordable workspace at Garrett Street, which will provide affordable workspace at up to 80% below market rate rents. Councillor Woolf thanked the planning team for helping to secure an amazing space beyond what was required in the plan.

Commercial Property Strategy Review

The Executive agreed recommendations 1.1 to 1.6, approving the Commercial Property Strategy Review. Councillor Woolf stated that the report demonstrated the council's commitment to reducing risk and maximising assets, and outlined plans to convert vacant floors of 7 Newington Barrow Way into affordable temporary accommodation, creating 104 bed spaces of 32 units.

Grant of a 250-year Lease to Support Housing Delivery

The Executive agreed recommendations 1.1 to 1.3, approving the grant of a 250-year lease to Shelter from the Storm to support housing delivery. Councillor Woolf stated that it demonstrated the council's commitment to innovation through ground lease and a partnership approach, and to tackling homelessness and maximising genuinely affordable homes in Islington.

Use of Land at Maygood Street, N1

The Executive agreed recommendations 1.1 to 1.8, approving recommendations relating to the use of land at Maygood Street, signalling the start of a long process to build genuinely affordable homes, which requires applying for consent and undergoing consultation.

Greener, Healthier Islington

Response to the Report of the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee: Access to Health and Care Services in Islington

The Executive agreed recommendations 1.1 to 1.3, approving the response to the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee report on access to health and care services in Islington. Councillor Dr Sara Hyde, Executive Member for Health and Social Care, thanked Councillor Chowdhury and the committee members for their work. She noted that the recommendations dealt with GP surgeries and council services, and highlighted that adult social care had been awarded 73 out of 100 by the CQC.

Other Business

Councillor Una O'Halloran announced that, in line with the council's constitution, all executive meetings would start at 5pm from the next meeting on 17 July.