The Islington Council Executive met to discuss an action plan responding to the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge, a procurement strategy for supported housing, and measures to protect commercial properties. They approved the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan, the procurement strategy for 1 Stacey Street, and the confirmation of Article 4 Directions. The Executive also noted the report from the Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee on progressive procurement.

LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan

The Executive approved the publication of the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan. The action plan is a response to the feedback report from the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge that took place in February 2025. The peer team will return to Islington in December 2025 to assess progress against the recommendations and action plan.

The Corporate Peer Challenge is a process where a team of councillors and officers from other local authorities review a council's performance, governance, leadership and strategic direction. Councillor Una O'Halloran, Leader of the Council, thanked the peer team and everyone involved, saying she thought it was a:

really fair balance, you know, the state of our banner and Council.

Procurement Strategy for 1 Stacey Street

The Executive approved the procurement strategy for commissioning services for 1 Stacey Street, a supported accommodation project for people experiencing homelessness. Councillor John Woolf, Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, introduced the report, noting that Islington has seen a 20% reduction in rough sleeping, while London has seen a 38% increase.

The council will procure a support supplier to manage the 30-bed unit, with the contract dependent on securing approximately £6,000,000 in external grant funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA). The contract will be for an initial two years, with two possible extensions of two years each, making a maximum of six years.

Councillor Woolf noted that there had been conflict with neighbours, but that the report was sensible and thoughtful. He said that there would be operational meetings across teams to make sure that the actions in the report are implemented and done well.

A councillor asked why the shelter isn't open to people with no recourse to public funds (NRPF). An officer explained that the service is commissioned on behalf of the GLA, according to grant conditions, and cannot be used for the council's NRPF cohort. They added that the council has a very good support offer in place for NRPF individuals and households.

Another councillor added that there was a lot of work done with residents, and that Ian Swift, an Islington Council officer, kept going to bring people together.

Confirmation of Article 4 Directions

The Executive agreed to confirm the second tranche of Article 4 Directions, which withdraw permitted development rights for change of use from Class E to dwelling houses. Councillor Bradsell introduced the report, explaining that this prevents developers from turning commercial property into housing without planning permission, specifically commercial properties that are not on high streets.

Councillor Bradsell said that while the council has a strong commitment to building more houses, it can't be at the cost of high streets, and that many businesses are local businesses. He thanked the planning officers and ward councillors who worked on the project.

A councillor commended the work, noting that the officers extended the hybrid high street up to North Home Road based on their suggestions. They also raised concerns about Hackney Council, which seems a little bit behind on this, and yet their inaction is impacting residents in Islington. They asked if Islington could contact Hackney Council and provide support. Councillor Bradsell agreed, saying that he would organise a meeting with Karen and their opposite counterparts to support them.

Progressive Procurement

Councillor Wayne introduced the report of the Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee on supporting Islington's community through progressive procurement. He explained that the new Procurement Act introduced fundamental changes in the way that public bodies procure, and that the scrutiny explored how the council could build on its present work and become real leaders in social value.

Councillor Bradfordville commented that the three things that stuck with him from the report were: having a bank of asks when it comes to progressive procurement; the focus on insourcing; and drilling down what progressive procurement actually means. He added that some teams understood it inherently, and other teams find it very difficult to understand what it was and how it could be applied to their portfolio.

Councillor Una O'Halloran, Leader of the Council, said that she was very impressed about the sessions that Councillor Wayne held virtually with other local authorities.