Islington's Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee is set to rigorously examine the borough's progress towards its net zero carbon targets and contribute to the 'greener, healthier' mission of the Islington Together 2030 Plan. This commitment was solidified during the committee's meeting on 1 July 2025, where a draft work plan for 2025-26 was agreed, outlining key dates for scrutinising climate action.
The draft work plan, detailed in the ECT Workplan 2025-26 Draft, includes bi-yearly reports on Net Zero Carbon and Climate Action, scheduled for discussion on 11 September 2025 and 13 April 2026. A special Climate Emergency Public Meeting is also planned for 10 March 2026, highlighting the council's dedication to addressing this critical issue.
The committee's terms of reference, as outlined in Appendix 1: Terms of Reference, explicitly include Net Zero Carbon, response to the climate emergency, sustainable energy
among its core responsibilities. This underscores the importance of climate-related issues in the committee's oversight.
Chaired by Councillor Ruth Hayes, the committee also includes Councillor James Potts (Reading Champion), Councillor Tricia Clarke, Councillor Troy Gallagher (Small Business, Co-ops & Social Enterprise Champion), Councillor Satnam Gill OBE, Councillor Clare Jeapes (Recycling Champion), Councillor Phil Graham, and Councillor Caroline Russell (Business Manager, Independent and Green Group). Their collective expertise will be crucial in evaluating the council's climate initiatives and ensuring accountability.
The Agenda for the Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee indicates that the committee will also review the final report of the 2024-5 Scrutiny Review: Cleaner, Greener, more accessible Streets, and select a new scrutiny topic for 2025-26. The Draft Workplan 2025-26 also lists potential future reports, including updates on recycling rates and the Citizens Climate Panel progress.
The 2024-5 Scrutiny Review: Cleaner, Greener, more accessible Streets covered a range of topics, including fines for littering, monitoring dockless bike usage, and ensuring utility companies properly restore pavements after work. Regarding cleaner streets, the discussion involved the possibility of removing fines for littering, especially for those from outside the borough and persistent offenders; however, the original wording was ultimately retained. On the topic of accessible streets, the discussion focused on monitoring dockless bike usage and ensuring the effectiveness of new infrastructure, including a memorandum of understanding between the council and dockless bike companies outlining user rules and safety measures.
The committee's commitment to scrutinising net zero progress reflects Islington Council's broader Islington Together 2030 Plan
, which prioritises a 'greener, healthier' borough. By holding regular discussions and reviewing key performance indicators, the committee aims to drive meaningful action and ensure the council remains on track to meet its ambitious climate goals.