Islington Council has confirmed its executive and committee appointments for the upcoming municipal year, following its Annual Council meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. The council, comprised of 32 Labour Group councillors and 19 Green Group councillors, has re-elected Councillor Una O'Halloran as Leader of the Council for a four-year term.

Councillor Ruth Hayes will serve as Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Health and Social Care. The Executive Members and their portfolios for the upcoming municipal year are:

  • Councillor Una O'Halloran: Leader of the Council, with responsibilities including Overall Leadership, Resilience and Civil emergencies business continuity, Communications, Strategic partnerships and relationships, Campaigns and public affairs, Strategic direction of the corporate plan, Law and governance, and Tackling Poverty and Inequality. This includes a focus on a great new initiative called the Poverty Truth Commission to tak[e] our anti-poverty work one step further.
  • Councillor Ruth Hayes: Deputy Leader of the Council & Health and Social Care, with responsibilities including Public Health, Age Friendly, Health integration, Health and Wellbeing, Older People, Adults with Disabilities, Carers, Adult Social Services, Adult Early Intervention, Parks Open Spaces Cemeteries, Sports and Leisure, Tackling Social Isolation and Loneliness, and the Poverty Truth Commission.
  • Councillor Sheila Chapman: Children, Young People & Families, with responsibilities including Children Social Care Statutory, Children Centres learning and Schools, Play, Youth Provision Youth Safety, Family support Family Hubs, Early Years Childcare, Children Centres, and Youth Offending services.
  • Councillor Jason Jackson: Homes and Neighbourhoods, with responsibilities including Housing Strategy, Housing Repairs and Maintenance, New Council Homes, New Affordable Homes, Tenant and Resident engagement and representation, Leaseholder Meetings/service charges, Tenant Management Organisations, Homelessness and Prevention, Private Sector Housing, NRPF Services, Support to Migrants and Refugees, Borough of Sanctuary, and Residential planning.
  • Councillor Paul Convery: Finance, with responsibilities including Budget, Council Tax, Finance and Governance, Workforce council transformation, Health and Safety, Electoral Services, Finance, Property, Revenues and Pensions, Procurement Contract Management and Risk Management, and Contact Islington and Complaints, Digital AI. Councillor Convery will also chair the Pensions Committee.
  • Councillor James Potts: Inclusive Economy and Planning, with responsibilities including Strategic Planning and Development, Commercial development, Progressive Procurement, Inclusive Economy and Growth, Benefits, Imax, and Housing Benefits, Small business Support and Relationships, Employment and Employment Services, Green Jobs, Libraries, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Apprenticeships, Arts, Culture and heritage, and Nighttime economy.
  • Councillor Rowena Champion: Climate, Environment and Transport, with responsibilities including Refuse Waste Reduction and Recycling, Energy and Climate action, Flooding, Climate Adaptation, Traffic Parking Transport, Major Transport Infrastructure Road Safety and Transportation, Street Scene Roads and Highways, Sustainability Biodiversity Trees, Liveable Neighbourhoods, and Improving Air Quality.
  • Councillor Heather Staff: Community Safety and Neighbourhoods, with responsibilities including Reducing Crime and ASB, Prevent and Protect, Community Safety and Policing, VAWG, Tackling Domestic Violence and Abuse supporting Survivors, Champion for Victims (of crime), Licensing, Nighttime Sector, Public Protection, Hate Crime, Neighbourhood Safety Ward Partnerships, Enforcement, and Environmental Health.
  • Councillor Saiqa Pandor: Communities and Partnerships, with responsibilities including Community Development and Resilience, Voluntary and Community Sector, Member development, and Local Initiative Funding (LIF) and Ward Partnerships.

Key committee chairs were also appointed. Councillor Martin Klute will chair the Planning Committee, and Councillor Troy Gallagher will chair the Audit and Risk Committee. Councillor Gallagher has also been appointed to the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority for a four-year term.

Beyond these appointments, the Annual Council meeting saw several key decisions. The council approved the Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2026/27, including proposed net budgets by directorate and savings, and noted the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Capital Investment and Treasury and Investment Management plans were also approved, encompassing the capital programme, its funding, and related strategies and policies. A significant decision was the agreement on a 4.99% increase in council tax for 2026/27, alongside the agreement on Retained National Non-Domestic Rates. The council also approved the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme and the Pubs and Live Music Venues Relief Scheme for NNDR payers, and agreed on the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27.

Changes to the council's constitution were approved, including amendments to the Terms of Reference for the Licensing Committee, Licensing Sub-Committees, and Licensing Regulatory Committee, and a revision to the size of the Standards Committee. The allocation of motions at Council meetings for 2026-27 was also agreed upon.

Councillor Una O'Halloran's re-election as Leader of the Council was described as a decisive victory. While the appointment of the Mayor, Councillor Rosaline Ogunro, involved a very contested vote during the nomination process, the subsequent vote was unanimous. The appointment of the Executive and committees was based on negotiated political balance and proportionality arrangements between the Labour and Green groups.

Appointments to outside organisations have varying term lengths, including one-year, two-year, three-year, and four-year terms. The appointments to the Executive are with effect from May 27, 2026.

Further details on the meeting proceedings and reports can be found in the Reissued Agenda, Agenda Frontsheet, and Public Reports Pack for the Annual Council meeting.