Islington Council has approved updates to its constitution, including changes to council meeting times, following a review by the Constitution Working Group and in line with recommendations made during a peer review in February 2025. The council was asked to approve the changes to the constitution following the review. The Review and Update of the Constitution document provides further details on the changes.

The changes, approved at the council meeting on 4 December 2025, aim to improve the efficiency and accessibility of council proceedings. Councillor Convery stated that the constitution has not been significantly revised for a very long time and that the changes were to bring it into statutory compliance to be in line with the law.

Key updates include shifting the start time of council meetings to 7pm and setting a finish time of 10pm. The council also approved a resolution to extend the absence of Councillor Roulin Khondoker, who has been unable to attend meetings due to ill health, until the end of the municipal year.

Other approved changes to the constitution include:

  • Clarifying that only housing land disposals require full council approval to apply to the Secretary of State for consent.
  • Improving call-in procedures, including allowing call-in if a decision is contrary to the budget and policy framework, or if the decision maker failed to consider material information or alternative options.
  • Adding a definition of 'members of the public' to include those resident, employed, running a business, studying, or able to stand as a candidate in Islington.
  • Stating that motions must be submitted by political groups, not individual members.
  • Stating that motions must be about matters for which the council has a responsibility and must relate to what is happening in Islington.
  • Stating that replies to questions cannot exceed 2 minutes.
  • Stating that no person attending a meeting of Council shall display any flag, banner, placard, sign or any other prop without seeking permission of the Mayor in writing no later than 2 working days before the meeting.
  • Stating that Licensing and Planning committees/sub-committees may continue beyond 10.30pm.
  • Changing the name of the Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee to Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
  • Re-framing the terms of reference of the Audit and Risk Committee and removing the non-audit functions. The re-constituted Employment and Appointments Committee will carry out the non-audit functions which the Audit and Risk Committee is currently responsible for.
  • Re-constituting the Employment and Appointments Committee to be the Appointments and General Purposes Committee.

Councillor Craig noted that the changes were discussed and agreed upon by a cross-party working group. Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner stated that she would abstain from the vote because she felt that the changes did not do enough to engage the public in meetings.

The council also noted that the changes to the constitution would be supported by an organisational training and development programme.