An extraordinary Full Council meeting was scheduled to consider motions regarding the Representation of the People Bill 2026 and proposed constitutional changes to planning committees. The meeting was also scheduled to hear from the Haringey Youth Council.

Supporting the Representation of the People Bill 2026

The council was scheduled to consider a motion, proposed by Councillor Georgia Twigg and seconded by Councillor Beverley Berrick and Councillor Fiona Orford-Williams, to support the Representation of the People Bill 2026. This bill was scheduled to extend the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds for UK Parliamentary, local, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections. The motion noted that young people represent a significant proportion of Haringey's population and have a substantial stake in the borough's future. It also highlighted evidence suggesting that earlier participation in voting can foster lifelong democratic engagement. The council was scheduled to resolve to welcome the government's commitment to this legislation, support democratic education for young people, and continue to support the Haringey Youth Council as the voice of young people in the borough. The motion also included a commitment for a cross-party group of elected councillors to visit secondary schools and sixth forms annually to promote engagement in democracy. Officers were scheduled to monitor the progress of the legislation and advise members on its implications for the council.

Reform of Planning Committees

The council was scheduled to receive a report from the Standards Committee concerning proposed constitutional changes to planning committees. These changes were scheduled to implement national delegations in new regulations, The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026, which were due to take effect on 31 October 2026. The report outlined that the government's aim was to modernise planning committees to focus on applications with significant local impact, while delegating more routine decisions to officers.

The proposed changes were scheduled to introduce a National Scheme of Delegation (NSD), where the presumption would be that decisions are delegated to officers, with cases referred to committee only by exception. The regulations specified certain types of applications that must always be delegated to planning officers (Schedule 1), and others that may be referred to a planning committee under specific circumstances (Schedule 2). A key element was the Gateway Test, where the Chair of the Planning Sub-Committee and the Head of Development Management and Planning Enforcement would discuss Schedule 2 applications to determine if they should be referred to committee. This decision would be based on whether the application raises one or more economic, social or environmental issues of significance to the local area or one or more significant planning matters having regard to the development plan and any other material considerations.

The report also detailed how the council's current practices aligned with or would need to be amended to comply with the new regulations. It noted that the council's existing Planning Sub-Committee has 11 members, which aligns with the new regulations' maximum of 13 members. The report recommended that Full Council approve the proposed changes to the Constitution to implement these national delegations.

Welcome and Introduction

The meeting was scheduled to begin with a welcome from the Mayor of Haringey Council, Councillor Dawn Barnes, followed by an introduction from the Leader of the Council. These introductions were scheduled to precede the speeches and presentations from young people representing the Haringey Youth Council.

Deputations and Petitions

The council was scheduled to consider any requests to receive deputations and/or petitions, with the understanding that these would only be received if their purpose was related to an item of business on the meeting's agenda.