The Islington Council meeting of 4 December 2025 included discussion of the council tax support scheme, a review of the constitution, and a new gambling policy. Councillors were also scheduled to discuss support for children, local government funding, and renter's rights. In addition to these items, the council was expected to discuss questions raised by members of the public and the youth council.

Council Tax Support Scheme 2026/27

The council was asked to consider the Council Tax Support Scheme (CTSS) for 2026/27¹ and proposals to retain council tax discounts and premium schedules for empty properties. The proposals included:

• Maintaining a 0% discount for council tax exemption classes A and C, which apply to unoccupied and unfurnished properties.
• Maintaining a 0% council tax discount for empty furnished lets.
• Charging a premium of 100% on the council tax for properties empty and unfurnished for over a year, 200% for over five years, and 300% for over 10 years.
• Charging a 100% premium on second homes.
• Increasing working age bands earnings levels by the consumer price index (CPI) to keep pace with inflation, at an annual cost of £72,000.

The council was also asked to note a review of the CTSS, including discretionary discounts, due to report in autumn 2025, and the continued support to households with more than two children receiving council tax support.

According to the report, there are currently 24,823 households receiving Council Tax Support.

An Equalities Impact Assessment, included as an appendix to the report, found that the proposals would have a neutral impact on people with protected characteristics.

Gambling Act 2005: Statement of Principles 2026-2028

The council was asked to consider and approve the Statement of Principles 2026-2028, which explains how the council intends to carry out its duties under the Gambling Act 2005 as the Licensing Authority. The council was also asked to resolve not to issue any casino licences between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2028.

The Statement of Principles sets out how the council will make licensing decisions and how licensed premises are likely to be able to operate within the borough. It also sets out how the council intends to support responsible operators and take action against irresponsible ones.

The aims of the Statement of Licensing Principles are to:

• inform applicants how the council will make licensing decisions and how licensed premises are likely to be able to operate within its area
• set out how the Authority intends to support responsible operators and take effective actions against irresponsible operators
• support the Authority in making licensing decisions

The Statement of Principles identifies the protection of children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling as a priority for the council when making decisions on applications. It identifies several gambling vulnerability zones in the borough, designed to provide applicants with information about specific risks to be addressed in their operating plans.

The report notes the council first passed a 'no-casino' resolution in 2007 and has continued to do so every three years since.

The council received six written responses to its consultation on the Statement of Principles, including a report from a focus group of residents organised by Betknowmore UK, a charity providing specialist support on gambling harms in local communities.

Following the consultation, changes were made to the draft Statement of Principles, including:

• removing specific planning policies on gambling premises
• amending the council's approach to opening hours for adult gaming centres
• replacing model conditions with best practice guidance for gambling operators
• amending the wording on the approach to 'split premises' to reflect Gambling Commission Guidance

Review and Update of the Constitution

The council was asked to approve changes to its constitution, following a review by the Constitution Working Group and in line with recommendations made during a peer review in February 2025.

The changes include:

• Removing income from the key decision criteria, as control is managed through the spending of funds, and safeguards in the Financial Regulations regarding external funding apply.
• 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.
• Allowing members to seek advice before a call-in, but not from the Proper Officer.
• Shortening the time for scrutiny committee consideration of a call-in from 15 to 7 working days.
• Stating that the Mayor, Leader, Leader of the Opposition and/or the Head of Paid Service can speak for up to 3 minutes each during announcements.
• Changing Council meeting times to start at 7pm and finish at 10pm.
• 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 the Proper Officer will advise on questions if asked to do so, but will not edit questions.
• 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.
• Replacing the current Code of Conduct for Employees with an up to date and clearer version.
• Moving the rules on appointing political assistants to the Council Procedure Rules.
• Re-framing the terms of reference of the Audit and Risk Committee and removing the non-audit functions.
• Re-constituting the Employment and Appointments Committee to be the Appointments and General Purposes Committee.

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

Resolution to extend 6-month rule

The council was asked to consider a resolution to extend the six-month rule relating to Councillor Roulin Khondoker's attendance at meetings.

Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 states that if a member of a local authority fails to attend any meeting of the authority for six consecutive months, they shall cease to be a member of the authority, unless the failure was due to some reason approved by the authority before the expiry of that period.

Councillor Khondoker has been unable to attend meetings due to ill health, and the council was asked to approve their non-attendance at meetings until the end of the municipal year.

Quarterly Monitoring Report

The council was asked to note an urgent key decision relating to the community equipment service contract award.

Under paragraph 68, Part 4 of the Council's Constitution, the Proper Officer must submit quarterly returns to Council detailing all occasions on which either the call-in provisions were waived, or a key decision was taken which had not appeared in the Forward Plan or five clear working days' notice had not been given.

The Corporate Director Health and Social Care made a decision using the urgency procedures on the community equipment service contract award on 18 September 2025. The five clear working days' notice was not achieved, and the decision was not available for call-in, nor was it possible to publish the 28-day statutory notice of the Council's intention to take the decision.

The decision was considered urgent because the current provider, NRS Healthcare, entered insolvency, and a new contract was needed to ensure continuity of service for Islington residents.

The Corporate Director approved the award of a contract to Provide Care Solutions Limited for the provision of a community equipment service for a period of up to a maximum of 36 months, including an optional extension.

Annual Report of the Employment and Appointments Committee 2024/25

The council was asked to note the annual report of the Employment and Appointments Committee for 2024/25.

The committee is responsible for the recruitment and appointment of Corporate Directors and Service Directors. The committee recruited to six permanent senior officer posts over the past year:

• Corporate Director of Environment and Climate Change
• Corporate Director of Homes and Neighbourhoods
• Corporate Director of Health and Social Care
• Director of Family Help and Safeguarding
• Director of Planning and Development
• Director of Education and Achievement

Appointments Report

The council was asked to consider the following appointments:

• To appoint Selina Douglas, Chief Executive of Whittington Health, as a non-voting member of the Health and Wellbeing Board.
• To agree that a political assistant be assigned to the Labour Group and the Independent and Green Group.

Notices of Motion

The council was asked to consider the following motions:

• Championing Inclusion for every child
• A truly fair funding review for local government
• Supporting people dying in poverty
• Standing up for Renter's Rights

Questions from Members of the Public

Members of the public submitted the following questions:

• Alastair Harper asked Councillor Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality & Transport, what more could be done to make sure all of the community benefit from the council's leadership on tackling the climate emergency and recovering nature, given that only 13% of Islington is green space.
• Jessica Thistle asked Councillor Flora Williamson, Executive Member for Finance and Performance, if the pension committee has a plan for investments cited by independent organisations for unethical practices and activities.
• Maia Hamilton asked Councillor John Woolf, Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, to comment on the progress of expanding the landlord licensing scheme.
• Jonathan Ward asked Councillor Rowena Champion why the council is partnering with TotalEnergies to provide on-street electric vehicle charging.
• Tahreen Dewan asked Councillor Angelo Weekes, Executive Member for Community Safety, what powers the council has to enhance enforcement and sanction those who fail to clean up after their dogs, given that dog fouling is increasingly prevalent in Highbury and Mildmay wards.

Questions from Members of the Council

Councillors submitted the following questions:

• Councillor Diarmaid Ward asked Councillor Dr Sara Hyde, Executive Member for Health and Social Care, how many Islington families have used the Sobell Centre's new Active Play and Active Multi Zone since these facilities opened.
• Councillor Janet Burgess MBE asked Councillor Dr Sara Hyde for reassurance that safeguarding services have robust systems and safeguards in place to ensure that critical messages are never overlooked.
• Councillor Gary Heather asked Councillor Angelo Weekes what further action the council is taking to ensure visible enforcement, support local traders and tackle repeat offenders in the Nag's Head area.
• Councillor Benali Hamdache asked Councillor Rowena Champion how far behind Islington is in introducing a levy on SUV parking, like Cardiff Council.
• Councillor Ben Mackmurdie asked Councillor Angelo Weekes how the £200 million increase in funding to expand neighbourhood policing is expected to impact Islington.
• Councillor Heather Staff asked Councillor Angelo Weekes how the new gambling policy pushes the limit of what is legally possible, with the introduction of new safeguards and risk zone assessments, while still fulfilling the Council's duty to permit gambling premises where appropriate.
• Councillor Valerie Bossman-Quarshie asked Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Culture & Jobs, what further steps the council will take to embed co-operative values in service planning, strengthen engagement with local co-operatives, and explore opportunities for democratic ownership of community assets.
• Councillor Jilani Chowdhury asked Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford if Islington Council will continue to uphold its commitment to delivering 50% affordable housing on new developments, despite recent government announcements proposing to reduce the national target to 20%.
• Councillor Tricia Clarke asked Councillor Sheila Chapman, Executive Member for Equalities, Communities & Inclusion, for an update on how the project to provide more public toilets in Islington is progressing.
• Councillor Jilani Chowdhury asked Councillor Angelo Weekes how he is engaging with the Met to prevent future use of Live Facial Recognition in the borough.
• Councillor Phil Graham asked Councillor Sheila Chapman how Islington Council are going to protect residents when they are attacked by the new 'hostile environment ' being imposed by the current Labour government.
• Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong asked Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Families, how many penalty charge notices were given to parents last academic year for unauthorised absence.

Questions from Members of the Youth Council

Youth Councillors submitted the following questions:

• A Youth Councillor asked Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo what commitment can be expected from Council Leaders that Youth Voice will continue to go from strength to strength.
• A Youth Councillor asked Councillor Rowena Champion what the Council is doing to encourage all residents in the borough to recycle and if the Council is leading the way by its own recycling record.
• A Youth Councillor asked Councillor Angelo Weekes what the Council is doing to encourage boys and men to speak out against violence aimed at girls and women and to change harmful attitudes particularly from online influencers on social media.
• A Youth Councillor asked Councillor Sheila Chapman what Islington Council can do to promote British values and diversity and increase a sense of pride among Islington's young residents.