Councillor Anthony Okereke, Council-Leader, said: “The Council is facing the challenge of achieving the right balance between ensuring robust participation by both Councillors and the public with the need to conduct essential business during its Full Council meetings. Over the last few months there has been a significant increase in the number and complexity of questions. At January’s meeting there were 98 (more than treble since July 2024). This makes it incredibly hard for Full Council meetings to function properly and consider and debate important matters for residents.
"Following a review that has benchmarked against other London local authorities, we are proposing amendments to the constitution that maintain the participation of the public in meetings and better enables the efficient conduct of Council business.
"These proposals put us in line with neighbouring boroughs and are subject to Full Council approval on 18 March 2026. The public can continue to contact councillors and ask questions at any time. Councillors also have opportunities outside of Full Council to scrutinize decisions and hold Cabinet members to account."
Summary of proposed changes:
- Updating the definitions of the Majority and Minority Groups
- Where responsibility rests for allowing requests from members of the public to speak at Full Council
- Notice periods for public and councillor questions
- Requirements for initiating the mechanism for challenging decisions known as call-in