Executive mayor elected by the people, elected legislative City council
47-556: Islington London Borough Council , also known as Islington Council , is the local authority for the London Borough of Islington in Greater London , England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London . The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010. The council meets at Islington Town Hall . There has been an elected Islington local authority since 1856 when
94-399: A car or van, 6.0%; train, 3.7%; work mainly at or from home, 3.6%. In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 65,721. This rose steadily throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; exceeding 200,000 in the middle of the century. When the railways arrived the rate of population growth increased—reaching nearly 400,000 by the turn of
141-577: A coalition which comes together to elect a leader. The council elects the leader, and the leader appoints the other members of the cabinet. Each cabinet member holds a separate portfolio, such as housing, finance, economic development, or education. Decisions may be delegated to the individual members, or taken by the cabinet as a whole. These decisions are scrutinised by one or more "overview and scrutiny" committees, which may be dedicated to one or more service areas. The leader and cabinet are responsible for policies, plans, and strategies, which must be within
188-459: A shadow authority alongside the area's outgoing authorities, being the councils of the two metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old boroughs and their councils were abolished. The council's full legal name is the "Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Islington". From 1965 until 1986 the council
235-404: A system of committees for decision making. There was no legislative requirement for any councillor to be declared the leader, with the principle being that all the elected councillors were equal in status. In practice, political groups had their own leaders, and when a council was under the control of a particular party, local media would commonly refer to the leader of the controlling party as being
282-438: Is a local education authority and is also responsible for council housing , social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010. The first election was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1965. Political control of
329-593: Is exercised through various committees rather than being focussed on one person. Many councils which use the committee system still nominate one of the councillors to hold the title 'Leader of the Council', albeit without the same powers as a leader under the leader and cabinet model. From the establishment of elected local authorities in England in the nineteenth century until the Local Government Act 2000 , councils used
376-547: Is represented by Jeremy Corbyn , elected in 2024 as an independent . He was formerly a member of the Labour Party , and was its leader and the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition between 2015 and 2020. Islington South and Finsbury is represented by Emily Thornberry , former Shadow First Secretary of State and Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and current Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade of
423-400: The 2001 census Islington had a population of 175,797. It was 75% White, including 5% White Irish, 6% Black African, 5% Black Caribbean and 2% Bangladeshi. Thirty-two per cent of the borough's residents were owner–occupiers. According to the 2011 census , Islington has the highest population density of local authorities in England and Wales—13,875 people per square kilometre. Islington has
470-502: The Freedom of the Borough of Islington. 51°32′N 0°08′W / 51.533°N 0.133°W / 51.533; -0.133 Leader of the council Council - Manager Executive leader elected by the council from among themselves Elected mayor and cabinet Executive mayor elected by the people Committee system Executive leader and executive committees elected by
517-464: The Labour Party . In the Victorian Age , some parts of Islington such as Clerkenwell were known for their poverty , which George Gissing describes in his naturalist novel, The Nether World (1889). Since this time, Islington has been a subject of gentrification and with the median house price rising rapidly since the 2020 pandemic . With new headquarters for Facebook and Google close to
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#1732897732672564-592: The London Borough of Camden . The central London area includes Farringdon and Old Street stations both in Zone 1. Areas in the borough include: The local authority is Islington Council, based at Islington Town Hall on Upper Street. Since 2000, for elections to the London Assembly , the borough forms part of the North East constituency. Islington is represented by two parliamentary constituencies. Islington North
611-652: The London Government Act 1963 . It was a merger of the old Islington and Finsbury metropolitan boroughs. The southern part of the borough, south of the A501 Pentonville Road and City Road, forms part of the central London congestion charging zone and the Ultra Low Emission Zone . A significant part of the southern section of the borough borders the City of London , with the area to the west bordering
658-564: The Musical Theatre Academy are both based in Islington. The borough currently maintains 47 primary schools, 10 secondary schools, three special schools and five Pupil Referral Units. In 2000, Cambridge Education Associates, a private firm, took over the management of the Islington's state schools from the local education authority . The Islington Gazette is a local newspaper. The following people and military units have received
705-583: The Premier League clubs in England, and its home Emirates Stadium . Islington was originally named by the Saxons Giseldone (1005), then Gislandune (1062). The name means 'Gīsla's hill' from the Old English personal name Gīsla and dun ' hill ', 'down'. The name then later mutated to Isledon , which remained in use well into the 17th century when the modern form arose. In medieval times, Islington
752-468: The second smallest borough in London and the third-smallest district in England . The borough contains two Westminster parliamentary constituencies ; Islington North , represented by former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn , and Islington South & Finsbury represented by Labour MP Emily Thornberry . The local authority is Islington Council . The borough is home to football club Arsenal , one of
799-638: The vestry of the ancient parish of Islington was incorporated under the Metropolis Management Act 1855 . The vestry served as one of the lower tier authorities within the area of the Metropolitan Board of Works , which was established to provide services across the metropolis of London. In 1889 the Metropolitan Board of Works' area was made the County of London . In 1900 the lower tier
846-434: The 'Leader of the Council'. It was also generally recognised that the most powerful political position on a council was the person who chaired the main policy-making committee, which in most councils was called the policy and resources committee. Usually, the leader of the largest party would chair that committee. Some councils explicitly acknowledged the existence of a leader of the council, others did not. The role of Leader of
893-624: The Borough: The Piccadilly line carries passengers to key London destinations, including the West End and Heathrow Airport . The Northern and Victoria lines also link the borough to the West End, whilst the Northern line (Bank branch) also passes through the City of London . Just beyond the borough's boundaries are King's Cross St Pancras (in the London Borough of Camden ) and Moorgate (in
940-802: The City). There are also several London Overground stations in the borough, all but one of which are in London fare zone 2: There are several other National Rail stations in Islington, which offer direct services to destinations across London, East Anglia and South East England : Farringdon and Finsbury Park are served by Thameslink services, with some trains travelling direct to Gatwick Airport , as well as destinations including Cambridge , Peterborough , Brighton and Sevenoaks . Other stations, including Finsbury Park, are served by Great Northern trains which normally operate between Moorgate and Welwyn Garden City or Stevenage via Hertford North . The Elizabeth line calls at Farringdon. Moorgate lies just to
987-490: The Council in that regard was similar to that of the British prime minister ; the post had not been explicitly created, but gradually emerged. The Local Government Act 2000 sought to strengthen public engagement with local democracy, and streamline the system of committees, introducing the models of directly elected mayors and cabinets, leaders and cabinets, as well as a third option for an elected mayor and council manager, which
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#17328977326721034-430: The Islington name was used for the whole borough. The area of the modern borough had historically been part of the county of Middlesex . From 1856 the area was governed by the Metropolitan Board of Works , which was established to provide services across the metropolis of London. In 1889 the Metropolitan Board of Works' area was made the County of London . From 1856 until 1900 the lower tier of local government within
1081-465: The Localism Act 2011, principal authorities (such as unitary authorities, county councils, and district councils) were allowed to return to decision-making by committees, the method of local government administration for all councils prior to 2000. Under this model power is exercised, alongside full council, by a number of committees, made up of councillors in proportion to their parties' representation on
1128-539: The borough's residents identified as Christian, 12.8% Muslim, 1.7% Jewish and 42.7% had no religion. Christians and Muslims live throughout the borough, while the Jewish population is most concentrated in the north of the borough in the Hillrise and Junction wards (bordering Highgate and Crouch End ). The following table shows the ethnic group of respondents in the 2001, 2011 and 2021 censuses in Islington. The following shows
1175-403: The budget adopted by the full council. These will be reported to the overall "full" council, which is convened to bring together all elected members of the authority at regular meetings. One or more overview and scrutiny committees holds the cabinet to account for its decisions and is responsible that the democratic checks and balances are maintained. The principal executive decisions taken by
1222-557: The century; with the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury particularly suffering deprivation, poverty and severe overcrowding. The increase in population peaked before World War I , falling slowly in the aftermath until World War II began an exodus from London towards the new towns under the Abercrombie Plan for London (1944). The decline in population reversed in the 1980s, but it remains below its 1951 level. According to
1269-671: The coming into effect of the Localism Act 2011 this can be dispensed with and its functions can be delegated to a monitoring officer. The elected mayor and cabinet model was introduced by the Local Government Act 2000. Councils currently operating the mayoral model include: The elected mayor and council manager option was also introduced by the Local Government Act 2000, but withdrawn by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 . The only local authority to adopt
1316-436: The council as a whole are to appoint the leader, to approve the leader's budget, to adopt development plan documents, and to agree on the council's constitution. Beyond that, it may raise issues, urge the leader, cabinet, or cabinet members to take actions, or pass a vote of no confidence in the leader. In addition, the compliance of councillors with their code of conduct may be overseen by a standards committee, although since
1363-399: The council from among themselves In England, local authorities are required to adopt one of three types of executive arrangements , having an "elected mayor and cabinet ", a "leader and cabinet", or a "committee system". The type of arrangement used determines how decisions will be made within the council. In councils which use the elected mayor system, the mayor is directly elected by
1410-418: The council has comprised 51 councillors representing 17 wards , with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held every four years. The council meets and has some of its offices at Islington Town Hall on Upper Street , which was built in phases between 1922 and 1925 for the old Islington Borough Council. The council's other main offices are in a separate building nearby at 222 Upper Street, which
1457-637: The council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions. The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation, and has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It sets council tax and as a billing authority also collects precepts for Greater London Authority functions and business rates. It sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly. It
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1504-472: The council since 1965 has been as follows: The role of Mayor of Islington is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council . The leaders since 1965 have been: Following the 2022 election and by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of the council is as follows: The next election is due in May 2026. Since the last boundary changes in 2022
1551-438: The council. Such councils may choose to nominate a councillor as Leader of the Council for the purposes of representing the political leadership of the council, particularly in relations with external bodies. If no leader is nominated, as was the case prior to 2000, the chair of the council's main policy committee may be informally deemed to be the council's de facto leader. Some councils operate governance arrangements which have
1598-524: The early 20th century was used to hold many suffragettes . The Borough boasts a large transport network for rail, bus, cycles and road users. There are ten London Underground stations in the borough across London fare zones 1, 2 and 3. These stations are principally served by the Northern , Piccadilly and Victoria lines, although the Circle , Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines also pass through
1645-427: The edge of the borough, along with Lawyer offices Slaughter & May on the edge of the borough, near the City of London , the borough has seen a steady house prices, with median incomes rising significantly. Inmarsat has its head office in the borough. There is one prison in Islington, a men's prison, HM Prison Pentonville . Until it closed in 2016 there was also a women's prison HM Prison Holloway , which in
1692-454: The electorate to provide political leadership for the council and has power to make executive decisions. In councils which use the leader and cabinet model (the most commonly used model), the elected councillors choose one of their number to be the Leader of the Council , and that person provides political leadership and can make executive decisions. Where the committee system is used, executive power
1739-418: The metropolis comprised various parish vestries and district boards . In 1900 the lower tier was reorganised into metropolitan boroughs , two of which were called Islington and Finsbury , the latter covering the combined area of the parishes of Clerkenwell , St Luke and St Sepulchre , and the extra-parochial areas of Charterhouse and Glasshouse Yard . The modern borough was created in 1965 under
1786-407: The model was Stoke-on-Trent City Council , reverting to leader and cabinet in 2008. Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2000 allowed district councils in two tier areas, with populations under 85,000, to propose alternative executive arrangements. This was superseded by the changes made by the Localism Act 2011 and the renewed availability of the committee system to all local authorities. Under
1833-474: The religious identity of residents residing in Islington according to the 2001, 2011 and the 2021 censuses. The London Borough of Islington is home to two higher education institutions: Moorfields Eye Hospital is a major centre for postgraduate training of ophthalmologists , orthoptists , optometrists , and nurses . The borough also currently contains three colleges of further education : There are two performing arts colleges. The Urdang Academy and
1880-544: The second highest proportion of Irish people in the country, behind London Borough of Brent . A 2017 study by Trust for London and the New Policy Institute found that a third of Islington residents lived in poverty. This is above the London average of 27%. It also found that 14% of local employees were in jobs which pay below the London Living Wage – the fourth lowest figure of any London borough. 39% of
1927-478: The south of the borough, in the City of London, whilst King's Cross lies to the borough's immediate west, with destinations including Sheffield , Leeds , Newcastle , Edinburgh and Inverness . In March 2011, the main forms of transport that residents used to travel to work were: underground, metro, light rail, tram, 19.4% of all residents aged 16–74; bus, minibus or coach, 10.3%; on foot, 10.3%; bicycle, 6.2%; driving
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1974-576: Was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the Greater London Council . The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, flood prevention , and refuse disposal ; with the boroughs (including Islington) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection . The Greater London Council
2021-659: Was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees. Islington became a local education authority in 1990 when the Inner London Education Authority was dissolved. Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the English local government system
2068-414: Was just one of many small manors in the area, along with Bernersbury , Neweton Berewe or Hey-bury , and Canonesbury (Barnsbury, Highbury and Canonbury – names first recorded in the 13th and 14th centuries). "Islington" came to be applied as the name for the parish covering these villages, which became the Metropolitan Borough of Islington in 1900. On the merger with Finsbury to form the modern borough,
2115-412: Was only adopted by one authority and was later withdrawn. Additionally, lower tier authorities with a population under 85,000 were allowed to continue to use a committee system. The leader and cabinet model was introduced under the Local Government Act 2000 . It consists of the leader and the cabinet itself, which is usually formed by the majority party in the local authority , where there is one, or by
2162-474: Was purpose-built for the council in 1983. London Borough of Islington The London Borough of Islington ( / ˈ ɪ z l ɪ ŋ t ə n / IZ -ling-tən ) is a London borough which forms part of Inner London , England. Islington has an estimated population of 215,667. It was formed in 1965, under the London Government Act 1963 , by the amalgamation of the metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury . The new entity remains
2209-419: Was reorganised into metropolitan boroughs , each with a borough council, two of which were called Islington (covering the parish of Islington) and Finsbury (covering a group of smaller parishes and territories south of Islington). The London Borough of Islington and its council were created under the London Government Act 1963 , with the first election held in 1964 . For its first year the council acted as
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