Islington Council has been given a strong vote of confidence by a national peer review, which praised its leadership, financial grip and shared sense of purpose.
The assessment, carried out by the Local Government Association (LGA), followed a return visit in December by a team of eight senior councillors and officers from other authorities. Their task: to check how far the council had progressed against ten recommendations made during an earlier review in February 2025.
Over several days, the peer team examined how Islington is performing day to day, how it is managing its finances, and how well it is preparing for future pressures. They spoke to more than 70 councillors, staff and external partners, gathering a broad picture of how the organisation is working.
The verdict was positive. The review found good progress across all areas, highlighting strong partnerships – particularly with the voluntary and community sector and the Anchor Institutions Network – alongside clear evidence of collective decision-making. The council was also commended for taking difficult but necessary financial decisions.
Cllr Una O’Halloran, Leader of Islington Council, welcomed the findings. She said: “This fantastic feedback reflects the progress we’ve made, and we remain committed to delivering excellent services for our residents.
“We will continue to work together on the recommendations while planning effectively for the future.
“Thank you to everyone from the LGA, staff, members and all our partners who took the time to be part of this peer review.
“Here at Islington, we’re clear that our overriding mission is to create a more equal future for all, and the LGA’s feedback is further evidence that we’re making it happen.”
The full progress report is due to be published in early February. The original review and recommendations are available on the council’s website.
