100 signatures reached
To: Royal Borough of Greenwich
Protect democracy in the Royal Borough of Greenwich - Oppose the proposed constitutional updates
Remove these proposals from the agenda for the full council meeting on Wednesday the 18th of March 2026.
They should be discussed and debated by the new administration after the election on Thursday the 7th of May 2026.
Why is this important?
On Tuesday the 10th of March 2026, Greenwich Council announced a set of proposed constitutional changes as part of the agenda for our next full council meeting on Wednesday the 18th of March 2026.
This meeting is the final full council meeting before borough residents vote on Thursday the 7th May 2026 to elect all 55 councillors for a four year term.
The proposals will have a lasting affect on democracy in our borough, and they must not be waved through by a Labour dominated council before a new administration is about to be elected. Such changes should be reviewed and debated by the new administration after the 7th of May.
The proposals include:
This meeting is the final full council meeting before borough residents vote on Thursday the 7th May 2026 to elect all 55 councillors for a four year term.
The proposals will have a lasting affect on democracy in our borough, and they must not be waved through by a Labour dominated council before a new administration is about to be elected. Such changes should be reviewed and debated by the new administration after the 7th of May.
The proposals include:
- YOUR elected councillors may ONLY ask a maximum of 2 questions at any Council meeting, each question MUST NOT exceed 100 words, and consist of no more than ONE PART:
There is currently NO limit to the number or to the length of the question - Members of the public may ask a maximum of 2 questions which MUST NOT exceed 100 words and consist of no more than ONE PART:
"At present, residents can submit questions five working days in advance, meaning they can react to that meeting’s agenda, which is typically published the evening before the deadline. The session lasts half an hour.
But now residents will be restricted to 100-word questions – restricting their ability to quote councillors or their policies in questions – and will have to file them seven working days in advance." - The Greenwich Wire - Applications to speak at council by members of the public (known as deputations) will be decided by the UNELECTED Chief Executive
This is currently decided by the ELECTED Mayor - Evidence will now be required for any call in regarding a cabinet decision
What LEVEL of evidence is required, this is UNCLEAR in the proposals
These proposals will reduce OUR ability to question the council on the decisions they make for us as OUR elected representatives.
And they will reduce YOUR ELECTED representatives ability to question the council on the decisions they make as OUR elected representatives.
Whatever your political leanings, or the policies being discussed, questioned or rejected, we should also be able to agree that SCRUTINY of policy is essential to a functioning and thriving democracy.
A council - elected by YOU - should be increasing transparency, engagement and accountability, NOT reducing it.
Support our petition now, we will present to the council on Wednesday the 18th of May...
If we can... the deadline for petition submissions was 12pm on Wednesday the 11th of March 2026, and the proposals were announced at the end of the day on Tuesday the 10th of March 2026. The likely reason is to REDUCE our ability to ENGAGE with the council - JUST like these proposals.
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And they will reduce YOUR ELECTED representatives ability to question the council on the decisions they make as OUR elected representatives.
Whatever your political leanings, or the policies being discussed, questioned or rejected, we should also be able to agree that SCRUTINY of policy is essential to a functioning and thriving democracy.
A council - elected by YOU - should be increasing transparency, engagement and accountability, NOT reducing it.
Support our petition now, we will present to the council on Wednesday the 18th of May...
If we can... the deadline for petition submissions was 12pm on Wednesday the 11th of March 2026, and the proposals were announced at the end of the day on Tuesday the 10th of March 2026. The likely reason is to REDUCE our ability to ENGAGE with the council - JUST like these proposals.
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- SIGN the CLEAR Greenwich petition which will also be submitted to council - I can't share the link as its against 38degree policy
- READ The Greenwich Wire article on this: www.greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/03/11/shameless-greenwich-council-plans-clampdown-on-public-scrutiny
- READ the full proposals here in motions 15 and 17: https://committees.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=149&MId=2645
- REGISTER TO VOTE NOW: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
How it will be delivered
The petition will be presented for formal submission at the full council meeting on Wednesday the 18th March 2026.
