Parish records indicate that Tilney St Lawrence Parish Council was formed around the turn of the 19/20th century and although mostly concerned with the letting and management of allotments, had, by 1908, become well established.

On 11th April 1935, following a Government Boundary Review, the village of Tilney-cum-Islington came under the wing of Tilney St Lawrence Parish Council. There is an entry in the minutes of a meeting on that day that all books and accounts were officially handed over and the same day saw Islington residents become members of the joint parish council.

In 2003 wishing to give back to Islington its separate identity, the Parish Council requested that it be made a Ward in its own right. So with effect from the elections in May that year Tilney-cum-Islington had its own parish councillors again for the first time in 68 years.

Nowadays the council consists of fourteen members, including two from Islington, who are elected from the residents of Tilney St Lawrence, Tilney-cum-Islington and Tilney Fen End. Meetings are held monthly in the village hall and everyone is welcome to come along and monitor proceedings. Members of the public may only speak at a Parish Council meeting if invited to do by the Chairman. Recent new legislation has made it easier for parishioners to participate in council meetings but it is still wise to give prior notice to the Chairman or Parish Clerk so that time can be made on what is always a very busy Agenda.

The Parish Council has certain statutory powers among which are numbered the provision of bus shelters, footway lighting, litter bins, village signs and seats. It is customary for the Parish Council to have representatives on the management committees of organisations like village halls and playing fields, school governors and drainage boards.

Wheels may seem to turn slowly in anything getting done but there are rules and regulations that have to be followed.

Monthly meeting are held in the village hall on the first Monday of each month from 7.30 PM