Agenda and minutes

The Mayor welcomed all those present and thanked everyone for their attendance, explaining that he had called the Extraordinary Council meeting under Standing Order 29, as a result of a change in the political balance on the Council, prompting the need for a review of the current representation of political groups on Council Committees.

The Mayor reported that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Ahmadi Moghaddam, Begum, Chan, Clinton, Collymore, Conneely, Donnelly-Jackson, Fraser, Hirani, Hylton, Matin, Nerva, Rajan Seelan, Krupa Sheth, Tazi Smith and Tatler.

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

In accordance with Standing Order 29, Members are asked to note that the Mayor has called an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council in order to consider a report from the Corporate Director Finance & Resources reviewing (under  Section 15 of the Local Government & Housing Act 1989) the representation of different political groups and allocation of seats on Council Committees and other relevant bodies following a change in the political balance on the Council.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) to introduce a report from the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources which fulfilled the Council’s duty to review and determine the representation of different political groups on the Council’s ordinary Committees following a change in balance between the political groups on the Council.  Members were advised that the change in political balance on the Council had involved five members resigning as members of the Labour Group to join the Green Party, leading to their formation as a new political group of Green councillors.

In presenting the report, members noted the impact outlined in terms of the existing allocation of seats on those ordinary committees of the Council to which the political balance rules applied, based on the revised overall composition of political groups.

The Mayor then opened the debate inviting other members to speak on the report, with the following contribution made.

In commenting on the nature of the meeting, Councillor Lorber highlighted his concern at the need to have convened an Extraordinary meeting for the purpose of confirming the outcome of the political balance review given the time and resource involved.  Given the concerns outlined, he felt these supported the need for a change in regulations enabling either a simpler process to be followed in seeking to approve the changes based on a process of consultation between the Groups or the meeting to be held online and hoped members would support the need for continued lobbying on such an approach.

As no other members indicated that they wished to speak on the item and the Leader of the Council advised he did not wish to exercise any right of reply, the Mayor moved straight on to put the recommendations to the vote and they were declared CARRIED.

It was therefore RESOLVED:

(1)       To agree the size of each committee, which it was noted had remained unchanged from the previous review undertaken at the Council meeting in November 2025.

(2)       To confirm (where the rules of political balance apply) the allocation of seats on committees to each of the Council’s political groups as set out in the report.

(3)       To make appointments, where identified as required, to those committees giving effect to the wishes of the political group allocated the seats.

(4)       To note that the political balance on sub-committees to which the same rules apply would need to be reviewed at the first available meeting of the General Purposes Committee and the Licensing Committee.

(5)       To note (given their size) the designation of the newly established group of Green councillors as the second Opposition Group on the Council for the purpose of the Members Allowance Scheme.

Subject to Agenda Item 3 above, Council is asked to agree the resulting appointments to Committees and other relevant bodies needing to be made as an outcome of the review of political representation on Committees and change in political balance on the Council.

(Agenda republished to include the attached list of appointments on 13 January 2026)

Following on, the Mayor then referred members to the list of changes circulated in relation to appointments to Council Committees and other bodies arising from the review of political representation on the Council’s Committees.

Having considered the changes outlined it was unanimously RESOLVED:

(1)       To note that effective from 13 January 2026 the Leader of the Council had:

(a)       appointed Councillor Ishma Moeen to the revised portfolio of Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion (replacing Councillor Farah in his former role as Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Skills and Jobs).

(b)       replaced Councillor Farah with Councillor Rubin as a full member of the Barham Park Trust Cabinet Sub Committee.

(2)       To approve the following changes in committee membership:

(a)       Audit & Standards Committee & Advisory Committee

As a result of the outcome of the political proportionality review:

·            the seat occupied by Councillor Kabir be released by the Labour Group as the position to be reallocated for the Green Group to fill.

·            Councillor Gbajumo be appointed to fill the reallocated seat on behalf of the Green Group.

·            Labour Group seat occupied by Councillor Chohan as a substitute member be released with Councillors Ethapemi and Farah appointed to fill the two new substitute positions allocated to the Green Group.

(b)                        Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

As a result of the outcome of the political proportionality review:

·            the seat occupied by Councillor Ethapemi (in his capacity as a former Labour member) be released by the Labour Group as the position to be reallocated for the Green Group to fill.

·            Councillor Ethapemi be reappointed to fill the reallocated seat on behalf of the Green Group.

·            Councillors Gbajumo & Mitchell be appointed to fill the two new substitute positions allocated to the Green Group.

(c)        Corporate Parenting Committee

Councillor Kennelly to replace Councillor Gbajumo (in her capacity as a former Labour member) as a full member on the Committee.

(d)       Council Tax Setting Committee

·            Councillor Krupa Sheth replace Councillor Farah (in his capacity as a former Labour member) as a substitute member of the Committee.

(e)       General Purposes Committee

As a result of the outcome of the political proportionality review:

·            the seat currently occupied by Councillor Nerva be released by the Labour Group as the position to be reallocated for the Green Group to fill.

·            Councillor Farah be appointed to fill the reallocated seat on behalf of the Green Group.

·            The Labour Group seat occupied by Councillor Farah (in his capacity as a former Labour member) as a substitute member to be released, with Councillors Gbajumo and Mitchell appointed to fill the two new substitute member positions allocated to the Green Group.

(g)       Health & Wellbeing Board

Labour Group vacancy to replace Councillor Farah (in his capacity as a former Labour member) as a substitute member on the Board.

(h)       Licensing Committee

As a result of the outcome of the political proportionality review:

·            the Labour Group seat currently occupied by Councillor Bajwa to be released as the position to be reallocated for the Green Group to fill.

·            Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.