Agenda item

To receive a report from the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources seeking approval to the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs along with the membership and substitute membership on Council Committees and other relevant bodies, in accordance with Standing Order 27(i).

Members are asked to note that the full list of appointments have been attached.

Appointments that are not constitutionally made by Full Council (including notification of appointment(s) of the Deputy Leader and to Cabinet and any Cabinet Committee) will also be circulated prior to the meeting, for Members to note.

(Agenda republished on 13 May 2025 to include appendices 1-4 of the main report detailing the full list of appointments)

The Mayor then invited Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) to introduce the report from the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources.  In introducing the item, the Leader advised that the report set out the nominations for appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies and nomination for Chairs and Vice Chairs as well as co-opted members, where necessary, for the 2025 - 26 Municipal Year, with the nominations having been made (where required) in accordance with the political balance of the Council and requirements in relation to political proportionality.

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

In opening the debate Councillor Lorber highlighted his concern at the current arrangements relating to the allocation of Chairs on the Councils Scrutiny Committees.  In referring to the importance of scrutiny as a key element in a healthy functioning democracy he felt there was a need to ensure, in seeking to deliver a strong, credible and effective scrutiny function, that it remained as independent as possible from the Executive.  In order to safeguard the effectiveness, democratic accountability and independence of Brent’s scrutiny function and reflect what he regarded as good practice elsewhere, he advised the Liberal Democrats were seeking to move an amendment to the proposed allocation of seats outlined within report requiring that the Chairs of the existing Scrutiny Committees should be Opposition Group appointments.

In response to clarification sought by the Chief Executive on the precise nature of the proposed amendment, Councillor Lorber advised the Liberal Democrats were seeking to amend the relevant Standing Order (49ii) within Part 2 (Procedural Rules) of the Constitution in order to provide that the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees should be Opposition Group appointments.

Speaking in support of the proposed amendment, Councillor Clinton referred to a recent press article expressing concern at reported changes being introduced by a number of Labour led London Councils, which were felt to have impacted on the ability of opposition councillors to effectively scrutinise executive decisions within those authorities.  Highlighting the importance in being able to safeguard the ability of all councillors to be able to meaningfully undertake their representational role and engage in the way scrutiny was being led, he urged all councillors to support the proposed amendment in seeking to ensure scrutiny remained as independent and democratically accountable as possible.

In raising a Point of Order, Councillor Kabir sought details on whether the proposed change had been subject to prior consideration at the Constitutional Working Group, which she felt would be the more appropriate body to review the proposal at this stage.

As a final contribution, Councillor Kansagra also speaking in support of the proposed change, as Leader of the Conservative Group, highlighted the concerns his Group had also previously raised in relation to impact which removal of the vice-chair roles on scrutiny from the Opposition Groups had had in undermining the independence and democratic accountability of the scrutiny function.  As a result, he felt the amendment moved in relation to the arrangements for securing more effective and democratic scrutiny was reasonable, and proportionate and would deliver improved scrutiny along with better outcomes for all.  He therefore advised the Conservative Group would be supporting the amendment and more detailed consideration of the proposals through the Constitutional Working Group.

As no further members indicated they wished to speak and having clarified the nature of the amendment moved during the debate, the Mayor then invited Councillor Muhammed Butt to exercise his right of reply in relation to the report and amendment moved at the meeting.

In summing up, Councillor Muhammed Butt queried the nature of the amendment which had been moved in relation to the report under consideration, which he felt was more of a constitutional issue rather than one impacting on the membership nominations for specific bodies.  Recognising the democratic mandate of the current Administration, he felt this also covered member’s participation in scrutiny and the wider democratic process highlighting the opportunities which were already available for members of the Opposition to fully participate and engage in the way scrutiny was being delivered.  As such Councillor Muhammed Butt advised that the Labour Group did not feel any further changes were required to the current arrangements and were not therefore minded to support the proposal moved by Councillor Lorber during the meeting in relation to the chairing arrangements for scrutiny.

Councillor Lorber, in exercising his right of reply in relation on the amendment felt that the current report did provide an appropriate opportunity to move the proposal and with no further comments, the Mayor thanked members for their contributions during the debate.

Having confirmed that the amendment was valid, the Mayor then moved to put the amendment and recommendations within the report to the vote.

On putting the amendment moved by Councillor Lorber regarding the chairing arrangements for scrutiny to the vote this was declared LOST.

The substantive recommendations, as set out in the report and detailed below, were then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

Council therefore RESOLVED:

(1)       To approve the appointments of members and substitutes as well as the continuing appointment of co-opted members to Council Committees and Outside Bodies for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year, as detailed within section 3.2.4 and Appendix 1 of the report.

(2)    To approve the appointments of Chairs and Vice Chairs to Council Committees for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year, as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report.

(3)    To note the appointments:

(a)       To the Cabinet, Cabinet Committees and Joint Executive Committees and their respective Chairs and Vice Chairs for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report.

(b)       to be confirmed by the General Purposes Committee for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year, as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report.

(c)    to be confirmed by Licensing Committee for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year, as detailed in Appendix 4 of the report.

(The full list of appointments can be found as part of the appendices to the main report republished prior to the meeting)