Agenda item

To receive a report from the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources seeking approval to the appointment of membership, Chairs and Vice Chairs 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) have also been attached, for Members to note.

(Agenda republished on 20 May 2025 to include appendices 1(a) (i) – (iv) and 1(b) -of the main report detailing the full list of appointments and amended proposal)

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 2026 - 27 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.  Members were advised that the appointments to be made formed an essential part in establishing the Council’s governance arrangements for the year ahead.  Referring to the alternative nominations included within Appendix 1(b) of the report submitted by the Liberal Democrats Group, Councillor Muhammed Butt advised that he would be moving the proposed appointments to committees, other bodies, Chairs and Vice-Chairs as set out in Appendix 1(a) of the report, with the chairs nominated by the Labour Group highlighted in bold.

Members were also reminded that the proposed appointments reflected the political balance arrangements agreed under the preceding item, whilst (it was felt) also recognising the need for strong and effective scrutiny in a more plural Council.  As part of the approach outlined, attention was drawn to the proposed appointment of members from the Principal Opposition Group to chair each of the Council’s scrutiny committees, with it pointed out that opportunities had also been made available for the other opposition groups to take up vice-chairing roles should they wish.  In addition, members were advised that the Chair and Vice Chair appointments on the Kingsbury and Kenton, Wembley and Kilburn Brent Connect Forums had been offered to the respective opposition groups with the Conservative and Liberal Democrats having made nominations to those posts. Taken together it was felt this provided clear recognition of the need for good governance to involve proper challenge, rigorous scrutiny and effective accountability.

In addition, it was pointed out the report sought to provide continuity in a number of other important areas, including the ongoing appointment of the Council’s Independent Persons, the independent co-opted members of the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee, and the existing co-opted members of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee.  In moving the proposals as outlined, the Leader ended by once again highlighting the importance in being able to reach agreement on the appointments to be made in order to ensure the Council was able to continue functioning effectively in terms of its governance arrangements and to deliver for residents.

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

In opening the debate, Councillor Georgiou began by highlighting concerns about the basis on which the proposed appointment of Conservative Group members to chair both scrutiny committees had put forward given the close links demonstrated with the Labour adminstration during the meeting and impact this may have on the ability of scrutiny to continue holding the administration to account.  Referring to the previous appointment of more experienced members as scrutiny chairs, whom he felt had been effective in carrying out their responsibilities, concerns were also expressed about the need to ensure the appointments made were also sufficiently independent and experienced rather than based on what he felt constituted a political agreement between the Labour and Conservative Groups enabling the Labour Group to retain control of the administration, despite not having an overall majority of seats.  In concluding, Councillor Georgiou also referred to the offer of the Vice-Chair positions to the remaining opposition groups, which he reminded members was in direct contrast with the decision taken following the previous local election in May 2022 to remove the vice chair position as opposition appointments and advised of his intention to ensure residents were reminded of the arrangement reached between the Labour and Conservative Groups relating to formation of the Administration.

Speaking in response, Councillor Kansgara rejected the suggestion that the appointments outlined within Appendix 1(a) of the report represented any form of coalition arrangement and reminded members that opposition groups had sought positions as chairs and vice-chairs of scrutiny committees over a number of years, with the outcome of the recent borough elections having now provided the opportunity for such appointments to be made.  In his view the proposals outlined in the report would also provide stability for the Council and enable it to move forward, in terms of the governance arrangements, with appropriate checks and balances.  This approach was contrasted with the alternative proposals submitted by the Liberal Democrats, which Councillor Kansagra felt would only have led to further instability in the Council's governance arrangements.  In concluding his comments, confirmation was provided that the selection of the nominated scrutiny chairs had been a matter for the Conservative Group to decide, with the assertion that newly elected councillors would not have the necessary experience to chair committees rejected and Councillor Kansagra noting that individuals with limited previous experience had also successfully occupied these type of roles.  On this basis, he advised the Conservative Group would be supporting the proposed nominations as moved by the Leader of the Council.

As a further contribution, Councillor Mitchell then spoke to clarify the offer made in relation to the appointment of vice-chair positions on the scrutiny committees, which it was confirmed had been extended to but not accepted by the Green Group.  Emphasising the importance of scrutiny in ensuring accountability and effective governance, Councillor Mitchell felt that all members who valued these principles needed to take a close interest in the scrutiny arrangements, with the example provided of the approach taken by the previous Chair of the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee in her commitment towards championing robust scrutiny and holding members and officers to account and which it was hoped would also be principles adopted by the new Conservative members nominated to assume the scrutiny chair positions.  Referring to her previous experience as a scrutiny member, it was also hoped that members would fully engage in the process, including the need for sufficient preparation and participation during meetings with it also hoped that all members would be able to move forward constructively given the importance in being able to maintain effective scrutiny and accountability within the Council's decision-making framework under the new Administration and to ensure the best outcome for residents.

Supporting the comments made by Councillor Georgiou and Mitchell, Councillor Lorber spoke next to once again highlight the increased importance of effective scrutiny within the Council's new governance arrangements, although once again highlighting his preference for a committee system style of decision making.  As a  result, he also supported the view that the scrutiny committees needed to be chaired by individuals possessing the necessary experience to ensure scrutiny was conducted effectively and independently and on that basis he advised he would also be nominating (as an alternative to the nominations moved by the Leader of the Council) Councillor Clinton to be appointed as Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee and Councillor Georgiou be appointed as Chair of the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee.

As a final contribution to the debate, Councillor Chadha spoke in order to respond to concerns raised regarding the experience of newly elected councillors, with assurance provided regarding the commitment of those members nominated within the Conservative Group towards working hard to deliver a robust, effective and independent scrutiny process.

As there were no further members who had indicated they wished to speak, the Mayor thanks members for their contribution and then drew the debate to a close by inviting Councillor Muhammed Butt (as mover of the original report) to exercise his right of reply.

In responding to the debate and alternative nominations moved on behalf of the Liberal Democrats Group in relation to the appointment of scrutiny chair positions, Councillor Muhammed Butt confirmed that the Labour Group would be supporting the proposed nominations as moved and set out in Appendix 1(a) of the report.

Prior to moving to the vote, the Chief Executive in response to clarification sought by Councillor Lorber on the process, confirmed that the alternative nominations moved by the Liberal Democrats in relation to the appointment of scrutiny chair positions would need to be treated as an amendment to the report.  At the same time members were also advised of a change in the substitute members nominated by the Leader of the Council on the Barham Park Trust Cabinet Sub Committee.  It was noted these appointments should only consist of Cabinet Members, with the change made to therefore be confirmed when the Sub Committee was formally appointed by Cabinet.

Having noted the advice provided, the Mayor then moved to the vote, which he advised would start with the amendment moved by the Councillor Lorber (on behalf of the Liberal Democrats Group) regarding the nominations for scrutiny chair positions, prior a vote on the final substantive recommendations in the report.

Prior to the vote being taken on the amendment, Councillor Georgiou (as Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group) requested (under Standing Order 43 (c)) that the vote be undertaken on the basis of a roll call.

Having confirmed the request, the Mayor handed over to the Chief Executive and on a recorded vote being taken the amendment relating to the appoinment of Councillor Clinton as Chair of the Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee and Councillor Georgio as Chair of the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee was declared LOST.

The voting recorded on the substantive recommendations was as follows:

For (12): Councillors Alexandre, Brown, Chauhan, Clinton, Georgiou, Jansali, Lorber, Mulaisho, N.Patel, Shah, Unger and Want.

Against (39): Councillors Aden, P.Ahmed, Amadi, Anderson, Bajwa, Blackman, Burn, M.Butt, S.Butt, Chadha, Choudry, Chowdhury, Dar, De Souza, Dixon, Donnelly-Jackson, Do Rosario, Gallagher, Grahl, Hack, Ibrahim, Johnson, Kansagra, Kelcher, Knight, Madhabushi, Mahmood, Malonga, Maurice, McLeish, Mishra, Mitchell, A.Patel, H.Patel, Perrin, Rubin, Ryan, Thomas and Vakani.

Abstentions: Councillor Agha (Mayor) and Mistry (Deputy Mayor).

The Mayor then moved on to put the substantive recommendations relating to the appointments detailed within Appendix 1(a) of the report, as moved by the Leader of the Council, to a vote (by show of hands) which was declared CARRIED.

It was therefore RESOLVED to:

(1)    To approve the appointments of Members, Co-Opted Members and substitutes to Council Committees and Outside Bodies as set out in Appendix 1(a) and section 3.2.4 of the report.

(2)    To approve the appointment of Chairs/Vice Chairs to Council Committees as set out in Appendix 1(a) for the 2026-2027 Municipal Year.

(3)    To note the appointments:

(a)       To the Cabinet, Cabinet Committees and Joint Executive Committees and their respective Chairs and Vice Chairs for the 2026-2027 Municipal Year, as detailed in Appendix 1(a) of the report.

(b)    to be confirmed by the General Purposes Committee for the 2026-2027 Municipal Year, as detailed in Appendix 1(a) of the report.

(c)    to be confirmed by Licensing Committee for the 2026-2027 Municipal Year, as detailed in Appendix 1(a) 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)