Agenda item

To approve the appointment of the Leader of the Council for a term of office expiring at the post election Annual Meeting of the Council held after the next ordinary local borough elections in May 2030.

As this was the first meeting of the new Administration following the local borough elections in May 2026 the Mayor invited nominations for the office of Leader of the Council, which members were advised would be for a term of office to expire at the Annual Council meeting following the next borough election in May 2030.

Prior to nominations being made, Councillor Georgiou advised of an amendment he was seeking to move under Standing Order 42 (a) relating to the process for appointment of the Leader and the subsequent appointments made to Cabinet positions.  Referring to discussions between members and the comments made by Councillor Clinton earlier during the meeting, Councillor Georgiou reiterated what he felt to be the importance of developing a more collaborative approach towards the way in which all groups now represented on the Council sought to work with an emphasis on cooperation and partnership as the basis for the Council's future governance arrangements.

Referencing the outcome of the recent borough elections. Councillor Georgiou pointed out that this had not given any single political party a mandate to govern independently and was felt to represent a clear message from the electorate that a more collaborative and inclusive approach was required in terms of the borough’s leadership.  Having been requested by the Mayor to focus on the substance of amendment being proposed, Councillor Georgiou advised that he would therefore be seeking to propose the adoption of a cross party alliance as the basis for the Council’s future governance arrangements involving a Cabinet comprising of nine members allocated on the basis of four Labour Group members, 2 members from the Liberal Democrats and Conservative Groups and one from the Green Group, which it was felt would better reflect the wishes expressed by the electorate at the last borough election and provide a new and more dynamic leadership and governance model for the borough.

Following the outline of the proposed amendment from Councillor Georgiou the Mayor then moved on to seek formal nominations for the position of Leader of the Council.  At this stage, Councillor Grahl proceeded to move the nomination of Councillor Muhammed Butt to the office of Leader of the Council.

As a result of clarification provided at the meeting by the Chief Executive regarding the order in which any nominations received and subsequent amendments moved in relation to that process would need to be considered and voted upon, Councillor Georgiou advised that he would no longer be seeking to formally move the proposed amendment he had initially outlined.

This was instead followed by Councillor Lorber formally moving the nomination of Councillor Georgiou to the office of Leader of the Council along with an amendment to the term of office for the position, on the basis that any appointment be for a one rather than four year term of office.

As no further nominations were received the Mayor advised he would now need to move to the vote on the two nominations followed by the amendment on the term of office for Leader.

Reminding members that the appointment of the Leader would be on the basis of a vote requiring a straightforward majority to be achieved, the Mayor advised that once that process had been completed he would then put the amendment moved by Councillor Lorber (on behalf of the Liberal Democrats Group) in relation to the term of office for appointment of the Leader to the vote.

Prior to the vote being taken, Councillor Georgiou (as Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group) requested (under Standing Order 43 (c)) that these be undertaken on the basis of a roll call.  Having confirmed the request, the Mayor then moved to put the appointment of the Mayor to the vote, which was conducted by the Chief Executive.

On a recorded vote being taken and a straightforward majority being achieved the appointment of Councillor Muhammed Butt was declared CARRIED with it therefore RESOLVED that Councillor Muhammed Butt be elected Leader of the Council.

Given the outcome, the Mayor confirmed a vote on the nomination of Councillor Georgiou as Leader of the Council would not be required.

The voting recorded on the appointment of Councillor Muhammed Butt as Leader of the Council was as follows:

For (24): Councillors Aden, P.Ahmed, Amadi, Anderson, Bajwa, Blackman, Burn, M.Butt, S.Butt, Choudry, Dar, De Souza, Dixon, Donnelly-Jackson, Grahl, Hack, Ibrahim, Johnson, Kelcher, Knight, Mahmood, McLeish, Rubin and Thomas.

Against: (20): Councillors Ahmadi-Moghaddam, Alexandre, Brown, Chauhan, Clinton, Gallagher, Georgiou, Jansali, Lorber, Malonga, Mitchell, Mulaisho, N.Patel, Perrin, Ryan, Shah, Unger, Vakani, Want and Warsame.

Abstentions (11): Councillors Agha (Mayor), Mistry (Deputy Mayor) Chadha, Chowdhury, Do Rosario, Kansagra, Madhabushi, Maurice, Mishra, A.Patel, H.Patel

Having confirmed the appointment of the Leader of the Council, the Mayor then moved on to put the amendment moved by Councillor Lorber (on behalf of the Liberal Democrats Group) in relation to the term of office for appointment of the Leader to the vote.

On a recorded vote being taken the amendment was declared LOST and it was therefore RESOLVED that Councillor Muhammed Butt’s appointment as Leader of the Council be for a term of office to expire at the Annual Council meeting in May 2030.

The voting recorded on the amendment moved to change the term of appointment for the Leader of the Council was as follows:

For: (20): Councillors Ahmadi-Moghaddam, Alexandre, Brown, Chauhan, Clinton, Gallagher, Georgiou, Jansali, Lorber, Malonga, Mitchell, Mulaisho, N.Patel, Perrin, Ryan, Shah, Unger, Vakani, Want and Warsame.

Against (33): Councillors Aden, P.Ahmed, Amadi, Anderson, Bajwa, Blackman, Burn, M.Butt, S.Butt, Chadha, Choudry, Chowdhury, Dar, De Souza, Dixon, Donnelly-Jackson, Do Rosario, Grahl, Hack, Ibrahim, Johnson, Kansagra, Kelcher, Knight, Madhabushi, Mahmood, Maurice, McLeish, Mishra, A.Patel, H.Patel, Rubin and Thomas.

Abstentions (2): Councillors Agha (Mayor) and Mistry (Deputy Mayor).