Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Strategy, Resources and External Affairs, is scheduled to make a decision regarding the West London Alliance Joint Committee. This decision will involve adopting updated functions and procedure rules for the committee.

West London Alliance Joint Committee - Updated Functions and Procedure Rules

The primary item scheduled for discussion is the establishment of a new joint committee, to be known as the West London Alliance Joint Committee (WLAJC). This committee will replace the existing West London Economic Prosperity Board. The WLAJC will comprise representatives from the London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Harrow, and Hounslow.

The report outlines that the WLAJC's purpose is to advance the participating boroughs' shared objectives for inclusive and sustainable growth, improve resident outcomes, and secure long-term sustainability. This will be achieved through collaboration with various stakeholders, including regional and central government, health and education providers, employers, and business bodies.

Key functions proposed for the WLAJC include agreeing on funding applications and bids to external bodies for projects aligned with the alliance's objectives. It will also provide direction on the allocation of secured funding and approve procurement routes for jointly commissioned services, aiming for cost savings or improved service standards. The committee will also act as a recipient for devolved powers and funding streams relevant to the sub-region.

The report details that the WLAJC will consist of five voting members, with each participating borough appointing one Executive Member. Councillor Shantanu Rajawat is proposed to be appointed as Hounslow Council's representative on this new Joint Committee. The functions and procedure rules are intended to provide a clearer decision-making framework for the West London Alliance, replacing a previous arrangement where decisions were taken by Ealing Council on behalf of all members. The report notes that the proposed changes have no direct financial, equalities, or climate emergency implications.

The functions and procedure rules for the WLAJC are governed by legislation including the Local Government Act 1972, the Local Government Act 2000, and The Local Authorities (Arrangements for the Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2012. The report indicates that the WLAJC will meet on a quarterly basis, and its meetings will generally be held in public, with provisions for public participation. Decisions made by the WLAJC will be subject to scrutiny and 'call-in' arrangements by the individual participating boroughs.

The decision is being taken via a Single Member Decision process as the proposals are not considered controversial. The updated functions and procedure rules will be formally reported to the Council on 3rd March 2026 for noting and agreement to add them to the Council's Constitution.

The full details of the proposed functions and procedure rules can be found in the Public reports pack Thursday 19-Feb-2026 12.00 Cabinet Member Single Member Decision.pdf.