The General Purposes Committee of Brent Council met on Monday 22 January 2024 to review and approve changes to polling districts and polling places across the borough. The committee also approved the Council Tax base for the upcoming financial year.

Council Tax Base 2024/25

The committee approved the Council Tax base for 2024/25, setting the collection rate at 97.5%. This decision was based on a report that outlined the calculation of the tax base, which includes an estimate for new housing developments and demolitions, and an expected collection rate. The collection rate had previously been lowered due to the impact of COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, but the increase to 97.5% for 2024/25 reflects an anticipated recovery and the return to normal debt recovery actions. The approved Council Tax Base for 2024/25 is 103,577 Band D equivalent properties.

Review of Polling Districts and Places

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing and approving changes to polling districts and polling places across various wards in preparation for the London Mayoral and GLA elections in May 2024. These changes were made following a consultation process that sought feedback from elected councillors, the Brent Disability Forum, members of the public, and existing polling stations.

Key decisions made regarding polling districts and places include:

• Alperton Ward: Polling district AL4 will move to Lyon Park School from the Grand Union Community Hub. Polling district AL3 will remain at the Grand Union Community Hub, with its boundary amended to include the St Georges, Grand Union area. This aims to alleviate congestion experienced at the Grand Union Hub during previous elections.
• Kingsbury Ward: The polling station at Village School will be relocated to Kingsbury Service Club, following concerns about its suitability as a Special Educational Needs school and the impact on parents and pupils.
• Queensbury Ward: Polling district QY2 will be split, with electors in the vicinity of the current portacabin continuing to vote there, and electors west of Stag Lane voting at Queensbury Methodist Church. This change aims to manage elector numbers and provide a closer polling station for some residents.
• Sudbury Ward: Sudbury Baptist Church will be used as a polling station, and a new polling district will be created south of the underground line to address confusion experienced by voters in the 2022 local elections. Sudbury Methodist Church will remain a polling station.
• Wembley Central Ward: Work is ongoing to identify an additional polling station for polling district WC3, as the current location at Ealing Road Library serves two polling districts with a large electorate and experienced congestion. Polling district WC4 will remain at Ealing Road Library.
• Wembley Hill Ward: Efforts continue to find a suitable polling location in the northwest of the ward, as the current location is considered too far for some electors.
• Willesden Green Ward: Minor amendments will be made to the polling district boundary for WN2 and WN3. The potential use of the new Brent Indian Community Centre as a polling station will be reviewed after it is fully operational following its completion in March 2024.

The committee also delegated authority to the Chief Executive to designate alternative polling places if necessary and to identify better provisions following consultation with Party Whips and ward councillors. The changes are set to be effective from 1 February 2024, coinciding with the publication of the revised electoral register.