The Council of Brent Council met on Monday 12 October 2026 to consider urgent constitutional changes to the terms of reference for the Planning Committee and an amendment to the members' allowance scheme.

Changes to the Constitution

The council considered significant changes to its constitution, primarily concerning the terms of reference for the Planning Committee, which were necessitated by national legislative changes coming into effect on 31 October 2026. These reforms introduce a National Scheme of Delegation for planning functions, dictating which applications must be delegated to officers and which may be referred to the Planning Committee. The council also considered an amendment to increase the remuneration for the Independent Chair of the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee.

The Chief Executive, Kim Wright, emphasised the statutory duty for the council to implement these planning changes by the end of October, warning of severe consequences for non-compliance, including the inability to determine certain applications, increased planning appeals, potential special measures from central government, and developers bypassing the council. She also highlighted that an amendment had been made to reinstate a modified version of previous call-in rights, allowing three or more councillors to request that certain applications be considered for referral to the Planning Committee.

Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, stated that the proposed changes, particularly the three-councillor referral mechanism, aimed to provide greater oversight and confidence to members. He stressed the council's obligation to implement the government-mandated changes to avoid falling foul of statutory requirements.

Despite the council's obligation to adopt the new regulations, there was considerable debate and opposition from various groups. Councillor Paul Lorber, speaking for the Liberal Democrat Group, attempted to introduce an amendment to the proposals, arguing that the correct advice had not been provided to them in a timely manner. He expressed concern over the perceived loss of democratic control and the potential for decisions to be made without sufficient scrutiny. His attempt to suspend standing orders to allow the amendment was unsuccessful.

Councillor Charlie Clinton spoke about the erosion of local democracy, stating that the changes would weaken scrutiny and reduce the ability of elected representatives to challenge decisions. He noted that while his group would abstain due to the legal position, their opposition remained.

Councillor Mary Mitchell, representing the Green Party Group, echoed these concerns, arguing that the changes eroded local democracy by shifting power from elected councillors and residents to unelected planning officers. She suggested alternative models, such as those adopted by Lewisham Council, which she argued brought planning closer to local communities.

Councillor Michael Maurice, for the Conservative Group, expressed dismay at the new laws, stating they prevented councillors from performing their elected duties and allowed the Planning Department to operate without scrutiny. He proposed alternative committee compositions and suggested the Chair of the Planning Committee should be from the Opposition.

Councillor Jayanti Patel described the changes as an ambush on local democracy and a power grab by central government, arguing that the Planning Committee was being gutted and that residents' voices would be silenced.

Councillor Anton Georgiou, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, expressed his discomfort with the changes, stating they eroded the powers of elected members. He lamented the missed opportunity to consider the Liberal Democrat group's proposed amendments, which he believed would have improved the planning process.

Councillor Mary Mitchell reiterated her concerns, calling the changes a democratic downgrade and centralisation by stealth.

Councillor Harshadbhai Patel questioned the necessity of the changes, given the council's good track record in determining applications, and argued that the proposed reforms would snatch power away from the people.

Following the debate, the council voted to approve the recommended changes to the planning terms of reference. The vote was 22 in favour and 17 against.

The council also approved the amendment to the Members' Allowance Scheme, increasing the remuneration for the Independent Chair of the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee. This increase was deemed necessary to align the allowance with the Special Responsibility Allowance paid to the Chair of the Audit and Standards Committee, recognising the strategic importance and time commitment of the role, and to remain competitive in attracting suitably experienced candidates for the upcoming recruitment. This decision was carried by a majority.

During the debate on the planning changes, Councillor Paul Lorber raised a point of order regarding the voting process, questioning the lack of a recorded vote and the absence of vote totals. The Mayor confirmed that the vote was not recorded but stated there was a clear majority. Councillor Lorber persisted, asking for the numbers, and was informed that the vote was 22 in favour and 17 against. Councillor Lorber then attempted to debate the process of not allowing debate on proposals, but the Mayor ruled this out of order, stating it could be discussed after the meeting.