The Council of Brent Council convened for an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday 13 January 2026. The primary focus of the meeting was to review and adjust the representation of political groups on council committees and other relevant bodies following a change in the council's political balance. This adjustment was necessitated by the formation of a new political group.

Representation of Political Groups on Committees

The meeting was scheduled to address a report from the Corporate Director Finance & Resources concerning the representation of different political groups on council committees. This review was prompted by five members resigning from the Labour Group to form a new Green Party group, altering the council's political composition. The report outlined that the council's membership of 57 councillors would be the basis for reallocating seats on committees to ensure political balance, as mandated by Section 15 of the Local Government & Housing Act 1989¹.

The report detailed the revised political balance across the council, with the Labour Group now comprising 42 councillors (73.68%), the Conservative Group 6 councillors (10.53%), the Green Party 5 councillors (8.77%), the Liberal Democrats 3 councillors (5.26%), and one independent councillor (1.75%).

The report recommended that Full Council agree the size of each committee, which was to remain unchanged. It also proposed confirming the allocation of seats on committees to each political group, applying the political balance rules ² to ensure that the composition of decision-making bodies reflects the overall political balance of the council. The report indicated that a total of 38 ordinary committee seats would be subject to these rules.

Based on the revised political balance, the allocation of seats on the five ordinary committees (General Purposes Committee, Planning Committee, Audit & Standards Committee, Corporate Parenting Committee, and Licensing Committee) was proposed as follows:

• Labour Group: 28 seats (a reduction from 32)
• Green Group: 4 seats (a new entitlement)
• Conservative Group: 4 seats (no change)
• Liberal Democrats Group: 2 seats (no change)

The report also noted that the political balance rules apply to other committees, including the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee, and the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee. The newly formed Green Group was expected to be allocated seats on these committees as well.

Furthermore, the report recommended designating the Green councillors as the second Opposition Group on the Council for the purposes of the Members Allowance Scheme, replacing the Liberal Democrats Group in this role.

Appointments to Committees and Other Relevant Bodies

Following the review of political representation, the Council was scheduled to consider and agree the resulting appointments to committees and other relevant bodies. This agenda item was contingent on the decisions made regarding the representation of political groups on committees.