The Brent Council Full Council meeting on Monday 23 February 2026 confirmed the budget for 2026-27, including a 4.99% increase in Council Tax, and noted the external auditor's annual report. The meeting also discussed the Council's treasury management activities and approved the Members' Allowance Scheme for 2026-27.

Auditor's Annual Report on Brent Council

The Council received the external auditor's annual report for the year ending 31 March 2025, presented by Grant Thornton. The report highlighted significant weaknesses in the Council's medium-term financial planning and its arrangements for identifying and delivering savings. It noted that the Council's reliance on reserves to cover overspends was unsustainable and that the projected budget gap of £28 million by 2028 was likely to increase. The report also identified serious failings in the Council's housing services, leading to a 'C3' grading from the Regulator of Social Housing for breaches in quality and safety standards. Key recommendations included strengthening financial planning, ensuring the timely delivery of savings through the Embrace Change Transformation programme, and improving governance and oversight of the Housing Improvement Plan. The Council acknowledged these findings and stated that action plans were in place.

Budget and Council Tax 2026-27

The Council approved the budget for the financial year 2026-27, which includes a 4.99% increase in the Council Tax element, with 2% specifically ring-fenced for Adult Social Care. This increase is projected to generate £12.2 million in recurring income, helping to avoid further cuts to frontline services. The budget also incorporates £10.4 million in new savings proposals, focusing on cross-cutting themes such as commissioning, digital transformation, and workforce efficiency.

Several alternative budget proposals were debated and ultimately rejected:

• Conservative Group Amendments: Proposed a 3.99% Council Tax increase, increased investment in roads and pavements, and enhanced CCTV for fly-tipping. They also suggested removing landlord incentives and streamlining the Cabinet structure. The Corporate Director of Finance and Resources advised that while the proposals were lawful, they carried financial risks, particularly regarding the Council Tax increase, which would permanently lower the Council's baseline funding.
• Green Group Amendments: Focused on a fairer tax system, community-owned renewable energy, housing justice, and environmental protection, including free bulky waste collections. They argued that the Labour budget perpetuated austerity and voted against it.
• Liberal Democrats Group Amendments: Advocated for significant investment in road repairs (£30 million), safe pavements, and street cleaning, funded by the Strategic Infrastructure Levy (SIL). They criticised the Labour administration's spending priorities and the effectiveness of the Brent magazine.

The Council's own budget includes substantial capital investments, such as £45.6 million for Bridge Park regeneration, £23.1 million for the Wembley Housing Zone, and over £81 million for South Kilburn regeneration. Significant investment is also planned for SEND and schools, youth facilities, and highways infrastructure.

Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2025-26

The Council noted the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report, which detailed the Council's borrowing and investment activities for the first half of the financial year 2025-26. The report confirmed compliance with Prudential Indicators and highlighted that borrowing outstanding had increased to £951.2 million, while cash investments had decreased to £40.0 million. Net interest costs were forecast at £20.7 million. The Council's borrowing strategy prioritises security and liquidity, and officers continue to monitor interest rates and explore opportunities for debt restructuring.

Members' Allowance Scheme Annual Review 2026-27

The Council approved the Members' Allowance Scheme for 2026-27, deciding to maintain current allowance rates without an increase due to ongoing financial challenges. This decision was made after considering recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel for London Councils and benchmarking against other boroughs. The scheme aims to ensure that allowances are appropriate to enable diverse representation and acknowledge the increasing demands on councillors' time and responsibilities.

The meeting concluded with the Mayor, Councillor Ryan Hack, making his final remarks as Mayor, thanking councillors for their support and commitment. He also paid tribute to members who were standing down, acknowledging their service to the people of Brent.