Brent London Borough Council

Last updated

Brent London Borough Council
Whole council elected every four years
Coat of arms of the London Borough of Brent.svg
Brent London Borough Council logo.svg
Council logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Tariq Dar,
Labour
since 22 May 2024 [1]
Muhammed Butt,
Labour
since 4 June 2014 [2]
Kim Wright
since May 2023 [3]
Structure
Seats57 councillors
Brent London Borough Council 2022.svg
Political groups
Administration (49)
  Labour (49)
Other parties (8)
  Conservatives (5)
  Liberal Democrats (3)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
7 May 2026
Meeting place
Brent Civic Centre and Wembley Library (13830389734).jpg
Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ
Website
www.brent.gov.uk

Brent London Borough Council, also known as Brent Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Brent in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010. It is based at Brent Civic Centre in Engineers Way, Wembley.

Contents

History

The London Borough of Brent and its council were created under the London Government Act 1963, with the first election held in 1964. For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's two outgoing authorities, being the borough councils of Wembley and Willesden. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old districts and their councils were abolished. [4]

The council's full legal name is the "Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Brent", although it styles itself Brent Council. [5]

From 1965 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the Greater London Council. The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, flood prevention, and refuse disposal; with the boroughs (including Brent) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Brent has been a local education authority since 1965. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees. [6]

Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the English local government system the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions. [7]

On Valentine's Day in 2016, the Council launched its ‘Love Where You Live’ campaign, an initiative which encouraged local people to work alongside the Council and make Brent a better, happier place to live. Groups such as Kensal Green Streets, Harlesden Environmental Action Residents, Northwest TWO and Keep Wembley Tidy all took action as a result of the campaign. [8] In June 2016, a short, community-based documentary called ‘Stories of Brent’ was produced, based on the campaign, starring Audley Harrison, Rachel Yankey and Liz Mitchell from Boney M. [9] Brent was the London Borough of Culture in 2020, receiving £1.35m of funding under a new initiative launched by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. [10]

Powers and functions

The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation, and has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It sets council tax and as a billing authority also collects precepts for Greater London Authority functions and business rates. [11] It sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly. It is a local education authority and is also responsible for council housing, social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health. [12]

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010.

The first election to the council was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1965. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows: [13] [14]

Party in controlYears
Labour 1965–1968
Conservative 1968–1971
Labour 1971–1982
No overall control 1982–1986
Labour 1986–1990
No overall control 1990–1998
Labour 1998–2006
No overall control 2006–2010
Labour 2010–present

Leadership

Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Brent. The leaders since 1965 have been: [15] [16] [17]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
George Swannell [18] [19] Labour 19651968
Edwin Lee Conservative 19681971
Philip Hartley Labour 19711977
James Goudie Labour 19771978
John Lebor Labour 19781981
Tom Bryson Labour 19811983
Martin Coleman Labour 19831986
Merle Amory Labour 19861988
Dorman Long Labour 19881990
Bob Blackman Conservative 19901996
Paul Daisley Labour Apr 19962001
Ann John Labour 2001May 2006
Paul Lorber Liberal Democrats 26 Jun 200626 May 2010
Ann John Labour 26 May 2010May 2012
Muhammed Butt Labour 16 May 2012

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 57 councillors representing 22 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. [20]

Following the 2022 election the composition of the council was:

PartyCouncillors
Labour 49
Conservative 5
Liberal Democrats 3
Total57

The next election is due in 2026.

Premises

Brent Town Hall, formerly Wembley Town Hall: Council's headquarters until 2013 Brent Town Hall (Front), Wembley - geograph.org.uk - 865102.jpg
Brent Town Hall, formerly Wembley Town Hall: Council's headquarters until 2013

The council is based at Brent Civic Centre on Engineers Way in the Wembley Park area of the borough. The building was purpose-built for the council and opened in 2013. [21] Prior to 2013 the council was based at Brent Town Hall, on Forty Lane in Wembley, which had been completed in 1940 for the old Wembley Borough Council, originally being called Wembley Town Hall. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newham London Borough Council</span> Local authority in London, England

Newham London Borough Council also known as Newham Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Newham in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 1971. It has been led by a directly elected mayor since 2002. The council meets at Newham Town Hall in East Ham and has its main offices at 1000 Dockside Road, overlooking the Royal Albert Dock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waltham Forest London Borough Council</span>

Waltham Forest London Borough Council, also known as Waltham Forest Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Waltham Forest in London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010. The council is based at Waltham Forest Town Hall in Walthamstow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redbridge London Borough Council</span> Local authority for the London Borough of Redbridge

Redbridge London Borough Council, also known as Redbridge Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Redbridge in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2014. The council meets at Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford and has its main offices nearby at Lynton House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islington London Borough Council</span> Government authority in England

Islington London Borough Council, also known as Islington Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Islington in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010. The council meets at Islington Town Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council</span> Local authority for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council, also known as Barking and Dagenham Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. It provides a broad range of local government services including Council Tax billing, libraries, social services, processing planning applications, waste collection and disposal, and it is a local education authority. The council has been under Labour majority control since its creation in 1965. The council was created by the London Government Act 1963 as the Barking London Borough Council and replaced two local authorities: Barking Borough Council and Dagenham Borough Council. The council was renamed on 1 January 1980. It is based at Barking Town Hall in the centre of Barking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewisham London Borough Council</span>

Lewisham London Borough Council, also known as Lewisham Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Lewisham in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010. It has been led by a directly elected mayor since 2002. The council meets at Lewisham Town Hall in the Catford area of the borough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sutton London Borough Council</span>

Sutton London Borough Council, also known as Sutton Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Sutton in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 1990. The council is based at the Civic Offices in Sutton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haringey London Borough Council</span>

Haringey London Borough Council, also known as Haringey Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Haringey in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 1971. The council is usually based at Haringey Civic Centre in Wood Green, although the building has been closed since 2020 pending refurbishment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hounslow London Borough Council</span>

Hounslow London Borough Council, also known as Hounslow Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Hounslow in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010. The council is based at Hounslow House on Bath Road in Hounslow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merton London Borough Council</span> Local authority in England

Merton London Borough Council, which styles itself Merton Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Merton in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2014. The council is based at Merton Civic Centre in Morden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wandsworth London Borough Council</span> Local authority for the London Borough of Wandsworth in Greater London, England

Wandsworth London Borough Council, also known as Wandsworth Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Wandsworth in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2022. It is based at Wandsworth Town Hall in the centre of Wandsworth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bexley London Borough Council</span> Local authority in England

Bexley London Borough Council, also known as Bexley Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Bexley in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2006. It is based at Bexley Civic Offices in the Bexleyheath area of the borough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bromley London Borough Council</span>

Bromley London Borough Council, also known as Bromley Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Bromley in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2001. It is based at the Civic Centre at Bromley Palace, but is in the process of moving to Churchill Court in the centre of Bromley, which is anticipated to open later in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croydon London Borough Council</span> Municipal body governing London Borough

Croydon London Borough Council, which styles itself Croydon Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Croydon in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. Croydon is divided into 28 wards, electing 70 councillors. Since 2022 the council has been led by a directly elected mayor. The council has been under no overall control since 2022, being run by a Conservative minority administration. The council meets at Croydon Town Hall and has its main offices in the adjoining Bernard Weatherill House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ealing London Borough Council</span>

Ealing London Borough Council, which styles itself Ealing Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Ealing in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010. The council meets at Ealing Town Hall and has its main offices in the adjoining Perceval House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enfield London Borough Council</span>

Enfield London Borough Council, which styles itself Enfield Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Enfield in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010. It is based at Enfield Civic Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council</span> Local authority in London, England

Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council, which styles itself Hammersmith and Fulham Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2014. The council's usual meeting place is at Hammersmith Town Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrow London Borough Council</span> Local authority for the London Borough of Harrow in Greater London, England

Harrow London Borough Council, also known as Harrow Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Harrow in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2022. Full council meetings are held at the Harrow Arts Centre and the council's main offices are at the Council Hub in Wealdstone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillingdon London Borough Council</span> Local authority in London

Hillingdon London Borough Council, which styles itself Hillingdon Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Hillingdon in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2006. The council is based at Hillingdon Civic Centre in Uxbridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council</span> Local authority for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council, also known as Richmond upon Thames Council, LBRUT or Richmond Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 2018. Although the borough is named after Richmond, the council meets at York House in Twickenham, and has its main offices in the adjoining Civic Centre.

References

  1. "New Mayor elected in annual ceremony". Brent Council. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  2. "Council minutes, 4 June 2014". Brent Council. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  3. "How the council is structured". Brent Council. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  4. "London Government Act 1963", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1978 c. 33, retrieved 16 May 2024
  5. "Service Level Agreement, 2020" (PDF). Harrow Council. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  6. "Local Government Act 1985", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1985 c. 51, retrieved 5 April 2024
  7. Leach, Steve (1998). Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath. Routledge. p. 107. ISBN   978-0714648590.
  8. "Love where you live - Brent Council". www.brent.gov.uk.
  9. "YouTube". www.youtube.com.
  10. "Waltham Forest & Brent crowned first-ever London Boroughs of Culture". London City Hall. 27 February 2018.
  11. "Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities". Council Tax Rates. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  12. "Local Plan Responses – within and outside London". Mayor of London. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  13. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  14. "Brent". BBC News Online . 19 April 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  15. "Council minutes". Brent Council. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  16. "London Boroughs Political Almanac". London Councils. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  17. Passmore, Michael (2015). The responses of Labour-controlled London local authorities to major changes in housing policy, 1971–1973 (PDF). London: King's College London. p. 280. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  18. "World Cup Committee". Harrow Observer. 30 December 1965. p. 22. Retrieved 6 July 2022. ...the leader of the Council, Cllr. G. B. Swannell...
  19. "Mirror complains to Press Council". Daily Mirror. 5 May 1967. p. 2. Retrieved 6 July 2022. ...Councillor George Swannell, leader of the council...
  20. "The London Borough of Brent (Electoral Changes) Order 2020", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2020/66, retrieved 2 May 2024
  21. "Brent's new civic centre opens". ITV. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  22. Historic England. "Brent Town Hall (Grade II) (1262141)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 2 May 2024.