Saturday 28 May 2022

Probity and Planning in Brent

 

With the far-reaching new Brent Local Plan now in place until 2041, Brent enters a new period of multi-million pound developments in its growth areas that will change the face of Brent, as well as the more routine planning applications that are often delegated to officers.

With its quasi-judicial role the Planning Committee is supposed to be free from any specific political interference although it operates within the Council's Local Plan and Planning Guidance.

There have been questions raised in the past about indirect political interference in Planning Committee, especially when Labour members who do not conform the expectations lose their position (and their additional allowance)  in one way or another.

It is important then that in order to ensure the public see the proceediungs as fair and above board that there is probity in the Planning Committee's structure and proceedings.

The Local Government Association has published advice on probity in planning HERE. They say:

Probity in planning is about ensuring that decisions on plan making and planning applications are undertaken, on behalf of communities, in a fair, impartial and transparent way.

What appears to be missing from this in the context of  a mainly one-party council is how the members of the committee are chosen.  In Brent the proportion of places allocated are on the basis of the local election outcome and there are seven Labour members of the Committee and one Opposition member.  Currently this is a Conservative. Cllr Michael Maurice. There is no Liberal Democrat although concern over new developments in the borough was one of their main campaigning  issues.

Labour members are appointed to the Committee by the leader, and perhaps deputy leader, rather than elected by the Labour Group.. 

It is important to note that there is no overt political whipping  of the Labour committee members on planning matters.

This adminstration's Planning Committee is listed above.  It is worth noting that the chair, Cllr Matt Kelcher, is the partner of the new Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Mili Patel.The  new Vice-chair is Cllr Saquib Butt, brother of Muhammed Butt, leader of the Council.  Both were on the previous Planning Committee.

New members of the Planning Committee include Cllr Ajmal Akram, who I understand is Muhammed Butt's brother-in-law, and Cllr Arshad Mahmood, widely alleged to be Cllr  M.Butt's cousin.

These connections, if true, would constitute half of the Committee, although they all, of course, may be fiercely independent with no family allegiance.

 


Cllr Saqib Butt

In addition to his position on the Planning Committee Cllr S. Butt has also been appointed to the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee that has planning and regeneration as part of its remit. He is also a member of both the Audit and Standards Committee and its advisory body.

New Wembley Hill councillor  Ajmal Akram goes straight into office as a member of both the Planning Committee and Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee. New Kilburn councillor Rita Begum is on the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee as well as Planning.

Brent has two wholly-owned subsidiary housing companies First Wave Housing and I4B and Saqib Butt has been appointed the councillor director on both.

 

From First Wave Housing accounts

 

 

From I4B Holdings Accounts

 

Both companies report to the Audit and Standards Committee.

 




13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ajmal Akram is also on Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee as well as Planning Committee.

Keeping it in the family???

Martin Francis said...

Thank you for pointing this out. I have edited the post to include this information.

Anonymous said...

A very sad state of affairs

Anonymous said...

Does Cllr M Butt believe that his packing of important council committees with family members or 100% devotees as being acceptable to the people of Brent?

Anonymous said...

Shocking. You are absolutely right. Ajamal Akram is Muhammed Butt's brother in law.

Martin Francis said...

Edited comment: (See side panel)

Thiis if true should be referred beyond Brent & Local Govt. + in my opinion, if true, the Planning & Housing BRIEF should be REMOVED FROM BRENT. CANNOT STAND UP TO SCRUTINY

Anonymous said...

So the Chair and Vice Chair of Planning Committee are the partner and brother of the Deputy Leader and Leader of the Council!!!

When its the Cabinet that approves proposals for Council building projects, can we expect the Planning Committee to deal with those applications impartially???

Anonymous said...

Imagine going to court and the entire jury are related! This is outrageous

Anonymous said...

No, this is Brent and anything goes

Anonymous said...

Have the people of Brent not just voted the Council in ?

Martin Francis said...

Edited comment received from a reader:

Keep it in the Family!

Brent Labour Voting Residents have nothing to complain about.
All their wishes will be granted.

I distinctly remember you all being warned of what will happen if you fail to vote in credible opposition.

Buttocracy is alive, well and flourishing.

Anonymous said...

Needs an immediate independent inquiry at Govt level. All Brent Council building contracts should be suspended until the outcome of this independent inquiry is publicly known.

Anonymous said...

Totally agree. How can an inquiry be made to happen?