I guess Brent's contribution to Democracy Week of an Question Time session with the panel consisting solely of Brent Labour Council's Cabinet members (the token Tory dropped out) is par for the course.
But the democratic deficit actually reaches into the Labour Group itself.
Cllr Keith Perrin, Cabinet member for the Environment resigned some weeks ago. One of his first jobs as lead was to defend the £40 Garden Tax against criticism from fellow Labour councillors. Some suggest this was a contributing factor in his resignation.
Rather than being replaced his role has been taken on by Council Leader Muhammed Butt - or has it?
Word has it that Butt does not want another election to choose Perrin's successor as the last election was too acrimonious with many councillors jostling for a Cabinet post.
Muhammed Butt is already on record as finding annual leadership elections irksome and now it appears even elections that don't involve him personally are too bothersome.
He has out-sourced the donkey work for now to a former member of the Executive, who knows rather more about regeneration than waste.
Meanwhile, lurking in the wings is Cllr John Duffy (Kilburn) who as former adviser on waste to Ken Livingstone when he was London Mayor, really is an expert on the subject.
However, he is not one of the Young Turks (or should it be Young Tiggers?) who form Butt's buttress against challenge. He is too independent and experienced to fit in with the group.
Meanwhile people are contacting me who have only just found out about the Garden Tax. This one won't go away.
To cap it all there are now rumours that an excuse will be found to not go ahead with the Council meeting due on November 17th.
But the democratic deficit actually reaches into the Labour Group itself.
Cllr Keith Perrin, Cabinet member for the Environment resigned some weeks ago. One of his first jobs as lead was to defend the £40 Garden Tax against criticism from fellow Labour councillors. Some suggest this was a contributing factor in his resignation.
Rather than being replaced his role has been taken on by Council Leader Muhammed Butt - or has it?
Word has it that Butt does not want another election to choose Perrin's successor as the last election was too acrimonious with many councillors jostling for a Cabinet post.
Muhammed Butt is already on record as finding annual leadership elections irksome and now it appears even elections that don't involve him personally are too bothersome.
He has out-sourced the donkey work for now to a former member of the Executive, who knows rather more about regeneration than waste.
Meanwhile, lurking in the wings is Cllr John Duffy (Kilburn) who as former adviser on waste to Ken Livingstone when he was London Mayor, really is an expert on the subject.
However, he is not one of the Young Turks (or should it be Young Tiggers?) who form Butt's buttress against challenge. He is too independent and experienced to fit in with the group.
Meanwhile people are contacting me who have only just found out about the Garden Tax. This one won't go away.
To cap it all there are now rumours that an excuse will be found to not go ahead with the Council meeting due on November 17th.
