Let's face it, we all know Brent Cabinet is a rubber-stamping body whose calm waters are seldom disturbed by so much as a ripple of discussion, or (Lord Preserve Us!), dissent.
All the decisions are made at a private pre-meeting of officers and Cabinet members (See LINK) so the meeting, despite an often huge agenda, is over in half an hour or so. The format after the preliminaries is the Lead Member, in an address often written by their officers, reads out a short introduction to an agenda item. Another Cabinet member then says a few words of praise for a great policy, hard work etc. Cllr Butt as Chair then says what a wonderful job Labour ia doing for Brent and it is approved.
There is no debate.
The meetings are held at 10am on a Monday morning which prevents working local residents (and working backbenchers) from attending. A move to have Cabinet meetings out in community centres to enable more public participation was quietly dropped long ago.
But word has gone out that some opposition members have dared to give notice that they are to enter the mutual grooming sanctuary and actually disagree.
Despite Labour's massive majority this has appeared to have freaked out the Labour leadership.
I understand that a message has gone out urgently to backbenchers from the Deputy Leader of the Council that some opposition members have requested to a speak on the Council's (fait accompli) Budget Proposal for 2023-24. Labour Group members are asked to contact 'Mo' (Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council) if they would like to speak to 'balance the debate and 'particularly to highlight the impact of austerity started by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats on council finances.'
Just to let you know what Mo knows!
Watch the Cabinet meeting HERE
