Restoring Trust in Local Democracy

Trust in local democracy in Brent has been badly damaged. After 15 years of Labour, residents feel ignored by their Council. Power has become increasingly concentrated at the top of the Council, scrutiny has been weakened, and residents are too often consulted late or not at all on major changes to their neighbourhoods.

Local democracy should be about transparency, balance and genuine participation. Residents must have confidence that their votes matter, that decisions are made transparently, and that councillors are accountable for the choices they make. When traffic schemes or major policy changes are introduced without proper consultation, it undermines trust and fuels frustration. When senior roles multiply and allowances rise while services struggle, residents rightly question priorities.

Brent Liberal Democrats believe our borough needs a democratic reset. That means modernising how councillors are elected, reducing unnecessary political posts and costs and shifting power away from closed-door decision-making towards a more open, committee-based system. It also means strengthening scrutiny so that the Council is properly challenged and held to account, not rubber-stamped.

The following proposals set out how we will restore trust in local democracy, give residents a real voice in decisions that affect them, and create a Council that is open, accountable and focused on serving the people of Brent.

1. We will campaign for the introduction of a new proportional representation (PR) voting system for Brent Council elections, building on motions brought forward by the Liberal Democrat group during the 2022–2026 term. This change will ensure that all votes carry equal weight, making Council representation fairer and more reflective of residents’ views. By adopting PR, Brent residents will have a greater say in who represents them, strengthening local democracy and ensuring that all voices are properly heard in Council decisions.
   
    
2. We will redefine the role of Mayor of Brent so that the primary focus is on chairing meetings, removing the need for the Mayor’s office and its associated costs. The role of Deputy Mayor will be eliminated, including the Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA), as the position has become redundant, particularly given that in recent years two Labour Deputy Mayors have had to resign in disgrace. This change will save taxpayers’ money, simplify council leadership, and ensure that civic roles are focused on serving residents rather than political or ceremonial positions.
   
    
3. We will ensure that any traffic measures, road schemes, or other local interventions in Brent are only introduced following honest consultation with the residents they will affect, rather than being imposed without proper engagement. Recent examples, such as the experimental traffic orders (ETOs) in the Queen’s Park ward, show how poorly planned schemes can create unnecessary chaos and frustration for local people, disrupting daily life. Too often, these changes have been implemented with little notice or explanation, leaving residents feeling ignored and powerless. Under the Liberal Democrat approach, residents will be at the centre of decision-making: proposals will be clearly communicated, feedback actively sought, and adjustments made to reflect local needs and concerns. Schemes will only go ahead when there is clear support, and monitoring will ensure that any unintended consequences are addressed quickly. Our commitment is simple: traffic and infrastructure changes in Brent must improve streets for the people who use them, not impose disruption from the top down. This resident-led approach will restore trust, ensure better outcomes, and make local streets safer, fairer, and more functional for everyone.
   
    
4. We will freeze the total spend on councillor allowances at the 2025 level, including Special Responsibility Allowances, sending a clear message that public money should be spent on local people, not on pay rises for politicians. This will help to restore trust in local democracy and ensure that resources are directed toward the services and priorities that residents actually need.
   
    
5. We will abolish the leaders and cabinet model in Brent and replace it with a committee-based system, giving more councillors a direct role in decision-making and reducing the concentration of power that has become a problem under an all-powerful leader. Many London councils successfully use committee systems, ensuring decisions are made collectively, transparently and in the interests of residents rather than being dominated by a few political figures. This reform will strengthen local democracy, increase accountability.
   
    
6. We will increase the number of Scrutiny Committees in Brent to allow for thorough, detailed examination of Council decisions, addressing the current shortcomings where only two committees exist and are unable to provide required oversight. In line with how scrutiny was originally intended, opposition parties will have an equal role in chairing these committees, ensuring that all decisions are rigorously examined rather than controlled solely by Labour. By restoring independent democratic scrutiny and giving councillors the tools to hold the Council to account, we will rebuild public trust and improve transparency.