The Waltham Forest Council meeting scheduled for 22 May 2025 included the election of a new Mayor, the appointment of councillors to various committees and outside bodies, and a review of the council's scheme of delegation. Councillors were also scheduled to discuss the programme of meetings for the upcoming year.

Election of Mayor

The meeting was scheduled to include the election of a councillor to serve as Mayor of the London Borough of Waltham Forest for the municipal year 2025/26. The newly elected Mayor was expected to address the council following their election. Councillor Sharon Waldron was the Mayor at the time of the previous meeting.

Committee Appointments

Councillors were scheduled to discuss the establishment and appointment of committees and other council bodies for 2025-26. According to the report pack, the council has a duty to ensure that appointments are made in accordance with regulations regarding political balance.

The council was expected to determine:

• The number of seats on all committees
• The allocation of seats to party groups in accordance with political balance rules
• The appointment of councillors to sit on committees
• The appointment of chairs and vice-chairs of committees

The report pack also notes the memberships of the Boards of Directors of the Local Authority Trading Companies.

The following Ordinary Committees were listed for discussion:

• Audit & Governance Committee
• Licensing (General) Committee
• Pensions Fund Committee
• Planning Committee
• Staffing Committee

The report pack states that principles (a), (b) and (d) of the political balance rules also apply to Overview & Scrutiny Committees and sub-committees.

The following bodies are excluded from the Political Balance Rules:

• The Cabinet
• Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Committee
• Health and Wellbeing Board

The report pack also mentions a substitution scheme, where all councillors are appointed as supernumerary members of committees, allowing them to substitute for members unable to attend meetings.

Outside Body Appointments

The council was scheduled consider the appointment of councillors to statutory and non-statutory outside bodies for 2025-26. The list of outside bodies shows the number of seats proposed for each body in 2025-26.

The report pack states that some appointments to outside bodies are made due to a statutory requirement, while most are discretionary, considering how representation adds value to the council’s priorities and strategic objectives.

Some of the Statutory Appointments listed in the report pack include:

• Greater London Employment Forum
• Henry Green Scholarship Fund
• Lee Valley Regional Park Authority¹
• Local Government Information Unit
• London CIV Shareholder Representatives (Collective Investment Vehicle)
• London Council Leaders Committee
• London Councils Grants Committee
• London Councils Transport and Environment Committee
• London Legacy Development Planning Decisions Committee
• London Road Safety Council
• Newable
• North London Waste Authority
• North London Waste Authority Planning Members Group
• Norse Evolve (formally NPS Property Services)
• Inner North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• Outer North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
• Safer Neighbourhoods Board

Some of the Non Statutory Appointments listed in the report pack include:

• 12 F (Walthamstow) Squadron on Air Training Corps
• Barking and Gospel Oak Line User Group
• Buxton Learning Trust
• Capital Letters (London) Limited
• CREATE
• London Youth Games
• Relate (North East London)
• Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Greater London
• Sea Cadets - Waltham Forest Unit No. 347
• Waltham Forest Citizens Advice Bureau
• Waltham Forest Faith Communities Forum Core Group
• Waltham Forest Race Equality Council: Executive Committee
• Waltham Forest Race Equality Council: Management Board
• Walthamstow Almshouse and General Charity

Scheme of Delegation

The council was scheduled to agree to the delegation of non-executive functions to officers as defined by the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000.

The council was asked to agree to the delegations set out in the council’s constitution, and the General Scheme of Delegation, which sets out how powers are delegated to officers by the council and the Executive across a range of areas, including finance, procurement and HR.