The Brent Council cabinet met on 28 July 2025 and made decisions on a number of key issues, including approving the amalgamation of two schools, addressing financial challenges, and investing in public infrastructure. The cabinet approved recommendations relating to the 2024/25 financial outturn, the medium-term financial outlook, and the Q1 financial forecast for 2025/26. They also approved a plan to allocate Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) funding to improve highways, parks, and CCTV, and agreed to seek tenders for electric vehicle charging points.

Mallory Schools Amalgamation

The cabinet approved the amalgamation of Mallory's Infant School and Mallory's Junior School, located in Bronzebury Park, following a formal consultation. This decision involves:

• Closing Mallory's Junior School.
• Expanding the age range of Mallory's Infant School to admit children aged 3 to 11.
• Changing the name of Mallory's Infant School to Mallory's Primary School.
• Retaining the junior school land for the educational use of Mallory's Primary School.

Angus Hisslop, vice chair of Mallory Schools Federation, spoke in support of the amalgamation, highlighting the board's enthusiasm for the proposal and its link to the Department for Education (DfE) building programme. He acknowledged the financial costs of amalgamation, including the loss of a lump sum equivalent to 5% of their combined expenditure, but expressed confidence in managing the risk, particularly with the prospect of a new build or substantial refurbishment.

Councillor Gwen Grahl, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Schools, addressed concerns raised in written submissions from Aidan Riley and Venera Itibaeva, seeking financial assurances that funding gaps would not result in staffing cuts. Nigel Chapman, a director at Brent Council, reassured that no redundancies were expected as a result of the amalgamation. He also noted that the DfE is considering options for a rebuild of the whole site, which the council is strongly advocating for.

Councillor Neil Nerva, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Leisure, welcomed the proposal as a councillor for the nearby Queen's Park ward, noting the opportunity to redevelop the site into something fit for the 21st century.

Financial Performance and Outlook

The cabinet addressed several reports concerning the council's financial situation.

Financial Outturn 2024/25

The cabinet noted the overall financial position for 2024/25, as detailed in the Financial Outturn Report 2024-25. While the council delivered a balanced general fund outturn, it faced significant financial challenges, including a £15.5 million overspend across all services, primarily driven by the rising costs of homelessness. Robust spending controls introduced during the year saved £8.6 million and reduced reliance on reserves.

Councillor Gwen Grahl thanked housing officers for their work and highlighted that the council is still on track to deliver 1,700 genuine council homes by 2028. She also called for citywide rent stabilisation to be properly explored as a policy.

Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Residents Services, expressed appreciation for the work done around private rented enforcement and looked forward to the renters' rights bill potentially providing some relief.

Medium Term Financial Outlook

The cabinet agreed to note the contents of the Medium Term Financial Outlook and the potential financial impact on the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). The report highlighted the stark reality facing Brent and councils across the country, including a £30 million budget gap over the next three years.

The cabinet also agreed to the budget setting process for 2026/27, including the approach to consultation and scrutiny, and noted the financial position regarding the Housing Revenue Account and Schools and the Dedicated Schools Grant.

Quarter 1 Financial Forecast 2025/26

The cabinet agreed to note the Q1 25-26 Financial Report, the overall financial position, and the actions being taken to manage arising issues. The report set out a break-even forecast against the £431.4 million general fund budget, but also highlighted significant risks.

The cabinet also noted the savings delivery tracker and approved virements¹ set out in the report.

Contract for Temporary Recruitment Services

The cabinet approved the award of the contract for a Managed Service for Temporary Agency Staff Services to Reed Specialist Recruitment Ltd for five years, with an option for a two-year extension. The Authority to Award Contract for Temporary Recruitment Services Managed Service Provider report noted that the council's temporary agency workers spend has reduced by more than £7 million in the last year.

Councillor Gwen Grahl noted that it is suboptimal to use agency staff, particularly within children's social care, as it affects the relationships with young people.

Appointments to i4B Holdings Ltd and First Wave Housing Ltd Boards

The cabinet approved the appointment of Waqar Ahmed and Mannie Ketley as non-executive, independent directors of i4B Holdings Ltd and First Wave Housing Ltd for three years from 1 September 2025. They also approved the appointment of Sadie East, Serita Kwofie and Nicole Jarrett-Francis as senior council officer directors of i4B and FWH for a period of three years.

Andrew Hudson, chair of the i4B & First Wave Housing Boards, thanked the outgoing board members for their contributions and supported the proposed appointments.

Affordable Housing Supply Update

The cabinet received an Affordable Housing Supply Update outlining the council's commitment to delivering 5,000 genuinely affordable homes in Brent by 2028, with 1,700 directly delivered by the council. As of the beginning of 2025/26, 4,052 affordable homes have been delivered across the borough, of which 758 were council-led. There are over 1,000 more homes already on site and set to complete by March 2028.

The cabinet agreed to:

• Note the update on schemes currently on site and expected delivery dates.
• Acknowledge the current viability challenges on the council's plans for self-delivering new-build social rent schemes.
• Delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Neighbourhoods and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property, to enter into a Deed of Variation for the GLA Affordable Housing Programme 21-26.
• Proceed with the onsite delivery of the Edgware Road Scheme, to deliver 120 new-build homes for use as temporary accommodation with ground floor commercial space.
• Delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Neighbourhoods and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property, to agree the necessary pre-tender considerations, use of the commercial space including consideration of tax status and subsequent contract awards.

Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson thanked colleagues in Regeneration for their work in taking housing that the council can put people into.

Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) Funding

The cabinet agreed to allocate up to £14,533,000 of SCIL funding to support infrastructure improvements related to highways, parks, and CCTV. Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Public Realm & Enforcement, introduced the SCIL Public Realm Projects report, noting that the funding represents a vital opportunity to invest in the everyday spaces and infrastructure that defines Brent's communities.

The funding will be allocated as follows:

• Highways: £10,683,000 for carriageway and footway maintenance, street lighting column replacement, and tree stump removal.
• Parks: £730,000 for footpath and play equipment improvements.
• CCTV: £3,120,000 for upgrades and extensions to the CCTV network.

Councillor Gwaine Dempster said that local government have been forced to make a lot of decisions that they really don't want to make, which is essentially often about preserving our statutory services and not being able to spend as much on the public realm.

Councillor Promise Knight, Cabinet Member for Customer Experience, Resident Support and Culture, welcomed the investment in public highways, parks, and CCTV installations.

Councillor Jake Rubin, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Community Power, expressed pleasure in seeing some of the work on more CCTV, which he said is really good for public safety and fly-tipping.

Councillor Neil Nerva highlighted that developers pay Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SIL), and this is a really good example of the borough using it on a strategic basis across the borough.

Electric Vehicle Charging Points

The cabinet agreed to approve the commencement of the tender process in respect of appointing the Charging Point Operator (s) to supply, install, operate and maintain electric vehicle charge points in Brent. The Authority to invite tenders in respect of appointing Charging Point Operator(s) report noted that this is a vital next step in tackling some of Brent's most urgent challenges, including air quality, congestion, climate change, and transport inequality.

The cabinet also agreed to:

• Approve the pre-tender considerations pursuant to Standing Order 89 of Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution.
• Delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement, to award a fifteen-year contract(s).
• Approve entering into the Partnership 6 Inter-Authority agreement.

Councillor Gwynne Grahl said that it's really important that we don't do what reform-led councils are doing and scrap policies to address climate change, and that we keep our ambitious targets for zero emissions.

Councillor Jake Rubin said that part of that just transition is also supporting residents with the transition to electric vehicles away from dirty and polluting petrol vehicles to kind of clean and green vehicles.

Councillor Neil Nerva noted that Brent is already in the top 20% across the country of authorities with electric vehicle access.