Adegboyega Oluwole - Cllr for Barking and Dagenham (Mayesbrook)

Cllr Adegboyega Oluwole

Labour Party Mayesbrook Chair, Licensing & Regulatory Committee

Email: adegboyega.oluwole@lbbd.gov.uk

Council: Barking and Dagenham

Council Profile: View on council website

Committees: Licensing Sub-Committee (Chair) Assembly (Member) Ceremonial Council (Member) Audit and Risk Committee (Member) Audit and Standards Committee Licensing and Regulatory Committee (Chair)

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Positions, Voting Record & Activity Summary

Last updated: 8 days ago

Adegboyega Oluwole's council service across 2025 and 2026 demonstrates a consistent dedication to governance, regulatory oversight, and financial accountability, with a pronounced intensification of focus on these areas in the most recent year, 2026.

Key Themes and Priorities: Across both years, Oluwole's primary focus has been on ensuring robust governance structures and effective regulatory processes. This is evident in his leadership of the Licensing & Regulatory Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee. Financial oversight, particularly concerning the Council's financial statements and pension fund, was a significant concern in 2025, and this theme continues into 2026 with his involvement in the Audit and Risk Committee and the review of the annual governance statement.

Evolution of Focus: While Oluwole was a consistently active participant in 2025, chairing numerous meetings and addressing a wide range of issues from treasury management to the Localism Act, his role in 2026 appears to have sharpened into a more strategic and forward-looking one, particularly within the Audit and Risk Committee. The emphasis in 2026 is on refining reporting mechanisms and ensuring a clear understanding of the risk and assurance framework. His commitment to improving the presentation of the annual governance statement by June 2026 signals a proactive approach to addressing past issues and enhancing future transparency.

Most Significant Contributions (Especially in Recent Years): In 2026, Oluwole's most significant contribution lies in his leadership of the Audit and Risk Committee and his direct engagement with the annual governance statement. His declaration of interest due to contracted work for PSAA highlights a commitment to transparency even when personal interests are involved. His stated intention to improve the report's presentation and conduct a fundamental review of its structure by June 2026 is a key initiative aimed at enhancing the Council's accountability and risk management.

In 2025, his contributions were broad, including presiding over critical discussions on treasury management, children's care, and financial regulations. His strong dissatisfaction with the delays in the Council's Statement of Accounts from BDO, stating,

Now, that is not a satisfactory situation as far as the Council is concerned. We've got all these years outstanding. And it's not a satisfactory situation as far as Grant Thornton is concerned, because BDO is still getting in the way of their audits to an extent. Although Grant Thornton and I are trying to work around that, but it's not easy.

He also expressed frustration with the lack of progress on the pension fund issue, noting,

On the other thing of the pension fund, well, we've made no progress on that either. They have promised to come back to me with further details of what they believe is right and what they believe is wrong, but they haven't as yet done so. So there will be a further report, and I hope a final report on that at the next meeting. I hope we'll be able to wind up the whole thing at the next meeting, because this, frankly, is getting quite ridiculous.

His active participation in the Annual Assembly, voting for the budget framework and Medium Term Financial Strategy, and his practical rulings on licensing matters, such as clarifying live music hours (

it was 1 am, not 2 am.
), and his sensitive handling of complex issues, like temporarily adjourning a meeting due to its sensitivity (
In view of the sensitivity of this matter that you have brought to her, I want to adjourn this meeting for five minutes.
), were also notable.

Patterns and Consistent Areas of Interest: Oluwole consistently demonstrates a commitment to procedural correctness and efficient meeting management. His leadership in licensing and regulatory matters, coupled with his involvement in audit and risk, indicates a sustained interest in ensuring the Council operates within legal frameworks and manages its resources responsibly. The recurring theme of addressing outstanding financial reports and improving governance documentation underscores his dedication to transparency and accountability.

Yearly Activity Timeline

In January 2026, Adegboyega Oluwole, in his capacity as Chair of the Licensing & Regulatory Committee, presided over the Audit and Risk Committee meeting. He declared an interest due to his contracted work for PSAA. His key activities included moving for the approval of previous minutes and introducing the 2024-25 draft annual governance statement. Oluwole clarified the purpose of the statement, emphasizing its role in providing a high-level overview of the risk and assurance framework and identifying recommendations. He committed to improving the report's presentation for the upcoming year to better reflect past issues, actions, and current challenges, with a fundamental review of the annual governance statement's presentation to be completed by June.

Monthly Activity in 2026

During the January 14, 2026 Audit and Risk Committee meeting, Adegboyega Oluwole, as Chair of the Licensing & Regulatory Committee, opened the session and declared an interest due to his contracted work for PSAA. He moved for the approval of the previous meeting's minutes and introduced the 2024-25 draft annual governance statement. Oluwole clarified that this statement provides a high-level overview of the organization's risk and assurance framework and identifies recommendations, rather than detailing specific action plans. He acknowledged feedback on the report's presentation and committed to improving it for the 25-26 year to better illustrate past issues, actions, and current challenges. He confirmed that updates on action plans would be incorporated into the 25-26 work program and assured members that a fundamental review of the annual governance statement's presentation would be completed by June, with regular updates provided.

Meetings in January 2026
Audit and Risk Committee - Wednesday, 14 January 2026 7:00 pm - 14 January 2026

Adegboyega Oluwole, in his capacity as Chair of the Licensing & Regulatory Committee, opened the Audit and Risk Committee meeting on January 14, 2026. He declared an interest due to his contracted work for PSAA, the body responsible for appointing the Council's external auditor. He moved for the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting on November 26, 2025. Oluwole introduced the report on the 2024-25 draft annual governance statement, explaining its purpose was to seek formal approval for inclusion in the statement of accounts. He clarified that the annual governance statement serves as a snapshot of the organization's risk and assurance framework and identifies recommendations for monitoring, rather than detailing action plans. He acknowledged concerns about the report's disjointed presentation and committed to improving it for the 25-26 year to clearly show past issues, actions, and current challenges. Oluwole stated that the detail on progress with challenges is found elsewhere, not within the report itself, and that the current report is a high-level summary looking backward. He confirmed that updates on action plans, a recommendation from a previous meeting, were not on the work programme but would be programmed for the 25-26 year. He indicated a fundamental review of the annual governance statement's presentation would occur for the 25-26 year to enhance communication and ensure best practices by reviewing other authorities' statements. He assured members that a review would be completed by June, with regular updates provided.

Activity Timeline

Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.

22 meetings · Page 1 of 5

Assembly Member

Assembly - Wednesday, 28 January 2026 7:00 pm

The Assembly of Barking and Dagenham Council met on Wednesday 28 January 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including the Council Tax Support Scheme for the upcoming year, the Sex Establishment Licensing Policy, and the annual reports from the BAD Youth Forum, Adoption services, and the Director of Public Health. The meeting also covered the Council's Pay Policy Statement and considered a motion regarding contaminated land.

January 28, 2026, 7:00 pm
Audit and Risk Committee Member

Audit and Risk Committee - Wednesday, 14 January 2026 7:00 pm

The Audit and Risk Committee of Barking and Dagenham Council met on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, to review the 2024-25 Draft Annual Governance Statement, the Internal Audit Q2 report, and the Counter Fraud 2024-25 Q1/2 Review. Key decisions included noting the reports and agreeing to a revised work programme for the upcoming year.

January 14, 2026, 7:00 pm
Licensing Sub-Committee Chair

Licensing Sub-Committee - Monday, 1 December 2025 7:00 pm

The Licensing Sub-Committee convened to discuss an application by Lulzim Brati for a new premises licence for Bratty A&A Cafe, located at 530 Rainham Road South, Dagenham. The application was approved, with a condition added that alcohol sales must end at 10pm on Sundays.

December 01, 2025
Audit and Risk Committee Member

Audit and Risk Committee - Wednesday, 26 November 2025 7:00 pm

The Audit and Risk Committee met to discuss external audit reports from BDO and Grant Thornton (GT), consider management responses, and review the committee's work programme. The committee approved the audited Statement of Accounts for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and the Pension Fund for the financial years 2019/20 to 2022/23, delegating authority to the Strategic Director of Resources to finalise the accounts with BDO for publication.

November 26, 2025
Assembly Member

Assembly - Wednesday, 19 November 2025 7:00 pm

At a meeting of the Barking and Dagenham Assembly, councillors noted the Local Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024/25, approved the Annual Youth Justice Plan 2025/26, and agreed to submit the East London Joint Waste Plan Regulation 19 Submission Plan for government approval. The Assembly also noted the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2025/26 Mid-Year Review, and approved the appointment of Councillor Julia Williams to the Pensions Committee.

November 19, 2025

Decisions from Meetings

8 decisions · Page 1 of 2

Treasury Management Annual Report 2024/25

From: Assembly - Wednesday, 23 July 2025 7:00 pm - July 23, 2025

...to note the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2024/25 and approve the actual Prudential and Treasury Indicators for 2024/25.

Recommendations approved

Adoption of the Thames Road Supplementary Planning Document

From: Annual Meeting, Assembly - Wednesday, 14 May 2025 7:00 pm - May 14, 2025

... to adopt the Thames Road Supplementary Planning Document, providing a 20-year spatial vision for the regeneration of Thames Road, including 3,500 new homes, industrial spaces, revitalized public areas, and new social infrastructure.

Recommendations approved

Summary

Meetings Attended: 22

Average per Month: 1.8

Decisions Recorded: 8