Brent Council convened on Monday, 10 November 2025, for a council meeting featuring a debate on the borough's finances, with the opposition criticising the Labour government's financial support for local authorities and the Labour council's response.
Non-cabinet members debated a motion titled Broken Promises and Failing Finances – Brent Deserves Better than Labour's Short-Term Thinking.
The motion, submitted by Councillor Paul Lorber, Leader of Liberal Democrats Group, criticised what he described as the Labour government's failure to deliver the financial support that local authorities like Brent urgently need, promising change
but instead offering only one-year settlements and short-term solutions. The motion also criticised the Labour council's response to this perceived lack of support, which he deemed unacceptable,
arguing that the council has not stood up for local residents and demanded a fair deal1.
The motion calls for multi-year funding settlements for councils, arguing that the current one-year settlements do not allow councils to plan properly and invest efficiently. The motion states: Despite a year of promises from the new Labour Government, Councils have still not received the multi-year funding settlements needed to plan ahead and invest efficiently.
These multi-year settlements are intended to provide stability, as opposed to the current one-year arrangements.
The motion also highlights the state of highways and public realm maintenance in Brent, stating that local people see little in return - roads full of potholes, littered streets, unreliable waste services and a backlog of repairs to Council homes.
It calls for additional ring-fenced investment for highways, pavements, and public-realm maintenance.
The meeting took place at the Brent Civic Centre and was open to the public, with a live webcast available for those unable to attend in person. The agenda and reports pack are available online.
1 According to the motion, rather than standing up for local residents and demanding a fair deal, the Council has meekly accepted the Government's excuses while presiding over neglected streets, crumbling pavements, and services stretched to breaking point.
