Councillor Amaraga has been elected as the new Mayor of Brent Council, with Councillor Kanta Mistry appointed as Deputy Mayor. The annual council meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, saw the formal election of the new civic leadership for the 2026-2027 municipal year. Councillor Amaraga was elected for a one-year term, a typical duration for the role.
Councillor Amaraga's priorities, as outlined in their acceptance speech, focused on bringing people together, supporting the council's vision and mission, championing shared values, and serving every resident with fairness, dignity, and respect. They emphasized the importance of diversity, acceptance, opportunity, and compassion, drawing from personal experience of being welcomed to Brent.
There was only one nomination for the position of Mayor, meaning Councillor Amaraga faced no opposition for the role. The meeting transcript confirms, So whilst we only have one nomination, I will need to ask members to confirm the appointment.
The new leadership will need to address significant constitutional changes, including the appointment of a new Leader of the Council and the establishment of new political group representation on committees. The meeting information also indicates a need to update standing orders for written questions and motions to reflect the new political composition of the Council following the May elections. Furthermore, an amendment was passed to explore the establishment of an additional scrutiny committee focused on housing, suggesting this is a key area of focus for the upcoming municipal year.
These constitutional and structural changes, with Councillor Muhammed Butt appointed as the new Leader of the Council, suggest a potential shift in how council business is conducted and scrutinized. While specific policy impacts are not detailed, the focus on updating standing orders and exploring a new housing scrutiny committee points to areas where the new leadership's appointment could lead to adjustments.
The Mayor's role was described as quite an important role for us in the Council.
The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Ryan Hack, highlighted his extensive civic duties during his tenure, which included attending over 400 events and receiving dignitaries. This suggests the Mayor's responsibilities encompass significant public engagement and representation of the borough. Specific responsibilities for the Deputy Mayor were not detailed in the provided information.
The meeting agenda and associated reports can be found in the Agenda frontsheet and the Public reports pack.
