Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:

·         Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor

·         Councillor Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services

·         Robin Beattie, Service Head Strategy and Resources, Communities, Localities and Culture.

None were declared.

The unrestricted minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 November 2013 are presented for information.

The unrestricted minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 November 2013 were noted.

To receive any petitions.

Nil items.

Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), provided an update on the discussions that had taken place at their last meeting.

In particular he:

·         Expressed disappointment that Cabinet Members and, in particular, the Mayor were invited to the meeting but had been unable to attend. He highlighted the importance of this attendance to enable the Executive’s decision making to be properly scrutinised.

·         Reported that the Committee had, at the request of Council, considered the facts surrounding the Watts Grove decision made on 29 July 2013. The Committee would be presenting a report to Council and the Executive may wish to comment on the recommendations.

·         There had been a discussion examining the business case for the Mayor’s Car. OSC felt that not enough consideration had been given to alternatives to the Mayor having a car. The Committee requested further information from officers and there would be further consideration of the subject at the next Committee meeting.

Finally, he reported that the Committee had reviewed the budget scrutiny process for 2014 and that scrutiny task group reports on School Places and Accident & Emergency Services had also been discussed.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman for his update.

The Clerk advised that no requests had been received to ‘call-in’ for further

consideration, by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, any provisional

decisions taken by the Mayor in Cabinet at the meeting held on 6 November 2013.

Subject to a minor amendments agreed at the meeting to clarify that whilst Queen Mary University London (QMUL) is a key stakeholder in the Whitechapel area, there may also be opportunities for other accredited education and research institutions (page 27 & 29 in the Whitechapel Vision Masterplan SPD), the recommendations were agreed.

DECISION

1.    To consider the representations received during the consultation on the draft Whitechapel Vision Masterplan SPD contained in Appendix 2

2.    To agree the summary of the main representations and the proposed responses to these representations as contained in Appendix 2, and to approve the subsequent necessary amendments to the Whitechapel Vision Masterplan SPD.

3.    To approve the final Whitechapel Vision Masterplan SPD for adoption and authorise officers to prepare and publish an adoption statement.

4.    To authorise the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal to make any necessary factual or minor editing changes prior to publishing the final Whitechapel Vision Masterplan SPD.

5.    To note that the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal in consultation with the Mayor and Lead Members will investigate options regarding the delivery of the Whitechapel Vision Masterplan SPD post adoption.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL (A. DALVI)

(Strategic Planning Manager (M. Bell)

(Team Leader Plan Making (R. Finch)

(Deputy Team Leader Plan Making (D. Brown)

Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, introduced the report. She highlighted the results of the consultation exercise that had taken place and in particular the changes to the plans that were a result of the consultation responses. She recommended the report as a key part of the transformation of Whitechapel Road and the surrounding area.

Finally, she highlighted a proposed change to the SPD document in relation to Education and Research institutions and noted a, subsequently corrected, error in the original print copy of Appendix two of the Consultation Report.

Following a discussion when Cabinet Members expressed their support for the scheme and in particular welcomed proposals on Car Parking, Jobs, Business support and engagement with stakeholders, the Mayor welcomed the report, thanked the officers and Lead Member for progressing with the masterplan and, subject to the amendment listed, agreed the recommendations.

A minor amendment was agreed to clarify that whilst Queen Mary University London (QMUL) was a key stakeholder in the Whitechapel area, there may also be opportunities for other accredited education and research institutions (page 27 & 29 in the Whitechapel Vision Masterplan SPD).

RESOLVED

1.    To consider the representations received during the consultation on the draft Whitechapel Vision Masterplan SPD contained in Appendix 2

2.    To agree the summary of the main representations and the proposed responses to these representations as contained in Appendix 2, and to approve the subsequent necessary amendments to the Whitechapel Vision Masterplan SPD.

3.    To approve the final Whitechapel Vision Masterplan SPD for adoption and authorise officers to prepare and publish an adoption statement.

4.    To authorise the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal to make any necessary factual or minor editing changes prior to publishing the final Whitechapel Vision Masterplan SPD.

5.    To note that the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal in consultation with the Mayor and Lead Members will investigate options regarding the delivery of the Whitechapel Vision Masterplan SPD post adoption.

DECISION

1.    To agree the content of the Council’s submission to TfL and authorise the Corporate Director of CLC to confirm such submission to TfL.

2.    To agree the proposed scheme allocations for the revised Three Year Delivery Plan as set out in Appendix One.

3.    To note that officers do not intend to do further public consultation at Delivery Plan stage as it would be premature/duplicate consultation already completed. Once funding is confirmed and projects can go live, then a further stage of detailed scheme specific public consultation would be required with relevant parties.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE

(Service Head Public Realm (J. Blake)

(Head of Transport and Highways (M. Cooper)

Councillor Shahed Ali, Cabinet Member for Environment, introduced the report. In light of recent tragic road incidents, he highlighted the work already being undertaken to improve road safety in the Bow area for cyclists and also cycle safety and training programmes including for School children.

The Mayor, welcomed the report and in particular highlighted that funds would be spread out across the borough on a needs basis.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree the content of the Council’s submission to TfL and authorise the Corporate Director of CLC to confirm such submission to TfL.

2.    To agree the proposed scheme allocations for the revised Three Year Delivery Plan as set out in Appendix One.

3.    To note that officers do not intend to do further public consultation at Delivery Plan stage as it would be premature/duplicate consultation already completed. Once funding is confirmed and projects can go live, then a further stage of detailed scheme specific public consultation would be required with relevant parties.

DECISION

1.    To note the 2013 Local Authority education results.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR EDUCATION, SOCIAL CARE AND WELLBEING (R. McCULLOCH-GRAHAM)

(Service Head Learning & Achievement (A. Canning)

(Head of Secondary Learning and Achievement (D. Warne)

Robert McCulloch-Graham, Corporate Director for Education, Social Care and Wellbeing introduced the report. He highlighted the results as a good news story for the borough and something to be immensely proud of. In particular he noted the achievements at GCSE level.

However, he also noted areas where improvement efforts should be focussed including Early Years although the gap with the national average was expected to narrow.

Following questions from Members he particularly highlighted the value of the close relationship between the schools and the local authority as an important part of the success story presented.

The Mayor welcomed the report and the demonstration that the investment put in by the Council was having an important effect on young people’s life chances. He thanked the children, teachers, governors and officers for their hard work to achieve these results.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the 2013 Local Authority education results.

Nil items.

Nil items.

DECISION

1.    To establish the Health and Wellbeing Board with the terms of reference and membership as set out in Appendix 1.

2.    To note that appointments to the Board will be presented to full council to be formally made.

3.    That officers ensure the inclusion of a resident participation member on the Board, which may be covered by an existing member or if not appropriate to be an additional appointment.

4.    That the terms of reference be amended to state that should the Mayor be unable to attend a meeting then the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing would Chair the meeting in his place.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR EDUCATION, SOCIAL CARE AND WELLBEING (R. McCULLOCH-GRAHAM)

(Service Head Commissioning and Strategy (D. Cohen)

(Service Head Democratic Services (J. Williams)

Councillor Abdul Asad, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, introduced the report.

The Mayor welcomed the report, however he requested two changes to the recommendations. Firstly that officers ensure that one member of the board was responsible for resident participation and secondly that it be stated that, should the Mayor not be able to attend, the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing should chair the meeting. Subject to those amendments, he agreed the recommendations.

RESOLVED

1.    To establish the Health and Wellbeing Board with the terms of reference and membership as set out in Appendix 1.

2.    To note that appointments to the Board will be presented to full council to be formally made.

3.    That officers ensure the inclusion of a resident participation member on the Board, which may be covered by an existing member or if not to be an additional appointment.

4.    That the terms of reference be amended to state that should the Mayor be unable to attend a meeting then the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing would Chair the meeting in his place.

DECISION

1.    To note the progress in creating the Local Community Ward Forums (LCWFs) and agree on the planned timetable of the 2013/14 LCWF cycle (section 3.8).

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE

(Service Head, Culture, Learning and Leisure (S. Hussain)

Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the report. He highlighted that the ward forums and associated local budgets empowered local residents to take decisions for themselves.

The Mayor welcomed the report as demonstrating the Council’s commitment to the people of Tower Hamlets and agreed the recommendation as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the progress in creating the Local Community Ward Forums (LCWFs) and agree on the planned timetable of the 2013/14 LCWF cycle (section 3.8).

Nil items.

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DECISION

1.    To note the exercise of Corporate Directors’ discretions as set out in Appendix 1.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR RESOURCS (C. HOLME)

(Chief Financial Strategy Officer (O. Shonola)

(Finance Officer (L. Stone)

Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the report and the Mayor agreed the recommendation as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the exercise of Corporate Directors’ discretions as set out in Appendix 1.

No motion to exclude the press and public was passed.

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