Councillors Sabina Khan, Maisha Begumand Abdul Mannan gave their apologies and joined online.

Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, please see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are reminded to declare the nature of the interest and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it’s the Members’ responsibility to declare any interests form and to update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of your interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest were received at the meeting. Cllr Bodrul Choudhury and Cllr Mannan declared that they are directors are Bromley-by-Bow Centre.

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 and 20 December 2024.

The Chair Moved  and it was:-

RESOLVED

That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 December and 20 December 2024 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of the proceedings.

Consider impact of cost of living in the borough and provision in place to support residents. The spotlight will consider different elements highlighted by members and residents, focus on the uptake of support packages, and invite residents to share their experiences.

Cllr Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living, gave a presentation on the impact of cost of living in the borough and provision in place to support residents, with Julie Lorraine, Corporate Director for Resources, Ellie Kershaw, Director of Integrated Growth & Development, Abdulzarack Kassim, Finance Director Deputy Section 151 Officer.

The committee made the following comments and questions:

• How accessible is the resident support scheme? What barriers are you finding for residents to access it? Officers confirmed that there are online and offline ways for residents to get help with the applications and there have been an increase in applications, which shows that the scheme is reaching residents, but the council is always looking for ways to further promote the scheme.  Cllr Saied Ahmed highlighted how the idea stores are on hand to help residents who need support with the scheme.
• Private rent is soaring across the borough, what is the council doing to support residents who rent privately? Officers stated the level of support that is currently being offered, including grants and loans that can help residents when they need help with a private rental.
• Residents who have no recourse to public funds, including children, what has the council done to find and support these residents who will be in a vulnerable place? Officers confirmed that the adult support team can provide further detail on the support for those who have no recourse to public funds.
• The report does not mention care leavers, what is the current support being provided? Officers highlighted the range of support that is being provided to care leavers, including how the employment service provides support for job interviews.
• Why is the Bangladeshi Community in Tower Hamlets more likely to be facing financial pressures after the Covid-19 Pandemic and through the current cost of living crisis? Cllr Saied Ahmed reflected on why the Bangladeshi Community are facing issues in this area, stating that many within the community were affected when hospitality-based business were affected by the pandemic, with many households seeing single earners unable to earn income.
• How will the proposed raise in council tax help those who are struggling with the cost of living crisis? Cllr Saied Ahmed stated that the raise will not affect those who are struggling most within the borough.
• Will there be any more rounds of house hold support fund going out to residents? Officers confirmed that the council is waiting for the government to confirm if the funding will continue in 2024/25.
• Members requested an officer response in writing on if a legal opinion was sought over if the Mayor’s name was allowed to be added to the letterhead on the letters sent out about the house hold support fund.
• What support is the council providing to vulnerable residents on prepayment meters? Officers confirmed that current schemes in place do provide payments for those on prepayment meters, and the idea stores have recently launched specialised support for those on prepayment meters. Cash alternatives are also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented at the 31 January 2024 meeting of Cabinet.

Nil items.

To hear updates from the Overview and Scrutiny Leads on their work across the Council.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the Update.

To review forthcoming decisions expected to be taken by the Mayor and identify any areas of further Scrutiny for committee.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the forward plan.

Members queried the following updates:

• The question on the staffing concerns in housing options services needs to be reconsidered for an answer from officers.
• Questions on waste and recycling need to be reviewed and provided again to the committee.

The chair asked members to re-submit the questions to officers.

No decisions of the Mayor in respect of unrestricted reports on the agenda were ‘called in’.

The following items are due to be considered at the Cabinet meeting 31 January 2024. The committee is invited to consider the reports below:

Nil items

To receive any petitions (to be notified at the meeting).

Nil items

To consider any other unrestricted business that the Chair considers to be urgent.

Nil items

As the agenda circulated had no exempt/confidential reports and there was therefore no requirement to exclude the press and public to allow for its consideration

Nil Items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.

To consider any other exempt/ confidential business that the Chair considers to be urgent.

Nil items.