Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Neville Murton (Corporate Director, Resources) who was deputised by Kevin Bartle (Divisional Director, Finance, Procurement and Audit).

There were no Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.

The unrestricted minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 25 September 2019 are presented for approval.

RESOLVED

1.    That the unrestricted minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 25September 2019 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of proceedings.

The Mayor made a number of announcements, including:

·         Congratulating the Half Moon Theatre youth group for their work recording a pop song for BBC Children in Need.

·         The Council would be working to publicise the EU Nationals Settlement scheme as take up was not yet as high as expected.

·         Noting that a general election was due shortly which would impact on the Council’s public activities for the pre-election period.

Councillor Amina Ali, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, reported that the Council’s Local Account report had been published which highlighted achievements over the past year in adult social care. The full document would be available to view on the Council’s website.

Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) to report on any issues  raised by the OSC in relation to unrestricted business to be considered.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions, and officer responses, were tabled in respect of the following reports:

·         6.2 Report on the outcome of the public consultation on the closure of Raine’s School and the expansion of Oaklands School

·         6.5 Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2018-19

·         6.7 Liveable Streets Programme

·         6.8 Local Community Fund

·         6.11 Nominations to Outside Bodies

These were considered during discussion of the relevant items.

In addition Councillor James King, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, provided an update on the Committee’s recent activities. He reported that the Committee had held a meeting on Monday at which they had discussed a number of issues including:

·         There had been a good discussion about how to strengthen the Council’s consultation processes and the use of best practice in this field.

·         They had discussed issues around parking and the public realm, with this issue likely to be coming back for a further discussion at a later date.

·         The presentation of the report on the Council’s gambling policy had resulted in an interesting discussion on the risks of these activities and how concerns were addressed by the Council.

Finally he reported that both the Council’s budget plans and a discussion on community safety issues were expected at upcoming meetings,

The Mayor thanked Councillor James King for his update.

Nil items.

DECISION

1.  To note the position on the current and projected demand for school places;

2.  To agree the plans put forward in paragraph 3.12 of the report to rationalise the primary school provision in areas of surplus, 

3.  To note the progress made in relation to:

-     The development of a new primary school at Wood Wharf on the Isle of Dogs.

-     The development  and the arrangements for the appointment of the school provider for the new secondary school at London Dock;

-     The development of a secondary provision at Westferry Printworks on the Isle of Dogs and the options for determining the school to occupy this new site;

-     The progress on the expansion of Phoenix Special School on the site of the former Bow Boys Secondary School at Paton Close, E3 and the planned enlargement of Beatrice Tate Special School.

-     The plans and options for future school developments to meet the anticipated need for additional places.

4.  To agree the recommendation not to proceed with plans for a new 2FE primary school at the site of Alpha Square.

5.  To note that this report sets out the Council’s plan to exercise its Education functions, not its functions as a Local Planning Authority (LPA). It aligns with the LPA stance at the Local Plan Examination in Public, particularly on the plan to retain the majority of the current allocation of school sites.

6.  To note the specific equalities considerations as set out in section 5 of the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (D. JONES)

(Service Head Pupil Services and School Sufficiency (T. Bryan)

Councillor Danny Hassell, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People, introduced the report on planning for school places. He reported that the borough faced a number of demographic challenges with different population changes in different parts of the borough potentially leading to oversupply of places in some areas whilst others saw a deficit.

He highlighted that taking the right decisions was important to ensure that good quality education could be offered to children within the borough. He noted that the Council had worked hard to be proactive to pre-empt some of the issues that could have arisen.

The Council would be working collaboratively on any proposals that were being developed but that a number of difficult decisions were likely in the future.

During discussion, Councillor Andrew Wood, Leader of the Conservative Group, raised concerns about the temporary site for Canary Wharf College.

The Mayor noted that officers were looking into possible solutions for schools in that area including Canary Wharf College. He thanked officers for their hard work on the issues highlighted in the report and noted that he didn’t underestimate the challenging decisions which lay ahead. He then agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.  To note the position on the current and projected demand for school places;

2.  To agree the plans put forward in paragraph 3.12 of the report to rationalise the primary school provision in areas of surplus, 

3.  To note the progress made in relation to:

-     The development of a new primary school at Wood Wharf on the Isle of Dogs.

-     The development  and the arrangements for the appointment of the school provider for the new secondary school at London Dock;

-     The development of a secondary provision at Westferry Printworks on the Isle of Dogs and the options for determining the school to occupy this new site;

-     The progress on the expansion of Phoenix Special School on the site of the former Bow Boys Secondary School at Paton Close, E3 and the planned enlargement of Beatrice Tate Special School.

-     The plans and options for future school developments to meet the anticipated need for additional places.

4.  To agree the recommendation not to proceed with plans for a new 2FE primary school at the site of Alpha Square.

5.  To note that this report sets out the Council’s plan to exercise its Education functions, not its functions as a Local Planning Authority (LPA). It aligns with the LPA stance at the Local Plan Examination in Public, particularly on the plan to retain the majority of the current allocation of school sites.

6.  To note the specific equalities considerations as set out in section 5 of the report.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions, and Officer responses, were noted.

The exempt appendix was noted.

DECISION

1.    To note the outcomes of the informal stage of consultation and Equality Impact Analysis.

2.    To agree to publish a Statutory Notice and Proposal for the closure of Raine’s Foundation Trust School;

3.    Agree to proceed to the next stage of the statutory consultation by publishing the Notice in order to initiate the Statutory Representation Period to run from 4^th November to 2^nd December 2019.

4.    To note that further proposals are being developed with respect to the potential expansion of Oaklands School.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (D. JONES)

(Service Head, Pupil Services and School Sufficiency (T. Bryan)

Councillor Danny Hassell, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People, introduced the report on the recent public consultation in respect of the potential closure of Raine’s School and also on the possible expansion of Oaklands School.

He highlighted the reasons which had been set out which demonstrated the viability concerns in respect of Raines School and also described the efforts of the Council to support the school over recent years. The number of pupils was reducing with a direct impact on the financial viability of the school and in addition exam results were below Tower Hamlets averages. The report was therefore recommending that the most appropriate course of action would be to proceed to the statutory consultation in respect of potentially closing the school.

The Mayor opened the item up for discussion and noted a number of issues including:

·         That the Council was not expecting the Department for Education to intervene.

·         The Schools adjudicator had raised concerns over Council processes.

·         The need to ensure a good quality of education could be provided to all pupils and the need to offer greater opportunities for achievement.

·         Whether there were lessons to be learnt for future cases.

·         The role of the school governing body in supporting a school.

The Mayor thanked everyone for their contributions. He reported that he had carefully considered all the papers that had been set out including the detailed appendices.

He also confirmed he had considered the exempt appendices and agreed the reasons for exemption set out as they contained information which would identify individuals.

He noted the pre-decision scrutiny questions and officers responses.

Finally he agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the outcomes of the informal stage of consultation and Equality Impact Analysis.

2.    To agree to publish a Statutory Notice and Proposal for the closure of Raine’s Foundation Trust School;

3.    Agree to proceed to the next stage of the statutory consultation by publishing the Notice in order to initiate the Statutory Representation Period to run from 4^th November to 2^nd December 2019.

4.    To note that further proposals are being developed with respect to the potential expansion of Oaklands School.

The Mayor withdrew this agenda item following the deferral of the proposed Brexit date by the government but reported to the meeting that the Council were continuing to monitor developments and would report back if required at a later date.

DECISION

1.    To note content of the LSCB Annual Report 2018-19

2.    To note the specific equalities considerations as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (D. JONES)

(Safeguarding Children Strategy and Governance Manager (M. Bakht)

Councillor Danny Hassell, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People, introduced the report setting out the Annual Report of the Safeguarding Children’s Board.

He explained that this was the final report under these arrangements with a new partnership arrangement replacing the Board from the summer of 2019. He highlighted a number of points from the report including:

·         The report set out the vital work undertaken by the Council and its partners.

·         This also demonstrated the commitment of partners such as the police to tackling these issues.

·         Partnership working made an important contribution to the Council’s ‘Good’ OFSTED rating.

·         There was a significant growth in child protection cases due to neglect with poverty being a clear related issue.

Finally he placed on record his thanks to Stephen Ashley who had chaired the Board for the last two years.

The Mayor echoed the thanks to Stephen Ashley and the board as a whole. He also thanked the partners, officers and Lead Member for their support and he agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To note content of the LSCB Annual Report 2018-19

2.    To note the specific equalities considerations as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions, and Officer responses, were noted.

DECISION

1.    To endorse the Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2018-19.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, HEALTH, ADULTS AND COMMUNITIES (D. RADLEY)

(Adults Safeguarding Governance and Strategy Manager (S. Ahmed)

Christabel Shawcross, Independent Chair of the Safeguarding Adults Board, introduced the report setting out their Annual Report for 2018-19.

She took Members through the report and highlighted a number of key points from the report. This included the following notes:

·         There had been an increase in the number safeguarding concerns raised which the Board considered reflected growing awareness of the issue.

·         However, there had been a reduction in enquiries from these referrals which was seen as reflecting improved training on when it was appropriate to refer cases.

·         The Board were exploring where there may be gaps and issues not being covered.

·         That 88% of care users said the service helped them feel safe.

·         A lot of work was being undertaken on how to best target resources and the report set out key challenges for the next few years.

·         The Board played an important role in challenging providers and ensuring their services were of good quality.

The Mayor welcomed the report and thanked Christabel Shawcross for her hard work as Chair and the work of the whole Board. He noted the challenges that were presented and in particular the rapid growth in service demand from those with learning disabilities. He noted the pre-decision scrutiny questions and officer responses and agreed the recommendation as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To endorse the Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2018-19.

DECISION

1.    To note the activity of THEP as summarised in the THEP Annual Review 2018-19.

2.    To accept the audited accounts as contained within the THEP Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31 March 2019.

3.    To endorse the role of THEP in delivering Council priorities.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (D. JONES)

(Divisional Director, Education and Partnerships (C. McInnes)

(THEP Executive Director (T. Smith)

Tracy Smith (Executive Director) and Robert Crothers (Chair) of the Tower Hamlets Education Partnership introduced the report setting out the Partnership’s Financial Statement and Annual Review.

They took Members through the report highlighting that:

·         The report demonstrated the growing robustness of the organisation, this included having a strong financial position.

·         The strong buy-in from schools.

·         The excellent results children were able to achieve at Tower Hamlets schools but also those areas where work was needed.

·         The vital role that professional development for teachers had in ensuring good outcomes for pupils.

·         The Partnership was really ambitious to make a big difference in the future.

The Mayor welcomed the report and thanked Tracy and Robert for their hard work, highlighting how important the leadership of the Partnership was to the outcomes for schools. He noted the changing landscape in education and the role the Partnership could play in supporting education in the borough. He agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the activity of THEP as summarised in the THEP Annual Review 2018-19.

2.    To accept the audited accounts as contained within the THEP Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31 March 2019.

3.    To endorse the role of THEP in delivering Council priorities.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions, and Officer responses, were noted.

DECISION

1.    To note the details of the Liveable Streets programme;

2.    To note the governance and decision-making process for the individual scheme approval.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Divisional Director, Public Realm (D. Jones)

The Mayor introduced the update report on the Liveable Streets programme. He explained that this was a noting report providing details on lots of good work the Council was undertaking on a project which had not been formally reported to date. The aim was to work with residents and businesses to promote a better street environment, reduce rat-running and pollution as well as support vulnerable road users.

He noted the pre-decision scrutiny questions and officer responses and agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the details of the Liveable Streets programme;

2.    To note the governance and decision-making process for the individual scheme approval.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions, and Officer responses, were noted.

DECISION

1.    To note the progress relating to the transitional arrangements and equality mitigation actions for services whose current MSG funding came to an end on 30 September 2019 as set out in the report and appendices to the report.

Action by:

DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR, STRATEGY, POLICY AND PERFORMANCE (S. GODMAN)

(VCS Strategy Manager (D. Freeman)

Councillor Candida Ronald, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Voluntary Sector, introduced the report providing an update on transitional arrangements and equality mitigation actions in relation to the Local Community Fund. She highlighted that linked to this work reports would be coming to the Grants Determination Sub-Committee for agreement shortly. She noted:

·         The revised criteria for emergency funding.

·         The actions against gaps which had been identified.

·         The work to build the capacity of Somali organisations.

·         The next round of the small grants programme would be announced shortly.

The Mayor thanked the Lead Member for her report. He noted the pre-decision scrutiny questions and agreed the recommendation as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the progress relating to the transitional arrangements and equality mitigation actions for services whose current MSG funding came to an end on 30 September 2019 as set out in the report and appendices to the report.

DECISION

1.            To note the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s (OSC) June 2019 report recommendations on community safety, educational aspirations and employment aspirations at Appendix 2 to the report;

2.            To note the recommended Cabinet response to the OSC’s June 2019 report at Appendix 1 to the report; and

3.            To support officers’ reporting of progress to OSC by June 2020.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, HEALTH, ADULTS AND COMMUNITY (D. RADLEY)

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (D. JONES)

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

In moving the report, the Mayor noted that it covered the work of a number of Cabinet Members.

Councillor Danny Hassell, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People initially introduced the report and looked at the areas covered in relation to his portfolio in particular highlighting the work to close gaps in attainment in schools and in ensuring there was a viable sixth form offer available. He noted that one scrutiny recommendation in relation to movement of pupils between schools was not being taken forward due to the need to see the impact of recent changes in this area before making any further changes.

Councillor Asma Begum, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Equalities, then discussed the issues raised in relation to her portfolio in particular highlighting work to improve anti-social behaviour complaint reporting across statutory partners.

Finally the Mayor highlighted a number of others areas of the report including those around upskilling residents for employment opportunities and how the Council could support aspirational young people.

He welcomed the report as an example of the good work scrutiny could perform in supporting the aspirations of the Council. He agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.            To note the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s (OSC) June 2019 report recommendations on community safety, educational aspirations and employment aspirations at Appendix 2 to the report;

2.            To note the recommended Cabinet response to the OSC’s June 2019 report at Appendix 1 to the report; and

3.            To support officers’ reporting of progress to OSC by June 2020.

DECISION

1.    To recommend to Full Council the adoption of the revised Gambling Policy.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards (D. Tolley)

Councillor David Edgar, Cabinet Member for Environment, introduced the report on the updated Gambling Policy for 2019-22. He reported that the Council was required to review the policy every three years and that it was an important document in helping prevent gambling related crime and disorder, protecting children and the vulnerable and generally preventing harm relating to gambling.

The Mayor noted that changes to the policy were highlighted in the documents. He noted that no new licenses had been issued since 2014 which was seen as encouraging and he welcomed the reduction in prize money on fixed odds betting terminals. He agreed to recommend the policy to Council for adoption.

RESOLVED

1.    To recommend to Full Council the adoption of the revised Gambling Policy.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions, and Officer responses, were noted.

DECISION

1.    To agree the nominations to outside bodies as shown in Paragraph 3.3 of the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, GOVERNANCE AND MONITORING OFFICER (A. HUSSAIN)

(Senior Committee Services Officer (J. West)

The Mayor introduced the report proposing nominations to outside bodies. He noted the pre-decision scrutiny questions, and officer responses, and then agreed the recommendation as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree the nominations to outside bodies as shown in Paragraph 3.3 of the report.

Nil items.

Should the Mayor in Cabinet consider it necessary, it is recommended that the following motion be adopted to allow consideration of any exempt/restricted documents.

“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act, 1985, the Press and Public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contains information defined as Exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government, Act 1972”.

EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL SECTION (PINK)

Nil items.

The exempt / confidential minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on xxxxxx are presented for approval.

Nil items.

Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) to report on any issues  raised by the OSC in relation to exempt/confidential business to be considered.

Nil items.

Nil items.

Nil items.