Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest, identified 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, see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

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

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

The unrestricted minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 16 October 2024 are presented for approval.

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

(Under provisions of Section 30, Rule 59 of the Constitution).

None.

Pre-decision scrutiny questions were noted.

DECISION

1.    Note the progress made in respect of the Youth Service roll out.

2.    Provide agreement to continue to roll out line with the implementation plan.

Action by:

Corporate Director Childrens Services (S. Reddy)

Interim Director of Youth Services (S. Rahman)

Pre-decision scrutiny questions and responses were noted. The Mayor advised that a response on pre-decision scrutiny question 4 would follow.

DECISION

1.    Note the decision taken by The Chief Executive to self-refer to the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and endorse this decision.

2.    Approve the establishment of a Housing Management Sub Committee of Cabinet to oversee the council’s housing management service in relation to performance, compliance and assure the delivery of the Regulatory Assurance Action Plan.

3.    Note the proposed Terms of Reference for the Housing Sub Committee of Cabinet as set out in Appendix 1 and delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Housing and Regeneration in consultation with the Mayor to finalise the Terms of Reference.

4.    Agree the Regulatory Assurance Action Plan at Appendix 2.

5.    Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Housing and Regeneration, in consultation with the Mayor & Lead Member of Housing to agree the final Regulatory Assurance Action Plan following RSH comments.

Action by

Corporate Director of Housing and Regeneration (D. Joyce)

Interim Head of Regulatory Assurance (D. Reynolds)

Pre-decision scrutiny questions and responses were noted.

DECISION

1.    Approve the Council’s Tenant & Leaseholder Engagement Strategy (Appendix 1 to the report)

2.    To note the Equalities Impact Assessment (Appendix to the report.) and specific equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph 4.1 of the report.

3.    To note the actions within the Regulatory Assurance Action plan (Appendix 4 to the report) which support the delivery of this Strategy.

Action by

Corporate Director of Housing and Regeneration (D. Joyce)

Interim Head of Regulatory Assurance (D. Reynolds)

Pre-decision scrutiny questions and responses were noted.

DECISION

1.    Approve the council’s new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024-2029 and the Delivery Plan which underpins the priorities of the new strategy.

2.    To note the outcome of the consultation and how it has been used to

shape the priorities of the new strategy.

3.    To note the Equalities Impact Assessment as summarised in Section 4 of this report.

Action by

Corporate Director Housing and Regeneration (D. Joyce)

Director of Housing (K. Swift)

DECISION

1.    Note the local strategic priorities set out for the Tower Hamlets’ Combating Drugs Partnership (CDP) in the CDP Substance Misuse strategy and confirm Tower Hamlets Council’s adoption of the strategy and delivery plan

Action by:

Corporate Director Adult Social Care (G. Chimbani)

Strategy and Policy Lead (A. Price)

DECISION

1.    Approve the Children and Education Scrutiny Subgroup Committee Child Healthy Weight Recommendations and Action Plan.

2.    Note the specific equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph 4 of the report.

Action by:

Corporate Director Childrens Services (S. Reddy)

Acting Associate Director of Public Health (M. Quinn)

DECISION

1.    Consider the Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee’s Review Report (Appendix 1 to the report) on Empowering Disabled Residents: Accessible Sports and Fitness Initiatives.

2.    Agree the Service Action Plan (Appendix 2 to the report) in response to the scrutiny report recommendations.

Action by:

Corporate Director Communities (S. Baxter)

Head of Leisure Operations (S. Jones)

DECISION

That the Mayor in Cabinet notes:

1.    the factors influencing pupil population change in Tower Hamlets;

2.    the current position on the provision of school places in the borough;

3.    the projected demand for school places in future years;

4.    the steps being taken to manage the sufficiency and sustainability of school places in accordance with the council’s school organisation strategy.

5.    latest position on SEND, current provision and sufficiency planning;

6.    the specific equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph 5 of the report.

Action by;

Corporate Director Childrens Services  (S. Reddy)

Director of Education (L. Fraser)

DECISION

1.    Approve the proposal from the Governing Body of Stepney Greencoat CE Primary to a permanent change of age range by adding a nursery provision as detailed in the report.

Action by;

Corporate Director Childrens Services  (S. Reddy)

Director of Education (L. Fraser)

DECISION

1.    Defer the decision on the redesignation of the Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum as the designated neighbourhood forum for the Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Planning Area, pending resolution of concerns regarding community representation on the Neighbourhood Forum’s membership and management committee.

2.    Delegate authority to the Corporate Director Housing and Regeneration, in consultation with the Lead Member and Mayor, to determine the redesignation application.

Action by:

Corporate Director Housing and Regeneration (D. Joyce)

Planning Officer (M. Acton-Filion)

DECISION

1.    Continue the Council’s participation in the 8 Authority Pool for Business Rates with seven other London Local Authorities for 2025-26.

2.    Provide delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Resources in consultation with the Mayor and Cabinet Member for Resources and Cost of Living to agree membership of the business rates pool in future years.

Action by:

Corporate Director Resources (J. Lorraine)

Director of Finance, Procurement & Audit (A. Kassim)

Reasons for urgency were noted and agreed.

DECISION

1.    Note the Be Well leisure facility improvement project proposals and feasibilities for 2025/26 to 2027/28 as summarised in Appendix 1 to the report and detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.

2.    Note the anticipated outcomes and impact of the proposals in terms of income generation alongside the wider benefits in terms of supporting targeted customer engagement customers and new customers, enhancing customer experience, and providing a new service offer.

3.    Note that the project proposals have been presented as a Project Initiation Document (PID) for consideration in accordance with the council’s capital programme governance process.

4.    Approve an addition £1.504 million capital funding for 2024/25 for projects across all leisure facilities as shown in Appendix 1 to the report.

5.    Agree to the development of options appraisals and feasibility studies for the provision of sauna and steam facilities at Poplar Baths and Tiller Leisure Centres and delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Mayor, to agree additional capital funding.

Action by:

Corporate Director Communities (S. Baxter)

Head of Leisure Operations (S. Jones)

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.

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.

(Under provisions of Section 30, Rule 59 of the Constitution).