Agenda item
UNRESTRICTED REPORTS 'CALLED IN'
Minutes:
Cllr Mufeedah Bustin presented the reasons for call-in on behalf of the Call-in members and proposed alternative course of action as set out in the report.
The committee made the following comments and questions:
- Can you elaborate on the concerns residents have been raising about the cost of living in the Isle of Dogs? And do you feel the Mayor's Community Grants Programme needs to be reviewed to support the residents of the Isle of Dogs better? Cllr Bustin outlined the major concerns residents have raised, including the effects of the universal credit rollout. The Mayor's Community Grants Programme could help provide some funding structure to alleviate some of the concerns that residents have if it was structured that way. There are many projects that directly support the Isle of Dogs, most are borough wide.
- Can you detail how increased funding for NCIL 3 would help residents in this area? Cllr Bustin detailed how funding Neighbourhood SIL would help organisations within the area support residents and fund projects, including the Tower Hamlets Community Advice Network, who run critical services for Black and Asians residents. Organisations like Tower Hamlets Community Advice Network ensure that residents do not need further support from the council, so without the funding it will place greater strain on the council itself.
- Can you outline different funding models that could be considered? Cllr Bustin reflected on funding models, highlighting the general fund for more immediate funding.
- How much of the £4M allocated to the Docklands area goes to the Isle of Dogs? Cllr Bustin questioned that this breakdown is not available for local members, and it would be helpful for understanding the issues in the area, as currently only projects totalling a few thousand pounds seem to be supporting the Isle of Dogs.
Cllr Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living with Steve Halsey, Chief Executive, Afazul Hoque, Head of Corporate Strategy & Communities, Jennifer Peters, Director of Planning & Building Control set out the context of the Cabinet Decision and reviewed the key elements of the decision.
The committee made the following comments and questions:
- How will the Mayor's Community Grants Programme support forward planning for the council’s future aims? Officers detailed how the Mayor's Community Grants Programme supports the aims of the council’s strategic plan, including thematic work around supporting children in and outside of schools.
- The council needs to create mitigations within the Mayor's Community Grants Programme to ensure the issues within the Isle of Dogs can be supported. Can any monetary figure be put on the funding and infrastructure that will be put back into the Isle of Dogs, from development in the area? Officers detailed how the grant funding will be distributed and highlighted how social housing capital funding will be agreed for the area. Officers agreed that how Mayor's Community Grants Programme is allocated through out the year will be reported to the committee in a timely way.
- The work of the Tower Hamlets Community Advice Network should be acknowledged, rather than just relying on the council’s already under pressure resident’s hubs to provide the same services.
- Can the way the funding has been allocated to the different areas within the borough be detailed? Officers detailed how the Mayor's Community Grants Programme was allocated across the borough, highlighting over 52 per cent of the services will be borough wide.
After hearing from the Call-in Members, Lead Member and officers, the Committee considered the reasons for the Call-in and discussed if the committee should take further action.
DECISION
The Committee RESOLVED that no further action would be taken on the call in.