The questions which have been received from Councillors to be put at this Council meeting are set out in the attached report.  A maximum period of 30 minutes is allocated to this agenda item.

 

 

The following questions and in each case supplementary questions were put (except where indicated) and were responded to by the Mayor or relevant Executive Member.

 

11.1 Question from Councillor Kamrul Hussain

 

Can the Lead member provide an update on the council’s outstanding accounts which were left unsigned for 6 consecutive years under the previous administration.

 

Response of Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and Cost of Living

 

All accounts up to and including 2019/20 have been signed off. The 3 remaining outstanding years (2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23) have now all been published and are expected to be signed off by the auditors by September 2024.

 

Supplementary question from Councillor Kamrul Hussain

 

Can you please state what has been learnt from the unassigned accounts?

 

Response of Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and Cost of Living

 

The cost of six-years of unassigned accounts has been in the region of £2M and rising. The Council has through learning implemented changes to policies and procedures as well as training. The three outstanding accounts are expected to be signed off by September 2024.

 

11.2 Question from Councillor Mufeedah Bustin

 

Residents have heard rumours that the administration is planning to turn the Stebondale Street football pitches, in to floodlit pitches available for hire until 9pm at night. Please could the administration confirm what their plans are for the Stebondale pitches.

 

Response of Councillor Iqbal Hossain Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation

 

The council is currently looking at the feasibility of installing a 9V9 3G Pitch at Stebondale, in partnership with the Football Foundation.  This will replace the existing under-utilised area.  The proposed facility will include floodlights and will allow the council to deliver a targeted community sport programme for Women and Girls groups, Young people, etc.  We are currently at an early stage of the feasibility, focusing on the logistics of installing such a facility.  Once we know that an artificial pitch is feasible, we will start the consultation process with local residents and potential user groups, and then develop an operational plan accordingly which will include hours of use etc.  Initial indicative designs are expected soon, and we anticipate beginning consultation exercises from the end of May onwards.

 

Supplementary question from Councillor Mufeedah Bustin

 

Residents are concerned about the floodlights. Can the lead member say when the consultation will take place?

 

Response of Councillor Iqbal Hossain Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation

 

Once the feasibility study had been completed, residents and stakeholders will be consulted.

 

11.3 Question from Councillor Musthak Ahmed

 

Can the Lead Member update us on progress with the recommendations following the LGA Corporate Peer Review which took place in September last year?

 

Response of Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and Cost of Living

 

The Local Government Association (LGA) undertook a Corporate Peer Challenge (LGA CPC) for the Council in September 2023. The report, published in December acknowledged the many positive aspects of the organisation’s performance and the motivated and focused staff who work for it. The report made 18 core recommendations. These and over 70 suggestions for improvement or review embedded within the text of the LGA CPC report were brought together to comprise the content of the Council’s initial response as set out in its LGA CPC action plan. This was also published in December three months earlier than required as it was considered important to demonstrate the Council’s commitment to improvement. Doing so did not inhibit the contribution of others to the plan over the following weeks and months as the Action Plan is a live document and additional actions can be identified and added at any time. It did however ensure that the Council’s commitment to addressing every issue highlighted by the Peer Review was transparently made and set to a timetable.

 

Supplementary question from Councillor Musthak Ahmed

 

Can the Lead Member state how Members were engaged in the process and the review?

 

Response of Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and Cost of Living

 

All political groups and single representatives of Parties represented within the Council were briefed on the findings of the review and the action plan by the Chief Executive and all Parties continue to be free to suggest additional content.

 

A considerable amount of progress has and continues to be made in delivering against the actions identified. Priority focus fell on a number of critical problem areas of governance that had persisted for a number of years. These covered areas such as the backlog of council accounts awaiting external auditor sign off and the absence of published annual governance statements. These were critical issues that were identified in the Action Plan and have all now been addressed. This report sets out progress to date.

 

11.4 Question from Councillor Asma Islam

 

Could the Mayor inform me as to whether he has been in communication with Peabody HA? Peabody tenants across the borough have written to me expressing alarm about dramatic increases to service charges – With many tenants also raising poor quality maintenance and substandard conditions?

 

Response of Councillor Kabir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding

 

Peabody is an independent housing association with a Chief Executive that is accountable to residents and the Chair of the Peabody Board.

 

The Mayor and council are passionate about ensuring residents receive a good quality of service and are committed to continue working with social housing providers to ensure that residents receive good quality housing services, and we will continue to work with them to understand residents’ concerns and to offer support.

 

Supplementary Question from Councillor Asma Islam

 

How does the Mayor communicate with Peabody Housing Association?

 

Response of Councillor Kabir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding

 

If there are specific issues that Councillor Islam wishes to raise on behalf of residents, then the Mayor and myself would be happy to investigate those further.

 

11.5 Question from Councillor Shafi Ahmed

 

Can the Lead Member share how much it cost the taxpayer to unsuccessfully take one of our MPs - Apsana Begum to court? Can he explain how this represented Best Value?

 

Response of Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and Cost of Living

 

The costs of prosecuting Apsana Begum MP were:

£18,261.00 for external counsel;

£14,899 for the investigation team;

£55.457.50 for Legal services.

 

It should be noted that the legal and investigation cost are internal costs, rather than expenditure, and legal services’ time is permitted to be charged out at a rate in excess of the lawyer’s salaried hourly rate.

 

With respect to whether this reflect best value, the Council is under a duty to protect the public purse. Social housing fraud is particularly prevalent in London and within the borough. When prosecuting offences, the Council follows the Code for Crown Prosecutors and prosecutes only where the evidential and public interest tests are met. The former test is that, viewed objectively, a court is more likely than not to convict the alleged offender. The public interest looks at matters such as the type of offence, the impact of such offending on the community, the likely sentence on conviction, and similar. The case was kept under review in accordance with the Code. It is impossible to predict the outcome of any prosecution and prosecutions may fail for any number of reasons. It would have been remiss of the Council to not prosecute Ms. Begum in circumstances where the tests in the Code for Crown Prosecutors were met.

 

11.6 Question from Councillor Amy Lee

 

Councillor Amy Lee was not present at the meeting to ask her question.

 

11.7 Question from Councillor Bodrul Choudhury

 

Mr Speaker can the Lead Member tell us what steps have been taken to collect the money owed to the Council, from the Rich Mix Centre. The Rich Mix was loaned a substantial amount of taxpayers money under a previous Labour administration, and it is understood whilst this loan remains unpaid more money was given to the organisation under the last Mayor. It will help to provide precise figures and an explanation as to how this constituted Best Value?

 

Response of Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and Cost of Living

 

From the records available, the Council made a soft loan to “Rich Mix” which was be repaid as part of a settlement. The amount was approximately £1M which was approved by the former Mayor John Biggs. The details of the legal settlement are yet to be confirmed.

 

Supplementary Question from Councillor Bodrul Choudhury

 

Can the lead member state what outstanding amount was written off and what the grounds for the write-off were?

 

Response of Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and Cost of Living

 

Approximately £850,000 were loaned to Rich Mix. Details of what has been paid back, what is outstanding and what has been written off are unknown and would need to be investigated further. The Councillor would be right to call for a public enquiry regarding this loan and settlement.

 

11.8 Question from Councillor Asma Begum

 

Councillor Asma Begum was not present at the meeting to ask her question.

 

11.9 Question from Councillor Harun Miah

 

Mr Speaker, I want to start by thanking the Police, council and community groups for keeping our borough safe and cohesive despite attempts by a minority to portray Tower Hamlets as a No-Go area - which is utter rubbish.

 

Can the Lead Member share feedback from the council’s Tension Monitoring Group in relation to the Palestine Flags, can he tell us how many complaints have been received and what action was taken?

 

Response of Councillor Abu Talha Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities

 

The Tension Monitoring Group has existed for several years and has been critical in managing tensions that emerge in the community due to local, national, and international incidents. Since the start of the conflict in the middle east, the Tension Monitoring Group has discussed matters arising from the placement of flags and a number of different views have been expressed in the meetings.

 

There have been approximately 346 queries/complaints since October 2023. The action taken was determined on an individual basis depending on the context of the placement.

 

11.10 Question from Councillor Rebakah Sultana

 

Could the lead member update us on the progress of the Council’s Women’s commission and inform us how it will work in relation to the operations of the council?

 

Response of Councillor Suluk Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Social Inclusion

 

The Women’s Commission was formally launched during International Women’s Day Awards Ceremony on 7^th March 2024.

 

The focus of the Commission is to work as a partnership to identify the key issues for women in the borough and to produce a report setting out recommendations for consideration by the Council and partners. This will ensure that womens voices are heard and support them to take up positions of influence and leadership in the community.

 

The Commission will focus on the following areas of inequalities faced by women in the borough:

 

-       High Unemployment.

-       Health Inequalities including maternity care.

-       Community/women’s Safety

-       Lack of females in leadership positions.

 

11.11 Question from Councillor Ahmodur Khan

 

Can the Lead Member provide an update with timelines on the insourcing of Tower Hamlets leisure services from GLL?

 

Response of Councillor Iqbal Hossain Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation

 

The timelines for insourcing Leisure Centres across to LBTH.

·       GLL (Better Leisure) contract finishes – Tuesday 30^th April

·       LBTH – Be Well contract starts – Wednesday 1^st May

·       Welcome event at York Hall – Wednesday 1^st May

·       All Leisure Centres closed for mobilisation – Wednesday 1^st May – Tuesday 7^th May

·       Communications and launch event – Mile End Leisure Centre & Stadium – Tuesday 7^th May

 

Supplementary question Councillor Ahmodur Khan

 

Can the lead member clarify if staffing levels will be maintained or will there be a small cut?

 

Response of Councillor Iqbal Hossain Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation

 

There has been a small shortfall of staff, however mitigation action has been taken and the service will be fully staffed.

 

11.12 Question from Councillor Shubo Hussain

 

Could the lead member inform me of what steps are being taken to communicate with residents regarding the changes to leisure services and reassure them that they will still receive the same services in the interim?

 

Response of Councillor Iqbal Hossain Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation

 

We have made sure communications have been sent to residents and members regarding the insourcing of Leisure Centres.

 

·       From 10 March, Our East End article circulated highlighting the justifications for insourcing, what the changeover process will involve and upcoming offers

·       From 27 March ‘coming soon’ webpage live on the Be Well website with clear FAQs on the changeover process for memberships and direct debits etc

·       From end of March/across April, messaging across social media channels, resident, member and headteachers newsletters and council WhatsApp group, on the new brand, changeover process and directing to FAQs

·       From 27 March Be Well inbox/contact form open for queries

 

Supplementary question from Councillor Shubo Hussain

 

Has there been any consultation with residents in Bromley South?

 

Response of Councillor Iqbal Hossain Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation

 

We didn’t consult on a ward-by-ward basis but have listened and invited different groups and will continue to do so whilst we insource the leisure service.

 

11.13 Question from Councillor Abdul Malik

 

Can the lead member provide an update on the outcome of refreshed Local Plan consultation and if possible, outline any significant changes which will help bring investment and the delivery of affordable housing?

 

Response of Councillor Kabir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding

 

The Local Plan has a number of statutory requirements over the 3 years it takes to produce.  We are making good progress with the drafting and consultation milestones and are on track to submit to the Secretary of State in February 2025, with the aim of adopting later the same year.

 

In Nov-Dec 2023 the Local Plan team undertook a 6-week consultation on the Regulation 18 draft Local Plan. This consultation used a combination of in person and online events alongside use of print and social media to engage widely with our residents, statutory consultees and other stakeholders.  The feedback received through the consultation has been used to shape the emerging Regulation 19 version of the Local Plan. A Consultation Statement which summarises in fuller, the details of the Regulation 18 consultation will be published alongside the Regulation 19 version of the Local Plan.

 

11.14 Question from James King

 

What steps has the council taken to address the continuous vandalism of cars down Milligan Street and around Limehouse Causeway and Narrow Street?

 

Response of Councillor Abu Talha Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities

 

The Police and the Council have received reports of vehicle crime and criminal damage in this location. Our officers are working closely with the Met Police to address this crime through the deployment of our resources, engagement with local residents and businesses to prevent and deter this criminality. 

 

We are:

 

Sharing information and working in partnership with the Police to identify all the hotspot locations.

 

Directing our Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers to carry out proactive targeted patrols to provide a visible presence, to prevent and deter any further incidents from occurring.

 

Submitted a request through our joint operational tasking process with the Police for additional police resources to target this criminality.

Liasing with residents & local businesses to provide advice & guidance on reporting crime to the Police.

 

Offering advice on crime prevention methods along with obtaining any evidence to support the police with any criminal investigation/s.

 

Utilising our CCTV - a deployable CCTV camera has been installed a known hotspot to help us capture evidence to support the criminal investigation.

 

Utilising communications and messaging – posters and signs that will be installed in affected areas to remind residents to ensure their vehicles are locked and valuables are out of sight. The posters are designed to act as a deterrent for perpetrators who wish to commit car crime in that location.

 

Supplementary question from Councillor James King

 

Can the lead member tell me when the CCTV cameras were installed?

 

Response of Councillor Abu Talha Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities

 

The cameras were installed over the last two-weeks. The Police and the Council will be reviewing any footage and will take action where necessary. At present no decision as come of it.

 

 

 

Questions 11.15 to 11.23 were not put due to lack of time. Written responses are attached as an Appendix to these minutes).