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.

 

 

8.1       Question from Councillor David Edgar

 

Could the Mayor provide an update on the consultation arrangements with local residents on the work associated with the refurbishment and redevelopment of Poplar Baths?

 

Response by Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing

 

The consultation carried out to date regarding the Poplar Baths includes:

 

• A meeting with (Poplar Baths Steering Group) on Wednesday 27^th March 2013 to brief on the scheme.  A second meeting is to be scheduled over the next two weeks with the developer so they can present further details.
• A meeting with Neighbours in Poplar & SPLASH, St. Matthias Tenants and Residents Association including 7 local residents was held on Monday 8^th April 2013 to brief the TRA on the scheme. A second meeting is to be scheduled with the developer so they can present further details. A number of local impact queries have been raised by the TRA group to which we are currently preparing a response for.

• We have devised a Communication and Engagement Strategy outline, which identifies the process in which we will carry out the necessary consultations with an indicative time frame (ranging from March – June), this includes meetings with local residents/key stakeholders and the developer, local exhibitions, planning forums and newsletter updates. The exact dates are yet to be confirmed by the developer (Guildmore), we hope to confirm this schedule in the coming weeks and we welcome feedback and views on that consultation.

 

Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor David Edgar

 

I would highlight my own involvement in the campaign over a number of years. I can provide the Cabinet Member with a copy of my election leaflet from 2010 including a commitment on this subject.  Given the importance of the scheme for local residents can I have reassurance that the consultation will continue and will be thorough?

 

Summary of Councillor Rabina Khan’s response to the Supplementary Question

 

I thank you for your part in the campaign but I would highlight that it is the current Mayor who is delivering this long awaited project for the community.  Many residents in the area of Poplar Baths have already been included in the consultation and this will continue as I have outlined. 

 

 

8.2       Question from Councillor David Snowdon

 

On how many occasions over the past year has Tower Hamlets council conducted testing of food at restaurants to ensure that the meat served to customers is the same meat as has been ordered?

 

Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor

 

No problems have been encountered.

 

The food safety officers routinely carry out traceability audits on the origin of foodstuffs when they carry out food standards or food hygiene inspections. These checks are carried out to ensure that customers are not being misled and follow the product back through the supplier chain.

During 2012/13 the Council has carried out 1007 food hygiene inspections and 597 food standards inspections to ensure retail standards are maintained locally.

 

Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor David Snowdon

 

I understand that many Councils only check the genome against a limited range of other animals. Can you provide me with a list of how many and which animals are tested against in Tower Hamlets?

 

Summary of Councillor Ohid Ahmed’s response to the Supplementary Question

 

I don’t have that information to hand but I will collate it information and forward it on to you.

 

 

8.3       Question from Councillor Lesley Pavitt

 

What is happening to Old Flo? Where is she? Has the question about who owns her been resolved and what is the Mayor’s plan for her?

 

Response by Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture

 

There has been no legal challenge to the Council’s ownership and we remain certain that we do own it.  Anything to the contrary was nothing more than a publicity stunt

The plan remains as stated in the Cabinet decision to sell this asset and reinvest the funds for the benefit of Tower Hamlets residents.

 

Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Lesley Pavitt

 

Even in the face of the outcry you will be selling the statue. When will this plan be implemented?

 

 

Summary of Councillor Rania Khan’s response to the Supplementary Question

 

A poll of local people showed a majority were in favour, only the cultural elite are unhappy and if they want the statue they are welcome to buy it.

 

 

8.4       Question from Councillor Gulam Robbani

 

Can the Mayor tell us his opinion on the Boundary Commission changes?

 

Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor

 

We are delighted that the Commission has seen sense and rejected all the divisive proposals and reinstated Banglatown on the electoral map. 

 

We are equally pleased that the historic contribution of East End and Labour movement icon, George Lansbury, has been reinstated along with St Dunstan's - a name that means so much to Stepney residents and we could never understand why the Labour group wanted to get rid of it.

 

We are proud to have led a campaign that has seen local people standing together to defend the modern inclusive borough that we take pride in.

 

We are grateful to everyone who has supported us. This is truly a victory for community spirit. 

 

No supplementary question arising from the above question or response was asked.

 

 

8.5       Question from Councillor Joshua Peck

 

What plans does the Mayor have to transfer the old caretaker building on Arbery Road to Old Ford Housing?

 

Response by Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing

 

The Mayor has no plans to transfer the unit at this time.

 

Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Joshua Peck

 

If that is the case, why was Old Ford Housing told the building would be transferred and why would you want to sell the site rather than allow them to build nine social housing units there?

 

Summary of Councillor Rabina Khan’s response to the Supplementary Question

 

The Mayor is currently considering options for the site for future housing.  When the Parkside Estates were transferred to Old Ford in 2007 the documents stated that the Council would give due consideration to the association’s proposal for 73 Strahan Road to be transferred for use as a community hall once it was no longer used for office purposes.  The office remains in the Council’s ownership.  No commitment was ever made to transfer it at nil value to Old Ford Housing. 

 

 

8.6       Question from Councillor Zara Davis

 

Will the Mayor join me in encouraging Tower Hamlets schools to bid for a share of Boris Johnson's £24m London Schools Excellence Fund, which has been created to help drive up standards across the capital?  With the first round of applications for the funding closing at the end of April, will you be actively promoting the fund to schools in our borough?

 

Response by Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture

[In the absence of Councillor Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services]

 

We have an excellent family of schools in the borough delivery some outstanding GSCE and A Level results.

 

The council has already alerted schools to this opportunity and schools and the council have attended briefings from the Mayor’s office about the fund.

 

The council is encouraging schools to group together to bid for the excellence fund. The bid needs to come from the schools rather than the council.

 

Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Zara Davis

 

The Schools Excellence Fund is part of a wider Mayor of London scheme called the Gold Club to encourage schools to share best practice and help other local schools. Will Tower Hamlets encourage schools to take part?

 

Summary of Councillor Rania Khan’s response to the Supplementary Question

 

Please write to the Lead Member for Children’s Services with details, I am sure he will be interested.

 

 

8.7       Question from Councillor Anwar Khan

 

Has the Mayor applied to DCLG for an exemption from the new rules allowing conversion from business to residential use without planning permission?

 

Response by Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing

 

Yes the Council has submitted an exemption application.

 

Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Anwar Khan

 

Do you accept that the loss of business units to residential use would reduce job opportunities for local people?  What lobbying are you undertaking to secure the exemption?

 

Summary of Councillor Rabina Khan’s response to the Supplementary Question

 

We are lobbying and I would hope that you are lobbying too. We have applied for a blanket ban highlighting the number of town centres in the borough.

 

 

8.8       Question from Councillor Kabir Ahmed

 

Now that the Electoral Commission, Police and the Council have completed their investigations into alleged electoral fraud, can the Mayor tell us what their findings were and how much this has cost the ratepayers?

 

Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor

 

The Electoral Commission published a 46-page report few weeks ago setting out its conclusions and recommendations based on the investigation carried out by the Metropolitan Police Service. 

 

Of the astonishing 154 allegations of electoral fraud reported by Opposition councillors, the Police found no evidence of any offences having been committed.

 

The Electoral Commission made some recommendations for action by the Council, the Police, elected representatives and others involved in the political process in Tower Hamlets. 

 

We estimate that the cost for the investigation by three agencies to be at least 100k of public funds; money anyone could ill afford at a time of austerity.

 

This is yet another distraction from the work of the mayor to deliver for the residents of this borough.

 

The Council is not complacent and we know it is vitally important to make sure our processes are robust. But at the same time it is simply not good enough for people to bring the entire electoral process into disrepute when results don’t go their way.

 

No supplementary question arising from the above question or response was asked.

 

 

8.9       Question from Councillor Ann Jackson

 

Following the recent landmark vote to legalise gay marriage will the Mayor confirm that, once the Bill is enacted, he will allow gay marriages to take place in appropriate council premises?

 

Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor

 

There has never been any suggestion that the Mayor would do otherwise and I wonder what has prompted Cllr Jackson to ask this question. The legislation would apply to all our venues and we welcome it.

 

Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Ann Jackson

 

I am pleased to hear it confirmed. The Mayor has regularly supported other equality issues and I would like to hear from him personally that he supports gay marriage.

 

Summary of Councillor Ohid Ahmed’s response to the Supplementary Question

 

As the Lead Member I and the Executive fully support all forms of equality.

 

 

8.10    Question from Councillor Peter Golds

 

Will the Mayor please inform the council what additional posts are to be created (both directly employed and contractors) within the Mayor's Office as a result of the Mayoral Decision to increase the budget of his office by £296,000 against the democratic will of Full Council?

 

Response by Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources

 

You are asking the wrong question to the wrong person!  I think what you should be asking is Boris Johnson about his advisers who have costs Londoners hundreds of thousand of pounds to no benefit.  In contrast let me confirm for the record that our advisers actually add value to the business of the Council, playing an important part in the delivery of local services and the Mayor’s priorities.  Advisers cover public policy, localism, regeneration and there is more to come and I am happy to make you fully aware of what they do.

 

Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Peter Golds

 

I have an agenda for a Mayoral meeting held in the Town Hall which shows that one of his advisors was organising the election campaign. Are these funds to be used for the next election campaign?

 

Summary of Councillor Alibor Choudhury’s response to the Supplementary Question

 

You cannot prove that what you have there is authentic.

 

 

8.11    Question from Councillor Marc Francis

 

What action the Mayor is taking to deal with the persistent problems of anti-social behaviour in Grove Hall Park?

 

Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor

 

Thanks for bringing this matter to our attention Marc.

 

There have been few reports to the Council regarding ASB in Grove Hall Park in the past twelve months.  

 

If you know of other incidents, please encourage the victims to report them so the police and Council have a greater body of evidence to act on.

 

The issue was also raised at the senior operations with the Police last week.

 

In addition to the patrols planned by the local Bow East SNT, the THEOs have been tasked to patrol the park and local area and engaged with a group of 15 young people found in the park after closing last week.

 

The officers will continue to patrol the location for the next two weeks and youth services are proactively engaging with local youngsters in the area as a priority to help the local community address this issue.

 

Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Marc Francis

 

I am surprised that there are few reports.  I would highlight that there are significant numbers of incidents including for example the war memorial being vandalised and Bow East Safer Neighbourhood panel have consistently said it is a priority. Will you consider installing temporary CCTV in the park to tackle the problem?

 

Summary of Councillor Ohid Ahmed’s response to the Supplementary Question

 

I would urge people to report incidents to the police or they do not know there are problems. CCTV can help and if we become aware of more incidents then we will respond.

 

 

8.12    Question from Councillor Maium Miah

 

Following the recent allegations and reports of an attempted break-in on the first floor of the Town Hall, can the Mayor update us on progress with the inquiries?

 

Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor

 

On the morning of 12^th March officers identified that the locked door to an office in Mulberry Place may have been interfered with. 

 

An investigation has been completed and no conclusive evidence was found to confirm that a break-in had been attempted. 

 

Nevertheless, the Mayor shares the concern of officers and members that effective security is essential in all parts of council buildings and especially in areas where private and sensitive material may be stored. 

 

Officers are therefore considering options as to how security in that particular part of the building, might be improved.  Initial proposals have been shared with and endorsed by the Police.

 

May I just say this is yet another example of crying wolf, on the part of the opposition councillors, and going public before reporting any alleged wrong doing to the relevant authorities.

 

No supplementary question arising from the above question or response was asked.

 

 

8.13    Question from Councillor Abdal Ullah

 

With crime reported to be increasing in the borough can the Mayor say what steps he has taken to ensure that burglary and theft from homes and small businesses is reduced? These are crimes which can have a devastating impact on those affected.

 

Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor

 

The Mayor is increasing the number of police officers and enforcement officers on the streets of Tower Hamlets.

The Mayor has funded 34 additional police officers and 10 enforcement officers.

But Boris Johnson's policing plan shows he has cut the number of police in Tower Hamlets by 93 since 2010.

 

The Mayor is campaigning against these mindless cuts.

The Mayor also supports the Police in their fight against Crime by:

•      Drug and Alcohol Action Team and Drug intervention team,

•      Providing funding for additional targeted operations that address the priorities of local people. Prime examples are The Dealer a Day initiative which led to over 365 arrests a year and the partnership task force which led to 800 arrests and 200 vehicle seizures

•      Providing civil enforcement officers to deal with ASB problems and therefore freeing up the Police to focus on Crime.

•      Linking the Police through the Councils CCTV network in order that an immediate response can be made.

 

Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Abdul Ullah

 

I am glad you note my success from my time as the Lead Member. There is an outcry that the CCTV cameras installed to target crime are now being used to issue fixed penalty notices.

 

Summary of Councillor Ohid Ahmed’s response to the Supplementary Question

 

Officers can respond on any detailed queries.  As a borough we are committed to CCTV which has been very successful.  Many people come here to see our CCTV operation.

 

 

8.14    Question from Councillor Tim Archer