Services managing trees and other arboricultural services across council land are currently divided across two teams and two contracts within Housing Management and Public Realm respectively. As part of our efforts to integrate and in-sourcing housing services, this report proposes for Public Realm to adopt Housing Management’s tree stock in time for the new financial year (2025/26) through ‘merging’ of the two Arboriculture (tree) contracts

This report presents the contracts being procured during quarter three. The report also sets out the Contracts Forward Plan at appendix 2 to this report.

The report asks for confirmation that all contracts can proceed to contract award after tender.

An update on the Best Value Inspection of Tower Hamlets Council, following publication of the inspection report on the 12th November and draft directions. We accept the findings of the Best Value Inspection report and acknowledge the need for urgent action to address the serious failings identified.

Tower Hamlets Reduction and Recycling Plan (RRP) 2023-2025 was approved by Cabinet in September 2023.
A report detailing progress of the RRP is due at Cabinet on a quarterly basis.
This report provides an update for Quarter 4 and year end, 2023-24.

The Mayor declared a waste emergency at full Council in November 2022. There were concerns that the waste services were failing, and that the overall performance was poor and lacked visibility. Further briefings to the Mayor and MAB detailing the initial findings and the Waste Improvement Programme was approved on 13 June 2023.

December 2023, the Mayor approved an investment of £5m for 2024/2025.

On 16 April 2024, the Mayors Waste Improvement Programme (MWIP) delivery plan details were shared with The Mayor and the subsequent action was to provide a quarterly update to MAB.

The report provides details of the MWIP with focus on delivery timeline, plans for the key arterial routes and how this investment will be embedded into the on-going long-term improvement of the service.

It is a constitutional requirement for Cabinet to review the Youth Justice Board annual plan and progress update. The plan sets out the priorities and strategic goals of the Youth Justice Board and operational frontline service delivery.

This report provides the progress made over the last 12 months on the priority areas set out in the Strategic Youth Justice Plan 2023-2025.

This report will provide proposals for the Be Well Leisure Capital Investment Project.

The Combating Drugs Partnership (CDP), a statutory partnership board under the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB), has produced its Substance Misuse strategy for 2024-2027. This strategy has received formal sign off via the CDP and CSP boards but is also being submitted for approval via the Council’s sign-off procedures.

This report summarises the Council’s position against the Regulator of Social Housing’s Consumer Standards and our proposed action plan and Governance Arrangements to meet the standards

In May 2025, the Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee (CESSC) published a report on
Child Healthy Weight, following the Challenge Session held in November 2023. The CESSC made 8 recommendations to further strengthen existing efforts across Tower Hamlets improve child healthy weight across Tower Hamlets across the following themes:
1. Food
2. Physical Activity
3. Psychology and Culture

In response to the recommendations, Public Health in partnership with colleagues across the Council have developed a Child Healthy Weight Scrutiny Challenge Session – Action Plan, which has been incorporated into our existing Child Healthy Weight Action.

Following the insourcing of the Be Well Leisure Service on 1st May 2024, the Action Plan identifies and priorities initiatives that will enhance visibility and representation of people with disabilities and those living with long-term ill health conditions within the leisure sports and fitness workforce.

A priority within the Mayoral Manifesto Pledge and Strategic Plan 2022-2026.??

This report provides a progress update on the roll out of our new Young Tower Hamlets youth service.

Neighbourhood forum designations expire five years after they are initially granted. The Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum designation expired on 16 August 2022. The Forum submitted an application in August 2022, which was refused by the Mayor in Cabinet on 21 June 2023 on the basis that the membership of the Forum was not considered to be representative of the population of the area. The Forum submitted a new application for redesignation on 5 April 2024, after working to address the reason for refusal by broadening the Forum’s membership and changing the executive committee

Fees and charges are reviewed annually as part of the financial and business planning process. This ensures that they are set at the appropriate level for the prevailing economic circumstances and represent good practice in terms of the Council’s aim to provide value for money.

This report sets out the issues and actions which inform the development of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2025-28.

This report requests approval to continue membership in the 8 Authority Pool for Business Rates for 2025-26.

The paper will seek Cabinet approval to award the build contract for the redevelopment of Harriott, Apsley and Pattison Houses, known as HAP, for the delivery of 400 plus new mixed tenure homes and the reprovision of the existing community space.

The scheme will provide high quality replacement homes for existing residents, new council homes for families in housing need and new homes for sale to help fund the scheme.

This report sets out, for noting by Cabinet, the Corporate Director’s Actions taken under Rule 10 (section 50 Record of Corporate Director’s Actions (RCDA) - Waiving of Procurement Procedures) in Part C – Codes and Protocols of the Council’s constitution.
The section states that Corporate Director’s Actions in respect of contracts over £100,000 must be reported to Cabinet for noting and this report fulfils this requirement.

Re-procuring a temporary agency solution to effectively meet the contingent workforce engagement requirements of the council.

The Chair of the Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee requested a challenge session on Housing Provider Performance in the borough that was held on 26 March 2024.This report sets out an Action Plan, following recommendations made by the Sub-committee who agreed at their meeting of 13 May 2024, that the recommendations are committed to an Action Plan which is now submitted to the Mayor and Cabinet for their approval

Approve a resolution in principle for a single Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in relation to the Skylines Village regeneration scheme

This report sets out the findings of the Annual Resident Survey 2024 conducted by MEL research. The reporting primarily focuses on change since the previous edition of the ARS in 2023, with some further data where appropriate.

A review of the consultation on the cumulative impact assessment for licensed premises within Brick Lane and Bethnal Green.

Council is required to reconfirm or revoke the cumulative impact assessments every three years. The cumulative impact assessments form part of the Statement of Licensing Policy and therefore the report needs to be agreed by Council.

Following the in-sourcing of Tower Hamlets Homes to the council, the council’s new Council Tenant and Leaseholder’s Engagement Strategy of the landlord service has been refreshed and aligned with the council’s draft Community Engagement Strategy.

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has made significant strides in addressing the recommendations of the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC), demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement and a proactive approach to change. The council is on track to reach 84% completion of actions aligned to the CPC recommendations by September 2024.


The council welcomes a progress review from the LGA to further validate the progress made and to identify any additional areas for improvement. We are urging the LGA to conduct this review as soon as possible to provide valuable feedback and support for our ongoing efforts

This report will set out performance for Q1 showing progress on the Strategic Plan for all of the reportable strategic measures.

Approve a resolution for a single Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in relation to the Harriott, Apsley & Pattison (HAP) Houses regeneration scheme.

This is the council’s annual report on its review of pupil place planning in Tower Hamlets. It explains:
? the current position on the provision of school places in the borough;
? the projected demand for school places in future years;
? the steps being taken to manage the sufficiency and sustainability of school places in accordance with the council’s school organisation strategy.
The report also serves to inform:
? decisions on education capital investment planning and future bids to the DfE’s new school programmes;
? the medium to longer term commissioning or decommissioning of places for children and young people with SEND;
? discussions with school and trust leaders around required changes to current SEND provision to meet emerging needs.

A decision is required by Cabinet on the statutory proposal to extend the age range of Stepney Greencoat CE Primary School to 3 -11 years of age, to enable the permanent establishment of nursery provision for 3 and 4 year olds.

The nursery provision, was initially established as a two year pilot, but a Council decision is now required for it to continue on a permanent basis from the start of the 2025-26 school year.

A review of the consultation on the cumulative impact assessment for licensed premises within Brick Lane and Bethnal Green.

Tower Hamlets Reduction and Recycling Plan (RRP) 2023-2025 was approved by Cabinet in September 2023.
A report detailing progress of the RRP is due at Cabinet on a quarterly basis.
This report provides an update for Quarter 4 and year end, 2023-24.

The new Target Operating Model (TOM) has been developed to better align to the organisation’s priorities and ensures that the community is front-and-centre of decisions that matter to them. The vision of the new TOM is to:
“Create a more efficient, effective, and responsive public sector organisation that is better able to meet the needs of its communities.”

This update will present the council’s new and updated TOM, that takes account of a comprehensive series of engagement sessions held since October 2023

The Council’s VAWG and Women’s Safety Strategy 2024-29, produced through extensive engagement with residents, partners and stakeholders through the VAWG Needs Assessment and strategy workshops.

To seek approval for the development of a new mini-golf attraction for Victoria Park.

Review arrangements, and authorise actions as required, to be taken in respect of lease and tenancy arrangements.

Review and note a proposed programme of new sports facilities at Stepney Green and Mile End Park.

Update on at the allocation of Fields In Trust funding and authorise any decisions to be taken.

To ask that the Council adopt a clear and concise policy relating to household rubbish and recycling collections in Tower Hamlets that defines the roles and responsibilities of the Council, its residents and other responsible parties involved in the management of domestic waste.

To seek approval to develop the Victoria and Alexandra building into a new restaurant/eatery facility for the public.

The Parking Enforcement Plan (PEP) is long overdue an update, having being last updated over 15 years ago.
The refreshed PEP brings together into one document, all existing parking and mobility management policies including the council’s strategic parking objectives adopted recently through the democratic process.
The PEP document is now reflective of our website content.
There is no new policy content.
The document will be used put on the council’s website and also used by council officers, as a reference document.

Separately, the parking and enforcement service undertook an exercise to identify future potential policy areas for exploring. This is being taken forward on a separate FP1 and will require consultation for some areas.

The Regulator of Social Housing’s new regime commenced on the 1st April 2024 bringing new regulatory standards and responsibilities for registered providers. This report outlines the changes in expectations and provides an update on the external assurance received regarding LBTH regulatory compliance.

The current charging policy for adult social care support references charges for both residential and non-residential provision. The introduction of free community based services in April 2025 requires the existing adult social care charging policy to be updated to reflect this change.

The annual report outlines the achievements of the Safeguarding Adults Board, its subgroups and partner agencies over the period 2023 to 2024.

This partnership strategy will set out the shared outcomes that leaders will work collectively to achieve for all children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Tower Hamlets. It will describe how different services will collaborate to achieve these outcomes.

The Council’s VAWG and Women’s Safety Strategy 2024-29, produced through extensive engagement with residents, partners and stakeholders through the VAWG Needs Assessment and strategy workshops.

This report seeks approval from the Mayor and Cabinet of the council’s new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024-2029.

The council has a statutory duty under the Homelessness Act (2002) to conduct a review of the nature and extent of homelessness in its District (borough) every five years and to develop a strategy setting out:

• how services will be delivered in the future to tackle homelessness; and
• the available resources to prevent and relieve homelessness.

The council’s most recent Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy ended in December 2023 and this new strategy fulfils this statutory and mandatory requirement on the council in its role as a Local Housing Authority.

Approval is sought to increase the Capital budget for Wood Wharf Primary School from the figure of £7.12m to £10.12m.

This report also seeks the approval to appoint an alternative main contractor restricted competition (cost plus contract), this is due to the existing main contractor Cosmur Construction being unable to complete the construction works and progress on site have now come to a standstill.

1. Approve the increase in budget for the reasons stated in the Wood Wharf IMD Report to enable the completion of the project and successful handover to Mulberry Trust in time for their additional September 2024 pupil intake.

2. Approve the use of £3.12m from a combination of CIL and s106 monies.


3. Note the Equalities Impact Assessment as set out in Paragraph 5 of this report.

The Serious Violence Duty came into effect in Jan 2023, requiring police, councils and local services to work together to share information and target interventions to prevent and reduce serious violence. The authorities responsible were responsible for forming a relevant partnership, agreeing a local definition of serious violence, producing a serious violence needs assessment for the borough and using this to inform a strategic delivery plan for the partnership to tackle serious violence. The serious violence and exploitation strategy group is a sub-group of the Community Safety Partnership.

This item presents the Draft Serious Violence and Exploitation Strategic Plan: formulated using the findings from the Serious Violence needs assessment, recommendations, engagement with professionals and wider consultation with our local residents (including children, young people and young adults).

The Serious Violence Plan on a Page, produced in Jan 2024, has been used to consult the public and professionals on the proposed approach to tackling violence and exploitation: contributing to the development of the full strategic delivery plan.

To seek approval to extend the Service Level Agreement (SLA) for the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2027. This will be a continuation from the previous three-year SLA set out for the organisation dated 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2024.

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park is a unique, important and much-loved open space managed by charitable community-based organisation. It forms part of the borough’s physical heritage and are extremely significant community asset. Although the land is owned by the Council, the management has been in the hands of the community. The management of the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park has been community led since the formation of the Friends group in 1990, and since has been a much loved and well used.

The report provides an update on the progress of the Local Community Fund (LCF) grant programme and interlinked council-funded Infrastructure and Capacity Building project for the period July-October 2023.

To seek approval to extend the Service Level Agreement (SLA) for the Mudchute Park and Farm from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2027. This will be a continuation from the previous three-year SLA set out for the organisation dated 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2024.

Mudchute Park and Farm is a unique, important and much-loved open space managed by charitable community based organisation. It forms part of the borough’s physical heritage and are extremely significant community asset. Although the land is owned by the Council, the management has been in the hands of the community. This has been the case since the land was won as a park in 1974, and has since been a much loved and well used space.

Wood Wharf Primary School and London Dock Secondary School are both new build projects. An integral element of these projects is the delivery of ICT; this is best suited to the school provider to deliver as it is acknowledged the school will be ‘growing’ into spaces over subsequent academic years and so timely roll out of equipment is required.

The report deals with the future of an area of council land at Gill Street, Limehouse. It includes an option for the council to dispose of the land for a new community building.

To seek formal Mayoral approval of the recommendations of the advisory meeting of the Grants Sub Committee on 8 November 2023.

IMD for delegated decision on an offer of a Historic Buildings Grant for the How Memorial Gateway

This document seeks an Individual Mayoral Decision on the recommended delivery approach for the distribution of grants to high street businesses and will seek delegation for the Chief Executive Officer to approve the individual grants.

The recommended delivery approach will involve working with specialist external suppliers to:

1. Deliver tailored business support training
2. Provide an administrative service to distribute the grant funding

The distribution of the grants will be in line with initial eligibility and grant criteria.

Under Section 92 of the Police Act 1996, Tower Hamlet Homes as an Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO) of the Council were able to enter into a Section 92 Agreement with the London Mayors Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC) for a police team consisting of 14 officers (2 sergeants and 12 constables).

The current agreement has an end date of 30th September 2023 and this paper outlines the rationale for entering into a new Section 92 Agreement for police patrols on council estates post September.

The Mayor has reviewed the Council’s previous decision to set up an Affordable Self-Build Programme (“the Programme”) for affordable community-led self-build and to dispose of up to four small Council-owned sites for the purposes of enabling self-build by selected community groups.

After due consideration of all the implications the Mayor has asked officers to halt this Programme, and instead to prioritise use of the Sites for the direct delivery of Council homes for rent, or to pursue alternative delivery routes that will maximise affordable / social rented units on the sites.

1. Approval is sought through an IMD to award a contract to Alexander James Limited to complete the build out of an extension addition to the Beatrice Tate School main building.

2. Beatrice Tate Send School 130 Southern Grove E3 4PX is a coeducational special educational needs school for 11-19 year olds. For the new contract being proposed, the works required include:
• Extension of existing building to increase capacity.
• A three storey building constructed over service yard and plant area.
• Existing plant rooms require extensive modification and relocation of key plant.
• Sub-structure to be piles. Super-structure to be steel frame and concrete slabs.
• Extension of hall space with modification of cafeteria.
• All incoming mains services and drainage modified.
• Staff room extension.
• Enhanced boundary treatment and additional external storage.
• Comprehensive architectural, structural/civil, M&E, sustainability requirements.
• BREEAM “Excellent” is required.

2.2 The delivery programme is expected to commence in September 2023 and complete for the start of autumn term 2024.

Extending the cleaning services received by the Council from the existing provider for a period of 12 months from July 2023. This will enable a full tender process to be considered against the possibility of bringing the service in-house with the risks, costs and challenges as opposed to a third party provided service

The Corporate Director for Children and Culture is seeking the authority to be able to decide whether to grant a licence to AEG Presents Limited to occupy areas of Victoria Park at times to be specifically agreed throughout the summer and autumn period of 2024. This report asks the Mayor to delegate authority to the Corporate Director so that the Corporate Director may decide to issue such a licence if appropriate terms are agreed.

This would be a Key Decision and therefore the Mayor must be specifically be asked for authority before the decision is made under the law. The decision is a Key Decision because if the Corporate Director decides to grant a licence then this could have a significant effect on the communities of two or more wards.

The Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report 2022-23 aims to provide information about progress the board has achieved over the last year, including the work undertaken with the Foster Carers and the Children Living in Care Council, and the impact this has had.

Redesign of Tower Hamlets Youth Service, in a phased approach.

The paper is seeking approval for phase 1 staffing and buildings model and associated costs and to approve phase 2 project support to deliver the large-scale transformation.

Approval is required to allocate and spend carbon offsetting S106 contributions to the Photovoltaic (PV) Project to allow delivery of renewable energy generation technologies to be progressed and contracts to be awarded. Proposal approved at Asset Management & Capital Delivery Board Meeting 20th June 2022.

The proposal is for a £950,000 PV project fully funded through carbon offsetting contributions.

The delivery of the proposed project will help to tackle energy use in the existing building stock, increase renewable energy generation in the borough and offer support to meet the challenge of energy price rises.

Upon delivery, the projects will reduce the operating costs through reducing the amount of purchased energy required to run the buildings. This will be achieved through generating electricity on site for use in the buildings.

The initial desk top study has identified a number of potential sites for installation of PV panels. These include:

• Jack Dash House
• Shadwell Centre
• Toby Club
• Toby Lane Depot Soanes Centre
• St Georges Town Hall
• The Hub, Victoria Park
• Ron Cain Pavillion,Victoria Park
• John Orwell Leisure Centre
• Mile End Park Leisure Centre
• Whitechapel Sports Centre
• Chrisp Streep Idea Store
• Cubitt Town Library

Following appointment of a contractor through the GLA Retrofit Accelerator programme we will be able to undertake the investment grade proposals and produce detailed specification for delivery on to the sites. Where buildings are not deemed suitable for delivery of PV then alternative sites will be investigated.

To assist in the accelerated delivery of the project LBTH have been successful in securing a GLA grant for (£45,000) technical services and project management support including:

• Project Management
• Investment grade proposal / design Review
• Commissioning and Acceptance

The GLA Grant is time sensitive and project completion is required by July 2023 which required us to commence delivery in April 2023.

Neighbourhood forum designations expire five years after they are initially granted. The Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum designation expired on 16 August 2022. The Forum has submitted an application for the designation to be renewed. This report assesses the application against the relevant legislation and guidance.

It is a constitutional requirement for Cabinet to review the Youth Justice Board annual plan. The plan sets out the priorities and strategic goals of the Youth Justice Board and operational frontline service delivery.

This report highlights the current priority areas raised by the recent HMIP Inspection of Tower Hamlets and City of London Youth Justice Service including the 7 recommendations for improvement.

The report provides an update on the progress of the Local Community Fund (LCF) grant programme and interlinked council-funded Infrastructure and Capacity Building project, for the period April 2022-June 2022.

To endorse and agree the identification of contaminated land and the regulatory controls

It is proposed to offer a Historic Buildings Grant of up to £17,000 to Bow Church to repair the How Memorial Gateway, Bromley High Street, Bromley-by-Bow E3. This grant will match fund a grant of £10,000 from the Heritage of London Trust.

The structure currently sits on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register and the proposed works will enable the structure to be removed from the register.

Tower Hamlets new five year Mental Health strategy provides a high-level framework setting out how Tower Hamlets Council, Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group and its partners will work to improve outcomes for people with a mental health issue between 2019 and 2024