Council - Wednesday 21 January 2026, 7:00pm - Tower Hamlets Council webcasts

Council
Wednesday, 21st January 2026 at 7:00pm 

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  60. Cllr Abdul Wahid
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  73. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  74. Cllr Sabina Khan
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Thank you.
Please be seated.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:00:42
Thank you.
Thank you.
Good evening and welcome everyone.
My name is Councillor Leslie Kalkin.
I am the speaker of the Council and I will be chairing the meeting.
I would like to thank everyone for attending, including members of the public in the Public
Gallery.
Good evening everyone and welcome to the first meeting of 2026.
Happy New Year to you all.
I understand it is Councillor Peter Gough's birthday today.
Happy birthday, Peter.
Best of luck.
Thank you.
Since the last council meeting, I have attended a number of events in Tau Hamre celebrating
and acknowledging the work of groups and individuals in the borough.
We are fortunate to have such an active, thriving community where there is constant activity
taking place across the wide variety of areas. I was delighted to attend events
for music, drama, educational achievements, citizenship, sports and cultural
celebrations. In addition, in December there were events for Christmas and I
attended Carol Services both here in Town Hall with officers and also at Queen Victoria's
Siemens Rest as well as a winter fair Brooklyn School. I look forward to attending many more
in the months to come. It is with great sadness that I have been able to attend many more
I announce the loss of both W. Islam Chaudhry and Simon Baxter.
Bodhil's humility and love for the community was boundless.
He passed on Tuesday, 13 January at the age of 106 years.
Having just a few years ago,
he raised
420 ,000 pounds
for COVID relief.
We also lost our dear friend
and colleague,
Simon Baxter,
corporate director for communities,
who passed on Sunday, 4 January
this year.
Those who knew Simon
will agree
that he is a great
He was one of a kind and will be sorely missed.
My sincere condolences go to both of their families and friends at this very sad time.
I understand that Chief Executive is to say a few words during his announcement.
If any member would like to speak, please raise your hand.
You will have 30 seconds to speak.
I would like to ask you to please...
Shall I just...
Yeah, thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:06:47
Can I just formally ask everyone to raise their hand again so we can make sure we get
them on the list and just keep them up for a minute until we say otherwise.
In the meantime, if you can just, who is it first?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:06:56
Ojid, Councillor Ojid, if you can just take a second please.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I just turned here to show my sympathy
to Simon Baxter and his family,
Cllr Ohid Ahmed - 0:07:14
because he was very close to many of us.
When I was at the Deputy Mayor, he was very helpful.
anything we asked, he was very professional, he delivered on time for our residents and
when I came to Backbench I had the same approach from him. He was very helpful, he was professional
and he was very helpful to us, our residents. So I wish him in his family, I obviously pass
my condolences to his family and hope that they recover from this pain. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:07:47
Thank you.
Can I have Natalie, please?
Councillor Ntali.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Nathalie Bienfait - 0:07:59
I think everyone has agreed that this was an absolutely tragic thing to happen.
But I think it also does justice to Simon's memory, to the joy that he brought, to remember
him with joy.
So I just want to tell everyone the memory that might surprise people who know my views on low traffic neighbourhoods
he
Showed me a video that he'd filmed with a friend of his who and they both dressed up as their best 19th century gentleman
and they had a
Rather nice spoof debate about the merits or otherwise of low horse neighbourhoods
Which I have to say I got the giggles over
So I was really knocked sideways when I heard that we'd lost Simon and his deep knowledge
of this borough will be missed for a very long time, I'm sure.
Thank you, Ms Clay.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:08:53
Councillor AbbVie, please.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abdi Mohamed - 0:09:00
I wanted to briefly pay tribute to Simon Baxter and his many years of commitment to our residents.
I worked closely with him in my role as scrutiny lead for community safety and one thing was
always clear Simon welcome challenge but he also had a resident determination to fix the
problems for our residents and it always came through. He did it with good humour and good
decency and I think the residents of Tawa Hamees are poor for our loss of Simon. So
I wanted to pay tribute to his work and pay condolences to his friends and family. Thank
you.
Thank you. Councillor Mayong please.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:09:32
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 0:09:37
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would also like to join our colleagues and pay my respect to Simon and his family.
Simon who dedicated many, many years of service for the time as council and towards the residents of this borough.
Simon who was someone who strongly fought against inequality and also he was passionate about workforce that reflects the community.
So I would also like to join all our colleagues.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:10:04
Councillor Warhead, please.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Simon was a great man.
Cllr Abdul Wahid - 0:10:13
I've had the opportunity of working with him in my time that I've known him as a Councillor.
He was a person with so much life, so much, you know, every time you saw him, he had a
So he would be solely missed and you could see the passion he had in terms of serving
our residents and that came up when you met with him and we spoke to him.
So he would be solely missed.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Thank you.
Councillor Tala.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:10:44
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury - 0:10:49
I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of Simon's passing.
I had the pleasure of working very closely with him as the lead member for community
and he oversaw all the investment into community safety.
He was a joy to work with in terms of his character,
but he was also very professional, he delivered very well,
and he will be sorely missed.
I also wanted to say, Dovil Sathas, someone that I knew personally,
I did want to pay respects to him,
the fact that the resident of this borough, you know,
represented our borough in such a good light,
it's someone that all of us should remember,
and I thought I'd just mention his name as well.
Thank you, Tala.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:11:24
Just to remind you, we are doing this for both together, so it's good that you mentioned
both names.
So I'm coming to you.
Councillor Iqbal, please.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Iqbal Hossain - 0:11:38
Like many, I was shocked and saddened by this sudden passing way of Simon Baxter.
I had the opportunity as a capital member to work with him.
He was a lovely guy, a lovable person and he brought significant input for this organisation
and for the betterment of the resident of this borough.
I pay tribute to him and his family for his sudden loss.
I would like to mention my condolences for the passing of the realist, one of the legends
in this country.
I would like to mention that I was in the same area, same constituency back home from
the right, not far from my village, so I have known him on a family level, his family, our
family from back home, so I pay homage and tribute to him as well.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Customer, please.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:12:45
Thank you, Mr Speaker, and to everyone.
Can I also pay my tribute to Simon Baxter, late Simon Baxter.
I have known Simon for a very long time.
Cllr Sirajul Islam - 0:12:59
He spent many years working in this country.
Dedicated public servant, he was really dedicated to a job, he was good as a job, and Simon
Simon was one of those people that when you met him on the corridor or the staircase,
he always had time to talk to you.
Simon had lots of jokes, he used to laugh, he used to comment on his suit, you know,
the suits he used to wear, and he was a lovely, lovely man.
Simon was loved and respected by not just members, but all staff members in this council
as well.
Mr Speaker, we as Muslims, we say that when we depart this world, what we leave behind
is the good deeds that we do.
It's not the money or the status or the car
or the home that we have is what we leave behind,
our legacy, what we've done for society,
what we've done for humanity.
And certainly Simon as a public servant,
he's done good job, get the roads cleared,
the bins cleared, he has done public service,
good for this community.
Similarly, W. Chaudhry, I want to pay tribute to him as well,
somebody that we know and love very much,
who did so much charitable work during COVID.
and again his charitable work, a legacy that has left behind.
So we pray for both of them, Simon and the Rudin Shoudry,
the deeds that they left behind.
And I think we should all strive to work very hard for society
so that one day when we depart this world,
it's good people to remember as the good deeds that we've done
for this world and for humanity.
So I wish Simon and the Rudin Shoudry, we pray for them
and hope they rest in peace and my condolences
to their family and loved ones.
Thank you, Councillor.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:14:35
Councillor Manon, please.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Bellal Uddin - 0:14:41
I'd like to show my great condolences to Simon's family.
Simon has been really, I really closely worked with him,
wonderful for you.
Cllr Abdul Mannan - 0:14:53
The bin collection system thing that I had,
it really, really helped me in my community with the URI system.
So my condolences go to him, his family,
He's been really nice person and also like to say double such that has been well known in our community
He has helped many people in our community
Michael has got his family as well. Thank you
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:15:15
Okay, that's right. That's right. That's my smart
Thank You mr. Speaker, so I'd also like to start off with
Cllr Asma Islam - 0:15:23
with double uncle who I knew personally and over the years and
And what he's left behind is an absolute legacy of a life,
exemplary life for all of us to learn from and carry on his legacy with.
His life was all about living for others.
And he's touched many lives here in the UK and abroad.
He crossed all generations from the young to the old,
as well as living a life of charity,
especially during the most toughest time in this country.
And most importantly, I want to say his legacy
of uplifting the British Bangladeshi community in the UK
is something that is absolutely important that we raise.
And so for him, I hope he rests in peace
and that his legacy carries on.
And for Simon, Simon Baxter,
I've got the opportunity to work since 2022.
And if I'm being honest,
it took a while to understand how we work together
and what is it that I'm about and what I'm looking for and understanding how he likes to work.
And in that time I've found that Simon is absolutely committed to serving the people of Taheemlitz.
He was committed to the job that he was doing.
And all the opportunities that I've had to work with him when I brought feedback about things that aren't working,
he worked tirelessly to make it work.
He never was once defensive about any feedback.
And the work that he did and the time, the generosity he gave
towards trying to make our services work is always going
to be a memory for me.
And I'm going to miss the joy that he used to bring
in meetings and our interactions.
He always never failed to make us laugh.
And most importantly, I think legacy is going
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:17:15
to be put on him this year.
Cllr Asma Islam - 0:17:19
He was unapologetically, authentically himself.
and that's a very important example for the generation to come.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:17:24
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 0:17:31
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:17:32
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 0:17:32
So it is with deep sadness that we remember Simon Baxter.
He has dedicated over four decades to public service
and he will be remembered hugely for his leadership,
Cllr Sabina Akhtar - 0:17:42
his commitment and passion for working for the community.
I've known Simon for a close trip over here
and I'm, you know, anyone that knows me closely, my love for sweets or candies and every single time,
he would bring me some chocolates or sweets and we would have laughter, so, you know,
it's a huge tragic and we will all remember his hard work and his commitment.
Also, huge sadness, we've lost Dovirui Islam Choudry again for his remarkable work,
through charity work and, you know, just having a very joyful life and being very, you know,
and have been a good role model for the community, the entire limits and everywhere else.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:18:22
Kolo, a bottle of chaudhary please.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Bodrul Choudhury - 0:18:31
Yes, Simon Baxter, who I've known since I came into the cabinet, even before that, such
a jolly big chap with a big heart, only concerned about delivering for the borough.
So, he will be sadly missed.
and coming back to Dabi Sasa.
I've known him since I was a young man.
He used to come to my house.
We are family related, so he will be sorely missed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Khnaf.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:18:59
Councillor Mustak, please.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:19:05
Echoing the words and sincerity and grace
of my colleagues in this chamber,
I would like to acknowledge the deep sadness, the passing of Simon Baxter, our Corporate
Director for Communities and W2OB.
Simon was deeply committed to Tower Hamlets and improving the lives of the people of Tower
Hamlets.
He brought a wide smile, as everyone knows about it, kindness, integrity and compassion
to his job and to the people of Tower Hamlets and to everyone he met.
Dobby Choudhury at the same time was a man of great heart
with a lifelong dedication to his community and the humanitarian charities.
His generosity, leadership and service touched millions in this country and abroad,
particularly the youth, and he has left a legacy and a source of inspiration
which will be followed by people, particularly from our community and others, for hundreds of years to come.
Our heartfelt condolences go to both their families and loved ones at this difficult time. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:20:19
Thank you, Councillor Mufida.
Thank you.
Cllr Mufeedah Bustin - 0:20:25
I just wanted to share my condolences for the Baxter family and friends and people who
knew him.
I didn't know Simon particularly well.
I didn't really work closely with him.
But I did have one meeting with him in the autumn, late summer autumn of 2025 when I
needed his support and help with a local issue on the island.
And one of the things that I was really struck by
was his concern for his team and the people who
worked within his directorate.
He was really concerned for their safety
and wanting to make sure that they were protected.
And I think that's something that all of us
should be considerate of and certainly something
that we can learn from.
So, yeah, I will share my condolences again.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:21:23
Thank you, Councillor Comrieau, Hussain.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Kamrul Hussain - 0:21:29
I have worked closely with Simon Baxter.
He was a good friend, good human being, but most importantly, he had the same passion
as we do to support the people of Tower Hamlets, empowering the people of Tower Hamlets.
It is a huge loss for us.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:21:51
Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury - 0:21:59
I would like to express my sincere condolences on the set passing of our corporate director
Simon Baxter. Definitely our thoughts and sympathies will be with their families and
friends and loved ones. And the same thing will be on our agenda.
on our Uncle Dobirul Choudhury and the people of Tower Hamlets will remember our Simon Baxter's
contribution and people of Needy will always remember Dobirul's contribution. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:22:28
Thank you. Is there anyone else? OK. Councillor Kabir.
Please, Kabira.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 0:22:39
Just to start off, to give my condolences to Simon and his family and
Dawoodul Islam Chaudhry Sasa.
About Simon, I've known him since 2010 when I first became a Councillor.
And as an officer of this Council, he was absolutely committed to delivering for residents.
but also I was also in the recruitment panel to recruit him when he applied to become the corporate director and again
What I remember was there was absolute passion that passion never died away
To work for this borough for the residents of this borough, but also with that he bought a sense of style
Everybody will remember
He's not someone who's remembered for grey suits
He's someone who does bring a lot of style and I suppose it makes sense because culture
was part of his portfolio as well.
So with that I will give my formal condolences to Simon and his family.
And Dobruul Sasa, I didn't know him that well but I met him last year for the last time.
And my son also met him and my son was in absolute awe that he had met someone for the
first time who was aged over 100 years old.
And the legacy that creates and resonates
from young to old can't define in words.
And when my son heard of the passing of both Simon Baxter
and Dabirul, Uncle Dabirul Islam Chowdhury,
he was saddened as well,
because he had met both of these people.
And Simon would call my son boss,
and he's like, who's gonna call me boss now?
So that's the kind of impact these people have had.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:24:29
Can I call Shafiq?
Thank you Mr Speaker and good evening.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 0:24:38
I'd also like to pay tribute and condolences to the family of Simon Baxter,
who I have been working closely with for the last two years.
His ambition for the Council and for the residents of Tawahamnus was second to none.
and we'd like to remember him in a good light, as mentioned by all colleagues across the chamber this evening.
What a selfless man he was and a joy to work with.
Even at the difficult times he would have a smile on his face.
And his love for Crystal Palace was well known to all of us on the cabinet.
So I'd like to wish Simon and his family and may he rest in peace.
I'd also like to pay tribute to our Daburul Sasa, who, when I was a speaker, I worked with him quite closely.
And we all remember him during the COVID -19 pandemic when he was selflessly working hard to raise money and his honour of having the OBE.
This shows his commitment to the community and his love and his good as an ambassador to the British part of this community.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:25:50
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 0:25:51
I'd like to remember him in that good light and being at his funeral last week was a testimony of so many people were there from far and wide who came to pay his respects.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:26:02
So we ask that he be granted the highest rank in London.
Thank you, Councillor.
Councillor Abutala, please.
I'm sorry, yeah.
Councillor Jayachoudhury, please.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Ohid Ahmed - 0:26:23
I'm Matt Simon, but I've worked with him twice since I became Councillor.
I remember once in my ward I called him with some air -related issues
and I called Simon and I told him there is something serious going on.
Immediately he took action. He went there to see it himself and he took action.
He was a very good and jolly man. He was even telling me about his cycle as well.
Cllr Jahed Choudhury - 0:26:53
He was very fond of his cycle. So I wish him and family and a condolences and wish him well.
And every time I met him, he was a unique man.
He was to recite poetry.
He remember so much poetry, English poetry,
by Bengali that he was himself a poet as well.
And I was really, you know, a female.
What he done for the community during the COVID time
in his age was exemplary.
So I wish his family and everybody that related to him,
well and that they bear their loss and I wish them well. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:27:31
Thank you. I think we just come to the end. It's no wonder we both,
the person we were talking about was a legend for our bara and I still miss Simon's smile in the corridor
and W. Ankwu, he wasn't only a local hero but he was nationally known as well.
Thank you very much.
I would like to ask to please stand and join me
in a minute silence if you can keep the time.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:29:14
Now, before we start, I must remind you that we have a very important topic.
that we have important rules to get through our businesses.
If anyone shouts, if anyone shouts out
or otherwise disrupts the meeting,
I'll be forced to adjourn and you may not be able
to take any further part in the meeting.
I also remind all members and the public
that if I stand you must sit down and be quiet.
I will now ask the Monitoring Officer to set out our rules and expectations in more details.

Thank you.
Shupriya Iqbal - 0:30:11
Thank you Mr Speaker. Good evening Members.
Full Council is one of our most important meetings and there is a full agenda.
So to make sure we can manage our business appropriately, I would like to remind all
members and the public that you must show courtesy and respect to all speakers.
You must not shout out or otherwise disrupt the meeting.
If you disrupt the meeting, you may be removed.
I would remind all members to keep all contributions brief and relevant to the subject matter under
discussion.
Do not stand or start to speak until you have been called.
To speak through the Speaker and do not address comments to other members of the public gallery.
To not interrupt each other or make comments whilst other members are speaking and to be
respectful to each other at all times.
To not criticise officers during proceedings and most importantly if the Speaker, the Chief
Executive or I stand, all members must sit down and be quiet.
Although only used as a last resort, the Speaker may ask for the removal of any member or visitor
should their behaviour become disruptive.
Also, if any member has a point of order to make, a reminder, please, that you must start
your intervention by stating which point of the constitution or the law has been broken.
The Speaker will select members to speak on items from all sides of the Chamber and in
line with any submitted lists. He will also look to those indicating during the meeting,
but most agenda items have strict time limits, so not all those who request may be able to
speak. The Speaker will also look to vary the members we hear from, so may not take
requests in the order received. Please also note that supplemental information has been
published, including proposed amendments to motions for debate.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:32:13
Thank you, Sipina.
Thank you very much.
Finally, members will be aware that the Budget Council meeting on 25 February takes place
during the Ramadan period.
Members have asked officers to consider options for the best start time of the meeting.
Please listen carefully and I want to have your opinion.
Two options have been sent to the groups for consultation, either starting at roughly the
normal time and having a break for the evening prayers before returning to finish the meeting,
or alternatively holding the meeting at 1pm
and looking to finish before the late afternoon
press at 4pm.
Can I ask that any comments on the suggestion
be sent to the head of Democratic Services
by next Wednesday 28th January
so that I can take a final decision by the end of the week.
End of that week.
And it is Jack Painter from Democratic Services last council meeting
before he leaves us for Australia.
So on behalf of everyone, I would like to thank him for his service to us and the borough.
I will now ask the head of Democratic Services to take us through procedure and admin items
at the start of the meeting and note that I will also later be asking him to conduct
any formal votes that we need to undertake.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:34:35
As before I stay seated, that's okay, there's a bit of noting I need to make as we go.
Good evening, everyone.
So there are a couple of admin bits before we get onto the items on the agenda.
A quick update on one of the reports.
We've had two urgent motion requests, so we will have to consider those.
And then I'll just cheque to see whether there's anything else to remember.
So the first up is an update on one of the reports.
And this is just for everyone to be aware.
I think the Chief Executive is going to say more in his speech later.
Agenda item 10 .1 is an update on the continuous improvement journey.
As everyone I think is aware, there was a letter from the Government earlier this week
with a deadline to respond to that letter, which is obviously an update on where we were
and we published the agenda by 2 February.
There have been discussions with officers and the envoys on how to manage that and the
timelines given times of council meetings, et cetera.
My understanding is that following that consultation, the proposal is that the report on the agenda
will need to be updated.
So the plan is to simply note that report but not debate it tonight.
An updated report will then be circulated to members next week to allow them to feed
back before the council has to submit the report to the government by 2 February and
That report will be presented to the Budget Council meeting for a full debate on the 25th.
Should that meeting be granny editions, they will be sent to the Secretary of State as
further information at that point.
That's an information update on that.
We now have two urgent motions to consider.
These have been published and they are on the website.
The first of these is on the Chinese Embassy.
Can I have confirmation of who is proposing and seconding?
Are you proposing that?
Yes.
Okay, and two secondings?
Okay, can you just set out your reasons for urgency for taking that please?
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 0:36:27
So under 12 .1C, the decision to grant planning permission for the Chinese Embassy by the Secretary of State has created increased tension for residents of Tower Hamlets and directly impacts on the borough's security.
As the decision was made yesterday on the 20th of January 2026, we were unable to submit
that motion prior to that and hence the urgency for this motion.
Thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:36:48
I understand the Speaker has accepted those reasons for urgency.
Can I just confirm that, Mr Speaker?
Yes.
Okay.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:36:55
Thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:36:57
So then we need to vote on whether to accept it onto the agenda and then we'll discuss
if that vote is successful, discuss where to take it.
Where are you proposing to put it on to the agenda?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:37:10
After the mayor's speech.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 0:37:13
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:37:16
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:37:18
The proposal in front of everyone is an urgent motion to be discussed after the mayor's report.
Can I see all those in favour, please?
All those against?
I think any abstentions?
But I think that was clearly carried.
Thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:37:40
All right.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:37:41
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:37:43
So we then have a second urgent motion which was on the letter on the best value directions.
Can I have a confirmation of who was the proposer and seconder of that one, please?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:37:53
Councillor Isam, you are proposing, is that right?
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:37:55
Who is seconding?
All right, Councillor Buston.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:38:01
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:38:02
And Councillor Isam, can you set out your reasons for urgency on that one as well, please?
Yes.
Well, I think it's given the announcement on Monday evening by the Secretary of State,
Cllr Sirajul Islam - 0:38:12
giving extra pass to the envoys and the additional intervention I think we feel is in the public
interest to debate this motion tonight given that the next full council meeting is not
until March.
So I think it's imperative that we democratically elected members debate in the public interest
given the interventions we heard from set to state on Monday evening.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:38:35
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:38:36
And I understand as well the speaker has accepted those reasons for urgency as well.
Is that correct?
Yes.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:38:42
Thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:38:44
Can you state where you would want to hear that on the agenda?
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 0:38:50
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:38:50
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:38:54
So effectively at the same time as the other urgent motion, we take one then the other.
OK, so can I see all those in favour of accepting this one onto the agenda please?
All those in favour?
Thank you. All those against?
Any abstentions?
Okay.
Well, I think that falls then, I'm afraid.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:39:22
So that's our two urgent motions.
Can I cheque, are there any other proposals for changes of order of business or anything
else?
Councillor Francis.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Asma Islam - 0:39:34
So can I move Procedure Rule 12 .1C to put to the meeting that Agenda Item 10 .1 on the
and the government's
intervention be moved up the
agenda so that that is heard
now.
Cllr Marc Francis - 0:39:50
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:39:53
Can I
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:39:54
, so two reasons for urgency.
sorry, sorry.
Cllr Asma Islam - 0:39:59
So the reasons for urgency
, the
Secretary of State's
statement on Monday
Cllr Marc Francis - 0:40:03
raised serious matters
relating to the
government intervention of
the Tower
Hamlets Council.
Significant new
information has been
placed on
in the public domain regarding the increased scale of intervention and the given reasons
for increasing the extent of that intervention in Town Hamlets Council under the current
mayors leadership.
However without this item being properly discussed any public debate and timely democratic scrutiny
of this decision and its reasoning would not be heard until the March full council meeting
Which is after the date that the council has been given to submit its response to the Secretary of State's
statement
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:40:49
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:40:50
Thank You cancer Francis, can I have a seconder for that cancer Shubo
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:40:55
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 0:40:57
When I make clarification to this point term
Mrs. Big as we've heard from a statement from the Democratic services
in terms of the importance of the paper.
It's very important I get that.
But the best suited place to discussing and debating this would be at the full council report
because we know that this is in the consultation process and there is still work to be done.
So I think we'll have a full report to discuss this in the full council report
and have a full debate where we will have the complete report as well as submissions received in full.
So rather than having a piecemeal fashion tonight, I suggest a reason that we don't
agree with the change of business and we discuss this on the February 4 Council.
Thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:41:48
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:41:49
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:41:51
Mr Speaker, can I confirm whether you are accepting the reasons for urgency from Councillor
Francis to consider this proposal?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:41:57
I think I would, because since this report is very new, it needs to be debated and we
need to probably carry it forward to the next meeting.
April meeting.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:42:23
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:42:23
Thank you.
Shupriya Iqbal - 0:42:54
Members, just to clarify, I think the Speaker has said that he doesn't accept the reason
for urgency.
However, Members, you can decide to vote on it.
If the Speaker agrees, you can decide to vote whether to accept or not.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:43:05
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:43:09
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:43:09
We can go for a vote and see if...
Cllr Asma Islam - 0:43:13
Cllr Marc Francis - 0:43:16
Perhaps it's my hearing, but I wasn't entirely clear what you're suggesting is an alternative
to having a discussion on this item.
I'm really grateful for the opportunity to have a vote, but it would be interesting to
hear your reasoning why you don't think it's urgent yourself.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:43:31
Since it's not been, something just came up very recently and I think it's a good debate.
If you would take it to the next meeting.
The next meeting in February, the proposal is that this matter is listed on the agenda for the budget meeting,
for it to be debated.
I think that's what the Speaker is saying,
Shupriya Iqbal - 0:44:06
that there is an opportunity for members to debate it in February.
At the moment it's just a noting report.
Cllr Asma Islam - 0:44:14
Mr Speaker, I'm really sorry,
Cllr Marc Francis - 0:44:17
but that's a budget meeting that's looking at the budget.
How are we trying to cram a debate about the government's intervention
into a budget meeting?
Is that usual?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:44:32
Can I just intervene for a moment, please, just to give some clarity.
Mr Stephen Halsey - 0:44:35
Thank you, Councillor Francis, for your comments.
I was going to cover this in my announcement in a moment, but it would seem to me, and
I haven't had the chance to discuss it in any detail with the speaker.
First of all, and I don't want to repeat what I'm going to be saying shortly, but there
is the opportunity and there is no restriction on the Council agreeing to discuss the full
report once it's been amended because it needs to be amended over the next few days at the
Budget Council meeting.
I have discussed this as the most pragmatic way forward with the envoys and there will
be an opportunity should Council want to amend the report for us to submit additional information
after the 2nd of February.
That's number one.
Number two, however, it is for members now to decide whether if the Speaker decides that
Therefore, it is an urgent item, and I know you've already said that in your initial view
that it isn't, but if it is an urgent item, then members can simply move to a vote as
to whether or not they're happy to accept my recommendation that the report for tonight
is for noting only because it is not the report that will be submitted to the Secretary of
State.
It was written and dispatched for this agenda before the Mayor and I met with the Minister
on Monday which is something I will reflect on in more detail when I make my
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:45:57
announcements. Thank you, Steve, for your clarification. So shall we move to the vote?
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:46:12
Yes, move to the vote please. Mr Speaker, can I just be helpful to ask whether or not you'd consider
Cllr Sirajul Islam - 0:46:14
emergency full council meeting next week to debate this so it doesn't clash with the budget
council meeting.
It is really important the budget meeting is a budget debate and not an additional item.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:46:28
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:46:36
I'm more than happy to comment on that.
Thank you, Councillor.
Mr Stephen Halsey - 0:46:42
Just for absolute clarity.
We have also considered the logistics and practicalities of having an emergency council meeting
Before February the second and my conclusion and following discussion with the speaker and following discussion with the monitoring officer
It is not a practical solution
practicable solution
Which is why I've had discussions with the envoys about the potential to have the well the the actual fact that we can
have a full debate on the final report that will be submitted and we will be able to submit
additional information to the Secretary of State as a result of that debate.
And that has been my recommendation to the Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:47:22
Shupriya Iqbal - 0:47:24
Can I also clarify that to have another meeting the agenda needs to be published and the report
needs to be published five clear days before the meeting.
Now the current report as it stands has not even been amended so it would not be possible
to amend it and then publish it in time for the statutory deadline,
therefore it's not practicable to have the meeting,
an emergency meeting next week.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:47:47
Thank you, Cypria.
I think just in time, can we just move to the vote, please?
And we go on from there.
Can we move to the vote, please?
Excuse me, Mr Speaker, just a quick clarification.
Cllr Asma Islam - 0:48:05
So you know we are planning to head towards a February meeting to discuss this.
Now you've also, prior to that in this meeting, you've said that we've got two options in
consultation with all of us.
There's two options for the meeting because of Ramadan to be held either at 1pm or at
its usual time but have the prayer break.
So what you're going to have is you're going to have, what I think is going to happen is
.
If you look at the timing of when school
pickups are,
it will clash.
The other thing about evening meetings is
you will lose
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:48:44
those with
caring responsibilities
towards the end.
If all of this is considered
.
Can you take this into consideration
when you are planning?
Members, I have a question for you.
We move to the vote.
Shupriya Iqbal - 0:49:05
Members, you have been asked to comment on the meeting time and date, so please submit
the comments.
Now we move to the vote.
Thank you.
We move to the vote now.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:49:13
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:49:17
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:49:19
We move to the vote.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:49:22
I understand we are voting on the procedural recommendation for Councillor Francis to bring
the report forward.
Can I see all those in favour, please?
All those in favour?
Thank you.
All those against?
Okay.
And that therefore falls.
So we'll carry on with the agenda as is.
Thank you very much.
So moving on to agenda item 1.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:49:49
We have apologies for absence.

1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

We have apologies for absence from Councillor Ayes' mayor.
Are there any other apologies for absence?
Amy Lee and Maisha Begum as well.
Maisha Begum is online.
Okay.
To note that.
Thank you very much.
Any others?
Okay.
Moving on.
Gender item 2 is declarations of disposable pecuniary interest.
I haven't had any notification of any interests.
Oh, Islam.
I assume we have the same dispensation of the housing motion that the Montreal Council
Yes, to be clear, the dispensation on housing that was mentioned at the last meeting still
stands.
Cllr Sirajul Islam - 0:50:29
So that's okay.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:50:30
Yes, good point.
Agenda item 3 is minutes the previous meeting.
Councillor Abboudi Coudray.
Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury - 0:50:38
Sorry, just for transparency, I work for the group.

2 DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND OTHER INTERESTS

This is in relation to administration motion.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:50:44
No.
Thank you.
Councillor Shafir.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:50:46
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:50:48
The TMO motion.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 0:50:51
Dispensation.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:50:56
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:50:58
Is that the same declaration effectively?
Yes, 12 .2, the dispensation of the TMO and disabled parking.
Oh, right, same declaration as last time.
Some of us rent parking space.
You rent a parking space from that?
I think there are a few names.
A few others people do.
Moving on.
A minute to the last meeting.

3 MINUTES

Any comments?
We will take them as a correct record.
Thank you very much.
Then agenda item 4 is to receive announcements.

4 TO RECEIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS (IF ANY) FROM THE SPEAKER OF THE COUNCIL OR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

So I will now hand over to the Chief Executive, Steve Halsey, who has some announcements to
make.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:51:39
Thank you, Matthew.
Mr Stephen Halsey - 0:51:46
Firstly, I want to wish everybody a Happy New Year. It's our first full council meeting
of 2026 and it will be another big year for Tower Hamlets. As we saw yesterday with the
Government's decision to approve the Chinese Embassy application, our borough has profile
and we are significant when one considers UK PLC. In terms of reporting some updates,
since the last full council meeting, I'd like to reflect on three issues. As members know,
Tower Hamlets has the youngest population in London. Last week we welcomed our Young
Tower Hamlets Youth Service. We celebrated our Young Tower Hamlets Youth Service which
has broken the 180 ,000 mark for attendees to our youth centres in the past two years.
That includes over 5 ,000 sessions delivered in 2025. At the same time we launched our
new youth strategy to build an Our Youth Together offer which is one of the best in the country
with other measures such as universal free school meals and grants for uniforms, college and university attendance.
Looking ahead next week we will commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.
There will be several activities starting this Saturday to mark the occasion and promote this year's theme, which is bridging generations.
Finally, members may be aware that there is a proposal for a demonstration in Whitechapel on the 31st January 2026.
The Tower Hamlets Tension Monitoring Group has met and confirmed the potential for a
substantial counter -demonstration march.
Officers have met with the Metropolitan Police Gold Command team to discuss potential conditions
or restrictions that may be imposed.
I will be writing to councillors in the coming days to update them as this matter progresses.
I would also like to thank all the council staff who worked over the Christmas period
to support the vulnerable residents and keep them moving from warm hubs to food banks to gritting our streets and the icy weather.
We have supported our residents through the festive period and the cold weather that came shortly after it.
We know that the winter months can be particularly challenging for many residents
and we will use the learning from this year to inform and involve our operational approach
for future years where we believe our performance can improve.
Let me now turn to updating the Council about the best value intervention and recent developments.
Council will be aware that under the current best value directions we have established
a Transformation Assurance Board.
Our last Transformation Assurance Board meeting was held on the 13th of January.
I want to thank all members of the Transformation Assurance Board for their challenge, support
and assurance throughout the first year of our improvement journey.
As I say, the last Transformation Insurance Board was held on Tuesday 30 January, during
which we had a rich workshop discussion on the recently concluded staff survey and discussed
next steps and how the lessons learned will inform future actions.
We will continue to work closely with the envoys as we use the data from the survey
to feed into the evolving Council People Strategy and the next phase of our Culture and Workforce
programme being progressed under the Best Valley regime. However, the model for intervention,
including the Transformation and Assurance Board, is set to change.
On Monday the Mayor and I met with Allie McGovern MP, Minister for State for Local Government
and Homelessness, and James Blythe, Deputy Director, Ministry of Housing, Community and
local government about our collaboration to deliver the Council's continuous improvement
plan. I am pleased that the government recognises our willingness to work with the envoys and
early progress. However, we all agreed on the need to deliver at a greater pace in very
specific areas. As a result, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local
Government has written to me and separately to the Executive Mayor, alongside a statement
that has been released to the media proposing changes to its model for intervention in Tower
Hamlets. These changes include replacing the Transformation and Assurance Board, which
was established at the direction of the Secretary of State, as part of the Government's early
thinking about realigning the best value regime and refreshing the relationship between central
and local government. The new proposals detailed by the Secretary of State in his written ministerial
statement can be found on Hansard. The Minister's letter to the Mayor, myself and the envoys
can be found on the GOV .UK website. I have advised the Minister that the Council is committed
to working in partnership with the envoys to ensure the Council's and Government's
aspirations for the borough are met and, where appropriate, surpassed. Given the timing of
the Secretary of State's announcement and publication of the draught directions, I have
spent time today with the lead envoy, assistant envoys and civil servants discussing a process
for submitting the Council's response. I have also discussed the submission of the
Council's second report under the existing directions which is now scheduled to be submitted
also no later than 2 February. As a result of the Secretary of State's intervention
it has not been possible to reconstruct the Council's report which has been circulated
with tonight's Council agenda. We have informed the envoys that we have concluded that it
will be inappropriate to discuss the paper this evening as the report is likely to substantially
change. Rather than debate the report this evening, it is now simply for noting. The
envoys see this as a pragmatic way forward. Officers will spend time in the coming days
rewriting our submission. It will be circulated to all councillors in the next few days who
will have three opportunities to comment on its content. Firstly, members will be given
the opportunity to submit their comments to council officers before the submission of
the council report to the Secretary of State. Secondly, the report will be submitted to
the full council budget meeting on the 25th February and members will be able to have
the opportunity to debate it in full at that time.
Thirdly, in submitting any independent representations about the new draught intervention proposals
to ministers, members will also be able to use the opportunity to comment on the Council's
report.
Given that a specific agenda item will be considered at the Council meeting in February,
that will also be an opportunity to discuss the draught directions currently subject to
consultation.
Please note that although the debate at full Council will happen after the close of the
consultation period, the additional information may be submitted to the Secretary of State
as a result of that debate if the Council or members independently feel it is necessary.
I share the LGA's assessment that we have strong foundations in place for our improvement
journey, we are moving into delivery and need a real focus on internal controls, compliance
and deepening our evidence base for improvement over the coming phase of work.
We welcome the additional support being provided to increase the pace of change which we will
deliver while overseeing the running of one of the most demanding places in the country.
Finally it is with deep sadness that I must personally report the passing of two prominent
figures in the borough.
Dabril Chaudhry, OBE, who raised ÂŁ420 ,000 for charity during the COVID pandemic
by walking around his garden in Bow during Ramadan, died at the age of 106
on the 13th of January.
He was awarded an OBE for his efforts in the 2020 Queen's Honours List.
Of the ÂŁ420 ,000 raised, nearly ÂŁ116 ,000 was donated to the NHS,
with the rest being split between charities supporting people affected by the coronavirus in the UK and Bangladesh,
as well as refugee aid organisations.
It is also finally with great sadness that I must also report the passing of Simon Baxter,
our Corporate Director of Communities at Tower Hamlets Council, who died on Sunday 4th January
2026. Simon leaves a strong legacy of improving the social and physical fabric of London after
dedicating an incredible 41 years to public service. This included two periods at Tower
Hamlets Council, where he was Head of Clean and Green in 2010 and then Director of Public
Rome from 2015 to 2016. Simon returned in May 2023 as Corporate Director for Communities.
Simon's leadership, commitment and presence have always been a valued part of our organisation.
He has been an instrumental part of our corporate management team, overseeing significant improvements
across the waste service, leisure, culture and community safety. Most importantly though,
as is reflected by the comments that members have made this evening, Simon was a trusted
friend and supported colleague. He championed the welfare of our staff, including those
on the front line, and was a passionate advocate for equality and anti -racism. A great many
residents and staff at Tower Hands have experienced Simon's kindness, support and humour which
left a lasting impression. Personally, I have known Simon for over 30 years. Like me, a
great many residents and staff at Tower Hamlets have experienced Simon's kindness, support
and humour which left a lasting impression. I will miss him enormously.
I have been in touch with his family to offer support at this difficult time. We have also
set up two books of condolence, one in the town hall and one at the depot, which officers
and members are welcome to contribute to. I have been in touch with his family, as I
say, and I will announce details of the funeral in due course and contact all members accordingly.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:02:10
Thank you.
We now move to agenda item 5, still receive petitions.

5 TO RECEIVE PETITIONS

Council has received three petitions.
Can the head of the democratic services please take us through these procedures?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 1:02:36
Very quickly, we have three petitions tonight.
None of them have the 2 ,000 signatures for a debate, so they will all go through the
standard process, which is three minutes presentation from the petitioners, four minutes for questions
and answers from members and two minutes from the lead member response.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:02:57
We move to agenda 5 .1.
The first petition is Right to Grow in Town Homelessness.
Can I ask Carmen Ho, Rachel and Rachel Ippolite to present the petition on the right to grow
in Taurem ____.
You have three minutes to present your petitions.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Public Speaker - 1:03:39
We are Carmen and Rachel, representing Right to Grow Tower Hamlets campaign.
Our petition asks for your support to develop and pass a Right to Grow motion to make it
easier for residents and community groups to grow on public land and put an overlooked
resource under used land towards community food growing.
We want to contribute to the local food strategy and to work with the Council and your sustainable
Development Team. The Tower Hamlets for All plan says that everyone in Tower
Hamlets should be able to enjoy good mental health and well -being and should
live in good quality homes and healthy inviting neighbourhoods. We know that the
challenge in a crowded borough is balancing the need for decent housing
and green space. Making neglected land available for community food gardens can
help without big financial investment. And the benefits are many. Outdoor
Our activities can improve public health and community food growing can lower cost of living pressures.
A right to grow can help make new builds more sustainable and promote regeneration by making existing housing more resident friendly and climate resilient.
By promoting composting, recycling and food waste reduction, we encourage pro -environmental behaviour, improving our estates and resident satisfaction.
In divisive times, we need to come together with a common purpose.
Community food growing is an easy, low -risk way to engage residents, build trust between
the community and the council, and establish strong, diverse neighbourhoods.
And a Right to Grow supports your policies, like the Green Grid Plan, the green space
network that encourages active lifestyles, leading to lower obesity in children, healthy
families' independence in older people. Community food growing could help meet the
recommendation in your scrutiny review from 2023, or developing dignified approaches to
accessing food for those facing food insecurity.
To implement a right to grow would take a collaborative effort. We've had a positive
response from stakeholders, council officers, social housing providers, TRAs, faith groups,
employees like the NHS, Queen Mary University, councils like Hull and Southwark have started
to implement the Right to Grow, so Tower Hamlets could be at the forefront of this grassroots
movement. In fact, we know you recognise its value. You support 4 ,000 residents to grow
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:06:15
food on 37 housing estates. That's six tonnes of veg produced annually through a shared
Public Speaker - 1:06:20
experience by and for our communities. Six tonnes of culturally relevant food. Kodu,
lalshak, chilli, okra, urubins, let's take this further and give all the boroughs residents access to food growing.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:06:34
Thank you very much.
Now we have four minutes for the question.
Does any members wish to please put your question and if you can put your hands up.
We have maximum four minutes for the questions so please do not make a statement or comments
just straight to questions.
Thank you.
I'll go for Morfida first, please.
Thank you.
Thank you for your presentation.
Cllr Mufeedah Bustin - 1:07:27
Really interesting.
I was just wondering how does Right to Grow work?
Can people just rock up to a park and start planting some onions?
How does it actually happen? Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:07:39
Thank you.
Public Speaker - 1:07:42
So Right to Grow, what we want to do is establish a Right to Grow and work with the council to formulate what that is because
it needs to be contextual. So it's a national campaign, but it does need to be
adapted to the area in which it's in. And so the demands that we have is for the community to be consulted on the
food strategy planning because we have an idea of what the community want and how a
right to grow might work best for them.
We see it as free accessible map for land cultivation, so getting a map that shows where
it's possible to grow on.
Simple supportive processes for community groups to access that land so that they can
grow on it and including funding, so funding to help communities set growing spaces up.
Fair leases that are long term options for the community groups to invest in.
Five year leases or less really not very long term for securing funding so to make these projects and sustainable
and dedicated food growing offices in the council that understand through growing to be able to support the community in their needs and kind of
Them support network basically
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:08:48
Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury - 1:08:53
Thank You speaker, thank you for this forward I've seen first hand how community food gardening can help residents
and you acknowledge the love growing and the father growing and how it sort of brings smiles to a lot of people's faces.
My question was, you've acknowledged that the council does quite a fair bit in this area.
What do you think is missing or we could do more of?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:09:17
Public Speaker - 1:09:18
In our process of developing like an argument or a framing of why A Right to Grow works for Tower Hamlets,
we have been speaking to the council officers in that have that work on the
food food growing currently and they specifically work on that for the
housing estates so they don't look at anything beyond that it is very much
those 37 housing estates and those 4 ,000 residents but there could be more and
there's far more that food growing could all those benefits that we shared
could actually support so many more people.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:09:54
So that's why we're trying to push this.
Thank you.
I can ask Sir Ade Nislam, please.
Thank you to the petitioners, Rachel and Carmen, for your petition.
Cllr Sirajul Islam - 1:10:05
I think I met you at the Cranbrook Community Fair back in September.
So I'm an allotment holder, so I subscribe to your initiative, sign me up.
I think it's a great initiative.
And I grow lots of lau and lots of nagatilis because we're going through the summer.
but can you tell me how is the Council assisting you with underused land in private ownership?
And I see lots of empty land that Network Rail owns as well.
Is there any strategy to access those?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:10:35
Public Speaker - 1:10:37
So this campaign was launched in June last year and we are voluntary doing this
because we are ourselves, Rachel and I, actually run community food gardens
and we also have understood that there is some lack there.
And we also understand how there, as we mentioned,
there is accessible land on housing estates,
but as you've just mentioned, the ones that are covered by NHS or TFL,
those should also be opened up.
And that's why we mentioned that we understand it's a collaborative effort,
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:11:14
and we have been speaking with the NHS's Sustainable Development Team
and Queen Mary's University's Sustainable Development team.
Public Speaker - 1:11:19
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:11:21
And yes, there is a garden right now being grown on TfL land.
That's why we want to push this as a correct lever.
We'll just quickly take one more question from Natalie.
Please.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Nathalie Bienfait - 1:11:35
I just wanted to know how do you think the community will respond to the right to grow?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:11:39
We have had really great engagement with the communities.
Public Speaker - 1:11:41
As I said, we're a part of the community.
Since the campaign started seven months ago, we've had 12 active campaigners, we spoke
to 20 local gardens who all support Right to Grow, we've done canvassing and had over
100 sign -ups for our newsletter, and we, since starting that campaign, we've been contacted
by NURL at the Dawatul Islam organisation who has cleaned up a park but wants to expand
into food growing, so has asked us for our support.
We've been contacted by Shaheda at Open Women's Association, who wants to provide training
for Bangladeshi women along with fresh food and was in contact with us wanting to secure
land.
We also are very closely connected to Spitfield City Farm and Hasla, who is the volunteer
coordinator says that they've got really long wait lists of people who are wanting to grow.
So we know already that there is a really big desire and want and need in the community
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:12:38
and what we need is support to provide the space in order for that to happen.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Public Speaker - 1:12:43
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:12:44
To conclude this item, does Councillor Shafi Ahmad,
cabinet member for Environment and Climate Emergency,
wish to address the meeting in response to the petition?
You have two minutes.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 1:13:02
Thank you Mr Speaker and thank you petitioners for bringing this exciting petition to the Council.
The Land O 'Bower Tower of Hamlets aims to foster community cohesion, improve environmental
sustainability and enhance residents' wellbeing by supporting the development of community
gardens on council -owned lands.
We have a very strong track record of community growing within the community areas, with many
box gardens, growing fruits and vegetables.
This service has been nominated for awards from these groups and are recognised during
The Council started working on the community gardening strategy from late 2025 and currently
in the process of drafting a process plan.
Aiming to finalise draught strategy by summer of 2026.
The strategy will involve public consultation.
This strategy will outline the rationale, approach and best practises for enable residents
to create and maintain community gardens.
We would really like to meet with yourselves, Right2Grow, to fully understand what you want
and then discuss our plan strategy with yourselves and the officers and myself as a League member
for this portfolio and any improvements you think that we could make prior for us going
to full Council.
So I look forward to meeting you in the very near future.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:14:23
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
That concludes the item.
The petition stands referred to the communities director
for a written response within 28 days.
Thank you very much.
We move to Agenda 5 .2.
Can I ask Abu Shama and Mohammed Kashim
to present the petition on the extension of bus route 15115D6 to London City Island.
Thank you.
Public Speaker - 1:15:16
Thank you very much.
Good evening, Chairs, Councillors and members of the Assembly.
Thank you for inviting us and giving us the opportunity to speak.
We are here on behalf of the residents of London City Island and Good Luck Hope and
the surrounding areas to present a petition requesting the extension of bus route 15,
115 or D6 to better serve our community.
A bit of background and context, London City Island and Good Luck Hope has grown rapidly
now homes over thousands of residents, including families, children, students, key workers.
There is a heavy reliance on public transport, yet the area is poorly connected by local
bus services with no direct access to Poplar or Myland.
Current transport gaps at the moment.
We have the D3 which is invaluable service which connects Coquinary Walk,
Whopping, Bethnal Green but the journey times are extremely long.
So for example going from Leemouth from where we are to Whitechapel can take as much as an hour.
Then we have the SL4 which is an addition but it doesn't serve the community because
it often goes southbound and doesn't actually work for us.
So we need something that connects the east and west, connects the east and west corridors
especially serving Poplar and Mylan.
And I mention Poplar and Mylan because lots of schools
and amenities are there for our people.
The nearest options are the 115, which is about 15 minutes walk,
and even then residents wait for 10 or 15 minutes for the bus
to come, only to go two stops, and then that defeats the entire
process of why we're using the public transport.
What that means is on a difficult day, on a winter's day,
families and children are travelling 25, 30 minutes
to local schools because there are very few schools in that area.
Now the impact on daily life is that this is very difficult,
as I said, on children, young parents, families with prams,
children, elderly, residents and people with mobility needs.
The residents carrying shopping also is very, very difficult
because we're not connected to any kind of shopping centre
or local amenities, so that becomes very difficult
and unnecessarily challenging.
Also, it is a car freezer, so that means public services, public transport is not an option,
it is a need.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:17:48
Public Speaker - 1:17:50
There is no local mosque, there is no facilities in that area.
So why the bus extension matters is because it will improve the accessibility in a growing
community, reduce the pressure on canning town and the nearing stations and improve
the safety because often people walk 10 or 15 minutes to go to the nearest bus stop and
there are lots of theft, mugging, phone snatching and that becomes an issue.
We have security people who often man some of the station just so that safety of the
residents are met.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:18:23
Thank you, Dr Shillam.
There are now four minutes for questions.
Please again, no discussion or speeches, straight to the question.
Please, we go by, we have some names here I've got.
Amina Ali, thank you.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Cllr Amina Ali - 1:18:51
Thank you for your presentation, it was really very clear.
You mentioned safety, so can you talk a little bit about women and the fact that if you're
woman and you're out very late in the evening and you're coming back home, it's quite dark
around those areas.
Can you explain a bit about that safety and how that impacts the community as well?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:19:10
Thank you for that question.
Public Speaker - 1:19:13
Yes, so along the corridor of Leimau is a double dual carriageway, so it becomes very,
very difficult, people walking down there.
There is an alternative which is a footpath, but that footpath is pretty empty.
there are a local facility where people do hang around and so therefore going from say from Poplar
or Abefaldi which is the nearest place you have to walk on a very busy road on Lemath road and
it's not well lit as well so that becomes very very difficult and especially in those conditions
there are no bus services there's nothing there's nothing in between to bridge between where you
start and where you want to go by the time you connect a bus you've already you might as well
walk it. And so that becomes very, very difficult. And especially there are young people who
are on mopeds and bikes and they come and they snatch people's phones and they just
literally run away and then there's nothing we can do.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:20:07
Thank you. Thank you. Can I ask Peter Gomes, please?
Cllr Peter Golds - 1:20:14
Thank you very much for coming. I'm pleased Councillor Allo has raised the issue of women,
children and safety. But the No. 15 bus was originally designed to stop near the old Town
It terminates near Blackwall station. It would take probably another two minutes on its journey to extend the 15 to London City Island.
Do you not believe that will be absolutely the logical thing to do because the 15 then goes through Poplar and the route you're talking of?
Public Speaker - 1:20:42
Thank you very much for that suggestion. So this is my suggestion, this is our suggestion.
We've put three options but 115 itself is literally stops at Blackhall and all it has to do is extend a bit and then it covers that corridor.
Because you do not want the D3, D3 serves Canary Wharf very well but the thing is it does a lot of meandering and so it bypasses that area.
and what we need is we need a way where you're not constantly chopping, starting, getting on here, getting off there with kids and so on.
It becomes really, really difficult. As I said, especially with children going to school, there is no school in that area.
Every child has to either go by public transport with several busses or they have to go by car and this is a car -free zone itself.
So this becomes very, very difficult and it's not feasible.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:21:34
Thank you. Can I ask the petitioners to be precise and answer it?
Can I ask Kabir Ahmed, please?
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 1:21:47
Thank you for your petition. As a resident of Blackwam, Qubit town, I can see the lack of service provisions, particularly bus routes.
With prices for the tube going up, the bus routes become the economical way to move around the borough.
Have you tried contacting TfL or the Mayor of London who is in charge of these bus routes
requesting for route changes?
Public Speaker - 1:22:17
Thank you very much. Yes, there was, before the D3 actually wanted to suspend it.
A few years ago we had a meeting, I actually spoke to the Mayor himself.
We petitioned so that they actually continue with the D3.
Because they were going to replace it with the 100 which meant that that's two connexion.
And then what they've done essentially is that they've reduced the service from five
in an hour to three every hour, which means 20 minutes waiting around.
The busses don't turn all the time.
So then you're like, you're waiting there and then you decide, okay, I've got to get
to work.
I got to get to take the children to the madrasas or schools.
And then you're left with, okay, I have to now make the 15 minutes journey the other
way to go somewhere.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:23:02
It is, frankly, I mean, 21st century, we need better facilities than this.
Thank you.
Can I just quickly take Councillor Warhi, please?
We've run out of time, so if you'll be precise.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Ohid Ahmed - 1:23:16
I live in Aberfeldy, very close to the city island, and in good days I go out for a walk
in this area.
So I was going to ask the same question Peter Gold asked.
if we can actually work with TFL to ensure that actually...
Can you just go straight to your question?
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:23:30
...goes to the City Island.
Cllr Ohid Ahmed - 1:23:32
And my question to you is what exactly you ask,
you are asking council to do to help you?
Public Speaker - 1:23:41
Yes, we understand that this is something for the TFL
because they are primarily responsible.
But the thing is we need the support of the council.
We need the support of our councillors
Because they're constantly we have people within our vicinity who come up and they will say like we need this service
This is why we put this petition together so that we can serve our community
So yes, it is something that the TFL will have to do
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:24:12
But the motion has to come with people who have responsibility and power and which is this council
Public Speaker - 1:24:18
And that's why we're presenting to the council to back this motion in order for this to go forward. Thank you. Thank you
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:24:19
Thank you very much
To conclude this item, does Councillor Shafi Ahmed,
the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Emergency,
wish to address the meeting in response to the petition?
You have two minutes.
Thank you Mr Speaker and thank you petitioners
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 1:24:39
for submitting this petition regarding the bus services served
on the London City Island.
The Council recognises the concerns raised
and appreciates the time residents have taken
to highlight these huge challenges and accessing key destinations via the public transport.
The council is aware that the location of London City is situated on a peninsula with
limited access to the road network.
Presence challenges for public transport connectivity, council officers have worked closely with
Transport for London to facilitate bus infrastructure and the network improvements, including the
the introduction of the D3 route and subsequently the SL4 route, which is quite new,
which provides improved connexions to Canary Wharf and other parts of the borough, including Limehouse and Wapping.
And also the Aspire Councillors of the Eiradogs have campaigned to keep the D3 bus continuously going.
The Council is supportive in principle to further enhance the bus network, serving London City Island,
including new links to destinations that are not currently served.
However, any such changes would need to be carefully considered
to ensure that we do not negatively affect other parts of the virus bus networks.
Additionally, potential changes may have cost implications
due to the operational requirements
and the need for additional infrastructure such as suitable funding sources
would need to be identified to support any new services that we may be able to provide.
Subject to these considerations, the Council supports the principle of improved bus connectivity
to London City Island and will raise the matter with Transport for London from both maintain
bus stop infrastructure and operate bus services in London for further discussions.
Officers will continue to work with TfL to explore options that could improve accessibility
while maintaining the overall efficiency and balance of the borough's bus network.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:26:39
That concludes the item.
The petition stands referred to the community directorate for a written response within
48 days.
Thank you.
We move to the next agenda.
Thank you.
5 .3.
Can I ask Akhtar Hussain to present the petition on the petition to remove tower homeless LTNs.
You have three minutes to present your petition.
Thank you.
Public Speaker - 1:27:15
Thank you, Speaker and Councillors.
I am here today to urge you to remove low traffic neighbourhood LTNs from our borough.
My name is Akhtar Hussain and I am a resident of Bethnal Green.
and I have been a lifelong resident of Ta 'amalas borough.
I have seen in my own neighbourhood how an idea that may sound good or look good on paper,
but in practise it can create serious problems for people who have to live with it every day.
LTNs have forced traffic onto main roads by making journeys across the borough significantly slower.
for example a 10 -minute journey is become 25 minutes for us to 40 minutes
and it could even be taking longer. I strongly urge anyone who still supports
LTNs to come and live in our neighbourhood and see for yourself how
difficult it is to when you're caring for your sick mother or and a child with
autism to take him to school every single day. Now this is my weekly and
daily reality. My mother is 88 years old and needs to visit surgery often. She has
kidney problems, diabetes, blood pressure and heart problems. Now she constantly
needs to use the bathroom so because of the OTNs it makes the journey a bit
longer. I have to plan stops on the way to the surgery, either at my sister's or
Recently my sister was not at home and my friend was not at home and I had no choice
But to take her to the appointment and I had to stop and ask you of the shops to allow my mother to use the toilet
Now this is not acceptable
I am by profession a London licence taxi driver and I deal with traffic every single day
Okay, and I'm used to it
But adding this level of congestion to our daily life. The LT ends is completely unnecessary
LTNs were meant to improve quality of life by reducing air pollution. But
people are buying electric vehicles and emissions are falling. Air quality
across London is improving with or without LTNs. I speak with my neighbours
and it's just not only me who's having this sort of problem. We struggle with
emergency services, we are struggling with deliveries, we are struggling with
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:29:50
doctors appointments. We are struggling taking our kids to school.
25 seconds.
And we are struggling with our shopping.
Public Speaker - 1:29:54
I kindly urge you to listen to those who actually live within these neighbourhoods and kindly reconsider
Eltin's within our borough.
We request number one to immediately begin the process to remove all empty enclosures
surrounding Bethnal Green, Columbia Road and Arno Circus. Number two
practical cost -saving policies such as assistance on reducing bus fares and TFL vouchers for the poorest in our borough.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:30:21
Public Speaker - 1:30:22
And number three, the council to commit to a further greening of the borough to improve air quality, but without the OTNs, please.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:30:26
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Public Speaker - 1:30:28
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:30:30
Thank you.
There are now also four minutes for question and I'm asking both members and the petitioners
if you can just be precise on your question and on the answer as well.
First can I ask Abdul Wahid for your question please.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abdul Wahid - 1:30:55
Thank you petitioner for bringing this petition.
Just want to understand, you've already mentioned some of the issues that have been faced in
regards to these LTNs.
What have you noticed which has had a big impact in the surrounding areas because of
the LTNs?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:31:16
Public Speaker - 1:31:17
Increased traffic and you know, even with the emergency services, we are having trouble.
It is not coming on time because they are getting
confused which roads to use, etc.
Some of the police,
they are not from local as well, they have to come
all the way from Stoke Newton.
They are ending up in wrong places.
They have to stop, turn the vehicle around
sometime and it is taking much longer.
Thank you.
Can I ask
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:31:41
Nataly for a question?
Thank you.
Thanks, Mr Speaker.
I appreciate
we have some shared goals
Cllr Nathalie Bienfait - 1:31:48
around cleaner air and better transport
for all in the borough.
but I think we have some different opinions about LTNs.
I am really sympathetic to the issues
that you're facing with your mother.
It sounds like it might suggest that we need to campaign
for more public toilets in the borough
to give us all more dignity.
However, I wanted to ask, are you aware
that there's no clear academic evidence
for either the claim that LTNs push traffic
onto boundary roads over the longer term
or that boundary roads are more likely to house people
who are less affluent or have minority backgrounds?
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:32:21
May I kindly ask, which ward do you represent?
Public Speaker - 1:32:24
Bow West.
Oh, so you're not affected by this, yeah?
It's easier to put your ideas through and get it implemented, yeah?
And we are the ones who suffer, yeah?
And you could just say there's no traffic, but we see traffic every single day.
Because I have to take my son who's got autism, and it's a big challenge when you have a child with autism
who's rejecting to go to school every morning, yeah?
So he's hiding in the bunk bed. I have to try bringing him and to take him to school every morning.
Now I have to listen to the teacher telling me, oh your childhood's late.
You know, and for someone like me and there's many other parents we suffer like that.
Thank you.
Thank you Patricia.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:33:03
Mustaq, Councillor Mustaq Ahmed please.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:33:08
Thank you for your petition and for investing your valuable and precious hours in the service of the community.
It is deeply appreciated and respected.
Could you tell us more about how you engaged with residents in the area when developing
this petition and whether it reflects a broad range of views from across the local community?
Once again, thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:33:34
Public Speaker - 1:33:35
Councillor, before the implementation of the LTNs, it was previous mayor, John Biggs, we
tried getting in touch with him and we also got in touch with some of his
councillors. They refused to attend the meeting, they sent a representative at
that time and he made it clear regardless of petition against the LTN's
and you know there is a majority I know I mean you represent that ward and you
could see the result there's not even a single Labour councillor. We made sure
because they did not listen to us and we made sure they never come back in.
and LTM was the main problem.
We had a similar issue with Weavers,
where we elected another councillor,
I believe it was this gentleman.
I'm not from his ward, but I actually went out
back in early 2021 campaigning for him,
because he was against the LTNs.
And it was a by -election, it was a victory for us.
And until now, we have people who are supporting
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:34:29
and they don't want the LTNs,
we need them completely removed.
And it was one of your election manifesto
I think it is important to remember that
you are going to be
Public Speaker - 1:34:38
reopening the roads
and stop further closure.
Please kindly, as a democratic right,
please reopen the roads for us and help us.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:34:47
The last question
quickly, please.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Thank you.
Just a quick one.
How has the LTN affected your
Cllr Sabina Khan - 1:34:57
everyday travel
on foot by car or public transport?
There is a lot I need to do,
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:35:03
Public Speaker - 1:35:05
Especially my child, for example, I gave the example of my mother.
Now my son is with autism.
There's a lot of time there's traffic on the main road.
So I have to look for an alternative, either to do a U -turn, which is very difficult because traffic is on the other side.
So that means carrying my child. I live on the other side of Bethnal Green by the station and the school is on old Bethnal Green Road.
So I have to carry my child and halfway walk and even try running with him as well.
Just encouraging him to run. But sometimes he's running, sometimes he's not running because he's got autism.
Then try getting to the school. And like I said to you, the schools aren't that helpful also.
They know he's got autism but then they try pressurising me that we should be on time.
But if any of you have children with autism would realise it's not always that easy to deal with a child with autism.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:35:57
To conclude this item, does Councillor Shafiya Ahmed, the Kingdom Member for Environment
and Climate Emergency, wish to address the meeting and respond to the petition?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
That's three of your roles, so a hat -trick for today.
Thank you.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 1:36:14
Thank you, petitioners.
Thank you for bringing this important petition to the Council.
and the LTM scheme in the Columbia Road and Arnall Circus area,
the Council recognises the strength of the feeling expressed
and appreciates residents taking time to share their views.
The LTM was introduced in 2020 during the COVID -19 pandemic,
where local authorities were required to act in pace in response to
statutory guidance to reduce through traffic and support safer walking and cycling.
As many schemes introduced at that time, it was implemented on an experimental basis to allow impacts to be assessed using the data and community feedback.
Following implementation, the council carried out monitoring and review, including analysis of traffic flows, air quality, emergency access and equalities impacts, alongside engagement with residents, businesses and other stakeholders.
A significant number of irreparations were received, raising concerns about the traffic displacement,
impacts on disability and mobility, impaired residents and effects of daily life in that area.
However, that was not listened to.
In September 2023, Aspire administration, following careful consideration of the evidence collected,
the Council's Cabinet resolved to remove LTN closures,
concluding that the scheme was not meeting its objectives, particularly for those who rely on vehicle access for work or care.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:37:55
A judicial review was subsequently brought by the resident -led campaign, sadly, group challenging the High Court with the aim of retaining the LTN.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 1:37:56
However, in December of 2024, the Court rejected all grounds of the judicial review and upheld the Council's position,
finding that the decision -making process was lawful and within the Council's powers.
An appeal, again, was subsequently lodged with the Courts of Appeal
with a subsequent hearing which was held in December of 2025.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:38:22
The Council is waiting for final outcome and we look forward to working with residents
to ensure that we open the LTN. So long, the fact will continue.
Thank you, Councillor.
Thank you very much, petitioner and the members for your questions.
This concludes the item.
The petition stands referred to the community directorate for a written response within
28 days.
Thank you.
We move to agenda item six is the mayor's report.

6 MAYOR'S REPORT

I call upon Mayor Luthar Rahman to give his report to council.
You have six minutes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mayor Lutfur Rahman - 1:39:19
Salaam alaikum.
Greetings of peace to each and every one of you and Happy New Year to you all.
I too want to start by paying homage to Mr. Dobry Chalkhary, OBE, who I and my wife knew very well,
a respectable elder and a wonderful human being who was strongly committed to our country.
Whenever I met him, he showed me kindness, care and genuine concern.
We all remember how he raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the poor during COVID, walking in his back garden.
May he rest in peace.
Secondly, I want to pay my respects to the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Bigham Khaleda Zia, who passed away a few weeks ago.
Bigham Zia was the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh and a champion of women's rights.
I remember when she visited the Council in 2013, everyone who met her experienced her
intellect, courteousness and humble nature. The visit remains a fond memory and a moment
in our brother's history made she too rest in peace.
Finally, the devastating news of the passing of our colleague Simon Baxter, our Corporate
hospital on the 15th of December and sadly passed away on the 4th of January
2026. Before he passed away I had good fortune with the Chief Executive and the
Director to visit him in hospital. I too have known Simon for nearly two decades
and enjoyed a strong working relationship with him. In the days prior
to his hospitalisation I had the pleasure of seeing him, his usual kind
and joyful demeanour. His passing shocked the Council greatly. Simon understood and was
passionate about what we are trying to achieve in time, that supporting residents, working
to improve their lives and enhance opportunities across our borough. His efforts to help realise
this vision reflected his nature as a human being, as a good human being, kind, warm and
someone who went above and beyond to help others. He will be surely missed and I send
my heartfelt condolences to his family. He left behind a strong team in the community
to activate and we have full confidence that they will continue to deliver for the people
of Ta 'amdex with no interruption. I would now like to turn to another tragedy that happened
nine years ago this June, the Grenfell Tower fire.
On that dark day on the fortune of June 2017,
residents of Grenfell Tower in Kensington, Chelsea,
awoke up to a fire that tragically took
the lives of 72 people.
The fire was the result of pure negligence,
pure planning, poor planning,
failure to listen to residents, and bad oversight,
with developers being allowed to cut costs
by using highly flammable cladding that accelerated the spread of the fire.
We have carefully ensured that our council is adopting all the recommendations of the
Grand Full Inquiry in all our new buildings that are actively working to ensure that old
builds comply with the findings as soon as possible.
Through a total investment of at least 380 million pounds over the next 10 years, we
are ensuring that all existing properties in Tower Hamlets are safe, fire compliant
and of the highest Liverpool standards for all our residents. Our philosophy of putting
resources into the community and fighting austerities also reflected in policies that
that concern young people in Tarmliss, ladies and gentlemen.
The average age of our residents is 30 years old.
And so our young people remain in the forefront of our minds every step of the way.
We are investing nearly ÂŁ42 million additional money a year into our youth services and have
opened with one short 19 youth centres in Tarmliss, one more to go.
Only in 2025, over 180 ,000 attendees have accessed our programmes, delivered over 5 ,000
sessions.
Combined with our free school meals, free school uniforms, education maintenance allowance
and university bursaries and council tax exemption for the poorest, these policies have put investments
back into our residence.
These policies reduce the burden on our parents and give our youth a real chance to improve
on their conditions.
Thank you and best wishes.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:44:30
Thank you Mr Mayor.
Can I ask Councillor Sirajul Islam, leader of the Labour group, would you like to respond
to the Mayor's report?
You have two minutes.
Thank you.
Cllr Sirajul Islam - 1:44:45
Thank you Mr Speaker and good evening, I would like to come to you all.
So I thank the mayor for his report and happy new year to everyone as well and let me acknowledge
some good news for the new year.
So thanks to the Labour government and the new local government finance settlement, our
hamlets will receive a major funding uplift.
Our borough is set to receive ÂŁ36 .6 million for essential services next year.
After years of austerity and underfunding, this cash injection is truly welcome.
However, alongside more funding comes sobering reality.
The Secretary of State for Local Governance, Steve Reid, has felt compelled to escalate
government intervention into Hamlet's Council due to the persistent failings.
In his recent statement, he warned that the Council has not understood the severity of
its situation and also found a tendency towards optimism bias.
in the council's approach, a polite way of saying there's been too much talk and not enough delivery.
As a result, the government is upgrading the intervention, the Secretary of State has granted and voiced new powers
to overseas and even exercise key council functions in governance, financial management and senior staffing.
In plain terms, we now effectively have commissioners all in but name.
My Labour colleagues and I are deeply concerned that Hamless has again lost the trust of government.
We saw commissioners here once before, we should never have been brought to this point
again.
Our residents deserve better.
We in the opposition will hold the mayor to account for these failures, we will do so
constructively working with the government in voice to fix the problems and get this
council back on track.
Finally, I want to address the decision on the Chinese embassy at Wallmin Court.
This was rejected locally because of clear concerns about public safety, policing and
that the impact on local area.
I'd like to place on record the work Assembly Member Umesh Desai, M. Bijush Narra Ali and
Councillor Faruq Ahmed have been doing to oppose this issue.
The Government needs to provide clarity and answers to this issue should remain outstanding.
In conclusion, I want to emphasise that opposition is a constructive one.
We're here to thank and work with the government
when they support our borough.
We're also here to speak up on our community needs
that means our community needs are not truly met.
So my colleagues, I will continue to propose solutions,
whether it's improving housing, repairs,
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:47:15
insurance, fair allocation,
or safe and resident rights.
We'll support measures that genuinely improve
the lives of people of Tohono.
Thank you, Mr. Singh.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Can I ask Mayor Luttur -Rahman, would you like to respond?
You have two minutes.
Thank you.
We move to agenda item 7 now.
Motion for debate submitted by the administration.
Sorry.
Just we're moving to, as we discussed before,
we have to move to the agenda item 13.
We agreed to bring it forward.
So some, yeah.
Arjun motion, a motion on the approval
of the Chinese embassy has been submitted
by Councillor Kabir Ahmed.
Can you please move your motion?
You have four minutes.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 1:48:24
As lead member, I rise to speak on the proposed redevelopment of the Royal Mint Court for
the use as the Chinese embassy and propose this motion to the chamber.
This application has followed an unusual path.
The Secretary of State chose to call in the scheme before Tower Hamlets had the opportunity
to determine it.

7 ADMINISTRATION MOTION DEBATE

That is not standard practise and it has significant implications.
Planning decisions of this scale and the consequences should be shaped by the local authority, the
local LPA, the local planning authority, that understands the area, the community and the
context.
When that role is overridden, it inevitably raises concerns about how local planning powers are being respected by central government.
Our Strategic Development Committee undertook careful and serious consideration of the proposals.
Cross -party members from all political wings examined a detailed officer report and considered how this embassy would sit
within a sensitive, historic and already constrained part of the borough.
These considerations were grounded in the realities of the site,
its heritage asset, its tight urban environment and the operational pressures
that an embassy of this scale would introduce.
I would like to remind you, Mr Speaker, this will be the largest embassy in Europe
and one of the largest in the world.
Subsequent assessments have added further information, but the core issue remains the same.
It is essential that Tower Hamlets retains the ability to make planning decisions that directly affect our borough.
The principle should hold regardless of the applicant or the political context surrounding any development.
Time and time again, across media, various MPs in Parliament, across multiple parties,
have raised concerns around security. And we've had various different interpretations
of the risk to both this borough and the country as a whole. The motion asks only that we write
to the Secretary of State to set out our position. It is proportionate and a reasonable step.
It reinforces the importance of local decision -making and ensures that the council's voice is clearly heard in the process where our role has been
Significantly reduced for this reason. I'm pleased to propose this motion. Mr. Speaker
Thank you. Can I
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:51:13
Can I call upon Councillor Siedah to second the motion you have three minutes. Thank you. Mr. Speaker
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 1:51:23
The government approved the construction of a new
embassy for the People's Republic of China on the
historic Royal Mint site, just metres from homes,

13 a) Urgent motion on the newly approved embassy of the People's Republic of China

schools, and the Tower of London.
The decision to construct a new Chinese embassy just
metres away from homes and schools is not just a
planning issue.
It is a democratic issue.
It is an issue of local voice, local safety, and
local accountability being overridden from above from
government and different officials.
Our own SDC committee refused the application
in December because they understood the potential
impact on residents and tourist safety,
and the pressure on police resources and the risk
to the heritage sites, and the severe constraints
of the already congested part of our borough.
But despite that, despite that democratic decision,
the government stepped in, removing the decision
from the hands of this Council and from the hands of the people who actually live here
and speak for themselves.
Mr Speaker, this Council believes that the proposed development still raises the same
fundamental concerns.
A, it poses risks to residents and the visitor safety in the already densely populated statutory
with footfall.
Number two, it puts risks to the heritage sites, including grade two listed buildings
at risk.
Number three, it worsens the congestion and compromises the highway safety, and crucially
it undermines local democratic planning powers.
We have seen this before.
When the government intervened on the Truman Brewery decision, it showed a pattern.
local councils scrutinise planning applications thoroughly, but Whitehall believes it knows
better than local communities. This is not devolution. This is not localism. This is
quite frankly overreach.
Mr Speaker, the people of Tower Hamlets deserve better, deserve better than to see their voices
overridden, and the councillors across this chamber, whatever our political differences
may be, should be united in defending the right of local government to make local decisions.
Therefore, this motion resolves that we write formally to the Secretary of State expressing
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:53:54
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 1:53:55
residents dissatisfaction at this undemocratic decision and making clear that planning decisions
in Tower Hamlets must reflect the needs and safety of the people who live in Tower Hamlets.
I support this motion and urge members across this chamber to do the same.
I formally second this motion.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:54:14
Thank you.
Thank you.
Does any other member now wish to speak on the substantive of some of your motions submitted
by Councillor Kabir Ahmed?
We have got some names here.
I start with Councillor Kibreya Chaudhuri.
Kibreya Chaudhuri, please.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury - 1:54:49
Mr Speaker, on two separate occasions, our SDC Committee carefully considered and dissected
planning application for the Chinese embassy.
These decisions were not taken lightly.
They were based on serious concern around public safety, security and the impact on
the local community.
Mr Speaker, despite this well -founded concern, the central government is now overriding the
local democratic process by granting planning permission.
This is deeply disappointing.
Mr. Speaker, it undermines the role of locally elected representatives, ignores the clear
voice of residents and councillors who know the area best.
Mr. Speaker, this situation is a matter of principle.
Planning decisions should be guided by safety, transparency and respect of local democracy.
Mr. Speaker, tonight we strongly oppose the granting of planning permission for the Chinese
We do so in the interest of public safety,
local accountability, and democratic fairness.
Our community deserves to be heard,
and its concern must be respected.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:56:05
Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury - 1:56:06
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:56:08
Can I ask Peter Gomes, please?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I congratulate anybody who is going to support
Cllr Peter Golds - 1:56:17
this moderate and carefully considered motion.
Not only will I hope it goes to the government, but I hope very much it goes to the residents
and the local community who are now subscribing to the judicial review to attack this disgraceful
proposal. Where on earth have our local people been heard? Where has our heritage been heard?
Twice in the last seven days, this was debated in the House of Commons, the government were
unable to find a single Labour MP on either occasion to come in and defend the government
proposal to do this disgraceful proposal. Look at what, look at what, look, look, look
Mr Speaker, what happened when the police came to this building and sat here, they opposed
the application. Suddenly Mr Lamy, then Foreign Secretary, now Lord knows what, Yvette Cooper
the then home sector, and equally, Lord knows what now, produced a letter saying that information
had come, saying that the police evidence wasn't relevant, they could manage demonstrations,
they could do everything. Where did this evidence come from, Mr Speaker? The Chinese government.
That is what is running our country, and that's before we get to the secret rooms, and if
If you want to know about that, look at my question on page 43 at the last council meeting for the last agenda.
Mr Speaker, the Councillor of Islam congratulated Roshnara Ali. I'm with her, she was brave and she stood up.
He also congratulated Abdul Ullah. Now I don't know what Abdul Ullah is talking about.
If it's Councillor Abdul Ullah... No, he's not here. Is he? Why can't he?
This counts for Abdullah. He's never set foot at a meeting where it's being considered
on a planning meeting. He's never been to a demonstration. He's never been to any of
the public consultation meetings. So it's presumably not that. That is the Abdullah
who of course accepted the bottle of wine off the Chinese government as a gift. So presumably
you're talking about another Abdullah. So tell us which Abdullah you're talking about.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:58:37
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Councillor. Can I just take Kamrul Husaid now, please?
Cllr Peter Golds - 1:58:49
Cllr Kamrul Hussain - 1:58:53
It's true. Thank you, Mr Speaker. On 20th January, the
government approved the development of the Chinese Embassy at the Royal Mint site, a
highly sensitive location in a densely populated area.
As a ward councillor, I want to be absolutely clear,
residents are deeply concerned and those concerns
are entirely justified.
This proposal would have profound and long -lasting
consequences for their everyday lives,
their safety and the long -term well -being
of the neighbourhood.
I would also like to highlight the management implications
of potential protests occurring outside the embassy
and specifically the impacts upon other users of the highway,
including pavements as well as other public areas in the vicinity.
Our Council's Strategic Development Committee, I alongside other members,
unanimously following a full and rigorous assessment, refused the planning application,
citing significant concerns relating to public safety, heritage harm,
policing capacity and the risk to highways and pedestrian movement.
The government's decision to call in and approve this application has overridden the democratic
planning process, removing the council's ability to represent residents on an issue that affects
them most directly.
This represents a troubling example of democratic overreach and undermines local decision -making.
There is a very well likelihood of protests, demonstrations and large gatherings outside
the embassy.
This would place residents and visitors at risk, stretch already limited policing resources
and bring the area to a standstill during periods of heightened diplomatic tension or
major events.
We as a council and I as a ward councillor have a responsibility to defend their safety,
the quality of life and congestion pressures imposed from Westminster.
I urge colleagues to support on this motion. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:01:04
Thank you. I'll take Shubho.
How's my Islam please?
Cllr Asma Islam - 2:01:17
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I think, Councillor Gold's, I always listen to your views when
when it comes to licencing and planning,
quite interestingly.
I'm not sure, Siraj Risam,
I actually mentioned Councillor Abdullah.
He might have mentioned the ward Councillor.
Can you address to me, Councillor?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:01:31
I'm a little bit unsure about what that was about,
but we can have a conversation later.
Cllr Asma Islam - 2:01:35
Regarding this, like, there are certainly times
in this chamber where we do agree on things,
and this is one of them.
I actually do like this motion.
I know we'll be supporting it
from this side of the chambers.
Because this decision is absolutely astonishingly disastrous for this borough and the people
of this borough, especially for those residents that live at the Royal Mint Estate.
I just want to talk a little bit about something else that was mentioned earlier on about a
bottle of wine.
So this government has a tendency of sending unsolicited gifts to politicians and I happen
to be a victim of that. And now that gift was obviously not accepted or taken, but at
that point the only thing we could do was donate that to the Speaker's charity, as did
the current cabinet member and the Mayor himself. Now this is not a testament of me or my character.
This is a testament of the Chinese government, because they have absolutely no understanding
of the people who live in this borough. They have absolutely no respect of the fact that
a huge number of Muslims live in this entire hamlets and they still felt it was okay to send bottle of wines
Not once not twice but more than three times I believe. Now coming back to this decision that has been taken
people before politics and this is one of the times where I have to come up and speak out for the people of this borough
the impact that this
development is going to have this embassy in the entire hamlets is going to be long term for decades and people who live in this
that live in this area, that live in this borough, are real people with families, with
real problems.
We could be a borough that's city fringe and next to Canary Wharf, but we have issues and
we have residents and we have communities and all we've tried to do is carry on building
those communities.
This embassy absolutely compromises on the safety of the residents that live on this
estate.
It compromises on the communities that we try and build.
It does not take into consideration the impact long term, as mentioned by lots of colleagues
across the chamber, around the taxation on the policing, the amount of time that they
are going to have to spend whenever there is a protest, whenever there is an issue.
Not only that, this decision was rightfully belonging to this council, to the elected
members and to the people of this borough and that was taken away and I don't agree
with that.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:04:17
And lastly I'd like to say one final thing.
Cllr Asma Islam - 2:04:23
We know planning is very important when it comes to delivering homes and delivering for
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:04:27
the people of this borough and the country but this is a very good example of when planning
Cllr Asma Islam - 2:04:30
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:04:32
Cllr Asma Islam - 2:04:33
doesn't work and I hope we can speak up together about making sure this doesn't happen again.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:04:35
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 2:04:47
Thank you Mr Speaker. This came back in December of 2022 and it was brought to the old Town Hall and I spoke on it in the capacity of a local councillor, as a local resident, and the residents and we were the voicepiece for the Royal Minty State who were very closely attached to my ward.
I echo all the concerns raised by my fellow councillors in regards to keeping it local,
keeping it to the residents.
At that time we highlighted the UNESCO Tower Bridge, the famous highway and many other
significant safety measures that were not considered during the planning process.
Hence why at that time it was not approved by the committee at that time.
Unfortunately, two years later, December of 2024, this was brought again to the Development Committee.
Why at that time, when there was a different government, didn't the Chinese Embassy go to the Secretary of State?
They kept it waiting until their friends came into power.
So let's not forget that bottle of wine, irrespective of what they are, we need to make sure that our council, our residents' concerns are raised and I fully support the motion today. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:06:04
Can I ask Khalid please?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Hussain - 2:06:13
I actually full -hearted, with full heart, I would like to express my whole -hearted agreement
Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled - 2:06:24
with this motion.
But before I express my opinion on that, I would like to take this, take advantage and
express my heartfelt gratitude and pay tribute to the very slum Chaudhry and to
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:06:53
Simon Baxter and also I would like to mention I would like to mention mr.
Cllr Kabir Hussain - 2:06:57
Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled - 2:07:04
speaker that I pay tribute to the departed soul of the iconic democratic
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:07:11
figure of Bangladesh, former Prime Minister, the great revolutionist Usman Hadi.
Things are going away from the control of the Council.
Cllr Kabir Hussain - 2:07:23
Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled - 2:07:25
This is one example of that.
Of course, the other example is the government best value intervention.
Cllr Kabir Hussain - 2:07:35
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:07:41
Councillor, may I remind you to speak only on the motion.
Cllr Kabir Hussain - 2:07:48
What you were talking about Malle is not relevant to the motion.
Can you please speak on the motion? Thank you.
Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled - 2:07:58
Cllr Kabir Hussain - 2:08:00
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:08:03
Thank you. I'll take Councillor Wahid, please.
Well, I haven't finished.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Hussain - 2:08:11
One minute, please.
Mr Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:08:14
I think, Councillor, he was given time, but you've been spending it for a while.
Did you think of that meeting?
Yeah.
Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abdul Wahid - 2:08:24
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:08:25
Just quickly, just quickly, if you can just...
Please, please clap.
Councillor, you had another minute and 16 seconds left, so please use that time to finish
off your comment.
Thank you.
Cllr Abdul Wahid - 2:08:41
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:08:43
Thank you very much.
Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled - 2:08:53
Like every other aspect of the Council's administration, I think the Council should take grip on the
issues and on the agendas.
I think things are going away from the council and this is the failure of the leadership.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:09:09
Can I just remind the members, please, we have so many people who want to speak and
I don't want you to waste your time talking something different rather than this agenda
myself.
Thank you.
Can I just, did I ask Wahid here?
Councillor Wahid, please.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abdul Wahid - 2:09:31
Mr Speaker, it's quite embarrassing when members of the Chamber can't follow simple instructions.
I want to support this motion and also reject the overturning of the democratic decision
that was taken in order to refuse permission to give the Chinese embassy twice.
I don't want to go into the risks and what not, which have been very eloquently expressed
by my colleagues.
So what I want to say, Mr. Speaker, is that we have a process here in Ta 'ahamles.
We have a system in place, which is the strategic development, who made a decision on evidence
and information that were presented and also concerns which were raised by residents regarding
this matter.
And what I find disappointing, Mr Speaker, that central government can come in and overrule
when it suits them, decisions that have been made by elected members of this council to
represent the residents of this borough and take into account their objection for this
embassy.
So this is what I find disappointing, Mr Speaker, and I urge everyone in this chamber to support this motion,
going forward, to uphold our democratic right and the process that we follow within this barra in terms of coming to decisions like this.
So thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:11:32
I will take two more
councillors.
Councillor Iqbal and
Kobi Rahmat.
Or you can tell her.
Don't mind.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Iqbal Hossain - 2:11:48
This decision
, the local council decision
by the central government
set precedent
of
PBS
the central
government
,
the Minister
should
reflect
and defend
the decision Might
This chamber which was the planning application was discussed carefully twice and rejected by this council after careful consideration and thoughtful decision to debate.
And I would like to say that has set a bad precedent of not honouring the decision of this council. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:12:53
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury - 2:12:57
By calling in and reversing the Council's planning decision on the Chinese embassy,
the Secretary of State has completely disregarded the needs of the local Tohamish community
that were closely considered via our planning process.
The Secretary of State has further undermined the power of the people to have the same sorts
of development that invade their community.
As lead member of safer communities, the Secretary of State has given no thought to the pressures
that this Embassy will put on the Council from a community cohesion and policing perspective.
We have had to invest over ÂŁ10 million of Council funds in community safety services,
including new cameras on the Royal Ministate. Some suggested online that it was in relation
to the Chinese Embassy, but I can assure you that we had no such intention and simply want
to address the everyday issues of crime and ASB that affect our residents, while at the
excessive governments. Neither the council nor the local police have the resource to
address complex security needs of China's largest embassy or proposed largest embassy
in Europe, in the middle of one of the busiest areas in London. The project will take significant
resources away from residents. It will take significant space away from residents. In
away from residents. Please join me in supporting this motion and communicating
this pleasure of local residents to the Secretary of State in making this
undemocratic decision.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:14:35
I'll take a few things.
How early am I? Can I take Councillor Siro?
I'll just take the last one, please. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the opportunity.
Cllr Sirajul Islam - 2:14:44
This government decision to approve the new Chinese embassy
The Royal Royal Court is deeply disappointed and leaves serious questions unanswered for
local residents.
The proposal rejected locally because of clear concerns about public safety, policing capacity
and the impact on already sensitive area next to the Tower of London.
Those concerns have not disappeared simply because ministers have chosen to overrule
the local decision.
Local Emperor Shnara Ali and London Assembly Member Hommes Dossai have rightly raised concerns
on behalf of the constituent, including concerns around local security, freedom of protest
and the impact on local communities, also a refuge in the UK from repression and intimidation.
There is also serious unanswered questions for residents living in and in the vicinity
of Royal Mint Court itself.
These have been raised locally by local council of Whitechapel Ward for Uqamud.
People deserve clarity, Mr Speaker, on whether they will be able to remain in their homes,
What protection are in place for tenants and leaseholders and how their safety and quality
of life will be safeguarded once construction and long -term security arrangements are in
place?
Residents are still waiting for clear answers on how increased protests and security risks
will be managed, with additional strain with the place of local policing, how freedom of
expression and peaceful protests will be protected, how intimidation or surveillance of local
communities will be prevented and what guarantees exist for
those living in Royal Main Court about the future.
In conclusion, we remain firmly committed to protecting the
interest of residents and upholding the value of our
borough.
Taouhamnes is proud of its diversity, including communities
who have sought refuge here from repression.
They must not feel overshadowed or unsafe under looming presence
of foreign government mega -compounds.
Our message to the UK government is simply simple community
safety, human rights, and national security non -negotiable.
We will be watching closely as this development proceeds and will continue to work with our
MPs, residents' groups, and campaigners to ensure these questions are answered satisfactorily.
The government must put in place every possible safeguard to mitigate the risks identified.
Finally, we ask the government to send clear messages to Chinese authorities.
You are welcome in our borough and diplomatic guests, but you are expected to fully respect
our laws, our people, and our values.
Chinese people have lived in this borough for hundreds of years and are part and fabric
of the history of the Trighamlets.
Our Chinese friends and neighbours are and always will be welcome in the safe East End.
We urge the Government to engage local councillors transparently and help rectify outstanding
issues with this decision.
We stand ready to hold to account the defence of the people of the Trighamlets, our community
voices with silence, as well as being long -termers.
We must come first and continue to fight forever.
Mr. Speaker, China and Bangladesh always had bilateral agreements, and the former Prime Minister,
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:17:43
the late former Prime Minister Begum Khalil Dazir, when she was Prime Minister,
she was very careful and astute in our relations with the Chinese government.
So I pay my respects and two big condolences to the late Prime Minister, Antaraxir and her family.
Thank you.
Councillor Kobi Ahmed, do you wish to exercise your right to reply?
You have three minutes.
I do, Mr Speaker.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:18:14
So the first thing is it was purported within the debate by members that all cabinet members
who have received these bottles of wine auctioned it off in the Speaker's Ball, not this cabinet
member, this cabinet member put a return to sender sticker and sent it back to the Chinese
embassy saying you can keep your bottle of wine, I don't need it because I don't drink
wine and I don't need gifts from you.
So I think the clarity we need here, this isn't about the Chinese people and this isn't
about residents who visit us from China.
This is about the Chinese government having an embassy in Tower Hamlets, the largest embassy,
right next to our infrastructure cabling, right next to a Grade 1 listed building in the form of Tower of London,
right next to Tower Bridge where there are lots of tourists.
Just on the other side of Cartwright Street we have the Royal Mint Estate,
but also what's very important to understand is one side of Cartwright Street will be the United Kingdom.
The other side of Cartwright Street will be the People's Republic of China.
So there are residents who pay council tax to us who will actually be living in
China because the Royal Mint Estate isn't just guarded by the wall there is
housing that residents of Tower Hamlets live in which falls within the
perimeters but is not guarded by a wall. Now this is the reality of it so I don't
even know how jurisdiction of council tax we've worked with these residents
because technically they'll be in China but most importantly you know there are
There is a lot of infrastructure cabling, power networks that run right the way through
these areas.
Now the Royal Mint, of course, was originally designed as the Royal Mint, so a lot of infrastructure
is built around it as well.
So it's really important to understand how that can have a direct impact on residents
who live around the sort of area.
So we spoke, members spoke about surveillance.
So if we go to the example of the Manchester Consulate, which is widespread on YouTube,
you can see members of the Chinese government going out with cameras and everything, recording,
those who were protesting and people around, passers by on the street.
We have no access to that information.
We don't know what they do with that information.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:20:41
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:20:42
So I'm sorry it comes across as doom and gloom.
But residents of Tower Hamlets, I suspect, will have a lot of surveillance on them, particularly
those residents who live in the Royal Mint Estate and the periphery areas of that embassy.
So these are serious risks that apply to residents of Tower Hamlets.
So with that I'll close and I'm expecting everybody's support, so thank you for your
support.
It's good when we can come together.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:21:09
I will now ask the head of Democratic Services to conduct the vote.
Thank you.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:21:20
So voting on the urgent motion.
There are no amendments to it so we'll just go straight to the vote on the motion.
All those in favour?
I think that's unanimous but just to double cheque, is there any votes against?
Any abstentions?
OK, that's unanimous, thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:21:42
Mr Speaker, very urgently, a quick matter of an apology and a matter of clarification.
You mentioned my birthday, I'm heading for my dotage, I'm misunderstood.
Cllr Peter Golds - 2:21:52
There is no way I will wish to criticise Councillor Farooq Ahmed, who's done a brilliant job in the campaign,
has regularly attended meetings and been at the things.
And Farooq, I apologise to you for the, I really do apologise for confusing you with another person.
Thank you, and I'm very sorry.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:22:12
Thank you. Now we go back to our agenda 7, which we left behind.

7 ADMINISTRATION MOTION DEBATE

The motion for the debate submitted by administration,
The debate will follow the rules of debate at Council procedure, rules 13, and will last
no more than 30 minutes.
Councillor Colby, Ahmed, can you please move your motion as set out in the agenda?
You have four minutes.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:23:03
So the core of this motion, Mr Speaker, is that we as a local authority are one of the
most high functioning planning local authorities in the country.
As you can understand, the volume of work we go through is exceptional compared to most
local authorities in the country.
Now, Section 106 seal play a pivotal role, but at the same time while we pass numerous
planning applications, on the other side of it we have huge deprivation.
And as part of that deprivation we have a housing waiting list nearing 30 ,000 people.
As a result of that, the new local plan which is going through the governance processes
and the planning inspector, we have allocated for 40 % social housing.
This is viability tested with the applications that apply here.
It's clear that it's totally unfair and quite irresponsible for both the Secretary of State
and the Mayor of London to come out and blanketly offer developers a 20 % social housing threshold
and also cut our seal money. The Mayor of London can keep his seal money but what happens
is the local authority gets bypassed. Now what is seal people may ask? Seal is for local
community infrastructure. That's what a seal means. Now how do we put infrastructure in
place for residents coming in when developments take place? We use seal money for stuff like
that. However if they cut the seal, where does that seal money come from? Who does the
bill fall on to provide that infrastructure? We have statutory responsibilities as a council
that we must deliver. So our ability to deliver as a council will be seriously hampered.
Now the argument is that developers need this boost in order to build more social housing.
It's not social housing they're targeting, it's housing they're targeting. So this 1 .5
million housing target means private housing. Now we have a political party in government
that says it's for the people. But what this will do is it will create more gentrification.
It will push out the working class who can't afford to buy or rent within these new developments
that's going to come forward. So just having housing units for the sake of housing units
isn't really going to help us. We would have loved to have 100 % social housing. However,
Our viability works in strange ways so that developments have to offset one another.
Now we know for a fact and Peter Golds and Councillor Talukdar and other councillors
on the island will attest to numerous buildings being left empty.
These are the private dwellings that are left empty by overseas buyers and whoever that
chooses to buy it and leave these properties empty.
While we have a housing crisis on the one hand, we have properties left empty.
What this policy will do is create more of these properties that are left empty
and not necessarily addressing the housing crisis that exists in this country
but more potently as an inner city local authority, tower hamlets.
So clearly this will not help us.
I suggest, Mr Mayor, that all members in this room support this proposal
so that we can actually do directive work in order to support residents of Tower Hamlets.
Our primary reason for being elected is to represent the residents of Tower Hamlets.
This policy, if endorsed, is not going to help the residents of Tower Hamlets.
What it's actually going to do is price them out.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:27:20
So I urge members to support this proposal.
Thank you.
I call upon Councillor Mayn Talib to second the motion.
You have also three minutes.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Sorry, that was misprinted.
Okay, Councillor Sane.
Thank you.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:27:49
The housing crisis in London is getting worse, not better.
We are experiencing a demand for housing and temporary
accommodation that has never been seen before.
Over 180 ,000 people in London are homeless and living
in temporary accommodation, meaning that approximately
1 in 21 children in London are living in ATA.
Let that sink in.
That means that one child in every classroom in the city
is without a secure home or a stable place to live.
This is an emergency that requires bold action
from central government.
I do not accept that there is no money.
According to the IMF, we are the sixth largest economy
in the world, and yet our children, our child poverty
rate has risen faster than any single EU country
in recent years.
We are doing everything we can as a local authority
to control the spend.
In our recent cabinet meeting and our budget,
you will see that we have invested an additional
ÂŁ50 million when it comes to TA.
But this system is unfair.
It is designed to protect the wealth of millionaires
and billionaires at the expense of working class
people who are being driven into homelessness as a
result of our government's refusal to challenge
economic inequality.
The Labour government's decision to reduce the
affordable housing threshold from 35 % to 20%, while we are pushing for 40%, half in our
target is a miserable reminder of the interest that they truly serve. Despite their name,
the Labour Party does not represent the local interest of the people in Tower Hamlets. Nor
families living in overcrowding accommodation, nor young people who are struggling to afford
their first homes. Instead, they are acting to maximise the profit of the privileged few
while the rest of society struggles to put a roof over their head.
Mr Speaker, let me be clear. The government should be incentivising the development of
more affordable housing, not less. The extent of the crisis requires that we go forwards
and not backwards, that targets are increased, not reduced. So disconnected from the residents
and the need of the people.
Our local authority has proven that it's possible
to stimulate a competitive market while being insistent
on the need for affordable housing for our residents.
By the end of this term, we will have exceeded
our 4 ,000 affordable homes target,
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:30:25
and we will have created a ground work planning
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:30:30
for delivery of 50 ,000 homes over a 15 -year period.
Simultaneously, we have agreed an acquisition programme
of 200 plus homes and already made significant strides in that area.
Londoners deserve better, so I urge the government to learn from our successes and reverse this
direct decision -making so that people can be put forward first before profit.
I formally second this motion.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:30:56
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor.
Can I ask Councillor Azmar Islam please, can you move your amendment?
You have three minutes.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
So we all know the urgency, but let's face the reality.
Cllr Asma Islam - 2:31:14
Across London and the country, development has stalled.
As Aspire itself acknowledges, last year only 3 ,950 homes were delivered in London
against a target of 88 ,000.
Rising construction costs, high interest rates,
and market uncertainty have created a perfect storm.
That is why the Labour government and the Mayor of London
have introduced temporary emergency measures,
including a 20 % affordable housing threshold
for fast -tracking planning.
These measures are not permanent.
They are designed to get Britain building again,
unlock stall sites, and protect jobs in construction.
and let me be clear, once the market stabilises, these measures will be reversed.
Labour remains committed to delivering the homes people need, not cutting corners for developers.
And I want to be honest here, my instinct, my soul, is not comfortable with reducing affordable housing targets.
None of us came into public life to lower ambition for those that need it the most.
But we cannot ignore reality.
The alternative is to pretend the market is healthy when it's not, to pretend that
targets alone build homes when they don't, and Aspire in four years have proven that.
No credible plan, no delivery record and no ability to turn targets into actual homes.
We cannot cling to slogans while the borough stops building.
But Townhamlets is unique.
We have some of the highest housing need in the country and a proven track record of delivering affordable homes.
The new local plan sets a 40 % target and Labour believes in going further wherever possible.
We are not a republic, we work within the national framework, but we should fight our corner.
And let's talk about Aspire. They posture about affordable housing but the facts speak louder.
Four years in power and Espy have built excuses, not homes.
They promised 4 ,000 new homes. Where are they?
They waived affordable housing on Marshmoor.
Luxury towers were invested, not home for local people.
While families in their hamlets lived with dampened mould,
Espy are signs of skyscapers with no affordable housing.
They are also gifting over 50 council owned sites to private developers.
This is an administration and a mayor that calls themselves a socialist aligned with
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:33:46
Jeremy Corbyn, who in fact spent his entire life advocating for more council homes.
Cllr Asma Islam - 2:33:50
Yet their home building policies think of industrial -level privatisation.
That's the spires housing policy.
Contrast that with Labour's record, after the Second World War, Labour built the homes
Britain needed.
The last Labour government invested ÂŁ19 billion in the Decent Homes Programme, transforming
lives.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:34:14
And here in Calhambla, between 2015 and 2022, Labour delivered over 2 ,000 homes.
Not BFI schemes, not free rein for developers.
Cllr Asma Islam - 2:34:19
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:34:20
Labour delivers as fire breaks promises.
Thank you.
Councillor Abdi, Councillor Abdi, Mohammed to second the amendment.
You have three minutes.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abdi Mohamed - 2:34:36
Can I begin by thanking Councillor Islam for opposing this amendment and for the clarity she has brought to this debate.
And can I say one heck of a speech.
I'm proud to second it.
Because tonight this council has a choice.
Between rhetoric and reality.
Between posturing and delivering.
between saying the right things and doing them.
Let's be honest, we all know the wider picture.
Years of under -investment from the last government, a Tory government.
Stalled sites, land banking and a system that rewarded speculation over building.
This damage has been done over a long period.
That's why the direction of travel nationally matters.
This Labour government is backing councils to deliver.
with a 10 -year rent settlement, limits on right to buy and a ÂŁ39 billion commitment
to build a new generation of affordable homes.
That is serious action, not words.
And it deserves serious local leadership to match it.
Because here in Tower Hamlets there is a gap, a gap between what is said by this administration
and what residents experience, with strong words about standing up for affordable housing.
In this term, between 22 and 25, they've got nowhere near the 4 ,000 homes they promised.
In fact, they've only built 1 ,867.
They'll spin it, they'll use comms, and they'll say,
the many homes we have promised, and we have in a pipeline.
They've built 1 ,867. Nowhere near the 4 ,000 they promised.
Residents are feeling the gap.
They are feeling the gap when it comes to overcrowded homes, in temporary accommodation
and on waiting lists that keep going.
This amendment doesn't deny the challenges.
We all know that housing delivery has been slowed.
Thousands of approved homes remain unbuilt.
Blaming the government for getting serious with solutions is the easy answer but not
the obvious one.
Credibility matters.
This amendment is constructive, it commits the council to engaging properly with the
consultation for these temporary measures.
It reaffirms our local target and it calls for delivery that matches our values, including
in the renewed focus on building direct council house building.
This isn't ideology, it's responsibility.
Previous administrations should be done.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:37:03
Cllr Abdi Mohamed - 2:37:04
The residents deserve a level of seriousness again.
So Mr Speaker, I'd encourage all to back this amendment.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:37:13
Does any other member now wish to speak on the substantive motion submitted by Councillor
Coburn Ahmed or the amendment submitted by Councillor Asma Islam?
I've got your name listed here already.
Can I call for Councillor Mayim Talib Jha please?
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abdi Mohamed - 2:37:38
Let me remind the party opposite.
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 2:37:45
During their administration they sold more than 92 million pounds worth of land to private
developers for social housing.
What the government has announced is not an emergency.
I'm sorry that's a point of order.
People cannot go around talking about inaccurate...
Can you explain your point of order, please?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:38:00
No, prove it.
You're talking me wrong.
If it was true, you would have had it out in your comms by now.
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 2:38:06
Carry on speaking.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:38:13
I have a point of order that councillors and members
have a responsibility about their language
and what they say in their speech.
If they are going to say something that's libellous,
I want to know where that figure's come from
and they need to prove that.
Cllr Asma Islam - 2:38:26
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:38:27
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 2:38:28
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:38:35
Can I just move on?
We just got the advice from the motion.
What the government has announced is not an emergency housing package.
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 2:38:47
It's a gift to developers and a blow to working people.
These measures repeat the same failed approach that has held London back for decades.
reward the private sector, weaken local control,
and ignore the real housing needs of communities like Tower Hamlets.
Let's be clear what these five measures mean for Tower Hamlets, presidents.
A 50 % seal discount for delivering just 20 % affordable housing,
slashing our infrastructure and funding and encouraging developers
to build fewer affordable homes.
An accelerate route that removes viability cheques,
tripping councils of oversight,
and paving the way for risky, poor quality schemes.
Scrapping density standards in one of the most
overcrowded boroughs in the country.
Expanding city halls calling powers
by passing local democracy and sidelining residents.
and a $322 million fund that divided across 33 authorities is nowhere near enough to tackle
local scale of London housing crisis.
Mr Speaker, while others sell off land and cut affordable housing, Aspire is building.
We are on track to deliver 4 ,000 affordable homes.
The Mayor's Accelerate Housing Programme will deliver 3 ,100 more on Council -owned sites.
Our local plan will deliver 50 ,000 homes over 15 years.
Our CHAP programme is adding 200 plus homes with dozens already purchased.
and we've committed 140 million to upgrade existing homes.
This is what a responsible community -focused housing delivery looks like.
The government's measures will not stipulate the market,
they will not help the 29 ,000 families on our waiting list.
They will simply push affordability further,
out of reach while boosting developers' profit margins.
Tonight we send a clear message, Mr Speaker, reverse these damaging measures, work with
councils and put residents, not corporations, at heart of housing policy.
I argue council colleagues to support this motion.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:41:32
Can I ask Amina Ali, please, for your comments?
Cllr Mufeedah Bustin - 2:41:39
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I don't really want to repeat what's already been said.
Cllr Amina Ali - 2:41:51
I think Asma Islam's speech actually really said everything I was going to say and I think
it's the most important thing.
What I really want to say here quickly is that the real issue here, Mr Speaker, is not
the Secretary of State, nor the Mayor of London, nor the fact that they assume that Labour
haven't built since they were in administration here before.
No, Mr Speaker, the real issue here tonight is that aspired administration want to hide
behind this smokescreen motion that they presented tonight so that no one questions their failures,
not only to build real social housing and the real social housing, but also the failure
and the downgrade of Town Hamlets' homes by the regulator to 3C, because a spy administration
has felt the very social tenets they say they want to defend here tonight. Therefore, may
I suggest that they look at their own housing crisis
that they're creating in this borough
by letting down the residents of Talbot Hamlet's homes
and other residents, and that is happening under their noses
with the fact that they're letting people down
on decent housing repairs, decent communal cleanliness,
and building real affordable homes.
It's no good standing here and accusing the Labour
Administration or the Labour government
who have had to really look at the Labour government,
have had to look at what they managed to get from the Tories
in terms of what they inherited.
Tower Hamlets residents do deserve good housing, Mr Speaker,
but the reality is Aspire aren't building housing.
What Aspire are doing is propagating the fact
that they are building housing
when they're not building housing.
And we know for a fact they have let down the people
at Tower Hamlets, but tonight we need to make sure
that people understand that they are not delivering on what they say they're delivering.
I don't think that's true. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:43:54
Can I ask Abu Talha to show you please?
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Cllr Mufeedah Bustin - 2:44:00
The party of U -turns must do a U -turn on this policy.
It should be the 14th or 15th U -turn for this government.
Because if the government and the Mayor of London are serious about house building,
they need to stop putting the interests of private developers
before the needs of our residents.
We have 29 ,000 people on the waiting list,
but this government, supported by colleagues in front of me,
feel that it's more important to build more private homes,
most likely for foreign investors,
rather than tackle this affordability crisis
for local residents head on.
This administration only recently developed a local plan
that seeks 40 % affordable homes from developers,
But the decision to half it to 20 % makes a mockery of Labour's mantra,
build baby build, more like cut baby cut.
Not only does this government want to take away our homes,
they want to take away our money too.
One of the measures proposes a 50 % discount for sale contributions.
The council received ÂŁ22 million in 23 -24.
Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury - 2:45:00
So this benefit for developers could cost the council millions in lost revenue
and in turn reinvestment into the community.
That's it. Cut baby, cut. But come on, surely they wouldn't compromise on quality standards.
The crumbs they'd feed to those on our waiting list would have foregone viability assessments and density standards,
exposing the council and residents to significant risk. Now that's risk, baby risk.
The reality is that time and time again, the previous Labour administration preferred a quick buck -off sales to the private sector
then prioritise affordable housing. That's the reality, Councillor Islau. One of the
best examples of this was when former Mayor Biggs decided to sell the LEB building in
my ward to the property developer Telford Living. Both Telford and John Biggs claimed
that this sale would lead to the development of new housing, but almost a decade later
the building is being used as temporary workspace and plans for housing? We're still waiting.
My fellow councillors, we debated motions in this council on the winter fuel allowance and the two child benefit cap and resolved by calling the government for a U -turn on those policies.
Similarly, I ask you all to do the same again and request the reversal of this destructive policy.
If the government and the Mayor of London want advice on house building, tell them to come and speak to Mayor Lutruh Rahman and this council.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:46:30
Councillor Peter Goles.
Your name is here.
Councillor Sirajuul Islam please.
Your name is here.
Moffit Dababasti.
Thank you.
Cllr Mufeedah Bustin - 2:46:53
Oh gosh this has been an entertaining motion.
and there's been numbers flying around
from all different places.
I raised a motion in October,
an inquiry even in October 2025,
asking how many social homes and affordable homes
this council had delivered.
The answer I got was 1 ,800.
Guess when those applications were submitted?
Before 2022.
The truth is, this administration
has delivered zero housing.
And that is the fact that our residents need to be aware of.
Now, it was Albert Einstein, I believe, who said that insanity
is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
This country is in economic crisis.
The Labour government inherited a hole caused by the Conservative government.
We had austerity, we had Brexit, we had the pandemic.
The reality is developers are not building.
And we've seen this, we've seen this with like just recently the West Ferry Printworks.
35 % affordable housing, lots of family homes.
It was almost too good to be true.
Approved by planning committee, guess what happened?
The owners put it up for sale.
Surprise, surprise.
The truth is you can have the highest percentage of affordable housing that you want, but 40 %
of nothing is nothing.
We need to do something a little bit different in order to kick start this economy, and if
that means having to reduce the affordable housing target, as much as that pains us to
do, there is a question there that we need to look at, we need to be doing something
different. And quite frankly, I don't think this is an administration that can lecture
on SIL. This is an administration that is taking SIL, that is taking neighbourhood SIL,
25 million pounds of money that should be invested in infrastructure on places like
the Isle of Dogs, in places like the City Fringe.
What are they doing with that money?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:49:23
They are putting it towards revenue.
Cllr Mufeedah Bustin - 2:49:27
25 million this year, 17 million the year before.
Do not lecture us on SIL.
Turn around to your residents and tell them the truth.
This is an administration that has certain planning committees and voted to increase
private housing in social housing regen streams.
The reality is I met with a social housing landlord earlier today who wants to do a regen.
They want to take 100 % of social housing, regen the site, put 100 % of social housing
back.
Guess who they want to fund that?
The GLA with Labour's Sadiq Khan.
So do not lecture us on delivering social housing.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:50:14
Sabina, please.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 2:50:26
For many residents in Tower Hamlets, it is about overcrowded homes, rising homelessness
and families being priced out of the bar that they have lived in for generations.
Let us be clear, reducing affordable housing requirement does not magically make homes
more affordable.
What it does is just makes it easier for developers to build more homes that local people simply
can't afford.
Tower Hamlets already has one of the highest levels of housing needs in the country.
Cllr Sabina Akhtar - 2:50:52
We have long waiting lists, rising homelessness and families living for years in temporary accommodations.
Against that backdrop, any move by the government to dilute affordable housing expectations is not just misguided, it is damaging.
We are often told that lower targets are necessary to encourage development, but we've experienced shows that when targets fall,
it is social rented housing that disappears first.
And we must be honest, so -called affordable homes
at 80 % of market rate are simply not affordable
for many residents in this borough, are they?
As a Aspire administration, we have been clear
about our ambition to secure higher levels
of affordable housing, more social rent,
and more family -sized homes.
But when national policy weakens, it hands developers
the arguments they need to challenge councils locally through viability assessments and
communities pay the price.
There are wider consequences.
Large scale development without the right mix of generally affordable homes put huge
pressures on schools, GP, surgeries, transport and public services.
This is not sustainable growth.
Mr Speaker, Taheemnet should not have to choose between development and fairness.
We must continue to stand firm against any dilution of affordable housing standards and make it clear that housing policy must serve residents first.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:52:26
You can call it temporarily, but it's a loss to our community and it should not be committed or supported.
Thank you.
Thank you for the time.
You have so many names here.
I'm sorry I couldn't go through.
You know, we've already gone over.
Can I just ask Councillor Kobi Ahmed to do you wish to exercise your right to reply?
You have three minutes to do so.
Thank you.
I do, Mr Speaker.
Thank you.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:52:54
And I quote councillors in the chamber that say councillors have a responsibility to say the truth.
So I'll only quote two of the cells from this council which contributed to the 92 million pound figure that Councillor Talukder mentioned.
Members, do you remember Cheviot House? That sold for 14 million. That was sold under the Labour Administration.
And my colleague Councillor Chaudhry mentioned about the LEB building, that's sold for
ÂŁ30 million so that alone contributes for ÂŁ44 million. There's a whole list that I
can go through but that will take up too much time.
So now, Mr Speaker, just the last motion, we spoke about how important it was for the
decisions around planning and all members in this chamber supported that.
Yet in this motion we say planning powers should be kicked away from the
local authority and handed to the GLA and the Secretary of State. How does that
make sense? Councillor Chaudry pointed out the King of U -turns, this government
certainly is and this local Labour Party, this local Labour group is certainly the
of U -turns because literally 15 minutes ago they agreed that planning decisions and planning
authorities should remain with Tower Hamlets Council and the SDC.
Fifteen minutes later they say it should go to Sadiq Khan and the Secretary of State.
That's a U -turn in my books.
So we talk about integrity and we talk about how this council has elected members to represent
this council's interests, yet soon as the tribe, the Labour tribe from the top says
20 % and the Labour GLA Mayor says 20%, the tribe at the local level turns around and
says yes, they're right. Well let me ask you, what viability testing was done before the
conception of this idea? Why is it the previous Secretary of State didn't have this idea?
because, Mr Speaker, this idea will not work.
It will increase private accommodation more
and reduce social housing.
It's in the name.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:55:20
Yet, our elected members here,
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:55:22
without any viability testing,
say it must be true,
because our leaders have said it's true,
and therefore we will follow our leaders
and we will follow the tribe,
irrelevant of the needs of this local authority.
Now, we talk about facts.
Well the facts is we had a Labour government from 97 to 2010.
Did they have a major investment programme in social housing? No.
Councils couldn't build social housing in the days and days.
It was actually from 2010 that Council started rebuilding social housing.
So in all those years the Labour government didn't build social housing.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:56:01
Do we need mass social housing? Yes we do.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:56:05
And the government is poised to be able to deliver that.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:56:06
Yet they refuse to do that.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:56:25
Those against?
So that falls, thank you.
And then can I see those in favour of the main motion unamended?
Those against?
Abstentions?
Okay.
That is carried.
Thank you very much.
So the meeting started at 7 .02.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:57:06
We have about four or five minutes.
First cheque is there going to be a proposal to extend the guillotine?
Councillor Francis?
Thank you.
Can I formally propose that we extend the guillotine to complete the debate on the next
motion, the opposition motion?
Can I have a seconder for that, please?
All those in favour of that proposal?
All those against?
Okay.
So that falls.
Councillor Francis do you want to do your intro or do you want to defer the item?
You've probably got time for your introduction to move, depending how quick you are.
If you start you can certainly finish your speech.
Yes, yes.
Okay, okay.
Cllr Marc Francis - 2:58:06
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for finally allowing us to get to a debate on the quality
of housing services here in Tower Hamlets.
So running housing service is no easy job.
We're under no illusion about that.
Mistakes will happen, money won't always be available and residents won't always be happy.
But we have seen good housing services in Tower Hamlets before and so we know the ingredients
for success.
effective leadership, direct accountability to tenants, investment in
homes and estates and consistent performance management. Those elements
have been rare or even non -existent over the past four years under this
administration. So it's no surprise to us on these benches to see the regulator
downgrade Tower Hamlets Council's housing services last spring. Labour
councillors have been trying to get this debate on this downgrade ever since and

8 OPPOSITION MOTION DEBATE

the Mayor and lead member have been hiding from that debate ever since,
covering up their failure.
Mr Speaker, my colleagues hoped to set out the human cost when this authority lets tenants down,
but they're not going to get a chance to do that.
But you know, and the residents out there know as well,
this suffering is a direct consequence of the political decisions the Mayor, his lead member, and his Aspire Party have made.
He stood on a manifesto promise to close down Tower Hamlets Homes and he was entitled to implement it.
However, the stated purpose of that promise was to make the service better.
And in that, he and you have singularly failed.
Labour said that we would support bringing housing services back in -house, but he needed
to maintain and retain experienced staff during the transition and create alternative accountability
to tenants and councillors.
Instead, without any understanding of what was working well and what wasn't, he rode
rush -shod over the whole organisation, causing a mass exodus of senior staff.
Labour proposed increasing the number of housing scrutiny meetings so that we could properly
track and monitor performance on a cross -party basis.
With the connivance of us by as chair of the Housing Scrutiny Committee, the Mayor obstructed
and obfuscated that request, and even when we won a vote on it, he simply rejected it
out of hand.
Labour proposed boosting support for TRAs to improve direct accountability, but he did
nothing about that either.
Mr Speaker, officers have published the performance data for last year.
Only three in five calls to the service centre answered.
Only 47 % of repairs appointments kept.
Only 75 % of repairs completed in time.
79 % of emergency repairs completed in time.
Tenant satisfaction, 60%. That's your record.
Tenant satisfaction, 62 % with repairs.
Tenant satisfaction at Tower Hamlets Council listens to their views.
53%. It's no wonder the regulator downgraded this failing organisation, just as the government
has downgraded this council under the Mayor's leadership as well, for its best value failings
and its failure to come up with a continuous improvement plan as well.
Mr Speaker, the truth is that for ideological reasons the Mayor and his lead member took
something that was working and broke it. They caused this, nobody else. Mr Speaker, in belated
recognition of his responsibility to take an interest in turning this poor performance
around, the Mayor established the Cabinet subcommittee. Officers are required to publish
the performance data. In theory that's a good idea, but I've been to one of the subcommittees
and I've watched others online. All his cabinet members do is say what a wonderful job the
Mayor is doing, and no opposition Councillor gets to say anything at all. This isn't performance
management, let alone scrutiny, it's political back -scratching for the next jobs. It's an
embarrassing spectacle and that's when it actually happens because last week he just
cancelled it without any notice to anyone at all. The same kind of complacent and self -indulgence
is evident in Aspire's amendment tonight. So I'm really glad we're not going to get
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 3:01:57
Cllr Marc Francis - 3:02:02
to hear any of them to speak on it. The Mayor broke this service, the Mayor is responsible
and we on these benches believe that Council's tenants and leaseholders will hold them all
Councillor William May. Point of order, Mr Speaker. Point of order,
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 3:02:18
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 3:02:20
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 3:02:21
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 3:02:21
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 3:02:25
point of order. Under section 12 .1G and 12 .1, so this motion is factually incorrect and
therefore it's out of order. The housing regulators did not downgrade this council because the
grading system only came into effect in April 2023 and therefore this is the first grading
that this council has received. So members opposite in that motion are not being truthful
with the facts, number one. And number two, that members opposite, I'm not debating it,
I am telling you point of order. This is actually incorrect.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 3:03:02
Shupriya Iqbal - 3:03:10
If there is a point of order which is that there is a factual inaccuracy
Would Councillor Francis would you like to move to alter your?
Motion to correct the question regulators grading not mine. Why should I change it?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 3:03:25
Sorry madam monitoring officer
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 3:03:27
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 3:03:29
It reads here that it has been
Shupriya Iqbal - 3:03:31
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 3:03:36
downgraded. This is the first grading that this council has been given by the housing
regulator. It's practically and factually impossible to downgrade from a grading.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 3:03:44
Shupriya Iqbal - 3:03:46
Thank you. Councillor, sorry, we've reached the guillotine, so we really do need to move
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 3:03:47
on. Thank you, thank you, Councillor. The guillotine has fallen. Can Matthew take us
Mr Matthew Mannion - 3:04:00
through the process please. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Speaker. So we've reached the
guillotine so there's no time for any more speeches but I do need to go through the formalities.
So Councillor Sirajul Islam, you're formally seconding I take it?
I can't speak. No, as we've hit the guillotine. Thank you
very much. And there was also an amendment on the agenda. So can I confirm that Councillor
Ahmed you are moving that, is that right?
And Councillor Said, Ahmed you are seconding that, that's right.
We will therefore move to the votes on this item.
So we first of all deal with the amendment.
So all those in favour of the amendment from Councillors Ahmed and Ahmed over there.
All those in favour?
All those against?
Any abstentions?
So the amendment is carried.
So all those in favour of the amended motion, please show.
All in favour of the amended motion.
Thank you.
All those against the amended motion.
All those abstaining on the amended motion.
Thank you.
So the amended motion is therefore carried.
Great.
So we now have the reports that we need to vote on very quickly.
So you've just your strategies.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 3:05:22
Can we just have somebody's hands up to propose and second?
Yeah.
Okay.

9 a) Report of Cabinet: Youth Justice Strategy 2025-28

Are we happy to vote on the recommendations in that report?
Agree then?
Thank you.

9 b) Report of the Standards Advisory Committee: Amendments to the Code of Conduct for Members and the Arrangements for Dealing with Complaints of Breach of the Code

Next one down is the report of the Standards Advisory Committee on the Amendments of the
Code of Conduct.
Proposer and seconder?
All those in favour of those recommendations?
Thank you.
Then we have got the report on the continuous improvement journey and we have a note from

10 a) Continuous Improvement Journey Update: Report to MHCLG

the Chief Executive earlier with the changing the recommendation to note that report.
So you can have a mover and a seconder both for the report and for that proposal to amend
the recommendation.
All those in favour?
Yeah.
Okay.
All right.
Shout out to anyone if you need a longer vote on any of these.

10 b) Tower Hamlets’ Response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy and inquiry recommendations

The next one is the response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy and inquiry recommendations.
Proposer and seconder.
All those in favour?
Anyone against?
No, okay, brilliant.
Statutory recommendations on the effectiveness of the process for conducting internal investigations

10 c) Statutory Recommendation on Effectiveness of the Process for Conducting Internal Investigations issued by the External Auditor

issued by the external auditor.
Proposer and seconder.
All those in favour?
Anyone against?
No.
Any abstentions?
No.
Moving on.

10 d) Localism Act 2011: Appointment of Independent Persons

Localism Act appointment of independent persons.
So that's the report from the monetary officer.
Proposal and seconder.
All in favour of that one?
Any abstentions or against?
No.
Thank you.
Localism Act approval of exit payments.
Okay.

10 e) Localism Act 2011 and approval of exit payments

Proposal and seconder again.
All okay.
Good.
Thank you.
That's it.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 3:07:04
The time limit for the meeting has now been reached.

Any motion not taken will fall.
I thank you for your contribution.
I now close the meeting.
Please note the members must wait for the mace to be removed before they leave the meeting.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 3:07:37
Thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion
Head of Democratic Services
Tower Hamlets
View profile Mr Matthew Mannion