Council - Wednesday 25 February 2026, 1:00pm - Tower Hamlets Council webcasts

Council
Wednesday, 25th February 2026 at 1:00pm 

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  1. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  2. Mr Matthew Mannion
  3. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  4. Shupriya Iqbal
  5. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  6. Mr Matthew Mannion
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  1. Cllr Sirajul Islam
  2. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  3. Shupriya Iqbal
  4. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  5. Mr Matthew Mannion
  6. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  7. Shupriya Iqbal
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  1. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  2. Mr Matthew Mannion
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  1. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  2. Mayor Lutfur Rahman
  3. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  4. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  5. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  6. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  7. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  8. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  9. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  10. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  11. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  12. Cllr Marc Francis
  13. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  14. Cllr Marc Francis
  15. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  16. Cllr Marc Francis
  17. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  18. Cllr Marc Francis
  19. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  20. Cllr Sirajul Islam
  21. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  22. Cllr Nathalie Bienfait
  23. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  24. Cllr Nathalie Bienfait
  25. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  26. Cllr Peter Golds
  27. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  28. Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury
  29. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  30. Cllr Mohammad Chowdhury
  31. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  32. Cllr Shafi Ahmed
  33. Cllr Sabina Akhtar
  34. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  35. Cllr Shafi Ahmed
  36. Cllr Sabina Akhtar
  37. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  38. Cllr Abdul Wahid
  39. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  40. Cllr Abdul Wahid
  41. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  42. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  43. Cllr Abdul Wahid
  44. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  45. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  46. Cllr Abdul Wahid
  47. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  48. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  49. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  50. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  51. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  52. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  53. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  54. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  55. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  56. Shupriya Iqbal
  57. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  58. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  59. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  60. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  61. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  62. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  63. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  64. Cllr Peter Golds
  65. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  66. Cllr Peter Golds
  67. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  68. Cllr Peter Golds
  69. Cllr Shafi Ahmed
  70. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  71. Cllr Shafi Ahmed
  72. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  73. Cllr Amy Lee
  74. Cllr Faroque Ahmed
  75. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  76. Cllr Amy Lee
  77. Cllr Faroque Ahmed
  78. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  79. Cllr Kamrul Hussain
  80. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  81. Cllr Kamrul Hussain
  82. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  83. Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled
  84. Cllr Jahed Choudhury
  85. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  86. Cllr Bodrul Choudhury
  87. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  88. Cllr Bodrul Choudhury
  89. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  90. Shupriya Iqbal
  91. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  92. Cllr Abdul Wahid
  93. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  94. Cllr Abdul Wahid
  95. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  96. Cllr Abdul Wahid
  97. Cllr Harun Miah
  98. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  99. Cllr Sirajul Islam
  100. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  101. Cllr Ahmodur Khan
  102. Cllr Ahmodul Kabir
  103. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  104. Cllr Ahmodur Khan
  105. Cllr Ahmodul Kabir
  106. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  107. Cllr Ahmodur Khan
  108. Cllr Maium Talukdar
  109. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  110. Cllr Maium Talukdar
  111. Cllr Rebaka Sultana
  112. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  113. Cllr Rebaka Sultana
  114. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  115. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  116. Cllr Maium Talukdar
  117. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  118. Cllr Maium Talukdar
  119. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  120. Cllr Ana Miah
  121. Cllr Nathalie Bienfait
  122. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  123. Cllr Ana Miah
  124. Cllr Ohid Ahmed
  125. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  126. Cllr Ana Miah
  127. Cllr Maisha Begum
  128. Cllr Leelu Ahmed
  129. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  130. Cllr Leelu Ahmed
  131. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  132. Cllr Leelu Ahmed
  133. Cllr Sabina Khan
  134. Cllr Amin Rahman
  135. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  136. Cllr Iqbal Hossain
  137. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  138. Cllr Iqbal Hossain
  139. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  140. Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled
  141. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  142. Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled
  143. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  144. Cllr Sabina Khan
  145. Cllr Amin Rahman
  146. Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury
  147. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  148. Cllr Sabina Khan
  149. Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury
  150. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  151. Cllr Sabina Khan
  152. Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury
  153. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  154. Cllr Ahmodur Khan
  155. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  156. Cllr Ahmodur Khan
  157. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  158. Cllr Ahmodur Khan
  159. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  160. Cllr Kabir Hussain
  161. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  162. Cllr Kabir Hussain
  163. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  164. Cllr Kabir Hussain
  165. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  166. Cllr Kabir Hussain
  167. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  168. Cllr Bellal Uddin
  169. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  170. Cllr Bellal Uddin
  171. Cllr Abdul Mannan
  172. Cllr Bellal Uddin
  173. Cllr Abdul Mannan
  174. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  175. Cllr Bellal Uddin
  176. Cllr Abdul Mannan
  177. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  178. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  179. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  180. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  181. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  182. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  183. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  184. Cllr Marc Francis
  185. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  186. Cllr Marc Francis
  187. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  188. Cllr Marc Francis
  189. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  190. Cllr Marc Francis
  191. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  192. Cllr Marc Francis
  193. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  194. Shupriya Iqbal
  195. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  196. Shupriya Iqbal
  197. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  198. Cllr Marc Francis
  199. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  200. Cllr Marc Francis
  201. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  202. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  203. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  204. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  205. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  206. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  207. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  208. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  209. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  210. Shupriya Iqbal
  211. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  212. Shupriya Iqbal
  213. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  214. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  215. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  216. Shupriya Iqbal
  217. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  218. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  219. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  220. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  221. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  222. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  223. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  224. Mr Matthew Mannion
  225. Mr Matthew Mannion
  226. Mr Matthew Mannion
  227. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
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  1. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  2. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  3. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  4. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  5. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  6. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  7. Cllr Maium Talukdar
  8. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  9. Cllr Sirajul Islam
  10. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  11. Cllr Shafi Ahmed
  12. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  13. Cllr Nathalie Bienfait
  14. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  15. Cllr Shafi Ahmed
  16. Cllr Sabina Akhtar
  17. Cllr Shafi Ahmed
  18. Cllr Sabina Akhtar
  19. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  20. Cllr Marc Francis
  21. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  22. Cllr Marc Francis
  23. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  24. Cllr Ana Miah
  25. Cllr Ohid Ahmed
  26. Cllr Ana Miah
  27. Cllr Ohid Ahmed
  28. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  29. Cllr Ohid Ahmed
  30. Cllr Sabina Khan
  31. Cllr Amin Rahman
  32. Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury
  33. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  34. Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled
  35. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  36. Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled
  37. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  38. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  39. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  40. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  41. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  42. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  43. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  44. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  45. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  46. Shupriya Iqbal
  47. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  48. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  49. Shupriya Iqbal
  50. Shupriya Iqbal
  51. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  52. Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled
  53. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  54. Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled
  55. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  56. Mr Matthew Mannion
  57. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  58. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  59. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  60. Mr Matthew Mannion
  61. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
Share this agenda point
  1. Mr Stephen Halsey
  2. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  3. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  4. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  5. Mr Matthew Mannion
  6. Mr Matthew Mannion
  7. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  8. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  9. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  10. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  11. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  12. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  13. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
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  1. Mr Matthew Mannion
  2. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  3. Mr Matthew Mannion
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  5. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
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  7. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  8. Cllr Suluk Ahmed
  9. Webcast Finished

Thank you.
Please be seated.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:00:37
Good afternoon, everyone.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:01:06
Just quickly before we start, a couple of housekeeping notes.
So the meeting is webcast, live on the internet.
The cameras are focused on the people in the middle here, but you may be caught in the
camera shots.
We're not expecting the fire alarms.
If that rings, then please follow the staff out to the exits.
There are hearing loops.
If anybody needs a hearing loop, either with your own hearing aid or you just want to use
one, and they are up in the AV room, so just let a member of staff know.
And a reminder to members that hopefully we have got all your requests to speak, but do
raise your hand clearly if you want to speak.
Now I will hand over to the speaker to start formally.
Thank you, Matthew.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:01:48
Good afternoon.
and Assalamu Alaikum everyone and Ramadan Mubarak to you as well.
My name is Councillor Sulek Ahmed, I'm the Speaker of the Council and I will be sharing the meeting.
I would like to thank everyone for attending, including the members of the public in the gallery.
Now before I start, I must remind you that we have important rules to get through our business.
If anyone shucks about 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 detail.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Shupriya Iqbal - 0:03:06
Good afternoon, 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 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 or the public gallery.
Do not interrupt each other or make comments whilst other members are speaking and to be respectful to each other at all times.
Do 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 submitted lists.
He will also look to those indicating during the meeting, but depending on the time available,
may not be able to take all requests.
The Speaker will also look to vary the members who we hear from so may not take requests
in the order received.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:04:56
Thank you. Thank you, Sophia.
At this point in the meeting, I usually provide an update on my activities as a speaker.
Since the next Ordinary Council meeting is on Wednesday, 25th of March,
I intend to provide my next update at that meeting.
This will include an update on our recent wonderful Civic Awards evening which I was
honoured to host.
I will now ask the Corporate Head of Democratic and Government Services to take us through
procedure and the admin items at this part 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 - 0:05:59
And as usual, if it's okay, I will stay seated, as I've got to make notes as I go.
So the purpose of this meeting is to agree the Council's budget and set the Council tax
for the coming year.
Special rules apply to this meeting and all members should have received the procedure
guides by email.
But let me know if you have any questions.
The proposed budget amendments have been published and are in a separate pack to the main budget.
The main budget pack is the big one over there and there are little ones of the amendments
around as well.
The basic procedure is ten minutes for the mayor and lead member to introduce.
That's combined.
Three minutes for a seconder who can reserve the right to speak later.
Then the opposition Labour group will introduce their amendment for five minutes.
I think that's Councillor Francis.
And then their second of ditto gets three minutes.
And then we have an amendment from Councillor Bienfay.
So we'll take that next.
And then there will be the seconder for that one as well.
And then a general debate where everyone, including those who moved the group, motion
stroke amendment, can speak.
And then at the very end, Councillor, I think it's Councillor Said has the right to reply.
Is that it?
Yep.
It's going to be you.
As we said, there will be recorded votes.
I will be reading out all the names and doing all of that stuff which you have all seen
a few times in a row.
Please note there are three other reports on the agenda.
Consideration of those will take place after the budget debate is concluded.
The Speaker has confirmed his intention to ensure there is at least 15 minutes on the
continuous improvement journey report.
Obviously there might be more depending on how quickly we get through things.
Note as well the minutes of the last meeting are not traditionally taken at the Budget

Okay, moving on. Apologies. So I have apologies from Councillors Shubo Hussain, Amina Ali,

1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

James King, Asma Begum, Abdim Mohammed, Amy Lee and Mafida Bustin. I've got apologies
for lateness for Mysha Begum and Asma Islam. I can see Councillor Ayas Meer has joined us
online. Obviously won't be able to vote but is here if you like. Any other apologies?
Can I speak very quickly? I'll be very brief, Mr Speaker.
I'm totally respectful of the fact that Ramadan we changed its meeting at one o 'clock at the
meeting. I think we agreed at this council chamber, the last full council meeting, that
would be consulted at the time. I certainly was not consulted. So one o 'clock has meant
Cllr Sirajul Islam - 0:08:24
it's been difficult for my group members to attend this meeting. A number of people have
by challenging negotiation annually.
There's an inquiries implication as well,
where female members have disadvantaged,
which have child care needs in school
and caring responsibilities.
So if you're a bit more thoughtful about the time,
then I think we'd have a bigger turn out today.
So I appreciate you took the decision on this Ramadan,
but I think some consultations,
some discussions have been helpful.
I just wanted to put that on record, thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:08:50
Shupriya Iqbal - 0:08:58
Members, I understand the consultation actually started, the first emails were sent out in
December about the proposed changes for the meeting plan because of Ramadan.
Also, you will recall at the last Council meeting, we set out these options to you again
about the proposed changes in the time and also asked you to feed back.
And group leaders emailed or sent to group leaders about the proposed changes in time.
So therefore we consider that we have consulted with you all.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:09:40
Okay, thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:09:44
Moving on.
I think it's probably worth noting though we've got the Committee Calendar Report coming
up at the next meeting and we'll have the same issue next year with Ramadan and the
Budget Council in particular.
So maybe worth giving people extra thought as to what they would like in that report.
Of course we highlighted that last year as well, that it would be a problem.
Anyway, moving on.
Declarations of interest.
So I don't have any in particular but I'll just hand over to Shipri Ekbal, the Monitoring
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:10:16
Shupriya Iqbal - 0:10:17
interest. Thank you. Members should note that the Standards Advisory Committee have agreed
a general dispensation to all councillors in respect of matters relating to council
tax and housing. Where a councillor, his or her spouse or partner, holds a tenancy or

2 DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND OTHER INTERESTS

lease with the council, members do not therefore have to disclose a DPI in respect of these
Also, please note that the law prevents members from voting on matters related to council
budget and council tax if they are more than two months in arrears with their own council
tax.
It would be a criminal matter should any member vote in those circumstances.
So if you know that you've not paid your council tax for the last two months, please
declare the interest and do not vote.
Would any member who has a disclosable pecuniary interest do declare any item on the agenda?
Please indicate.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:11:17
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:11:23
Thank you.
Agenda Item 3 is to receive announcements.
We usually receive announcements from the Chief Executive but because it's the budget
meeting. We don't normally unless there's something urgent and I think there isn't today
so there will be no announcements. We then move to Item 4 which is petitions.
Budget Council, we only consider petitions related to the budget and there aren't any

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

of those so there are no petitions on the agenda. So I'll now pass back to the Speaker

4 TO RECEIVE PETITIONS

for the main budget and council tax debate. Thank you.

5 BUDGET REPORT 2026-27 AND MEDIUM-TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY 2026-29

Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:11:52
Thank you, Matthew.
We move to agenda item 5, is to consider the budget report 2026 -27 and medium term financial
strategy 2026 -29, which is on page 11 to 542.
Please note that this report includes the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Investment
Strategy Report and Capital Strategy Report for 2026 -27.
Members are asked to ensure they have read section 2 of the report, which is Chief Financial
officers comments as required under section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003.
For reference, the budget motion is set out at page 31 to 542 of the agenda and the two
amendments are set out in the supplementary agenda.
The overview and scrutiny committee's report on the budget is also presented as part of
the papers.
Before we debate this motion, I would like to remind members that this can be a very
long debate, so please keep your contribution concise.
Do not just repeat the point that other members have made.
Stick to the subject matter of the budget motion and do not bring in any other matters.
I call on the Mayor and Councillor Sayeed Ahmed to move the Executive Budget Reports.
Together you have 10 minutes.
If there is any pose between the two, please just keep it truck.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
Mayor Lutfur Rahman - 0:14:07
Greetings of peace to each and every one of you in Ramadan Korea.
I am very proud to introduce this budget, the fourth iteration of our MTFS,
medium term financial strategy since administration.
We took administration in office in May 2022.
It represents the continuation of a journey of financial transformation that we pledged
we would deliver.
Prudent financial planning together with investment in key services for our residents.
We were scoffed, yes, scoffed at when we outlined our first MTFS three years ago this month.
This budget proves that I've just wronged.
In total, we will have invested £250 million into frontline services by the end of 2028,
while replenishing our revenue reserves to over £125 million by the same period.
In total, by the end of this MTFS, we will have a total reserve of £412 million.
pound. And we are doing this while continuing to grow and maintain our life -changing services
delivered over the last four years. That means all children will continue to receive free
school meals in both primary and secondary schools, the only borough in the country to
do so. This will continue to save the average free child family some £1650 a year. Our
revitalised youth service and support with their education. Education maintenance
allowance and university bursaries are going nowhere. A most vulnerable elderly
will continue to receive a square hot meal a day, a part of our meals on will
service. They gave so much to this borough and we will
support them during their golden years. We will continue to deliver free home
care for those who need it. We will continue to prioritise house building. We are on track
to deliver over 4 ,000 homes by May 2026. In addition, 3 ,300 predominantly family sized
homes will be delivered as part of the Mayor's Accelerated Housing Programme. We will continue
to upgrade our existing housing stock, getting rid of the dangers of damp and mould, old windows
and doors and kitchens and bathrooms. Last week we announced a £609 million of investment
into our existing housing stock, building on the £160 million decent house programme
rolled out during our last administration. We will continue to try our best to ensure
all residents can expect a warm, affordable and comfortable home. We will continue to
invest in community safety, ensuring that our estates, streets and blocks are safe.
and we can continue to promote health inequality by maintaining free swimming sessions for all men aged 55 and all women over 16.
And on this point, ladies and gentlemen, we are pleased to announce that today the age of those men eligible for free swimming sessions will be lowered to 35 years.
We recognise how diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease can begin early in life.
We believe this investment will ensure that health issues and financial pressures on the NHS and the Council later on in time can be avoided.
We will also be introducing free swimming sessions for parents and children, tackling child obesity and improving family bonding.
My passion, ladies and gentlemen, and commitment is to serve the people of our borough. You
are the most important people to us, our residents. Our investment is to give you and our children
and our grandchildren a better chance in life while protecting the financial sustainability
of our council. I wish to end by thanking the lead member, the corporate director of
of Resources, Mr Balzac, the Chief Executive and all officers for their tireless work in
putting this budget together. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:18:32
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 0:18:37
Thank you Mr Mayor and thank you for your continued dedication in improving this council
and delivering for our residents. Mr Speaker, I too am incredibly proud of what we have
achieved as an administration. This is the fourth time I have set out the contents of
MTFS as the lead member since we came into office in May 2022, and this is a strong,
resilient and future -proof budget I present today.
When I look back at our first MTFS, I cannot believe how far we have come as a Council.
It's been an incredible journey.
The progress we have made financially has been formidable, and this budget reflects
four years of tireless work to embed our philosophy of prudent budgeting alongside investment
in the people of this borough. Mr Speaker, we have invested in all the promises we have
made in our manifesto. Today we are presenting a gross MTFS budget of just under £6 billion
and a net general fund revenue budget of just under £500 million next year. That is all
balanced and a sustainable financial plan that ensures all services of the council remain
protected and delivered for the people of this borough who matter the most. Gone are
days where we had unsigned accounts, unpaid VAT, the ballooning of reserves while all
our residents suffered from service cuts. Services cut to the bone, service by service
which many of our residents relied like a lifeline. This budget reflects that financial
prudency and sustainability whilst investment in the frontline services do not come at the
expense of one another. I would like to take some time to set up the details of this budget.
Firstly, like most councils across the country, especially London, this council is facing
serious demand -led pressures when it comes to adult social care, homelessness, SEND and
also in waste services.
Mr Speaker, we have to keep up the pace with the demand whilst delivering a concurrent
transformation plan.
This is why I am pleased to announce a comprehensive package of investment in these service areas
to ensure that demand is met.
a £15 million transformation programme is being put together
to safeguard against in -year future demands,
against demonstrating a seriousness of how we want to prepare for today
for any future problems for tomorrow.
To evidence that, in adult social care we have invested
an additional £22 .5 million.
That's to make sure the most vulnerable people receive the care that they need.
On top of the £5 million investment made to provide free home care
to every resident who needs it.
And we are also investing £15 million in temporary accommodation
and homelessness services, as well as reacting to the sector -wide pressure
facing in these areas.
It includes a comprehensive transformation programme that is future -proofing this service.
We are also investing £2 .5 million into our community investment fund.
This is on top of the free school meals, the free school uniform,
the children's centres, the free home care, Meals on Wheels,
EMA, university bursary and the list goes on. To facilitate the introduction of the
new scheme as the Mayor mentioned about lowering the swimming sessions for men over 35. Yes,
that's free swimming for men over 35 and we already provide free swimming for women over
the age of 18. Alongside these packages of investment, comprehensive transformation programme
are also underway in waste, send and customer service to ensure that our council is on top
of services that we deliver overall. This investment represents the first arm approach
that we want to look at the two ways of making sure that financial sustainability and good
governance come together. That is, make sure that preventative people first investment
is driven by data and method. I would now like to look on the second element of this
fiscal policy, that is financial prudency and sustainability.
When we first came into office we found that council services were cut to the bone
and reserves grew and it was at the time of height during cost of living.
People wanted to see a change, they wanted to see bold decisions being made
and they wanted to see investment put back into the community.
We decided that some reserves should be used to fund those service
and then with the intention of replenishing reserves as we go forward,
This budget demonstrates that we have achieved that.
By 2028, our revenue reserves will be at £125 billion, incredibly healthy for any local
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:23:07
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 0:23:10
authority, all while nine London local councils are going through serious financial difficulty,
where they are asking government to give them a bailout.
Meanwhile, we continue to deliver key services where services were cut by the previous administration.
We are topping up reserves, topping up by £50 million, allocating £7 .6 million to
the corporate funding reserves and further building resilience by making sure contingency
moves on from £5 million to £10 million to £20 million thereafter.
Mr Speaker, I want to thank everyone that has helped us get to this position at the
moment. We are also making sure that council tax relief is also continuous, that residents
who have household income under £50 ,350 will be protected. We remain the sixth lowest council
regardless of what we hear. We are also making sure that the poorest in our borough are protected.
We have invested 10 million pounds in schemes to lessen the burden and finally let me thank the mayor, the chief exec, the corporate directors
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:24:06
and everyone who helped us to bring this budget together to make sure that this is a robust plan
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 0:24:11
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:24:12
planning today for tomorrow and incredible. Thank you
Thank you.
Councillor Mayantal -Lugdar, I understand that you are seconding the budget.
Or can I say Kobiw Ahmed instead?
If you wish to speak later in the debate or you want to speak now?
Mr Speaker, I reserve my right to speak later.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 0:24:44
I'll formally second and just for minute purposes,
Councillor Sabina Khan has been trying to log on remotely.
remotely, but unfortunately due to technical issues has been unable to log on. So I give her apologies.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:25:00
Thank you.
I call on Councillor Mark Francis to move the labour groups amendment.
Councillor Francis you have a maximum of five minutes.
Thank you. Before we start, can I just cheque you give me notice with one minute remaining?
Is that right?
Cllr Marc Francis - 0:25:22
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:25:25
Yeah, I would.
Cllr Marc Francis - 0:25:31
Mr Speaker, on the 9th of February, the Government confirmed that Tower Hamlets Council will be receiving nearly £40 million worth of additional grants for its fair funding assessment.
Last week, the finance team also confirmed that Tower Hamlets will be retaining an additional £10 million business rate.
This comes on top of the £35 million in grants given to the Town House Council this current
year after the Labour government was first elected in 2024.
The Minister's statement also said there will be at least £32 million in each of the final
two years of this Parliament as well.
In total, that is at least £150 million a year more than was being given before Keir
Starmer was elected as Prime Minister.
Strangely, the Mayor, his lead member and others haven't mentioned that fact at all.
This authority has not seen funding increases of this size since the 2007 spending review
when Gordon Brown was Prime Minister.
This is the real difference the Labour government makes when it's in power, investing in local
government so it has the resources it needs to provide the services ordinary people depend
upon.
Mr Speaker, in this context, the Labour group believes the Mayor's proposal to increase
Council Tax by 5 % next year is inexcusable. It would be bad enough in isolation, but it
is not a one off. It follows similar 5 % increases last year and the year before that as well.
And it represents an overall Council Tax increase of nearly 20 % since the Mayor was elected.
20 % increase that's a flagrant breach of his election manifesto promise to freeze Council
Tax. Two years ago the Mayor's lead member told us with a straight face that they hadn't
actually promised to freeze council tax at all, that they'd only promised to freeze it
for those on low incomes and the council tax relief fund would ensure that still happened.
That claim unravelled rapidly when it was revealed that only a few hundred people were benefiting.
Like much else here in town Hamlet, the reality turned out to be very different to what the
Mayor and his councillors tell people it is.
Mr Speaker, under this Labour government, austerity is over.
Funding for local public services is once again being put on a sustainable footing,
subsidised by central government just as George Landry and the Poplar rates rebels said it
should be. But on the Labour benches we are still conscious that cost pressures remain,
particularly in homelessness and adult social care. We believe that the £40 million grant
given to Tower Hamlets and the additional £10 million business rates is sufficient
to avoid any council tax increase in April. But we don't have access to all the information,
the resources of this council as the Mayor and the cabinet do and so we're not in a position
to identify all of those savings.
However as our amendment shows we have once again shown where over £3 million of savings
can easily be found.
In the Mayor's office, in his comms team, in his army of advisors, in his self promoting
PR campaigns, in his extravagant use of lawyers to protect his flagging reputation and throwing
money at trying to divert and deflect the government's best value inspection.
Mr Speaker, I have no doubt that Labour could easily find another £3 million in wasteful
spending by this Aspire administration and we will do so if Labour is elected in May.
But for the moment we accept the section... is that an interruption?
Please do not interrupt, please.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:28:45
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Marc Francis - 0:28:49
Okay, so I get an extra 15 seconds for that.
But for the moment we accept the section 151 officer's advice that the 2 % increase in adult
social care is necessary. Even so, Labour's amendment shows our commitment to invest in
what matters to residents. It scraps the increases Aspire intends for fees and charges from kids
swimming to holiday childcare clubs, from music lessons to cricket pitches, to room
hire and to the admin fee for a pulper's funeral. It scales back the Mayor's proposed
4 .8 % increase in rents and freezes them completely for tenants and the higher London living rent.
It invests £5 million next year in new CCTV and improvements to make our council estate
safer and more pleasant environments.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:29:32
That's 2026, not 2036.
Cllr Marc Francis - 0:29:33
It invests an extra half a million pounds in boosting the East End's markets and high
streets.
It scraps the Mayor's plans to get rid of the experienced and effective Environmental
Services Enforcement Team.
It strengthens democratic oversight and accountability, including of the budget, environmental services
and housing and most of all it invests in bringing our communities together.
Mr Speaker, we know that as a consequence of Aspire's rescheduling this full Council team,
so it takes place while several Labour councillors are at work. Our amendment won't pass. But I'm
delighted that Councillor Siraj has given a commitment that if he is elected as Executive Mayor
these savings and investments will be implemented with immediate effect. He will stop the waste,
stop the cronyism, invest in public services and scrutiny to get Tower Hamlets Council
back on track. This then is the choice facing Tower Hamlets in May. An Aspire Party administration
mired in controversy that gives with one hand but takes much more with the other. And a
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:30:33
Labour Mayor whose word is his bond, whose selflessness and integrity are unquestioned
and who will never raise council tax by more than 2 % and will run Tower Hamlets Council
in a way that delivers best value to all its residents.
Thank you.
Can I call Councillor Sirajul Islam to second the amendment please.
Please also indicate whether you wish to speak now or reserve your right to speak until later
in the debate.
If I formally second the motion, speak in the debate please.
Cllr Sirajul Islam - 0:31:09
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:31:12
I will call on Councillor Vianfid to move your amendment.
You have three minutes.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, and Ramadan Mubarak to those who are fasting.
Cllr Nathalie Bienfait - 0:31:31
I'm also fasting but not anywhere near as seriously as you guys.
I'm in Lent and I've given up chocolate.
Sympathies are welcome.
I'm very pleased to present my budget amendment this year and thank you very much to the finance
team for supporting me in preparing it and to the monitoring officer for providing comments
before it was accepted.
I hope the administration is interested in accepting some of my proposals.
Obviously, as a lone opposition councillor, my aim is not to present an alternative budget
but to provide some suggestions and ideas that the Aspire administration are very welcome
to take on board.
As in previous years, I've proposed to increase the parking charges to be in line with a calculation
made by the countryside charity which ties the cost of parking to the cost of land.
We live in a very valuable land area and the cost of cars that have on public realm should
be reflected in the parking charges.
This year it comes to the tune of nearly £10 million per year that we could be raising.
Again as in previous years this amount is lower than the first two years of the term
and that means that I think the administration is starting to see that charging fairly for
parking is just as important as supporting the borough's residents who do rely on their
cars for their income. Really, I want to encourage them down this path and I hope the amendment
proves that this can raise vital funds for the public services that we all need.
Councillors, you might have a bit of, or, Speaker, you might have a bit of déjà vu
about my proposals to spend the money. I'm reiterating the suggestions that I made last
year because I really believe that they show a good spread of suggestions that highlight
the gaps in the administration's priorities. Firstly, I've proposed amending our council
tax reduction scheme to fully support households on a tapered reduction. I believe that council
tax is a regressive tax and if we can afford to pay for those who can't afford to pay the
full amount, then we should definitely cover it for them. I find the suggestion that people
who can't pay due to lack of funds, you know, they need educating about how to spend their
money, I find that patronising. I think if people don't have enough money, they don't
have enough money, and if we can afford to cover their council tax, then we absolutely
should. Then I've also made some proposals that address the lack of funding for traffic
schemes. You have 30 seconds.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:33:58
Cllr Nathalie Bienfait - 0:34:00
Oh, dear. In the borough, we need an urgent expansion of cycle parking, and we also need
proper funding of traffic calming infrastructure and road safety infrastructure.
I've also highlighted the fact that the Council needs to actively engage in vulnerable groups
that have particular needs in our public realm.
Women and disabled people are not as actively engaged by this Council's administration as
I think they should be.
And so I propose that two community pots which are owned and administered by the Council
Thank you very much.
I apologise for coming out.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:34:34
Thank you, thank you, Nisaleh.
Thank you.
Councillor Peter Gomes, I understand that you are seconding the Councillor Bienfert's amendment,
but then reserving your right to speak until later.
I therefore call you to confirm you are seconding the Councillor Bienfert's amendments.
Mr Speaker, correct and correct.
Cllr Peter Golds - 0:35:02
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:35:03
Thank you.
We will now commence the general debate on the Mayor's proposal and the amendments that
have been moved.
As a reminder, I wish to confirm the members may speak only once during the debate for
a maximum of three minutes each.
At my discussion, those members who have already spoken to move motion or amendments for a
political group at the start of the debate may speak again during the main debate.
Councillor Sayeed Ahmad also has a right to reply at the end of the debate.
I understand.
I intend to follow the list of speakers.
If any other members wish to speak, please indicate to me.
I will look to warn members when they are about to be called to speak.
I'm going to start with Councillor Abu Talha Chaudhry.
Please you have three minutes.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury - 0:36:24
As lead member of Community Safety, I am confident that this budget will make residents and visitors feel safer in our borough.
This budget is a culmination of four years and nearly £10 million worth of investment in Community Safety, which is more than any other council in the country.
Four years ago, this council's investment in this area was nearly non -existent.
In the 2016 -2017 budget, the paper is available online.
The party opposite cut the size of our enforcement team and more seriously cut funding for 20 police officers.
The following year in 1718, the League member then, who was a sitting Labour Councillor,
cut a Police partnership post and 23 rapid response youth workers who focused on gang
crime and anti -social behaviour. They left us with a shell of the service we had before.
The results spoke for themselves, crime levels increasing and feelings of safety worsening.
From our first day in office, we made a commitment to turn things around. We started with our
In our very first budget we spent nearly £3 million and tripling the size of our enforcement
team to have 64 officers capable of patrolling the entire borough.
Last year that team delivered more than 50 ,000 patrol hours, disrupting criminal activity
and issuing more than 3 ,000 FPNs.
Next we set our sights on strengthening our council funded police teams.
People may not be aware but this administration funds more than a third of all council funded
police teams in the whole of London.
This team made 415 arrests since 2022.
Perhaps our biggest investment has been pouring £4 million into RCC TV.
When we took office in 2022, RCC TV network was horribly out of date,
with many cameras being entirely non -functional.
By the end of 2024, we had replaced all 350 on -street cameras
and built a new state -of -the -art control room.
By the end of this year, we will have installed an additional 400 cameras.
We are also in the process of replacing all housing block cameras, taking our total investment
to installing or replacing nearly a thousand cameras in the borough.
The Labour amendment proposes to invest in housing estates.
Where were they in last year's budget when this was passed?
In 2025 we facilitated 351 arrests through CCTV.
In last year's budget we made some of our most innovative investments yet.
We've put half a million pounds in starting the first several local authorities specialist
drugs unit.
We've invested 1 .4 million pounds in a brand new drugs and alcohol recovery service.
We're investing 10 million pounds in a brand new completely redesigned drug treatment service
that will be operational by the end of the year.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
We've poured more resources in the last four years than any other local authority in London.
And while some of those new investments have only been put in place last year, we're already
starting to see the results. These changes may not seem that big but they're a massive
shift in direction after over a decade of crime and anti -social behaviour becoming a
bigger and bigger burden on our community. This budget upholds the unmatched investment
we've made over the last three years and I urge you all to support this budget and join
me in making Tawa Hamlet a safer place for all.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:39:28
Thank you, Councillor. Can I call Mohamed Chaudhry, please?
And I'm going to call Councillor Kobi Ahmed next.
Cllr Mohammad Chowdhury - 0:39:46
Thank you, Mr Speaker. This budget is not a plan, it's a gamble. It is balanced on a
pension reduction that has not been approved and on infrastructure funding that could be
withdrawn under the government owned housing policy.
That is not instability.
That is not prudence.
This is crossing your fingers and hoping the number holds.
And while the administration gambles, residence pays.
We are here tonight to consider a five percent rise in council tax.
A rise that residents were told would never happen.
A rise that comes from an administration that promised a council tax freeze.
and yet over four years has delivered the opposite,
a cumulative increase of around 20%.
And let's be absolute clear, this is not happening
because the government failed to fund the council.
The facts tell a very different storey.
Co -spending power is up 11 .8%,
the largest increase in a decade.
If you cannot maintain a council tax fees
with the biggest funding uplift in 10 years,
then the problem is not the funding, the problem is the management.
We are now watching 25 millions of community infrastructure levy monies
meant for roads, parks, youth spaces, community facilities
being raided to plug a reserve revenue overspend.
This is not what SEAL is for.
This is not what residents were told their contributions would support.
this is infrastructure funding being diverted to cover the administration
mistakes and what message does it send in the middle of this financial strain
the government has appointed a new assistant envoy specialising in finance
because the government did not believe the council could manage its own money
that alone should give every member in this chamber a pause. Meanwhile the mayor's
its budget is stunned as a symbol of skewed priorities. A budget of around 1 .8 million
even after a proposed saving of £327 ,000. Our amendment proposed an additional 1 .4 million
in savings, reducing the total to £464 ,000 because at a time when residents have been
asked to pay more. Leadership should be the first place we look for restraint, not the
last.
One of the officers' statements. Yes, it is legally compliant, but that is the lowest
part a budget can clear. The officer describes the budget as sufficiently robust for budget
setting purposes, not strong, not sustainable, just sufficient. Reserves are described as
adequate for 2026 -27, one year only. No assurance for the medium term. And even the positive
gloss admits the council is exposed to substantial and increasing sector -wide risk. Most concern
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:42:57
of all the section 1 .5, it states that it is not possible to be certain that there are
Thank you, Councillor.
The time is up.
Thank you.
The residents deserve honesty, they deserve competence.
So I urge everyone to reject it.
Thank you.
Can you please, okay, thank you very much.
It will also help if you will speak, if you just also look at the time as well.
Thank you.
Okay, can I call Sabina, please?
Councillor Sabina.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 0:43:32
There are moments in local government when you either confront reality or you
Cllr Sabina Akhtar - 0:43:36
postpone it. For too long adult social care budgets across the country have
been built on hope rather than honesty. Demand has risen, complicity has grown,
costs have increased but budgets have not kept pace. And when budgets fail to
reflect reality, overspends are not accidents, they are necessities.
Tramlets know this better than most. We are a borough with deep inequalities, high
high deprivation and significant health need.
That means higher demand for care and more complex care than the national average.
Yet for over a decade our adult social care budget overspent year after year with structural
gaps rolled forward instead of resolved.
That cycle ends with this administration through this mayor and this councillors.
The 2026 -27 budget includes a $22 .5 million uplift for adult social care.
I can't see that anywhere in the whole country.
That's closing historic gap between the real cost of delivering care and budget allocated to provide it.
And we are doing this while protecting one of the most progressive policies in local government,
free home care for our residents.
In many parts of our country, vulnerable residents are asked to pay more and more for the care
they depend on.
In Tower Hamlets, we made a difficult and a different choice.
We chose dignity, we chose fairness and we chose to remove financial barriers to care.
And we are protecting that choice in this budget.
This budget also is looking for a new transformative programme that commits to making savings of
5 million in savings through new service innovations.
So these are no cuts to frontline care,
but these are savings from redesigning pathways,
improving commissioning, reducing duplication,
and using innovation to deliver services more effectively.
It is about working smarter, not withdrawing support.
Thousands of residents in this borough rely on us.
Older residents, adults with disabilities,
residents living in supported housing,
people receiving care at home.
Without this council, many simply could not afford the support that our councillors and
this council that allows them to live safely and independently.
This is not abstract.
30 seconds.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:45:59
This is about rural people.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 0:46:01
This budget reflects changes and also reflects on those values.
All residents matter, disabled residents matter, carers matter.
I'm asking everyone in this chamber to support this budget because it's not just easy,
it's not about this budget solving every challenge overnight, but because it's responsible,
compassionate and focused on the future.
Thank you.
Cllr Sabina Akhtar - 0:46:25
Thank you, Councillor.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:46:27
Can I call Mr Ahmed, Councillor Mr Ahmed, please?
Cllr Abdul Wahid - 0:46:37
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:46:41
Cllr Abdul Wahid - 0:46:44
As a lead member for job skills and growth, I am proud to support this budget and MTF
strategy.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:46:50
This is a budget that strengthens opportunity, renews economic ambition and positions town
hamlets as a place where residents can develop the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly
changing economy.
This administration has already demonstrated a clear commitment to economic inclusion.
Our strategic housing regeneration and community investment programmes are not only improving
neighbourhoods, they are creating pathways into employment and skills development for
local people.
The budget continues this direction by prioritising stability, growth and long -term investment
in the borough.
This budget, Mr Speaker, recognises the wider pressures facing the economy.
Rising demand, inflation and labour market challenges continue to affect every sector.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:47:44
Can you please, just one meeting here please, can you stop whispering, it's disturbing other
councillors when they are thinking.
Cllr Abdul Wahid - 0:47:56
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:47:58
This budget recognises the wider pressures facing the economy.
Rising demand, inflation and labour market challenges continue
to affect every sector.
The Council has responded with a robust and responsible plan that
protects frontline services and invests in the foundations
required for a strong local economy.
The commitment to build and acquire new homes at scale
supports construction jobs, apprenticeships and supply chain growth.
The expansion of major capital programmes across housing and regeneration
contributes to significant local employment opportunities
and provides long -term skills pathways for residents.
The budget also reinforces the council's commitment to protecting vulnerable residents.
Through £50 million of ongoing investment in community support, education and youth
services as well as targeted funding to tackle poverty and support families, the Council
is expanding access to learning, training and employment services that will help residents
achieve economic independence.
Our transformation programmes, including those focused on digital innovation, service redesign
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:49:20
and operational efficiency will support modern workforce development and improve the council's
Cllr Abdul Wahid - 0:49:23
ability to connect residents to jobs and training opportunities in growth sectors.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:49:31
Mr Speaker, this is a budget that supports growth, strengthens skills and opens doors
for local people. It is responsible, ambitious and focused on delivering long -term prosperity
for Tower Hamlets. I commend this budget to the Council.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:49:46
Can I call Abdullah please? And I'll call Peter Gold next.
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 0:49:57
Thank you Mr Speaker and Ramadan Mubarak to you. It is a month of blessing and it is a
month where Muslims traditionally those who are able to give and I believe the current
Mayor I don't challenge his faith but he's giving to the people of Tower Hamlets. I think
should acknowledge that. But you know what the saying goes, give with one take with the other.
Let me start by talking about in the month of Ramadan when we're supposed to give 2 .5 percent
of our wealth, this mayor is charging the people of Tahamans five percent again, again and again
on council tax. Let me talk about the small things that makes a difference for people's life.
You know if you've got a unfortunately member of your family who's disabled, they're going to be
charged extra for the disabled badge administration fee. In the month of Ramadan, he's sitting there
preaching to us and he's going to charge you and your family extra money on
administrative for a disabled. You are born with it but he's going to charge
you for it. Let me talk about something else. You know what, let me talk about
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:50:53
this. Councillor Mayim, through you Mr. Speaker, in the last four years the only good
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 0:50:55
thing that has happened from that side is these four men have walked away. They
saw sense. That's the best thing that's happened from that side of the room. Let
My colleague, Councillor Francis, has shared all the big agenda.
I'm going to concentrate on the small things, because to me, small things makes a difference
and shows the pettiness of this administration.
The finance lead member, the finance minister I was going to call him, that's Kobi Humayun, Kobi in Bangladesh.
I was going to say he talked about the unsigned budgets, but guess what?
His former employer, I'm not going to name, but a reputable charity in this borough,
which the Council has an oversight for Canary Wolf Education Trust,
The
education trust has not been signed two years.
Why is that?
It no longer works for them.
But this is what is happening.
A lot of money in this borough has not been
distributed.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:51:44
I will stop and add 15 seconds.
The
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 0:51:51
education trust has not been signed.
The education trust
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:51:58
is in mess because of
their support.
situation point of order.
That needs to be
corrected.
Members, members,
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 0:52:09
can I please ask you all to listen
respectfully to the speaker's
instructions.
Shupriya Iqbal - 0:52:13
You can't have conversations
with each other.
All comments must be addressed through the
speaker.
Thank you.
Councillor, that was not a point forward
either.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:52:24
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will add
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 0:52:25
another minute on my time.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:52:26
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 0:52:29
What I will say is this, the Canary Wolf Education Trust has not been signed by this administration.
Now they had the pleasure of taking me off the trust because they felt that I was being good,
but for two years, in four years that they've been running this council, for two years they haven't signed this account.
It's a worthwhile educational institution that has been providing support to the people of Trathamela's financial support,
but this administration, because they can't grab the money, doesn't want to sign the account.
Let me tell you this, whooping bus gate, the failure of this administration trying to rip
the bus gate, we as whooping residents kept it.
But you know what this administration has done?
Has increased the fees.
But guess what?
If you increase the fee and provide the service, but the service is not good.
Every day residents of whooping are being penalised, who paid for the overcharge bus
gate permit, are being issued with two or three, depending on how many times they go
past the bus gate, with tickets.
What I will ask for, extra 30 seconds if that's the right music belt, what I will ask for is for immediate
instruction to the council to fix the problems of the bus gate, reduce the fees and
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:53:30
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 0:53:31
compensate people who have to spend hours filling in a form to go online to fold. What I will say in the month of Ramadan,
do not use kite flying measures before election by promising the world and delivering nothing.
We know what you're going to do about the Sports Centre. It's not going to be happening. I can guarantee you that.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:53:46
Thank you. Can I now call Peter Golds please.
Hello Mr Speaker.
I'm going to have Shafi Ahmed next.
Sorry Shafi Ahmed.
No, Peter Gold then you. Thank you.
I am next. Sorry about that.
Cllr Peter Golds - 0:54:11
What governments give, of course, always governments take away.
So if you look at go to page 70 of your agenda and look at three point eighteen three eighteen point five
You get how much the London living wage has gone up and people aren't necessarily arguing that but of course
It's a charge on the council
So that is where this government subsidy comes in as I say governments give with one hand and take away with the other
The budget is very difficult and very complex
I've got about three minutes to speak on that.
There are a number of issues.
Firstly, last night I was out in West Ferry Road on the Island Gardens ward and the issue
that was raised on door after door after door is not millions of pounds for this and hundreds
of millions of pounds for that.
It's the absolute simple subject that for years under this administration and the administration
that went before, recycling in our area is appalling.
It is the worst in London.
It's whether you go inside streets, whether you go on a socialist state, I went on West
Free Estate, or whether you go in one of the gated areas.
The recycling is appalling.
And they blame both sides.
Both sides quite equally.
Nobody has actually come together to deal with the recycling in our area.
But also let's look at some money.
I was going through with a colleague recently on the monthly accounts.
and we suddenly discovered that mysteriously this borough had paid 1 .2 million quid to
a rather strange hotel in an east part of London to hire 76 rooms. This was only one
month. When I put the Member's Inquiry I discovered the Councillor paid 12 .4 million quid to hire
rooms in this rather bizarre hotel in the eastern part of London and I cannot get an
explanation for what it's about. But it gets even worse. It gets absolutely even worse
because I'm not saying, I'm not spaming the current administration because who runs
Newham Council? It's the Labour Party and they join with Tower Hamlets and they were
paying 800 and 8 ,000 a month. What on earth is going on? When we talk about these millions
of pounds, we're talking about money that affects people. As I said, I was on the island
last night. They want recycling. They want decent CCTV. And they don't want Sadiq Khan
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:56:43
Cllr Peter Golds - 0:56:45
selling a local police station off that ends up first in the largest cannabis factory ever
found in London and now a 52 -room HMO sitting between two schools. That is what the people
in my area want and that is what they want delivered from the council. And I'm sorry
to say that neither the amendment nor the budget cover these bread and butter issues.
Sorry Mr Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:57:14
Thank you very much. Can I call Shafi Ahmed and then Farouk Ahmed next.
Thank you Mr Speaker and the saying is they think it's all over, it is now. I'm just looking
Cllr Peter Golds - 0:57:26
at a deja vu moment where the May full cabinet might be what we're seeing today. Irrespective
of that, the administration budget wound up with financial responsibility and environmental
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 0:57:39
ambition go hand in hand. It shows that we can protect our finances while delivering
a cleaner, greener tower hamlets for our residents. When we took office, the state of our streets
were deteriorated so badly that we were forced to declare a waste emergency. That was not
a slogan, but it was a commitment to action. The budget demonstrates that we are delivering
on that commitment. We are investing $5 million to tackle the waste emergency and $15 million
in waste services overall, including 72 frontline officers who are already improving cleanliness,
reliability, response times. Alongside this, we are investing over $2 million in borough -wide
recycling and a further $1 million in estate recycling. To ensure fairer, more consistent
assistance services across every community, not to mention the council's amazing reduction
to the carbon emissions since moving into this brilliant town hall. We are also driving
forward greener transport with 350 ,000 to upgrade the council fleet of cars to electric
vehicles and more than 6 .3 million to deliver over 2 ,150 electric charging points. Exceeding
our original target, we are building one of the strongest charging networks in London.
That means cleaner, greener, a borough that is more ready for the future.
Mr Speaker, our approach is balanced and fair. We understand that moving home can be disruptive,
especially for families living over crowded conditions. The permit transfer scheme allows
households moving into two bedroom car -free developments to retain on street parking permit.
This is a practical and compassionate policy that supports residents while maintaining
our commitment to sustainable travel.
We are also working with local communities.
Over 70 businesses received energy efficient training, 50 ,000 has been awarded in grants
for energy saving improvements and more than 3 ,000 trees have been planted to greener our
borough for generations to come.
And to our colleagues across us, while we are proud of this progress, it is important
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 0:59:51
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 0:59:54
to ask some serious questions of the record between their administration. What level of
budget investment did they make in the waste services during those years? What was the
barrow's recycling rate during their leadership? What was their own customer satisfaction survey
say about the waste collection and street cleaning? And how do you use results compared
to the challenges that we inherited in now addressing in this portfolio? Our residents
deserve accountability and as an ambitious Mr Speaker this budget
delivers cleaner streets, greener transport, stronger recycling and
meaningful support for residents and businesses. With all in a framework of financial stability
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:00:30
it is a budget that protects today and invests tomorrow.
Thank you very much.
Can I call now Councillor Farooq Ahmed and next will be
Councillor Kambour, the same.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Amy Lee - 1:00:48
I mean, what's already been said from this side,
there's nothing else to cover,
but I'll just say a few things.
Every time when we hear something in this chamber,
it sounds really good and great, it's glamorous.
We have seen in the past between 10 and 15,
we're observing again and we're witnessing again
Cllr Faroque Ahmed - 1:01:13
that this, that administration is keep failing what they always say and what they deliver.
It sounds again really good, cleaner, safer,
better in the country.
Hand your new heart and see when you walk on your street, on your state, what you witness every day, every night.
Now
what we are facing is
is that the local residents in the hamlets,
the basic necessity of daily basis,
that is what they are not getting it.
But on pen and paper,
we are showing all these glamorous things.
We will do this, we will do that,
we've done this for you,
and we will deliver this for you,
and we promise this.
Nothing has been delivered,
no promise has been kept.
I mean, I'll echo again,
it's of the council,
the simple thing that has been said,
it will freeze for the next four years.
Now we have somebody from this side to the other side now that said on a demonstration
that this will be freezed and it should be freezed.
Now they are supporting to increase that particular item.
Now every day I'm getting calls, emails from residents, I'm sure the rest of you are getting
it, the basic necessary of repairs in the borough.
The housing association, the council properties, the highway keep failing.
You'll see everywhere just digged and just left everything in a mess.
Now this mess need to be very elegantly and clearly to be clear ASAP.
And don't just show and gimmick, you know like, just before the election, doing so much,
the telephone lines are open and we'll just answer now and once it's all over, and it's all over now.
It will take about 40 to 50 minutes to answer a basic normal call.
When somebody come in this particular building for a service, what they get?
We don't do this, you do that, you do this.
Instead what we see, all the glamorous properties and luxury cars being in the barra.
There are some of the people who owns, I'll not name it, but they know who they are and what they're doing.
Thirty seconds.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:03:19
Sure Mr Speaker, I won't take that long.
Cllr Amy Lee - 1:03:23
So all it is, all I'll say is this, for God's sake let's not do all these false promises again and again,
Cllr Faroque Ahmed - 1:03:28
let's do the proper delivery and not just legal for your own.
When you say it's all over, it may be it's all over, but if you don't keep your promises.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:03:41
And I call now Councillor Campbell Hussain and then I'll call Councillor Jai Chaudhary.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Cllr Kamrul Hussain - 1:03:51
This is a sustainable, forward -looking budget that strengthens services today while building
a resilient, confident and culturally vibrant tower hamlets for tomorrow.
We invest in health, education, wellbeing, homes, skills and community life now to reduce
long -term pressures later.
Prevention over crisis. When we invest in our residents, they thrive.
We are not just maintaining services, we are reviving them.
With a quarter of a billion pounds directed into frontline provisions.
Culture is a defining part of Tower Hamlets.
It is not a luxury, but the foundation of cohesion, belonging, well -being and economic growth.
Thanks to this budget, our culture and community life is stronger than ever.
We have relaunched flagship events like the Brick Lane and Bangla Town Curry Festival,
showcasing our world -renowned heritage and supporting local businesses.
We have invested 300 ,000 in free swimming sessions for women and girls aged over 16 and men aged over 55.
Over 20 ,000 residents have signed up.
83 % of those are women and girls, helping to remove barriers, reduce isolation and improve health.
All swimming pools remain open and St. George's Leisure Centre, a £67 million investment,
is creating a state -of -the -art facility alongside 33 new family -sized council homes and a brand new swimming pool.
Over 40 million has been invested in leisure facilities, with services brought back under
council management to ensure quality and accountability.
We have delivered four new play zones, five outdoor gyms and invested over 5 million in
sport facilities and outdoor spaces, making them safer, more vibrant and accessible for
all.
Through initiatives like Mayor Cup, we are widening participation in sports and building
confidence across all ages.
For our residents, these investments mean safer,
more inclusive leisure spaces, more opportunities
for young people, stronger support for small
businesses, accessible family -friendly public
spaces, protected heritage and local pride, greater
financial security during uncertainty.
This means healthier residents, stronger
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:06:23
communities, and a fairer borough.
Cllr Kamrul Hussain - 1:06:25
These achievements of this administration and the
Investments in this budget speaks for themselves and we will not stop here.
We aim to deliver even more.
I'm proud to support and commend this budget to the Council.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:06:43
Can I call Jahan Chaudhry and Bodhul Chaudhry next.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I hope you remember this.
Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled - 1:06:55
Thank you for your generosity.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Jahed Choudhury - 1:07:01
Today we are here to debate a budget I believe is meant for the election ring year and I congratulate the administration for giving us a budget for their election.
But Mr. Speaker, this budget is failing to address the main priority of the whole about like housing, council tax and ASB issues.
Also, they are promising love, you know preschool media is it's quite good that our kids are using, you know
in doing preschool million of stuff but
How hundred facing a quick shortage of calm in a social housing?
The administration they promised four thousand one thousand a year, but they only delivered three hundred and seventeen
So the faith in your main
manifesto promise and council tech like my other colleagues are saying, you know,
accumulated last four years council techs have been increased by 20 %
which they promised to keep it, you know, and other things I would like to say before I finish.
My colleague, councillor Ohidhamad, he wanted to prepare an alternative project
But he did not receive the full cooperation like other independent councillors did.
So I want you to make this a note.
For the record it should be noted.
Thank you Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:08:35
Can I call Bodhul Chaudhry please and then Abdul Wahid after Bodhul Chaudhry.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Bodrul Choudhury - 1:08:47
This is a prudent budget fit for the people of the town of Hamlet.
One that proves we can invest in our communities.
Can I just interrupt you?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:08:55
Can all members in the public gallery please be quiet so we can have the meeting nice and
peacefully.
You can listen to the speaker.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Bodrul Choudhury - 1:09:05
This is a prudent budget fit for the people of the town of Hamlet.
One that proves we can invest in our communities while maintaining financial resilience for
the future.
Mr. Speaker, as we set out in our budget briefing, our philosophy is simple.
Invest to save.
We support our residents now to reduce the burden they will have in the future.
I'd like to highlight a few things, Mr. Speaker.
In youth services, we have transformed provisions.
We are investing millions of pounds per year on our youth.
They are our future.
We have already opened 20 youth centres in 20 wards.
75 additional youth workers recruited 5 ,630 young people registered
and over 5 ,000 sessions delivered last year, Mr. Speaker.
We also opened Sister Space, a dedicated centre for young women and girls in Tower Hamlet.
We have strengthened our voluntary and community sector with over 11 million in the mayor's
community grants, supported 86 organisations, delivering 110 projects alongside 2 .8 million
in small grants.
That is real grassroot investment, Mr Speaker, for the future.
We have reopened five resident hubs to restore face -to -face services for the residents.
We have opened the NARIS Centre on Valence Road, Mr. Speaker,
delivering borough -wide support for women.
We have delivered the promise that was made on the manifesto by the Mayor.
Mr. Speaker, all this sits within financial responsible framework.
Council tax among the lowest in London with 47 ,000 households protected.
Mr. Speaker, £50 million contributed to the reserve of the MTFS period.
This administration, Mr. Speaker, is proving we can balance the books and make sure our
residents are looked after.
We are investing in public services, Mr Speaker.
We are strengthening equality, inclusion in the borough.
I commend this budget to the Council, Mr Speaker. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:11:35
Thank you. Thank you, Mr Badu, for finishing nice and early.
Just going back to a small point, previous comment,
I would like Supriya to have some comments on it, please.
Thanks.
Thank you, Speaker.
Shupriya Iqbal - 1:11:54
During Councillor Jai Hadamard's speech, he mentioned that Councillor Ojidam had said
that he didn't receive the necessary assistance from finance officers.
I just want to remind members that please do not personally criticise or do not criticise officers.
And Councillor Ojidam's concerns we are aware of and we are looking into it, however please do not criticise officers in public. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:12:26
Thank you, Supriya. Thank you very much for your clarification.
So I hope that you please follow the rules and procedure of the meeting. Thank you.
Can I call Abdul Wahid and then I would call Councillor Haroun Mia.
Next, please.
Thank you, thank you, Speaker.
Cllr Abdul Wahid - 1:12:57
Mr Speaker, as the chair of OVV and Scrutiny, I wish to make a few comments on the discussion
on this budget.
Mr Speaker, the committee debated the budget on the 12th of January.
We had a very positive discussion about the financial pressures that the Council faces
and about how the budget meets the needs and the priorities of our residents.
I would like to thank the lead member and officers for attending and answering our questions.
Mr Speaker, our report has been included in the agenda papers today where you can read
the summary of our discussion and some of the recommendations.
Mr Speaker, I want to make it clear that no members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
tabled recommendations at our meeting. The Committee did not discuss any recommendations
at our meeting and did not collectively agree on any Committee recommendations. However,
two recommendations were submitted by individual members after the meeting. The comments in
entitled recommendation 3 was a comment made during the discussion and refers to a saving
which is no longer in the MTFS. Officers have kindly included these points here so that
the council can see the areas of concern amongst members.
Mr Speaker, the Executive's response to the overview and scrutiny budget report is also
included in this paper. Mr. Speaker, speaking as a ward councillor and as a PE teacher who
works in the borough, I would like to say how much I welcome the mayor's investment
in education, in the youth service and sports in our borough. Schools have their own delegated
budget, Mr. Speaker, but the mayor has invested in getting our young people prepared to have
the best time and get the best out of their school life.
All our schools have breakfast clubs.
All our schools have free lunch.
Families also receive school uniform grants
and holiday clubs which offer food and activities.
Mr. Speaker, the youth service and our sports service
and our B -World centres offer young people the opportunity
and the chance to play sports, which
keeps them fit and healthy. It helps them learn leadership skills, communication skills
and how to work as a team. Just the kind of skills they need in later life.
Mr Speaker, the Mayor's investment levels the pay.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:15:43
Cllr Abdul Wahid - 1:15:46
Ten seconds. No puns intended. This kind of investment takes our disadvantaged people
and allows them to stand side by side with those who are more privileged.
This investment is building the future of our young people and of our borough as a whole.
So I wholeheartedly support this budget and ask everyone to support it.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:16:07
I call Councillor Haroun Miah and then I'll call Councillor Siraj of Islam.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abdul Wahid - 1:16:15
I wholeheartedly support this prudent and ambitious budget.
This budget takes a different approach.
We are investing 250 million in frontline services by 2028, while maintaining the sixth
lowest council tax in London.
Cllr Harun Miah - 1:16:32
We are protecting 47 ,000 households from increasing those on benefit, pay nothing, while families
earning under 50 ,000 are protected.
Mr Speaker, our philosophy is to invest, to save.
Free swimming for families saves NHS costs later.
Free
succult Richard means
uniform.
For our most
vulnerable people.
The opposition
cut services and raise taxes.
We are
investing in people that are Sirris.
That's
the difference between their Car..................................................................
I comment this budget to all of you. Thank you
Thank you
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:17:15
councillor Siraj Islam then councillor Kabir
Abdul Kabir
Cllr Sirajul Islam - 1:17:26
Thank you, mr. Speaker and slum. Well, I can open to live at a cut and put into everyone hope your evidence going
Well, can I first to thank councillor Francis for his work on this amendment and also officers for the advice and support
in putting this amendment together.
So, Council Francis has set out details
what we propose and where the money comes from.
I want to talk about what this amendment says
about the kind of borough we want to be.
Let me start with something this chamber should reflect on.
The Labour government has delivered
the most significant funding settlement
for tri -hamlets in over a decade.
Core spending power for this borough
is up by 11 .8 % next year.
This is real money.
That is, investment in this community from the
government understands the pressure on places like ours.
And yet, here we are, setting the budget that
asks for us to pay 5 percent more in council tax.
Not because the money isn't there, but because of the
choices this administration has made.
Nearly 64 million pounds of reserves burned through in
a single year.
Two consecutive years of overspending and a
government intervention that has been escalated,
because in the Secretary of State's word, this administration has shown lack of urgency.
This administration stood in front of the people of this borough and promised them to
freeze council tax.
Our amendment would have let you keep something close to that promise, a 2 % increase for the
adult social care precept, and not of any more.
This funding was there to make it work.
You chose not to do it.
Now let me turn to what this amendment invests in because the budget is a statement of values.
We propose to restore £50 million for George Green School.
This is the funding that this mayor cut.
We say put it back.
This is enough and our children have waited long enough.
We propose to restoring £17 million of neighbourhood seal scheme that local residents themselves
chose.
They're scrapped in 2023.
and £30 million for South Dock Bridge and £6 million for Bancroft Library.
I want to say something about the cultural investment in this amendment because I believe
this matters deeply.
We are posing an annual mela in Tarihamdil's Bonfireworks Community Christmas Celebration
expanded month of Bangla drama.
We know that over the last two years a far -right target is Bara.
They came to our streets to try to divide us.
They failed because the people of Tarihamdil stood together.
We stood together, doesn't happen, it's built.
Slowly, carefully, through shared experiences.
Some of this, you might say, is luxuries, they are not.
They are what life gives in richness of texture.
They are what makes place worth living in a council,
not just here to collect beans.
We are custodians of the community, and that means
culture, celebration, belonging, matters much to us
balanced Starbucks.
This amendment also delivers a commitment I care about.
personally £60 ,000 to implement the Somali Task Force action from 2021.
Promises were made to the Somali community, they have not been kept, we will keep them.
Our amendment is balanced, it is funded, it protects residents from unnecessary tax rising.
It restores the capital projects that were taken away and it invests in the things that
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:20:38
holds our community together.
Thank you.
Thank you.
And I call Chancellor Ahmad El -Kabir and then I will follow up with
Chancellor Mayim Talibjan next please.
Cllr Ahmodur Khan - 1:20:53
Thank you Mr Speaker. Assalamu alaikum and Ramadan Mubarak everyone.
Let me start with some answers.
Mr Speaker, my dear opposition, they question many things except
Mr. Luthfoh Rahman's criticism, what they have done in their life history, what they
have done in the last seven years, what they have done. Can they mention one single thing
Cllr Ahmodul Kabir - 1:21:25
they are proud of? I can list of many things what Mr. Mayor has done. They mentioned about
council tax 5%. They need to understand that 2 .99 % is served by government, not by the
Mr. Speaker, another thing they mentioned, Mr. Mayor broke his promise.
First year, Council Tech has been froze.
It's been froze.
And also, who has not done their six years unsigned account?
It's them.
It's a shame on you.
Mr. Speaker, they mentioned Mayor's office, official expense.
Mr. Speaker, they've been seven years in power. How many residents did they show?
Our mayor every single week, two days a week, he saw about 200 residents. That
means show that he's working. That means show he needs people on his office. Not
like you guys sleeping on seven years. You don't understand the 2 .99 %
thousandth time. Mr. Speaker, they always criticise, nothing else. This is the
biggest budget in history, £609 million. Mr Speaker, this budget is so that we can
financially responsible and protective and investing our frontline services. Mr Speaker,
the previous administration, they lent £67 million to the other council while our residents
are prices for food, family crisis and struggling and they lending money to the other council.
Shame on you.
Mr Speaker, they contacted housing management out.
They did not mention their contact.
Residence shows services decreases.
Mr Speaker, a last administration they failed deliver homes our resident desperately needed.
Mr Speaker, the administration has taken long -term view and
draw up new local plan.
Our delivery 50 ,000 homes over the next 10 years.
Mr Speaker, we have many, many things on our list.
You need to give me some more time.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:23:33
Cllr Ahmodur Khan - 1:23:38
Mr Speaker, also they just misinformating the other
Cllr Ahmodul Kabir - 1:23:40
residents, you know, about the council tax.
You need to understand that you need to understand the 2 .99 % from government, not from us.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:23:53
I call Councillor Mayim Talib the next and I call Councillor Ojidamit next.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Ahmodur Khan - 1:24:05
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 1:24:08
Before I give my budget speech, I would like to clarify regarding Councillor Oula's comment
on the Canadian Board of Education Trust.
According to charity commission and company house,
it's up to date.
So he's misleading the chamber, he's misleading the public.
In fact, he should be ashamed of his members' inquiry account.
Only three members inquiry over the last four years.
Mr Speaker, right to reply because my name has been mentioned.
You know the procedure so I will carry it.
I will wait for you to say yes.
It is a fact that the charity commission report, the two years of Canary Wolf Education Trust,
was not signed by this administration.
I don't know because the lead member was sacked from his job or not, but I'm not sure.
Can you please be quiet?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:25:04
I'm going to take advice from the munching of his who.
Councillor Talib, can you please continue?
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 1:25:21
And Councillor Abboud, did you have a point of personal explanation or what was it? Sorry.
You like me to stand up and say that.
Since my name was mentioned and and I am right because the fact was the two years the Canary Wolf Education Trust was not
Cllr Rebaka Sultana - 1:25:34
Signed at the point of my conversation with the representative of that charity and I believe this council has been dragging his feet
They like to talk about the fact of six years accounts, but more importantly Canary Wolf Education Trust
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 1:25:45
Cllr Rebaka Sultana - 1:25:47
Independent organisation their account was not signed by this
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 1:25:50
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:25:51
Thank you, thank you
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 1:25:59
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:26:06
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 1:26:07
The party opposite had seven years.
There were seven years in power.
Seven years to invest in people.
Seven years to strengthen services.
Seven years to build trust.
And what did residents receive?
A 25 % increase on council tax.
25 % increase on council tax.
cuts to free home care, cuts to youth service, cuts to community language support, cuts to
vital frontline services. Residents paid more and got less. That is their record. Top to
bottom like the national government they are collapsing. Mr Speaker, and now suddenly they
They present themselves as champions of investment.
Mr Speaker, the residents of London Borough of Tohumblitz are not naive.
They remember, they know who cut services, they know who increased tax,
they know who restored support after May 2022.
This administration is an ambitious administration.
We are delivering the most ambitious investment in the whole country.
For the record.
We are investing in children.
We are protecting families during the cost of living crisis.
We are rebuilding services that were reduced.
This is not the last minute political transfer window.
This is not buying headlines to win praise.
This is about people's lives.
It's about dignity, it's about outcomes.
It's about whether families can rely on the council.
Mr Speaker, this opposition may attempt, but record matters.
Delivery matters, results matters.
And that's why this most ambitious budget this borough has seen in a generation.
It invests, it protects, it rebuilds and I ask the chamber to support this motion.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:28:20
Thank you, Councillor Ohi Dharam please.
And then I'll follow up with Councillor Lilu Ahmed after you.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Salaam alaikum and Ramadan Kareem to you all.
Cllr Ana Miah - 1:28:32
Let's be honest, Mr. Thika, with hundreds of millions of pounds of additional support from the central government,
this council is still under serious financial pressure.
Cllr Nathalie Bienfait - 1:28:42
We overspend by 16 .5 million in 2024 and 2025. We are still overspending this year.
This is not one mistake. It is a pattern, and patterns tell a storey and that must stop.
The MTFS tells us that reserves will be rebuilt in the coming years.
But how? How exactly?
As someone with a financial background, I know you cannot medically grow reserves.
You can only grow reserves by cutting services, raising council tax, through income generation means more penalties,
increasing fees and charges, you are increasing fees and charges everywhere including
including increasing fees and charges for the swimming classes for school children.
You are increasing licence fees everywhere except, I repeat except gambling fees, a gambling friendly council.
This is a shame. I don't think this is a balanced budget due to unrealistic reserve
forecast for the future. If I had an opportunity to meet the officers, I would show them how
this budget is not balanced. But I did not have this opportunity. Remember, balancing
the budget is not optional. It is our duty. And we must do it without destroying the services
people rely on. We must face the risk built into budget, demand for adult social care
and homeless services volatile.
Inversion and pressures may be higher than expected.
Our reserves are too low and constraints downwards
are not sustainable.
If we keep dripping into reserves,
we are not managing risk, we are creating it.
Our auditors identify 10 major weaknesses
in governance and financial sustainability.
This is not box -ticking exercise.
This is a warning, Mr Speaker. This is a warning for this chamber.
We must fix those weaknesses, not reluctantly but urgently, if we want to rebuild credibility.
Mr Speaker, hope we learn from this. I agree with the opposition that we must cut intervention costs.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:31:02
We should not be paying for the intervention costs, we should not be paying directors to
Cllr Ana Miah - 1:31:09
come and do the leader's job, to do the nurse job, to mentor him, to train them. We as a
Cllr Ohid Ahmed - 1:31:18
taxpayer should not be taking this burden. We are the residents of this borough deserve
better Mr Speaker. The MTF talks about transformation programmes but it only works if they are delivered
on time and in full. Delays cost money, years cost money, denial cost money Mr. Stika.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:31:34
So I urge that everyone will be part of the careful about this budget.
Thank you, thank you.
Can I take Councillor Lilu Ahmed and I'll take Councillor Amin Rahman please.
Cllr Ana Miah - 1:31:50
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Maisha Begum - 1:31:59
Mr. Speaker, I'm supporting the Labour amendment because I've seen in the Thailand people complaining
Cllr Leelu Ahmed - 1:32:15
about the budget and you know, I've spent administration every time they promised they
would freeze council tax, they reduced many things but they say something and they're
My colleague already described about that.
There is Mr. Abu Talha, he already said that he put,
the Tarah Hamlet put already 400 camera.
And the last few month ago on the television,
they said the Tarah Hamlet Aspire Administration put 300 camera.
that people cannot escape doing anything else,
crime in the tarhamlet.
But I think every time, every day is the happening crime
in the tarhamlet.
So that's what I want to say.
I don't want to say much things because this Ramadan,
I don't want to hurt anyone, but I want to say the Mayyad -ul -Turakhman
and their aspects as part of the deal.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:33:21
Cllr Leelu Ahmed - 1:33:23
What you promised, please do it for the residents,
otherwise 20, 26 people waiting to take the events.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:33:36
I call Councillor Amin Rahman and then I call Councillor Iqbal who is saying next.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, our budget is a sensible budget that puts our community first and it tries
Cllr Leelu Ahmed - 1:33:51
to build residents while funding frontline service.
Cllr Sabina Khan - 1:33:55
It does not chase the right wing ideology of cuts, austerity and expense of our poorest.
Instead it is ambitious.
Cllr Amin Rahman - 1:34:01
Our budget is a model of how residents' focus approach to budgeting looks like.
The opposition will try to smear our budget in dishonesty, trying to convince the people
of Thai hamlets that we cannot afford to give residents financial security, warm homes,
school meals and many of the incredible life -changing policy the Aspire administration has pioneered.
But what they don't tell the residents is that when they cut every service to the bone,
our reserves in Thai hamlets were growing.
So the Labour Party in Tower Hamlets decide to cut resources while our reserves are growing.
Mr Speaker, the Labour Party in Tower Hamlets chooses to cut services while we had money
to help residents.
Why?
Because Mr Speaker, this is an ideological choice, not a financial one.
Our budget gets its inspiration from real issues people experience and develop policies
not from failed right -wing ideology, not from directives of national parties trying to appeal to reform.
This is why, Mr Speaker, I'll be voting for this budget and I invite all my colleagues to do the same. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:35:20
Thank you. I'll call on Councillor Iqbal Hussain and then I'll call Councillor Seif with Dinh Haled.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, fellow members.
Cllr Iqbal Hossain - 1:35:33
I'm proud to be part of this administration that has taken our residents at the heart
of this mission.
This is a history budget, one that truly shows how hurt independent of Westminster can.
Unlike the opposition championing cut that hurt our residents, we are delivering real
change for the community.
For reasons I cannot understand, Mr Speaker, the car services but failed to basic financial
management of the council.
The car services because they didn't care about the residents, they abandoned the residents.
What good are the reserves when the poorest in the borough are suffering?
Mr Speaker, it never made sense to me why in the face of youth crime anyone would cut
the education, maintenance grants, the university bursary scheme and youth services.
Well, only those who can don't care about the community.
But enough about their failures, Mr Speaker.
As a spare, the administration has ended a short -sighted, year -on -year budgeting process
instead of introducing the three years of MFTS, strengthening the council's resilience.
Mr Speaker, the Aspire budget is built on the principles of equality, opportunity and
care for our residents and most vulnerable.
One important example, Mr Speaker, is our leisure, sports and gyms.
We have invested over four million pounds in leisure, ensuring that every resident can
receive what in other words is a luxury at affordable rates.
That's why we are proud to be the only council in the entire country to offer preschool meals,
�
We would proud of.
It is a bold decision
and an administration who has their heart
related to the community
.
There's a
...
Mr hold
and universal school meals for the borough.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:38:02
Cllr Iqbal Hossain - 1:38:04
Mr. Speaker, this budget is about building a fair, safer, inclusive and resident oriented
town hamlets.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:38:15
I will call Saifuddin Khalid and then I will call Councillor Goulain -Kibre to the next.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to speak.
Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled - 1:38:28
This is quite a rare event today.
You have already allowed Mr Jahan Choudhry, Ohi Dhamad from the back bench, and myself
hopefully you are going to call upon Councillor Kabir, I believe this is due to your Ramadan
spirit of charity, it has been significantly improved.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker, today we face a critical moment in our Council's financial stewardship.
We are not running a family grocery shop.
We cannot ignore the professional advice.
Point of note here, Mr Speaker, despite the advice from our Section 151 officers, CIPFA
and other professionals about maintaining adequate reserves, the Mayor now proposes
to increase these reserves from next year onward after the election.
So we cannot ignore the professional advice that was as of our financial precariousness.
Our reliance on dwindling reserves projected to drop from 151 million to just 87 .3 million
highlights a severe risk to our communities, services and stability.
Councillor Jai Chaudry has highlighted the Mayor's promises, the party's promises for
per year 1 ,000 social homes.
Mr Speaker, I repeat social homes.
It's been already four years.
We do not have a definite number of how many homes have been delivered, let alone social
homes or affordable homes.
Council's residents deserve the answer.
Now not after the election.
Mr Speaker, I'm holding a handwritten letter from a 75 -year -old resident from E3.
And she was explaining that fire broke out in my flat.
But it took five days for someone to even ask me, and he want me to vote for you and
for your party.
Mr Speaker, what she was saying that you want if you want for members of my family's
vote this time is 30 seconds.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:40:57
Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled - 1:41:00
I would have been in a terrible situation if my church people did not come to help me.
I am a kind Christian person and I have been treated very badly by tower humblers.
Please can you get some answers for me?
Why no one came to see me for five days?
Why didn't they instal the smoke alarms straight away?
These are the responses of the residents, Mr Speaker.
And I believe that the budget is a colourful budget, but it's not going to deliver with services
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:41:32
Thank you
Our call a call now councillor
Gholam kibre Chaudhry then councillor Khan who do Khan next. Thank you
Thank You mr. Speaker
Cllr Sabina Khan - 1:41:50
Ramadan Kareem, may this blessing bring us peace upon an unity.
Mr. Speaker, in human eyes there are two fundamental components, those called rods and cones.
They tirelessly help us to see the things as it is, as its shape, as its colour, as
its size.
But I think our opposition's colleagues, they have some problem with this basic component.
Cllr Amin Rahman - 1:42:17
Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury - 1:42:19
They are underlying philosophies always to see positive things in a negative way.
Mr. Speaker, yes, council tax will increase 2 .99%.
Only those households have paid their income above 53 ,000.
And below these households, they will not pay any increase.
Instead of this, we have council tax relief fund as well.
Mr. Speaker, my colleague, Councillor Sabina Khan has already spoken brilliantly
about the investment.
Sorry, Sabinachta.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:42:50
Please do not have to.
We are making in this budget to support thousands of our six and ageing residents.
Cllr Sabina Khan - 1:42:57
We properly funded adult social care.
Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury - 1:42:59
But making tower hamlets healthier is not just about taking care of those who are already sick.
It's also about giving all our residents the tools they need to stay healthier longer.
Mr Speaker, through our public health department, we have also put in place a Title V long -term
health programme, targeted at reaching residents who are most risk of developing serious health
conditions, and giving them the tools they need to stay healthier for longer life.
This has included a series of innovative health and targeted and different minority communities
in the borough.
The installation of first that kind of health cheque,
key socks in idea stores and one -stop shops,
the funding of support of our new mothers targeted
at addressing post -natal health and an expanding health
visiting service that provides targeted early support
to children with highest risk of poor and health outcomes.
For decades, Mr Speaker, Tower Hamlets had had some
of the most unequal health outcomes in London,
with women ethnic minorities and low income families having a far shorter healthy life
expectancy than their white male and wealthier neighbours.
This budget includes big steps towards enabling all of our residents to live long and active
lives and one many reason why I urge all of you to give this support.
Mr Speaker.
27 seconds.
Yes, thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:44:34
Due to financial crisis, some councils are going to bankrupt.
Cllr Sabina Khan - 1:44:39
Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury - 1:44:41
Whereas, Mr. Speaker, by aligning resources and strategic priorities, we are strengthening
the council's financial foundations and safeguarding essential services for the year ahead.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
Councillor, who do you call on, please?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:44:56
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Ramadhanubhar.
Cllr Ahmodur Khan - 1:45:02
Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:45:09
Cllr Ahmodur Khan - 1:45:19
Mr Speaker, I heard from the opposition when he was speaking on his budget and said that
if they come to power, they will immediately implement their budget.
Mr. Speaker, people of Taorma have not forget them when they were in power.
When they were in power, they cut their mother's tongue, their EMA, their service, they have cut everywhere.
Also, people of Taorma have not forget that when they were in power, they were busy raising their lungs
and also they were busy creating the post, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this budget, when we come to this power in 2022,
we face the council that cut everything to abandon our residence.
Mr. Speaker, we did not and we will not abandon our residence.
Mr. Speaker, our approach to governance focus on residence needs make sure that our council
is in healthy financial positions.
This is what this budget demonstrates.
Mr. Speaker, I want to briefly highlight some of the incredible policies in this budget
that impact our residents' daily life.
Over the past four years, we have distributed £10 million in cost of living support for
our residents, introducing meals on the wheel for our elderly residents, delivering hot
dinner seven days a week.
Support our 4 ,000 elderly residents with £175 winter fuel allowance when the National Government
Mr. Speaker, open youth centre in every ward, invested 3 .2 million in support of 2 ,400 students
with university bursaries, invested 1 .3 million to support 2 ,800 students in educational maintenance
allowance.
Mr. Speaker, if I go on, my time would not allow the things this admission have done
with 30 seconds.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:47:49
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Ahmodur Khan - 1:47:51
I think this budget is a budget for the residents of the Tower Hamlet and their well -being.
So I urge, I support this budget.
I urge colleagues to support this budget.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
To all our needs, Steve.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:48:08
Thank you.
Can I call Councillor Coburn to say a follow -up with Councillor Bella Oudin next?
Thank you.
As -salamu alaykum.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Hussain - 1:48:20
Ramadan Kareem.
Politics is about trust between us and the people.
And I felt that trust was broken, Mr. Speaker.
That is why I was angry even while I was sitting in the cabinet.
I could accept accounts of tax increase, Mr. Speaker,
but I could not accept how homeless people were treated.
Soon as far as Manchester, Birmingham, Kent, anywhere in the world.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:48:59
Please, please be quiet.
In the name of savings.
So in the name of savings Mr Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Hussain - 1:49:07
Taher Hammers has the highest level of child poverty and adult poverty in the country,
yet our budget does nothing to tackle those issues, instead of addressing failure and
poor services.
The Mayor seems to be more focused on headline news.
Mr Speaker, let me give you one example why Barra is held back.
The council had a chance to bring homes from THCH, the large number of stocks, more than
10 ,000, to take the ownership, to take inside of the house, but the mayor has failed.
Mr Speaker, the council tax has gone up by nearly 20 per cent, rent by almost 26 per
and our reserves have been drained.
Councillors, don't huckle to me.
You guys are elected because of us.
We formed the Aspire, not you.
And we used my office since 2022.
Mr Speaker, those people used my office in 2018 to 2022.
in two never paid a pence Mr Speaker and you are helping me.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:50:37
Mr Speaker, please speak relevant to the agenda please.
Thank you.
You are going out of line, thank you.
Cllr Kabir Hussain - 1:50:46
Under the previous administration Mr Speaker reserve were at record level of rent, rent
throws just by over two percent.
I think we will be able to hear from the speakers.
We will be able to hear from the speakers.
Please be quiet and allow the speaker to speak.
Please show respect, thank you.
I will take one more minute, Mr Speaker.
So that is why we must ask where is
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:51:11
the risk management for these spending commitments?
Cllr Kabir Hussain - 1:51:14
What is the contingency if projected
does not provide that reassurance Mr. Speaker. That's why Thai Hamlets needs
alternative. Thai Hamlets deserve better and more accountability. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:51:39
Cllr Bellal Uddin - 1:51:46
Councillor Belal, Uddin please. Thank you Mr. Speaker and As -salamu alaikum
Today is a very important budget for us and fully support this budget.
This budget is aimed to make the Tower Hamlet residents proud.
We now have an excellent corporate director of the source who has overseen the most ambitious
budget seen in the local government.
I am proud to work under Mayur Luthur Rahman.
Mr. Speaker, when our administration took office, we made a promise to freeze council
tax for our poorest residents every single year.
We went above and beyond this promise.
Our first year, we froze council tax for every single local resident.
Since then, we have frozen council tax for all families earning under 50 ,000, 350 a year
for all those residents earning. Above that, they can rest well knowing that our council
tax has only gone up 8 % in the last four years. The sixth lowest across the London, the same
It could not be said under the last administration where the council was never frozen, was not
even for the poorest residents.
I request everyone please kindly support this budget.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Can I call Abdulmanan, please?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:53:26
Hello.
Cllr Bellal Uddin - 1:53:33
Ramadan Mubarak to you all.
Thank you.
Cllr Abdul Mannan - 1:53:41
As someone who worked in education for many years, it broke my heart to see why the school performance
fell under the Labour administration.
While Labour had the education meant to do so, it was a very difficult time.
students, allow us to run our youth service into the ground and to provide our school
with the proper resource, our best and brightest flew to our neighbouring borough where they
can achieve better results.
It is for this reason that I am so proud to support the budget that actually put education
and the future of our children first.
Cllr Bellal Uddin - 1:54:16
We are pouring an average investment of 22 million pounds a year into our school and
youth service.
We have brought back the education, maintenance allowance, along with other programmes like
university bursaries and free school uniform, and to make it easier for children from working
class families to achieve in this programme.
Cllr Abdul Mannan - 1:54:38
I'd also like to say to our administration the free school meal, and when I did a survey
into this free school meal last year, it shows that children achieve better results
with the free school meal, so you have better nourishment in the school.
So I'm really proud that this admission has done very good to do so in a free school meal.
I also would like to say we are putting nearly one million into groundbreaking
new community languages programme. We are creating the school high achievers
towards what to elevate those high -performance students who will be the future of our borough.
Please join me in this voting through a budget strong enough to support our children and
give them a future that is of thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:55:29
Cllr Bellal Uddin - 1:55:32
Cllr Abdul Mannan - 1:55:37
Thank you, Mayor and thank you Said to achieve very outstanding budgets.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:55:43
Can I call Mark Francis, please, if you want to speak.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 1:56:06
I did have a fine -tuned speech written, but due to things said in this chamber, I've had
to sort of put that aside and speak from the heart again and analyse what's here, Mr Speaker.
So, words in this chamber have been spoken. Members opposite have said words like the
mayor's flagged reputation, cronyism, Labour government, Labour group, reality. Well, what
for the cheerleaders of Keir Starmer, if we're talking about flagged reputations, then we've
got to look at, you know, appointments of Morgan McSweeney, Peter Mandelson, Lord Doyle.
But even closer to Tom Hamlets, you had Tom Dewey, a Councillor, former Councillor in
Hackney, who had 1850 indecent pictures of children and therefore was kicked out of the
out. You had West Streetings aid flashing at a 13 year old by the name of Sam Goll.
So what I will say is integrity is very important and this Mayor has high integrity.
Now going back to some of the areas that were explored here, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:57:25
Can I ask Councillor please stick to your relevant matters with the budget.
I apologise Mr Speaker, I will stick to the budget.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 1:57:36
So within the budget they talk about the NCL, please don't heckle, it's rude.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:57:44
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 1:57:46
They talk about the NCL Mr Speaker, going back to residents, local residents to decide.
Well actually that's manipulation. I tell you what the previous administration, the
Square Public Realm Works, one nomination, £330 ,000. Filgate Street, public improvement
work, £250 ,000, one nomination. Improvements to St John's Park area, £250 ,000, one nomination.
National Cycling Group, one. Feasibility Study, £270 ,000, one nomination. So we know how
cloak and dagger works and we know how smoke and mirror works.
And I tell you Mr Speaker, this was just a guise in order to get their own pet projects
running using public money.
Now we talk about the South Dock Bridge, Mr Mayor.
They would allocate £13 million.
Well Mr Speaker, that £13 million wouldn't cover the full project.
There's another £7 million that would be needed.
That's not in that budget.
So where would that £7 million come from?
Ill thought out.
Now, if you go to the section 25 statement within the Labour's amended budget, what you'll
find is that the changes to the HRA business plan would result in the council failing to
meet its duty in complying with the interest cover ratio where income cannot cover the
You're nearly into your time here.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 1:59:11
And therefore...
Thank you.
I don't have any Mr. Mayor.
Can you please...
I'm instructing the councillor.
This budget in itself would be out of order, Mr Speaker.
Councillor Mark Francis, please.
Cllr Marc Francis - 1:59:39
Crikey, out of order. I mean, we've just listened to 25 speeches
without a single acknowledgement that it's not you guys that are paying for these services.
It's other people, it's taxpayers, it's service users, it's all of the money that's saved in reserves.
You talk, Councillor Mayant talks about a track record.
I mean, oh my goodness, when Labour came into power in 2015, this authority was an absolute basket case.
You left it as a basket case, the Mayor left it as a basket case, several of you sitting on the front bench left it as a basket case.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:00:18
Councillor Sabina Actal remembers that she had to help pick up this basket case and fix it!
She's laughing because she knows that it's true.
Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, I am getting...
I am, I am.
Cllr Marc Francis - 2:00:31
Councillor Francis, can I remind you to address your comments to the Speaker?
Thank you.
Yes, go on.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:00:38
Yet again, interrupted.
Cllr Marc Francis - 2:00:40
No one doubts that Aspire can spend money.
The problem is that they forget that they are spending other people's money, not their own money.
Two hours worth of talking and not one of the Councillors opposite admits that the money is coming from central government,
from council taxpayers' money, from business rates money and from the reserves that they criticise Labour for having accrued.
Councillor Sabina, lovely speech. But you forget that you were the one who brought forward the cuts to community language service and some of the adult social services as well.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:01:11
to me rather than the councillors please.
Come on.
Just carry on.
Are you going to keep doing this?
Cllr Marc Francis - 2:01:17
Councillor Kabir Ahmed, catastrophically terrible quality of service that you have overseen
in the last four years.
Councillor Syed Ahmed, Meals on Wheels, my constituents can't get them because you've
put a little ring fence around how many people can get them.
Councillor Sabina Khan's contribution, oh no, she's not here today, she's somewhere
else.
Councillor Waheed, you said that scrutiny hadn't done anything on the budget, hadn't
said anything on the budget. That's because she's in a different country.
And you really voted for it along with somebody else here.
Councillor Omidil, the Council Tax Relief Fund. Our figures show from the officers,
350 people applied for it, 230 were refused, 114 were allowed to get it.
Grand total, £3 ,000. Protecting all of those under £50 ,000 a year, as if.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:02:08
Can I, Sergeant Councillor, can I just remind you, we're just addressing each Councillor
which is you've been told that...
This is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing, responding to the debate.
You can address to me, you can talk about the Councillors please, directly to the Councillors
please, thank you.
Just look at him.
Cllr Marc Francis - 2:02:25
Honestly, honestly, ridiculous, ridiculous, ridiculous.
Councillor Shafi, parking charges, you have overseen the most disgraceful service around
blue badges.
Can you please sit down?
Can you please sit down?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:02:38
Councillor Francis, you can say the same thing.
Not just people.
Councillor...
Councillor...
Shupriya Iqbal - 2:02:49
Councillor...
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:02:51
Can you please sit down please? Thank you.
Shupriya Iqbal - 2:02:54
Can you please...
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:02:57
Sorry, can you please all sit down?
Please address to me.
You can say the same thing.
You can say the same thing, you can say the same points by addressing the speaker and
they all will hear it.
Thank you.
Cllr Marc Francis - 2:03:23
Mr Speaker, I take it that you have deliberately obstructed my response to this debate.
You've interrupted me four times in the course of this debate.
This is an outrageous affront to democracy.
I had three minutes to address 25 speeches and you constantly interrupted.
I'm sick of it.
This council faces the people of Tower Hamlets face a choice in two months time about this
budget.
We are very happy that you at the Aspire party want to put your record to the electorate
of Tower Hamlets.
A record that said you would not increase council tax and yet you have increased it
by nearly 20 % over the course of the last four years. Inflagrant contravention of the promises.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:04:07
We are very happy to vote against this budget tonight as an insult to the people of Tower
Cllr Marc Francis - 2:04:16
Hamlets and look forward to the judgement of the people at the election on the 7th of May.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:04:20
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you,
At the end of the general debate, does anyone who hasn't yet spoken still wish to speak?
Does Councillor Saeed Ahmed wish to exercise his right of reply?
Thank you.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:04:58
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:04:59
Thank you Mr Speaker. Well let me just remind my opposition members that central government
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:05:04
isn't a magic tree. The money just comes into councils like this. They have gone onto the
media last night and misinformed our residents. Council tax is actually imposed by the Labour
Government. This settlement figure that they keep mentioning, it comes at the back of an
increase from council tax. If we don't increase the council tax, we don't get the settlement
figures that we propose. Now more importantly we go further, we protect our households with
low incomes, so we protect our residents. They had seven years, seven years to freeze
council tax. Did they do so? No, but guess what, election years you see, 2018, 2022,
oh we see a little difference. The residents won't fall for this. We came in, we froze
council tax for the first year, then we went further to freeze council tax for everyone
that we know is below the household threshold of 50 ,350.
It's laughable that they lecture us like this,
like they wrote the Aspire Manifesto.
Yet, they bring all these bright ideas, but what happened?
The electorate booted them out in 2022.
Labour amendments, and yes, they would have no chance
in the next elections, labour amendments to our budget means
that it is not balanced.
We can't take the amendments.
And if we had them leading in this manifesto and in this budget, if we had them lead in
it, we would be in the same position like the fellow London councils who are requesting
emergency bailout from the government.
Let me remind my council opposition leader about the core spending.
Yes, core spending has gone up, but do you know why it's gone up?
Because of our population, because our level of deprivation, because of the number of children.
and all of that is because of your failures over the last seven years
overcrowding, child poverty, attainment, community safety, health inequalities
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:06:57
all of this is why our environment has gone a lot higher
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:06:58
that's why the government settlement is coming to support us
now Mr Speaker let me explain
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:07:04
Point of order, Mr Speaker.
Can you sit down, Councillor?
What is your point of order?
Point of order, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 2:07:15
If my colleague has been disturbed by you four times and they're hacking themselves,
I think you should pay a bit more fairness in the month of Ramadan,
show your generosity and give him a fair warning as well.
Shupriya Iqbal - 2:07:30
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:07:30
It's totally different what I said to Councillor Mark Francis
and what this council is doing is, you know, it doesn't relate to both acquisitions.
Back to differ, Mr Speaker. I think it does. People at home, you watched your very poor performance tonight.
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 2:07:44
Shupriya Iqbal - 2:07:47
Members, can I remind you to only speak when the Speaker says that you can speak.
If you have a point of order, please ask the Speaker if you can speak
and do not start speaking until he has said that you can speak. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:08:03
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:08:06
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:08:06
I'm sorry, you're making a serious allegation here, so please be careful.
Thank you.
Shupriya Iqbal - 2:08:13
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:08:14
So given that, we need to understand the settlement figure.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:08:22
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:08:23
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:08:23
It's very much in connected with the council tax increase.
Let me inform the Chamber of the very important point.
We lost out on this settlement 7 .5 million pounds due to freezing council tax previously.
So that means it's thought about just going freezing.
This is all about giving it with one hand and taking with the other.
This is the actual point.
And let me clarify another point on pensions committee.
If the Labour members did come to the committee they would have known that the actuaries have given us a confirmation,
an assurance that it is the right contribution to do and making sure it's the right thing when it comes to our pension contributions.
And the Councillor here spoke about Ramadan, he preached very well with council tax.
But let me tell you, how many Ramadan's did they have and how many council tax did they freeze?
Now it's all good that we come here and talk about bus gates.
If we wanted bus gates, we're going to live with the bus gate.
But more importantly, we need to make sure that council doesn't fall under.
We need to keep up with inflation. If that hurts, I'm sorry, that's what we wanted, that's what we will get.
And finally, let me finish by saying this.
The Labour Amendment proposes that we cut the council tax relief fund and we put money into...
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:09:29
We put money into bonfire, we put money into the mela, we put money into parties. They want to save
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:09:39
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:09:40
the council tax money and put it into... I urge everyone to support this budget. Thank you.
Thank you.
Please, can you please be quiet please.
Thank you.
The full council will now move to the vote.
Please listen to me please.
The full council now will move to the vote on proposals to approve the budget report
2026 -27 and medium term financial strategy 2026 -29.
I will now ask Matthew Mannen, Head of Democratic Services, to conduct the votes, please.
Matthew.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Yes, that's right.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:10:33
Just a reminder, there are four recommendations.
Approve the Council Tax Resolution, agree the General Fund Revenue Budget and the Council
tax requirement, agree the Council's budget report and medium -term financial strategy
and agree the Treasury management strategy statement, investment strategy report and
capital strategy report.
Okay, so as said earlier, this is a recorded vote, so I will go through and I will ask
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:10:57
for each name in turn and ask for people to indicate if they are in favour against or
abstaining on whatever item it is.
Councillor Ismaier has joined us online, so can't technically vote, but for the record
I will just ask him if he wishes to state which way he would have voted if he had been
here.
We will be starting with the first amendment move which was the Labour amendment.
And I will start with the group leaders.
So Mayor look for Rahman.
Against.
Thank you.
Councillor Sirajul Islam.
For.
Thank you.
And then moving down the list alphabetically.
So Councillor Farouk Ahmed.
For.
Councillor Kabir Ahmed.
Against.
Councillor Lelou Ahmed.
Councillor Mushtaq Ahmed.
Councillor Oudt Ahmed.
Councillor Seid Ahmed.
Councillor Shafi Ahmed.
Councillor Sabina Akhtar.
Councillor Mysha Begum.
Councillor Natalie Bienfe.
Abstain.
Abstain. Thank you.
Councillor Bodrill Choudry.
Against.
Councillor Gullum Kibbea Choudry.
Against.
Councillor Chaiha Choudry.
Abstain.
Abstain. Thank you.
Councillor Abou Choudry.
Against.
Councillor Mohamed Choudry.
For.
Councillor Mark Francis.
For.
Councillor Peter Golds.
Against.
Against. Thank you.
Councillor Iqbal Hussain.
Councillor Kebir Hussain.
Councillor Kamel Hussain.
Councillor Asma Islam.
Councillor Amadul Kabir.
Against.
Councillor Soghuddin Khalid.
Abstain.
Thank you.
Councillor Amadul Khan.
Abstain.
Apologies from her then.
Councillor Maimtulukder.
Councillor Bell Al Uddin.
Councillor Abdul Wahid.
And the speaker, Councillor Sillik Ahmed.
Thank you very much.
So we are now moving on to the Green Amendment and we will start again with the Mayor look
Rachtar. Councillor Mysha Begum. Sorry, against. Okay, thank you.
Councillor Natalie Bienfe. Thank you.
Councillor Bodrill Chaudhry. Councillor Gullum Kibre Chaudhry.
Councillor Asma Islam.
Councillor Amadou Kabir.
Councillor Seyfried and Kaled.
Against Councillor Amadou Khan.
Councillor Abdul Malik.
Against Councillor Abdul Manan.
Against Councillor Anamir.
Councillor Haynes.
Councillor Ayers.
Abstain.
Abstain on this one.
Thank you.
Councillor Harenmaier.
Against.
Thank you.
Councillor Amin Rahman.
Councillor Rebecca Sultana.
Sorry.
I apologise for her.
Councillor Mayim Tulkter.
Councillor Bell.
So we are now going for the main budget as presented in the papers, so unamended.
And we will start with the Mayor of Faram.
4.
Councillor Sirajul Islam.
Against.
Councillor Farouk Ahmed.
Against.
Councillor Kabir Ahmed.
4.
Just thinking about it.
Councillor Lilo Ahmed.
Against.
Councillor Mushta Ahmed.
4.
Councillor Oid Ahmed.
Definitely against.
Councillor Sied Ahmed.
4.
For 4.
Thank you Councillor Shafi Ahmed
Councillor Sabina act are
Thank you Councillor my she begum
Against is on this yeah, so I know you got a sore throat yeah, okay against
Councillor Natalie bien fe abstain abstaining
Councillor Baudrill chaudhary
4.
Councillor Guillaume Kibbre, a chowdary.
4.
Councillor Jarhead, a chowdary.
2.
Councillor Abutalla, a chowdary.
4.
4.
Okay, thank you.
Councillor Mohamed, a chowdary.
Again.
Councillor Mark Francis.
Against.
Against, thank you.
Councillor Peter Golds.
Against.
Against, thank you.
Councillor Iqbal Hussain for Councillor Kabir Hussain against Councillor Cameron Hussain.
Thank you.
Councillor Asma Islam against Councillor Amadore Kabir for Councillor Seyfried and Kaled.
Abstain.
Councillor Bell, thank you.
Councillor Abdal Ullah.
Councillor Abbate.
And finally, Councillor Slocum.
And so that therefore is carried.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:19:44
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:19:51
The administration's budget proposal and Councillor Tuck's resolutions have therefore been accepted.
Thank you.
We now move to agenda item 6, continuous improvement of journey.
Can Councillor Saeed Ahmad introduce the report?

6 CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT JOURNEY

Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I formally move the report but I wish to come in during the debate.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:20:23
Thank you.
I reserve my right to speak.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:20:29
Can I ask Kabir Ahmed to second the report? You have three minutes.
Yes, Mr Speaker, I formally second the report.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:20:44
Mr Speaker, I'm pleased to update the Council on our continuous
continuous improvement journey.
We are now one year into the statutory support package and during this period we have made
clear and independently validated progress in strengthening governance, stabilising leadership
and improving relationships between members and officers.
These improvements are creating a strong foundation needed to deliver high quality services, particularly
in housing and regeneration.
Our relationship with MHCLG and the ministerial envoys remain open and constructive.
We continue to report transparently through full council and envoys have been invited into programme boards and staff engagement sessions to observe our progress and challenge first hand.
The openness is helping us build trust and ensure our work is grounded in evidence and
externally understood.
Over the past year, we have strengthened governance, clarified roles and responsibilities, refreshed
our corporate risk strategy and delivered reforms in procurement, contract management
and assurance.
We have addressed historic weaknesses, including clearing all outstanding accounts from 2016 -17 to 2022 -23 with the backstop in place,
and have allocated resources to respond to our four statutory recommendations and ten significant weaknesses identified by our external auditors.
This work is being supported by experience external challenge including senior advisors
Stephen Hughes.
Looking ahead, the next phase of our improvement journey focuses on accelerating delivery against
the continuous improvement plan, addressing statutory recommendations at pace, launching
our strategic vision and developing a new people strategy informed by the recent survey.
We will continue embedding behavioural standards for members, strengthening internal communication
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:23:15
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:23:17
and supporting psychological safety for staff and approach in May 26 elections.
Strengthening our evidence base, we will remain essential to demonstrating sustained improvement.
Mr Speaker, there is more to do, but our progress is real.
Our foundations are strong and the commitment across the organisation is clear.
Though continued openness and collaboration and learning, we will deepen our improvement
journey and deliver better services for our residents.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:23:54
Thank you, Councillor.
Does any other member wish to speak?
I have got some names here already.
Can you sit down, please?
I will call Councillor Mayim Talibda, please.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 2:24:17
We have made a real progress.
strong leadership, greater transparency and more constructive relationship across the organisation.
Our approach has been open throughout visible field work,
ministerial engagement and clear reporting through full council.
We face concerns directly, strengthen our understanding of challenges and build trust through visibility and honesty.
The next phase is about delivering strategy recommendations, launching the strategic vision
and shaping a new people strategy grounded in staff feedback.
Strengthening culture and safety is essential as we move towards May 2026.
Our foundations are solid by staying focused and working openly with staff, partners and
oversight, we can move forward with confidence.
Thank you.
Prime Minister Tsipras -Khanan
Thank you, Councillor.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:25:18
Can I call Councillor Siraj Islam, please?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
For the last month, the Secretary of State told
Parliament that the Traveler's Council is
still failing.
Not at risk, not under pressure, but failing.
Cllr Sirajul Islam - 2:25:32
Thy judgement does not come from this Chamber.
It is not an opposite rhetoric.
It is Secretary of State acting on evidence from
his own envoys.
It is not an opposite rhetoric.
And when the Secretary of State responds, not by stepping back, but by stepping in further,
every councillor here should stop and take notice.
Because let us be clear about what this actually means.
It means the government no longer believes the council is capable of progressing.
It means plans are not turning into delivery.
It means government envos are placed in the council to guide and advise on our given powers
over governance, over finance and over leadership.
That is not normal.
This is not routine.
That is the sign of lost confidence.
The Secretary of State is blunt.
It says the Council has not understood the seriousness
of the situation.
And it says there have been lack of urgency.
And it says there are lots of plans, every plan for plan,
but not enough action.
That is not about party politics.
It is about personalities.
It is about competence.
And when competence fails, trust fails.
And when trust fails, government intervenes,
and that is where we are today.
The Secretary of State has made it clear that the next phase
of intervention will be stronger, deeper and more hands -on because it did not deliver what
were meant to in the first place.
So let me say this plainly.
This Council cannot talk its way out of this.
It cannot spin its way out of this.
And it cannot, as it's done in the public statement and in plain, pretend that deeper
intervention is somehow a success.
The choice before us is simple.
We can accept the serious of the situation, cooperate fully and focus relentlessly on delivery.
Or we can carry on with the same old excuses and watch confidence fall even further.
We must be a council that chooses honesty, we must be a council that chooses accountability,
and above all, we must be a council that chooses the interests of residents.
The first step to improvement is actually having the courage, courage to admit that
something is not working.
Mr Speaker, I'm glad our residents will soon have the chance to judge whether this
mayor works for them.
The group opposite talks about labour mess for seven years.
Don't forget in 2015 we took over a borough that was branded a rotten borough.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:27:58
Can I ask Shafi Ahmed, please?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Governance has strengthened, leadership is stable,
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 2:28:08
member -officers' relationship has improved,
independent peers and sector experts have validated
the credibility of our approach and continue to provide robust challenge.
We are engaging openly with the ministerial envoys,
inviting scrutiny rather than waiting for it.
We have addressed the external auditor's findings decisively, historic accounts are cleared, risk management has been modernised, procedure, procurement processes have been strengthened, more than 500 staff have been trained in contact management and 2 million have been committed to delivery of statutory recommendations at place.
We are also listening, demonstrated by strong engagement in our people survey and co -production of our strategic vision.
The next six months are critical, accelerating delivery of the continuous improvement plan,
launching the Pupils Strategy, embedding member behaviour standards and strengthening our
evidence basis.
Improvement is not rhetoric, it is a disciplined, measurable delivery and we are continuing
to sustain it.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:29:17
Can I ask Peter Golds please?
No, thank you.
Cllr Nathalie Bienfait - 2:29:34
I want to commend the work that officers have put into responding to the government and
on the continuous improvement plan so far.
I would like also to defend the council against the poor timing from the government which
meant that we weren't able to have enough time to respond in full to the statement before
the full council meeting in January.
Personally, I think sensitivity and care is needed
from the envoys if they are indeed given reserve powers.
But crucially, I think the improvement must focus
on the political issues it has not addressed so far.
We've seen today that we have issues of toxicity
from many sides within this chamber.
We also have, I believe, a paranoid administration and councillors must be held accountable for
their behaviour.
The improvement plan hasn't adequately addressed it so far.
So I'm looking forward to the next phase of the improvement plan.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:30:36
Thank you, Councillor.
Can I ask Sabina Octel, please?
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 2:30:46
Thank you Mr Speaker. I'll speak from as lead member for health and adult social care. So
Cllr Sabina Akhtar - 2:30:54
continuous improvement is not an option in our role, it is our duty. In Tower Hamlets we serve
one of the most diverse and dynamic communities in the country but we also face real challenges,
rising demand, financial pressures and persistent health inequalities. That means we must be
accountable and ambitious.
Our approach is built on three priorities.
First, quality.
We are strengthening, safeguarding, improving
timelessness of assessments.
Second, accountability.
Every pound we spend must deliver value.
We are still thinking the performance oversight
and driving efficiency.
Third, partnership.
Health and social care do not work in isolation.
Our collaboration work with NHS partners,
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 2:31:38
voluntary organisations, carers and community
Cllr Sabina Akhtar - 2:31:42
groups is essential. Our new Power BI dashboard tracks the delivery of contracts in real time
to ensure that no failures to perform are missed, while quarterly cabinet reporting
brings any failures to the immediate attention of elected leadership, allowing us to make
informed changes much more efficiently. Likewise, up -to -date contract for the plans has been
embedded across the Council, putting an end to the days of last -minute extensions and
rushed procurements.
Lastly, national best practise contract management training
has been provided to over 500 staff,
creating a workforce that is equipped
for any surprises or performance failures that
may occur on its way.
But improvement is just not about processes.
It's about people.
It's about our older residents who
want to live in the ventilator.
It's about our carers who need support and recognition.
It is about our adults with complex needs who deserve
opportunity and respect.
If we are serious about long -term change, we must
continue investing in prevention, tackling
inequality, supporting mental health, and
addressing the wider factors that shape
wellbeing.
Our journey is ongoing.
We will challenge under -performances, embrace
innovation, and listen carefully to our residents
because our ambition must match the resilience of
the people we serve.
So let's together, let's ensure that health and
social care in Tahel Hamlets is just not, you
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:33:08
adequate but exemplary. Thank you. Thank you. Can I take Councillor Mark Francis please?
Cllr Marc Francis - 2:33:16
Thank you Mr Speaker. Last month's announcement makes clear that Mayor Rahman is failing to make
any progress towards meaningful change in the way he runs Alboro. As the Secretary of State says,
there are lots of plans but there's no action. Basically this council is faking it. The
transformation and assurance board appointed by this authority itself is not driving the
fundamental change needed at the pace required. The new improvement board will be appointed
by the Minister's envoys, irrespective of the Mayor and the Chief Executive want them.
That is welcome. The proposed new reserve power for the ministerial envoys to insist
that something is done or not done is also very welcome. I have no doubt the envoys will
use those powers sparingly, but I also have no doubt that this has happened because this
authority has frequently done things it shouldn't have done while they've been here. As well
as addressing the serious problems about culture, leadership, governance and partnership originally
identified in the best value inspection.
The Government has also decided that the envoys must closely scrutinise the Council's public
use of public money too.
Again, this is a wise and necessary move.
Ministers have rightly authorised deep dive investigations into specific issues the envoys
have brought to their attention.
These include the allocation of grants, planning and licencing applications, allegations about
the inappropriate appointment of staff to highly paid roles they appear to have little
qualification for.
Most notably the mayor's office is also going to be subject to some very welcome scrutiny.
Instead of properly taking on board the criticism in the inspection report of a council within a council,
the mayor simply moved these into other departments while retaining control of their work.
The government's decision to implement closed supervision and control in the town hall doesn't come as a surprise
to those of us who've been trying to hold the mayor to account.
Time and again we've been blocked from properly scrutinising the authorities policies and performance.
The Mayor repeatedly uses this executive power and majority in this Council chamber to evade
questions, deny legitimate challenge and silence his critics.
This authority repeatedly misleads its own residents about the quality of services it
provides and downplays criticism.
The envoys call this optimism bias.
George Orwell called it double speak.
It was evident again in the press statement put out by this Council last month in response.
It contains no acknowledgement of the reasons why the Government's intervention is being
extended and deepened.
Instead, it has a whole load of blah about how wonderful the council is doing.
This is blowing smoke in our residents' faces again.
The report in our agenda pack is supposed to be about our continuous improvement journey
is another example.
Instead of publishing the letter and the appendices spelling out the government's critique of
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:35:49
Cllr Marc Francis - 2:35:50
the lack of progress, this authority published its own interpretation, downplaying criticism.
As well as the wider scope, we would like to see that scope extended to both publicity
and elections. A ministerial envoy should have powers over those too. Only then, once
this whole package is in place, can our residents have any confidence this authority is on a
path back to proper democratic governance. It shouldn't have come to this, but the
Mayor and those around him chose this path. The Tarahumneh residents now know that whatever
happens in May, Mayor Rahman will not have the power to run this council anymore. The
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:36:23
only question is whether he is still here himself.
Thank you. Can I take myself?
Omid Ahmed, please.
Thank you, sorry, just too many Ahmads here.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Ana Miah - 2:36:39
Are we talking about continuous improvements
Cllr Ohid Ahmed - 2:36:46
or are we actually talking about continuous failure
or embarrassments?
After listening to the Council colleague, Natalie,
I'm simply very disappointed and embarrassed.
The 2024 best value inspection was clear.
Cllr Ana Miah - 2:37:04
It is government's failure with decision -making,
Cllr Ohid Ahmed - 2:37:06
a political culture that avoids accountability.
Residents deserve a politician to be honest,
dignified, transparent, accountable, and responsible.
Instead, we drag this bar into controversy,
scandal, and waste.
Text -based have funded this so -called improvement
journey, Mr. Speaker.
Money that should have supported services,
infrastructure and vulnerable residents.
But we have to pay others to do the mayor's
and cabinet's job, and that is not simply acceptable.
Yes, we have a plan.
We have plans.
We have a continuous improvement plan,
consultation, strategic vision.
But where are the results?
Where are the delivery, Mr. Speaker?
This is the moment for honesty.
This is the moment for accountability.
We cannot wait years for change.
We need to action now.
Let this be a call for leadership that delivers,
not speeches, not slogans, but real outcomes.
The bar of this residence needs outcomes, not the slogans.
Our residence deserves a council that is responsible, responsive,
and rooted in ethical governance.
We must demand better.
Our future depends on it, Mr Speaker.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Can I take Councillor Goulam Kibre
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:38:26
and Chaudhuri, please?
Cllr Ohid Ahmed - 2:38:31
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, despite what some may have to do,
believe the changes laid out in this one year report
Cllr Sabina Khan - 2:38:40
on the continuous improvement plan
Cllr Amin Rahman - 2:38:44
show unparalleled commitment by our mayor
Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury - 2:38:47
to improve the governance of council
beyond any point in recent memory.
Mr. Speaker, rather than shy,
away from the challenges identified in March,
last year we faced them head on,
and the result have been transformative.
Mr. Speaker, we have taken decisive action.
We have allocated 20 million within the MTFS
to strengthen our audit response,
and brought in Stephen Hawkes
to provide rigorous external challenges and support.
Mr. Speaker, we have cleared all historic accounts from 2016 to 2017 and 2022 to 2023.
We are now working with auditors on a clear shared pathway towards achieving unqualified
accounts.
Mr. Speaker, our refreshed corporate RIG strategy is now firmly embedded across the
organisation.
supported by quarterly reviews and tailored training.
It has already earned us national recognition
through the 2025 Public Sector Rigs Management Award.
Mr. Speaker, we have strengthened our investigations team
by appointing a new team leader
who is reviewing all our process,
improving governance and increasing the quality of reports
to the audit committee.
Updated policies and external review
will support ongoing improvement by March 2020 -2026.
Mr. Speaker, these achievements speak to our commitment
to transparency, accountability,
and delivering the best value of our residents.
Our continuous improvement plan is not just a programme,
it's a cultural shift, and together we are building
an organisation that is stronger, more resilient,
and more forward -looking than ever before.
Mr. Speaker, we recognise that every public and commercial organisation has scope to improve.
Continuous improvement is hallmark of strong and reasonable leadership and no organisation
should consider its work complete.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:40:54
I will take two more.
Councillor Saifuddin Khalid and then I will follow up with Councillor Saifuddin.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled - 2:41:07
Andways have started their journey in 2024.
The taxpayers have funded millions for this improvement journey, the money which could
have been used for vital services.
Very recently, finally, on 19th of January, 2026,
Steve Reid, Secretary of State for Housing, Community
and Local Government, highlighted that the
Ta 'amlet Council is continuing to fail to comply
with its best -valued duty in relation to continuous
improvement, governance, leadership, culture
and partnerships.
What a shame.
The Council is now failing to comply with its best value duty in relation to its use
of resources.
Shame again!
And then I share their envoy's concerns in particular regarding the Mayor's advisory
team.
Shame.
Mr Speaker, Transformation Board has been a miserable failure as well.
Failure, failure, failure.
No delivery.
No homes as promised by the Mayor and the Aspire as promised in their manifesto.
Mr Speaker, I believe that the Aspire Party and the Mayor should give up and apologise
to the residents of London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
This is the right time just before the election that this has been a failure, a project of
failure.
Mr Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the people of Bangladesh for
electing a new government.
Can I just interrupt please?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:42:58
This is a council meeting, it's nothing to do with politics in Bangladesh.
I'm not saying anything.
Please, please, can you please?
I'm dealing with this.
All I need to congratulate the Prime Minister Tariq Rahman and Dr Shafiq Rahman of the opposition leader
for the new appointment by the people of Bangladesh.
Please, can you sit down please?
If you want to finish your time, talk relevant to the agenda, please.
No, it is not. Thank you.
Please, please, don't want to know anything about Bangladesh politics here.
Thank you.
Bangladesh politics, I'm just simply congratulating.
Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled - 2:43:49
How can this be controversial?
Point of order, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:43:54
Yes.
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 2:43:56
Mr Speaker, you should know what is politics and what is not politics.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:44:00
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 2:44:03
What is your point of order?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:44:06
My point of order to this Mr. Speaker, you are preventing a member of this council from
speaking in a debate.
Well he, I believe, and correctly sir, he was effectively trying to say that in Bangladesh
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 2:44:17
where we had suppressive government where there was no freedom, he feels the same when
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:44:21
the media is bought by the mayor.
That's what he's referring to.
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 2:44:26
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:44:30
You are saying the same thing as Councillor Oida Ahmed was saying.
Can you please talk relevant to the agenda that we are talking about?
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
With your permission, can I say something?
Our last...
Shupriya Iqbal - 2:44:44
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:44:45
In protest, I'm not speaking any further.
Shupriya Iqbal - 2:44:46
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:44:46
Please.
Members,
Shupriya Iqbal - 2:44:50
Councillor Abdullah, next time you have a point of order,
please wait for the speaker to say that you can speak before you do speak.
Secondly, the point you just made was not a point of order.
Thirdly, Councillor Seif, you are welcome to speak on the motion, the report, but the
point you made about the Bangladeshi politics is not on the report.
That is the point the Speaker was making.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:45:21
Thank you.
You have 58 seconds left.
You may wish to talk at the agenda if you would like to.
Well, this is a very state of affair that I cannot speak.
Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled - 2:45:34
Sorry, can we move to a vote, please?
Can I ask for a move to a vote?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:45:41
Can I ask for a move to a vote?
Mr Speaker, you gave me the time.
You gave me the time.
Cllr Saif Uddin Khaled - 2:45:47
the time to speak. I have not opened my mouth. All I said is that it is a sad state of affair.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:45:56
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:46:00
Please, please, Councillor, I am just wasting your time. Please. No, if you carry on like
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:46:04
this, any further speeches, we are going to move to vote. Please.
Can I move to the next speaker, Councillor Said.
Can I move to the vote, please?
Please, can you be quiet, please? Can I move to Councillor Said now for his final speech, please?
Thank you, thank you Mr Speaker, thank you.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:46:35
One of the greatest achievements of this improvement plan so far has been our refreshed corporate risk strategy.
When our administration took office, we identified that the monitoring practises were abysmal.
So many performance errors were going completely unnoticed until the point that they led to
a genuine and unignorable service failure.
This lack of proper risk monitoring was rightly picked up by external auditors and their recommendations
has led us to develop brand new risk register focused on close monitoring of events so that
we can take real actions at real time. A lot of those failures were legacy issues. So we
are going through a process to fix things that we inherited as an administration. However,
under this new system, we know the moment a potential risk becomes more likely and we
can respond accordingly. We've made reviewing the risk register a built -in part of business
as usual for the Council.
An activity delivering the tailored training based on
identified needs as well.
This proactive and involved approach has won the Council
the Public Sector Risk Management Award.
Cheers.
This is the kind of innovative potential that we as an
administration have managed to unlock to fully embracing our
continuous improvement journey.
We have taken a risk management approach at the regime that failed to prevent multiple
contract collapses and undelivered savings under the last administration and turned it
into one recognised nationally for its effectiveness and innovation.
It is not true that we avoid questions and scrutiny, Mr Speaker.
The mayor and lead members, we all attend overview and scrutiny committee.
We answer questions in full council if the guillotine allows it.
Having now made one year progress of the council's continuous improvement plan,
I believe it is undeniable that this administration has shown a genuine commitment to take the recommendation of the envoys seriously.
The result is a series of actions that will limit our risks, strengthen our internal monitoring,
and allow us to put to an end to the legacy administrative failures over the last ten years.
Yes, issues that we did inherit.
And finally, let me say that we are putting funds to make sure
that we address the issues of the continuous improvement plan.
But the Labour Piers put in an amendment,
an amendment to the budget that says to cut legal services,
to delete the best value investment.
Where does it leave us for governance at that point?
I urge everyone to vote for this.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:49:18
Can we now move to the vote, please?
The note of contents.
Please.
Thank you, Mr Tameka.
I think I will do the vote on this one if that's okay.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:49:34
So the recommendations are to note the contents of the report and the submission and to agree
to continue to engage with the continuous improvement plan.
So I can see all those in favour, please.
All those against?
Any abstentions?
Okay.
So that's carried.
Thank you.
Thank you.
That concludes the agenda.

7 APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM SECTION 151 OFFICER

Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:50:05
We move to agenda item 7, is the appointment of interim section 151 officer.
Can Stephen Honsley introduce the report?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I have very little to add to the detail of the report, all the recommendations, but I
Mr Stephen Halsey - 2:50:23
did just want to take the opportunity to thank the Abdul -Razak for the effort that he has
put in in his capacity as the interim corporate director of resources.
I'm happy to answer any questions or any issues that may be as a result of the report.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:50:47
Thank you.
Can I have councillors to propose and second the recommendation, please?
You have three minutes.
I propose the recommendation.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:51:08
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:51:09
Any members wish to speak on that issue, please come forward.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:51:30
So Council has recommended to confirm the appointment of Richard Ennis into the statutory
position of Section 151 Officer for a period of six months starting 3 March in accordance
with the requirement set out in the Constitution.
All those in favour?
Is that everyone?
All in favour?
All against?
Any abstentions?
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:51:59
That concludes this agenda.
We go to the agenda item 8, which is the statutory recommendations on financial reporting, internal
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:52:13
control and contract management and procurement issued by the external auditor.
Can Councillor Saeed Ahmed introduce the report, please?
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:52:29
I would like to start by saying that as lead member for resources, I am actually very happy
with the recommendation for the external auditor's report.
All three of these statutory recommendations identify real constructive areas of improvement.
And I believe this report makes clear that we as a council are treating this as an opportunity
to prioritise areas of governance that may not otherwise have been picked up.
Work streams like the development of a new programme to monitor accounts closures and
the collection of audit evidence or our targeted work development stronger safeguards against
overpayment of contracts within commissioning show that we are not just taking these recommendations
seriously, but we are also using them as a tool to innovate.
With all that said, I would like to remind my colleagues here that many of these failures,
like I've mentioned before, the external auditors have picked up.
Time and time again, if one reviews the council's failures, when it comes to the governance,
commissioning and financial oversight, they will find failures that either begun or primarily
occurred under the John Biggs Labour administration. The first statute
recommendation, Mr Speaker, given by the auditors to put in place new arrangements
for timely financial reporting. It is direct result of the failures of the
last administration to get its account signed off for six years. It's a blunder
that ended up costing the people of Tower Hamlets two million pounds. It is
only under this Mayor that all accounts have been officially signed off and new
accounts, monitoring programmes will be a massive step forward towards ensuring compliance
moving forward. If they knew there was issues in their accounts, there was no point hiding
it. Put it out there and get it fixed. The third sector recommendation given by the auditors
to improve the contract management process and controls is the result of numerous recorded
failures under the last administration to properly account payments to contracted providers,
leading to overpayments and unreconciled invoices worth millions of pounds.
We are now working to redesign the procurement process from scratch
as well as delivering dedicated work streams to reconcile past payments
because the contract management system left us by the Labour administration
borderline was non -existent, unfortunately.
So to anyone concerned by the issues raised in this external audit report
and many of the findings are indeed concerning,
I would encourage you to read closely through the cited failures
and reach your own conclusion about who created this mess
and who is doing the work to clean it up. Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:55:16
Thank you. Can I call Councillor Abutalha to second the report?
Is it my turn?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:55:28
I second this report and also propose to move to a vote.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:55:37
Thank you.
Does any member wish to speak?
Thank you.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:55:52
Mr Speaker, there's been a proposal to move to a vote due to the shortness of time.
Can we take a vote on that?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:56:00
I think what we do is to, because of the lack of time, can we go for a vote?
We're going to move to the vote.

8 STATUTORY RECOMMENDATIONS ON STATUTORY FINANCIAL REPORTING, INTERNAL CONTROL AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AND PROCUREMENT ISSUED BY THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR

Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:56:31
I have been asked to conduct the vote on whether we should move to the vote.
All those in favour of moving to the vote?
All those against?
All those abstaining?
OK, so that's carried.
So we move to the vote.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:56:45
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:56:46
But does the on that proposal the member who has a right to reply has a right to reply,
although I'm guessing they don't wish to use that.
So we're just okay.
All those in favour of the recommendations on the final report to agree the Statute of
Reg recommendations and the Management Action Plan.
So that's all in favour.
All against.
All abstaining.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:57:12
The meeting has not finished.
Can you please remain seated until the meeting has finished?
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:57:20
The council is recommended to review and agree with the recommendations.
I agree with the management action plan to address the recommendations.
So I conclude the meeting.
I don't think we quite finished that vote.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:57:55
Just while we're still for those who are here, those in favour of those recommendations on
that final report?
Those against?
Any abstentions?
OK, so that's carried.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:58:11
Thank you.
There is no further business to this, so I thank you all for your contribution and close
the meeting now.
Thank you.
Cllr Suluk Ahmed - 2:58:32
Thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion
Head of Democratic Services
Tower Hamlets
View profile Mr Matthew Mannion