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Council
Wednesday, 7th October 2026 at 7:00pm

 

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Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  2. Mr Matthew Mannion
  3. Cllr Maium Talukdar
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  1. Mr Matthew Mannion
  2. Mr Matthew Mannion
  3. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  4. Mr Matthew Mannion
  5. Mark Norman
  6. Mr Matthew Mannion
  7. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  8. Cllr David Edgar
  9. Mr Matthew Mannion
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  1. Cllr David Edgar
  2. Mr Matthew Mannion
  3. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  4. Mr Matthew Mannion
  5. Mr Stephen Halsey
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  7. Mr Stephen Halsey
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  1. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
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  1. Mr Matthew Mannion
  2. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  3. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
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  5. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  6. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  7. Cllr Faysal Ahmed
  8. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  9. Cllr Peter Golds
  10. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  11. Cllr Foysal Ahmed
  12. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  13. Cllr Bodrul Choudhury
  14. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  15. Cllr Shafi Ahmed
  16. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  17. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  18. Cllr Shafi Ahmed
  19. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  20. Cllr Mads Churchhouse
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  22. Cllr David Edgar
  23. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  24. Cllr Halima Islam
  25. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  26. Cllr Sabina Akhtar
  27. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  28. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  29. Cllr Iqbal Hossain
  30. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  31. Cllr Ottilie Daisy Swinyard
  32. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  33. Cllr Maium Talukdar
  34. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  35. Mr Stephen Halsey
  36. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  37. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  38. Cllr Abdul Mannan
  39. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  40. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  41. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  42. Cllr Ahmodul Kabir
  43. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  44. Cllr Sabina Akhtar
  45. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  46. Mr Stephen Halsey
  47. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  48. Cllr Sabina Akhtar
  49. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  50. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  51. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  52. Cllr Kamrul Hussain
  53. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  54. Cllr Abulkashem Mohammed Helal
  55. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  56. Cllr Mohammed Ilyas
  57. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  58. Cllr Mohammed Ilyas
  59. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  60. Cllr Mohammed Hasan Mahmud
  61. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  62. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  63. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  64. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  65. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  66. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  67. Cllr Mohammed Omar Mehdi
  68. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  69. Cllr Ahmodur Khan
  70. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  71. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  72. Cllr Bellal Uddin
  73. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  74. Cllr Abdul Mannan
  75. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  76. Cllr Shafi Ahmed
  77. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  78. Cllr Shafi Ahmed
  79. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
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  1. Mr Stephen Halsey
  2. Mayor Lutfur Rahman
  3. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  4. Cllr Rupert George
  5. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  6. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  7. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  8. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  9. Mr Stephen Halsey
  10. Mayor Lutfur Rahman
  11. Mr Stephen Halsey
  12. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
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  1. Mark Norman
  2. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  3. Cllr Maium Talukdar
  4. Mark Norman
  5. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  6. Mr Stephen Halsey
  7. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  8. Mr Stephen Halsey
  9. Mayor Lutfur Rahman
  10. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  11. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  12. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  13. Cllr Shahaveer Shubo Hussain
  14. Mark Norman
  15. Cllr Shahaveer Shubo Hussain
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  3. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  4. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
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  6. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  7. Cllr Halima Islam
  8. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  9. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  10. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  11. Cllr Maium Talukdar
  12. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  13. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  14. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  15. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  16. Cllr Rupert George
  17. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  18. Cllr Mohammed Omar Mehdi
  19. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
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  1. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  2. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  3. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  4. Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury
  5. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  6. Cllr Peter Golds
  7. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  8. Cllr Sabina Akhtar
  9. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  10. Cllr Mads Churchhouse
  11. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  12. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
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  1. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  2. Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury
  3. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  4. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  5. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  6. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  7. Cllr Jonathan Purcell
  8. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  9. Cllr Shenaly Miah
  10. Cllr Faysal Ahmed
  11. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  12. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  13. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  14. Cllr Maium Talukdar
  15. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  16. Cllr Peter Golds
  17. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  18. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  19. Cllr Saied Ahmed
  20. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  21. Cllr Abdal Ullah
  22. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  23. Cllr Kabir Ahmed
  24. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  25. Cllr Sabina Akhtar
  26. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  27. Cllr Rupert George
  28. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  29. Cllr Rupert George
  30. Cllr Minara Khatun
  31. Cllr Shafi Ahmed
  32. Cllr Minara Khatun
  33. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  34. Cllr Shahaveer Shubo Hussain
  35. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  36. Cllr Iqbal Hossain
  37. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  38. Cllr Ahmodur Khan
  39. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  40. Cllr David Edgar
  41. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  42. Cllr Mads Churchhouse
  43. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  44. Mr Matthew Mannion
  45. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  46. Cllr Maium Talukdar
  47. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  48. Mr Matthew Mannion
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  1. Cllr Musthak Ahmed
  2. Webcast Finished

Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:00:00
I extend a warm welcome to the directors, officers of the Council, members of the media,
those joining us online, and in particular members of the public attending in the public
gallery this evening.
Thank you all for being here.
This chamber is where decisions are made, ideas are tested and residents are represented.
Every member here has been elected to serve the people of Tau Hamlets.
Tonight our responsibility is to carry out that duty with professionalism, respect and
purpose.
Before we begin, I have a few housekeeping announcements.
This meeting is being webcast live via the Council's website.
The cameras will mainly focus on the proceedings of the Council,
although anyone attending the Chamber may appear in the webcast.
Should the fire alarm goes off during the meeting,
please remain calm and follow the directions of our facilities staff,
who will guide everyone safely from the building.
If you require the use of a hearing loop, please make yourself known to a member of the facilities team.
Members wishing to speak should indicate by raising their hand and wait until they are called by the Chair.
Please do not pass papers or messages around the Chamber during the meeting.
If at any stage you are unsure about the procedure before us, including the method of voting,
please indicate and assistance will be provided.
Members of the Council, since we last met in this chamber, it has been an absolute privilege to get out across the borough
and represent this Council at so many incredible civic, community and cultural events.
Over the summer and into the autumn, I have been on the ground meeting the people who make Tower Hamlets what it is.
Our residents, our volunteers, our young people and our community groups.
If there is one thing that shouts out from these visits, it's a simple, undeniable truth.
Our people love Tower Hamlets.
They are fiercely proud of their borough and where they come from.
And when they see their local leaders turning up, listening and doing things right, that pride only grows.
There is an amazing amount of work happening every single day by unsung heroes who will probably never stand in this chamber,
but who are the absolute backbone of our community.
If you know somebody like this, please nominate them for a Civic Award
so that their contribution can be recognised.
The nomination form will be available online towards the end of this month.
Over the past three months, in addition to the wonderful community events that I attended,
I was out at a fantastic disability sports and wellbeing event focused entirely on inclusion
and joined the Mayor of London's UNESCO Day remembering the transatlantic slave trade
and its evolution.
There were also a deeply moving reception for our local carers whose massive contribution
deserves to be shouted from the rooftops.
Some of the notable events were the Maaz Cup, SC &D Sports Festival, enjoying the brilliant atmosphere at the Brickland Curry Festival, the Marchant Navy Day Memorial event, attending the East London Muslim Charity Run and the launch of Storeys of Struggles and Stride, which looked back at the journey of our British Bangladeshi community.
On the charity front, I am putting my way behind two billion local causes this year.
The Violence Community Trust and the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve Trust.
I have seen their top class work first hand.
This isn't about politics, it's about supporting our community.
And I want to see members from all sides of this chamber come together and back them.
My office will send around details soon on how you can get involved.
Finally, a big thank you to the members from across the chamber who have joined me at these events
and to the brilliant team at the Speaker's Office who keep everything running so smoothly.
We have got a lot to be proud of. Let's continue to show everyone why we love Tor Hamlets
and I look forward to representing this fantastic borough over the coming months.
As we now begin the formal business of the meeting, I would like to set a few simple
expectations.
This chamber should always reflect the very best of local democracy.
Debate is encouraged, scrutiny is expected, different views are welcome.
So members, address all remarks through the chair, keep your contributions focused, relevant
and within the time limit, allow others to finish without interruption.
Strong debate strengthens democracy. Personal discourtesy does not.
Our officers are here to advise and support the Council in carrying out its business.
They should always be treated with courtesy and respect,
and should not become the subject of criticism during our proceedings.
If you wish to raise a point of order, please indicate to the chair.
When called, please identify the relevant provision of the constitution or other legal
authority on which your point is based.
As Speaker, I will seek to ensure that all sides of the Chamber have the opportunity
to contribute.
Whilst I will have regard to any submitted Speaker's list, I may also call members indicating
during the debate and will seek to hear from a variety of members throughout the meeting
rather than the same voices on every occasion.
I think that's only fair.
Given the time available for many agenda items, I may not be available to call everyone who
wishes to contribute.
To those joining us in the public gallery, thank you for taking an interest in the work
of your Council.
Your presence is very welcome.
I simply ask that you observe the proceedings quietly and allow the meeting to continue without interruption.
I have noted during previous meetings that there has been some disturbances from those in the public gallery
and should this occur this evening, I will intervene.
If I stand during the meeting, I ask everyone to resume their seats immediately and allow the chair to be heard.
Should the Chief Executive or the Monitoring Officer stand to provide advice requiring
the immediate attention of the Council, I ask that they too are heard without interruption.
I am confident that we can conduct tonight's business in the spirit of respect and cooperation
that our residents rightly expect. However, where conduct falls below the standards expected
by this Council of proceedings or proceedings are disrupted, I will act fairly firmly and
in accordance with the Council's constitution.
Where necessary, I may adjourn the meeting or direct that a member or visitor withdraw
from the Chamber so that the Council's business can continue in an orderly manner.
Members should note that supplementary information has been published in relation to tonight's
agenda.
Thank you for your cooperation. We shall now proceed to the formal business of the meeting.
I will now ask the Corporate Head of Democratic and Government Services to take us through the procedures and the admin items at the start of the meeting.
And note that I will also later be asking him to conduct any formal votes that we may need to undertake. Thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:08:54
As usual, I will stay seated if that's okay so I can make notes as I go.
Before we go on to the admin, just a quick note for some of the members who will have
some surgery agreement forms on their seats, please do sign them if you've got them and
hand them back to the team.
So going on to procedure changes, I think there are a couple of things that are likely
to be proposed and everyone should have an urgent, possible urgent motion that's on their
seats.
I think the Deputy Mayor was going to propose a couple of things.
Shall I stall, Wally?
Thank you.
Deputy Mayor.
Good evening, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 0:09:34
It is quite long, so I will slowly read it.
I move under the procedure Rule 12 .1 and to suspend the Procedure Rule 17 to hear two

5 TO RECEIVE PETITIONS

petitions to be noted. Item 5 .5, making Chicksun Friendly Club more accessible. And then item
5 .6, petition to instal a drinking water dispenser in Mylan Park. The reason for urgency
is that both petitions are important grassroot campaigns seeking to improve accessibility
in the borough. In terms of reports, Mr Speaker, I move under the procedural 12 .1C to hear
You hear the following reports followed by the Mayor's speech.
Item 10 .1, continuous improvement report.
The reason is because the invoice is here with us and it is important that we debate
that.
Second, 9 .1, standard advisory committee annual report.
Even though the chair is here.
Number 3, item 10 .2, reform of planning committee given that this statutory report that will
change a vital council committee.
And finally, 10 .3, LGPS fit for service given that this is also a statutory that will change
vital council committee.
And lastly, Mr. Speaker, we have an emergency motion.
I move under the procedure 12 .1 n to suspend the procedure 11 .1 to allow an emergency motion
to be debated with sufficient notice has not been given.
The reason is that the TFL just issued a consultation today to move the vital bus link on the Isle
of Dogs.
The consultation will end before the next full council.
So that's why it's quite important that we debate it today.
Thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:11:34
Thank you can have a seconder for that
council Kabir
Mr. Speaker I formally second all of the above
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:11:45
Thank you very much, okay, so I'm just going to take those quickly through
So we've got two extra petitions that are currently on the agenda to be noted and the proposals for them to be presented
And I just checked that the petitioners are here. So this is for the chick sand one and the water fountain
Is that the chick sand?
And then water fountain is just coming in.
Okay.
So that looks like they are here.
So that can happen.
And then you're proposing reports 10 .1, 9 .1, 10 .2 and 10 .3.
That's the continuous improvement plans.
Standards Advisory Committee, Annual Report, the Planning Committee changes and the Pensions
changes all come is that after the MEZ report, before the MEZ report?
After the MEZ report.
And then there is the emergency motion.
So on the emergency motion 1, I need to know whether the speaker is prepared to accept
the reasons for urgency.
So Mr Speaker, can you confirm whether you're prepared to accept the reasons for urgency?
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:12:45
Thank you for your request.
Just having now considered in relation to the Council's procedure rules, I agree that
the proposed proposal is urgent and should be put to work.
Thank you.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:13:01
And we'll, yeah, sorry, I'll come to that step in a second.
Mark as the monitoring officer, can you confirm whether you're happy to accept that as a valid
petition motion, as it were?
Yes, Matthew, I am.
Mark Norman - 0:13:18
Okay.
So I think a couple of people want to speak.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:13:21
Does anybody want to speak in relation to the proposal to hear the two petitions in
particular?
No.
Or the moving the reports?
About moving the reports.
And then the urgent motion.
So if it's okay with the speaker, I would suggest we just have one person very quickly
for two seconds just to say something about that and then remove the vote if that is all
right with the speaker.
It is granted.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:13:50
Thank you, Speaker, for letting me speak on this.
Cllr David Edgar - 0:13:52
I'm not saying the Labour group is going to oppose the motion to move all of those reports
up the agenda, but it does seem to me that we are just at a number of meetings substantially
changing the order of business in ways that mean various bits and pieces just do not get
brought forward and I think we need to give some thought probably outside this meeting
about the scale of which the agenda is being changed by proposals at the beginning of the
meeting.
Thank you.
Okay.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:14:21
I propose now to put that request to the vote, so this is to make all of the changes.
We'll do it just as one vote unless anyone wants to split it.
So all those in favour of the requests around the petitions, the reports and the urgent
motion, if you're in favour, please show.
Anyone against?
Any abstentions?
Okay, so that's carried.
So we'll try and move at the right time smoothly to the right pieces.
So that's that.
Thank you very much.
So we now go on to apologies for absence.
So I've got apologies from Councillor Amina Ali who has joined us online as she's not

1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

feeling the best today.
So she's on the screen there.
Do I have any other apologies for absence, lateness or attending online?
No, I don't think so.
So we'll move on from that.
Declarations of interest.

2 DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND OTHER INTERESTS

Are there any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest or other interests for
this meeting?
Councillor Eker.
It's not a disclosable pecuniary interest.
Cllr David Edgar - 0:15:25
But in respect of item 5 .3, the petition on East End Homes, I should declare that I'm
a member of the Finance Committee.
Investment committee of East End Homes and I won't be asking a question under that item
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:15:40
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 0:15:44
Council Chaudry thanks Matthew in relation to the administration motion. I wanted to let you know that work for Knave off group
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:15:55
I think there were a couple of leaseholders as well. Was that right?
Mr Stephen Halsey - 0:16:01
We have a couple of leaseholders.
Mr Speaker, you are a Easton Homes leaseholder on that petition.
Ma 'ubai, you are not a leaseholder, are you a resident?
You are a resident who lives in Easton Homes property.
Thank you.
Okay, thank you.
Is that all the declarations?
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:16:24
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Minutes of the previous meeting.
So we have draught minutes from 22 July and also the extraordinary meeting on 4 September.
Any issues anyone wants to raise with those?
We happen to agree with them?
Thank you very much.
Right.
So my last bit then.
We're now on to announcements.
So I'll hand over to the Chief Executive, Steve Halsey, who has some announcements.
Thank you, Matthew.

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

Mr Stephen Halsey - 0:16:48
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Good evening, members and for Council.
I would like to take this opportunity to give some brief updates to highlight some of the
activity since our last full council meeting a month ago.
Firstly, more than 40 ,000 people visited Brick Lane on Sunday 20th September as the Brick
Lane Curry Festival returned. Residents and visitors enjoyed a day of food, music, culture
and community celebrations in the heart of Bangor Town. The festival built on its successful
return in 2025 after a nine -year absence, attracting larger crowds and increased support
from local businesses. It forms part of our Love Tower Hamlets campaign which celebrates
local communities, supports placemaking and helps attract visitors and investment into
the borough. Another way we are attracting investment through our Love Tower Hamlets
campaign is by working with potential investors. To that end, the Council hosted a visit from
the Malaysian High Commissioner last week. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss
support for residents, community organisations, community development opportunities and investment
opportunities and stronger links between Malaysia and the local communities across the borough.
Further investment in the borough is beginning to be demonstrated by last month's construction
officially beginning on phase one of the Harriot, Apsley and Patterson House regeneration scheme
in Stepney Green, marking a major step forward in one of the council's most significant
housing developments. The HAP Regeneration Programme will deliver 407 new homes across
two phases alongside a new purpose -built community centre, improved public realm and enhanced
connexions throughout the neighbourhood.
Members, our rich history of celebrating and standing up for our diverse communities is
always a running theme for our borough and there is lots of activity this month in that
respect to be aware of. Last Sunday was the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street,
a significant moment in the history of Tau Hamlets. The Council has two exhibitions to
mark this milestone, one down the road at the Tau Hamlets Local History and Library
and Archives which has numerous fascinating artefacts from 1936. The other is next door
to the Chamber in the café area. The exhibition celebrates our generational diversity. Also
Also next week is Hate Crime Awareness Week, an annual UK -wide campaign encouraging government
bodies, police, councils, charities and communities to work together to tackle hate crime.
There are several events taking place and details are on the council's website.
They include an exhibition at the Brady Arts and Community Centre which celebrates 20 years
of the Tower Hamlets No Place for Hate campaign and its achievements in strengthening community
cohesion across the borough.
October is also Black History Month and there are several events taking place across the
borough to reflect on and celebrate the contributions of African and Caribbean communities to British
culture and society.
Finally, I would like to thank those members that attended one of two leadership conferences
held last week.
Six hundred managers took part.
If we are able to achieve our ambitions as a council, we need our managers to lead the
organisation to enable and facilitate the provision of excellent council services, something
that I, as your Chief Executive, am committed to.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:20:23
Thank you, Chief Executive Mr Hulsey.
Members, council has received four petitions to be heard.

5 TO RECEIVE PETITIONS

I understand there are six now.
And two were to be noted.
Order of business has since changed as you all are aware.
Can the corporate head of democratic and government services please take us through the procedures?
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 0:20:54
Yes, so we now have six petitions to be heard tonight.
The process is that the petitioners come down and they present for three minutes.
There is then four minutes where members can ask them short questions for clarity.
And then there is a two -minute response from the lead member and then that's the end of
that set.
And then we move on to the next petition.
And it's in an end.
Everyone's interested if we can have a clean process, shall we say.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Over to you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:21:24
The first petition is called for an investigation into Kabina's Role Centre's partnership with
with SXSW and suppression of Palestine advocacy.
Can I ask Saif Usmani, Purumia and Trus Johnson to present the petition?
You have three minutes to present the petition.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:22:34
Petitioner, do you have the microphone on?
Speaker, Mayor, Councillors, thank you for hearing this petition.
The Kobi Nozru Centre is this Council's flagship Bengali art centre.
Named after Kazin Nozru Islam, the rebel poet, whom the British gaoled for what he wrote,
Nozru spent his life writing against empire, religious hatred and injustice.
A name is a promise to the community that uses the building.
In June of this year, the centre became a venue for SXSW London.
Our petitioners do not object to Bangla House or to the Bangladeshi origin artists who performed
there.
We objected to the festival that the building was lent to and who pays for it.
SSXW London's top sponsor is Waymo, who is owned by Alphabet, Google's parent company.
In June 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories named
Alphabet in her report as a company that profits from Israel's occupation and its war on Gaza.
She pointed to Project Nimbus, Google's cloud, an AI contract with the Israeli military.
This is what the law asks.
Section 149 of the Equality Act requires this Council in everything it does to have due regard to three things.
Ending discrimination, advancing equality and fostering good relations between communities.
Race and religion are protected characteristics.
The people this centre serves are Bangladeshis and mostly Muslims.
Many residents see Palestine as a matter of their own identity and faith.
Due regard must be given before a decision with an open mind and on the record.
The usual way to show this is through an equality impact assessment.
And this council has a yardstick.
In 2019, Tower Hamlets became only the second council in the country to adopt the APPG definition
of Islamophobia.
One of its examples is denying Muslim people the right to self -determination, including
in Palestine.
An adopted definition gives the equality duty teeth.
It sets a public standard.
It makes judgments consistent and it makes the council answerable when it is ignored.
So we asked six questions.
Who approved this arrangement? Was there a quality impact assessment carried out?
Were councillors told about SXSW sponsors and its record on Palestine?
Was the Islamophobia definition considered? Who was consulted?
How does this fit with the council's vote in January 2025 and July 2026 to pull pension money out of companies linked to breaches of international law?
We ask the Council to publish the booking agreement and any assessment.
If none exists, say so. Review any further dealings with SXSW and adopt clear ethical rules for the use of Council venues.
A Council that has twice voted to take its pension money out of these companies cannot say that what happens in their flagship cultural centre is none of its business.
Nazroum would not keep quiet in the face of power.
We ask this council not to keep quiet.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:26:02
Thank you petitioner, your time is over.
Thank you very much for bringing the petition.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:26:09
There are now four minutes for questions.
Does any member wish to put a question to the petitioner?
Please refrain from making statements or comments.
I'm grateful.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:26:26
I have some names for the question.
Can I ask Councillor Faisal Ahmed?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Faysal Ahmed - 0:26:38
Thank you for bringing this petition.
I just have a couple of questions if you don't mind.
So when or how did you become that this event was taking place at the Coronado Centre?
And secondly, what actions did you take when you did find out?
And who did you raise it with? Thank you.
We found out about the event because it was well publicised.
It was publicised in the media as well as newspapers as well,
and various social media accounts.
We also noted that a lot of artists pulled out of performing from the festival
due to the complicity of the sponsors in the allegation of war crimes in Palestine.
So the matter was raised to, I myself raised it with my local councillor
to bring that matter forward to the council.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:27:43
Thank you. The next question, can I invite Councillor
Golds? I've looked carefully at this. Are you seriously
Cllr Peter Golds - 0:27:54
suggesting the Council and Tower Hamlet should somehow abolish Google in this borough? Because
of course alphabet is part of Google. Mr Speaker, what we're asking for is for the
the Equalities Act to be applied, especially the Public Sector Equalities Duty,
in terms of equality impact assessment, and also due regard,
especially when the Council has adopted the Islamophobia definition,
which one of the specific examples of Islamophobia is to deny Palestinian people
their right of self -determination.
Next question.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:28:36
Next question, Councillor Faisal Ahmed.
Cllr Foysal Ahmed - 0:28:45
In your view, should council on venues be subject to ethical screening criteria?
Sorry.
So in your view, should council on venues be subject to ethical screening criteria?
I think first and foremost is that the council should apply its equalities duty, especially
when it adopts definitions and carry out equality impact assessment because the council has
a duty to do that.
If an ethical policy flows from that, we welcome it, but the main ask is that the council follows
and review and learn lessons to make sure if it hasn't happened that it doesn't happen again.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:29:27
Thank you. The next question, can I invite Councillor Badr Choudry for your question?
Thank you, thank you Mr Speaker. Thank you petitioners.
Cllr Bodrul Choudhury - 0:29:33
What ethical principles do you believe were compromised, if any, by permitting SXSW London to use the Kobi Nadru centre? Thank you.
The main principle that we believe that's been breached is the public sector equality, especially in terms of faith.
In 2019 the council did adopt the Islamophobia definition, so you have a definition of discrimination against Muslims.
And one of the specific examples given is denial of Palestinian self -determination.
So if the sponsor of the venue is someone who's named in a UN report, complicit in war crimes and denying Palestinian self -determination, then that is a prima facie breach of that duty.
So that's what we feel, but we want a review to be done to show has it happened, if it has happened, that it shouldn't happen again.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:30:34
Thank you. With this we have reached the maximum limit of our question time.
To conclude this item, does Councillor Minarakat, cabinet member for cultural leisure and tourism, wish to address the meeting in response to the petition?
You have two minutes, Councillor Minarakat.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 0:30:52
Thank you Mr Speaker. Thank you to the petitioners for bringing this matter before Council and for taking the time to raise these important questions.
Our position is clear. We care about how our council -owned venues are used and we care
that they are places where human rights, equality, dignity and freedom of expression are respected.
The Corby -Noswell Centre holds particularly cultural significance within Tower Hamlets.
The petition raises legitimate questions about the process behind the booking, the due diligence
undertaken and whether our approach to council venues properly reflects the values we have
committed ourselves to as a borough.
We welcome the scrutiny of these issues.
Transparency and accountability are important,
particularly when council facilities are involved.
We should be able to demonstrate that appropriate
consideration is given to the organisations,
partnerships and activities taking place in our venues.
We also recognise the importance of protecting
the rights of residents and communities to advocate
for human rights and to express solidarity
with people experiencing injustices.
That includes a legitimate advocacy for Palestinian
human rights referred to in the petition.
Our approach must remain fair, transparent and consistent
and we should ensure that appropriate policies
and due diligence are in place when council -owned facilities are hired.
The petitioners have therefore raised an important issue
about how we can ensure our venues reflect the values
of the communities they serve.
The Council's stated commitments, the anti -racism, equality, community cohesion and human rights
provide an important framework for that discussion.
So I want to thank the petitioners for their engagement.
We support the principle of proper scrutiny, transparency and strong human rights, considerations
in the use of our Council venues and we will continue to listen to residents and community
organisations who raise these concerns.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Thank you, Chancellor Minarra.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:32:51
Thank you very much.
That concludes the item.
The petition stands referred to the Corporate Director for Housing and Regeneration for
a written response within 28 days.
Moving to our next item in Agenda 5 .2, which is the petition to reduce plastic in tower
hamlets.
Can I ask Lucilia, Pranko, Sayid Akhtar and Shami Miasmin to present the petition.
Thank you.
As -salamu alaykum, good evening everyone.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to present our petition today.
We are Ehsan Larnar from IDA and we care deeply about our environment and our community.
Our borough produces over 90 ,000 tonnes of household waste every year, but only 16 % is recycled.
Across the UK, 30 billion pieces of food and veg packaging are thrown away each year,
and 60 % of this is soft plastic film that is almost impossible to recycle.
We want to work with the council to make turd hemless cleaner, greener and healthier.
According to the big plastic count, 93 % of people surveyed said they would prefer to buy loose produce if supermarkets offered it.
But packaging is forced on households.
We asked the council to run awareness camping to teach residents about the danger of plastic pollution.
We ask the council to support our borough wide public city camping using poster leaflets, community meetings and local media.
With your help, we can organise events and share messages to educate people about reducing plastic.
We ask the council to increase public refu station, drinkable water fountains in parks, markets and idea stores.
Many families buy bottled water because they have no other choice.
More refill points will reduce plastic bottles waste and help people save money during the
cost of living crisis.
We also ask the council to support local refill shops where residents can buy food cleaning
products and toiletries without packaging.
These shops reduce waste, help families save money and can create local jobs.
We know the council may raise concern about food safety but refill shops already follow
food standard agency guidance and registered with environmental health teams.
We ask the council to work with local shops to reduce plastic bags and encourage paper
or jute bags.
Jute bags could even be made by local residents and sold to shops and markets, creating income
and reducing plastic at the same time.
We ask the council to meet with us and to create a working group with residents, councillors,
store staff and local business. Together we can reduce plastic, support refill options
and help families during the cost of living crisis. We know the Council may say that only
central government can ban plastic but Council can act now in their own buildings, markets,
events and procurement. This is a chance for Tower Hamlets to be a groundbreaking Council
that works with its residents, including those who are often unhurt. With your help we can
make our hamlets a cleaner, greener and healthier borrow for everyone. Thank you for listening to our petition.
APPLAUSE
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:36:24
Thank you petitioners. There are now four minutes for questions and answer session.
Does any member wish to put a question to the petitioner?
petitioners rather, and again just questions, no comments or no statements.
Thank you.
Can I first ask Councillor Shinalimia to ask a question.
Thank you.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 0:36:55
Thank you to the petitioner for bringing this up to us.
Can I just ask, how do you think a ban on plastic could be implemented in a way that
supports local businesses, market traders and residents to adapt successfully.
We know a full ban is not possible. However, markets are local and the Council already works with traders
The Council can give clear advice, support traders and start small projects to reduce
plastics.
We are asking for partnership, not a ban.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:37:48
Next question.
Can I invite Councillor Murch's charge house for a question?
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Thank you petitioners.
Cllr Mads Churchhouse - 0:37:58
of the many policies that you brought up that you suggested in your petition,
which would you say is your favourite or do you believe should be the priority for the council to take on first in response to this petition?
Thank you.
We work together like making awareness people and supermarket and local shop use to banner.
for reducing plastic and the dangers of the plastic, we actually save our environment.
If they increase the price of poly bag higher, rather than the clothing bag or jute bag,
and buy one get one free scheme, people can be influenced to buy clothing bag rather than the poly bag.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:38:59
Thank you. Next question from Councillor Edgar.
Cllr David Edgar - 0:39:11
Thank you Speaker. I think as you've noted the Council doesn't have the power, I believe, to ban plastic from supermarkets and markets.
How do you think we, Council and residents, can approach solving this problem?
Hi, good evening everyone, thank you.
So again, we know that the Council cannot ban the plastics, or enforce ban on plastics
in supermarkets, but we can try and start with local markets by offering some schemes.
So there are some pilots that we can try, we can offer reduced rates for market stalls, for example.
And obviously it needs to come together, so it has to be policy and behaviour change,
so that will go together with the awareness campaigns that we would work with our residents, market stalls, etc.
And hopefully, you know, supermarkets will be like, wow, that's so amazing, they'll follow.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:40:13
Thank you. I have some time to take another question. Next question from Councillor Halima, if I may ask you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, petitioners.
Cllr Halima Islam - 0:40:22
So my question is, what role do you think education and awareness campaign should play alongside any restrictions on plastic use within the borough? Thank you.
Okay, I'll help.
So it's important.
So we've been doing a lot of work in the classroom about plastic awareness and the damage it
causes to the environment, to our bodies, to everything.
And if you ask any of the learners, they will tell you that yes, we definitely need to do
something about it.
Awareness is crucial.
If you don't know, we can't do anything about it.
If you're not aware, we don't care.
So we need, it has to be behaviour change and policy.
It cannot just be one of them.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:41:15
Thank you. This brings this matter to a close.
At the same time I'm aware that there are other members who wish to ask questions,
but I'm afraid I'm not, my time doesn't permit me to continue on this matter,
so let's move to the next one. Thank you.
Before I move to the next one, procedurally speaking, to conclude this item, I'd invite
Councillor Shafi Ahmed, if you wish to speak, cabinet member for Clean and Greenborough,
address the meeting in response to the petition. You have two minutes, Councillor.
Cllr Sabina Akhtar - 0:41:52
Thank you, Mr Speaker, and thank you petitioners for your time in raising your concerns about
plastic pollution. We are pleased to see students from the IDEA store, Whitechapel, taking such
an active interest in protecting the environment and helping create a cleaner, greener future
for tower cabinets.
The Council is committed to reducing waste, promoting sustainable behaviours across the
borough.
The commitment is reflected in our Waste Management Strategy and Reduction and Recycling Plan
2023 -2025, which supports waste reduction, reuse and higher recycling rates as part of
our ambition to deliver a cleaner, greener borough.
While the Council, as discussed, does not have the legal powers to ban plastic products
or packaging sold in shops, supermarkets, national legislation has introduced restrictions
on number of single -use plastic items.
The government extended producer scheme is also placing greater responsibility on producers
to reduce packaging and improve recyclability.
Your suggestion about education and public awareness is particularly valuable.
The Council works with schools, community groups and residents, including through the IDS roles,
to promote waste reduction, recycling and we welcome opportunities to help you spread these important messages.
In addition, the Council has reduced single -use plastics within its own operations,
through initiatives such as removing disposable cups from the council buildings,
promoting reusable alternatives and supporting water refill scheme across the borough.
Whilst the council cannot legally ban the products sold by the business,
we will continue to support initiatives and reduce affordable plastic use,
encourage reusable alternatives and help residents make environmentally responsible choices.
Mr Speaker, I'd like to extend, as a lead member,
I would like to extend my hand out and coming few weeks we have the green week in Tower Hamlets.
I will personally want to visit these students and discuss on how we can make Tower Hamlets
a cleaner, greener borough for everybody.
So I look forward to that.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:44:09
Thank you petitioners and thank you Councillor Shafi with your response.
This item is concluded.
The petition stands refer to the corporate director for communities for a written response
within 28 days.
With this, moving forward to Agenda 5 .3, which is East End Homes, stop the pension theft,
no fire and rehire.
Can I ask Kerry Ann, Paul Wilson and Zoe Woodward to present the petition.
You have three minutes to present your petition.
Thank you.
Good evening, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Mayor and Councillors.
My name is Kerry Anne and I am the Branch Secretary of Tower Hamlets, Unison.
I am joined at the podium by Paul Wilson and Zoe Woodward to present this petition tonight,
both the housing workers who either chirpy transferred to East End Homes or who joined
from the Council when East End Homes was created.
We are also accompanied tonight in the Chamber by some of the other long -serving East End
Home staff who are currently taking strike action from caretakers through to housing
officers and lots of other different roles and they're sitting behind us in the front
row. This is the first strike in East End Homes' history and today marks an incredible
64 days of ongoing strike action. It comes at a time when tenant surveys reveal that
satisfaction in East End Homes as a social landlord has absolutely plummeted and we submit
that both are evidence that something is going very wrong at East End Homes. In a nutshell
this strike is about East End Homes' plan announced in February to close down access
to the two defined pension schemes that staff employed prior to 2013 are on, and replacing
these with an inferior scheme that would see impacted staff lose between three and nine
thousand pounds a year in retirement income, depending on their age. So the proposal is
a very, very serious one with big implications for people.
The rationale given by East End Homes management is that this is all about fairness and equity
and it doesn't want its staff on different pension schemes, despite the longstanding
current arrangement and TUPE transfer protections that should be in operation.
Disgracefully, East End Homes is upfront that it is looking to and willing to use the abhorrent
practise of fire and rehire on those staff who don't voluntarily consent to the contract
change and it has been laying the foundation for this. With the proposed date for sacking
and re -engagement shockingly being the 31st of December, this is only one day before new
legal restrictions on fire and rehire come into force on the 1st of January 2027. Now
This trade dispute is at a critical point and staff are now on the edge of their seats,
fearing that contraction notices are about to be issued.
We have repeatedly asked for information that may show that East End Homes is in dire financial
straits so that wrecking people's pension futures is the only way for it to survive
as a financially viable business.
But these reasonable information requests have not been responded to or ignored.
So our petition calls on the Mayor and Council to use whatever leverage it may have with
East End Homes Board Chair Jackie Bateson and the Chief Executive Daniel Killian to
turn the dispute around and to improve the overall situation for staff and residents.
We're obviously very mindful that East End Homes is outside the Council's power and remit
to control, but any solidarity or leverage that you may have that you could bring to
the situation, Mr Mayor and Councillors, this would be very welcome. Thank you and we're
happy to take questions.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:48:25
Thank you petitioners. Members, it's question time. We have four minutes. Can I, from my
I would like to ask the other thing to come up with your question.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Thank you, petitioner.
Cllr Iqbal Hossain - 0:48:42
What engagement has taken place between Eastern Home Management, trade unions and other concern?
And why do you think, why do you believe this engagement has been unsuccessful?
Thank you.
Well I'd like to say East End Homes sat down with the recognised trade unions right at
the start and looked for a consensual solution, but sadly over the last two years the new
East End Homes has denied that trade unions are recognised. It's a palpable nonsense,
We all know that, it's in our policies, it's in our employment contracts and ultimately
I wouldn't understand why someone wouldn't want to speak to a responsible union and just
sort it out, get round the table, so it's incredibly disappointing for me.
So the start of February, because East End Homes are denying that they recognise Unison
or any union or have ever recognised any union at all, which is a total nonsense, they refused
to speak to us in the first consultation, so it started in February. They eventually
agreed in June, the end of June, to meet us in ACAS, but that was only because we declared
a trade dispute. They refused to talk to us all the way through it. A second consultation
has now been held because a statutory consultation is required for the purpose of dismissal and
engagement. They did meet with us twice, but we forced them. They didn't want to. We have
problem with the CEO of East End Homes. He appears to like to work from home a lot. Getting
him to step into the borough and actually come in in person and meet with us has been
quite a struggle. It's been a very poor level of engagement, I have to say.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:50:38
Thank you. Next question from Councillor Otilie Sounia.
Cllr Ottilie Daisy Swinyard - 0:50:45
Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Patish. My question follows on from the last one. How
How hopeful are you feeling about your strike action and how much is it gaining traction
from the people that are working at East End Homes?
Thank you.
I mean we've been on strike now for 63 days.
64.
64 days so this is a very significant time.
I would say we have a very strong group of staff who are definitely determined to see
this through.
And yeah, we believe that as long as we stand together, we can get concessions, basically,
for this situation, which you can probably well appreciate.
We're extremely disheartened by.
Many of us are very long -standing staff.
I've worked for the council for 15 years, 20 years, I've worked for the council for
the council for 15 years, 20 years, I've worked for the council for the council for the council
and then for East End Homes.
One thing I know about residents of this borough, they value fairness, they stick up for each
other and it's devastating to be in a position where my employer, the council stopped me
I supported it, I followed it, I've been there right from the start.
So now being a situation where fundamentally the board's not listening, it is heartbreaking
obviously.
33 years, people in this borough are fair and they recognise fairness and they recognise
when they're heard.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:52:25
Thank you.
Thank you for the detailed responses.
I'm minded to take one more question from Councillor Mayantalita.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 0:52:41
Paul and Karine, I'm sure you're aware of the tower rewards.
So I just wanted to understand if there are any similarities between what's happening now and what happened within the council.
Fire and Rehire, I think everybody knows what that's about.
So an employer dismisses and then immediately re -engages an employee to impose, usually an inferior contract.
So it's the same process for doing it.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:53:13
From the procedural note, I understand Councillor Syed Ahmed is going to speak, but I also understand
at the same time Mr Meru would like to say a few words in this matter.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Stephen Halsey - 0:53:25
I am too concerned with what you say here, not recognising trade unions.
That's a cause for concern.
I've had a number of representations from your colleagues and I've reached into the
Chief Executive of Eastern Homes.
I'm going to request our Chief Executive, Stephen Horsley, to consider this matter with
our head of director of HR, we've got Excel Monchon, Officer Toome, and to see how we
can find and facilitate the council with you and Eastern Homes a successful resolution.
That's very important to us.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:54:08
We conclude this item with Mr. Mayo's response and comment.
The petition stands referred to the corporate director for housing and regeneration for
a written response within 28 days.
Moving forward to agenda item 5 .4, which is a petition to tackle Douglas Bikes crisis
in Ta Ha Hamlets. Can I ask Abul Khair, Guljar Khan and Yasmin Haque to present the petition?
You have three minutes to present the petition. Thank you.
Thank you.
Good evening and salaam alaikum, everybody.
Mr Speaker, Mayor and Councillors, thank you for the opportunity to present this petition
on behalf of residents and businesses concerned about the Doppler's hire bikes obstructing
pavements and public spaces across the Hamlets.
Two of my colleagues were supposed to be here.
One is currently unwell and the other one I think has been run over by one of these
dockless bikes.
He may be running a bit late.
We recognise that cycling and sustainable transport have an important role to play in
the borough.
This petition is not about anti -cycling.
It is about ensuring that dockless hire bikes are managed responsibly so that our streets
remains safe, accessible and usable for everybody.
Or cost of power, particularly in busy areas such as Brick Lane, residents and businesses
are seeing bikes left scattered across pavements, footways and pedestrian areas.
What may seem like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a serious obstruction for people
trying to move around safely.
For wheelchair users, parents with pushchairs, older residents and people with mobility needs,
A badly parked bike can mean leaving the pavement and stepping onto the road.
This is not acceptable in any borough committed to safe and accessible streets.
Residents have reported repeated problems.
We've had meetings over the last 18 months with senior officers.
However, we've not seen no improvements.
Obstructed pavements, unsafe interactions between pedestrians, cyclists and motorists
and disruption caused by bikes being left in inappropriate locations.
What are we asking the council to do?
We are asking the mayor and the council to take practical action.
Firstly, for senior managers to develop a robust action plan
and deploy timeless enforcement officers to monitor and address
Douglas bike obstruction hotspots.
Secondly, to introduce geofencing, exclusion zones
or designated parking controls in problem areas, including Brick Lane.
Thirdly, require operators to remove obstructive or unsafe bikes promptly
and demonstrate that they are effectively managing repeat problem locations.
Fourthly, to introduce penalties where repeated breaches occur.
And fifth, to remove or impound bikes that create a safety hazard
or obstruct the highway.
Finally, to review the licence agreements or operating permissions for operators that
fail to address persistent non -compliance.
Time that should be a barrow where everyone can move around safely, independently and
with confidence.
Clear pavements are not a luxury.
They're essential for accessibility, safety and dignity.
We ask Councillors to listen to residents' concerns and support stronger, more consistent
action to ensure doctors' hire bikes are parked, managed and used responsibly across the parliament.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 0:58:27
Thank you, petitioner.
Members, we have question time. We have four minutes.
Can I ask Councillor Sabina Akhter for your questions?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Abdul Mannan - 0:58:47
What specific enforcement power or penalty would you like the Council to introduce for
operators whose by tribute to abstract payment or public highway?
Other boroughs have been successful in addressing this issue.
their officers have looked at the legal bylaws and the powers that they have at the disposal.
And some of these actions that they've taken is, as I mentioned earlier, impounding these bikes,
hurting the users as well as operators in their pocket directly, geo -fencing.
So what this means is that they enable a system where someone cannot park the bike anywhere they wish.
So unless they park it responsibly, they will be continuously charged for the use of that bike.
We are aware that the local authority, the mayor has invested a lot of money in theos.
We would like to see these theos being used efficiently and productively.
Especially in busy areas like Brooklyn and Shoreditch on a router basis from 9 o 'clock in the morning till at least 10 or 11 o 'clock in the night,
seven days a week, 365 days a year.
And with a resource of 70 Theos,
I don't see that being a major problem.
You just need on a rotor basis,
a handful of Theos to be there on the streets
doing enforcement actions.
Unfortunately, and I need to say this,
over the last couple of years,
we've seen Theos driving around in glorified police cars.
They're supposed to be out there on the streets
doing their job.
They're actually driving through.
They're seeing obstructions happen on the streets taking no action
So we need to see them on the streets
I wanted to see them doing what they need to be. So we would ask that the mayor and the
council to actually
Ensure that the officers are doing what they need to be doing or what they're getting paid for. Thank you. Thank you
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:00:53
One next question, can I invite council Ola for your question? Thank you, mr. Speaker
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 1:01:01
I've very well put together petition from the member of public. Can I
You said other councils are doing it.
If you want to name one.
Also, would you agree that although
Brick Lane is more than a street, it is iconic,
but all of our
streets are important for wheelchair users
and mums with prams and so forth.
So would you say, not just
you have identified 70 theos,
that all of our boroughs should be
a place where if a resident with a
four -wheel vehicle is targeted
and penalised, two wheels equally
who are not responsible should be also penalised?
I mean, for the answer to your first part of the question, Camden, I think, is one such
borough and there's other boroughs in central London that have competently developed a strategy
and addressed this issue.
And yes, definitely we should identify hot spots throughout the borough and ensure that
no resident is put under such kind of inconvenience.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:01:57
Next question, Councillor Ahmed El -Kabir.
Thank you Mr. Speaker, thank you for your petition.
Cllr Ahmodul Kabir - 1:02:04
I'd like to ask what discussion has been taking place with the Douglas bike operator
and what kind of action you've taken for the address to the resident and the local business.
Thank you.
We've had as part of the Banguertown Improvement Board that the mayor and some of the local
We have been working with the local
council and local council members to
make sure that we are making sure that
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:02:53
sure that we are making sure that we are making sure that we
petitioner to conclude this item.
Does Councillor Shafi Ahmed?
Cllr Sabina Akhtar - 1:03:09
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:03:10
Mr Stephen Halsey - 1:03:14
Can I, I understand Chief Executive Minister Hoxie would like to say a few words.
Mr Hoxie, over to you.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
unusually I wouldn't normally respond to a petition but I think it is important that
I make a couple of points. I apologise unreservedly for the fact that you haven't had a response,
particularly you've been contacting senior officers of the council. To be absolutely
clear, this matter has been under discussion now for a couple of months. There are five
providers in the borough, we all know who they are. Historically the concerns have been
raised about LimeBike but we now have Forest, OVU, LimeBike, Santander, we have a number
of these issues. About a month ago the mayor commissioned a piece of work to review all
of our contractual relationships with these providers. I think it's fair to say that the
options that are available to the council are to do what Hackney, Islington and other
in London boroughs have done, which is have parking zones. So that piece of work is currently
underway. The corporate director of communities will be contacting all the relevant organisations,
all the providers, and there should be some reaction and action very soon. Thank you,
Mr Speaker.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:04:25
Thank you, Mr Halsey.
Does Councillor Shafiya, Governor McPherson, Fulkley and Greenborough wish to add anything?
That's fine.
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you.
Cllr Sabina Akhtar - 1:04:34
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:04:35
So, with that, this item is concluded and the petition stands referred to the Corporate
Director for Communities for a return response within 28 days.
Next item in the agenda is making the Chixin Friendly Club more accessible for local community
youth during evenings and weekends.
Can I ask Chahid Ahmed, Syed Farook and Tabasum Ahmed to present the petition.
You have three minutes.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, Mayor, Councillors and Officers for giving us the opportunity
to come here to listen to our petition.
It is fairly simple and I hope you all agree with us what I'm about to say.
Do forgive me if I sound a bit nervous and shaky.
I'm not usually prone to being sent over attention, but I will try my best.
So to give a bit of background about Chixin East Friendly Cup.
So it's a community centre located on the ground floor of Hambridge Street.
A few years back, not a few years, a long time ago, we used to be stewarded and administered
by Chixin East, TRA, Tenants and Residency Association, which I currently chair and I
have my members with me.
But lo and behold, one day it was given to another organisation to administer and currently
there's a running operational nursery that is open from in the morning for three hours
every day.
Now we have a small room underneath the Pauline House which we carry out certain activities
for the community.
Currently we hold Karen board nights for the older generation with their kids.
We have a PS5 night games night.
We have ladies coffee morning.
But the problem we have is space.
Now what we're asking the council and the officers to review is give us access to the Chixin Community Centre
to hold our activities there.
We also have a SEND provision and SEND activities that we are currently running
and we are running for one month now.
Now this is SEND, Learn and Play for children who obviously have a hard time
engaging with normal curricular activities.
We are hiring out the Osmani Centre at a cost.
Now we as TRA do not have any money, so we try and get funding wherever we can, but most
of our expenditure is going on the rent.
So we would like access to the Chixin East Community Centre.
We do not mind, and we are happy to share responsibility for the centre with the current
organisation that is running the nursery.
We do not oppose the nursery being there.
We actually love the nursery to be there.
but we want to use the centre because it's underutilised,
especially in the evenings and the weekends.
So if I could ask the council to consider our petition,
we, having listened to other petitions,
it's given me some ideas to also introduce sessions on environmental issues,
on other issues on helping our elderly fill up a form,
getting professionals inside.
We have been a really active TRA for the past three years now and we are motivated, so please use us.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:08:35
Otherwise when we deflate it, nothing will happen. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Prichina.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:08:41
Questions could be written down and if I can't answer them I can easily answer them in a written form.
Thank you.
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, petitioner. This is question time, members.
Councillor Kamrila Sen, can I invite you for your question?
Cllr Kamrul Hussain - 1:09:01
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Thank you petitioner for bringing this petition.
May I ask you what activities would you like to see during the evening with the caps
and who will be the targeted users of these activities? Thank you.
Thank you, councillor. So the targeted users are the local residents themselves.
The TRA under its remit, there's about five properties,
Hanbury Street, Pauline House, Davlin Centre and Side Astra Street Residence.
So all those residents that are in the close vicinity of the centre will benefit.
Activities such as over 50s health and wellbeing is something that we've planned for the next few years,
pending funding obviously that we will be applying for the council for and other organisations.
We also work in partnership with other TRAs, but what we lack is a place and facility to actually bring people together.
Apart from that, we are also planning to include sessions on getting professionals to help
our elderly generation with questions and answers on benefits, on council tax.
As mobility is an issue for them, this is an ideal place to actually bring people there,
and bring the professionals there.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:10:31
Next question from Councillor Abulkasham Hillel.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, Professor.
Cllr Abulkashem Mohammed Helal - 1:10:40
What challenges do local community groups currently face
in accessing suitable and affordable venues
within the neighbourhood?
Well, facilities are available everywhere.
The only issues is the cost.
Organisations like ourselves, like we are not funded, we seek funding and we, facilities
which are available to us, we unfortunately cannot afford to use them.
So these are one of our challenges.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:11:19
Next question from Councillor Mamadou Elias.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, thank you, practitioners.
Cllr Mohammed Ilyas - 1:11:27
My question to you is that you suggest
that the TRO would be willing to share responsibility
for the centre's care and use.
What practical arrangements would you envisage
for managing, opening and maintaining the facility?
Thank you, Councillor.
So, for the time I've been chair,
I've developed a process of hiring that little community room that we have available that
accommodates about 10 people.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:11:53
Cllr Mohammed Ilyas - 1:11:54
I've created just the process of the background, of the receipts, of the cheques, and making
sure the residents are charged a really low amount to use that facility that we currently
have.
Other sources, sorry, can you just remind me of your question again?
I forgot halfway through.
Can you open and maintain the facility and what arrangements do you have?
Yes, so currently we have 10 members in our TRA who each take responsibility for the residential
area that they capture.
We have several meetings a year organising and facilitating and obviously concerns of
the residents. So these are the kind of activities that we have.
Thank you. Let me accommodate one more question. Councillor
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:12:49
Muhammad Hassan Mahmoud. Thank you, Mr Speaker, and thank you to the
Cllr Mohammed Hasan Mahmud - 1:12:57
petitioners. I wanted to ask you, so how do you believe
the increased community access to the centre would benefit local residents and contribute
to community co -vision, well -being and support to families and young people.
We've already seen great benefits with the games night, with the adult provisions for
had no facility whatsoever prior to this current TRA administration.
Now we see more activities.
We've had two festivals, fun days for the past two years, 2025 and 2026.
Our residents are more engaged.
They come to the TRA for requesting certain programmes.
and some of those programmes that we've managed to materialise in forms of games night,
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:14:10
as well as our SEND provision that we currently hold.
So SEND is something, especially Learn and Play, is something that is not available widely.
We are the first TRA that is actually doing this for a community that is quite, to be honest, neglected and underlooked sometimes.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:14:27
Thank you petitioners and members. To conclude this item does Councillor Minna Rakaathan,
cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism wish to address the meeting in response to
the petition. You have two minutes, Councillor Minna Rakaathan.
It's Councillor Abdulla Hachadri. Thank you.
Thank you, Speaker. Thank you, Jaidan, thank you petitioners for bringing this important
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 1:14:52
I know the work that you do through the TRA and how valuable it is, I've joined some of
your events, so that goes without saying, the work that you're doing for the community
is outstanding, so keep continuing doing that.
For us as a council, we have hundreds of assets and it's really important that we make all
of them accessible for community groups and we are currently reviewing the community premises
portfolio and we'll consider your request as part of that review, so thank you for bringing
that forward.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Abadolaj.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:15:27
The petition therefore stands referred to the corporate director of housing and regeneration
for a written response within 28 days.
This takes us to the agenda item 5 .6, which is a petition to instal a drinking water
dispenser in Myland Park.
and to be presented by Hannah Ismail.
Thank you.
You have three minutes, Hannah.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:16:03
Good evening, Mr Speaker, Mayor, Councillors and all the other members.
My petition is pretty simple.
It's to, we are calling Tower Hamlet Council to instal free accessible drinking water dispenser at Malin Park near the football pitches.
This will greatly benefit the community.
Malin Park community space is used by children, families, there's a lot of football clubs that use the park.
Also on Saturdays, I don't know if you know, but there is the park run that takes place where they complete a 5k run or 10k run.
There is no drinking water at the moment at the Malin Park.
If we do have a water dispenser, then it would mean that it would be good for everybody to be fair because it would mean that,
As you know, this summer the weather was pretty hot and in order to stay in the park you do need to keep hydrated.
A lot of families were buying water from the shops. I don't know if you know the cost of water but it's pretty much have increased even just to get a little small one, it's like £1 .50 nowadays.
It will also help reduce waste.
I don't know if you know also there isn't that many bins around Malen Park,
so therefore if any kids or children purchase any bottles,
it's more likely going to end up in the streets.
If there is water available, they're more likely to use that instead of buying a sugar drink,
which also affects their health and everybody's health to be fair.
So we are asking the Ta 'amle Council to assess and fund a water dispenser out of the park.
It's as simple as that. I can see everybody has water.
I think it will be an easy, simple thing to do for the community.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you, petitioner.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:18:25
Question, can I invite Councillor Mormathy for your question?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Thank you, petitioner.
I really appreciate your petition.
Cllr Mohammed Omar Mehdi - 1:18:37
As Ward Councillor for Myland, I just really wanted to sort of get an understanding from
you in terms of the evidence of how would that be utilised.
It will be utilised by everybody. Malin Park has a big community that uses it.
There are football teams that compete every Saturday. There are children that are training football.
So everybody, whether it is young people, families, adults, older people, even animals, everybody will put a full use to it.
So it's water. Everybody needs it.
Sorry.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:19:17
Next question from Councillor Ahmadir Khan.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Ahmodur Khan - 1:19:27
My question to the petitioners is that the water,
how will you make sure that water will be safe to drink
and also hygienically proven?
I mean, isn't that the council's job to make sure it's safe?
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:19:49
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:20:02
Thank you for your beautiful answer.
Next question from Bela Ludin.
Councillor Bela Ludin.
Cllr Bellal Uddin - 1:20:12
Thank you, thank you, Speaker, and thank you,
Patricia, my question to you, very short and simple.
How do you believe the proposed water and dispenser
would council have well -being and environment objective?
Thank you.
Drinking water is part of our... I mean doctors orders also for us to drink water rather than physically.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:20:48
Thank you.
Cllr Abdul Mannan - 1:21:05
Can you provide more details currently available for drinking water and facilities in and around
Myland Park and why we believe those are in facility?
So if you run out of water, you'll have to go to the shops and buy a bottle of water
that costs £1 .50 or something along that price.
You'll have to go to the legislature and then you'll be standing there at the barrier
waiting for someone to let you in because if you've ever been to the Marlene Leisure
Centre it's pretty busy leisure centre, it's not just used by Marlene, it's used by people
outside the borough as well.
Otherwise, you might have to stop whatever you was doing.
I mean, I've done the London Marathon so I've used Marlene Park to do my training, so when
I was doing it I had to carry my water bottle and if I run out of my water then I end up
going home or buying another one.
So it was even convenient not to have water dispenser.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:22:16
Thank you, Petitjean Lara.
I'm happy to take one more question because we are getting beautiful answers.
Thank you, Petitjean, for sharing your sense of humour and thoughtfulness.
Is there anybody else to ask a question?
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 1:22:39
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:23:04
Petitioner and members, to conclude this item, I would like to ask if Councillor Shafi,
cabinet member for...
Councillor Minara, cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, wish to address the meeting
in response to the petition.
And you have two minutes, Councillor Minara.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 1:23:24
Thank you, Mr Speaker, and firstly, a wonderful thank you, petitioner, for your wonderful
petition.
The council welcomes the this petition and recognises the benefits and access to free drinking water
problem
Pre sorry free drinking water can provide in supporting health and well -being
encouraging physical activity and reducing single -use plastic waste
Officers have already identified the provision of drinking water facilities within Milan Park as a potential
improvement and have undertaken initial feasibility work including identifying a location adjacent
to the football pitches and in line with the petition's request.
Further technical assessments are currently being undertaken including investigations
into water supply and pressure requirements to determine the most suitable and cost effective
solution.
Subject to the outcome of these assessments and necessary approvals, the Council will
seek to progress installation at the earliest opportunity, the petition's objectives align
with the work already being explored by the Council to improve facilities to park users.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:24:32
With the remarks from Councillor Minnaara, this matter now stands, the petition stands
referred to the Corporate Director for Communities for a Returned Response within 28 days.
and this helps us to move on to the item 6 on the agenda, which is the Mayor's Report.

6 MAYOR'S REPORT

I call upon Mayor Lut Forahman to give his report to Council. You have 6 minutes Mr Mayor.
Mr Stephen Halsey - 1:25:00
Thank you Mr Speaker. Greetings of peace to each and every one of you, ladies and gentlemen.
Last Sunday marked 90 years since the Battle of Cable Street.
Mayor Lutfur Rahman - 1:25:17
I was proud to march with thousands of others to remember the brave men and women who, despite
the differences, stood united to resist fascism in 1936. Since that time, our borough has
remained a welcoming place, open to migrants, including many of us in this chamber today.
The Battle of Cabell Street took place decades before the families of Minnivar residents
arrived here. However, ask any timeless resident, regardless of their background, they know
what Cable Street means. It is a very important part of our history and our heritage. This
is the nature of our borough. We welcome others from across the globe. Another example of
the richness and diversity of our community is the success of this year's, once again,
Brick Lane Curry Festival. On 20th September, as the Chief Exhibitor
said, more than 40 ,000 residents and visitors came to Brick Lane
in Bangaletown to enjoy a day of culinary and cultural richness.
It was a fantastic day, a good weather, where visitors of all
backgrounds were able to enjoy the food and culture of Bangaletown.
This year's festival demonstrated just how much people valued the
celebration of our shared heritage.
This past weekend, ladies and gentlemen, more than
1 ,000 young people came together for the
Mayor's Football Cup.
This year also included the St.
Sport Festival, something I am very proud of.
It was a wonderful celebration of sport,
inclusion, and community cohesion, bringing
together young people from across our borough in the
spirit of teamwork, friendship, and healthy
competition. Today, as the far right, tries and fails to stroke division in our society,
it understands as a beacon of cohesion. Finally, last month our Education Achievement Awards
celebrated some 200 students from 24 schools and colleges across the borough, their achievement.
The Awards recognised academic achievement and other contributions to school and community
life.
More than 900 people turned up, including students, families, teachers and community
reps who came together to celebrate our youngsters' achievement.
It showcased the talent and potential of our young people and the bright future they represent
for Tijanders.
Thank you and best wishes.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:27:57
Thank you, Mr Mayor.
Councillor Rupert George, leader of the Green Group, would you like to respond to the Mayor's
report?
Yes please, Mr Speaker, thank you.
Councillor, you have two minutes.
Cllr Rupert George - 1:28:15
It's been a really interesting period here in Tower Hamlets for councillors and there's
And I think some of the statistics that some of us have been presented with about the number
of people in Tower Hamlets who are in work but still living in poverty are truly shocking
statistics that I know that some of my colleagues on the overview and scrutiny committee were
really quite shocked at and really felt that something needed to be addressed there.
I guess I'm really concerned that it also highlighted how the fastest growing part of
one of the fastest growing parts of the economy for a long time has been the Green economy.
And how there are all sorts of employment opportunities there,
skilled manual work that we could be training residents in Tower Hamlets to do in this borough.
We could get people out of the gig economy and we could get them working in well -paid jobs.
And that would have a huge impact on the lives of so many people in our community,
to be able to be aspirational.
I'm concerned that the local authorities that are actually leveraging that opportunity
are the local authorities that are moving quickly because their people are getting trained
quickly and they're leveraging that so that their communities receive the benefit of these
huge flows of money that will happen because of decarbonisation in housing, particularly
in the built environment.
And by not capitalising and moving quickly, we're limiting the opportunities that we can
create as a local authority for our residents to benefit from those skilled jobs.
And I would like to see a greater focus on that because here in Tower Hamlets where we
have so many residents that really struggle to make a decent living, that would be truly
transformative.
And I think in a sense it highlights to me a lack of a strategic vision.
And I'll go on to the Mayor's Accelerated Housing Programme.
Sorry if I may just one moment longer.
The Shadwell Centre is one of the few buildings where we could be training the plumbers and electricians and other people of the future.
But we might lose that space.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:30:30
Thank you. Thank you, Councillor.
Councillor Abdallah, Leader of the Labour Group, would you like to respond to the Mayor's
report?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 1:30:45
Before I do so, Mr Speaker, can I make absolutely clear that in this Chamber we utmost respect
your position as a Speaker and I appreciate your fairness and making sure everybody has
an equal opportunity to speak, so I just make that clear on behalf of my group for future
reference.
But in doing so, can I just report that it is fantastic,
but both myself and a number of colleagues in this room,
particularly from the Labour group,
we proudly stood with thousands,
especially because we stood behind a banner
that was designed and drawn, painted by Dan Jones,
a known activist who's been a former anti -racist movement
in the 70s.
I know particularly he supported
a lot of the British Bangladeshis
when they first fought racism in this community
50 years ago with Al Tabali's death. So I feel very strongly that we, all of us collectively
pay our respect to the heroes of 90 years ago, but the battle stays on. I think a lot of people
have spoken about the unfortunate far right and stirring up Islamophobia in this borough. So I
want to do that. However, Mr. Speaker, myself and Mr. Mayor, we go back a long time. We do have utmost
respect for each other as well, but sometimes I have to sort of point out things that as a labour
group that the curry festival was fantastic by all means. I think we saw it
however we would love to see the Council doing more this iconic street
that making sure I know the dockless bike is one issue but making sure that
street is not just once a year but throughout the year it's safe, it's clean,
it's also accessible for all the communities to enjoy and for the
business to flourish. I'm the first to say education is a tool for a lot of us
in this room and beyond as a gateway to succeeding.
We are very fortunate to be living on the edges of
Canaria Walk, sorry, City of London and having
Canaria Walk in our backyard.
But I was a bit appalled by the GCSE, sorry,
A -level results this year that I would hope that the
council will do more working with our partner in schools
in six forms to uplift that result.
But I'm still keen to celebrate the success.
Our sports and recreation, I think the best speech,
our best petition was about the drinking water.
and what a great humour it was.
But our York Centre swimming pool remains closed
and I think is a dampener.
I thank the O &S chair for taking us
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:32:59
for a tour of Mylan Stadium.
Thank you, Councillor.
Swimming pool, but that remains closed.
And I hope we will be able to do something quick.
Your time is over, it's been a few seconds.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'm sure you allowed my colleague from the Green Party.
I have also allowed you three seconds.
I will be three seconds more.
We look forward to seeing your call over.
Your time is over, Councillor.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:33:22
Mr Stephen Halsey - 1:33:27
Mayor Lutfur Rahman - 1:33:29
Thank you for those constructive suggestions from colleagues from the opposition.
Just want to quickly respond to my Green Party colleague. I agree with you. There are fantastic
opportunities in the borough but there are serious pockets of deprivation and poverty
and we need to do more.
We are doing more when it comes to young people
trying to support emergence of a educated class
and that the trickle down benefits is extremely important
and some of the benefits, some of the policies,
education maintenance at the University of Bursaries,
free school meals, what's in our new manifesto
going forward, you know, that will,
it's beginning to make difference and you see that
in the new residence survey that's coming out.
But I agree, we need to do more when it comes to employment, training, skills, etc.
We have an opportunity, we are very active when it comes to planning applications, when
it comes to development opportunities.
We had 8 ,000 applications last year consented.
Through that process we do, but we need to do more.
We do try to extract as much training, apprenticeships, jobs, opportunities, but we can do more.
And I think I agree with you.
We need to look at our employment and skills department.
Is there something different we need to do?
We can do.
Your suggestions is most welcome.
This is precisely the kind of debate, contribution we need to have in full council where we sound
each other out and I learn from your wisdom, your experience.
And just quickly, Councillor Oulda, I agree about Brick Lane and any other parts of the
borough.
We need to be a clean borough.
We've invested a lot of money when it comes to waste and cleanliness, £5 million extra
per year, £50 million over the three years of our MTFS.
Steve, we need to have a look at cleaning.
I know in Brick Lane we have jet wash, we have cleaning put on, but that should apply
to other parts of the borough.
There are some parts of the borough that's not as clean as some other parts of the borough.
I know the portfolio is far greater.
Thank you Mr. Mayor.
Mr Stephen Halsey - 1:35:44
Thank you for your contribution.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:35:52
Thank you.
As agreed at the start of the meeting, we will now move to consider the standards advisory

9 a) Standards Advisory Committee Annual Report to Council 2025-26

Mark Norman - 1:36:07
committee annual report at item 9 .1, the continuous improvement report at item 10 .1, the reform
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:36:12
of planning committees at item 10 .2, and local government pension scheme constitutional changes
at item 10 .3 of the agenda. I propose that we spend no more than 40 minutes discussing
these reports.
Can Councillor Maham Talaqder introduce the report on Standards Advisory Committee's annual
report?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 1:36:38
I'm pleased to speak on the item 9 .1, Standard Advisory Committee Annual Report 2025 -2026.
The report highlights the committee's work between May 25 to April 26 and its important
role in maintaining high standards of conduct, accountability and good governance across
the Council.
Under the independent chairmanship of John Paulford MBE, the committee has overseen complaints
under the members' Code of Conduct, declarations of interest, gifts and hospitality, member
training, constitutional matters, wider governance issues.
This work helps ensure robust arrangements are in place
to our health principles and public life
and maintain public confidence.
I would also like to recognise Elizabeth Marshall,
who recently stepped down from the committee
after many years of dedicated service
as both independent person and co -opty member.
We thank her for her valuable contribution
and wish her a long happy retirement.
My thanks also go to the committee members, independent persons, monitoring officer and
supporting officers for their professionalism and commitment throughout the year.
Mr Speaker, I would like to pass on to the Chair now who would kindly say a few words.
Thank you very much.
Mark Norman - 1:38:04
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I am delighted to present the annual report of the Standard Barred Rick Committee.
364 days since our last report. I'm not going to take you through it, but I'd like to comment on three particular matters.
We regard ourselves as joint custodians with you of the Code of Conduct.
As was mentioned last year, how do you know, it was an election year, there was an expected increase in complaints,
That's sadly an expected increase from 11 to 24.
That's not unusual, particularly in what was said to be a toxic political atmosphere.
However, with a couple of exceptions, the complaints were not particularly worrisome.
What's important now in this new council is that we should continue on the journey of continuous improvement of our political culture.
We now have the Member Pledge.
Continuing to embed the behaviours that support the seven principles of public life defined by the Nolan Committee,
will help us all to honour that pledge.
The Committee look forward to doing whatever we can to support you on the journey.
Secondly, in the current year, we've been pleased to see that members took full advantage of the induction programme.
The Member Empowerment Protocol is now in place.
It's now for you to make the best use of it
and the personal development plans available for you.
Thirdly, I should like to tell you again
that the Monitoring Officer and the Committee
will continue to monitor the length of time
it takes for members to request for information
if there is a complaint about them.
Should there be any unreasonable delay in responding,
the committee will urge the monitoring officer
to rule that such members are in breach
of the code of conduct.
Who would want to be the first member
to have that political and public embarrassment?
Please respond as soon as you possibly can
to request for information.
Finally, I would like to thank the members of the committee and officers for their continuing
support for our work.
Mr Speaker, I shall be happy to respond to any comments or questions.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Paulford.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:40:46
I understand Mr Mayra has some comments.
Mr Stephen Halsey - 1:40:55
and if Mr. Mayor would like to second this, that's up to you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:40:57
I do, it's a privilege and honour to second this.
Mr Stephen Halsey - 1:41:01
Mayor Lutfur Rahman - 1:41:05
I just want to extend my gratitude to the Chair of the Standards Committee
and to their colleagues for the work that they do
and the fairness with which they conduct themselves.
So thank you once again.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Mayor.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:41:21
Do any members wish to speak?
Councillor Kabir.
Kabir Ahmed.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
John, it's always a pleasure speaking to you, both as the chair of the Standards Committee
and a constituent of Weaver's Ward.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 1:41:44
So I'm very pleased that you continue to support the Council in ensuring that we behave ourselves
and maintain our standards.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Kobi Rahmat.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:41:53
Councillor Shibuya Hussain.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Shahaveer Shubo Hussain - 1:42:00
And thank you, Mr Balfour, for your report.
and it was good actually having sat on the committee,
having learnt quite a lot from not just yourselves
but others in the committee and the colleagues
across the room when I was sat on it.
But on the report, I noticed on paragraph 13,
it says there was 24 complaints received
between May 24th and April 25th.
But paragraph 16 says 19 were received.
So I just wanted to be, I just wanted to know
what were the numbers because they're too different at the moment if it could be corrected.
Mark Norman - 1:42:43
And I said the same thing to myself when I reviewed it this morning. How did that happen?
Poor editing I'd say. I take responsibility but I'm sure officers will help us explain at a later
Cllr Shahaveer Shubo Hussain - 1:43:01
day and will tell you. Amazing and just to add on, apart from them being withdrawn the complaints
were closed without investigation after consultation.
I wanted to know how many of those complaints actually met the threshold for investigation?
The only standard is I can't remember.
I haven't bought the notes with me.
Mark Norman - 1:43:19
But we'll let you know.
Thank you.
Councillor Alba Dalachetti.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:43:26
Thank you, Speaker.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 1:43:30
Can I share colleagues in thanking you for the role that you carry out as the independent
chair of the Standards Committee and also place on record thanks to Elizabeth for her
role over the past few years.
Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury - 1:43:38
I've had the pleasure of being in the community over the last four years, but I think last
year was interesting because of the election and a lot of particular sort of activities
that we were overseeing.
So whether it's the induction programme for this year, whether it's member development
charter work, whether it's a member empowerment protocol or the member pledge, there's so
much work that the Standards Committee had to feed into. So in terms of you overseeing
that and leading us in those various touch points, I just wanted to place my record of
thanks, I guess, for last year's work. And look forward to working with you this year.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:44:14
Thank you, members. Does full Council agree to note the activities of the Standards Advisory
Advisory Committee for the Municipal Year May 2025 to April 2026, as set out in the
annual report of the Standards Advisory Committee at appendix 1 of the report.
I do not see any objections and so we'll take this as agreed unanimously. Thank you, Members.
Agenda item 10 .1 is report on the continuous improvement plan quarterly update.

10 a) Continuous Improvement Plan Quarterly Update

For reference purposes, it's on pages 109 to 138.
Can Councillor Abdullal Hachadri introduce the report?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 1:45:12
I'm pleased to introduce item 10 .1, the latest update on the Council's continuous improvement
plan.
Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury - 1:45:20
This report sets out the progress we are making to strengthen governance, improve organisational
performance and ensure we deliver better outcomes for residents.
While challenges remain, particularly around recruitment capacity and embedding change,
the report demonstrates that important progress is being made across a number of key areas.
Notably, the One Corporate Team programme has improved from RED to AMBA, reflecting
in stronger governance arrangements, progress on audit recommendations and improvements
in financial management.
The report also highlights positive work to strengthen our workforce, improve organisational
culture and support better decision making across the Council.
Continuous improvement is about building a stronger, more effective Council that residents
can have confidence in and this report shows that we are moving in the right direction.
It also relies on support from all members, so I commend the report to Council and welcome
any comments or questions.
Thank you, Councillor Abidullah.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:46:21
I call on Councillor Zaidah to second the recommendations.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 1:46:29
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 1:46:33
I formally second this report and I also want to say that this in particular is a very important
part where we are at the moment in our continuous improvement plan.
And this report isn't to claim that our journey is complete.
It instead recognises that while progress has been made, the challenge now is to move beyond delivering actions
and demonstrate that those actions are creating sustained and measurable change.
The adoption of what looks good, the framework, is so important.
It shifts the focus from simply counting activity to asking more demanding questions.
Are we improving decision making?
Are we strengthening governance?
Are we building a culture that learns, adapts and delivers better outcomes for residents?
And there is already evidence of meaningful progress, Mr Speaker.
All 46 members have signed the Member Pledge establishing a shared commitment to high standards.
we are seeing progress in governance and assurance, the one corporate team programme.
We are also seeing progress in workforce capacity with more than 80 % of HR
leadership vacancies recruited to. Also we won't shy away from any challenges
however recruitment, organisational capacity, a change fatigue and the need
for more stronger data and the reporting remains a potential risk. But what is
encouraging is that these risks are being openly identified, monitored and
managed rather than being ignored. Mr. Speaker, improvement is not achieved
through a single report, a single programme or a single year. It
requires sustained leadership, honest self -assessment and willingness to
accept change and that is exactly what this framework is designed to support.
For those reasons, Mr. Speaker, I welcome the progress that has been made and
acknowledge the work that remains to be done and support the recommendation before council
this evening.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Sayyid Ahmed.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:48:37
Members wish to speak may indicate I have a list, a couple of names from that.
Can I invite Councillor Halima Islam?
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Halima Islam - 1:48:53
The October improvement report gives us reasons for confidence in how this council is strengthening
democratic accountability.
The summer report described the foundations being laid after the elections.
We now have a clearer picture of the commitment and support behind that work.
All members have signed the member pledge.
Thirty -nine development sessions were delivered between May and July with strong satisfaction
among those evaluating them.
22 members have enrolled in personal development plans.
These are welcome signs that councillors are taking their responsibilities seriously.
I also welcome the recognition given to the revised constitution and online portal,
short -listed for a National Democratic Services Award.
Clearer rules and accessible information should help residents understand how decisions are made and who is accountable.
But signatures and training sessions must translate into how we conduct ourselves.
Respect across this Chamber, timely access to information and a willingness to respond
properly to scrutiny are standards we must demonstrate consistently.
The governance programme is now rated AMBA following revised assessment criteria.
That should encourage us to examine the evidence carefully and keep improving.
We should also widen participation in personal development and ensure that scrutiny has the
support to influence policy before decisions are taken.
As an Administration, we should welcome difficult questions.
Constructive challenge can identify weaknesses early and help us make better decisions for
the people we serve.
The new improvement priorities rightly ask for evidence that scrutiny and cross -party
participation improve policy. By December we should expect a clearer account of how
recommendations have shaped decisions and how the pledge is being applied. I thank members
and officers for the progress achieved and their continued commitment. Our next task
is to make these standards routine so residents can have lasting confidence in the openness
and fairness of the Council. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Thank you, Councillor.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:51:06
Next contributor, Councillor Abdullala.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 1:51:18
I'm following on from that but well read out from the Chair of the Urban Scootin.
It is important, all of us in this room and people watching,
shows that we are working for the best interest of all the residents of Tahel,
but can I just point out one particular issue that the report fails to mention?
We've talked about the fact that the residents of Tahel have been very involved in the development of the land.
touched on it today, the ongoing issues with the B World, the leisure centre.
We talked about a good healthy borough and not having a good healthy workforce doesn't
reflect very well on the council's image.
So the report fails to mention anything about that, but I just hope, I know people watching
at home who are disappointed with the leisure centre being closed, I know residents who
live in this borough who work in a leisure centre will equally be disappointed about
their plight of their employment situation not being addressed.
So I just want to put that on the record, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councillor Oula.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:52:07
Next, I understand Councillor,
my name is Talid Dries to speak.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 1:52:15
I welcome this important improvement report.
I think as a council, we are progressing,
as my colleagues already said.
We have all signed the pledge.
Everyone has signed the pledge.
The governance is stronger, we are making huge improvements.
Thank you to the leadership and also our officers.
One of the things I have been working on on behalf of the mayor is visiting our CVS organisations,
our third sector organisation, I'm meeting them regularly and I think we are building bridges.
and things are very positive.
We are also listening to them and we are making some changes.
So I think it's all good and hopefully there's more room to make improvements.
We're all working hard to make the improvements.
So thank you very much.
Thank you, Councillor Matalita.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:53:11
Councillor Cobir -Ajmed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
So I think it's really important for us as a council to acknowledge that we needed support and help and the envoys have provided us with support and help.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 1:53:30
But with that support and help we also needed direction.
And one of the things that this report indicates is that that direction is set now and we're working towards a goal.
And that goal is to see the exit of the invoice because the areas of concern would be overcome
and embedded within the functioning of this council.
So I mean an important example is the deep dives that took place.
It placed two roles.
One it shows us how best practise can operate and the other is that it eradicates allegations
that may swirl around and give Tower Hamblet a bad name.
So those perceptions can be challenged and targeted.
Another area is this Council's support of the workforce and its health and wellbeing.
That includes members as well.
You get a discount if you join Be Well in Tower Hamblet, so that's open to all residents
to become members of the Council's own insourced leisure services and I would advocate for that.
And members and staff get a discount in doing that.
But the area I also wanted to pick up on is the phased approach that we're looking at.
So there are a number of areas that the envoys are very confident and we have demonstrated as a Council,
but there are also other areas that we do well but we don't evidence as much.
That's the partnership work we do, both statutory services as well as the voluntary areas.
So it's not just about toxic culture but it's about us as councillors reaching out more
and getting ourselves embedded and evidencing the good work that we do as a council.
In terms of the toxic culture, I think the election has helped us.
We've got a more diverse range of councillors here now and I think today's meeting is an
example of how the council and the different political parties can come together in order
to support the sort of outcomes that we need for our residents, both in terms of the health
and wellbeing, the skills and the petitioner's involvement around water and other key areas
on how assets are distributed and how residents get engaged.
So I hope today's meeting acts as an example for the envoys who are sitting up there on the podium,
as well as our councillors here and you, Mr Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:56:11
Thank you, Councillor Kobi -Rahmat.
Any other member wish to speak?
Councillor George.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:56:23
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Rupert George - 1:56:27
It's great to see that everyone is really happy about the sense of progress, but I really
would like to highlight how so much of being described is so full of jargon, and it's so
hard for our residents to really understand what this journey means or what we've just
been talking about in this Chamber.
And when we have problems sometimes with the basics of the services in the borough, those
two things I think will make it hard for residents to take this process seriously.
We have to have a real focus on the basics.
I know lots of residents have inundated councillors across this chamber about recycling over this
summer.
It's a problem and there are lots of problems that are quite reasonable that the council
has faced.
But in that context, talking about continuous improvement, I'm sorry, but I really worry
that this process will land flatly with our residents and we really need this process
to be taken seriously by those outside of this change as well as ourselves.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 1:57:34
Thank you, Councillor George.
Next contributor, Councillor O'morimadi.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Mohammed Omar Mehdi - 1:57:44
The progress reported on workforce deserves recognition because lasting improvement depends
on the people delivering service every day.
Staff had continued supporting residents while helping the Council change and we should acknowledge
that contribution.
In the summer, recruitment to key HR roles was underway.
the October report records recruitment to more than 80 % of HR leadership vacancies and
additional specialist posts.
With appointments beginning in September, this is a practical step towards addressing
the capacity problem identified earlier.
The HR restrictions has brought forward from March 2027 to October 2026.
that reflects the importance of giving managers and staff support needed to deliver the wider improvement programme.
There are encouraging early results. The employee relations caseload fell by 11 % over five weeks,
and 13 investigation managers have been trained.
Employee networks have by average of 10%.
These developments suggest that investment and engagement are being to make a difference.
However, culture and workforce remains amber
and report identifies continuing recruitment and organisational development challenges.
It also warns that change fatigue is worsening.
We must take that seriously.
Staff need manageable workloads, fair processes and confidence that speak up
will lead to action. People strategy and recruitment deep dives should help
address underlying problems with clear responsibility for
implementing their findings. The November staff survey will be an
important opportunity to test whether employees are experiencing improvement.
we should look for evidence of greater trust in managers and confidence to
challenge decisions. I welcome the progress to thank everyone involved. The
phase must turn stronger staffing and better systems in supporting workplace
give our give our employees the stability and confidence to deliver
better services for our residents. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:00:14
Thank you, Councillor. I'm of the opinion that we have given a good proportion of our time and done justice to debate and listen to this item in the agenda.
And with that I would like to move forward.
So I ask the chambers, does the full council agree to the recommendations which are set
out in the report, but in summary, to note the progress in delivering the continuous
improvement plan, endorse the 12 what good looks like priorities, and note the future
reporting arrangements.
I don't see any objections and so we'll take this as agreed unanimously.
Unanimously agreed?
Fantastic.
Agenda item 10 .2 is a report on the reform of planning committees and national scheme

10 b) Reform Of Planning Committees – National Scheme of Delegation

of delegation.
I invite Councillor Saitam to introduce the report.
You have three minutes, Councillor Said.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:01:27
Tower Hamlets is one of the most dynamic places in the country.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:01:30
Few boroughs experience the scale and pace of development that we do.
As the Mayor mentioned earlier, last year alone we had 8 ,000 planning applications consented.
Every planning decision has the potential to shape our skyline, our neighbourhoods,
our infrastructure and most importantly the lives of our residents.
For many years we have worked hard to strike the right balance between decisions delegated
to professional planning officers and those determined by elected members through our
planning committees.
Residents rightly expect councillors to have a central role when proposals have significant
implications on our communities, our neighbourhoods and our local environment.
Tonight's report is about responding to the significant changes introduced by government
through the new national scheme of delegation.
Whether we agree with every aspect of those reforms or not,
they come into force on 31st of October,
and all councils are required to comply.
Our task tonight is to therefore ensure
that Tower Hamlets implements these changes in a way that
protects transparency, accountability,
and public confidence in planning decisions.
One of the biggest challenges in the applications
can no longer come before a planning committee simply because a certain number of objections
have been received. Instead, committees must focus on applications that arise, issues of
genuine economic, social, environmental or strategic planning significance.
Mr Speaker, while the national rules may have changed, our ambition for planning in Tower
Hamlets has not. Planning decisions in Tower Hamlets are merely routine. We are delivering
thousands of new homes, progressing major regeneration schemes, advancing the
mayor's accelerated housing programme and planning for future growth in one of the
fastest changing parts of London. A planning system that is efficient,
legally robust and transparent is essential if we are to deliver on those
ambitions while maintaining public confidence. This report also
provides an opportunity to modernise how planning committees operate, ensuring
that members' time and democratic scrutiny are focused on the development that will have
the greatest impact on our residents and on the future of the borough.
Ultimately, Mr Speaker, this report is about ensuring that as Tower Hamlets continues to
grow and change, residents have confidence that the developments which matter most will
continue to receive proper democratic scrutiny and that elected members will continue to
a meaningful role in shaping the future of our borough.
I therefore commend this report to the council.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:04:22
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Said.
Can I ask Councillor Gulang Kibriya Chaudhuri
to second their conditions?
You have three minutes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Gulam Kibria Choudhury - 2:04:36
I would like to briefly explain the changes being introduced
to the way planning decision are made in Tower Hamlets.
These changes are not being brought forward by the council.
They are part of a new national planning framework introduced by government which local planning
authorities must implement from 31st of October 2026.
The central aim of the reform is to create greater consistency across the country by
We are ensuring that planning committees focus on application of genuine strategic significance
while more routine and technical applications are determined by officers.
I am officially seconding this report.
Thank you, Councillor Gudam Kibrechaudhary.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:05:24
Do any members wish to speak?
I can see Councillor Peter Gold.
Over to you, Councillor Peter Gold.
Cllr Peter Golds - 2:05:35
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I think the administration members are being somewhat
sympathetic to the government because if we read on page 143, paragraph 2 .1, all local
planning authority constitution must align with the new regulations. Now this is a government
that's opened number 10 north. Of course it's not in number 10, there's not a real door
They've got a cut out of Larry the Cat and we have promised devolution.
But how on earth have you got devolution when you have stripped out virtually all the powers
of a planning committee?
An enormous amount of what we would regard as traditional planning is now going to delegated
power by officers.
What do residents of the public do?
They're not actually supposed to know who the officer is, so they apply to a court hall,
ascend to tauhamlets .gov in the UK, put their objection in and wait to see what happens.
They can never see a member, they can never see a council, but the decision is made in
the name of the council.
Come on Mr Burnham, you can sit there with your designer glasses and the eyelashes, but
you're telling councils what to do.
You're not letting councillors do anything. Planning can be messy, it can be awkward.
Councillors can be obstructive and awkward. But we're democratically elected, we knock
on doors, we speak to people, we have some idea of our areas. The government can easily
put instructions down saying you have a time limit to clear a planning application. Yes,
you can say that officers should look at tree preservation orders or minor household development,
but the next time members of the public come to your surgery and say there's going to be
an estate at the end of my road, what do I do, where are we looking at, all you can say
is you go to towerhandlets .gov .uk and you send an objection to an anonymous person who
will eventually say they've done it in the name of the council and in my name as a councillor,
And that is a problem.
Sadly, there's nothing we can do.
All we have to do is, as we say, all local planning authority constitution must align
with the new regulations.
But I have to say, colleagues, I hope with the planning powers that we have left, we
will be robust and be in a position to stand up for our residents.
As I say, Mr Burnham is supposedly delegating everything.
We've got to power it delegating downwards until it upsets the people in the quangos,
the civil servants and the officials.
And then it's delegated upwards and signed off by the cardboard cutout of Larry the Cat
sitting on top of a Pret -a -Maungé in Manchester.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:08:34
Councillor Savinac, would you like to start?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
So there is one question we need to ask.
Cllr Sabina Akhtar - 2:08:42
Who are we building tower hamlets for?
Are we building it simply for our investors and developers?
Or are we building a borough where ordinary working families can still be able to afford to live in?
For me and this Administration, the answer is very clear.
With around over 29 ,000 families on our housing register, we simply cannot afford to lower
our ambition for affordable housing.
As a Cabinet Member for Health, I want to remind everyone that this is not just a housing
crisis, it is a public health crisis.
A child growing up in overcrowded temporary accommodation experiences the consequences
every day.
A parent worrying every month about whether they can afford to pay the rent experiences
the consequences.
A family living with damp or unsuitable housing experiences the consequences.
So when we talk about affordable housing, we are talking about health, dignity, security
and opportunities.
I'm proud that this Administration is taking responsibility locally and delivering affordable
homes.
But we should also have the courage to challenge those above us.
So I say respectfully but firmly to the Mayor of Tower Hamlets and to the Government, do
We do not ask our Hamlets to accept less affordable housing in the name of accelerated development.
The accelerated route describing this motion allows developments to only 20 % affordable housing,
while our local plan proposes 40%.
How can reducing affordable housing be the answer to an absolute affordable housing crisis?
Yes, we need developers, yes, we need investment, yes, we need to build homes, but to build
the right homes.
Homes that our residents can afford, homes for our family on our waiting list, homes
that allow the next generation to remain here in Tower Hamlets.
So the message tonight should be clear.
More homes, yes.
More development, yes, but not at the expense of affordable and social housing.
For Thai hamlets, mass continuity demand, better from the city hall and better from
Westminster.
Our residents deserve homes and not simply housing targets.
I'm urging everyone to support our motion.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:11:07
Next, can I call up on Councillor Mudd's church house, please?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Mads Churchhouse - 2:11:14
I just wanted to follow on from some of the things that Peter Golds mentioned in terms of the concerns that residents are going to have
that these
Inevitable changes that we can't oppose they're coming from national government to the planning system
Do you make it less transparent and less easy for residents to send things to the strategic development committees via numbers of resident objections?
And I would like to respectfully request whether as part of this new process
I see that there's going to be a significance framework in place as part of the Gateway
test through which the officers or delegated member will decide whether something goes
to the Strategic Development Committee.
In order to give residents that confidence that they desperately need, that there is
still transparency in planning and that the Council is doing what we can to mitigate the
rollback of resident input and transparency that is being imposed by the national government,
May I respectfully request that the process of the significance framework and the development
of how the Gateway test is going to be managed is brought before the Housing and Education
subcommittee scrutiny, scrutiny subcommittee, beg your pardon, to enable members to have
an insight into how that process is being developed and making sure that residents are
going to feel confident that we are doing what we can to mitigate some of the changes
in this framework that might come as a significant worry to a lot of residents who are extremely
concerned about the way that planning is handled in this borough.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:12:45
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:12:49
I think we have debated this item enough and to our satisfaction.
So I would ask the chambers, does full council agree to the recommendations which are set
out in the report, but in summary, relate to changes
to the constitution and agree delegations to allow
for the conclusion of the work to adjust
for the new requirements.
Agreed.
I don't see any objections and so we'll take this
as agreed unanimously.

10 c) LGPS Fit for the Future - Regulatory Implementation Roadmap - Constitution Changes

Agenda item 10 .3 is a report on the GPS fit for the future regulatory implementation roadmap
constitution changes.
Just for the material and for the purpose of reference, pages 173 to 200.
Can Councillor Arbital Hachadri introduce this report?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I like the last one.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:13:49
This is another sort of government direction and the report seeks approval to change the
Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury - 2:13:55
constitution arising from the government's fit for future reforms to the local government
pension scheme.
The reforms introduce significant changes to the governance and investment arrangements
for LGPS, administering authorities, and require the Council in its capacity as the administering
authority for the pension fund to ensure that its governance arrangements reflect the new
framework.
Members will recall that the pensions committee has previously considered the implications
of those reforms and the implementation roadmap for the Fund.
A key element of the new governance framework is a requirement for each administering authority
to have a senior LGPS officer with senior responsibility across the authorities' pension
functions.
The head of pensions and treasury has been designated as a senior LGPS officer for this
purpose in line with the statutory guidance.
The new framework also strengthens the governance arrangements surrounding the pension fund
more generally, including the respective responsibilities of the administering authority, the pensions
committee, local pension board, senior LGPS officer and the fund's investment pool.
The constitutional amendments before Council are therefore intended to ensure that our
constitution properly reflects those requirements and provides clear lines of responsibility
and accountability. In practical terms the principal changes cover the role and responsibilities
of the senior LGPS officer, the respective responsibilities of the pensions committee
and local pension board, the revised governance arrangements required under the new regulatory
framework, the role of the pension fund's investment pool, including the changed arrangements
for investment management and advice, and consequential changes to the council's scheme
of delegation and pension fund governance arrangements.
Members will see that the detailed amendments are shown in the Track Changes Appendix accompanying
this report.
These changes are principally about ensuring that the Council's constitutional arrangements
are properly reflective of the new governance framework and intended to provide clarity
over who is responsible for what, to ensure appropriate accountability and oversight,
and to support the effective governance and management of the pension fund.
The reforms represent a significant change in the national OGPS landscape.
The FAN has therefore been implemented in the requirements through a structured regulatory
implementation roadmap with oversight from the pensions committee and pensions board.
The constitutional amendments before members form an important part of the implementation
speak are the recommendations therefore the council approves the proposed amendments to
the constitution as set out in the report and accompanying appendix so that the council's
pension fund governance arrangements reflect the requirement of the new LGPS regulatory
framework.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:16:48
Councillor Saeed Ahmed, to second the recommendations.
You have three minutes, but there is no obligation to speak for a full three minutes unless you
are really passionate.
Thank you.
Thank you, Chair, and I am very passionate.
I'm so sorry about that.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:17:00
I want to make few remarks on this report, because while it appears technical, it raises
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:17:07
is an important question about local democracy.
The government's fit for the future reforms
transfers significant powers over pension fund investment
into pooled arrangements such as London SIFs.
Under the new framework, investment management decisions
increasingly sit with the pool
rather than individual local authorities.
While this may improve consistency
and delivery efficiencies, it also means
that councils will have less direct control over where pension fund money is invested.
And as we know, in recent years, many residents have rightly called on the council to divest
its pension funds from unethical industries and companies complicit in unethical activities,
particularly in relation to the investments linked to the genocide in Palestine.
The challenge now, however, is that even where councils have expressed the desire to divest,
the pooled arrangements make progress far more difficult.
I think it is important to acknowledge this frustration because many residents expect local democracy to mean local choice.
Yet these reforms move us further towards a system where decisions are centralised and
where councils have fewer levers available to reflect the views of the communities.
That is why the strengthened oversight management in this report are welcome.
If more decisions are being taken through pooled structures, then we must ensure that
there is greater transparency, stronger scrutiny and clear accountability from London's SIF
and other investment bodies.
Mr Speaker, we are obliged as local authority to comply with these reforms,
but we should be honest about the implications and we should continue to argue for a pension system
that allows local authorities to reflect the values and priorities of the communities that we represent.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:19:16
Thank you.
Councillor Persil.
Cllr Jonathan Purcell - 2:19:25
Thank you, Chair.
I'm glad we've had the opportunity to discuss and review the terms of references and the
fit for the future roadmap, both at the constitution work group in August and at Pensions Committee
as well, I felt they were both productive discussions.
And off the back of it, despite what critics of BDS say, I'm glad there is still scope
for us to influence and pressure the London Civ when it comes to pooled investment of
our pension funds.
With the fit for the future roadmap and the updated terms of references for the pensions
committee, it does provide that opportunity.
In particular, the sections on responsible investment and ESG considerations, in bullet
point 17 of the updated terms of reference, and section 3 .37 of the Fit for the Future
Roadmap.
These do provide ample scope to deliver the motion that we passed at last full council
on divestment from illegal settlement trades
in a legally occupied Palestine
and to scrutinise London's SIVs review.
Whilst I am assured that there are still levers to pull
to pressure the SIV,
I also want to note that it is a shame
that we have to implement these constitutional changes
in the first place,
which are of course due to the local government's
pension scheme regulations 2026.
And make no mistake, this is a centralising power grab
by the national government to take power away
from local councils so that we have less input
in how we invest the local pension funds.
It's unfair on the council and it's unfair
on the residents in this borough.
In fact, this point on centralisation
and devolve government is not dissimilar to the point that Councillor Ahmed just made
and that Councillor Gold made on devolution in the previous agenda point. Who knew we
all had such common ground? But in any case, to conclude, it is clear from the overwhelming
majority at last full council that we do have a collective view on this issue and it is
shame that central government does not respect our autonomy in that regard or the autonomy
of our residents either. However, I am glad that we still are able to pressure the London
Civ through the two sections that I previously outlined. Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:22:15
Councillor Fred Salahman.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Shenaly Miah - 2:22:21
Cllr Faysal Ahmed - 2:22:25
I welcome the work offices have undertaken to ensure that Taia Hamlet complies with the
new legal framework.
The governance improvements, the new senior LGPS officer role, independent oversight and
stronger accountability arrangements are all sensible and necessary.
However, I also think it is important to recognise what is being lost.
For years, local authority pension funds have been at the centre of debates around responsible
investment.
Campaigns on fossil fuels, climate change, our manufacturers and human rights have all
led residents to ask what we are doing as a council to ensure that investments are reflective
of the values of our communities.
Indeed, we have had two motions on divestment in the last two years.
Historically, councils at least had the ability to influence those conversations directly.
But under those reforms, this becomes much more difficult.
This report makes clear that all LGPS assets must be managed through authorised pools,
that investment implementation decisions sit with those pools,
and individual funds cannot simply make investment decisions independently.
This has had real implications for ethical divestment.
Indeed, the debate taking place across London demonstrates the problem.
Councils can express a preference, they can engage, they can lobby, but ultimately many
of the practical decisions now sit elsewhere.
London's SIF continues to hold investments that boroughs and residents would prefer to
move away from, while the new guidance significantly constrains Council's abilities to direct those
decisions themselves.
Mr. Speaker, although our compliance on this matter is not optional, I think we should
place on record a note of concern.
As powers move away from local authorities and into larger pooled structures, residents
may reasonably ask whether their voices are becoming harder to hear.
The challenge for us in the years ahead would be to ensure that responsible investment remains
a meaningful part of pension governance and does not disappear behind layers of
poor decision -making and regulatory constraints. And that is a debate we
should continue to have until we are able to say as a local authority that we
hold zero investments, have zero complicity in industries that contribute
to the climate emergency as well as those who profit from war crimes and
genocide abroad. Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:25:00
Last contributor, Councillor Kobiara.
Mr Speaker, can I start by saying that this paper itself is something that has handcuffed
us as a local authority, has forced us to comply for us to be a functioning council
and meet the regulatory standards.
However, my concern is, just like the previous paper,
in relation to the development committee powers being taken
away, and the public having access to true
and free information, to see how processes are run
and make submissions in relation to processes.
It's very, very concerning that this Council, which represents its members, individuals
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:26:03
who have worked in this Council and have contributed to the pension pot of this Council, are not
empowered to make decisions in relation to their pensions, as has been for time and beyond.
Now the concerning element of this is that what we see from central government is more
and more policies that come through the back door that hold us as a local authority and
elected members to ransom in order to do their bidding. And I say their bidding. What this
policy is a bullet for is to curb the influence of smaller parties, of independent -minded
parties that are backed by the people of this country. We go for election every four years
as local authorities and from numerous local authorities in London such as Waltham Forest,
such as Tower Hamlets, we have seen that the political landscape is changing.
And in order to take legitimate power away from the people's choice, we have these policies
and processes set up by central government, because their status quo is being challenged.
So key areas which invest in local authorities like development is being pulled away.
Key areas of investment where ethical divestment policies are taking place from numerous local
authorities which count in multiple billions of pound.
I understand this council's pension fund is over three billion pounds alone.
And like that, if we look at numerous other councils which have independent councils and independent mayors,
or green mayors, or mayors from other political parties, it takes away that choice of that local authority to follow things like divestment.
We know arms dealers and arms traders invest into political parties both here and the US.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:28:14
And they are the driving force behind these policies.
Thank you.
Thank you for your contribution.
Does full council approve the recommendations in the report to note the report submitted to the Pensions Committee,
agree the changes to the constitution set out in appendix 1 to the report?
Agreed?
Agreed.
I do not see any objection so we will take this as agreed unanimously.
Members we have an urgent motion which has been accepted for debate and copies have been
circulated.
Can Councillor Maim Talukder move the motion?
You have three minutes.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 2:29:09
On behalf of the residents of the Isle of Dogs, I am grateful to you for accepting my emergency motion.
Withdrawing the D7 is not a routine timetable adjustment.
It's the removal of a 120 -year transport link that has connected Blackwall, Cubetown and Millwall.
This proposal goes ahead.
people in the middle -world side will have no bus to George Green's secondary school
and children from Kewpie Town will struggle to reach Harbingers and Edmonds and Arnhem
Wharf. Families who rely on this route every single day will be left out without a practical
alternative. This is not a new fight for the Isle of Dogs. My island counsellors, myself
and our communities have campaigned before,
when the TFL previously attempted to cut this route.
Residents stood together, councillors stood together.
And I would also like to acknowledge councillor Goles,
who campaigned strongly and who is now second in this motion.
The island has always defended its bus links
because they are essential, not optional.
Mr Speaker, TfL has now launched a formal consultation on restructuring the bus routes
across the Isle of Dogs.
Their own communication confirms that they intend to withdraw, yes, withdraw D7 and restructure
the 135 bus, 277 and D6 and with SL4 diverted through Woodwolf.
They state that demand has fallen and they want to match usage better and make good use
of resources.
This is a joke.
I hope Sadiq Khan is listening.
But this argument does not reflect the lived reality on the Isle of Dogs residents, school
Mr Speaker, and this time the impact is even wider.
TfL's proposal affects multiple routes across the island.
The D7 is withdrawing entirely, removing the historic Westlink.
The 277 is rerouted, taking over parts of D7, leaving gaps in Millwall and Cubeytown.
The 135 bus is rerouted changing connexions to cross harbour.
The D6 is rerouted covering some areas but not replacing the full D7 link.
The SL4 will divert through Woodwolf altering existing connexions.
Thank you, Councillor. Your time is up. Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:32:14
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Thank you.
Can Councillor Peter Gold's second the motion?
Cllr Peter Golds - 2:32:35
Mr Speaker, some years ago there was an attempt to do this and Transport for London unfortunately
had a meeting with me.
I suspect they thought they were going to meet me for about an hour.
They didn't realise when I suddenly arrived with bus, tram and trolleybus maps and timetables
going back to 1925 that three hours later I would have bored them into utter submission.
The point is the links have existed for decades. At the time of the Second World War the 56
bus was cut back just to go trundling round the island. But when the 677 trolleybus was
abolished, they brought the 277 down to once again link Mile End down the west side of
the islet, down the east side of the Isle of Dogs and then the west side of the Isle
of Dogs to give the Isle of Dogs a bus that went all the way round and up to Mile End.
This proposal means that if you live on the Samuda or the St John's estate, two of the
poorest estates in the borough, you no longer have a bus that crosses Burdett Road to go
and visit friends in the mile and direction.
If your child wants to go to school,
we're told you have to get the children to school.
We're told if they're going to a secondary school,
they take a bus, but if you live on the Barkentine Estate
or at Timber Wharves, equally two poor areas,
your bus isn't gonna go there.
Parents aren't gonna want their children,
young children, young girls in their first years,
getting off a bus and finding their way to George Green School in the winter.
What are Transport for London playing at?
And I have to say I hope this goes unanimously and I do hope the Labour Party, one, will support it,
have a chat with their GLA member and perhaps even get to Lord Carn, formerly Sir Sadiq Carn
and then once the proletariat Sadiq Khan all on his own,
to get off his high horse, he chairs transport for London
and tell them to get their act together.
Absolutely my lady.
I mean, I'm a veteran of the Isle of Dogs.
I've lived there possibly for far too long.
I've helped fight this.
I've walked around the Isle of Dogs.
I know every street and I've talked to people
who knew the days when you didn't have the busses there.
We are told to use public transport.
There are people in housing, social and private, who are no car.
They need a bus that links the whole island.
Please support this motion.
Please get it through.
And please make sure transport for London goes.
I assure you I've only got a few seconds left,
but if you ever saw me boring somebody for three hours on all those time tables,
and I'm happy to give you a lesson.
Thank you, Councillor Peter Goad.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:35:36
Can I call up on Councillor Sayeed Ahmad?
Thank you, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:35:47
Look, we have been here before.
Cllr Saied Ahmed - 2:35:49
I believe it was in 2022, residents of the Isle of Dogs faced the proposed withdrawal of the D7 route.
We organised, we petitioned, and we made our voices heard.
and ultimately the D7 route was saved.
We submitted petition with over 3 ,000 signatures
and their consultation at that point received over 22 ,000 responses.
So that shows that this route is very, very valued
and it's important for the connectivity of that part of our borough.
The D7 is vital for the island and the residents are entitled to ask questions.
why are we having to fight this battle again?
The D7 has provided continuity and connectivity for our communities for many years,
connecting our residents from my land station via Poplar, All Saints, Christian Market, to Canary Wharf and of course the Isle of Dogs.
Removing it isn't just change of a routine or a timetable,
rather it will be real disruption to residents who have relied on this service for decades,
including children travelling to school, our elderly, our disabled residents,
families and people commuting to workplaces. Mr Speaker, the island as an
area has grown enormously. Rerooting other bus services will not
suffice. We have more homes, more residents and much more demand in the
island. Yet once again we are being asked to accept a reduction in connecting bus
I recognise the financial pressures the Mayor of London may be facing.
But saving money at the expense of residents' travel and residents' connectivity is not how it should be done.
We stood together in 2022 and subsequently we made the case for the D7.
We will do it again because we have done it before.
I urge colleagues, thank you, I urge colleagues to support this motion and save the route
again.
It's a clear message from Tara Hamlet to TFL.
It's about leadership, we went out before, we petitioned out on ASDA, we went out with
the Deputy Mayor, we door knocked, it was a cross party submission we done, we will
continue to do that again.
Our communities have relied on it for generations and we want to save it, it is here to stay.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:38:20
Can I call upon
Councillor Abdullah?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Abdal Ullah - 2:38:28
No need to apologise.
Listen, when there is a need for the community,
I am the first to speak up,
irrespective of who the national government
or the London government may be.
In fact, Peter, your memory,
your three -hour speech,
I hope one day you get to upload it online
for people to watch.
watch and go to sleep.
But importantly, we have a history of winning battles
for the borough.
The D3 and the D7 has been mentioned one or two times.
Myself and a former ward colleague, Amy Lee,
we worked across the party, across the community
to save that journey.
So the north -south connexion from Bethnal Green to Wapping,
we kind of worked on that.
The 100 bus that was at one time at risk of being lost,
we campaigned on that.
So I'm sure our GLA member will, don't worry about the clock, I won't be too long.
The 100 bus that was also at risk one time.
So we have a rich history of winning battles against TFL, but I hope that we will work
collaboratively and that this Council, this administration will build bridges with TFL
because I know there are some issues there.
But can I also point out, Mr. Speaker, this is an important matter which I am lending
and my team is supporting.
However, just for the record, Mr. Speaker,
and the monitoring officer, once again,
the time is pressing.
Our agenda, our motion looks like it might not be heard
again, although this is an important matter,
as highlighted, but the next council meeting,
the consultation will be over.
But can we please look towards in the future
that we honour, respect different political parties
in terms of good governance, in terms of,
I'm sure the envoys will be very keen to know that other opposition party motions are also
given weight in the council and that the 33 members don't bury it as has been shown in
the last two council meetings.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:40:27
Can I call upon Councillor Sadiq Rahman?
Can I call upon Councillor Kobi Rahmat?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Kabir Ahmed - 2:40:49
A cynic may think, Councillor Talukdah brought six, no, five of the, six of the seven councillors
from the island, so that's why the island's been targeted.
But I'm not a cynic.
But what is quite concerning for me, Mr Speaker, is that colleagues just mentioned that this
council should build bridges with TfL.
Is this punishment for this council that they torture the public by cancelling their bus
routes because they don't like the political administration?
Is this something that's coordinated by the GLA or the Mayor of London that they don't
unlike the administrations which aren't of their tribe, are Hackney going to face the same thing?
Are Waltham Forest going to face the same thing? Are Lucien going to face the same thing?
So it's quite ridiculous that residents and members of this council should have to grovel to TFL
and have our heads patted by them, by grovelling to them, in order to get a bus route.
A bus route that's existed for over 100 years that they are choosing to cancel, that they
are failing in their administration to run the transport network of London and they want
to punish Tower Hamlets and the residents of the Islay dogs and Tower Hamlets by cancelling
these bus routes. We've seen time and time again the waste that takes place within these
these types of organisations. Yet who do they want to punish? They put the fares up so it
becomes unattainable for normal users to use. The rate that travel cards have gone up in
London is exceptional and it's ridiculous that even after putting fares up, during the
cost of living crisis, if you look at Manchester and what Andy Burnham did in Manchester, well
our last central government, why don't you step in London and reduce the fares of transport
in London if you can do that in Manchester? You're the Prime Minister now. You need to
tell the Mayor of London, who belongs to your tribe, to equalise those prices and make routes
that are accessible for residents. You can't on the one hand promote active travel and
And then on the other hand take away public network of busses.
It just doesn't make sense.
But that's not the only area that's been targeted.
All over London they're looking at cutting bus routes.
Now the bus routes are the most economical way for working class, poorer people to travel
with.
Using the train network, as soon as you go through central London, zone one, those prices
get hiked up.
If you want to go there at a time when it's peak, when most people have to go to work, it's unaffordable.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Well done.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:43:55
Thank you. Can I call upon Councillor Savinagtha?
Cllr Sabina Akhtar - 2:44:05
As Councillors, our responsibility is to listen to residents and speak up for them for their everyday needs.
And as a resident of Isle of Dogs, I can speak up for many that live in Isle of Dogs and around the borough where that community connects.
I can say the pain, I can understand the frustration that people will be feeling because for many of the residents,
bus routes are not simply a, you know, it's a lifeline for many and it's a connectivity for people to go to work,
schools, hospitals and the wider community.
Already the Isle of Dogs is experiencing enormous pressure from rapid development, population
growth, increasing congestion.
Our roads are busier, our infrastructure is under strain and the residents are already
struggling with overcrowding and unreliable public transport.
These proposed changes might make the situation even worse.
The proposed SL4 route is however positive, but it doesn't justify the other changes that
have been proposed that we leave the communities worse off. So I urge the Council to work together
with TFO and to find a solution that protects. And like my colleagues have said, when we
are all united we can campaign hard and raise our voice and we can really say no to this
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:45:35
Thank you, Councillor Sabina. Can I call upon Councillor Rupert George?
Cllr Rupert George - 2:45:45
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I'm very supportive of the motion and I'm very supportive of the
idea that public transport fares should be a lot lower. They're clearly unaffordable
for lots of people in this borough and lots of people living in poverty. However, I really
do support the idea that we need to have a closer and stronger working relationship with
TfL. One of the items in the overview and scrutiny committee's annual report that was
due to be debated this evening was a report by the former Green Councillor in my ward,
Natalie Bianfe, into issues around road safety. One of the issues in that was the issue of
the relationship with TfL and we know there's been ongoing problems in the relationship
between TfL and Tower Hamlets. I'm no fan of Sadiq Khan, I'm not a Labour Party member,
but there's the honest truth that actually they are the major transport authority in
London and if we are going to get the best outcomes for people in Tower Hamlets in terms
of the way that they get to move around the sparrow and for public safety, then we're
to have to work with TfL and there isn't actually a choice about that.
And I would highlight that one of the places that the relationship with TfL is stuck at
the moment with the borough is on cycle way 37, which actually follows quite a lot of
the D6 and the D7 route.
And the bit beyond Myelen station, it's not happening at the moment and it's stuck.
And if you ask TfL, is Tower Hamlets full?
And if you ask Tower Hamlets, is TfL full?
And it's stuck.
And it means that people on the island cannot ride their bikes on that cycleway to Victoria
Park to enjoy what is possibly the best green space in the borough.
Thank you.
Councillor Minnaara.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:47:35
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Cllr Rupert George - 2:47:39
I think I will be echoing a lot of what my council colleagues and colleagues here have
said.
I personally use all of the routes.
I use the D7, I use the D6.
Cllr Minara Khatun - 2:47:50
I used the 277, I used the 135, I used all these routes and I'm really disappointed to hear that this will be impacting all our residents across the island.
This is a lifeline. It's a lifeline not only to cross the bridge over to Baudette Road, to Chrispree, but it also goes further to Hackney and it also goes further to your reaching out to Stock Newington.
So, you know, you're connecting with families, with our families, our friends, and it's just
really sad to hear that the Mayor of London has chose to target, I would say, town hamlets
Cllr Shafi Ahmed - 2:48:26
and to target Isle of Dogs.
And I have to say, Mr Speaker, many of the residents do not have cars.
So this is a hop -on, hop -off to go to Asda, one of the largest supermarkets on the island,
and everyone uses it from across the island.
Cllr Minara Khatun - 2:48:41
Townless has one of the lowest car ownership rates in the country.
For many families, cars are a luxury, so the bus route is a lifeline.
And that brings me to our children.
Without the D7, there is no direct bus to Millwall, as Deputy Mayor has said.
Without it, a child in a cubic town has no direct bus route to Harbinger, to St. Edmunds
or to Arnhem Wharf.
We are asking 11 -year -olds to make two changes or walk 40 minutes in dark in October, November,
December. That is unsafe and it's unfair. Now I would like to say I urge this council
Mr Speaker to unanimously object to the demand of mayors of London retain the D7 and protect
the D6, 277 and 135 to demand they publish a full equalities impact assessment and a
school travel impact assessment and to demand the mayor of London hold a public meeting
here on the island, possibly, to explain to all our residents why their busy bus is being
called low demand. Save our D7, save our island busses. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:49:52
Thank you. Councillor Sibosian.
Cllr Shahaveer Shubo Hussain - 2:49:59
Thank you Mr Speaker. I'd like to start off saying I agree with what my colleague said.
It's not a labour issue or a spy issue, it's an issue that our residents in our borough
will face. It's a shame she's not here but when Sabina was on our side we worked on a
number of campaigns on the Isle of Dogs and in Wapping on Save Our Bus routes and I think
To start off with, I would like to clarify what Councillor Ahmed said.
He mentioned to follow the ex -mayor of Manchester when it comes to bus fares.
But I would like to clarify that since 2023, the bus fare still has been frozen and is
still cheaper than the Manchester.
So I hope the city doesn't follow the ex -mayor of Manchester.
But at the same time, if we work together on this, I'm sure we can find middle ground
and run help with the consultations and have our own campaigns, which actually goes up
to GLA.
And as Peter said, we'll try our best to work with our GLA member to find the best solution
for this.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:51:11
Can I now call up on Councillor Iqbalu -Sain for your contribution in this matter?
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Iqbal Hossain - 2:51:21
We are advised to oppose the TFL and London Mayor's plan to reduce and withdraw of bus
services in Isle of Dogs.
These bus routes are not luxury, as my colleague said before.
It's a lifeline for the elderly, disabled, school children and low -income family who
can't afford taxis or tea.
The
complete
dual of D7
will have
detrimental
impact on
the
state,
making it
harder for
the resident
to access
the GP,
hospital,
schools and
job and
directly hit
those who
rely on the
public transport.
A big chunk
of residents
from my
ward, from
Lansbury
ward, they
use the D7
in order to get the information
to travel to the Isle of Dogs
is the Asda Superstore
that will
heavily impact their daily
trip to Asda.
The TFL and mayors
claim they want to reduce
car use
and tackle air pollution,
cutting or
redraw the bus service route,
rerouting it
, forcing people to use the
where they are claiming to reduce depending on the car and Uber.
So I'm supporting the motion to oppose this plan to reduce bus services,
to withdraw the bus services in Auckland. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:52:59
Thank you, Councillor Hussain.
Then I can take a couple of Councillors' contributions before we move.
Councillor Ahmadir Khan.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Cllr Ahmodur Khan - 2:53:17
Since I've been elected a Councillor, if I'm wrong, please, colleague, remind me, why I
love dogs.
Last time it was I love dogs, this time it's also I love dogs.
I represent Blackwell -Kibbe towns and most of the people of Blackwell -Kibbe town quite
depend on this bus
service for their children their works and they are
Busy to the GPs as well. So I'm asking question
tonight that government want the TFL want
more bus less car and most of the
development happening in Alab dog are car free zone.
So what they want?
Less bus and more car.
Then they have to give us permission to park our car
in our street, in our space that we can use
and we can use for that daily activities
for our families.
So I'm request, I heard all night regarding those busses.
We will not compromise.
My colleague in labour said that you can't come
to a compromise ground.
We don't want to compromise 177, we don't want to compromise 135 and we don't want to
compromise D7.
We want all our bus service for our residents of Isle of Dogs and as I'm saying tonight
I'm supporting these motions also the people before me have said that they will protect
this bus.
I'll support them, I'll work with them.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:54:55
Councillor Parcell, I understand you wish to speak.
No, not particularly.
Councillor Edgar.
Thank you, Speaker.
Cllr David Edgar - 2:55:14
I'd like just to respond to a couple of points that have been made by other councillors in
the debate.
One of which is the notion that this represents somehow an attack by the Mayor of London and
Transport for London upon Tower Hamlets because he doesn't like the politics of this borough,
really is completely fanciful.
I disagree with these proposals, my colleagues disagree with these proposals, to imagine
that it represents some really sort of addictive act on the part of the mayor is I just think
a really, is not accurate, nor is it accurate to say that we have been suggesting that we
go and have some compromise.
I must declare an interest, I use a 277, the D6, the 135, I don't have a car.
Many other people in the ward I represent and the ward I live in also use those vehicles,
and so I think that those bus routes, and so I think that there will be a consensus,
I imagine, across this chamber to say that we are really concerned about the impact of
these proposed changes and that we want to see a TfL and the Mayor of London listening
to the points that we'll be making on behalf of our residents.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:56:20
Thank you.
Thank you.
Councillor Anderson, Councillor Charles House, you wish to speak?
If you could be brief, I'm happy to take it.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Cllr Mads Churchhouse - 2:56:33
The last half hour has been a crash course in island bus routes for me.
I'm much newer to the borough than many of the people here, but I do know what it's like
to work in a ward that is criminally underserved by public transport.
Fish Island has got only one bus route and it's a massive struggle for residents.
I think there's a lot of common ground in this chamber that we actually need to preserve,
we need to not just preserve public transport arrangements in this borough for our residents,
the vast majority of whom do not own cars and really rely on public transports, but
we actually need to further the public transport networks in this borough.
We need to promote a shift into public transport and away from car usage, not just for our
health but for the climate crisis, for all of the social benefits that provide.
And I really do want to stress that I know that we are here because we're all concerned
about residents and I don't think that anyone is asking that we need to grovel to TfL or
that we need to compromise with TfL and I don't find it, I don't find it constructive
to our residents that we talk, we're talking about tribes here when actually we're all
on the same page.
We want the best outcome for residents.
We want our residents to have access to affordable transport.
We want our residents to be well served by the networks in this borough.
And actually facilitating positive dialogue with TfL but standing on our own two feet
and standing for what we believe in as a borough and doing it positively and constructively
I think is how we can get a great outcome here, not only to preserve these bus routes
but to have more in future and build that relationship up so that we have success for
the transport networks in this borough going forward.
Thank you so much.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:58:11
Thank you members.
As we are at the end of the meeting, I will ask Mr Maniun to take us through the final
votes.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:58:23
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:58:28
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I'll be very quick.
I would like to thank everyone for it's been a good debate and I think everyone, pretty much everyone is supportive.
Cllr Maium Talukdar - 2:58:40
So thank you very much. The campaign starts led by the leadership of Mehrlut Rahman.
And Mr. Speaker, I would like to, because of the time, I would like to withdraw all our motions.
Our motions. And we're happy to go to a straight vote to the Labour's one if they want.
Thank you, Councillor.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 2:59:02
Over to you, Mr Manon.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 2:59:06
Okay, I'll take everyone through the last bits of admin for the night.
So first up, voting on the urgent motion.
All those in favour?
Is there anyone against there?
Is that unanimous?
Shout if I've got that wrong.
Okay, that's done.
Thank you.
So on the two motions for debate, although we didn't get to them, the constitution says
we can vote on them should we, Councillor Wish.

10 d) Launch of new Constitution Portal

However, the Aspire Group have indicated that they wish to withdraw their motion, so that's
fine.
We won't vote on that one.
For the Labour Group, would you like to withdraw your motion or would you like us to vote on
it?
Cllr David Edgar - 2:59:52
I'd like to propose understanding order 12 .1m that we extend the meeting to allow for a
debate on the opposition motion.
It wasn't taken at the last meeting.
And I outside of this meeting want to talk about the detail of the reordering of this
agenda and quite how that's played out.
But I do think that we should allow some time to have a debate on the motion, the opposition
motion.
Can I have a seconder for that proposal, that we extend the meeting?
Councillor O 'Lough.
I second.
Mr Matthew Mannion - 3:00:16
All those in favour of the proposal to extend the meeting for half an hour to hear the opposition
motion for debate?
That's those in favour.
Anyone against?
Any abstentions?
Okay, so that proposal falls.
So we'll go back to the earlier question then of whether you'd like us to vote on it anyway
or whether you'd like it to drop.
Drop? Okay, fine.
So that one is dropped as well.
So we now move on to the two reports that we have to vote on.
The first is on the Constitution and the new Constitution portal and the launch of that.
The report is as set out in the agenda.
All those in favour?
Any against?
Any abstentions?
Okay, that is carried.
And then we have the report on the exit payments.

7 ADMINISTRATION MOTION DEBATE

All those in favour?

10 e) Localism Act 2011 and approval of exit payments

All those against?
Any abstentions?
Yes, abstentions.
Thank you, that is carried.
And then there was the Obeon scrutiny annual report as well.
All those in favour of that?
Anyone against?

9 b) Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2025-26

Any abstentions?
And that's carried as well.
Thank you very much.
The motion to the end of the agenda is full and they're not taken.
Member questions, receiver in response.
I'll hand back to the speaker to close the meeting. Thank you.
Cllr Musthak Ahmed - 3:02:02
Thank you members and members of the public at the Public Gallery.
Thank you for your contributions and close the meeting.
Mr Matthew Mannion
Head of Democratic Services
Tower Hamlets
View profile Mr Matthew Mannion