The Council of Tower Hamlets Council was scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, to discuss a range of issues, including the submission of the local plan to the Secretary of State, petitions received from residents, and motions submitted by both the administration and opposition groups. The meeting was also scheduled to include a review of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's annual report.

Local Plan Submission

The council was asked to consider the submission of the Tower Hamlets Local Plan 2023-2038 to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public. The 9.1a Local Plan Submission to the Secretary of State document outlines a strategic vision for growth across the borough, including policies on housing, the environment, design, employment, town centres, community infrastructure, biodiversity, connectivity, and waste management.

The plan aims to deliver at least 52,095 new homes and includes policies to support and manage the delivery of office, education, and employment floorspace, as well as key social infrastructure. The report notes that the plan has undergone extensive consultation and is supported by a comprehensive evidence base.

The council was asked to approve the submission of several documents, including the 9.1b Appendix 1a Link to Submission Version Local Plan, the 9.1d Appendix. 2 for Local Plan Submission to the Secretary of State, 9.1i Appendix. 6 for Local Plan Submission to the Secretary of State, 9.1j Appendix. 7 for Local Plan Submission to the Secretary of State, 9.1k Appendix. 9 for Local Plan Submission to the Secretary of State, 9.1l Appendix. 10 for Local Plan Submission to the Secretary of State and 9.1m Appendix. 11 for Local Plan Submission to the Secretary of State.

An addendum to the report noted a statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Mayor of London regarding temporary measures and support related to housing delivery. A consultation period was expected to launch in November, with a further addendum to the report to follow, outlining any implications for the draft local plan.

Petitions

The council was scheduled to consider several petitions submitted by residents. According to the 5 - ReportPetitionstoCouncil 19.11.25 document, four petitions were scheduled to be heard, and one was to be noted.

The petitions to be heard included:

• Stop the Unnecessary Dangerous FIFTH Cricket Pitch Coming to Victoria Park! This petition calls for the council to halt the installation of a new cricket square in Victoria Park or move it to one of the existing cricket pitches, citing safety concerns for park users.
• Child poverty in Tower Hamlets: This petition urges the council to address child poverty seriously and find long-term solutions, including establishing a community-led child poverty commission, conducting a holistic council strategy review, and writing to the national government.
• Safer School Journey for Tower Hamlets Children: This petition calls for investment in school streets to create safer routes to and from school for children, reducing car trips and improving air quality.
• Mornington Grove: Residents express deep concern regarding the escalating disruption and safety issues affecting their residential street.

The petition to be noted was:

• Petition to be Noted – Support for Small Businesses: This petition calls on the council to take urgent action to protect small businesses and ensure fair treatment across the borough, including reviewing the IZTA rent calculation framework, freezing rent increases, improving parking access, enhancing market opportunities, and establishing a dedicated borough-wide SME body.

Motions for Debate

The council was scheduled to debate motions submitted by both the administration and an opposition group.

Administration Motion: Impact of Government's Reduced Affordable Housing Target

The administration motion, proposed by Councillor Kabir Ahmed, addresses the impact of the government's reduced affordable housing target. The motion notes concerns about measures that incentivise developers to supply only 20% affordable housing, remove viability assessments, and expand the Mayor of London's authority to call in applications. The council believes that the delay and reduction in affordable housing will have real-world consequences for residents and that the government should prioritise the right to a decent affordable home over the profits of corporations. The council resolves to urge the government and the Mayor of London to reverse this decision and to offer advice based on Tower Hamlets council's experience.

Opposition Motion: Housing Repairs

The opposition motion addresses concerns about housing repairs. The council notes a deterioration in Tower Hamlets' housing service, with only 3 in 5 calls to the Housing Service Centre being answered, only 47.3% of repairs appointments being kept, and only 75.6% of repairs being completed in time. The council also notes that 23% of council homes now fail to meet the Decent Homes Standard, with over 2,000 outstanding fire safety actions. The council believes that tenants and leaseholders have been repeatedly let down and that the collapse in housing repairs and maintenance performance represents a serious breach of trust. The council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to resource additional meetings of the Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub-Committee, ensure that quarterly performance data is published online, co-produce a Repairs Improvement Charter with tenants and leaseholders, prioritise the elimination of damp, mould, and disrepair, release capital investment to repair broken communal areas, create quarterly Neighborhood Housing Forums, and hold a special Full Council meeting to discuss the Regulator's downgrade of Tower Hamlets Council's housing services.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report

The council was scheduled to review the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's (OSC) annual report for 2024-25. The 9.2 Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25 Cover Report states that the OSC and its sub-committees focused on areas of strategic priorities to ensure residents' concerns were reflected. The OSC kept oversight of the council's budget and submitted four recommendations for the council's budget, MTFS and strategic performance throughout the year. The OSC also carried out two key scrutiny reviews focusing on current borough-wide issues including Net Zero targets and the Hate Crime Journey and made a number of recommendations.