The Waltham Forest Council meeting on 11 December 2025 will cover a range of topics, including council tax support, fees and charges for various services, and a proposed new smoke control order. Councillors will also consider the Corporate Parenting Board annual report and a protocol for honorary alderpeople. A Labour group motion on national gambling reform is also scheduled.

Council Tax Support Scheme

The council will consider its local Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme for 2026/27. The CTS scheme helps low-income, working-age households pay their council tax by reducing their bills. The report pack states that on 10 September 2025, 9,025 working-age households were receiving support under the council's scheme.

Councillors will consider whether to continue with the current income-banded scheme, where the maximum award available to working-age people is 85% of their council tax bill. They will also consider whether to continue making £750,000 available for a Discretionary Hardship Fund to provide extra support to those suffering the greatest financial hardship.

The report pack notes that any significant changes to the scheme that would reduce or remove support would require a statutory consultation.

Fees and Charges

The council will also discuss its fees and charges for 2026/27. The report pack includes a proposal to increase income budgets by £1.553 million to £51.342 million.

Some specific proposals mentioned in the report pack include:

• Communications: Increasing fees and charges for Waltham Forest News advertising by 3.8%.
• Culture: Increasing fees for the Archives service, now based in Chingford Assembly Hall.
• Registrars: Increasing non-statutory fees and charges by 1-25%.
• Libraries: Increasing lettings fees and charges by 10%.
• Adult Learning: Increasing fees by an average of 10%.
• Adult Social Care: Increasing maximum fees by around 7% for in-house residential care homes (Alliston House, George Mason Lodge and Mapleton Road).
• Education Music: Increasing fees and charges by 5%.
• Regeneration, Planning and Delivery: Increasing development management charges by 5-10%.
• Building Control: Increasing fees by 10%.
• Land Charge fees: Increasing fees by 3%.
• Neighbourhood Services: Increasing fees for cemeteries (3.2%), green space (4%), pastures (4%), sports pitches and open spaces (1.6%), Leyton sports (3.5%), waste replacement bins (3.6%), parking fees (5.6%), and highways (1.5%).
• The Hive: Increasing fees and charges by an average of 4%.
• Revenues and Benefits: Increasing Council Tax court costs by £13.00 to £133.50 and business rates by £24.00 to £223.50.

The report pack states that unless fees and charges are set by statute, services must ensure all costs are recovered in full and are required to obtain benchmarking data to assess comparability.

Proposed New Smoke Control Order

The council will also consider a report proposing a new smoke control order. The report pack notes that the whole of Waltham Forest is a designated smoke control area, but it is fragmented into smaller areas, each covered by its own smoke control order. The report pack states that records are incomplete and that the descriptions of the boundaries are becoming less accurate and reliable over time.

The proposal is to consolidate the existing smoke control orders into a single order covering the whole borough. The report pack states that this would generate greater public awareness, provide clarity for residents and businesses, and allow for more effective enforcement.

Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report

The council will also review the Corporate Parenting Board's annual report for 2024/25. The Corporate Parenting Board oversees the welfare and progress of children and young people in the care of the local authority. The report pack highlights the board's activity in championing the rights, welfare and aspirations of children and young people in care, as well as care leavers.

The report pack states that key themes this year have included improved engagement, responsive services, and a focus on amplifying the voices of children and young people.

Protocol for Honorary Alderperson

The council will also discuss a report proposing amendments to the constitution to adopt a protocol for honorary alderpeople. The report pack notes that under the Local Government Act 1972, a principal council may confer the title of honorary alderman or alderwoman on persons who have rendered eminent services to the council as past members.

The report pack states that the proposed protocol would set out the criteria for awarding the title and that the decision to make such awards would be reserved to the full council. The report pack also notes that the addition of a title of Honorary Alderperson would be in accordance with the council's equality commitments.

Labour Group Motion: Support National Gambling Reform

Councillor Louise Mitchell will move a Labour group motion, seconded by Councillor Khevyn Limbajee, calling for urgent reforms to tackle the harms caused by gambling and to restore decision-making powers to local authorities. The motion also calls for support for the Social Market Foundation's Six Recommendations for Gambling Reform and for the council to join and promote the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA).

The motion notes that gambling addiction is a growing national issue with serious social and economic implications, and that many local authorities are witnessing a concerning proliferation of betting shops, adult gaming centres, and casinos along their high streets but are powerless to stop it due to outdated legislation.

Other Items

The agenda for the meeting also includes:

• Apologies for absence
• Declarations of interest
• Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting
• Announcements from the Mayor, Council Leader, Cabinet Members and Chief Executive
• Public statements
• Members' questions
• Long and distinguished service awards
• Appointments