This week in Waltham Forest:

• The Inner North East London Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee was due to receive updates on plans for maternity and neonatal services, and on specialised healthcare services.
• The Pension Board were due to discuss the Government Actuary's Department report on the 2022 valuations of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• The Cabinet were asked to approve the use of £6.57m to acquire 28 new homes for use as temporary accommodation and to house refugees.
• The Planning Committee met on Tuesday but no video was provided.
• The Executive Decision meeting considered the dates for school terms and holidays for the borough's schools for the academic years beginning in 2025 and 2026.

Inner North East London Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 06 November 2024

This meeting of the Inner North East London Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee considered a variety of reports on the performance of the NHS in North East London, and on planned changes to the way healthcare will be provided in the future.

Maternity and Neonatal Services

The Committee received an update on the Best Start in Life programme. This echoes similar reports that we have seen in previous weeks, such as the report on maternity services that was presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board on 21 October 2024, which highlighted the increasing birth rate in the borough, and the associated pressures on services and staffing.

The Best Start in Life programme is looking at how maternity and neonatal services could be delivered in the future, and the Committee heard about the public engagement that has taken place so far to understand the needs of service users and their families.

Specialised Services

The Committee also discussed the provision of specialised healthcare services in North East London, which are services for people with rare or complex conditions.

These are an important part of the NHS, but they are also expensive to provide. The Committee heard about the challenges of meeting the growing demand for these services, and how the NHS is working to improve the way they are delivered.

The report to the Committee highlighted that the cost of providing these services is rising, and that demand is growing faster than the rate of population growth. It noted that the budget for specialised services in North East London represents around 20% of the total NHS commissioning budget.

The Committee also heard about the benefits and opportunities of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) taking on the responsibility for commissioning specialised services. The report highlights that ICBs will be able to pool specialised budgets and non-specialised budgets to meet the needs of their local population and tackle inequalities in their area. It also notes that ICB-led commissioning should lead to better-joined-up care, as ICBs and providers will be able to work together more closely to improve communication and the sharing of information.

Other business

In other business the Committee heard a general update on the work of the NHS North East London Integrated Care Board and its plans for the winter. The Committee also received reports from the Chief Executives of Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and East London NHS Foundation Trust.

Pension Board - Thursday 07 November 2024

The Pension Board considered the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) Section 13 Report, which reviewed the 2022 valuations of the Local Government Pension Schemes (LGPS) across England and Wales, highlighting several issues with the Waltham Forest Pension Fund.

The GAD Section 13 Report

The GAD report rated the funds against four key criteria: compliance, consistency, solvency and long-term efficiency. The report did not find any issues with the Waltham Forest Pension Fund’s compliance with regulations, but did note an overall lack of consistency between funds across England and Wales, making it difficult to draw useful comparisons.

On solvency, no red or amber flags were raised by the report, though it noted an ongoing risk to the LGPS because:

the nature of open but maturing funds. If a shock were to occur, that shock would be more significant now and in the future, as funds have grown relative to the size of the local authority.

The report added a white “for information” flag against five funds, including the Waltham Forest Pension Fund, in relation to this risk.

On long-term efficiency, Waltham Forest Pension Fund received an amber flag.

Other Business

The meeting also included a discussion of the Pension Administration Service, which included a report on the service’s performance and a draft risk register. The meeting concluded with a Training Summary Report, providing an update on the training needs of the Pension Board members.

Cabinet - Tuesday 05 November 2024

The Cabinet met to discuss a range of issues, including proposals for the 2025/26 Budget, a new strategy for the Private Rented Sector, the Home to School Transport contract, and an action plan to address issues identified in a recent review of the council's performance.

Medium Term Financial Strategy 2024/25 - 2027/28

The meeting included a discussion of the process for setting the 2025/26 Budget, and of the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy to 2027/28. The documents explained that the council is facing significant financial challenges, and that difficult decisions will be required to balance the budget in the years to come.

This continues a theme that has been present throughout 2024, with the council facing an increasingly difficult financial position. We saw in September 2024 that the Cabinet agreed to use £4.5 million from the council’s homelessness reserve to cover the increasing cost of temporary accommodation, and we can expect this theme of financial pressure to continue to dominate council business for the foreseeable future.

Other business

The Cabinet also approved a new Private Rented Sector (PRS) strategy, received a report from the Housing Scrutiny Committee about the council’s Housing Options and Support service, agreed a new contract for home-to-school transport for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, and considered an action plan to address the recommendations of a recent Corporate Peer Challenge.

Executive Decision - Tuesday 05 November 2024

This Executive Decision meeting of Waltham Forest Council considered the dates for school terms and holidays for the borough’s schools for the academic years beginning in 2025 and 2026.

School Term Dates 2025-26 and 2026-27

The meeting considered a report entitled “School Term Dates 2025-26 and 2026-27” (School Term Dates 2024 - ED report) by Pauline Smith, Head of Admissions Commissioning.

This report set out the school term and holiday dates for community, voluntary controlled, community special schools and maintained nurseries in Waltham Forest for 2025-26 and proposed dates for 2026-27. These dates are decided by the council in accordance with Section 32 of the Education Act 2002¹.

The report included draft term dates for 2025/26 (Appendix A - Term Dates 2025-26) and 2026/27 (Appendix B - Term Dates 2026-27), and a report on the consultation that was undertaken to inform the decision.

This week in Waltham Forest:

• The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to discuss a range of topics including the Promoting Wellbeing workstream, housing, homelessness, and maternity services.
• The Staffing Committee were scheduled to interview a single candidate for the role of Corporate Director of Early Help & Prevention.

Health and Wellbeing Board - Monday 21 October 2024

This meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board was due to discuss a range of topics relating to the health and wellbeing of residents. These included updates on the Promoting Wellbeing workstream and maternity services, and reports on the impact of housing on health, the health needs of homeless people, and the Better Care Fund. Unfortunately, no transcript or recording of the meeting was available at the time of writing. This means that we cannot know for certain what was actually discussed, or what decisions were taken.

The Promoting Wellbeing workstream is a partnership between the council and local organisations which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of residents. It is overseen by the Promoting Wellbeing Steering Group, whose Terms of Reference were scheduled to be discussed at the meeting. The agenda suggests that the board was due to receive an update on the workstream's progress, including its finances and future plans. The report prepared for the meeting states that the workstream has been successful in a number of areas, including increasing levels of physical activity, reducing the number of people who smoke, and improving residents' mental health and wellbeing. The board was also due to discuss a report on the impact of housing on health and wellbeing, a topic that we have seen discussed in other contexts at previous meetings, for example the Growth Scrutiny Committee's themed review of the Inclusive Growth and Economy Framework, which reported to Cabinet earlier this month.

The board was also due to receive a report on homelessness in the borough, a recurring theme in recent years, particularly since the start of the pandemic and the recent cost of living crisis. Homelessness has also been discussed at previous meetings, for example in July 2024 when the Cabinet agreed to explore the use of corporate assets to provide temporary accommodation. The report prepared for the meeting highlights the council's legal duty to provide accommodation to homeless people, but notes that a significant number of families are being placed outside of the borough. It also outlines some of the challenges faced by homeless people, who are more likely to experience mental health problems, substance misuse, and physical health problems.

Maternity services were also on the agenda for discussion at the meeting. The agenda suggests that the meeting was due to discuss the implementation of the maternity and neonatal case for change, and to receive an update on the current state of maternity services in Waltham Forest. The report prepared for the meeting highlights the increasing birth rate in the borough, and the associated pressures on services and staffing.

The board was also due to receive the Better Care Fund Quarter 1 performance report. The Better Care Fund is a pot of money that is intended to help local authorities and NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to work together to provide more joined-up health and social care services. The report highlights the financial pressures on the fund, as well as the ongoing challenge of recruiting and retaining sufficient staff.

Staffing Committee - Tuesday 22 October 2024

The Staffing Committee met on Tuesday 22 October 2024 to interview a single candidate for the role of Corporate Director of Early Help & Prevention. This role involves leading the council's efforts to provide support to residents at an early stage, before problems escalate. Unfortunately, no transcript of the meeting was available at the time of writing, so we cannot be sure whether the Committee decided to appoint the candidate they interviewed. The successful candidate will oversee a range of services, including Family Hubs, children's and adults early help, and youth services.

This is the second time in as many months that the Staffing Committee has met to appoint a new Corporate Director. On 3 October 2024 they met to consider applications for the post of Corporate Director of Education. As with that meeting, no transcript was made available, so we do not know whether an appointment was made.

This week in Waltham Forest:

• The Housing and Inclusive Economy Scrutiny Committee considered the council's plans to comply with new rules about how councils provide housing.
• The Council met on Thursday but no video was provided.
• The Climate Scrutiny Committee discussed the council's work on flood mitigation.
• The committee that met on Thursday 17 October 2024 appears to have discussed confidential matters in private.

Housing and Inclusive Economy Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 16 October 2024

This week's meeting of the Housing and Inclusive Economy Scrutiny Committee included a wide-ranging set of discussions about the council's work on housing, culture and infrastructure. The committee considered the council's plans to improve the quality of its housing, to develop a new Cultural Action Plan, and to manage flood risk.

Private Rented Sector Strategy

The meeting included a presentation and discussion about the council's new Private Rented Sector Strategy. This strategy sets out how the council will work to improve the quality of private rented accommodation in the borough. This echoes similar strategies adopted by other councils in London, such as the Tower Hamlets Private Rented Sector Strategy 2020-2025, which was adopted in December 2019.

The report highlighted the rapid growth of the Private Rented Sector in recent years, noting that the sector grew by 3,500 households between 2013 and 2023. This has been accompanied by increases in the cost of renting, with the report observing that [r]ents in London have increased much faster than earnings.

The strategy included a draft delivery plan setting out the actions that the council will take to improve the quality of private rented accommodation in the borough. These include actions to:

• Work with landlords to improve the quality of their properties.
• Provide advice and support to tenants.
• Tackle rogue landlords.

Cultural Action Plan

The meeting also included a discussion of the council’s proposed new Cultural Action Plan. This plan sets out the council’s vision for culture in the borough and how it will achieve this vision.

The action plan was presented to the meeting as replacing the previous 'Arts for All' cultural strategy, published in 2015.

The draft plan was presented to the meeting as being closely aligned with the council's current priorities, namely the 'Mission Waltham Forest' corporate strategy, which was agreed by the Cabinet in July 2024. The vision of the plan is to create:

A vibrant corner of London where culture, creativity and community converge. Whether for a day or a lifetime, we welcome everyone to Waltham Forest.

Social Housing Regulation Act 2023

The committee received a report on the council's progress in implementing the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023. This Act introduces new regulations for social housing landlords, including councils, aimed at improving the quality of social housing and the way in which complaints are handled.

The Act received Royal Assent in July 2023, and some of its provisions came into force immediately. However, other provisions, including those relating to the regulation of social housing, will come into force over the next few years.

Infrastructure Delivery Plan

The committee also discussed the council’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP), which sets out how the council will fund and deliver the infrastructure needed to support the borough’s growth.

The IDP was adopted in January 2020 and covers the period to 2031. The meeting heard that work has already begun on a full review of the plan, with the intention of updating and republishing it in 2025.

Housing Ombudsman's Severe Maladministration Determination

Finally, the committee received a report about an investigation by the Housing Ombudsman into a complaint against the council. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about the services provided by local authorities in England.

The Ombudsman upheld the resident's complaint and found that the council had committed severe maladministration. The Ombudsman ordered the council to pay £2,075 in compensation to the resident and to take steps to improve its services.

Climate Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 15 October 2024

The Climate Scrutiny Committee meeting this week focused on the council's work on flooding, and its plans for future meetings.

Lead Local Flood Authority Update

The Committee received an update on the council’s role as a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA). LLFAs are responsible for managing flood risk in their area. They were created by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

The Committee discussed the council’s progress in implementing its Surface Water Flood Management Plan, which sets out how the council will manage the risk of flooding from surface water, which is water that collects on the ground surface, such as from rainfall or melting snow, as opposed to overflowing rivers and seas.

The Committee were particularly interested in the impact of climate change on flood risk in the borough and how the council is preparing for this.

Climate Scrutiny Committee Forward Plan

The Committee reviewed their Forward Plan, which sets out their work programme for the coming year. The report explained that the Forward Plan would be presented to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Coordinating Committee for final approval. The Forward Plan included meetings on a range of topics including sustainable transport, energy efficiency and biodiversity.

Climate Scrutiny Action Tracker

The agenda suggests that the Committee were also due to review their Action Tracker. This document lists all of the recommendations that the Climate Scrutiny Committee has made to the Cabinet, and whether or not these recommendations have been implemented.

Unknown committee - Thursday 17 October 2024

A committee meeting appears to have taken place on Thursday 17 October 2024. However, no information about what was discussed at this meeting, or who attended, was publicly available at the time of writing. The meeting may have involved the discussion of confidential matters, such as an individual's personal circumstances, or commercially sensitive information that could harm the council's financial interests if it was to be released.

This week in Waltham Forest:

• The Waltham Forest Stop and Search Group were scheduled to discuss the over-representation of Black people in MTIP stop and search figures.
• The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to discuss the potential closure of the Markhouse Centre, and proposals to recommission integrated sexual health services.
• The Planning Committee met on Tuesday but no video was provided.

Waltham Forest Stop and Search Group - Monday 07 October 2024

The Waltham Forest Stop and Search Group met this week. Unfortunately, no transcript was available at the time of writing. The agenda suggests they were due to consider the latest stop and search figures, the treatment of young people by the police, and the use of body-worn cameras.

Stop and Search in Waltham Forest

The Stop and Search Group is a forum for discussing issues relating to the use of stop and search powers in the borough. It is made up of councillors, members of the public, and representatives from the police and other organisations. Stop and search powers allow police officers to stop a person and search them if they have ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect that they are carrying certain items. This can include:

• offensive weapons, such as knives, guns, and acid
• stolen goods
• articles for use in certain offences, such as criminal damage, such as spray paint cans
• prohibited drugs

The police must have ‘reasonable grounds’ to stop and search you. This means that they must have more than just a ‘hunch’ that you are carrying one of these items. They should be able to explain why they stopped you and what they were looking for. You can find out more about your rights when stopped and searched on the GOV.UK website.

The Group’s work is particularly important given concerns about the disproportionate use of stop and search powers against Black and Minority Ethnic people. The agenda for the meeting included a report on the latest stop and search figures for the borough.

This is a topic that the Group has discussed at previous meetings. The minutes of the Group’s meeting on 22 July 2024 show that the Group were concerned about the over-representation of Black people in stop and search figures. The minutes also show that the Group were concerned about the effectiveness of arrangements to review footage from officers' body-worn cameras, and that they sought reassurance that footage is appropriately reviewed, and that feedback from those reviews is used to improve the use of stop and search powers. It was noted in the July minutes that the Metropolitan Police’s Op Coniston programme for reviewing body-worn video footage has been suspended for 12-18 months, and that plans for a replacement were not yet finalised. The agenda for this meeting suggests that the Group were scheduled to receive an update on these plans at this meeting, and to discuss arrangements for future body-worn camera viewing sessions.

Treatment of Young People

The agenda for the meeting also suggests that the Group was due to discuss the treatment of young people by the police. This is a particularly important issue given the significant impact that stop and search can have on young people, particularly young Black men. Research has shown that being stopped and searched can have a negative impact on young people’s mental health and wellbeing, and can damage their trust in the police.

The agenda included an item on the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime’s (MOPAC) ‘Safeguarding Children Affected by Violence through Stop and Search’ pilot, which is taking place in Haringey. The pilot is testing a new approach to safeguarding children who are stopped and searched. This includes providing them with information about their rights, and referring them to support services if needed. The Group were scheduled to receive an update on the pilot, and to discuss whether it could be rolled out in Waltham Forest.

Stop and Search Charter

Finally, the agenda suggests that the Group were scheduled to receive an update on the Metropolitan Police’s consultation on the Stop and Search Charter, which sets out the rules for police use of stop and search powers. The Charter was introduced in 2014 in response to concerns about the overuse and misuse of stop and search powers. The Metropolitan Police is currently consulting on a number of proposed changes to the Charter. The Group were scheduled to discuss the proposed changes, and to agree a response to the consultation. They were also scheduled to discuss how to better integrate the recommendations of the Waltham Forest Citizens’ Assembly on policing in the borough into stop and search practice.

The Group was also scheduled to confirm dates for future meetings and to discuss other business.

Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 09 October 2024

The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee is responsible for scrutinising the council’s health and adult social care services. This week the committee was scheduled to receive an update on the progress made in a range of areas since the last meeting of the Committee, including on reducing waiting lists for Adult Social Care services, on smoking cessation, and on improving access to primary care for refugees. The committee was also scheduled to receive a report on the proposed closure of the Markhouse Centre and to consider proposals for Integrated Sexual Health Recommissioning.

Markhouse Centre consultation

The Markhouse Centre is a day centre that provides a range of services for adults with learning disabilities. The council’s website explains that this includes:

building-based day opportunities for eligible social care clients, people with learning disabilities and people with learning disabilities and autism

The council is proposing to close the centre. This proposal has been met with opposition from service users and their families. A public consultation on the proposal closed on Sunday 25 August 2024.

The agenda for this week’s meeting included a report on the outcome of the consultation. It is understood that the report included an analysis of the responses received during the consultation, as well as an outline of the next steps in the decision-making process. This is a significant issue that has generated a lot of interest from the public.

Integrated Sexual Health Recommissioning

The committee was also scheduled to discuss proposals for the Integrated Sexual Health Recommissioning. The current contract for sexual health services in Waltham Forest is due to expire in November 2025. The council is therefore in the process of planning for the recommissioning of these services. It is likely that the report discussed the outcome of the engagement work with stakeholders that had been undertaken to inform the recommissioning process and set out the proposed next steps.

Last week in Waltham Forest:

• The Cabinet was asked to approve the use of £6.57m to acquire 28 new homes, and bring 22 void properties back into use to provide temporary accommodation and homes for refugees.
• The Shareholder Committee received an update on the progress of the More Homes Waltham Forest Joint Venture.
• The Audit and Governance Committee met on Wednesday but no video was provided.
• The Staffing Committee met to discuss the appointment of a new Corporate Director of Education.
• The Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee met to consider an application for a new premises licence for a cocktail bar on Tilbury Road.

Cabinet - Tuesday 01 October 2024

The Cabinet met to discuss a number of issues.

Increasing Temporary and Settled Accommodation Supply

The Cabinet voted to approve a proposal to use £6.57m of grant funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government's Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) to acquire a minimum of 28 homes, 23 for use as temporary accommodation, and five for refugee resettlement. The funding would also be used to bring approximately 22 long-term void council properties back into use. This echoes similar decisions taken in previous years as the council grapples with an increasing need for temporary accommodation and a nationwide shortage of affordable housing. The report to the Cabinet noted that:

The MHCLG funding programme therefore provides an important opportunity for the council, through a combination of acquisitions and major void works, to address homelessness in the borough. This will play a part in relieving the increasing pressures of providing temporary accommodation in bed & breakfasts and commercial hotels, which is expensive to the council and does not fully meet the housing needs of residents.

The report suggested that, based on the figures from the previous round of the Local Authority Housing Fund, the council could afford to borrow up to 50% of the costs of purchasing and refurbishing the 28 properties, leaving £1.6m of grant funding to be allocated to major void works. This decision follows the pattern of similar decisions taken in previous years, such as the decision in September 2024 to use £4.5 million from the council’s homelessness reserve to cover the increasing cost of temporary accommodation, or the decision in July 2024 to explore the use of corporate assets for temporary accommodation.

Growth Scrutiny Committee Themed Review 2023-24: Inclusive Growth and Economy Framework

The Cabinet received a report from the Growth Scrutiny Committee on its themed review of the Council's approach to the Inclusive Growth and Economy Framework. The report explained that:

Waltham Forest has seen a decade of rapid change with significant business, housing and population growth. Despite this growth there is increased inequality for residents, which [has] been exacerbated by [the] pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. A new innovative approach is required to deliver a framework to ensure the next 10 years of planned growth can generate opportunities for all residents.

The report described the aims of the framework as:

intrinsically linked to the new corporate framework, Mission Waltham Forest. The framework outlines six borough missions, those of note to this thematic review include: ensuring every family and every child are given every opportunity and building an economy that works for everyone.

The report recommended that the Cabinet approve 17 recommendations that it made to help improve the framework. These recommendations covered three main themes:

• Partnership and education:
  • The Committee advised the Cabinet to increase the Council's partnership work with the voluntary sector, ensuring a joined-up approach particularly in relation to supporting young people, people with mental health problems, and people experiencing homelessness.
  • It recommended that the Council use its planning powers to support childcare settings to provide the 15 hours of free childcare for 2-year-olds.
  • The Committee also recommended that the Council focus on educating people around financial literacy, providing specific support for women recently arrived in the UK, and maintaining a strong focus on wellbeing for people accessing Council services.
• Monitoring: The Committee recommended that the Cabinet establish baseline metrics, disaggregated by protected characteristics and geographic area to track the impact of the framework, with a strong focus on outcomes. It also recommended that a full Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) be undertaken. An EIA is an assessment of the likely impact of a policy, programme or service on people with different protected characteristics.
• Employment: The Committee made several recommendations on employment, particularly on encouraging businesses in the borough to pay the London Living Wage.¹
  • It recommended that the Council encourage all employers that use apprenticeships, and all businesses that lease the Council's buildings, to pay the London Living Wage.
  • It also recommended that the Council work to increase the quality of jobs available in the borough, and encourage and support young people to enter job sectors that are experiencing shortages.

The report pack included a proposed response from officers to each of the Committee's recommendations.

Sixty Bricks Dormancy

The Cabinet received an update on activity undertaken to place the Council's housing development company, Sixty Bricks, into dormancy. Sixty Bricks was established in 2017 and has delivered 299 homes across five schemes in the borough, with 78% of these being affordable. Sixty Bricks ceased trading in August 2024. The report described the purpose of Sixty Bricks as to:

add value to the council’s existing housing delivery models.

and highlighted that:

The company successfully completed its Phase 1 development programme at the end of 2022, comprising 299 new homes, of which 78% were affordable, including 188 social rent homes. All homes have been sold or are occupied where available on a social rent basis.

The report included the company's audited annual accounts for April 2023-June 2024, and recommended that the remaining residual cash balance of £1m be returned to the Council as a dividend to be used to offset any future liabilities incurred by the Council from Sixty Bricks's pipeline schemes. It also recommended that the Corporate Director of Capital Strategy and Portfolio Management and Corporate Director of Financial Services be appointed as Company Director and Company Secretary, respectively, for the period the company remains dormant.

Shareholder Committee - Tuesday 01 October 2024

The Shareholder Committee met to receive an update on the council's More Homes Waltham Forest Joint Venture.

More Homes Waltham Forest Joint Venture

The committee received an update on the More Homes Waltham Forest Joint Venture. This is a partnership with Mears Group, a housing and social care provider, to provide 330 homes for rent to people who the council has a legal duty to house. The scheme is funded through a bond issued to the BAE Systems Pension Fund.

The committee was asked to note a number of items, including:

• The governance forward plan for the joint venture.
• The joint venture's annual report and financial statements.
• The financial model and business plan for 2024/25.
• The key performance indicators for the first quarter of 2024/25.

The report explained that the aim of the scheme is to reduce the amount the council spends on temporary accommodation by providing more permanent accommodation. It was originally planned that the scheme would provide 365 homes, but this target was reduced to 330 homes because of market conditions.

The report described how the scheme is funded by a bond issued to the BAE Systems Pension Fund, which matures in 2058. The properties in the scheme are managed by Plexus, a subsidiary of Mears Group, on a 40-year lease. Because the rents on the properties are set at the same rate as the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) that the council pays to people living in temporary accommodation, the council has provided a guarantee to the joint venture to make up any shortfall in the rent. The report explains that:

The Council also guarantees to pay any shortfall in interest earned when compared to the base case financial model.

According to the report, the scheme has so far delivered a cumulative saving to the council of £3.5 million, based on the difference between the cost of keeping people in temporary accommodation and the net cost of the scheme to the council.

The report explained that the purchase of all 330 homes was completed in 2022/23.

It explained that:

Reflecting this, governance was scaled down to focus on housing management and financial performance by the JV Board and Members, and the council’s governance arrangements for council JVs.

The report also noted that:

In July 2024, Cabinet approved a revised scheme for a second JV with Mears after the previous proposal, agreed in 2022, proved to no longer be financially viable due to increases in interest rates and debt costs. The scheme will look to acquire 400 homes from the market, which will allow the council to discharge its housing duty and mitigate against future cost pressure to the temporary accommodation budget.

The report also contained the More Homes Waltham Forest LLP Annual Report and Financial Statements 2023/24, as approved by the JV Board.

Staffing Committee - Thursday 03 October 2024

This meeting was about the appointment of a new Corporate Director of Education. A total of four candidates were shortlisted and scheduled to attend stakeholder engagement panels.

Appointment panel: Corporate Director of Education

The Staffing Committee considered applications for the Chief Officer post of Corporate Director of Education. The four shortlisted candidates had attended stakeholder engagement panels on 2 October. A further shortlist will be decided after these panels, before the final Member Appointment Panel. The meeting report pack included a copy of the Corporate Director of Education Job Description. The post has been identified as politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. The report explained that the appointment process was in accordance with the Council’s Recruitment & Selection Procedure.

The meeting also received a report titled Executive Director Appointment: Corporate Director of Education which was prepared by Nicola Crouch, Strategic Director of Children Services and Lee Witham, Corporate Director of Culture & Workforce Development. The report explained that interim arrangements had been in place up until this point, and that the questions drafted for the Members to pose had been crafted around the role profile and the ambitions that the council has for the post holder to fulfil. The report noted that financial provision for the post exists within the Council budget.

Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee - Wednesday 02 October 2024

The Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee met to consider an application for a new premises licence for Leyton Calling at Arch 145, Tilbury Road, Leyton, London E10 6RE.

Leyton Calling

The applicant, Samoan Joes London Ltd, requested permission for:

• The supply of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises
• Late night refreshments
• Recorded music

The application proposed the following hours:

• Supply of Alcohol, Late Night Refreshments & Recorded Music
  • Sunday to Thursday 12:00-23:00
  • Friday & Saturday 12:00-01:00
• Hours Premises Open to the Public
  • Monday to Thursday 12:00-00:00
  • Friday & Saturday 12:00-02:00
  • Sunday 10:00-00:00

The application was the subject of nine representations:

• Seven representations were received from members of the public, of which two objected to the application, and five were in support of it.
• Two representations were received from responsible authorities:
  • The Metropolitan Police initially objected to the application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.
  • The Licensing Authority also initially objected to the application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

The Metropolitan Police withdrew their objection after the applicant agreed to a number of conditions, including the employment of Security Industry Authority (SIA)-licenced door staff from 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and the implementation of a dispersal policy.

The Licensing Authority also withdrew their objection after the applicant agreed to a number of conditions. The Licensing Authority's suggested conditions included, but were not limited to, the following:

• CCTV: Installation of a comprehensive CCTV system covering all entry and exit points, with recordings to be retained for at least 31 days.
• Incident Logbook: Maintenance of a detailed incident logbook, recording various incidents such as thefts, disorder, ejections, and complaints.
• Staff Training: Mandatory training for all staff involved in alcohol sales, covering age verification, refusal of service to intoxicated individuals, and prevention of proxy sales.
• Noise Control: Hourly noise level observations to be conducted at nearby residential properties during regulated entertainment. The music volume must be reduced if any noise breakout is detected.
• Challenge 25: Implementation of a Challenge 25 policy for age verification, with prominent signage and staff training on the scheme.
• Dispersal Policy: Implementation of a written dispersal policy to manage the safe and orderly departure of patrons, minimizing disturbance to residents.
• Refuse Management: Measures to ensure the proper disposal of rubbish and litter and to minimize noise from bin collections after 23:00 hours.

The sub-committee considered the application and representations and decided whether to grant the licence with the agreed conditions, modify the application, or refuse the application.

This week in Waltham Forest:

• The Executive Decision meeting was postponed.
• The Communities and Public Protection Scrutiny Commmittee was scheduled to discuss a 'Home Streets' themed review of crime and community safety, as well as the council's approach to civil protection and contingency planning.

Communities and Public Protection Scrutiny Commmittee - Thursday 26 September 2024

The Communities and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 26 September 2024. The documents available do not record what was actually discussed at the meeting. The agenda suggests that the meeting was due to involve scrutiny of the council's draft plans for future meetings, its approach to civil protection and contingency planning, and a proposed 'Home Streets' themed review of crime and community safety.

Scrutiny Report

The report pack prepared for the meeting included the council's draft forward plan of future meetings (Report pack p.58-64). This is a list of topics that the committee is scheduled to discuss in future meetings. Because the forward plan is a draft, the Councillors may choose to make changes to it.

The report pack also included a draft scoping document (Report pack p.65-70) for the 'Home Streets' themed review. This document proposed that the themed review should aim to:

gain an understanding of the complex crime patterns in the borough through looking at a variety of data and other information sources, identifying where extra resources are required. (Report pack p.66)

The draft scoping document also included a proposed schedule of meetings, and who would be invited to speak at them.

Civil Protection

The documents also included a report that was prepared to provide the committee with:

an overview of Civil Contingency arrangements within the Council across Gold, Silver and Bronze response levels, with a summary of the response to the recent far right and counter protest in Walthamstow on 7th August 2024. (Report pack p.71)

It described the statutory duties of the council under The Civil Contingencies Act 2004¹, which requires local councils to show that they are prepared for emergencies.

In particular it listed flooding, property fires and adverse weather as examples of emergencies the council should prepare for. (Report pack p.71)

The report went on to describe the council's response to the far-right protest that was expected to take place in Walthamstow on 7 August 2024. The report summarises the multi-agency response that was coordinated in the run up to the protest, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police and community groups. The report notes that the protest itself mostly consisted of anti-fascist counter-protesters, and that the far right presence was minimal.

The report concludes by noting that the council would review the response to the protest to identify whether any lessons had been learned, and by observing that the council will:

also refer to the Grenfell Inquiry² report to consider its own arrangements as a multifunctional Council, considering its duties as a housing provider, developer, regulator and Category 1 responder to the potential risks and incidents that can take place within the Borough and across the London region. (Report pack p.78)

This week in Waltham Forest:

• The Budget Scrutiny Committee meeting had no published agenda or transcript.
• The Pension Committee meeting had no published agenda or transcript.
• The Whipps Cross Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee meeting was postponed.
• The Scrutiny Coordinating Committee met to discuss the draft annual report, performance data for June and July 2024, and the scrutiny committee forward plans.
• The Executive Decision meeting was scheduled to include a decision to be made without public access on whether to award a contract to fit out a new council building.

Scrutiny Coordinating Committee - Thursday 19 September 2024

The meeting was the first for the Scrutiny Coordinating Committee since changes were made to the structure and operation of scrutiny at Waltham Forest Council following a review conducted by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny. The meeting included discussion of the draft Annual Report for the 2023/24 municipal year, an update on the corporate performance framework including a look at performance data for June and July 2024, and a review of draft scrutiny committee forward plans.

Draft Annual Report

The draft Annual Report for 2023/24 covered the work of each of the eight scrutiny committees that operated during the year: Adult Social Care, Budget and Performance, Children and Families, Climate, Communities, Growth, Health, and Housing. The report also covers the three joint health overview and scrutiny committees (JHOSC) that Waltham Forest participates in, alongside neighbouring boroughs and NHS partners. These are the Whipps Cross JHOSC, the Inner North East London JHOSC, and the Outer North East London JHOSC.

The report summarises the activity of each scrutiny committee, including a summary of recommendations made and their impact. Each committee section of the report also looks forward to the priorities for 2024/25. The report also covers the work completed under the scrutiny training programme, a development programme delivered in response to a recommendation from the Scrutiny Improvement Review.

Corporate Performance Framework

This was the first update to the Scrutiny Coordinating Committee on the new system of corporate performance reporting since its implementation in June 2024.

The new Corporate Performance Framework contains 82 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) structured around the Council's new corporate framework, Mission Waltham Forest. 5 of the 82 KPIs are still under development with service areas, and around 50 will be updated monthly with the rest updated less frequently. The report requested that the Scrutiny Coordinating Committee review the performance data and make recommendations as required. The report also requested that the committee consider the KPIs in the Corporate Performance Framework and identify any areas that should be added in future.

Two areas of performance were highlighted in the report:

Adult Social Care service users whose support has been reviewed in the last 12 months (CPR 25)

The report noted that whilst performance in this area is improving, there are disparities with performance by NELFT¹ causing concern. The report recommended accelerating improvement in this area as the Care Quality Commission (CQC)² will be focusing on management, oversight and governance in their next assessment.

Households in Temporary Accommodation (Rate per 1,000 households) (CPR 03)

The report highlighted a continuing upward trend in the rate of households in temporary accommodation since March 2023. The report described the work that the Council has been doing to mitigate the impact of this trend. This work included:

• Providing new self-contained temporary accommodation units to reduce the need for procuring nightly accommodation from third parties
• Exploring the use of corporate assets for temporary accommodation as part of the Assets review transformation programme.

The report also highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of people needing temporary accommodation. This echoes similar statements made in previous meetings, such as at the Cabinet meeting on 10 September 2024, where it was noted that the council had to use a specific homelessness reserve of £4.5 million to meet the increased cost of providing temporary accommodation to homeless families.

Scrutiny Committee Forward Plans

The Committee received draft forward plans from each of the six scrutiny committees operating in 2024/25. These committees are: Adult Social Care and Health; Budget; Children and Families; Climate; Communities and Public Protection; and Housing and Inclusive Economy. The report also included the Cabinet forward plan. The Coordinating Committee reviewed these forward plans, with the objective of ensuring that there is alignment between committee work programmes and the Cabinet forward plan.

Executive Decision - Tuesday 17 September 2024

The meeting was scheduled to include a decision to be made without public access on whether to award a contract to fit out a new council building.

Families and Homes Hub Fit Out Contract Award

The meeting was scheduled to include consideration of a report entitled Families and Homes (aka Sunflower House) Hub Fit Out Contract Award that recommended that the council awards the contract for fitting out Sunflower House to the contractor ISG.³

The report, by Stacey Clark, Senior Project Manager, explained that: The works include the full fit out the building and will result in the delivery of a bespoke facility that will meet the needs of a range of services, and more importantly, residents.

The report explained that ISG was selected without a competitive tender process: The agreed procurement strategy, as approved by SCB in February 2024, was to call off the Pagabo framework and engage with fit out contractor ISG Ltd on the basis of a Direct Award. The report explained that using this process would save time: A mini-competition is not being recommended as the direct award approach demonstrates value for money for the Council, provides a reduced programme and enables the opening of the Sunflower in January 2025, and guarantees that the contract is made with a high quality and trusted supplier.

The report noted that: The design of the fit out works has been developed with sustainability in mind. The design and delivery will achieve BREEAM Very Good.⁴

This week in Waltham Forest:

• The Cabinet noted a projected overspend of £14.038 million in revenue expenditure for 2024-2025.
• The Staffing Committee met to discuss the appointment of a new Director of Return on Investment.
• The Staffing Committee met to appoint a new Corporate Director of Communications & Campaigns.
• The Children and Families Scrutiny Committee discussed a range of issues affecting children and young people in the borough, including the outcome of the recent Ofsted inspection of Children's Services.

Cabinet - Tuesday 10 September 2024

The Cabinet met this week to discuss a range of issues, including the Council’s finances, the provision of substance and alcohol treatment services, the Serious Violence Strategy, the Social Value Annual Statement, proposed changes to the “pay to park” parking restrictions scheme, and the leasing of two properties for use as temporary accommodation.

The Cabinet noted a projected overspend of £14.038 million in revenue expenditure for 2024-2025. They also noted that the council had to use a specific homelessness reserve of £4.5 million to meet the increased cost of providing temporary accommodation to homeless families. This is a recurring theme - in July the Cabinet noted that the council was facing significant financial challenges, including a projected overspend of £10 million for 2024-2025. They decided to defer any decision on how to address this projected overspend until September. The council's financial challenges are partly due to the increasing cost of providing social care services, which is a national issue.

To help improve the council's financial position, the Cabinet agreed to allocate £5.937 million from the Budget Strategy Reserve (BSR) to fund a number of initiatives, including the Inclusion Action Plan, three new business intelligence posts and initiatives to help deliver the council’s serious violence reduction strategy. The Cabinet noted that the remaining balance of £9.611 million in the BSR did not include any provision to meet the predicted revenue overspend or to reduce future budget gaps.

Staffing Committee - Wednesday 11 September 2024

Chief Officer Appointment: Director of Return on Investment (ROI)

This meeting was scheduled to interview candidates for the role of Director of Return on Investment, a role which involves providing leadership and management for a service within the council.

This is the latest in a series of recent appointments to the council's senior management team. In July, the Staffing Committee met to appoint a new Executive Director of Resources.

Staffing Committee - Thursday 12 September 2024

This meeting was scheduled to interview candidates for the role of Corporate Director of Communications & Campaigns. The report to the committee noted that Financial provision for this post exist[ed] within the Council’s budget.

Given the projected £14.038 million overspend noted by the Cabinet just two days earlier, the decision to proceed with the appointment of a new Corporate Director, a role which often comes with a six-figure salary, may raise some eyebrows.

Children and Families Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 11 September 2024

This meeting was scheduled to receive an update on the council’s plans following the recent Ofsted inspection of Children’s Services, which judged the service to be ‘Good’ overall. The Committee was also due to receive a range of information relating to the educational experiences of children and young people in the borough, including school attendance, permanent exclusions and the educational achievements of children in care.

Ofsted inspections are a key part of the accountability framework for local authority children's services in England. They are carried out by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, which is an independent inspectorate that reports to Parliament. Ofsted inspects a range of services, including schools, colleges, early years settings and children's social care services.

Waltham Forest’s Children’s Services were last inspected in 2019 when they were also judged to be ‘Good’. The latest inspection, which took place in July, found that services for children in care had improved to ‘Outstanding’.

The report of the inspection, which was published on 8 July, found that Children in Waltham Forest continue to receive good-quality services delivered by knowledgeable and committed social workers. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the council's social workers, who play a vital role in protecting vulnerable children.

Ofsted inspections are an important way of holding local authorities to account for the quality of their children's services. They can help to drive up standards and improve outcomes for children and families.

The report to this meeting also included an update on attendance, exclusions and elective home education in the borough’s schools. The report highlighted that the attendance rate for children receiving Free School Meals was significantly lower than the borough average, reflecting the impact that poverty and deprivation can have on educational outcomes.

This is an issue that the council has been working to address for a number of years. In 2019, the council launched its Child Poverty Strategy, which sets out a range of actions that the council is taking to reduce child poverty in the borough.

The report also highlighted the overrepresentation of Black Caribbean children in the borough’s permanent exclusion figures. This is a complex issue with a number of contributing factors, including institutional racism and unconscious bias.

The council has been working to address this issue for a number of years. In 2020, the council launched its Race Equality Strategy, which sets out a range of actions that the council is taking to address racial inequality in the borough.

The meeting was also scheduled to receive a briefing from the Virtual School, which provides support to children in care. The briefing was due to include an update on the educational achievements of children in care in Waltham Forest.

Children in care are a vulnerable group who often face significant challenges in their lives. They may have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma. As a result, they are more likely to have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and are less likely to achieve good educational outcomes than their peers.

The Virtual School plays a vital role in supporting children in care to achieve their potential. They work closely with schools, social workers and other professionals to ensure that children in care receive the support they need to succeed.

This week in Waltham Forest:

• The Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee revoked the premises licence of Global Food & Drink.

Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee - Tuesday 30 July 2024

The Licensing Sub-Committee revoked the premises licence of Global Food & Drink, 44 St. James Street, Walthamstow after hearing evidence that it had repeatedly broken licensing laws. This means that the shop can no longer sell alcohol. The Sub-Committee heard evidence that alcohol and tobacco had been sold illegally to children at the shop, and that illicit tobacco had been found for sale there.

Review of Global Food & Drink

Waltham Forest Trading Standards requested that the Licensing Sub-Committee review the premises licence of Global Food & Drink. They argued that the shop had repeatedly broken licensing laws relating to the sale of alcohol and tobacco.

Trading Standards officers told the Sub-Committee that:

On the 27 November 2021 the sale of illicit tobacco took place at the premises. On the 29 November 2021 a detection dog detected 54 packs of illicit duty evaded cigarettes. The Court proceedings in respect of these two offences are ongoing and not yet concluded. On the 15 September 2023 there was a purchase of illicit duty evaded cigarettes. On the 19 October 2023, a minor of 15 years of age purchased a bottle of Smirnoff Ice and on 18th April 2024, two minors aged fourteen and fifteen years purchased a Gold Bar Strawberry Peach disposable vape.

The Sub-Committee heard that this was not the first time that the shop had broken licensing laws.

The Sub-Committee noted there was a review of the premises in 2017 and the licence was suspended for 3 months. A condition was also imposed in respect of the current PLH [Premises Licence Holder], Mr [Bilgin] Redzheb. The condition outlined on page 32 of the agenda pack stipulates: “Mr Redzheb shall be excluded from the premises and not be allowed to have any dealings or involvement with the premises”.

Despite this, Mr Redzheb had recently become the designated premises supervisor, the person responsible for the day-to-day running of the shop and making sure that it complies with licensing laws. The Licensing Officer told the Sub-Committee that the Council had made a mistake in allowing Mr Redzheb to become the designated premises supervisor.

Mr Redzheb's lawyer told the Sub-Committee that his client was not the licence holder when the most recent offences took place.

The lawyer explained that his client hasn’t been involved in any form of criminal activity in the last 7 years and it would be unfair to take action against him.

The Sub-Committee decided to revoke the shop's licence, preventing it from selling alcohol. In their decision the Sub-Committee said:

The Sub-Committee are of the view it’s a family run business and do not have faith that Mr Redzheb will run the business responsibly. [...] The Sub-Committee were concerned about the serious nature of the offences committed at this premises and the history of criminal activity at this family run business which have undermined the Licensing Act 2003 objectives.

The Licensing Act 2003 is the law that governs the sale of alcohol in England and Wales. It sets out the responsibilities of licensees and the powers of licensing authorities. It also establishes a system of licensing objectives, which are:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

Licensing authorities, in this case Waltham Forest Council, are responsible for granting, renewing, and revoking premises licences. They must also ensure that licensees comply with the conditions of their licences.

Global Food & Drink can appeal the Sub-Committee's decision to Thames Magistrates' Court within 21 days.

The Pension Committee met on Monday to discuss the management of climate change risks to the Council's pension fund. The Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for The Drink Factory on Forest Road. The Scrutiny Coordinating Committee received reports on the council's performance and reviewed the forward plans and work programmes for the council's Scrutiny Committees. An Executive Decision was made on Wednesday on whether to start the process of appointing the main contractor for the Vestry House Museum Revitalisation Project. The Waltham Forest Stop and Search Group met on Monday to discuss the use of stop and search powers in the borough. An Executive Decision meeting was held on Monday but the agenda was not publicly available. An Executive Decision was made on Monday regarding the possible introduction of a PSPO to combat nuisance from car meets. The Whipps Cross Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to meet on Wednesday but the agenda was not publicly available.

Pension Committee - Monday 22 July 2024

The Pension Committee meeting included a report on climate change, a verbal report on the submission of a petition and an update on the status of the committee's work programme.

Climate Change

A report was included on how the Climate Change Act 2009¹ applies to the council's pension fund. The meeting considered the act's requirements in relation to the management of climate change risks.

The Council has a legal and fiduciary duty to ensure that the risks from climate change and the opportunities presented by the transition to a lower carbon economy are appropriately managed across its full range of functions. This includes managing climate-related risks to the Pension Fund’s assets, as required by the Pension Regulator.

The report also presented an update on the work of the London Collective Investment Vehicle (LCIV)² on climate change.

The LCIV has developed a responsible investment framework to manage extra-financial risks, including ESG and climate change factors, when investing the Fund’s assets.

Petition submitted to the Pension Committee

The committee received a verbal report on the submission of a petition. No further information was available.

Work Programme

A report presented the work programme of the Pension Committee, highlighting completed and outstanding tasks.

Executive Decision - Monday 22 July 2024

This Executive Decision was made by Cllr Khevyn Limbajee, Portfolio Lead Member for Community Safety, on whether to introduce a boroughwide Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle nuisance from car meets.

Public Space Protection Order to Tackle Nuisance from Car Meets

The report pack explains that the decision-maker is able to designate a PSPO on behalf of the Council.

A PSPO can place restrictions and requirements on an area where activities have, or are likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of local people. The activities are persistent or continuing in nature, are unreasonable and justify the restrictions imposed by the PSPO. These can be blanket restrictions or requirements.

The report goes on to describe how car meets are a significant problem in the borough.

The London Borough of Waltham Forest has seen a gradual but significant increase in nuisance and anti-social behaviour (ASB) related to motor vehicles participating in organised car meets (groups of car and motorcycle owners meeting up at a specific and designated location). High numbers of noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour reports are being received by local ward members along with significant online reports received by Council services and Police colleagues as a result.

The pack identifies some locations where car meets have caused particular issues. These include Argyll Avenue in Leyton, Leyton Mills Retail Park, and Tesco Extra at Signal Walk in Highams Park.

Changes to the road structure and layout such as speed humps and vehicle access restrictions were also investigated however significant costs and the impact on the retail park have delayed any planned changes. A high friction surface was applied on the 6th of October 2023 to prevent wheel spinning and a consultation for additional parking restrictions is currently taking place.

The report pack contains a heatmap showing the locations of car meets across the borough. The data for the heatmap was taken from reports made to the Council and the police. Unsurprisingly, it shows a high density of reports in the south of the borough close to the border with Redbridge, an area in which car meets were the subject of a petition in 2022. This is reminiscent of the issues encountered with car meets close to the border with Enfield in 2020, which was eventually resolved with the introduction of a borough-wide PSPO.

A significant number of reports related to car meets are also linked with racing, revving engines, problematic congregation, and drug related reports. The use of NO2 laughing gas and cannabis is also linked with car meet reports.

Details of the Proposed PSPO

Any person is prohibited from congregating for the purpose of being a participant or spectator, as a passenger or driver of a vehicle, in a car meet that is likely to cause a nuisance to persons in the locality of the restricted area by: ▪ Driving a motor vehicle at excessive speed ▪ Revving of engines ▪ Sudden or rapid acceleration / deceleration ▪ Driving in convoy ▪ Idling ▪ Performing stunts ▪ Sounding horns ▪ Playing amplified music ▪ Displaying ▪ Causing obstruction

The report pack includes the results of a public consultation on the proposals. The results of this consultation show a high level of support (88.2%) for a boroughwide PSPO.

Regarding the specific terms within the PSPO, support from the public is high, with an average of 81.7% supporting each of the proposed restrictions.

The report pack includes an Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) that concludes that there is no negative impact on any protected groups.

This analysis has concluded that the policy will have a positive impact on protected characteristics by preventing the negative impact of the nuisance caused by car meets.

Waltham Forest Stop and Search Group - Monday 22 July 2024

This meeting was scheduled to include updates from the police and the Young Independent Advisory Group (YIAG)³ on a number of topics related to the policing of Waltham Forest.

Stop and Search Statistics

The meeting was scheduled to include a presentation of the latest stop and search statistics for the borough. The report pack included data for the whole of 2023, showing that there were 4,492 stops and searches carried out by the police in that period. This represented a 27.2% reduction in the number of stop and searches compared to 2022. Of those stops, 63% were for drugs and 17% were for weapons. 14% of all those stopped were arrested and 70% were given no further action. The report pack also included more detailed breakdowns of the stop and search figures for 2023 by ethnicity and age.

Scrutiny of searches not recorded

The meeting was scheduled to include a discussion of how the police scrutinise stop and searches that are not recorded on body-worn cameras. This echoes concerns raised in this committee in 2021 and 2022.

Scrutiny of MTIP processes

The meeting was scheduled to include a discussion of the processes involved in conducting MTIP¹ searches.

How Met uses WF Stop and Search Group feedback to improve

This item was on the agenda to allow the Metropolitan Police Force to explain how they have used the feedback from previous Stop and Search Group meetings to improve.

Escalation Routes

The meeting was set to include a discussion about how concerns about stop and search could be escalated.

New Borough Commander

The meeting was due to include the introduction of the Metropolitan Police's new Borough Commander for Waltham Forest.

S&S Charter update

The meeting was also scheduled to include an update on the development of the Metropolitan Police's Stop and Search Charter.

Future meetings

The meeting was also scheduled to include a discussion of the dates and agendas for future meetings of the group.

Waltham Forest Council met 6 times in the last 7 days.

The Audit and Governance Committee considered the Council's accounts and risk register, as well as several reports on fraud.

The Health and Wellbeing Board reviewed updates to the Good Care Conversation project which aims to discover residents' priorities for health and care service design, the Promoting Wellbeing workstream, and received several reports on the performance of local health services.

The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee discussed the work of the Waltham Forest Health and Care Partnership (WFHCP), reviewed proposals for the procurement of the substance and alcohol use service, and agreed its work programme for the rest of the year.

The Housing and Inclusive Economy Scrutiny Committee discussed the Housing Resident Involvement Strategy and the work of the Stronger Communities directorate.

The Planning Committee reviewed a proposal to increase the number of homes to be built at the former gas works on Perth Road in Leyton from 573 to 652, as well as proposals to redevelop the Regal Cinema in Chingford and make alterations to the Grade II* listed Chestnuts House on Hoe Street and the Grade II listed Vestry House Museum on Vestry Road.

Waltham Forest Council met to discuss a range of issues including the transfer of planning powers from the LLDC, the Council's finances, and to make some appointments to Council Committees.

Lea Bridge Gas Works Redevelopment

The Planning Committee considered a proposal by St William Homes LLP to increase the number of homes on their development at the former gas works on Perth Road in Leyton. This site already has planning permission for a mixed-use scheme, but the developer was seeking to increase the permitted number of homes from 573 to 652. 158 of these homes would be affordable¹.

The report pack prepared for councillors included analysis of the likely environmental impacts of the scheme, including its impact on the nearby Clementina Estate. The pack also included comments from the Environment Agency who objected to the application.

This is the second time this year that the committee has considered plans to increase the number of homes on this site. In March the committee approved plans to increase the number of homes from 550 to 573. The committee's decision to approve those plans was met with opposition from some local residents, who argued that the development would lead to increased traffic and pressure on local services.

This is not the first time that Waltham Forest Council has faced opposition to its plans to increase the density of housing in the borough. The council has a target of building 27,000 new homes in the borough by 2041. This target was set by the Mayor of London.

The council's plans to build new homes in the borough are part of a wider London-wide strategy to address the housing crisis. The housing crisis is a complex issue with a number of causes, including a shortage of affordable housing, population growth, and rising house prices.

The Mayor of London has set a target of building 66,000 new homes in London each year. The Mayor has also introduced a number of policies to try to increase the supply of affordable housing, such as requiring developers to build a certain proportion of affordable homes in new developments.

However, these policies have been criticised by some who argue that they do not go far enough. They argue that the Mayor needs to do more to control house prices and to increase the supply of social housing.

Transfer of Planning Powers from the LLDC

Waltham Forest Council discussed plans to bring responsibility for planning decisions in the borough back under the control of the local authority.

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) was established by the London Legacy Development Corporation Act 2012 to manage the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park following the London 2012 Olympic Games. One of the LLDC's responsibilities is to act as the local planning authority for an area covering Stratford, Hackney Wick, Fish Island, and parts of Leyton, including the Lea Bridge Gas Works site.

The 2012 Act makes provision for the transfer of planning powers from the LLDC to the relevant local authority, either by delegation or by Statutory Instrument, as the LLDC’s remit changes over time.

The report prepared for the meeting describes the process for transferring planning powers back to the Council and outlines three possible schemes for achieving this: two interim schemes involving the delegation of powers from the LLDC to the Council, and one permanent scheme transferring powers to the Council by way of a Statutory Instrument. The report notes that the third option, a full transfer of powers by Statutory Instrument on 1 December 2024 is the preferred option for both the LLDC and the Council.

This is not the first time that the Council has sought to regain control over planning decisions in this area. In 2018 the Council submitted a request to the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, to transfer planning powers back to the Council. However, this request was rejected.

Substance and Alcohol Use Service

The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee reviewed plans for the Council's substance and alcohol use treatment and recovery service. The Council is legally obliged to provide these services under the Substance Misuse Act 1971 and the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

The Committee were asked to review the Council's proposals for the procurement of a new service contract. The current contract, which is due to expire in March 2025, is worth approximately £2,000,000 per year.

The report prepared for the committee praised the performance of the existing service, and noted in particular the success of its outreach and rapid prescribing elements:

The outreach element is delivered by a worker who acts as the link person between drug users and the services.

The Committee endorsed the Council's proposed service model, but sought further information on how the service would be advertised to those experiencing homelessness.

Waltham Forest Council made a number of significant decisions at its meetings last week. The council has decided to extend its agreement with Microsoft for software licences without putting it out to tender, decided to move ahead with plans to set up a company to build homes on council-owned land, and decided to consult on an updated version of its Local Plan.

Executive Decision - Tuesday 09 July 2024

This meeting of the Executive Decision committee saw the council agree to extend its Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft for software licences for a further three years.

The decision was made without a competitive tender process. The report given to councillors at the meeting noted that the council is locked into using Microsoft software and that if they went out to tender:

The Council does not have the capacity or capability to undertake a full re-tender of these services.

Later in the report, the council explains its reasoning in more detail, noting both the costs of change and the risks of failing to comply with licensing regulations:

Based on previous experience and the current market position of both ICT Software and ICT Infrastructure, should the Council choose not to proceed with the Direct Award to extend the current EA, this would leave the Council in a position of non-compliance with Microsoft licensing.

The report concludes that:

It is recognised that there is currently no realistic alternative to the incumbent supplier due to the dependence the Council has on their software

This is not the first time that Waltham Forest Council has decided not to put a contract out to tender. In 2021 the council decided to award a contract for the provision of waste management services to its own in-house company, Gouveia, without going to tender. This decision was made in part because the council believed that it would be more cost-effective to keep the service in-house.

The decision to extend the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement was made by the Executive Decision committee. The Executive Decision committee is a committee of the council that is responsible for making decisions on behalf of the council. The committee is made up of 10 councillors, all of whom are members of the Labour Party, which has a majority on the council.

Cabinet - Tuesday 09 July 2024

The most significant decision taken at this meeting of the Cabinet was the decision to consult on the next version of the Waltham Forest Local Plan.

The Local Plan is a document that sets out how land in the borough will be used over the next 15-20 years. It includes policies on a wide range of issues, including housing, employment, transport, and the environment. The current Local Plan was adopted in 2013.

At the meeting, the Cabinet discussed the need for a new Local Plan. They noted that the current Local Plan is now out of date and does not reflect the latest national planning policy or the council's own priorities.

The government requires local authorities to review their Local Plans every five years. The process for reviewing and updating a Local Plan is set out in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

In particular, the Cabinet noted that:

The Government has recently announced significant changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), some of which are not yet reflected in extant planning guidance. These changes have the potential to significantly impact housing targets at a local level. It is therefore essential that the Council understands these implications at the earliest opportunity

The Cabinet also discussed the council's plans to build new homes on council-owned land. The council has identified a number of sites that it believes are suitable for housing development. These sites are located across the borough.

The council has previously tried to develop these sites in partnership with private developers but has struggled to find partners who are willing to build the type of homes that the council wants to see built.

In response to the changing economic climate, the council is now proposing to set up its own company to build the homes. This company will be wholly owned by the council.

In response to the changing economic climate the Council took the decision to pause procuring a Joint Venture partner in Autumn 2022 and explore alternative options to accelerate delivery of its housing objectives.

This is a significant change in policy for the council. The council's previous approach was to work with private developers to deliver new homes. However, the council has become increasingly concerned about the ability of private developers to deliver the type of homes that the borough needs.

The council's housing objectives are set out in the council's Housing Strategy 2019-2029.

The Cabinet also discussed the proposed expansion of the council's borough-wide landlord licensing scheme. The scheme was introduced in 2015 and requires landlords to obtain a licence from the council before they can rent out their properties. The council is now proposing to expand the scheme to include all privately rented properties in the borough, regardless of their size or the number of tenants living in them.

Landlord licensing schemes are designed to improve the quality of private rented accommodation. They are also intended to help to tackle rogue landlords. Landlords who are granted a licence must meet certain standards, such as ensuring that their properties are safe and in a good state of repair. They must also comply with certain obligations, such as providing tenants with gas safety certificates and tenancy agreements.

The council believes that the expansion of the scheme is necessary to improve the quality of private rented accommodation in the borough. The council is also concerned about the number of rogue landlords operating in the borough.

The decision to expand the scheme has been met with mixed reactions. Some residents' groups have welcomed the decision, arguing that it is necessary to improve the quality of private rented accommodation. However, some landlords have criticised the decision, arguing that it is unnecessary and will lead to higher rents.

The council is also proposing to change the fees that landlords must pay to obtain a licence. The new fees will be based on the number of bedrooms in a property. The council says that the new fees are necessary to cover the cost of running the scheme.

Executive Decision - Wednesday 10 July 2024

This meeting of the Executive Decision Committee saw the council approve the first stage of the Forest Road Improvement Scheme. This scheme seeks to make improvements to Forest Road in Walthamstow.

The scheme intends to address several issues identified in the Waltham Forest Movement Strategy which was adopted by the council in March 2022. The strategy sets out the council's vision for transport in the borough over the next 10 years.

the severance caused by the A503, with few safe crossing points for people walking and cycling

The strategy identifies a number of key challenges facing the borough, including:

• High levels of car ownership and use
• Poor air quality
• A lack of safe and convenient cycling infrastructure
• Congestion on key roads

The strategy sets out a number of objectives, including:

• Reducing car use
• Improving air quality
• Making it easier and safer to cycle and walk
• Improving public transport

The strategy includes a number of policies and proposals for achieving these objectives. These include:

• Introducing a workplace parking levy
• Expanding the borough's network of cycle lanes
• Improving bus services
• Encouraging the use of electric vehicles

The council has already begun to implement some of the policies and proposals in the strategy. For example, the council has introduced a number of new cycle lanes and has expanded the borough's network of electric vehicle charging points.

However, the council has also faced opposition to some of its proposals. For example, the proposal to introduce a workplace parking levy has been met with opposition from some businesses.

The Forest Road Improvement Scheme will now move to the detailed design stage. The council will then consult on the detailed designs before submitting a planning application.

Shareholder Committee - Tuesday 09 July 2024

At this meeting The Shareholder Committee reviewed the performance of its trading company, Evolve Norse, in the 2023/24 financial year.

Evolve Norse is a joint venture company that was set up by Waltham Forest Council and Norse Commercial Services in 2014. The company provides a range of services to the council, including waste and recycling collection, street cleaning, and grounds maintenance.

We're pleased to see that Evolve Norse has continued to perform well in a challenging economic climate. The company is providing good value for money for the council and residents, and we are committed to working with them to ensure that they continue to deliver high-quality services.

The committee's role is to oversee the performance of the company and to ensure that it is providing good value for money for the council. The committee is made up of four councillors, all of whom are members of the Labour Party.