This week in Waltham Forest:

Council Approves Major Housing Repairs Strategy and New Planning Guidance

The Cabinet met on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, making significant decisions on the future of housing repairs and planning for residential alterations. These decisions will directly impact the quality of homes and the process for residents looking to improve their properties.

Overhauling Housing Repairs for Better Service

Cabinet approved a new strategy for re-tendering the council's housing repairs partner contracts. This is a crucial step to ensure that thousands of council homes receive timely and efficient repairs. The plan involves procuring new contracts for Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) repairs and general repairs, with potential durations of up to 15 and 16 years respectively.

• What this means for you: The aim is to improve service delivery, reduce contractor overheads, and increase competition. This could lead to better quality repairs and potentially faster response times for issues in your home.
• Key changes: The council will also directly procure specialist contractors for high-risk areas like roofing, damp and mould, and fire safety. This targeted approach aims to address critical issues more effectively.
• Financial impact: The estimated annual revenue value for the M&E contract is £6.061 million, and for the general repairs contract, it's £9.763 million. These costs are within the existing Housing Revenue Account budgets.

Authority has been delegated to the Strategic Director of Place to finalise the contract terms. This move is part of the council's ongoing commitment to improving its housing stock and resident satisfaction.

Link to the Cabinet meeting

New Guidance for Home Improvements and Retrofitting

Cabinet also adopted the Residential Alterations and Retrofit Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). This document provides essential guidance for residents and developers on how to carry out home improvements, extensions, and alterations.

• Focus on sustainability: A key aspect of the new SPD is its emphasis on incorporating retrofit measures to improve energy efficiency. This aligns with the council's commitment to tackling the climate emergency and helping residents reduce their energy bills.
• Planning weight: By adopting this SPD, the council ensures it holds planning weight, meaning it will be a material consideration when determining planning applications for residential alterations. This is particularly important as new regulations require SPDs to be adopted by 30 June 2026 to retain their planning influence.
• What changes: The existing SPD from 2010 will be revoked, replaced by this updated guidance that reflects current planning policies and environmental goals.

This adoption is vital for ensuring that any home improvements are carried out to a high standard, contributing to the character of the borough and its environmental targets.

Link to the Cabinet meeting

Children's Services Recommissioning to Strengthen Support for Young Families

Cabinet also approved the approach for recommissioning vital children's services, including the Healthy Child Programme (0-19) and the Best Start Service (0-5). This significant recommissioning process, with a total estimated contract value of £75,835,000, aims to enhance the support available to children and their families across the borough.

• What's being recommissioned: This includes universal and targeted services for children aged 0-5 and their parents. The goal is to strengthen prevention and early intervention across the 0-19 age range and improve school readiness.
• Addressing pressures: The recommissioning seeks to manage pressures such as high caseloads and workforce capacity, ensuring continued delivery of essential services within existing budgets.
• How it works: A competitive procurement process will be initiated under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). Authority has been delegated to the Strategic Directors for Adult Services and Children Services to finalise procurement documentation, evaluate tenders, and award the contract.

This strategic move is designed to ensure that the most vulnerable children and families receive the support they need, from early years through to adolescence.

Link to the Cabinet meeting

Other Matters

Regional Fostering Recruitment to Boost Capacity

Cabinet approved Waltham Forest's continued involvement in the Local Community Fostering initiative as a lead Local Authority. This regional approach aims to increase fostering capacity and consistency across the area, ensuring more children can be cared for within their local communities. Authority was delegated to the Strategic Director for Children's Services to expand the scope of this service to develop a regional recruitment and assessment model, aligning with government reforms.

Link to the Cabinet meeting

This week in Waltham Forest:

Council Sets Budget and Council Tax Amidst Economic Pressures

The Council met on Thursday, 21 May 2026, to make critical decisions on the borough's budget and council tax for the upcoming year. The meeting saw the approval of a total expenditure of £611.072 million, alongside a significant increase in council tax.

Budget and Council Tax Hike

The council agreed to raise the basic council tax by 2.99%, with an additional 2% specifically for Adult Social Care. This brings the total council tax for a Band D property to £1,876.45. When the Greater London Authority's precept is added, the overall council tax for a Band D property will be £2,386.96, an increase of 4.80%.

This decision comes at a time when many households are already struggling with the rising cost of living. The increase in council tax will place an additional financial burden on residents, particularly those on lower incomes or with fixed incomes, such as pensioners and those with disabilities. The council stated that this increase is necessary to maintain essential services, especially in the face of rising costs for social care.

Opposition councillors proposed several amendments aimed at reducing spending or reallocating funds, including proposals for CCTV cameras and a review of bin collection frequency. However, all these amendments were defeated.

Empty Homes Premium Maintained

The council also agreed to maintain the maximum percentage allowed for the empty homes premium. This means a 100% premium will continue to be applied to dwellings that have been empty for one year or those that are substantially furnished but unoccupied. This policy, in line with the Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018 and the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, aims to encourage homeowners to bring empty properties back into use, potentially increasing housing supply and reducing the strain on housing services.

Capital Programme and Financial Strategies Approved

The Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2035/36 was approved, alongside the reserves strategy. The council also adopted a policy for the flexible use of capital receipts to fund revenue projects and redundancy costs. These financial strategies are designed to ensure the council's long-term financial stability and its ability to invest in infrastructure and services.

Link to the Council meeting

New Mayor Elected and Council Leadership Confirmed

The Council meeting on Thursday, 21 May 2026, also saw the election of a new Mayor and the re-election of the Leader of the Council.

Councillor Marcelo Hart-Camus was elected as the new Mayor of Waltham Forest for the Municipal Year 2026/27. Councillor Grace Williams was re-elected as the Leader of the Council for a term of four years.

The meeting also established the standing committees for the municipal year, determining their size and allocating seats according to political balance rules. Councillors were appointed to these committees, and chairs and vice-chairs were selected. The council also agreed to merge the Budget Scrutiny Committee with the Scrutiny Coordinating Committee from May 2026.

Link to the Council meeting

Other Matters

Treasury Management and Pay Policies Adopted

The Council approved the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy Report for 2026-27, along with the MRP Policy and Prudential Indicators. This confirms the council's capital investment plans are affordable, prudent, and sustainable. The Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27 was also adopted unanimously. The Members' Allowances Scheme, established in February 2025, will remain in effect until at least 31 March 2027.

Link to the Council meeting

Scheme of Delegation and Meeting Programme Agreed

The Council agreed to delegate non-executive functions to officers, empowering them to further delegate powers as needed. The Director of Governance and Law was given the authority to make necessary changes to the Council's Constitution and Scheme of Delegation. The Programme of Meetings for 2026/27 was also approved, with the Chief Executive authorised to agree any subsequent changes.

Link to the Council meeting

This week in Waltham Forest:

Council Constitution Review: Laying the Groundwork for Future Governance

The Constitution committee met on Friday, 15 May 2026, to undertake a comprehensive review of the council's governing document. This is a crucial process that underpins how the council operates, makes decisions, and remains accountable to its residents. The Constitution is the rulebook for local government, ensuring transparency, fairness, and efficiency in all council activities.

The agenda covered every aspect of the council's framework, from the fundamental articles and responsibility for functions to detailed procedural rules for various committees and protocols for member conduct. This includes:

• Part 01 - Summary and Explanation: An overview of the Constitution's purpose and structure.
• Part 02 - Articles of the Constitution: The fundamental principles and articles governing the Council's operation.
• Part 03 - Responsibility for Functions: Detailing which bodies are responsible for specific Council functions.
• Part 04a - Council Procedure Rules: Rules governing the conduct of Full Council meetings.
• Part 04b - Committee Procedure Rules: Rules governing the conduct of committee meetings.
• Part 05 - Cabinet (Executive) Procedure Rules: Rules governing the operation of the Executive.
• Part 06 - Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules: Rules governing the work of Overview and Scrutiny Committees.
• Part 07 - Terms of Reference: Outlining the specific remits of various committees, including the Council, Cabinet, Shareholder Committee, Audit and Governance Committee, Corporate Parenting Board, Health and Wellbeing Board, Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Committee, Licensing (General) Committee, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Pension Committee, Planning Committee, Staffing Committee, and the Public Transport Consultative Group.
• Part 08 - Procedure Rules: Covering Financial Procedure Rules, Contract Procedure Rules, Employment Procedure Rules, Urgency Procedure Rules, Property Procedure Rules, Co-option Scheme, Parent Governor Procedure Rules, and Access to Information Rules.
• Part 09 - Codes of Conduct: Including the Councillors' Code of Conduct and the Councillor/Officer Protocol.
• Part 10 - Councillors' Allowances Scheme: Detailing the allowances payable to councillors.
• Part 11 - Management Structure: Outlining the Council's management structure.
• Part 12 - Member Roles: Describing the roles and responsibilities of councillors.
• Part 13 - Protocol for Freedom of the Borough: The process for awarding this honour.
• Part 14 - Protocol for Honorary Alderman: The process for conferring this title.
• Part 15 - Planning Code of Practice: Guidance for members involved in the planning process.

A revised Council Constitution is being proposed, and this meeting was scheduled to discuss its adoption. Such a review is vital for ensuring the council continues to operate effectively and in line with best practices, particularly in how it serves all residents, including those who may be less able to navigate complex procedures.

Link to the Constitution meeting

Other Matters

Cabinet Meeting Cancelled

The Cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 12 May 2026, was cancelled. This means that any decisions or discussions planned for this meeting will be deferred to a future date.

Constitution Committee Meets

The Constitution committee also met on Thursday, 14 May 2026. No summary of this meeting's discussions or decisions is currently available.

Link to the Constitution meeting

This week in Waltham Forest:

Council Staffing Committee to Decide on Key Senior Officer Appointment

The Staffing Committee met on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, to consider the appointment of a new Strategic Director of Resources. This is a critical role, as the postholder acts as the Council's Chief Finance Officer, responsible for developing and implementing financial strategy and ensuring robust financial management and governance.

The Strategic Director of Resources is a statutory role, meaning it is legally required for the council to have someone in this position. They are responsible for overseeing the council's financial health, ensuring compliance with legislation like Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972[^1], and advising senior leadership on financial matters. This role is integral to the council's ability to deliver services effectively and responsibly, particularly for vulnerable residents who rely on council support.

The committee was presented with candidates following a rigorous selection process. The appointment will directly impact the council's capacity to manage its budget, secure funding for essential services, and maintain financial stability, which is crucial for all residents, especially those most in need.

Link to the Staffing Committee meeting

Other Matters

Several other council meetings were scheduled but ultimately cancelled in the past week:

• The Audit and Governance Committee meeting on Wednesday, 29 April, was cancelled.
• The Scrutiny Coordinating Committee meeting on Tuesday, 28 April, was cancelled.
• The Waltham Forest Stop and Search Group meeting on Monday, 27 April, was cancelled.
• The Constitution meeting on Wednesday, 29 April, was cancelled.