The Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee met to discuss the council's response to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's investigation into Section 21 homelessness cases and to review the lead member's priorities for housing and regeneration. The committee agreed to the terms of reference for the municipal year and received updates on significant investment programmes and ongoing challenges within the housing sector.

Council's Response to Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Investigation

The committee received a report detailing the council's response to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's (LGSCO) investigation into its handling of Section 21 homelessness cases. The LGSCO had identified serious failings, including delays, inconsistent advice, and a failure to meet legal duties, which had negatively impacted residents, leading to evictions and loss of rights.

Jennifer Winter, Director of Housing Options and Homelessness, and Councillor Sadiqur Rahman, Lead Member for Home Building and Enhanced Council Homes and Neighbourhoods, presented the council's actions. They confirmed that all LGSCO recommendations had been fully completed within the required timescale, with evidence provided to the Ombudsman. Significant steps taken included reviewing over 600 cases, clearing a substantial backlog, and issuing over 100 formal decisions. The council has also strengthened its quality assurance, staff training, and management oversight.

Councillor Sadiqur Rahman stated, We are already seeing improvement from the action that we have taken, we are seeing that we have faster and more consistent decision making, we are seeing that earlier support for residents and we are seeing a reduced risk reaching people as well. Jennifer Winter added that the LGSCO chose not to make this a public interest report due to the council's strength of response.

The committee discussed the improvements made, noting the shift from inconsistent, reactive practice to structured processes and a quality assurance framework. They also discussed the Housing Options and Homelessness Transformation Programme, a two-year initiative aimed at restructuring the division and improving resident experience.

While acknowledging the significant improvements, the committee requested a follow-up report in six months to provide further assurance on compliance audit results, homelessness decision timeliness, interim accommodation performance, workforce metrics, and resident outcomes.

Lead Member Priorities for Housing and Regeneration

Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Homebuilding and Enhanced Council Homes and Neighbourhoods, and David Joyce, Corporate Director for Housing and Regeneration, presented the lead member priorities for housing and regeneration for the 2026-2030 period.

Councillor Ahmed highlighted the ambitious targets for home building and the commitment to enhancing council homes and neighbourhoods. He noted that Tower Hamlets is a growing borough with an expected population increase of 20% by 2032, placing significant demand on housing and infrastructure. Currently, there are over 31,000 people on the housing register and thousands of families in temporary accommodation.

The council has committed to investing £609 million over the next decade to improve its housing stock. This investment will cover essential works such as kitchen and bathroom upgrades, fire safety measures, and the installation of lifts in council buildings. The council is also focused on delivering new homes at scale, with a target of 6,400+ affordable homes in the pipeline, including 3,300 homes through the Mayor's Accelerated Housing Programme.

Key priorities for 2026-2030 include:

• Homes for the Future: Accelerating development decisions, delivering over 6,400 affordable homes, and launching a comprehensive estate regeneration programme.
• Quality Homes/Neighbourhoods & Resident Experience: Investing £609 million to upgrade council homes, improve housing repairs, strengthen tenant voice, and enhance estate safety and cleanliness.
• Corporate Assets and Community Spaces: Prioritising repairs to lifts and boilers, maximising the use of council assets for community services, and delivering new leisure facilities.
• Growth & Inclusive Economy: Regenerating high streets, embedding inclusive economy principles in new developments, and supporting small businesses.
• Homelessness & Housing Need: Refreshing the homelessness strategy, reducing pressures through better use of stock and prevention, and enhancing temporary accommodation quality.
• Standards, Enforcement & Fairness: Strengthening regulatory compliance, driving higher standards across landlords, and expanding housing enforcement.
• Clean & Green Future: Improving energy efficiency in existing and new homes.

The committee discussed the challenges facing the directorate, including rising demand, viability pressures, increasing construction costs, and the need for robust financial planning and risk management. Councillor Martin Parker raised concerns about the John Orwell Sports Centre site, questioning its suitability for development and the potential impact of the Mayor of London's 20% affordable housing target on developer interest.

Councillor Saied Ahmed responded by explaining the council's strategy to make Tower Hamlets an attractive place for developers, including offering a benign environment for developers by not asking for upfront capital payments for land and securing social housing grant from the Greater London Authority. He also highlighted that the emerging London Plan identifies Tower Hamlets as a borough capable of delivering a minimum of 35% affordable housing.

The committee also discussed the £609 million investment programme, confirming that the funding is ring-fenced within the Housing Revenue Account and is considered adequate to achieve full decency across the council's housing stock. The funding will be spread over ten years, with contractor appointments expected in 2027 and major works commencing in 2028.

Concerns were raised about the long waiting times for repairs, with Councillor Wai highlighting a case where a repair took nearly nine months to resolve. Stephen Platt, Director of Housing, Property and Asset Management, acknowledged the historical lack of investment had put pressure on the repair service and outlined plans to review the contract with Mears Group, explore insourcing options, and introduce a dedicated resource for leaks.

The committee was assured that the council's approach to affordability in new developments would prioritise social rent, with an aspiration for 100% social rented housing within the Mayor's Accelerated Housing Programme. The council currently does not offer a shared ownership housing option.

The committee concluded that while the ambitions for housing and regeneration are significant, they must be supported by realistic financial planning, robust risk management, and sufficient capacity to deliver. The committee will continue to monitor progress closely, focusing on housing delivery, temporary accommodation pressures, compliance and safety standards, and the delivery of major capital programmes.

Appointment of Vice Chair and Terms of Reference

The committee appointed Councillor Abdul Wahid as Vice Chair. They also formally noted and agreed the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Sub-Committee's terms of reference, quorum, membership, and dates of meetings for the 2026/27 municipal year. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, 5 October 2026.