The Cabinet of Tower Hamlets Council met on Wednesday 27 June 2018, discussing a range of important issues including the future of early years services, waste management strategy, and the provisional outturn report for the 2017-18 financial year. Key decisions included agreeing to consult on the phased closure of three local authority day nurseries and approving a draft waste management strategy for consultation.

Older People's Champion Appointed

Mayor John Biggs announced the formal adoption of his manifesto, which will be incorporated into the council's strategic plan. He also introduced Councillor Denise Jones, Cabinet Member for Health and Adults Services, as the newly appointed Older People's Champion. This role aims to address the growing population of older residents in the borough and combat loneliness and isolation. Councillor Jones highlighted the Ageing Well in Tower Hamlets strategy and the increasing number of older people, emphasizing the need to challenge negative stereotypes and recognise their contributions.

London Living Wage for GLL Staff

An announcement was made regarding an agreement with Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) to backdate payments of the London Living Wage to staff under 21 working in Tower Hamlets' sports facilities, effective from April. This ensures all GLL employees over 18 working in the borough will now receive the London Living Wage.

School Examination Results Show Improvement

Councillor Danny Hassell, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People, reported positively on the validated school examination results for the previous summer. He noted improvements in early years development, primary school phonics, and key stage one and two results in reading, writing, and maths. Secondary school outcomes also exceeded national averages in attainment and progress. Key priorities moving forward include addressing performance variations between schools and supporting the TAM's Education Partnership.

Tower Hamlets Homes Communication Team Wins Award

Sirajul Islam, Leader of the Opposition, announced that the Tower Hamlets Homes Communication Team had won the Communication Team of the Year Award at the Chartered Institute of Housing Conference. This award recognises the significant efforts made since 2015 to improve the organisation.

Children's Services Improvement Progress

The Cabinet received an update on the children's social care improvement journey. Ofsted's latest monitoring visit in May, focused on vulnerable young people, noted extremely encouraging progress and substantial improvements in multi-agency work and social work practice, despite a challenging context of increased gang-related incidents. While Ofsted found practice remained variable across teams, they acknowledged the considerable determination and commitment of political leaders and managers. The report detailed progress against the improvement plan, including a new workforce strategy, a redesigned early help service with a single front door, and the implementation of a restorative justice practice model. Challenges remain, particularly in recruiting permanent staff, with 33% of posts filled by agency workers. The next Ofsted monitoring visit is scheduled for August.

Waste Management Strategy and Future Service Delivery

Councillor Rachel Blake introduced the draft waste management strategy, which will be subject to public consultation. The strategy aims to improve street cleaning, bin emptying, and waste disposal, with targets for increasing recycling rates, which are challenging in Tower Hamlets due to a high proportion of residents living in flats. The council also proposed to begin the procurement of new waste management contracts, adopting a twin-track strategy. Councillor Blake emphasised the importance of co-production with residents and embracing technology to manage waste sustainably, especially given the borough's ongoing development and increasing housing density.

Future of Early Years Services and Local Authority Day Nurseries

A significant discussion took place regarding the future of early years provision, specifically the local authority day nurseries. Councillor Danny Hassell presented a report recommending the phased closure of three local authority day nurseries, subject to public consultation, due to their disproportionate cost within the early years budget. He explained that while the council is committed to supporting all children and families, national government cuts have constrained services. The report highlighted that the daycare provision represents a significant public subsidy for fewer than 100 children, costing approximately £15,000 per child annually, compared to an average early years spend of £1,700 per child. The council's six outstanding nursery schools will remain unaffected. Lorraine Flanagan, headteacher of Thomas Buxton, and John McLaughlin, branch secretary of Tower Hamlets Unison, spoke against the proposed closures, raising concerns about the lack of consultation with staff and parents, the potential impact on vulnerable children, and the argument that the nurseries have been deliberately run down. Councillor Andrew Wood questioned the high cost of the nurseries, asking for clarification on why they are so expensive. The Cabinet ultimately agreed to proceed with a public consultation on the proposals, with feedback to be brought back to a public Cabinet meeting.

Overview and Scrutiny Update

Councillor Abdal Ullah, Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, provided an update on the committee's work. He noted the extensive pre-scrutiny questions submitted on the local authority day nursery report and confirmed that written responses would be provided within five working days. He also outlined the committee's focus for the next three months: employment opportunities, post-16 education, and community safety. Councillor Ullah expressed his commitment to working with the Executive to hold them to account and improve the council.

Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Plan Examiner's Report

Councillor Rachel Blake presented the examiner's report on the Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Plan. The independent examiner recommended that the plan should not proceed to referendum as it did not meet the required basic conditions. The council's recommendation, therefore, was not to proceed with the plan. Mayor John Biggs expressed his disappointment, as he is a supporter of neighbourhood planning, but agreed that the council could not proceed with a plan that did not meet the statutory requirements.

Provisional Outturn Report 2017-18

Councillor Candida Ronald presented the provisional outturn report for the 2017-18 financial year. Despite significant financial challenges, the council made a small contribution to the general fund. The report highlighted an £8.8 million overspend in children's services, primarily in children's social care, which reflects a national trend. Capital delivery was slower than anticipated, but the funds have moved to the current year. The council achieved £22.9 million of its £26 million savings target for the year, with £5.3 million slipping into the current year. Councillor Blake questioned the underspend in comparison to previous years, and it was noted that last year there was a larger underspend. Councillor Wood raised concerns about the council losing value on its investments due to income being lower than inflation, suggesting a need to spend some reserves. Councillor Ronald confirmed that a strategy is in place to improve treasury management returns.

Year-End Strategic Performance Monitoring

Mayor John Biggs presented the year-end strategic performance monitoring report, stating that while progress is being made, there is room for improvement. He noted that targets were impacted by the addition of specific targets following the Ofsted intervention in children's services. A report in July will set new targets and strategic plans. The report highlighted areas of underperformance, including the differential attainment between different community groups, particularly white working-class children.

Contracts Forward Plan

Councillor Candida Ronald provided a quarterly report on procurement procedures. She highlighted two specific reports within Appendix 1, concerning enforcement agents and public health, for which more detailed reports will be brought back to the lead member. Councillor Ronald also shared her enthusiasm for innovative procurement practices within the council, such as the use of dynamic purchasing for print and design contracts, which allows for longer contract spans and greater flexibility for smaller providers. Mayor Biggs echoed her sentiment, emphasising the importance of procurement and the council's commitment to stimulating local providers and enterprise.