The Council of Tower Hamlets Council met on Monday 05 December 2016, addressing a range of significant issues including air quality, children's services, and the tragic death of a pupil. Key decisions included the adoption of a motion to tackle air pollution, a commitment to maintaining the number of children's centres, and the formal adoption of a violence against women and girls strategy.

Tackling Air Pollution in Tower Hamlets

The council debated and subsequently passed a motion on tackling air pollution in Tower Hamlets. The motion highlighted the significant public health issue posed by air pollution, noting that an estimated 195 deaths in the borough each year are attributed to it. Councillors discussed the disproportionate impact on poorer areas like Tower Hamlets, where residents are twice as likely to die from lung diseases compared to more affluent areas. The motion called for an ambitious air quality action plan, investment through the budget process, and the use of the local plan to improve air quality through planning processes. It also urged councillors to champion the issue and use cleaner travel options. While the motion was largely supported, some councillors expressed concerns about a lack of specific detail and called for more concrete actions, such as stopping the expansion of schools next to major roads and increasing on-street electric car charging points. The motion was ultimately carried.

Cuts to Early Years Budget and Children's Centres

A petition was presented regarding proposed cuts to the early years budget, with particular concern raised about a potential 50% cut to children's centres budgets, which could cripple services and lead to closures. Petitioners argued that this would exacerbate child poverty in Tower Hamlets, which already has the highest rate in London. They expressed a lack of confidence in the consultation process, stating that clear information had not been provided and emails had been ignored. Concerns were raised about the potential closure of Wapping Children's Centre. In response, Councillor Rachel Saunders, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Children's Services, stated that the council was far above the statutory minimum spending on early years provision and was doing everything possible to protect services while implementing cuts. She also addressed rumours about closures, explaining that the council was looking at the configuration of services in Wapping and that there would still be 12 children's centres operating after the decision. The petition was referred to the Corporate Director Children's Services for a written response.

Moped and Cyclist Misuse of Tom Thumb's Arch

A petition was presented concerning the dangerous misuse of Tom Thumb's Arch in Bow by mopeds and cyclists. The petitioner recounted an incident where his one-year-old daughter's buggy was struck by a moped in the pedestrian-only walkway. He highlighted that the existing barriers were ineffective and that cyclists and moped riders frequently sped through the arch with no regard for pedestrians. The petition called for the replacement of existing railings with wider, staggered barriers to force riders to dismount, while still allowing access for wheelchair users and those with buggies. In response, Councillor Ayas Miah, Member for Cabinet, stated that the Disability Discrimination Act prevented the use of barriers that block access for mobility scooter users. He confirmed that officers were investigating improvements to the barriers, a review of CCTV cameras, and that police would be asked to conduct bike stops. Contact had also been made with food delivery services to ask their drivers not to use the route. The petition was referred to the Chief Executive and Acting Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture for a written response.

The Tragic Death of Nasser Ahmed at Bow School

A motion regarding the tragic death of Nasser Ahmed, a pupil at Bow School, was debated. Mayor John Biggs moved the motion, emphasizing the need for the council to show leadership and offer support to the family and the school community. He outlined the council's role in addressing anxieties and providing support, while acknowledging the ongoing police and coroner's investigations. The motion aimed to reassure the community and ensure that other schools learn from the incident. An amendment was proposed by Councillor Oliur Rahman, which was accepted in a revised form after discussion with Mayor Biggs. The amended motion committed the council to contacting all maintained schools regarding their policies and procedures for children with pre-existing medical conditions or those falling ill at school, to provide assurance to parents. The motion, as amended, was carried unanimously.

Investment in Local Health Services

In response to a public question about investment in local health services amidst Conservative government cuts, Councillor Rachel Saunders, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education and Services, detailed significant investment secured from developer section 106 contributions. This included substantial funding for various GP surgeries across Tower Hamlets, such as £3.1 million for the Feldy practice and £2.5 million for the Globe Town GP practice. The council has also launched an ethical care charter, guaranteeing a London Living Wage for home care workers.

Housing Fraud Case of Councillor Shahed Ali

Mayor John Biggs responded to a question regarding the legal costs incurred from the housing fraud case against former Councillor Shahed Ali. He stated that if Councillor Ali had pleaded guilty when first charged, the cost to the council would have been an estimated £3,428. However, due to his not guilty plea and subsequent legal proceedings, the cost escalated to over £70,000. Mayor Biggs expressed his belief that the council should pursue the debt owed by Councillor Ali, highlighting that the funds could have been used for initiatives like free school meals or employing an additional housing fraud investigator. He also outlined the council's ongoing anti-fraud initiatives and efforts to improve safeguards against similar cases.

Tackling the Housing Crisis in Tower Hamlets

Councillor Sirajul Islam, Statutory Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing Management and Performance, addressed the housing crisis in Tower Hamlets. He highlighted the development of the council's first new housing strategy since 2009, which aims to tackle the crisis through interventions in both public and private sectors. Progress includes the building of over 1,000 affordable homes in the past year, more family-sized homes at social rent than in the previous six years, and the rehousing of over 1,000 overcrowded families. The Mayor has pledged to build 1,000 genuinely affordable council homes, with significant progress made. The council has also introduced a landlord licensing scheme in three wards to improve standards in the private rented sector.

Gambling Policy Adoption

The council formally adopted the Gambling Policy for 2016-2019. Councillor Shiria Khatun, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Community Safety, presented the policy, noting that it defines how responsibilities under the Gambling Act 2005 will be administered. The policy includes updated provisions for setting out a local profile, inspection formats, risk assessment formats for operators, and sample license conditions. A significant change is the requirement for planning permission for new betting shops, allowing for greater community input. The policy was approved unanimously.

Community Safety Partnership Plan

The Council formally adopted the Year 4 Plan (2016-2017) of the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013-2016. Councillor Shiria Khatun presented the report, highlighting that the plan is a statutory duty reviewed annually based on previous year performances and the latest strategic assessment. Councillor Ohid Ahmed, while supporting the report in principle, raised concerns about the tone and language of the Prevent strategy within the report, suggesting it could lead to the stigmatisation of young people. Mayor John Biggs acknowledged these concerns, emphasizing that Prevent should be viewed as a safeguarding issue to protect young people from harmful influences.

Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy

The Council adopted the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy for 2016-2019. Councillor Shiria Khatun, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Community Safety, presented the strategy, which was developed following extensive consultation. It commits the partnership to a coordinated multi-agency approach to tackling VAWG. The strategy addresses issues such as domestic violence, with a focus on meeting the needs of women fleeing violence, particularly from refugee communities. It also includes plans to address Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and work with refugee women. The strategy was approved.

Other Business

Several other reports were formally moved, seconded, and approved without further discussion due to time constraints. These included:

• The Housing Strategy 2016-2019.
• The Treasury Management Mid-Year Report for 2016-2017.
• Proposed revisions to the Member Code of Conduct.
• An update to the Licensing Code of Conduct.
• Amendments to the Executive Scheme of Delegation in respect of grants decision-making.
• An amended report concerning an unspecified item.