The Cabinet of Tower Hamlets Council met on Wednesday 20 September 2023, with a significant decision made to remove most Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) across the borough. The meeting also saw the approval of a substantial £73.2 million investment in the Housing Development Capital Programme and the adoption of a new Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan for 2023-2025.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)

The most significant decision of the meeting was the adoption of Option One for the Bethnal Green West, Spitalfields and Banglatown, and Weaver's Wards, which means the removal of the majority of existing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in Tower Hamlets. Mayor Lutfur Rahman stated that LTNs had been a divisive issue, splitting communities and political parties. He acknowledged that while LTNs can improve air quality in their immediate vicinity, they can push traffic onto surrounding roads, often impacting less affluent and BME residents. The Mayor also highlighted that the emergency services had divided views, with the London Ambulance Service opposing hard physical closures, and waste services struggling to access residents due to the closures.

The decision to remove the LTNs was a key promise of the Mayor's election campaign. While the consultation showed approximately 42% of residents wanted the schemes removed, the Mayor also noted that many respondents did not live in Tower Hamlets. Despite the removal of most LTNs, the Mayor confirmed that the whopping bus gate would be retained due to exceptional resident support and its exemption for buses, which provide a viable alternative to car usage for lower-income residents. The road closure on Canne-Robert Street in Bethnal Green will also be kept, along with accessible walking routes, pedestrian space elements, and all 33 school streets. The council plans to invest £6 million in measures to improve air quality, including road safety, walking and cycling infrastructure, and enhancing public spaces with more trees.

During the discussion, residents and councillors voiced their opinions. Nicky, a long-time resident, questioned why the Mayor would not deliver on his promise to remove the LTNs. Sam Wood, Sustainable Travel Officer for Barts Health Trust, raised concerns about the lack of consideration for the Trust's objections to the proposed reversals. Elizabeth Perrett shared a personal account of ambulance delays affecting her elderly mother, questioning how vulnerable residents would be protected if LTNs were removed. Councillor Natalie Bienfait, who has completed a master's thesis on LTNs, argued that they are an effective and cost-efficient way to reduce car use and encourage alternative transport, highlighting their positive impact on public space and road safety. Councillor Peter Golds expressed concerns about the consultation process, suggesting it did not adequately represent the widest possible demography of the borough. Councillor Shafi Ahmed echoed the divisive nature of the issue, noting that many residents felt the LTNs made the area safer and reduced anti-social behaviour, but also questioned the accuracy of the data presented in the report.

Housing Development Capital Programme Additions

The Cabinet approved a significant investment of £73.2 million into the Housing Development Capital Programme. This funding will be used to deliver new, high-quality social housing across the borough, addressing the critical shortage of family-sized homes and the issue of overcrowded households. Mayor Lutfur Rahman emphasised the human element of this investment, highlighting the impact of overcrowding on children's education and well-being, and the mental health challenges faced by residents living in such conditions.

Councillor Kabir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding, stated that the council is committed to delivering 100% social housing directly by the council. He also mentioned that a further scoping exercise is underway to identify more unfunded programmes for house building. The report details that this funding will help address the needs of approximately 15,000 to 16,000 people in overcrowded households. The investment will also facilitate the full refurbishment of Ashington House, a project previously highlighted by Councillor Sirajul Islam. Karen Swift and Rupert Brandon from the housing team provided technical details on the allocation of funds and the process for identifying and developing new sites.

Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan 2023-2025

The council adopted the Tower Hamlets Reduction and Recycling Plan for 2023-2025, aiming to improve waste and recycling performance and contribute to a cleaner, greener future for the borough. The plan focuses on three key themes: waste reduction and reuse, maximising recycling, and reducing environmental impacts. Raj Chand, the interim Corporate Director for Communities, explained that despite efforts, 22% of waste in rubbish bins is still recyclable material, and a lack of recycling bins and storage capacity is a barrier for residents.

Key initiatives within the plan include driving measurable behaviour change with the support of community groups, optimising recycling routes for efficiency, and investing over £2 million to roll out a flats recycling package to over 2,000 blocks of flats. The plan also emphasises collaboration with landlords and housing providers to improve infrastructure and tenant behaviour, as well as working with businesses to promote circular economy activities and greening the council's fleet. The Chief Executive, Stephen Halsey, proposed an additional recommendation for quarterly reporting back to Cabinet on performance against the plan's key indicators, which was agreed. Julie Lorraine, Corporate Director for Resources, also requested that funding allocation be specifically identified and reported.

Budget Monitoring Report - Quarter One

The Cabinet received an update on the council's budget monitoring for the first quarter of the financial year 2023-24. The report indicated a forecasted net overspend of £6.7 million. The key areas contributing to this overspend are Children and Culture, driven by SEND pressures and increased transport costs; Adult Social Care, due to rising costs and complexity of care packages; and Place, with significant pressures in waste operations and rising homelessness numbers.

Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living, assured that the council is resilient, has robust systems, sufficient reserves, and a quality team in place to manage these challenges. He noted that measures are being undertaken to address the potential overspend and that the council is not in the same financial difficulties as some other local authorities. The report also detailed the performance of savings targets, with £13.2 million forecasted to be delivered out of a £15.5 million target. The capital programme also showed variances, with expected slippages into future years for both the general fund and HRA capital programmes, largely due to the reprofiling of the Council's new Council Homes Programme.

Other Discussions

The meeting also included discussions on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's feedback, which covered the Liverpool Street Scheme, the Customer Experience Strategy, and the Licensing Policy. The committee raised questions about the consultation process for the Liverpool Street Scheme, the support for digitally excluded residents, and the measures of success for the licensing policy. The Annual Delivery Plan for the Strategic Plan 2022-2024 was presented, showing a positive overall picture with 21 green, 6 amber, and 4 red performance measures. The council also discussed the ongoing issue of unsigned accounts, with the Corporate Director of Resources providing an update on efforts to certify and close outstanding accounts from previous years. Finally, the Cabinet agreed to award a contract to London MEP for urgent works on the Melly Street development, following the insolvency of the original contractor.