The Cabinet of Tower Hamlets Council met on Thursday 16 May 2024 to discuss a range of significant issues, approving plans for the transformation of council services, the medium-term financial strategy, and improvements to the homelessness service. Key decisions also included the insourcing of leisure services, the procurement of a technology partner for care services, and the adoption of a new Housing with Care Strategy.

Transforming Tower Hamlets Council: Building a Stronger Future

The Cabinet noted the significant achievements made over the past year in transforming Tower Hamlets Council, as part of its 'People First' journey. This transformation has focused on fostering a more collaborative culture, improving financial understanding and stability, embedding a resident-centric approach, and enhancing transparency and accountability. The council has seen measurable progress across key performance indicators and received external recognition. Future plans include deepening resident engagement, building long-term financial strength, driving innovation, and developing a skilled workforce. Risks identified in the report are being addressed through other agenda items, including Leisure Insourcing, Housing Options, and Scrutiny, as well as through upcoming HR and Audit Committee agendas concerning HR, recruitment, and procurement.

Delivering the Medium-Term Financial Strategy

The Cabinet noted the actions being taken to deliver the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), which was approved on 28 February 2024. Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living, highlighted the Council's commitment to delivering £43.3 million in savings over the next three years while managing national pressures in homelessness and adult social care. The report detailed the progress on savings delivery, budget monitoring, and the provision of additional capacity. The Council's strong reserves and contingencies were noted as key to its financial resilience.

Be Well Leisure Insourcing Programme

The Cabinet endorsed the approach to develop the 'Be Well' Leisure Service in 2024/25, following its insourcing on 1 May 2024. Councillor Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, presented an update on the mobilisation of the new service, including project management, risk management, and key activities for the coming year. The report outlined the capital funding requirements and a 10-year financial revenue model projecting a surplus from year four. A £3.65 million capital programme for 2024/25 was noted, with authorisation given for its implementation and amendment. The Cabinet also supported maximising benefits from synergies with Public Health and Workpath to reflect the council's strategic priorities.

Scrutiny Improvement Plan

The Cabinet noted and endorsed a plan to improve the Council's Scrutiny function, aiming for exemplar status. Councillor Abdul Wahid, Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee, welcomed the report, highlighting the function's critical role in governance and accountability. The plan includes enhancements to member training and support, strengthening the role of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer, and improving the scrutiny support function. Actions will be taken to foster a positive relationship between scrutiny and the executive, including a review of scrutiny procedures, the facilitation of a Scrutiny Protocol, and simplification of the Constitution's scrutiny toolkit. Efforts will also be made to raise awareness of scrutiny among officers and increase its public profile.

Contracts Forward Plan 2023/24 - Quarter 4

The Cabinet authorised the appropriate Corporate Director, in consultation with the Mayor, to award contracts set out in Appendix 1 of the report, subject to appropriate procurement exercises and the amendment noted regarding the Culturally Sensitive Substance Misuse Service contract value. Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living, introduced the report, which outlines supply and service contracts over £1 million in value, or capital works contracts over £5 million. The Mayor reminded officers that contract extensions would only be granted by exception in the future, with open procurement being the default approach.

Tower Hamlets Council Strategic Plan: 2024/25 Annual Delivery Plan

The Cabinet approved the Annual Delivery Plan for 2024/25, which details the activities the council will undertake to deliver the priorities of the Strategic Plan 2022-26. Councillor Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor, highlighted the plan's focus on tackling the cost-of-living crisis, providing homes for the future, accelerating education, boosting culture, business, jobs, and leisure, investing in public services, empowering communities, fighting crime, and working towards a clean and green future. The plan also includes refreshed performance measures for 2024/25, with target setting to be developed and reported in July 2024.

Procurement of a Technology Enabled Care Transformation Partner

Approval was given to commence the procurement of a Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Transformation Partner. Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, introduced the report, emphasizing how TEC can transform care delivery, support independence, and improve resident wellbeing. The Cabinet agreed to use the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) framework for this procurement. The decision authorises the Corporate Director for Health and Adult Social Care, in consultation with the Mayor, to award the contract.

Tower Hamlets Partnership Review

The Cabinet noted the draft recommendations from the review of partnership arrangements, ahead of their consideration by the Partnership Executive Group (PEG). The review, initiated in response to feedback suggesting current partnership structures were complex and lacked focus, aims to simplify the partnership structure, improve focus, strengthen accountability, and promote transformational working. Key recommendations include reforming the PEG to focus on strategic priorities, tackling duplication, developing distributed leadership, creating an equitable and accountable partnership, and improving communications and engagement.

Victoria Park Licence to Occupy

The Cabinet approved the extension of a Licence to Occupy arrangement with AEG Presents Limited to deliver events in Victoria Park from August 2024 to September 2027. Councillor Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, explained that this would allow the Council to continue maintaining its parks and open spaces while generating income and providing cultural events. The arrangement guarantees a fee to the Council for a set number of event days annually, providing financial stability and enabling the testing of increased major event days before future market opportunities.

Housing with Care Strategy 2024-2034

The Cabinet formally adopted the Housing with Care Strategy 2024-2034. Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, presented the strategy, which outlines a model for care settings to meet the evolving needs of a growing and ageing population. The strategy aims to increase the provision of Extra Care Housing and Shared Lives arrangements, reduce reliance on residential care, and develop modern, technology-integrated housing options. The Cabinet also agreed that options for additional housing with care settings would be developed as part of the delivery plan for the strategy.

Improving Our Homelessness Services

The Cabinet approved an immediate release of £1.93 million in additional revenue allocation to improve the Housing Options homelessness services. Councillor Kabir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding, introduced the report, highlighting the unprecedented increase in demand and complexity of homelessness cases. The investment will focus on strengthening frontline capacity, providing empathetic support, undertaking a full service review and redesign, and implementing cultural and structural changes to prevent staff churn. A special taskforce will be established to oversee recruitment and restructuring. The funding is to be met from the council's revenue contingency budget, with future costs to be accommodated within the MTFS.

The meeting was confirmed as held and decisions were made.