The Cabinet of Tower Hamlets Council met on Thursday 16 May 2024 to discuss a range of significant issues, including the council's ongoing transformation journey, its medium-term financial strategy, and improvements to homelessness services. Key decisions made included the approval of the Annual Delivery Plan for 2024/25, the adoption of the Housing with Care Strategy 2024-2034, and the release of additional revenue for homelessness services.

Transforming Tower Hamlets Council: Building a Stronger Future

The Cabinet received an update on the council's 'People First' transformation journey, detailing significant progress made in fostering a more collaborative culture, improving financial understanding and stability, embedding a resident-centric focus, and enhancing transparency and accountability. Key achievements highlighted included a substantial increase in award shortlistings and wins, retention of Investor in People Silver status with aspirations for Gold, and positive findings from the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge in 2023, which noted a widespread understanding of the council's ambitious priorities. The report also outlined future focus areas such as deepening resident engagement, building long-term financial strength, driving innovation, and enabling a skilled workforce. The Cabinet noted that risks identified in this report are addressed in other agenda items, including Leisure Insourcing, Housing Options, and Scrutiny.

Delivering the Medium-Term Financial Strategy

An update was provided on the current position of the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), actions being taken to mitigate identified risks, and further options for managing emerging risks. The primary objective is to ensure the delivery of the 2024/25 budget, which forms the first year of the MTFS approved by the Council on 28 February 2024. The report detailed the £43.3 million in savings over the next three years, with £11.9 million secured in the first year. The Council has also implemented a Voluntary Early Retirement/Voluntary Redundancy scheme, with projected annual savings of nearly £3 million. The report emphasised the council's financial resilience with a strong reserves position, but also highlighted the need for vigilance to avoid complacency.

Be Well Leisure Insourcing Programme

The Cabinet received an update on the insourcing of the Be Well Leisure Service, which returned in-house on 1 May 2024. The report detailed achievements to date, project management structures, risk management arrangements, and key activities for the coming year. A 10-year financial revenue model projects an operating surplus from year four, with additional income anticipated from events, memberships, and commissioned services. The report also outlined the capital funding requirements, with a £3.65 million programme for 2024/25 to invest in leisure assets. The Cabinet noted the key risks and mitigating actions, and supported maximising benefits from synergies with other council teams, including Public Health and Workpath.

Scrutiny Improvement Plan

The Cabinet noted and endorsed a plan to improve the council's Scrutiny function, addressing recommendations from the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge. Key actions include enhancing member training and support, improving the effectiveness of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer role, and strengthening the relationship between scrutiny and the executive. The plan also aims to raise awareness of scrutiny among officers and increase its public profile. The Cabinet noted specific equalities considerations, encouraging the selection of female councillors for leadership positions within scrutiny.

Contracts Forward Plan 2023/24 - Quarter 4

The Cabinet reviewed the forward plan of 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 in exceptional circumstances in the future, with open procurement being the default approach. An amendment was noted regarding the value of the Culturally Sensitive Substance Misuse Service contract. The Cabinet authorised the appropriate Corporate Directors to award contracts, subject to procurement exercises and appropriate award decisions.

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

The Cabinet approved the Annual Delivery Plan for 2024/25, which outlines the key actions the council will take to deliver the Strategic Plan's priorities. This includes initiatives to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, provide homes for the future, accelerate education, boost culture and business, invest in public services, empower communities, promote a clean and green future, and ensure the council listens to and works for everyone. Refreshed performance measures for 2024/25 were also approved, with target setting to be 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. This partner will support the transformation of the council's Telecare service, aiming to improve care delivery, enhance resident independence, and achieve significant savings over the next five years. The ESPO framework will be used for the procurement, allowing for a faster award and realisation of benefits. The contract will be for a 3+1+1 basis, with a total value of £1.7 million over five years.

Tower Hamlets Partnership Review

The Cabinet noted the draft recommendations from the review of partnership arrangements, aimed at simplifying the structure, improving focus, strengthening accountability, and promoting transformational partnership working. Key recommendations include reforming the Partnership Executive Group (PEG) to focus on strategic priorities, tackling duplication, developing distributed leadership, creating an equitable and accountable partnership, and improving communications and engagement. These recommendations will be considered further by the Partnership Executive Group.

Victoria Park Licence to Occupy

The Cabinet approved the extension of a licence to occupy for AEG Presents Limited to hold events in Victoria Park from August 2024 to September 2027. This decision will enable the council to receive a guaranteed rental fee, test the viability of an increased number of major event days, and potentially secure more commercially advantageous offers for future contracts. The arrangement will remain in line with the Council's Major Events Policy for Victoria Park, with a focus on minimising impact and ensuring resident feedback is considered.

Housing with Care Strategy 2024-2034

The Cabinet formally adopted the Housing with Care Strategy 2024-2034. This strategy outlines a plan to meet the future care and support needs of residents by developing a diverse range of high-quality housing with care options, including Extra Care Housing and Shared Lives arrangements. The strategy aims to promote resident independence, improve outcomes, and achieve better value for money compared to residential care placements. A capital growth bid of £20 million has been submitted for a culturally sensitive Extra Care Housing development.

Improving Our Homelessness Services

The Cabinet approved the immediate release of £1.93 million in additional revenue allocation to improve the Housing Options homelessness services. This investment will focus on increasing frontline capacity, providing empathetic and dignified responses, conducting a full service review and redesign, implementing cultural and structural changes to retain staff, and reviewing senior management arrangements. A special taskforce will be established to oversee recruitment and restructuring. The funding is to be met from the council's budgeted service contingency, with future costs to be accommodated within the MTFS.

The meeting was confirmed as held, and decisions were made.