The Tower Hamlets Cabinet, led by Mayor Lutfur Rahman, convened to discuss a range of strategic and financial matters, including budget monitoring, endorsement of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, and bringing estates parking enforcement services in-house. The cabinet approved the Annual Delivery Plan for 2025/26, strategic delivery and performance report, budget monitoring report, and several other key decisions.

Here's a more detailed look at the key discussion points:

• Tower Hamlets Council Strategic Plan : 2025/26 Annual Delivery Plan

  The Cabinet approved the Annual Delivery Plan for 2025/26¹, which outlines key actions to deliver the council's Strategic Plan 2022-2026. The plan includes annual deliverables and performance measures across eight strategic priorities, such as tackling the cost of living, housing, education, culture, public services, community empowerment, environment and council effectiveness.

  The plan will form the basis for performance reporting. It includes annual deliverables for the year, together with existing and newly refreshed performance measures to be used to track delivery, measure impact, and benchmark how well the council is performing.

  The Annual Delivery Plan incorporates a strong focus on improving all of the council’s services to meet residents’ expectations and to deliver the ambitious objectives reflected in the Strategic Plan. It builds on the progress made in 2024/25, ensuring continued delivery of the Mayor’s manifesto commitments into the work of the council alongside our ongoing work to improve services and meet our statutory obligations.

• Strategic Delivery and Performance Report Year 3 Quarter 3

  The Cabinet reviewed the Strategic Delivery and Performance Report for Quarter 3, noting the status of 56 performance measures tracking the delivery of Year 3 of the Strategic Plan 2022-2026. The report highlighted that 29 measures were on track (green), 7 were between target and minimum target (amber), and 4 were below target (red). The Cabinet agreed to establish Cabinet Member Departmental Performance Panels to enhance performance monitoring.

  Directors responsible for areas with red indicators, such as education, health and care assessments, children re-offending, recycling levels and tenant satisfaction, outlined measures to address these issues.

• Budget Monitoring 24/25 Quarter 3

  The Cabinet considered the budget monitoring report for Quarter 3, noting a forecast overspend of £15.4 million against the approved General Fund budget, £4.6 million overspend against the Housing Revenue Account² budget, and £3.1 million overspend against the Dedicated Schools Grant³ budget. These overspends are linked to pressures in homelessness, adult social care, SEND⁴ transport and waste services.

  To mitigate these overspends, the Cabinet approved the re-allocation of £600,000 of Council Tax relief fund to support Winter Fuel payments in 2024/25.

  Councillor Kabir Ahmed reported that 61% of private rented sector properties being procured were inside the borough, and resources had been identified to support the target of securing 500 properties.

• 0-5 Public Health Nursing Services procurement

  The Cabinet agreed to undertake a procurement exercise for 0-5 Public Health Nursing Services, which includes health visiting and family nurse partnership. The new contract is planned to commence on 1 April 2026, for a length of 4 years, with a value of up to £10 million per year. The final decision on the procurement will be presented to the Cabinet following completion of the process.

• Mayors Waste Improvement Programme - Quarter 3 Update

  The Cabinet noted the Quarter 3 progress report on the Mayor’s Waste Improvement Programme (MWIP), which was launched in response to concerns about failing waste services. The report highlighted continuous improvements to the service, including street cleanliness and waste collection rates, and detailed plans to embed these changes.

• Reduction and Recycling Plan Progress Report – Quarter 3, 2024-25

  The Cabinet noted the progress report on the Reduction and Recycling Plan 2023-25, which aims to reduce waste and deliver a cleaner, greener future for Tower Hamlets. While performance dipped slightly in the quarter, longer-term improvements were noted, with a focus on supporting recycling in blocks of flats.

• Annual Report on School Performance for 2023-2024

  The Cabinet noted the performance outcomes for Tower Hamlets Schools in 2023-24, welcoming the strong results at Key Stages 2 and 4 and on SEND provision, while highlighting the need for improvement in early years and A-level attainment.

• Endorsement of the council and its partners position statement following the publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report

  The Cabinet endorsed the Tower Hamlets Partnership Position Statement made in response to the recommendations arising from the Phase 2 Report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The statement outlines a strategic commitment to implementing the recommendations and learning from the shortcomings observed at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The Cabinet also noted the development of an action plan for the council and progress against these actions.

• Bringing estates parking enforcement services in-house

  The Cabinet agreed to bring estates parking enforcement services in-house on 1 May 2025, with services recharged to the Housing Revenue Account. The in-house service will include a removals service for nuisance and abandoned vehicles. The Cabinet delegated final agreement of the Service Level Agreement to the Director of Neighbourhoods & Customer Services and the Director of Public Realm following consultation with the Mayor.

• Record of Corporate Director’s Actions Quarter 3 (2024 -2025)

  The Cabinet noted the record of Corporate Directors’ Actions, which sets out actions taken under Rule 10 of the Council’s constitution regarding the waiving of procurement procedures for contracts over £100,000.

• DWP Connect to Work Programme Grant _2025-2030

  This report was withdrawn from the agenda.