The Tower Hamlets Council meeting addressed petitions, a motion to support children with special educational needs, and a motion to address intimidation and harassment in politics. Councillors also approved the calendar of meetings for 2025/26 and designated a new monitoring officer.

Petitions

The council received four petitions, hearing presentations on three of them.

Divestment of pension funds

Carrie-Ann Sibilcock and Dr Kambiz Bumla presented a petition on behalf of the Tower Hamlets Coalition for Ethical Investment, calling for the council to divest its Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) assets from companies that are complicit in human rights violations against Palestinians, and from fossil fuel companies.

The petitioners welcomed the council's previous commitment to divest from weapons manufacturers, but urged them to maintain momentum. Dr Bumla referenced a report of a Palestinian ambulance crew found executed, and stated that no Tower Hamlets pensioner should feel their pension has been funded from supplying arms that continue this slaughter.

Councillor Haroun Amir asked for clarity on the role of local traders supporting the petition. Sibilcock clarified that the Trades Council represents a number of unions, including those in healthcare, schools and the council, and that they fully support the petition.

Councillor Nathalie Bienfait asked for concrete steps the council could take towards divestment. Sibilcock responded that they were calling for a commitment to work at a transparent pace, and suggested that the council work with them to create a concrete plan to divest over time, without paying exit penalties.

Councillor Sabina Khan asked the petitioners to name the companies the council has invested in. Sibilcock responded that they were asking the pensions committee to present a report on complicit companies, but that information gathered by Freedom of Information requests was available on the Palestine Solidarity Campaign website.

Councillor Syed Ahmed, cabinet member for resources and cost of living, responded that the council had passed a motion to begin the process of divestment from companies that enable unethical purchases, and that the pensions committee had met with council unions and called for consultation with members. He stated that over £67 million of the fund is currently invested with potential companies complicit in violation of human rights.

The petition was referred to the corporate director for resources for a written response within 28 days.

Poplar High Street safety

Sister Christine Mona Ali and Carol Simmons presented a petition requesting that the 20 mph speed limit on Poplar High Street be enforced and that lighting be installed along the street. They expressed concern about speeding traffic and the risk of accidents, particularly given the presence of a primary school and New City College.

Councillor Kulam Kibrechow asked if the petitioners would be prepared to meet officers from the community safety team and local police officers to arrange a speed camera operation. Sister Christine responded that they needed action taken, and that cameras would generate revenue through fines.

Councillor Jemski asked why the council had removed a previous speed bump and whether it could be reinstated. Sister Christine responded that they had not had an answer.

Councillor Sabina Khan asked whether previous council investments to calm traffic and make the area more child-friendly had been ineffective. Sister Christine responded that they had created a bottleneck.

Councillor Peter Golds asked what the best solution would be. Sister Christine responded that cameras and active deterrents were needed.

Councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury, cabinet member for safer communities, responded that the 20 mph speed limit was implemented in 2015, and further improvements were made in 2024. He stated that speeding is a criminal offence, and encouraged residents to engage with safer neighbourhood teams. He also stated that advice would be sought from the council's agricultural team concerning tree maintenance where thinning of the upper canopy may assist in spreading of the light.

The petition was referred to the corporate director for communities for a written response within 28 days.

Planning process

Saif Usmani, Lucy Rogers and Puru Mia presented a petition requesting that Tower Hamlets Council restore trust in its planning process. They referenced developments such as Bishopsgate Goods Yard, More Light More Power, Stop the Monster campaigns, Norton Folgate, Whitechapel 101 and the Truman Brewery, and stated that planning has repeatedly failed the people of Tower Hamlets. They also referenced a 2017 corruption scandal and a report by Transparency International UK which gave Tower Hamlets a score of 59 out of 100 for planning transparency.

Councillor Selugamit questioned the transparency of Transparency International's framework. Usmani responded that there was a link to the report in their petition.

Councillor Kabir Hussain asked whether the petitioners believed that all councillors should be held to the same standard of transparency, integrity and accountability. Mia responded by referencing a resident of Councillor Hussain's who had given misleading information.

Councillor Maim Talukdar asked if anyone had reported any issues with any councillors. Mia responded that the issues were structural, not individual.

Councillor Peter Golds defended the officers, stating that they do an incredible job in very very difficult circumstances.

During the debate, Councillor Ahmed stated that the ten points suggested by Transparency International are embedded within the council's constitution.

Councillor Kabir Hussain questioned the timing and focus of the petition, and claimed that Councillor Amin Rahman had been the first councillor to vote in favour of a Whitechapel High Street scheme, followed by all three ASPIRE Councillors. He also raised concerns about the Marshall Planning application, claiming that Councillor Amin used his casting vote as chair to push through the application, and that Councillor Ghulam Kibriya and Councillor Amin made comments suggesting the Mayor had instructed them on how to vote.

Councillor Kabir Ahmed stated that criminal allegations were being made and that the meeting needed to have greater control.

The Mayor, Councillor Lutfur Rahman, stated that he was not going to stoop to that level.

Councillor Jai stated that officers work really hard, and that members sometimes agree with the official recommendation, and sometimes vote against it.

The petition was referred to the corporate director for housing and regeneration for a written response within 28 days.

Food bank funding

A fourth petition on fully restoring food bank funding was withdrawn by the petitioners.

Mayor's report

Mayor Lutfur Rahman addressed the council, highlighting the following issues:

• SEND support: He thanked the lead member for education for bringing forward a motion concerning SEND support and provision, and noted that children from BME, and particularly South Asian backgrounds, are disproportionately impacted by SEND issues. He also addressed the cuts that have been announced to the national benefits system.
• Benefit cuts: He criticised cuts to the national benefits system, stating that they would disproportionately impact the most vulnerable in the borough.
• Palestinian territories: He addressed the ongoing atrocities taking place across Palestinian territories, and sent his condolences regarding several volunteers who were killed in an attack on Gaza.

Administration motion: Empowering SEND children and young adults

Councillor Sabina Khan introduced a motion to support children and young adults with autism, special education needs and disabilities, noting that the administration had committed an additional £1.5 million investment. Councillor Sabina Akter seconded the motion.

Councillor Sridharji Lislan, leader of the Labour Party Group, moved an amendment to the motion, welcoming the council's investment and a Labour Government's investment of £740 million towards 10,000 extra school places for children with SEND.

Councillor Iqbal Hussain spoke in support of the motion, and gave an example of a single mother who walked into his advisory bursting into tears, because her 22-year-old child had fallen through the system.

Councillor Rebecca Sultana stated that funding alone is not enough, and that it must reach the right places. She stated that some local organisations which have run SEND holiday programmes for many years have not been granted funding this time around.

Councillor Mufi-Dabas stated that next to housing, SCN children are her biggest source of casework, and that parents are distraught at the lack of support from the council and schools.

Councillor Syed Ahmed stated that the additional investment of £1.5 million will enable the council to increase opportunities for young people with SCN, and that the programme will aim towards both young people who are still in education as well as those who have left schools and colleges.

Councillor Asma Islam stated that it was rare that they stood in support of the administration motion, but that they shared the fundamental belief that every child deserves every chance in education and in life.

The Mayor, Councillor Lutfur Rahman, stated that the council had invested some £26 million in young people alone.

The motion, including the amendment put forward by the Labour group, was unanimously carried.

Opposition motion: Political campaigning

Councillor Mufeedah Bustin introduced a motion on political campaigning, stating that she had no doubt that women councillors receive more abuse than men, and that her Bangladeshi female colleagues on both sides of the chamber will receive the worst of it. Councillor Maysha Begum seconded the motion.

Councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury moved an amendment to the motion, referencing the council's commitments in the new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, the ongoing work of the Women's Commission, and the best value report reference that all parties need to take responsibility.

Councillor Gulam Kibriya Choudhary stated that the administration is fully committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive political environment where women can engage freely.

Councillor Shri Rajan Islam stated that intimidation, harassment, violence against political candidates and elected representatives are completely unacceptable and profoundly undemocratic.

Councillor Sabina Akter stated that political campaigns are at the heart of democracy, and that it is their duty as elected representatives to ensure that residents are free to choose how they want to exercise their freedom of speech, exercise their right to vote and run for office and, most importantly, free from intimidation.

Councillor Nathalie Bienfait stated that the motion is fundamentally an issue of misogyny.

Councillor Peter Golds stated that they have got to take action, and sit across Tower Hamlets and say they will take the lead in defending their people and stop intimidation.

The motion, including the amendment put forward by Councillor Sabina Khan, was carried.

Calendar of council and committee meetings 2025/26

Councillor Maium Talukdar introduced a report setting out the proposed calendar of council and committee meetings for 2025/26. She noted that the meeting on 25 February 2026, will be a budget meeting, and will be during daytime due to Ramadan.

Councillor Kabir Ahmed seconded the report.

The council agreed to approve the proposed calendar of the meetings for the municipal year 2025-26 and to delegate to the monitoring officer the authority to agree meeting dates for any new committee or panels that are set up subsequent to this report being presented to council subject to appropriate consultation with members.

Designation of the monitoring officer role

Councillor Maium Talukdar introduced a report setting out the designation of the council’s monitoring officer. She welcomed Shipriya Iqbal and thanked Linda Walker for her service.

Councillor Kabir Ahmed seconded the report, and also thanked Linda Walker for her work.

The council agreed to endorse the designation of Shupriya Equal Director of Legal, the council's monitoring officer from Wednesday, 23rd of April, 2025 and to formally thank Linda Walker for her support as monitoring officer over the past year.