The Assembly of Barking and Dagenham Council met on Wednesday 23 July 2025. The meeting included tributes to former Councillor David Smith and marked the passing of two residents.

Death of Former Councillor David Smith

The Assembly observed a minute's silence to mark the passing of former Councillor David Smith, who represented Eastbury Ward as a Liberal Focus Team Councillor from 1986 to 1990. Tributes were paid by councillors, who remembered him as a dedicated community representative and a loyal friend. Councillor Ramsey recalled Mr. Smith's anarchic liberal political stance and his commitment to his principles, while Councillor Warby highlighted his community-focused approach and dedication to representing the people of Eastbury. Councillor Cameron Geddes shared anecdotes about Mr. Smith's passion for housing tenants and his broader interests, including collecting books and an interest in classical music.

Leader's Statement

Councillor Dominic Twomey, Leader of the Council, began his statement by marking the passing of two Barking and Dagenham residents, Leona Rooker and AJ Patel, who died in tragic circumstances. He extended the Council's deepest sympathies to their families and friends.

Councillor Twomey then addressed the recent fire at Beam Parklands, noting that preventative measures, including fire breaks installed by the Council's parks team, had helped to slow the spread of the fire and minimise risk to nearby properties. He reminded residents of the importance of preventing fires by not dropping cigarettes or leaving glass bottles in parks.

He also provided an update on operational issues affecting waste collection, stating that the team was working hard to resolve these and return to schedule by the end of the month.

On a more positive note, Councillor Twomey mentioned a recent visit from colleagues in South Korea as part of a partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Council, focusing on sharing ideas about the potential of technology, particularly AI, to assist in the delivery of local services in the care sector. He also welcomed Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health, and online fitness coach Joe Wicks to Ripple Primary School for the launch of a new animated fitness series called 'Activate'.

Councillor Twomey also highlighted the launch of a new health hub at Dagenham Library, which will help those with health conditions return to work. He announced that planning permission had been granted to restore the moat of Valence House and other repairs, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and an Arts Council England grant.

The Council also celebrated South Asian Heritage Month, raising the flag for the occasion. Finally, Councillor Twomey mentioned the annual Barking and Dagenham Civic Parade, thanking the Mayor, Councillor Princess Bright, and the Uniformed Groups and Dagenham Eagles for their participation.

Treasury Management Annual Report 2024/25

Councillor Rocky Gill, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, presented the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2024/25. The report detailed the Council's borrowing and investment activities, noting a net increase of £202 million in borrowing, primarily due to the Investment and Acquisition Strategy (IAS). This strategy is linked to the regeneration pipeline, with plans to develop approximately 3,700 housing units. The report also highlighted a net overspend of £5.2 million in the revenue position, attributed to increased construction borrowing costs and a slowdown in the build programme. The Assembly recommended the report.

Children's Care and Support Self-Evaluation 2024/25, Ofsted Activity and Social Work Reform

Councillor Jane Jones, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Education & Schools, presented the Children's Care and Support Self-Evaluation report for 2024/25. The report detailed findings from an Ofsted-focused visit in March 2025, which acknowledged improvements in social work practice, including threshold application in MASH¹, child-in-need and child protection plans, and outcomes for children in care. Ofsted noted that while practice had been sustained and strengthened since the last inspection, areas for improvement remained, particularly concerning the timeliness of pre-proceedings pathways, the effectiveness of direct work, safety and contingency planning, and the consistency of supervision. The report also outlined progress on national social work reforms, including the 'Families First Partnership' programme, aimed at reducing the number of children entering care. The Assembly agreed to the report and its recommendations.

Review of the Council's Financial Regulations, Contract Rules and Other Constitution Updates

Councillor Dominic Twomey, Leader of the Council, presented a report on the review of the Council's Financial Regulations, Contract Rules, and other constitutional updates. The review was undertaken to ensure compliance with new legislation, including the Procurement Act 2023, which replaced the Public Contract Regulations 2015. Key changes included updated financial regulations regarding expenditure approval levels and budget virements, and revised contract rules to reflect new procurement legislation, enhance transparency, and support local businesses. An amendment to the Councillor's Code of Conduct was also proposed to clarify expectations regarding cooperation with the Monitoring Officer. The Assembly agreed to the proposed updates to the Financial Regulations, Contract Rules, and the amendment to the Councillor's Code of Conduct, subject to the amendment referred to by the Leader.

Localism Act 2011 Appointment of Independent Persons

The Monitoring Officer presented a report on the appointment of Independent Persons under the Localism Act 2011. The Council is required to have at least one Independent Person to advise on complaints regarding the Council's Code of Conduct. The report noted that the current three Independent Persons – Michael Carpenter, Dr. Gurpreet Singh Bhatia, and Pastor Thomas Adeyemi Aderounmu – have expressed willingness to continue their appointments. The Assembly was recommended to agree the continuation of their appointments until the Assembly meeting following the Annual Assembly in 2027. The report also highlighted potential implications from the Government's English Devolution White Paper, which proposes significant changes to the standards regime, including mandatory codes of conduct, formal Standards Committees, and powers to suspend or disqualify councillors. The Assembly agreed to the continuation of the appointments and noted the potential implications of the proposed changes.