The Cabinet meeting on 24 April 2024 saw the approval of a new Community Engagement Strategy for 2024-2028, aimed at fostering a more collaborative relationship between the council and its residents. Significant progress was also noted on the Women's Safety Action Plan, with many recommendations already in progress or completed, and decisions were made regarding new regulatory functions for social housing and contract extensions for vital youth and health services.

Community Engagement Strategy 2024-2028

The Cabinet approved the new Community Engagement Strategy for 2024-2028, which sets out the council's vision to be a council that listens to communities to build a borough that works for everyone. This strategy, developed in consultation with 328 stakeholders including residents, partners, staff, and elected members, identifies six key priorities. These include fostering a joined-up approach to engagement, working collaboratively with communities on decision-making, improving outreach to seldom-heard groups, equipping staff with the necessary skills, ensuring the community understands the impact of their involvement, and encouraging residents to become more involved in their communities and future leaders. The strategy also emphasises principles of good practice, such as transparency, accessibility, and providing feedback to participants.

Women's Safety Action Plan

The Cabinet reviewed the Women's Safety Action Plan, which has been developed in response to seven recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in February 2023. Councillor Abu Talha Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, highlighted that all recommendations are either in progress or completed, with a new overarching strategy to be launched soon. The plan includes initiatives such as an anti-misogyny campaign in the night-time economy, mainstreaming women's safety into the licensing policy, and developing a new Women's Resource Centre. The Cabinet approved the action plan, with several additions to the recommendations to further strengthen partnerships with the Metropolitan Police, faith communities, the voluntary sector, and to ensure a comprehensive review of support for women across all communities.

New Social Housing Regulatory Functions and Nominees to Adopt Responsibilities

The Cabinet approved the appointment of individuals to two new regulatory functions for social housing landlords, as required by the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 and the Charter for Social Housing Residents. Councillor Kabir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding, introduced the report. The Director of Housing Asset Management was appointed as the Health and Safety Lead, responsible for monitoring and assessing health and safety risks in social housing. The Corporate Director for Housing & Regeneration was appointed as the Responsible Person, tasked with overseeing compliance with new consumer standards. These appointments are crucial for ensuring tenant safety and accountability, with non-compliance potentially leading to significant financial penalties and reputational damage.

Contract Extension for Young People's Supported Housing Pathway

The Cabinet approved the recommissioning of the Young People's Supported Housing Pathway (YPSHP) and a six-month extension to existing contracts for three providers. Steve Reddy, Corporate Director for Children's Services, explained that the previous tender process did not yield bids of sufficient quality to meet the needs of vulnerable young people. This extension, from June to December 2024, will ensure service continuity while a new, improved pathway is developed and retendered. The Mayor expressed his support for the extension as an exception, emphasizing his preference for open procurement and encouraging wider future procurement exercises to include smaller providers.

Contract Extension for School Health and Wellbeing Service and Integrated Young People's Health and Wellbeing Service (Safe East)

An eight-month contract extension was approved for the School Health and Wellbeing Service and the Integrated Young People's Health and Wellbeing Service (Safe East). Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, explained that the procurement process for a new Children and Young People's Health and Wellbeing Service (CYPHWS) did not deliver best value. Katie Cole, Associate Director for Public Health, elaborated on the necessity of an eight-month extension to align with school terms and facilitate a smooth mobilisation period for the new service. The Mayor reiterated his preference for open procurement but supported the extension as an exception, also urging officers to ensure future procurement processes are accessible to smaller providers.

The meeting also included announcements regarding the progress of a Best Value inspection, the Mayor's involvement in appointment sub-committees, and a minute's silence to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Brick Lane bombings. The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Musthak Ahmed, provided an update on the committee's recent work, including reviews of the LGA Corporate Peer Review Action Plan, leisure insourcing, and the parking enforcement strategy.