The Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 26 November 2025 focused on improving services for young people and vulnerable residents, with key decisions made regarding the Young Tower Hamlets Strategy and the Free School Meals Action Plan. The meeting also addressed the Digital Inclusion Action Plan and the Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy.

Young Tower Hamlets Strategy 2025-2027 Approved

The Cabinet approved the Young Tower Hamlets Strategy 2025-2027, a significant investment aimed at transforming youth services in the borough. This strategy, developed with input from over 1,500 young people and parents, outlines plans for universal 'safe spaces' in every ward, targeted support for vulnerable young people, a rapid response team, sports and adventure learning opportunities, and a youth participation team. The strategy aligns with the council's commitment to providing young people with opportunities to thrive and achieve their potential, reversing years of austerity and investing in a flagship youth service. Mayor Lutfur Rahman highlighted his personal understanding of the value of youth services, recalling his own positive experiences with youth clubs. The strategy is supported by a £13.7 million investment and aims to create a modern, high-quality youth service.

Free School Meals Action Plan and Accountability Policy Approved

The Cabinet approved the Free School Meals Action Plan and the introduction of a new Tower Hamlets School Food Accountability Policy. This policy aims to embed a continuous cycle of school food improvement, maintain high standards of food quality, increase meal take-up, and ensure transparency. The plan includes enhanced Conditions of Grant for schools, requiring them to meet national school food standards, provide accurate take-up data, and commit to spending grant funding on school lunches. The council will also fund independent consultants to evaluate primary and secondary school meal provision annually. Political leadership is to be mobilised to champion school food, advocating for the London Living Wage for school food staff and promoting the Tower Hamlets School Food Charter. The plan also recommends scaling up the distribution of take-home hampers for pupils observing Ramadan and reviewing drinking water access in schools. Furthermore, schools will be encouraged to adopt data-informed approaches, including cashless catering systems with item-level tracking and piloting pre-ordering systems in primary schools to reduce waste and improve satisfaction.

Digital Inclusion Action Plan 2025-2028 Approved

The Cabinet approved the Tower Hamlets Digital Inclusion Action Plan for 2025-2028. This plan, developed through extensive collaboration with council officers, partners, and residents, aligns with the national government's Digital Inclusion Action Plan. It aims to ensure that residents have the tools and skills needed to participate in a digital world. The plan addresses core needs such as access to devices, data, and digital skills support, building on the progress made since 2021, which has seen a reduction of around 6,000 digitally excluded residents. The plan acknowledges that older residents, people with disabilities, and those not in work continue to face significant barriers and outlines specific commitments from key public-facing teams to embed digital inclusion in their work.

Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy 2025-2029 and Compact Approved

The Cabinet approved the Tower Hamlets Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Strategy 2025-2029 and the refreshed Tower Hamlets Compact. The strategy's vision is to foster a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable sector that improves residents' lives through partnership. It focuses on four objectives: building strong, trust-based relationships between the Council and the VCS; effective collaboration to meet community needs; strengthening the capacity, resilience, and voice of the VCS; and supporting its independence and long-term sustainability. The refreshed Compact, co-produced with the sector, sets out shared values and commitments for partnership working. The council currently provides £4.4 million in grant funding annually and commissions the VCS through approximately £42.1 million worth of contracts. Progress has already been made, including a VCS Summit and Awards ceremony, premises workshops, and funding information sessions.

Corporate Peer Challenge Report Noted

Mayor Lutfur Rahman noted the outcome of the Corporate Peer Challenge, highlighting significant improvements in trust and unity across the council between members and officers. The report from the Local Government Association indicated that a two-council culture no longer exists and that trust has improved. Substantial achievements were noted, including the resolution of long-standing outstanding accounts, the publication of annual governance statements after a five-year gap, and an 'outstanding' rating for children's services. The People First programme has been embedded, with 90% of staff receiving annual reviews and 100% of service plans published. Of the 18 recommendations made during the peer challenge, 17 have been progressed, with the workforce strategy remaining a key area for development. The report will be published on the council's website and included as an appendix in the council's submission to the minister under the best value intervention.

Hate Crime Reporting Journey Action Plan Approved

The Cabinet approved the Hate Crime Reporting Action Plan, which responds to 16 recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee following a challenge session. The plan aims to improve the reporting journey for victims and enhance services to residents. Key actions include increasing third-party reporting centres, developing a neutral and accessible app for hate crime reporting, training all council staff, particularly housing officers, to recognise and refer hate crime incidents, and improving follow-up and aftercare for victims. The plan also focuses on strengthening community engagement through the 'No Place for Hate' campaign, promoting the 'Ask for Angela' scheme, increasing the visibility of the Hate Incident Panel and Tension Monitoring Group, and improving communication via social media. Annual training for councillors, schoolteachers, and frontline staff on hate crime reporting is also proposed, alongside safety and risk assessment support for councillors facing threats or abuse. Data sharing with Safer Neighbourhood Panels and ward councillors, monitoring the effectiveness of interventions, and sharing anonymised case studies are also key components. Enhanced support for vulnerable communities, including tackling underreporting among women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and migrants, is a priority, as is educating young people about hate crime and online safety, and ensuring victims with no recourse to public funds receive appropriate support.

Other Matters Discussed

The meeting also included announcements regarding the positive reception of Victoria Park being voted in the top 10 parks nationally for the 13th consecutive year, and coverage of the council's ambitious local plan in the Evening Standard. The town hall clock was lit up blue for National Care Leavers' Month, and white ribbons were worn to promote the White Ribbon agenda. The council also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting vulnerable residents through initiatives like the reintroduced Mills and Wills programme, which provides hot, fresh meals to the elderly and infirm, and the launch of a dedicated drug squad to tackle drug dealing and support those with substance misuse issues. The local plan, which aims to deliver 52,000 homes with a minimum of 40% affordable housing, was also discussed, alongside the Mayor's accelerated housing programme to deliver over 3,000 affordable homes on council-owned sites. The council also presented its representation at the Truman's Brewery hearing, defending its vision for Spitalfields and Bangla Town.

The Cabinet also noted the CERN Improvement Annual Report 2024/25, which highlighted significant improvements in CERN services and the positive impact of additional investment. The Digital Inclusion Action Plan 2025-28 was approved, noting progress in reducing digital exclusion and identifying key barriers such as lack of digital skills and support. The Annual Residence Survey 2025 results were noted, showing broad stability in resident perceptions and satisfaction with council services, with particular improvements in satisfaction with waste collection and street cleaning. The report also highlighted a decrease in concerns about crime and rising prices, though concerns about council tax increased. Finally, the Free School Meals Action Plan was approved, aiming to ensure nutritious meals for all children and introducing a School Food Accountability Policy to hold schools and caterers to account.