The Waltham Forest Council meeting on Thursday, 11 December 2025, saw the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting and a significant Labour Group motion calling for urgent reforms to tackle gambling harms. The council also agreed to continue the proposed income-banded Council Tax Support Scheme for 2026/27, maintaining the maximum award at 85% for working-aged people.

Key decisions made during the meeting included the adoption of a Protocol for Honorary Alderperson, which will now require decisions on awards to be reserved for the Full Council. The council also agreed to uplift fees and charges by 1st February 2026, or by 1st April 2026 at the latest, with academic-related charges being uplifted in line with the academic year. A Long and Distinguished Service award was conferred upon Councillor Marie Pye. The council agreed the contents of the Corporate Parenting Board's annual report for 2024/25 and supported its continued strategic priorities. Additionally, a proposed new smoke control order was agreed, consolidating existing orders into a single order for the entire London Borough of Waltham Forest and all waterways, and the publication of the notice for the Smoke Control Revocation Order 2026 and New Smoke Control Order 2026 was approved.

Support National Gambling Reform

The council resolved to join a coalition of over 40 local authorities in writing to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, calling for urgent reforms to tackle gambling harms and restore decision-making powers to local authorities. They also pledged to support the Social Market Foundation's Six Recommendations for Gambling Reform, which include granting greater licensing powers to local authorities, involving Directors of Public Health in the licensing process, reviewing premises licence classifications, increasing licence fees, clarifying responsibilities between local authorities and the Gambling Commission, and reviewing the 'Aim to Permit' rule in the Gambling Act. The council will write to relevant government departments expressing full support for these proposals and urging immediate legislative reform. Furthermore, Waltham Forest Council will join and promote the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA), support the campaign to end gambling advertising across the Transport for London network, work with anchor institutions to raise awareness of gambling harms, collaborate with local health and voluntary sector partners to raise awareness and signpost residents to support, and use its new Local Plan to assess proposals for new betting shops considering existing clusters, proximity to areas of deprivation, health impacts, and implications for community safety, crime, and anti-social behaviour. The council also supports the key recommendations of the cross-party Greater London Authority's Health Committee's report on Gambling-related harms in London.

Council Tax Support Scheme for 2026/27

The council agreed to continue the proposed income-banded Council Tax Support Scheme, maintaining the maximum award available to working-aged people at 85% for the Council Tax billing year from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. A Discretionary Hardship Fund of £750,000 will continue to be made available under section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended by the Local Government Finance Act 2012, to provide additional help and support to those experiencing the greatest financial hardship, as defined in the Discretionary Housing Payment and Council Tax Hardship Scheme published on the Council's website. Delegated authority was agreed for the Strategic Director of Resources, following consultation with the Portfolio Lead Member for Finance and Resources, to make any minor and consequential changes necessary to the detailed provision as a result of any changes in the regulations upon which the scheme is based.

The council noted that the income-banded scheme will continue to treat earnings and self-employed earnings as income to determine a household's income level against the proposed income bands, with all other income disregarded. The scheme will continue with two charges for non-dependant adults within households: £20 per week for those in work and £8 per week for those out of work. Working-age residents would be entitled to support of up to a maximum of 85%, depending on their income level, household composition, capital, and whether they fall within protected groups such as households with limited capability to work or households with children aged five and under. Other eligible working-age residents would receive support up to a maximum of 57%, depending on their income level, household composition, and capital. The remaining provisions of the Council's scheme for 2026/27 will be as published on the Council's website. The projected cost of the whole scheme is identified as £19.53 million, which is £0.93 million more than the current scheme. This will be reflected in the calculation of the council tax base for 2026/27 and included within the next Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) as part of the budget setting process. Finally, it was noted that before any significant changes to the scheme that reduce or remove support could be made, a statutory consultation would need to be carried out.

Fees and Charges 2026/27

The council agreed to the schedule of Fees and Charges as set out in Appendix 1 of the report. They also agreed to the proposal to uplift fees and charges by 1st February 2026, and at the latest by 1st April 2026, with the exception of academic-related charges, which will be uplifted in line with the academic year.

Proposed New Smoke Control Order

The council agreed to the consolidation of existing Smoke Control Areas (SCAs) into a single SCA comprising the whole area of the London Borough of Waltham Forest and all waterways. They also agreed to the publication of the Notice in respect of the London Borough of Waltham Forest Smoke Control Revocation Order 2026 and New Smoke Control Order 2026.

Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report 2024/25

The council agreed the contents of the report and supported the continued strategic priorities of the Corporate Parenting Board.

Protocol for Honorary Alderperson

The council adopted the Protocol at Appendix 1 of the report. They also amended the responsibility for functions within the Constitution to make explicit that decisions to make awards under that protocol are reserved to the Full Council. It was noted that existing statutory powers to confer the titles of Honorary Alderman and Alderwoman be noted, and the addition of a title of Honorary Alderperson be made in accordance with the Council's equality commitments.

Long and Distinguished Service Awards

The council conferred a Long and Distinguished Service award to Councillor Marie Pye, who was elected in July 2005.

Appointments

There were no appointments made at this meeting.

The meeting was held on Thursday, 11 December 2025, and the information status was CONFIRMED_HELD.