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Cabinet - Wednesday, 17th December, 2025 5.30 p.m.
December 17, 2025 at 5:30 pm Cabinet View on council websiteSummary
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The Cabinet of Tower Hamlets Council is scheduled to meet on 17 December 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including strategic planning, financial performance, and community safety. The Cabinet will consider the strategic vision for Tower Hamlets in 2035, revisions to the Community Infrastructure Levy, updates to planning obligations, and strategies for youth justice and community safety.
Key Topics for Discussion
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Strategic Vision - Our Tower Hamlets 2035
The cabinet will consider a report on the strategic vision for the borough, called Our Tower Hamlets 2035. This vision outlines the council's ambitions for the borough by 2035 and how it plans to achieve them, and was co-produced with residents and partners. The vision statement is:
Work together with kindness, creativity and determination to break the cycle of poverty and inequality, so that everyone of us can live a good life and reach our full potential.
The report pack includes the Consultation and Engagement Summary Report and the Implementation Plan.
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Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Partial Review
The report pack includes a paper regarding a consultation on proposed revisions to the Tower Hamlets Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule. The council adopted the current schedule in April 2015, with a revision in 2020, but is now considering the introduction of a new rate for Research & Development (R&D) uses.
The proposal is to introduce a rate of £117 per square metre for R&D developments. According to the report pack, a viability assessment commissioned in 2024 found that this rate is viable and would align with the adopted Local Plan. The Draft CIL Charging Schedule and supporting documents, including the R&D CIL Study and CIL Funding Gap Statement, are included in the report pack.
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Partial Update to the Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
The cabinet will consider a report regarding a partial update to the Planning Obligations SPD. According to the report pack, planning obligations are legal agreements between developers and the council to mitigate the impacts of development proposals. The SPD provides guidance on how these obligations are secured.
The proposed update includes revisions to the Monitoring and Development Coordination Fees and the Mansard Roof Contribution. The draft updated SPD, Equalities Impact Assessment, and Consultation Statement are included in the report pack.
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Planning for School Places 2025/26 Review and Recommendations
The cabinet will consider the annual review of pupil place planning in Tower Hamlets. The report explains the current position on school place provision, projected demand, and steps to manage sufficiency and sustainability. It also informs decisions on education capital investment and commissioning of places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
According to the report pack, pupil numbers in primary schools have been falling since 2018/19, and this is anticipated to continue. The report pack also notes that there has been a steady increase in demand for Year 7 entry, but that this growth is now understood to have peaked in 2023/24.
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Community Safety Partnership Plan 2025-2028
The cabinet will consider the Community Safety Partnership Plan, which is required under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The plan sets out how the council, fire service, police, probation service and NHS ICB will work together to tackle crime and disorder locally. The Annual Strategic Needs Assessment 2023-2024 has informed the development of the plan.
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Budget Monitoring 2025/26 – Quarter 2
The cabinet will review the budget monitoring report for Quarter 2 of 2025/26. The report provides an overview of the council's financial performance and progress against savings targets.
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Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2025-2028
The cabinet will review the Youth Justice Strategic Plan, which outlines the strategic priorities and goals of the Youth Justice Executive Board. The plan highlights progress made over the past year and sets out ambitions and objectives for the next three years.
Other items on the agenda include:
- Approval of the minutes from the previous cabinet meeting.
- Announcements from Mayor Lutfur Rahman.
- An update from the Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Abdul Wahid, on key issues and questions relevant to the reports under consideration.
- A public question and answer session.
It is not possible to determine from the agenda or reports pack whether any of these items will be discussed, or what decisions the council will make.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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The Cabinet of Tower Hamlets approved amendments to the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) approach on 17/12/2025. The decision approves the NCIL implementation framework for decision making on allocation, allowing for greater flexibility in spending NCIL funds on capital and revenue projects, and future grant programmes.
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Budget Monitoring 2025/26 – Quarter 2
Recommendations Approved -
Strategic Delivery and Performance Report Year 4 Quarter 2
Recommendations Approved...to note the Strategic Delivery and Performance Report for Q2, covering July 1st to September 30th 2025, and review the status of 60 performance measures tracking the delivery of Year 4 of the Strategic Plan 2022-2026.
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Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2025-2028
For DeterminationThe Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning (Statutory Deputy Mayor) decided to approve the development of a Youth Justice Strategy and endorse the Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2025–2028 on 17 December 2025. The decision also noted the Equalities Impact Assessment associated with the plan.
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Planning for School Places 2025/26 Review and Recommendations
Recommendations ApprovedThe Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning decided to note the factors influencing pupil population change, the current and projected demand for school places, and the steps being taken to manage sufficiency and sustainability. This decision was made on 17 December 2025. The council will implement three new primary provisions in Autumn 2025, including a special unit for autism, a pilot additional resource provision for communication and interaction and autism, and an early years intervention provision.
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The (draft) CIL Partial Review Draft Charging Schedule - Consultation
For DeterminationThe Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding decided on 17/12/2025 to approve the draft CIL Partial Review Draft Charging Schedule for public consultation. This decision includes approving the proposed consultation strategy and authorising the Corporate Director of Housing & Regeneration to approve minor modifications and submit the schedule for public examination if no material modifications are required. The decision also notes the supporting evidence base and the Equalities Impact Assessment Screening.
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Strategic Vision – Our Tower Hamlets 2035
Recommendations ApprovedThe Mayor decided to approve the Strategic Vision, "Our Tower Hamlets 2025-2035", on 17/12/2025. The decision also noted the engagement process, equality screening, and implementation proposals.
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Community Safety Partnership Plan
For DeterminationCouncillor Abu Talha Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, recommended that Full Council approve the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2025-29 on 17/12/2025. The plan outlines priorities and approaches to tackling crime and disorder locally. Specific actions include upgrading CCTV systems, increasing enforcement officers, and establishing a 24-hour ASB reporting service.
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The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding decided on 17/12/2025 to approve the updated Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document for adoption. This decision also authorises officers to prepare an adoption statement and withdraw the current Planning Obligations SPD. The update includes revised guidance for mansard roof conservation area contributions and indexation for development co-ordination and non-financial monitoring fees.
Attendees
Topics
Meeting Documents
Agenda
Reports Pack
Additional Documents