The Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on 26 January 2026 focused on the proposed amendments to the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) approach, the progress of the Be Well leisure services initiative, and the council's communication strategy. After a tied vote on the NCIL amendments, the Chair used their casting vote to uphold the original Cabinet decision, meaning the proposed changes to how NCIL funds can be spent will proceed. The committee also received updates on the Be Well leisure service transition and the council's communication strategy, and reviewed a challenge session report on reducing road danger and deaths.

Amendments to Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy Approach - Call-in

The committee discussed a call-in initiated by Councillor Marc Francis and four other councillors regarding the Cabinet's decision to amend the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) approach. Councillor Francis argued that the changes would allow NCIL funds, intended for infrastructure like schools and parks, to be diverted to prop up revenue services, a move he described as an inappropriate raid on funding. He raised concerns about a lack of meaningful consultation with local residents and neighbourhood forums, particularly regarding developments in areas like Fish Island, where residents were reportedly told there was no money for essential traffic calming measures despite available NCIL funds.

Councillor Kabir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding, defended the Cabinet's decision, stating the amendments were minor, lawful, and operational, designed to increase flexibility and accelerate neighbourhood improvements. He explained that the changes merely restored the pre-2023 approach, where previous administrations used similar funding for revenue spending. Councillor Ahmed assured the committee that the decision did not allocate funding, restructure neighbourhood ring-fencing, or replace consultation processes. All future spending would remain subject to legal review and must support local development. He also stated that the annual residents' survey was an adequate method for neighbourhood-level prioritisation, as per government guidance.

Following extensive debate and questioning, the committee voted on whether to refer the decision back to Cabinet. The vote was tied five-five, leading to the Chair casting the deciding vote to uphold the original Cabinet decision. This means the amendments to the NCIL approach will proceed.

Be Well Progress Update January to December 2025

Councillor Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, presented an update on the Be Well initiative, which involves the insourcing of leisure services after two decades of outsourced provision. He acknowledged the significant operational, cultural, and financial challenges encountered during the transition, but stated that work was ongoing to embed the service and achieve a stable business-as-usual position. The service is exploring technology and AI to enhance delivery, and has held numerous meetings with staff and customers.

Key points raised during the discussion included:

• Borough-wide coverage: Clarification was sought that the Be Well centres serve the entire borough, not just the seven wards listed.
• Industrial Relations: Councillor Amy Lee raised concerns about potential industrial action by Unite union members, citing reports of unreasonable working conditions and staffing issues. Officers explained that while there had been challenges, most staff had been transferred to Council terms and conditions, with ongoing discussions with Unite regarding remaining cohorts. They also noted that staff on Council contracts were now earning more.
• Continuity and Knowledge Transfer: Councillor Nathalie Bienfait inquired about ensuring continuity in the team and retaining knowledge from the insourcing challenges. Officers confirmed that experienced staff had been retained, and senior management, who were in place before insourcing, would remain to ensure continuity and local knowledge.
• Financial Performance: It was noted that the service had faced challenges in meeting initial income projections, with a projected shortfall of £0.74 million for 2025/26. However, a commercial plan is in place to address this, focusing on increasing direct debit memberships and other revenue streams.
• Capital Investment Programme: Updates were provided on completed and ongoing capital projects, including pitch upgrades, sauna refurbishments, and the development of women-only gyms. Some projects were delayed due to the age and condition of buildings.
• Disability Access: Members encouraged a broader consideration of disabilities, including neurodiversity, and suggested exploring quieter gym sessions. Officers confirmed that disability access was a priority, with a dedicated action plan in place.
• Data and Reporting: The council's use of Gladstone software for detailed data breakdown by ethnicity and postcode was highlighted, with an offer to share more granular statistics.
• Zero-Hour Contracts: It was confirmed that most casual workers had moved to Council contracts, with only one individual remaining on a zero-hour contract, and that hourly rates had been increased.
• BAME Data: The council's use of sophisticated software to break down data by ethnicity was explained, with an offer to provide more detailed statistics in future reports.

Communication Strategy

Andreas Christophorou, Director of Communications and Marketing, presented the council's Communication Strategy. The strategy, praised as best practice by external bodies, aims to tell the council's story, expand from broadcast to conversations, focus on the user, and improve planning for better outcomes.

Key discussion points included:

• Recycling Campaigns: The Tower Hamlets rethink it campaign was discussed, with acknowledgement that while well-researched, it had limited impact due to the borough's housing stock. A more targeted approach, focusing on areas with easier recycling access and engaging with schools and religious institutions, had shown an increase in recycling rates.
• Evaluation of Campaigns: The council follows the Government's OASIS model for evaluating campaigns, focusing on objectives, audience, strategy, implementation, and scoring. The importance of measuring actual impact, such as recycling rates, was stressed.
• Corporate Communication Robustness: Concerns were raised about the council's communication potentially appearing defensive or not fully acknowledging challenges, particularly in press releases compared to external assessments. Officers explained that communications are developed collaboratively with senior leadership, aiming for consistency.
• Proactive Communication: Acknowledging resource challenges within the communications team, efforts are being made to empower other teams to think more creatively about communication and to promote the strategy through various internal and external channels.
• Resident Engagement: The strategy aims to move from broadcast communication to two-way engagement, with plans to enhance youth voices and involve residents more in consultations and co-creation.

Scrutiny Challenge Session: Reducing Road Danger and Deaths

Councillor Nathalie Bienfait, Scrutiny Lead for Environment and Climate Emergency, presented the findings of a scrutiny challenge session focused on reducing road danger and deaths in the borough. The report highlighted that Tower Hamlets has a high rate of killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties, with pedestrians, cyclists, and young people disproportionately affected. The review was prompted by a recent tragic road death in Councillor Bienfait's ward and ongoing resident concerns about road safety.

The report made eight recommendations, including:

• Increasing the ambition and clarity of the Road Safety Plan.
• Rebalancing road space to prioritise vulnerable road users' safety.
• Investing in infrastructure over education and enforcement.
• Strengthening enforcement plans through collaboration with partners.
• Prioritising road safety interventions near schools.
• Ensuring a full Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) influences planned interventions.
• Engaging residents and community organisations to foster a culture of road safety.
• Emphasising modal shift (away from cars) as a road safety measure.

Key discussion points included the need for more detailed plans and timelines, better communication about interventions, and a stronger commitment to physical infrastructure improvements. The report also highlighted the importance of engaging with vulnerable road users, including cyclists, older people, disabled people, and food delivery riders. The council's limited enforcement powers were acknowledged, with a recommendation to be upfront about these limitations and to strengthen collaboration with the Met Police and TfL. The report also suggested exploring harsher fines for dockless bike franchises and lobbying for reduced speeds in parks. The committee recommended a concrete commitment to implementing School Streets and integrating gender-inclusive design principles into road safety measures.

Scrutiny Leads Updates

• Councillor Abdi Mohamed reported on a meeting with One Glasgow, known for its success in reducing reoffending rates, with a report on tackling reoffending in Tower Hamlets expected.
• Councillor Ahmodul Khan shared findings from a visit to the customer call centre, noting that while improvements were needed, his experience differed from some public concerns.
• Councillor Abdul Mannan announced that the Young Mayors Team would be invited to the Children's Scrutiny Sub Committee to share their visions for the future.
• Councillor Nathalie Bienfait mentioned a recent, valuable site visit with highways officers, although details were not included in her report due to timing.

Forthcoming Decisions

The Chair noted that the Budget Report had been submitted to the Mayor, with a response anticipated by 16 February 2026. The next Overview and Scrutiny meeting was scheduled for 16 February 2026, featuring a spotlight on the Borough Commander's approach to integrated enforcement and community safety, and Councillor Abdi Mohamed's report on tackling reoffending.