The Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 18 February 2026 saw the approval of a significant £609 million investment in the borough's housing stock over the next two years, alongside the adoption of a new ten-year Housing Strategy. Key decisions were also made regarding school admissions arrangements for 2027/28 and a revised procurement strategy for capital investment programmes.

Housing Investment and Strategy

The Cabinet approved a historic capital investment of £609 million over the next two years to improve the borough's housing stock. This significant funding aims to ensure all council-owned residences are decent, warm, and safe, with £240 million allocated to modernising kitchens, bathrooms, double glazing, and energy-efficient roofs. An additional £200 million will be dedicated to building safety, with a further £60 million for major repairs and enhancements. The new Housing Strategy 2026-2036 was also approved, outlining a long-term plan focused on delivering more homes, better homes, safer homes with seven priorities addressing overcrowding, affordability, homelessness, and housing quality. The strategy was developed following extensive consultation, with 88% of respondents agreeing with the vision and 74% supporting the priorities.

School Admissions Arrangements

The Cabinet determined the school admissions arrangements for 2027/28, which will apply to community schools. These arrangements reflect falling school rolls driven by demographic changes, with reductions requested by the schools themselves to protect financial sustainability, maintain parental choice, and safeguard educational quality. A statutory consultation was conducted from October to November 2025, generating limited objections, indicating the proposals were proportionate. An equality's impact screening confirmed no disproportionate impact on protected groups. The decision provides clarity for families and stability for schools regarding admissions from September 2027.

Procurement Strategy for Capital Investment

A revised procurement strategy for the Council's Major Works programme was approved, informed by market feedback and regulatory requirements. This strategy aims to ensure the housing capital investment programme can be delivered effectively, at pace, and with resilience. It proposes a mixed contractual approach, longer contract durations, and a technical consultancy framework to secure capacity, support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and strengthen delivery assurance. The revised strategy encompasses an investment of £520 million over ten years for works contracts and a technical consultancy framework. The strategy was informed by preliminary market engagement, which highlighted the need for greater flexibility in contract duration and more direct opportunities for SMEs.

Teviot Estate Regeneration

Cabinet approved the use of compulsory purchase powers to secure vacant possession of land required for Phase 1 of the Teviot Estate Regeneration Programme. This decision is essential to keep the redevelopment deliverable, although voluntary negotiation remains the priority. The Council will enter into a compulsory purchase order (CPO) indemnity agreement with Poplar HARCA, which will cover all financial risks. The scheme aims to deliver 475 new homes, commercial floorspace, public open space, and community facilities. Poplar HARCA has been actively negotiating with leaseholders, with a significant number of buybacks completed or under offer.

Community Equipment Services

The Cabinet agreed to extend the commissioning of Community Equipment Services with NRS Healthcare for a further two years, with a potential one-year extension. This decision follows the financial difficulties experienced by NRS Healthcare, necessitating council intervention to ensure the continued delivery of essential equipment to vulnerable residents. The council will also work with Newham Council on procuring equipment supplies while developing its own long-term arrangements.

Other Matters

The Cabinet also noted the Annual Report on School Performance for 2024-25, which highlighted strong outcomes from primary to GCSE level, outperforming national averages. However, areas for improvement were identified in early years literacy, particularly for boys, and post-16 attainment. The Cabinet also approved the determination of admissions arrangements for 2027/28, including published admission numbers at several primary schools.