Amy Lee | Councillor for St Katharine's & Wapping, Tower Hamlets

Councillor Amy Lee

Labour Party St Katharine's & Wapping

Positions, Voting Record & Activity Summary

Last updated: about 2 months ago

Councillor Amy Lee has demonstrated a consistent and evolving commitment to public service throughout her council tenure, with a pronounced focus on scrutiny, resident welfare, and accountability, particularly in recent years.

Key Themes and Priorities: Across her service, Councillor Lee has consistently prioritized scrutiny and accountability. She has a keen eye for detail, frequently questioning the effectiveness, accuracy, and value of council processes and reporting. This is evident in her critiques of reporting mechanisms, the impact of redundancy schemes, and procurement processes.

Health and Adult Services have been a significant and growing area of focus. She has actively engaged in scrutinizing changes within these departments, seeking to understand risks, funding, and improvements from the perspective of those directly affected. Her advocacy for a hyper-local focus in health and well-being strategies, with a specific emphasis on addressing race and gender-based health inequalities, highlights a deep commitment to equitable outcomes.

Children's Services and council governance and finance have also been areas of concern, where she has raised important questions regarding care pathways, financial overspends, and potential governance issues.

Evolution of Focus: While Councillor Lee's dedication to scrutiny has been a constant, her engagement with health and adult services has become increasingly prominent and detailed in recent years. Her advocacy for a hyper-local focus and the specific mention of race and gender-based inequalities in 2025 suggest a deepening understanding and a more targeted approach to addressing complex social issues.

Most Significant Contributions (Recent Years): In 2025, Councillor Lee made significant contributions by advocating for a hyper-local focus in the health and well-being strategy, pushing for the inclusion of race and gender-based health inequalities, and emphasizing that the strategy >does not belong to us, it belongs to the people of this borough <. Her proactive approach to involving disenfranchised communities through targeted workshops and her efforts to benchmark strategies against other boroughs demonstrate a forward-thinking and inclusive methodology. Her satisfaction with progress on EHCPs, noting >So seeing progress in front of us is really important. <, also signifies a positive impact on key service delivery.

In 2026, while specific statements or actions are not recorded, her continued active participation as a Substitute Member of the Transformation and Assurance Board, and her attendance at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee and the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, indicate an ongoing commitment to oversight and governance, particularly in areas of strategic importance and resident well-being.

Patterns and Consistent Areas of Interest: Councillor Lee consistently demonstrates a rigorous approach to questioning and analysis. She is not afraid to challenge the status quo and seeks to ensure that council decisions are well-informed, equitable, and serve the best interests of residents. Her engagement with scrutiny committees across multiple years underscores her dedication to holding the council accountable. Her role as a representative for St Katharine's & Wapping and the Labour Party also informs her perspective, ensuring a focus on local community needs and broader political principles.

Overall, Councillor Amy Lee's work reflects a dedicated public servant who has progressively deepened her focus on critical areas of council responsibility, with a particularly strong emphasis on ensuring equitable health outcomes and robust governance in her most recent years of service.

Yearly Activity Timeline

In January 2026, Amy Lee was an active participant in council meetings, attending the Transformation and Assurance Board (as a Substitute Member), the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee, and the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. She also sent her apologies for absence from a Council meeting. No specific statements or actions were recorded for her during these engagements.

Monthly Activity in 2026

During January 2026, Amy Lee attended three council meetings: the Transformation and Assurance Board on January 13th, the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee on January 20th, and the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on January 26th. She was a Substitute Member for the Transformation and Assurance Board. Amy Lee sent her apologies for absence from the Council meeting on January 21st. No specific statements or actions were recorded for her in any of the meetings she attended.

Meetings in January 2026

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 26th January, 2026 6.30 p.m. - 26 January 2026

Amy Lee was present at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on 2026-01-26. There is no record of her speaking or taking any action during this meeting.

Council - Wednesday, 21st January, 2026 7.00 p.m. - 21 January 2026

Amy Lee sent her apologies for absence from the Council meeting on Wednesday, 21st January, 2026.

Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 20 January 2026 - 6.30 p.m. - 20 January 2026

Amy Lee was present at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on Tuesday, 20th January, 2026. No specific statements or actions were attributed to her in the provided report pack.

Transformation and Assurance Board - Tuesday, 13th January, 2026 10.00 a.m. - 13 January 2026

Amy Lee attended the Transformation and Assurance Board meeting on January 13th, 2026, as a Substitute Member. No specific statements or actions were recorded for her in the provided documents.

Throughout 2025, Councillor Amy Lee was a consistently active participant in various council committees, representing St Katharine's & Wapping and the Labour Party. A significant theme of her work involved scrutinizing council processes and plans, particularly in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. She frequently questioned the effectiveness and accuracy of reporting, such as the scrutiny improvement plan where she noted that progress measurement and wording needed improvement and that some information was >not quite accurate <. She also raised concerns about the impact of redundancy schemes on experienced officers and frontline services, questioning if they represented best value for residents .

Councillor Lee demonstrated a strong focus on health and adult services. She actively questioned proposed changes in the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee, seeking to understand risks, funding, and improvements from the perspective of those involved. A key priority for her was advocating for a hyper-local focus in the health and well-being strategy, emphasizing the need to address race and gender-based health inequalities and stressing that the strategy >does not belong to us, it belongs to the people of this borough <. She proposed targeted workshops to involve disenfranchised communities and sought to benchmark strategies against other boroughs.

Her engagement also extended to education, with her expressing satisfaction with progress on Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs), noting, >So seeing progress in front of us is really important. <

Beyond scrutiny and health, Councillor Lee declared non-pecuniary interests due to her employment with Unison and moved a motion to adopt the Migrant Care Workers’ Charter. She was also nominated for several committee positions, including scrutiny lead for health and adults and a position on the Inner North East London Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee, to which she was eventually appointed. While she attended numerous meetings, her contributions were often characterized by detailed questioning and a commitment to ensuring accountability and resident-focused outcomes.

Monthly Activity in 2025

During December 2025, Amy Lee was noted for sending apologies for absence from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting held on Tuesday, 25 November 2025. Councillor Mohammad Chowdhury attended as her substitute.

Meetings in December 2025

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 15th December, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 15 December 2025

Amy Lee sent apologies for absence from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting held on Tuesday, 25 November 2025. Councillor Mohammad Chowdhury attended as her substitute.

During November 2025, Amy Lee sent her apologies for the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on November 25th. Councillor Mohamed Chowdhury substituted for her. While she was noted as a member present at a prior meeting on October 13th, there is no record of her speaking or taking any action during the November 25th meeting.

Meetings in November 2025

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 25th November, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 25 November 2025

Amy Lee sent her apologies for the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on 25th November 2025, and Councillor Mohamed Chowdhury substituted for her. She was listed as a member of the committee present at a previous meeting on 13 October 2025, but there is no record of her speaking or taking any action during the 25th November meeting.

Council - Wednesday, 19th November, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 19 November 2025

Amy Lee was noted as having an apology for absence from the Council meeting on Wednesday, 19th November, 2025. There is no record of her speaking or taking any action during this meeting.

During October 2025, Councillor Amy Lee actively participated in council meetings. In the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on October 13th, she expressed satisfaction with the progress on Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs), noting,

Yeah, so my question is on EHCPs. So I'm seeing green, which is fantastic. We've been following this for a long time and really sort of questioning this for a long time in this committee. So seeing progress in front of us is really important. So I just want to give whoever, maybe Steve, the opportunity to talk about it, because this is what we want to see.

She also attended the Strategic Development Committee meeting on October 22nd as a Substitute Member, though no specific actions or statements were recorded for her during that session.

Meetings in October 2025

Strategic Development Committee - Wednesday, 22nd October, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 22 October 2025

Amy Lee attended the Strategic Development Committee meeting on October 22nd, 2025, as a Substitute Member. No specific statements or actions were recorded for her in the provided documents.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 13th October, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 13 October 2025

Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping and the Labour Party, inquired about Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). She expressed satisfaction with the progress being made, stating,

Yeah, so my question is on EHCPs. So I'm seeing green, which is fantastic. We've been following this for a long time and really sort of questioning this for a long time in this committee. So seeing progress in front of us is really important. So I just want to give whoever, maybe Steve, the opportunity to talk about it, because this is what we want to see.

Her statement indicated a long-standing interest in the topic and a positive reception to the current developments.

Council - Wednesday, 8th October, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 8 October 2025

Amy Lee was present at the Council meeting on October 8, 2025. However, the available reports pack does not indicate that she spoke or took any specific action during the meeting.

In September 2025, Amy Lee was appointed to the Inner North East London (INEL) Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) representing the Labour Group. She was also listed as a Member of the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board, identified as a Stakeholder and LBTH Member . Councillor Lee attended the Appointment Sub-Committee meeting virtually but had no recorded contributions. She sent her apologies for absence from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting.

Meetings in September 2025

Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board - Monday, 29th September, 2025 5.00 p.m. - 29 September 2025

Amy Lee was listed as a Member of the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board for the meeting on 29th September 2025, identified as a Stakeholder and LBTH Member . No specific statements or actions by Amy Lee were recorded in the provided report pack.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 15th September, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 15 September 2025

Councillor Lee sent her apologies for absence from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 2025-09-15.

Interviews for Director of HR & OD, Appointment Sub-Committee - Monday, 8th September, 2025 10.15 a.m. - 8 September 2025

Councillor Amy Lee was in attendance virtually at the meeting. There is no record of her saying or doing anything during the meeting.

Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Thursday, 4th September, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 4 September 2025

Amy Lee was appointed to the Inner North East London (INEL) Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) representing the Labour Group.

Amy Lee participated in the Appointment Sub-Committee meeting on August 18, 2025, as a member. However, the available information does not indicate any specific statements or actions taken by her during the meeting.

Meetings in August 2025

Shortlisting for Director HR & OD, Appointment Sub-Committee - Monday, 18th August, 2025 5.00 p.m. - 18 August 2025

Amy Lee was a member of the Appointment Sub-Committee and was present at the meeting held on August 18, 2025. However, the available documents do not indicate that she made any specific statements or took any specific actions during the meeting.

During July 2025, Councillor Amy Lee attended the Appointment Sub-Committee meeting on July 29th, 2025, and the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on the same day. In the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting, she declared nothing to declare regarding disclosable pecuniary interests and is noted as a member of this sub-committee. There is no record of her speaking or taking specific action at the Appointment Sub-Committee meeting.

Meetings in July 2025

Strategic Development Committee - Thursday, 31st July, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 31 July 2025

Councillor Amy Lee was listed as a substitute member of the Strategic Development Committee for the meeting on July 31, 2025. However, there is no record of her presence or participation in the meeting minutes.

Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 29th July, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 29 July 2025

Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping, declared nothing to declare when asked about disclosable pecuniary interests. She is listed as a member of the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

Longlisting for Director HR & OD, Appointment Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 29th July, 2025 5.00 p.m. - 29 July 2025

Councillor Amy Lee was present at the Appointment Sub-Committee meeting on July 29th, 2025. There is no record of her speaking or taking any specific action during the meeting.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 21st July, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 21 July 2025

Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping, actively participated in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting. She raised concerns about KPI 46, specifically the household recycling rate, questioning whether collections are removed for high-rise buildings. She inquired about resident training and plans to improve resident access to council services, particularly regarding handling council tax issues via email.

Furthermore, she questioned the value for money being achieved from the significant investment made, asking about internal timelines for reaching the target recycling percentage. She also referenced a previous KPI workshop where committee members were asked to consider lowering the target due to its perceived unachievability, and asked whether the council was still aiming for the original target, and if not, what the new target was.

So what I wanted to ask was about high-rise building. Is there a collection removed for the high-rise building recycling that and also you've briefly answered about the training for the for the residents help people so and you're going to make a residence customer friendly more resident friendly but just want to know is there any plan you have at the moment to like it should be simple you can do everything on email but we we can't do it like tackle simple council text related issues as a resident through emails is that something you have planned to do like look into with the data

when are we going to see value for money so when are we going to see value for the millions and millions of pounds that have been put in to this

I really appreciate that there is a lot of work going on and you can see that I've had a look at the cabinet reports so I can see that there's a lot going on but is there an internal sort of date that you have for when we think we're actually going to reach this percentage and essentially I also do want to ask are we still aiming for that percentage are we still aiming for that target because you know the KPI workshop we all sat in a little while back we as members of this committee were actually asked if we would consider lowering the target because it was unachievable so are we still aiming towards this target and if we're not what are we aiming towards now

Council - Wednesday, 16th July, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 16 July 2025

Amy Lee did not say or do anything in this meeting.

During June 2025, Amy Lee was active in two Overview & Scrutiny Committee meetings. On June 2nd, she was nominated for scrutiny lead for health and adults but was unsuccessful due to a tie-breaking vote. She also seconded Councillor Asma Islam's nomination for the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Sub-Committee and was nominated for a position on the Inner North East London Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee. In the meeting on June 11th, Councillor Lee clarified her voting record regarding the education subcommittee chair and sought clarification on several points within the minutes, including attendance records and the nomination process for the community safety position. She also inquired about the impact of interim domiciliary care arrangements on the free home care commitment and the status of digital transformation plans, specifically asking if digital solutions had been negotiated with interim providers or would be delayed.

Meetings in June 2025

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 11th June, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 11 June 2025

Councillor Amy Lee (Labour Party, St Katharine's & Wapping) clarified her voting record, stating she voted for the education subcommittee chair and did not vote against the chair's casting vote. She sought clarification on several points within the minutes, including Councillor Abu Choudhury's attendance and the nomination process for the community safety position following Councillor Islam's withdrawal. Councillor Lee also inquired about guidance regarding Councillor Goulam Kibriya Choudhury's attendance at the next meeting. Furthermore, she questioned the potential impact of interim domiciliary care arrangements on the free home care manifesto commitment and whether digital transformation plans were on hold. Specifically, she asked if digital solutions like the reporting app and mobile swiping for care staff had been negotiated with the interim providers or if they would be delayed until full re-procurement.

Rearranged from 20 May 2025, Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 2nd June, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 2 June 2025

Amy Lee was nominated for the role of scrutiny lead for health and adults, but the nomination resulted in a tie, and the Chair used their casting vote against her. She also seconded the nomination of Councillor Asma Islam for the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Sub-Committee. Additionally, Amy Lee was nominated for a position on the Inner North East London Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee.

During May 2025, Councillor Amy Lee was an active participant in the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting. She strongly advocated for a hyper-local focus in the health and well-being strategy, emphasizing that health needs and service access differ significantly across small geographical areas. Councillor Lee highlighted her commitment to addressing race and gender-based health inequalities, particularly for women from Bangladeshi, Somali, and other ethnic communities, and called for this to be a top priority. She stressed the importance of resident involvement in shaping the strategy, stating,

This strategy does not belong to us, it belongs to the people of this borough.

To achieve this, she proposed moving beyond traditional engagement to targeted workshops over the next six months to involve disenfranchised communities. Councillor Lee also sought to learn from past efforts and benchmark against other boroughs' strategies by asking,

What work have we done on past strategies to compare and benchmark against the health and wellbeing strategies of other boroughs?

She also attended the Appointments Sub Committee meeting on May 6th, though no specific statements or actions were recorded for her during that meeting.

Meetings in May 2025

Annual Meeting, Council - Wednesday, 14th May, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 14 May 2025

Councillor Amy Lee sent apologies for absence from the Council meeting held on April 2, 2025, as noted in the reports pack for the May 14, 2025 meeting.

Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board - Tuesday, 13th May, 2025 5.00 p.m. - 13 May 2025

Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping and the Labour Party, was a vocal participant in the health and well-being strategy discussion. She strongly advocated for a hyper-local focus, believing that health needs and service access vary significantly even within small geographical areas. This approach, she suggested, could help organize care for vulnerable residents around estates with the greatest needs. Councillor Lee expressed a deep commitment to addressing race and gender-based health inequalities, particularly for women from Bangladeshi, Somali, and other ethnic communities, calling for the closure of these gaps to be a top priority. She emphasized the need for broad resident involvement in shaping the strategy, stating,

This strategy does not belong to us, it belongs to the people of this borough.

She proposed moving beyond traditional engagement methods to targeted workshops over the next six months to involve disenfranchised communities in the strategy's development. Councillor Lee also sought to learn from past efforts by asking,

What work have we done on past strategies to compare and benchmark against the health and wellbeing strategies of other boroughs?

She highlighted the importance of identifying innovative approaches and successful goals from other council strategies.

Interviews for the Post of Director of Change and Improvement, Appointments Sub Committee - Tuesday, 6th May, 2025 9.45 a.m. - 6 May 2025

Amy Lee was a member of the Appointments Sub Committee and was present at the meeting on Monday, April 28, 2025. No specific statements or actions were recorded for her in the provided documents.

During April 2025, Councillor Amy Lee participated in three council meetings. She was present at the Standards Advisory Committee meeting on April 3rd as a Substitute member and virtually attended the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on April 8th. While her attendance was noted in these meetings, there is no record of her speaking or taking specific actions. The provided information also references her voting Against on amendments and the main Budget Motion during a Budget Council meeting on February 26, 2025, though this occurred prior to April.

Meetings in April 2025

Shortlisting for the Post of Strategic Director of Change and Improvement, Appointments Sub Committee - Monday, 28th April, 2025 5.00 p.m. - 28 April 2025

Amy Lee was a Member of the Appointments Sub Committee for the Shortlisting for the Post of Strategic Director of Change and Improvement meeting on April 28th, 2025. No specific statements or actions were recorded for her in the provided documents.

Transformation and Assurance Board - Monday, 14th April, 2025 3.30 p.m. - 14 April 2025

Councillor Amy Lee attended the Transformation and Assurance Board meeting on April 14, 2025, as a deputy for Councillor Sirajul Islam. However, the minutes do not record her speaking or taking any specific action during the meeting.

Longlisting for the Post of Strategic Director of Change and Improvement, Appointments Sub Committee - Wednesday, 9th April, 2025 4.45 p.m. - 9 April 2025

Councillor Amy Lee was a member of the Appointments Sub Committee for the meeting on April 9, 2025. However, the provided documents do not indicate that she made any statements or took any specific actions during the meeting.

Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 8th April, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 8 April 2025

Councillor Amy Lee was noted as a Member In Attendance Virtually at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on 08 April 2025. There is no record of her speaking or taking any action during the meeting.

Standards Advisory Committee - Thursday, 3rd April, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 3 April 2025

Councillor Amy Lee was present at the Standards Advisory Committee meeting on 3rd April 2025, serving as a Substitute member. The provided documents do not contain any record of her speaking or taking any specific actions during the meeting.

Council - Wednesday, 2nd April, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 2 April 2025

Councillor Amy Lee for St Katharine's & Wapping voted 'Against' on two amendments moved by Councillor Marc Francis and Councillor Nathalie Bienfait, as well as against the main Budget Motion during the Budget Council meeting on 26 February 2025.

During the March 25th, 2025 Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, Councillor Amy Lee raised significant concerns about the scrutiny improvement plan. She questioned the methodology for determining activity completion, citing an example where a priority was marked 100% complete based on a single, inadequate activity. Councillor Lee stated that the report's presentation, progress measurement, and wording needed improvement, noting that some information was >not quite accurate < and elements required >tweaking <.

She also followed up on the sunlit uplands and cultural change aspects of the continuous improvement plan, acknowledging it as a substantial challenge that training alone couldn't address. Councillor Lee requested more details on this objective, emphasizing its importance for member experiences.

Meetings in March 2025

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 25th March, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 25 March 2025

Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping (Labour Party), expressed concerns regarding the scrutiny improvement plan. She questioned the methodology used to determine the completion of activities and the precision of the language within the plan. Councillor Lee pointed out an instance where a priority was deemed 100% complete based on a single, insufficient activity (developing a seating plan). She suggested that the report's presentation, progress measurement, and wording required enhancement, noting that some elements needed tweaking and certain information wasn't quite accurate.

Later, Councillor Lee followed up on the sunlit uplands and the cultural change aspect of the continuous improvement plan. She recognized this as a substantial challenge, stating that training alone was inadequate. She asked for further details on this objective, stressing its significance for the members' experiences.

During February 2025, Councillor Amy Lee was active in several council meetings, representing St Katharine's & Wapping (Labour Party). In the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on February 3rd, she introduced herself and apologized for attending online. She then raised critical questions regarding the risks associated with proposed changes, specifically focusing on whether nurses would have adequate time to fulfill their duties and the funding allocated for these changes. Councillor Lee also sought to understand how the council had improved processes from the perspective of those involved and what measures were being taken to enhance efficiency and user-friendliness.

At the Reserve Budget Meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on February 4th, Councillor Lee questioned the flexible use of capital receipts, particularly concerning a redundancy scheme. She expressed concern that the scheme, despite its justification, was leading to the loss of experienced officers and asked if it represented best value for residents. Her inquiries also extended to the scheme's impact on frontline services and the safeguards in place to prevent staff from feeling pressured into redundancy decisions. Additionally, she requested clarification on the eligibility criteria for school uniforms.

On February 18th, Amy Lee was listed as a Labour Group nominee for the Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee. While listed as an attendee for the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board on February 27th, no specific actions or statements were attributed to her for that meeting.

Meetings in February 2025

Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board - Thursday, 27th February, 2025 5.00 p.m. - 27 February 2025

There is no record of Amy Lee saying or doing anything during the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on 27th February 2025. While she is listed as an attendee for a previous meeting on 10 December 2024, no specific actions or statements are attributed to her in the provided documents for the 27th February meeting.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 18th February, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 18 February 2025

Amy Lee was listed as a Labour Group nominee for the Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

Reserve Budget Meeting, Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 4th February, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 4 February 2025

Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping (Labour Party), raised several key points during the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on February 4th, 2025. She questioned the flexible use of capital receipts, particularly concerning the redundancy scheme. Councillor Lee expressed concern that the scheme, despite its justification, was leading to the loss of experienced officers and asked whether it represented best value for residents. She also inquired about the impact of the redundancy scheme on frontline services and sought clarification on the safeguards in place to prevent staff from feeling pressured into redundancy decisions. Additionally, she requested information regarding the eligibility criteria for school uniforms, specifically whether the provision applied to all students entering primary and secondary school or only specific groups.

Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Monday, 3rd February, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 3 February 2025

Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping (Labour Party), attended the Health and Adults Subcommittee meeting online. She began by introducing herself and stating,

Councillor Amy Lee, nothing to declare, and just apologies again for having to attend online this evening.

Later in the meeting, Councillor Lee raised questions about the risks presented, focusing on whether nurses would have sufficient time to fulfill their responsibilities and the funding for the proposed changes. She also sought to understand how the council had improved the process from the perspective of those involved and what steps were being taken to make it more efficient and user-friendly.

During January 2025, Councillor Amy Lee was active in council meetings. On January 22nd, representing St Katharine's & Wapping and the Labour Party, she declared a non-pecuniary interest in the Migrant Care Workers’ Charter due to her employment with Unison. She then moved the motion to adopt the charter and accepted a friendly amendment before its approval. On January 28th, at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Lee actively questioned the definition of casual roles, specifically asking if they involved zero-hour contracts. She also inquired about the learning point on union engagement, suggesting more explicit mention of positive experiences, and probed the reasons for staff transition issues and the union communication plan.

Meetings in January 2025

Cabinet - Wednesday, 29th January, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 29 January 2025

Amy Lee was present at the Cabinet meeting on December 18, 2024, but there is no record of her saying or doing anything.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 28th January, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 28 January 2025

Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping, actively participated in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting by posing several key questions. She sought clarification on the definition of casual roles, specifically inquiring if they entailed zero-hour contracts. Councillor Lee also questioned the learning point regarding early and transparent union engagement, suggesting that the report should more explicitly highlight positive experiences if they occurred. Furthermore, she probed the reasons behind the less-than-smooth transition of staff and the communication plan with unions, and asked how these issues would be addressed in the future.

Standards Advisory Committee - Thursday, 16th January, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 23 January 2025

Amy Lee did not say or do anything recorded in the provided transcript for the Standards Advisory Committee meeting on January 16th, 2025.

Council - Wednesday, 22nd January, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 22 January 2025

Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping and the Labour Party, declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 8, the Migrant Care Workers’ Charter, due to her employment with Unison. She then moved the motion to adopt the Migrant Care Workers’ Charter. Following the debate, Councillor Lee accepted a friendly amendment proposed by Councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury, and the amended motion was subsequently approved.

Budget Meeting, Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 14th January, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 14 January 2025

Councillor Amy Lee was present at the Budget Meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on January 14, 2025. However, the minutes do not record her speaking or taking any specific actions during the meeting.

Throughout 2024, Councillor Amy Lee demonstrated consistent engagement in council meetings, with activity recorded in nine months. Her contributions primarily focused on health and adult services, children's services, and council governance and finance. She actively questioned and sought clarification on various issues, including COVID booster uptake, SEND care pathways, and the restructuring of Tower Hamlets Homes. Lee also voiced concerns about financial matters, such as overspends in legal services and homelessness grants, and highlighted potential governance issues, including a child protection case and the procurement process for home care. She was particularly critical of the overtly political and fictional tone of an LGA corporate PR challenge report, advocating for more balanced and factual officer reports. Lee also expressed concerns about council culture, referencing allegations of intimidation, bullying and harassment and questioning staff placements and integration following inspections. While she attended numerous meetings, her direct participation in speaking or taking action was more prominent in certain months, notably April, May, September, October, and December.

Monthly Activity in 2024

In December 2024, Amy Lee was absent from the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on December 10th. However, she actively participated in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on December 17th. During this meeting, Councillor Lee raised significant concerns about the council's culture, specifically referencing allegations of intimidation, bullying and harassment. She questioned the reduction of staff within the Mayor's office and their subsequent placement, and sought assurances regarding the integration of former staff into council structures following a best value inspection. Councillor Lee also highlighted a specific instance where staff were allegedly instructed to pre-write questions and answers for inspectors, asking for advice on how to address quite extreme examples of something rotten.

Meetings in December 2024

Cabinet - Wednesday, 18th December, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 18 December 2024

Due to a technical fault, we could not summarise Amy Lee's actions during this meeting.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 17th December, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 17 December 2024

Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping (Labour Party), actively participated in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting by asking several pertinent questions. She inquired about the reduction of staff within the Mayor's office and their subsequent placement. Furthermore, Councillor Lee raised concerns regarding the council's culture, specifically referencing intimidation, bullying and harassment mentioned in a presentation. She sought advice on addressing quite extreme examples of something rotten and a specific instance where staff were allegedly instructed to pre-write questions and answers for inspectors. She also followed up on the restructuring of the Mayor's office, seeking assurances about the integration of former staff into the council's structures and accountability processes, as highlighted in the best value inspection report.

Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board - Tuesday, 10th December, 2024 5.00 p.m. - 10 December 2024

Amy Lee sent apologies for absence from the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on December 10th, 2024. There is no record of her speaking or taking any action during the meeting.

Interviews for the post of Director of Adult Social Care, Appointments Sub Committee - Tuesday, 3rd December, 2024 2.00 p.m. - 3 December 2024

Councillor Amy Lee attended the Appointments Sub Committee meeting held on December 3, 2024, virtually. The available documentation does not indicate any specific statements or actions taken by her during the meeting beyond her attendance.

During November 2024, Councillor Amy Lee participated in four council meetings. On November 5th, she declared no interests at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee. She attended the Appointments Sub Committee virtually on November 12th without making any recorded statements or actions. On November 20th, Councillor Lee seconded Councillor Chiarajal Islam's motion regarding a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) against dogs. In the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on November 26th, she was nominated for several Scrutiny Lead positions, including Adults and Health Services, Housing and Regeneration, and Children's and Education, but was not selected for any of these roles.

Meetings in November 2024

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 26th November, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 26 November 2024

Amy Lee was nominated for several Scrutiny Lead positions during the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on November 26th, 2024. She was nominated for Scrutiny Lead for Adults and Health Services, but Councillor Bellalutin was selected. She was also nominated for Scrutiny Lead for Housing and Regeneration; the initial vote was a tie, and after a rerun, she was not selected. Finally, she was nominated for Scrutiny Lead for Children's and Education, but Councillor Mandan was chosen for that role.

Council - Wednesday, 20th November, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 20 November 2024

Councillor Lee seconded the motion moved by Councillor Chiarajal Islam concerning the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) against dogs.

Shortlisting for the Post of Director of Adult Social Care, Appointments Sub Committee - Tuesday, 12th November, 2024 6.00 p.m. - 12 November 2024

Councillor Amy Lee attended the Appointments Sub Committee meeting virtually. There is no record of her making any statements or taking any actions during the meeting.

Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 5th November, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 5 November 2024

During the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on November 5th, 2024, Councillor Amy Lee declared no interests. > Councillor Amy Lee, nothing to declare.

In October 2024, Amy Lee was active in two council meetings. On October 2nd, she seconded an amendment by Councillor Asma Islam concerning the Tackling Poverty Programme. During the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on October 15th, Lee was a prominent voice in the discussion about the LGA corporate PR challenge. She criticized the officers' report for its overtly political and fictional tone, stating,

I think if you're looking for feedback and if I'm being completely honest, I'm surprised at this paper actually and I think it takes an overtly political tone that I don't expect from officers and I think having worked in government, there's a lot here that I think we need to unpack.

She also questioned the use of the word unprecedented regarding internal governance, suggesting it was an overstatement:

I think it's a bit of a stretch to say unprecedented, if I'm being honest. I think maybe it's an overuse or overzealousness of words, but previously there's been exact teams that have been in place. It's not unheard of that. I think the idea of unprecedented I think maybe is a bit much and I appreciate we're put in a positive spin, but the politicians put a positive spin on that.

Lee also felt that diversity and inclusion points, such as Black History Month, represented the bare minimum of things that we should be doing, rather than exceptional achievements. She specifically inquired about the consultation process for the Women's Commission, asking,

My point is, why didn't you concern the women council when you were forming the Women's Commission? That's the point, can you clarify, please?

Finally, she clarified that the two culture approach related to the mayoral function was a point raised by administration members about past working methods.

Meetings in October 2024

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 15th October, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 15 October 2024

Amy Lee was a vocal participant in the discussion regarding the LGA corporate PR challenge and the subsequent action plan. She expressed significant concerns about the tone of the officers' report, describing it as overtly political and fictional, stating,

I think if you're looking for feedback and if I'm being completely honest, I'm surprised at this paper actually and I think it takes an overtly political tone that I don't expect from officers and I think having worked in government, there's a lot here that I think we need to unpack.

She also questioned the use of the word unprecedented in relation to internal governance, suggesting it was an overstatement:

I think it's a bit of a stretch to say unprecedented, if I'm being honest. I think maybe it's an overuse or overzealousness of words, but previously there's been exact teams that have been in place. It's not unheard of that. I think the idea of unprecedented I think maybe is a bit much and I appreciate we're put in a positive spin, but the politicians put a positive spin on that.

Regarding diversity and inclusion, Lee felt that the points raised were the bare minimum of things that we should be doing, citing Black History Month as an example that should be standard practice rather than presented as an exceptional achievement:

In terms of the diversity point, 3.20, it kind of strikes me as the bare minimum of things that we should be doing, so the Black History Month that we've spoken about, that should be our bread and butter. There are people of colour in this borough that expect that, and our leadership from our council, and to put that in here as if it's gone above and beyond I think is, so toning that down I think is important.

She also raised a specific question about the consultation process for the Women's Commission:

My point is, why didn't you concern the women council when you were forming the Women's Commission? That's the point, can you clarify, please?

Finally, Lee clarified a point about the two culture approach in relation to the mayoral function, indicating it was a point raised by members of the administration concerning previous working approaches.

Longlisting for the post of Director of Adult Social Care, Appointments Sub Committee - Tuesday, 15th October, 2024 6.00 p.m. - 15 October 2024

Amy Lee was a member of the Appointments Sub Committee and attended the meeting virtually. There is no record of her speaking or taking any action during the meeting.

Council - Wednesday, 2nd October, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 2 October 2024

Amy Lee seconded an amendment proposed by Councillor Asma Islam to a motion concerning the Tackling Poverty Programme.

During September 2024, Councillor Amy Lee was active in several council meetings. At the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee on September 3rd, she declared no disclosable interests. On September 10th, at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, she questioned the Chief Executive Office directorate's budget and expressed concern over a forecasted £0.5 million overspend in legal services, seeking clarification on the causes of this pressure. She also attended the Appointments Sub Committee meeting virtually on the same day. Later, at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on September 30th, Lee inquired about procurement processes for home care and shared her experience of signing in without full information or awareness of a £190 million contract value. She advocated for scrutiny chairs to receive complete reports and explanations before being asked to sign documents.

Meetings in September 2024

Extraordinary Meeting, Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 30th September, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 30 September 2024

During the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on September 30, 2024, Councillor Amy Lee asked Warwick a question regarding his involvement in other home care procurement processes and how this current process differs from previous ones. She also made a statement about her experience signing in, noting that she was not fully explained what she was signing, was not given the full report, and was unaware of the £190 million contract value. She requested that in the future, scrutiny chairs be provided with the full report and explanation before being asked to sign any documents.

Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board - Monday, 23rd September, 2024 5.00 p.m. - 23 September 2024

Councillor Amy Lee, identified as the Non-Executive Largest Opposition Group Councillor, was listed as a stakeholder (non-voting) member of the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board and was present in person at the meeting on September 23, 2024. However, there is no indication in the provided documents that she spoke or took any specific actions during the meeting.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 10th September, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 10 September 2024

During the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on September 10, 2024, Amy Lee inquired about the Chief Executive Office directorate's budget and the pressures on legal services. She specifically asked about the impact of reallocating functions from the Chief Executive Office to other directorates on the budget figures. Lee also expressed alarm regarding the forecasted overspend of £0.5 million in legal services, questioning the reasons for such high pressure and workload.

Shortlisting for the post of Director of Adult Social Care, Appointments Sub Committee - Tuesday, 10th September, 2024 5.00 p.m. - 10 September 2024

Councillor Amy Lee was noted as attending the Appointments Sub Committee meeting virtually. The provided minutes do not record any specific statements or actions taken by her during the meeting.

Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 3rd September, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 3 September 2024

During the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on 2024-09-03, Councillor Amy Lee declared no disclosable interests. The reports pack also noted her presence at the committee meeting on 04 June 2024 and her nomination as a representative for the Inner North East London Joint Health and Overview and Scrutiny (INEL JHOSC) at a previous Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21 May 2024.

Call in: - Approval of the councilâs revised Homelessness Accommodation Placement Policy, Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 2nd September, 2024 6.00 p.m. - 2 September 2024

Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping, participated in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting concerning the revised Homelessness Accommodation Placement Policy. She expressed significant concerns about the policy's implementation, arguing it was premature, especially before the comprehensive spending review decision. She emphasized that homeless families were informed of the policy changes without prior consultation and shared an anecdote about a young family placed in Medway facing difficulties due to the mother's mental health and lack of local support. Councillor Lee highlighted Tower Hamlets' past commitment to protecting homeless families beyond the statutory minimum and agreed with Councillor Isamu regarding the policy's potential equality impacts, particularly for Muslim families. She also raised concerns about the experiences of Somali heritage families in temporary accommodation. She advocated for the council to join other London boroughs in lobbying for changes to the subsidy and relationship, rather than rushing to place people in temporary accommodation further away. She noted the removal of the 90-minute rule, allowing placements far from Tower Hamlets. Councillor Lee called for a proper evaluation and consultation with homeless families before implementing the policy thoughtfully and suggested waiting for the spending review results. She stated:

This is always best interest of the residents, Councillor Abdul-Mannan, please.

So we don't pretend that this is easy. We don't say this could never ever happen under any circumstances. What we're saying is that the decision was premature in July, and the council should be joining with other London boroughs to argue for the change to the subsidy and relationship. So that's what our MPs across London are already doing, and we need to wait and see what the outcome of that is, and what improvements can be made, rather than this rush to force people into TA much further out.

During July 2024, Amy Lee attended two council meetings: the Strategic Development Committee on July 16th as a Substitute Member and the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on July 23rd as a member. No specific statements or actions were recorded for her in either meeting.

Meetings in July 2024

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 23rd July, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 23 July 2024

Amy Lee was present as a member of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for the meeting on 23rd July 2024. No specific statements or actions were recorded for her during this meeting.

Council - Wednesday, 17th July, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 17 July 2024

Amy Lee did not say or do anything in this meeting.

Strategic Development Committee - Tuesday, 16th July, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 16 July 2024

Amy Lee attended the Strategic Development Committee meeting on July 16, 2024, as a Substitute Member. No statements or actions were recorded for her in the provided documents.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 9th July, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 9 July 2024

Amy Lee was present in person at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting held on July 9, 2024. However, the provided documents contain no record of her making any statements or taking any specific actions during the meeting.

During June 2024, Councillor Amy Lee attended the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on June 4th. At this meeting, she declared that she had no interests to declare.

Meetings in June 2024

Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 4th June, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 4 June 2024

Councillor Amy Lee was present at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on June 4th, 2024. She made a declaration of interests, stating she had nothing to declare.

During May 2024, Councillor Amy Lee was absent from the Council meetings on May 8th and May 15th, with apologies noted for both. Despite her absence, minutes from a previous meeting (February 28th) indicated her voting record on budget matters, where she voted AGAINST an amendment by Councillor Nathalie Bienfait and the main Budget Motion, but FOR an amendment by Councillor Marc Francis.

At the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on May 21st, Councillor Lee was actively engaged. She raised concerns about the governance and potential instability surrounding the restructuring of Tower Hamlets Homes (THH). Her focus also extended to children's services, where she sought detailed information on proposed improvements to SEND education care plans, drawing on personal experience. She specifically questioned the implementation and monitoring of early intervention and its impact on current service users. In a point of financial clarification, Lee corrected a figure, stating the total for homelessness grants was £6.35 million, not £6.7 million. Additionally, she requested confirmation on whether a serious case review would be initiated for a child protection case where a judge identified serious failures by the local authority that exacerbated domestic abuse patterns.

Meetings in May 2024

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 21st May, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 21 May 2024

Amy Lee raised several important questions during the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting. She inquired about the governance and potential instability related to the restructuring of Tower Hamlets Homes (THH).

Lee also focused on children's services, specifically asking for more details about the proposed improvements to SEND education care plans, drawing from personal experience with the service. She questioned how early intervention would be implemented and monitored, and what it would mean for existing service users.

In a point of clarification, Lee corrected a financial figure, stating that the total for homelessness grants was 6.35 million, not 6.7 million.

Furthermore, she asked for confirmation on whether a serious case review would be opened concerning a specific child protection case where a judge found the local authority's approach to be a serious failure and responsible for reinforcing patterns of domestic abuse.

Annual Meeting, Council - Wednesday, 15th May, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 15 May 2024

Councillor Amy Lee had apologies for absence at the Annual Meeting of the Council on May 15th, 2024. She was not present to ask her question.

Council - Wednesday, 8th May, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 8 May 2024

Councillor Amy Lee was noted as having apologies for absence from the meeting on 2024-05-08. Her question was noted but could not be asked due to her absence. However, minutes from a previous meeting (2024-02-28) indicate that Councillor Amy Lee voted AGAINST the amendment moved by Councillor Nathalie Bienfait, AGAINST the main Budget Motion moved by Mayor Lutfur Rahman and Councillor Saied Ahmed, and FOR the amendment moved by Councillor Marc Francis.

During April 2024, Amy Lee actively participated in council meetings, focusing on health and wellbeing initiatives. In the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on April 16th, she raised important questions regarding the uptake of COVID boosters among vulnerable groups and sought information on data availability. She also inquired about plans to enhance support pathways for parents concerned about their children's SEND care and specifically asked, > Are you increasing the staffing on your team who will be acted on this strategy? and > Do you have any plan in place for improving pathways for parents who have concern about the SCND care if their children are receiving? This seems to be a common issue for residents. Do you have any plan for parents? Lee also attended the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee on April 18th and the Licensing Sub Committee on April 23rd, where she declared no interests and made no further recorded statements or actions.

Meetings in April 2024

Published on behalf of the LB Waltham Forest, Inner North East London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 24th April, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 24 April 2024

Councillor Amy Lee is listed as a member of the Inner North East London Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee. However, the provided document does not indicate any specific actions or statements made by her during the meeting on April 24, 2024.

Licensing Sub Committee - Tuesday, 23rd April, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 23 April 2024

Councillor Amy Lee was present at the Licensing Sub Committee meeting on April 23rd, 2024. She introduced herself as Councillor Amy Lee from St Katharine's and Wapping. The minutes indicate no further speaking or actions from her during the meeting.

Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Thursday, 18th April, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 18 April 2024

Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping, was present at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on April 18, 2024. During the declarations of interest, she stated nothing to declare . The minutes do not record any further speaking or actions by Councillor Lee.

Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board - Tuesday, 16th April, 2024 5.00 p.m. - 16 April 2024

Amy Lee inquired about the uptake of COVID boosters among specific vulnerable groups and the available data. She also asked about plans to improve pathways for parents concerned about their children's SEND care and whether staffing levels were being increased to support the SEND strategy. Specifically, she asked, > Are you increasing the staffing on your team who will be acted on this strategy? and > Do you have any plan in place for improving pathways for parents who have concern about the SCND care if their children are receiving? This seems to be a common issue for residents. Do you have any plan for parents?

During February 2024, Councillor Amy Lee was present at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on February 20th, attending virtually. There is no record of her speaking or taking any action during this meeting.

Meetings in February 2024

Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 20th February, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 20 February 2024

Councillor Amy Lee was present at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on 20th February 2024, attending virtually. There is no record of her speaking or taking any action during the meeting.