Councillor Amy Lee
Email: amy.lee@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Council: Tower Hamlets
Council Profile: View on council website
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Positions, Voting Record & Activity Summary
Councillor Amy Lee has consistently demonstrated a commitment to accountability, value for money, and the well-being of Tower Hamlets residents throughout her council service, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations and effective service delivery. While her focus areas have remained relatively consistent, her recent activity in 2025 shows a sharpened emphasis on financial scrutiny and worker's rights, building upon her earlier concerns regarding council culture and service effectiveness.
Key Themes and Priorities:
- Accountability and Value for Money: This has been a consistent theme, particularly evident in 2025 where she frequently questioned the financial implications of council initiatives, especially regarding capital receipts allocated to redundancy schemes and the effectiveness of recycling programs. In 2024, this manifested in her scrutiny of the council's assets assessment criteria and the forecasted overspend within the Chief Executive Office. >
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
. - Worker's Rights and Council Culture: While present in 2024 with concerns about intimidation and bullying within the council, this theme gained significant prominence in 2025. Lee championed worker's rights, advocating for union engagement and questioning the use of zero-hour contracts. >
Can I also add to that Councillor that I met with the branch secretaries last week. One of the things that came up from that was that the previous leisure staff was told don't join the union. And if you do, you could be in trouble. And I was quite clear about that to the branch secretaries. That is not this place. We are not GLL and we encourage union membership and to have open conversations that helps us all. So, you know, we are committed to that.
- Health and Adult Social Care: This was a significant focus in 2024, with Lee engaging on topics like the Special Education Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion Strategy and CQC inspection readiness. While less prominent in 2025, she still demonstrated interest in this area, particularly regarding Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). >
Thank you, Chair. 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. Thank you, Chair.
- Vulnerable Populations: A consistent concern across both years, Lee has advocated for families facing homelessness and children at risk. In 2024, she voiced strong concerns about the Homelessness Accommodation Placement Policy and questioned the Mayor regarding a Family Court case. While less explicitly highlighted in 2025 summaries, her focus on effective service delivery and financial accountability implicitly supports the well-being of vulnerable residents.
Evolution of Focus:
While the core themes have remained consistent, there's a clear shift towards greater emphasis on financial scrutiny and worker's rights in 2025. This suggests a potential evolution in her priorities, possibly driven by observations of the impact of financial decisions on frontline services and a desire to improve the council's internal culture and treatment of its workforce. Her initial focus on broader health and social care issues in 2024 appears to have narrowed to specific areas like EHCPs in 2025, indicating a more targeted approach.
Significant Contributions:
- 2025: Championing worker's rights by moving a motion to adopt the Migrant Care Workers’ Charter and advocating for union engagement. Questioning the allocation of capital receipts to the redundancy scheme and its impact on frontline services. Scrutinizing the council's progress towards its recycling targets.
- 2024: Advocating for the inclusion of research on autism in Somali children in the Draft Special Education Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion Strategy. Raising concerns about the revised Homelessness Accommodation Placement Policy and its potential impact on vulnerable families. Voicing concerns about the council's culture and instances of intimidation, bullying, and harassment.
Patterns and Consistent Areas of Interest:
Councillor Lee consistently demonstrates a commitment to:
- Holding the council accountable for its financial decisions and ensuring value for money.
- Advocating for the rights and well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly families facing homelessness and children at risk.
- Promoting a positive and supportive council culture that values its workforce.
- Engaging actively in scrutiny processes to ensure effective service delivery and address areas of concern.
Her consistent questioning and advocacy across various issues demonstrate a proactive and engaged approach to her role as a councillor.
Yearly Activity Timeline
In 2025, Councillor Amy Lee actively participated in council meetings, demonstrating a consistent focus on worker's rights, resource allocation, and the effectiveness of council services. A key theme throughout the year was her emphasis on accountability and value for money, particularly regarding significant investments and the impact of decisions on frontline services and residents. She frequently questioned the financial implications of various initiatives and sought clarification on the council's plans and progress.
Early in the year, Lee championed worker's rights, moving a motion to adopt the Migrant Care Workers’ Charter and advocating for union engagement. > Can I also add to that Councillor that I met with the branch secretaries last week. One of the things that came up from that was that the previous leisure staff was told don't join the union. And if you do, you could be in trouble. And I was quite clear about that to the branch secretaries. That is not this place. We are not GLL and we encourage union membership and to have open conversations that helps us all. So, you know, we are committed to that.
She also questioned the definition of casual
roles for agency staff, specifically if they involved zero-hour contracts.
Later, she voiced concerns about the allocation of capital receipts to the redundancy scheme, arguing it negatively impacted frontline services. > I just want to know whether you really believe that putting a pretty solid amount of money into this again and as I understand it this is only the statutory part this isn't the additional part of redundancy is that best value for our residents because I can tell you that as councillors we actually are seeing an impact of this scheme on our residents so from a financial planning perspective
. She also scrutinized the scrutiny improvement plan, questioning the criteria used to measure progress.
She also focused on specific service areas, such as recycling, questioning collection practices and the council's progress towards its recycling targets. > 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
. In September, she expressed disappointment with the information provided by the North East London Integrated Care Board regarding winter preparations. She also expressed satisfaction with progress on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in October. > Thank you, Chair. 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. Thank you, Chair.
Lee was elected to the Inner North East London (INEL) Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) and served on various appointment sub-committees. She was absent from several meetings throughout the year, including the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting in February, Council meeting on April 2nd, Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on September 15th, Council meeting on November 19th, Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on November 25th, and Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on December 15th.
Monthly Activity in 2025
Councillor Amy Lee was absent from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on December 15th, 2025. Councillor Mohammad Chowdhury served as her substitute.
Meetings in December 2025
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 15th December, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 15 December 2025
Councillor Amy Lee was absent from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on December 15th, 2025. Councillor Mohammad Chowdhury served as her substitute.
Councillor Amy Lee was absent from both the Council meeting on November 19th and the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on November 25th, 2025. An apology was received for her absence from the latter, where Councillor Mohamed Chowdhury substituted for her. There is no record of any statements or actions made by Councillor Lee during November 2025.
Meetings in November 2025
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 25th November, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 25 November 2025
Amy Lee was absent from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on November 25th, 2025. An apology for her absence was received, and Councillor Mohamed Chowdhury substituted for her.
Council - Wednesday, 19th November, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 19 November 2025
Councillor Amy Lee was recorded as absent from the Council meeting on November 19, 2025. However, the reports pack indicates Councillor Lee was present at a previous Council meeting on October 8, 2025. There is no record of any statements or actions made by Councillor Lee during the November 19th meeting.
During October 2025, Amy Lee attended two council meetings. While present at the Council meeting on October 8th, records indicate no specific actions or statements made by her. At the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on October 13th, Councillor Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping, addressed the committee regarding Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). She expressed satisfaction with the progress being made, stating: > Thank you, Chair. 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. Thank you, Chair.
Meetings in October 2025
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 13th October, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 13 October 2025
Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping, addressed the committee regarding Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). She expressed her satisfaction with the progress being made, stating:
Thank you, Chair. 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. Thank you, Chair.
She acknowledged the committee's long-standing interest in the topic and offered Steve the opportunity to elaborate on the positive 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, Councillor Amy Lee (St Katharine's & Wapping) attended several council meetings. At the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on September 4th, she voiced her disappointment with the North East London Integrated Care Board's (ICB) winter preparations information, deeming it insufficient for elected members to effectively represent their communities. > But I must say I'm really kind of disappointed in the quality of information that the North East London Integrated Care Board has decided to share with us today...
She emphasized the need for more detailed information to properly support residents during the winter months. Councillor Lee was also elected as one of the three non-executive Councillors appointed to the Inner North East London (INEL) Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) for the Labour Group. She attended the Appointments Sub-Committee meeting virtually on September 8th, but records do not indicate any specific actions or statements. Apologies were received for her absence from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on September 15th. She was present at the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on September 29th, but no specific details regarding her contributions are available.
Meetings in September 2025
Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board - Monday, 29th September, 2025 5.00 p.m. - 29 September 2025
Councillor Amy Lee was present at the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting held on September 29, 2025. The available documents do not provide any specific details regarding her contributions, statements, or actions during the meeting beyond her attendance.
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 15th September, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 15 September 2025
Councillor Amy Lee was a member of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. Apologies were received from her for the meeting held on September 15, 2025. It appears there is conflicting information, as minutes from a prior meeting on July 21, 2025, indicate she was present at that meeting, but no specific statements or actions are recorded for her in those minutes.
Interviews for Director of HR & OD, Appointment Sub-Committee - Monday, 8th September, 2025 10.15 a.m. - 8 September 2025
Councillor Amy Lee attended the Appointments Sub-Committee meeting virtually as a member. However, the records do not indicate that she spoke or took any specific action during the meeting.
Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Thursday, 4th September, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 4 September 2025
Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping, attended the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on September 4, 2025. She expressed disappointment with the information provided by the North East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) regarding winter preparations, finding it insufficient for elected members to effectively represent their communities. She stated:
But I must say I'm really kind of disappointed in the quality of information that the North East London Integrated Care Board has decided to share with us today. The whole purpose of these meetings is to give us elected members to kind of represent our community and the opportunity to question the delivery of health services and give recommendations on how the needs of these constituents can be met better. So, while these reports may be easily interpreted for someone inside the ICB, within the ICB, but it kind of leaves the crucial details that my colleagues and I would perhaps want to know more properly about the support our residents will get through the winter months.
Councillor Lee was also elected as one of the three non-executive Councillors appointed to the Inner North East London (INEL) Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) for 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 (St Katharine's & Wapping) actively participated in several council meetings. At the Council meeting on July 16th, she questioned the deferral of petitions, inquiring if petitioners had been consulted about the postponement. At the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, she focused on the household recycling rate (KPI 46), questioning collection practices for high-rise buildings and the availability of resident training. She also inquired about plans to improve resident access to council services, specifically regarding council tax issues via email. Furthermore, she pressed for accountability regarding the significant investment in recycling, asking about internal timelines for reaching the target percentage and whether the council was still aiming for the original target, referencing a previous workshop where lowering the target was discussed. > 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
She declared no Disclosable Pecuniary Interests at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting. She was present at the Longlisting for Director HR & OD, Appointment Sub-Committee meeting, but no specific actions or statements were recorded. While listed as a substitute member for the Strategic Development Committee meeting, there is no record of her presence or participation.
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 no Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs). She stated:
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 Longlisting for Director HR & OD, Appointment Sub-Committee meeting on July 29, 2025. However, the minutes do not record any specific statements or actions attributed to her.
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
Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping, was present at the Council meeting on July 16, 2025. She questioned the proposal to defer two petitions to the next meeting, specifically asking if the petitioners had been consulted and agreed to the postponement, given their effort to attend the meeting:
During June 2025, Councillor Amy Lee actively participated in Overview & Scrutiny Committee meetings. On June 2nd, she requested to leave early and was nominated for, but not elected to, the position of Lead Member for the Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee. She seconded a nomination for Lead Member for the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Sub-Committee and nominated a candidate for Scrutiny Lead Member for Environment and Climate Emergency. She was elected as one of three non-executive Councillors to the Inner North East London (INEL) Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) for the Labour Group.
On June 11th, Councillor Lee focused her attention on the Domiciliary Care Service Direct Award of Contract. She thanked the cabinet members for their attendance, stating: > Thank you, chair. Um, can I start off with saying thank you to the cabinet members for coming? Um, cause I know it's new for you... So I'm, I'm, I'm really glad that you're here.
She questioned the impact of the failed tender and interim arrangements on the administration's broader plans for adult social care, particularly concerning manifesto commitments like free home care and digital innovation. > But what I'm not seeing in terms of future plans is the impact that this has had... I'm not seeing the impact that that has had on specifically on the mayor and this administration's plans and ambitions for adult social care... is that essentially no on hold because of these interim arrangements.
She also inquired about the status of digital plans in relation to the interim providers.
Meetings in June 2025
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 11th June, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 11 June 2025
Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping, actively participated in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, focusing her questions and comments on the Domiciliary Care Service Direct Award of Contract. She began by thanking the cabinet members for their attendance, noting the importance of their direct involvement.
Thank you, chair. Um, can I start off with saying thank you to the cabinet members for coming? Um, cause I know it's new for you. I know it's not been that long. And I think I remember previously we had somebody was new to the role and somebody came to answer the questions for them, which was a bit bizarre. So I'm, I'm, I'm really glad that you're here.
Councillor Lee then questioned the impact of the failed tender and subsequent interim arrangements on the administration's broader plans for adult social care, particularly in relation to manifesto commitments such as free home care and digital innovation.
But what I'm not seeing in terms of future plans is the impact that this has had, the failure of the tender and the introduction of these interim arrangements. I'm not seeing the impact that that has had on specifically on the mayor and this administration's plans and ambitions for adult social care. You know, I think one of the manifesto commitments was free home care. I'm not seeing anything about that in here is, can we get any sort of confirmation of whether those sort of projects and, and, and, you know, you talked about digital, um, change, that kind of thing. I know that's also a big ambition innovation in the systems and the service is that essentially no on hold because of these interim arrangements.
Finally, she inquired whether the digital plans were being discussed with the five interim providers or if they would be deferred until the full re-procurement process.
Rearranged from 20 May 2025, Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 2nd June, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 2 June 2025
Councillor Amy Lee was present at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting. She requested to leave the meeting early, along with Councillor Abdi Mohamed.
She was nominated for the position of Lead Member for the Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee, but the vote resulted in a tie and she was not elected. Councillor Asma nominated her for this role.
Councillor Lee seconded Councillor Abdi Mohamed's nomination of Councillor Asma Islam for Lead Member for the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Sub-Committee.
She nominated Councillor James King for the position of Scrutiny Lead Member for Environment and Climate Emergency.
Councillor Lee was also nominated to be one of three scrutiny members for the Inner North East London Joint Health overview scrutiny committee. She was elected as one of three non-executive Councillors to the Inner North East London (INEL) Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) for the Labour Group.
Can I nominate Councillor Amy Lee? Thank you, Councillor Amy.
During May 2025, Councillor Amy Lee participated in council activities. She was present at the Appointments Sub Committee meeting on May 6th, which involved interviews for the Post of Director of Change and Improvement. She also sent apologies for her absence from the Council meeting held on April 2nd, as noted in the reports pack for the May 14th 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.
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 is a member of the Appointments Sub Committee and was present in person at the meeting held on May 6, 2025. The meeting was for interviews for the Post of Director of Change and Improvement.
During April 2025, Councillor Amy Lee attended several council and committee meetings. She sent apologies for absence from the Council meeting on April 2nd. She attended the Standards Advisory Committee meeting on April 3rd, the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on April 8th, the Transformation and Assurance Board meeting on April 14th (as a deputy for Councillor Sirajul Islam), and two Appointments Sub Committee meetings on April 9th and April 28th. However, the records do not indicate any specific statements or actions attributed to her during these meetings. The record of her absence on April 2nd included a summary of her voting activity at a previous council meeting on February 26th, 2025, where she voted FOR the Labour group amendment to the budget motion, AGAINST the amendment moved by Councillor Nathalie Bienfait, and AGAINST the main budget motion moved by Mayor Lutfur Rahman and Councillor Saied Ahmed.
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, a member of the Appointments Sub Committee, was present at the meeting on April 28, 2025. However, the available documents (minutes and reports pack) do not record any specific statements or actions attributed to her during the meeting.
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 attended the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting virtually on April 8, 2025. However, 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 April 3, 2025 (although the minutes incorrectly state January 16, 2025). However, the minutes do not record any specific statements or actions attributed to her.
Council - Wednesday, 2nd April, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 2 April 2025
Amy Lee sent apologies for absence from the Council meeting on April 2nd, 2025. While absent from this meeting, records show her voting activity at previous council meetings. Specifically, on February 26th, 2025, she voted FOR the Labour group amendment to the budget motion, AGAINST the amendment moved by Councillor Nathalie Bienfait, and AGAINST the main budget motion moved by Mayor Lutfur Rahman and Councillor Saied Ahmed.
During the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on March 25th, 2025, Councillor Amy Lee actively participated in discussions regarding the scrutiny improvement plan and the Continuous Improvement Plan. She raised concerns about the accuracy and measurement of progress within the scrutiny improvement plan, specifically questioning the criteria used to determine when an activity is considered done.
She used the example of cross-party collaboration and seating arrangements to illustrate her point: > So, the priority is members to effectively work cross-party and ensure their independence while sitting on the committee, obviously very important. Then the activity is develop a seating plan to make sure the members don't sit in their party groups. To me, that doesn't, to me, that's not the main issue. But we're saying that that priority is 100% done. So, I think that's probably a good example. You see where I'm coming from. I think it's, I'm just not quite sure how that means that that is a done deal.
She suggested improvements to the plan's presentation and language, advocating for more adjustable measurement criteria: > I think it's the presentation of that report. So, can we take that into account? I think the percentage, how we're measuring that and make it more adjustable. And then language. I think language, use of language when it comes to appointment of, as we mentioned in the pre-meet.
Regarding the Continuous Improvement Plan, she inquired about the cultural change aspect, expressing concern that training alone would be insufficient to address the issue: > I wonder if there is anything that you can tell us about this this sort of aim for um this cultural change because as I said I agree with you I think it's a very difficult thing to to address and I've seen a lot of major organisations like this throw a bit of training at a massive cultural institutional problem and think there we go job done box ticked it's not an easy thing and I think I think a lot of us a lot of members that I speak to not just in in my own group but in all groups are thinking about this and wondering well how is this one going to be locked at because it's important to all of us it's our experience really so I know we're still early days but is there anything you can tell us on that bit
Meetings in March 2025
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 25th March, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 25 March 2025
Councillor Amy Lee participated in a discussion regarding the scrutiny improvement plan. She raised concerns about the accuracy and measurement of progress within the plan, questioning the criteria used to determine when an activity is done.
She used the example of cross-party collaboration and seating arrangements to illustrate her point:
So, the priority is members to effectively work cross-party and ensure their independence while sitting on the committee, obviously very important. Then the activity is develop a seating plan to make sure the members don't sit in their party groups. To me, that doesn't, to me, that's not the main issue. But we're saying that that priority is 100% done. So, I think that's probably a good example. You see where I'm coming from. I think it's, I'm just not quite sure how that means that that is a done deal.
She suggested improvements to the plan's presentation and language, advocating for more adjustable measurement criteria.
I think it's the presentation of that report. So, can we take that into account? I think the percentage, how we're measuring that and make it more adjustable. And then language. I think language, use of language when it comes to appointment of, as we mentioned in the pre-meet.
Later, during a discussion about the Continuous Improvement Plan, Amy Lee inquired about the cultural change aspect of the plan, expressing concern that training alone would be insufficient to address the issue.
I wonder if there is anything that you can tell us about this this sort of aim for um this cultural change because as I said I agree with you I think it's a very difficult thing to to address and I've seen a lot of major organisations like this throw a bit of training at a massive cultural institutional problem and think there we go job done box ticked it's not an easy thing and I think I think a lot of us a lot of members that I speak to not just in in my own group but in all groups are thinking about this and wondering well how is this one going to be locked at because it's important to all of us it's our experience really so I know we're still early days but is there anything you can tell us on that bit
During February 2025, Councillor Amy Lee actively participated in council meetings, primarily focusing on concerns related to resource allocation and the impact on frontline services. She declared no pecuniary interests at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting and apologized for attending online. A key theme was her questioning of the financial implications of various initiatives.
Specifically, she raised concerns about the Same Day Access Programme, questioning the nurses' capacity to implement it, the reliance on securing funding, and the source of that funding. She highlighted the risk of nurses not having enough time to properly implement the program.
At the Reserve Budget Meeting, she voiced strong concerns about the allocation of capital receipts to the redundancy scheme, arguing that it negatively impacts frontline services due to the loss of experienced officers. She questioned whether this allocation represents the best value for residents. > I just want to know whether you really believe that putting a pretty solid amount of money into this again and as I understand it this is only the statutory part this isn't the additional part of redundancy is that best value for our residents because I can tell you that as councillors we actually are seeing an impact of this scheme on our residents so from a financial planning perspective
She reiterated her concern about the significant amount of money being allocated to the redundancy scheme, even after explanations were provided. > but this is quite a lot it is a lot of money like it is quite a lot of money and I think my point is when you're allocating this money is that genuinely you believe regardless of whether you're going to spend every single penny of it or not you think putting that money into this scheme is best value for residents
She was absent from the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on February 27th.
Meetings in February 2025
Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board - Thursday, 27th February, 2025 5.00 p.m. - 27 February 2025
Councillor Amy Lee is a member of the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board and is listed as a stakeholder (non-voting). She sent apologies for absence from the meeting held on Tuesday, 10 December 2024, and therefore did not actively participate in the meeting documented in these reports.
Reserve Budget Meeting, Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 4th February, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 4 February 2025
Councillor Amy Lee (St Katharine's & Wapping) raised concerns regarding the flexible use of capital receipts, specifically the allocation of funds to the redundancy scheme. She questioned whether this allocation represents the best value for residents, arguing that the scheme is negatively impacting frontline services due to the loss of experienced officers with institutional knowledge.
I wanted to ask about the flexible use of capital receipts and it's just on the obviously more money more of this fund is being put into a redundancy scheme and look whilst I understand the justification for the scheme I think some of the wording in here about how this is actually protecting frontline services I think as time has gone on I think unfortunately as councillors who support residents every day we can see that this redundancy scheme is actually having an impact on frontline services because we're losing good solid officers with institutional knowledge of this council because of this redundancy scheme and I just want to know whether you really believe that putting a pretty solid amount of money into this again and as I understand it this is only the statutory part this isn't the additional part of redundancy is that best value for our residents because I can tell you that as councillors we actually are seeing an impact of this scheme on our residents so from a financial planning perspective
She reiterated her concern about the significant amount of money being allocated, even after an explanation was provided.
you think putting that money into this scheme is best value for residents
but this is quite a lot it is a lot of money like it is quite a lot of money and I think my point is when you're allocating this money is that genuinely you believe regardless of whether you're going to spend every single penny of it or not you think putting that money into this scheme is best value for residents
Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Monday, 3rd February, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 3 February 2025
Councillor Amy Lee declared no Declarations of Pecuniary Interest (DPI) and apologized for attending the meeting online.
She then raised concerns about the risks associated with the Same Day Access Programme, particularly regarding the nurses' capacity to implement the program and the reliance on securing funding. She appreciated the honesty of the presentation but highlighted the significant risk that nurses might not have enough time. She questioned the funding mechanisms, expressing concern about the potential amount of money involved and whether it would come solely from savings generated by the program. She sought clarification on the source of the funding and how it would support staff in making important decisions.
In January 2025, Councillor Amy Lee actively participated in council meetings, focusing on worker's rights and union engagement. She declared a non-pecuniary interest and moved a motion to adopt the Migrant Care Workers’ Charter, which was later amended. She also seconded a motion regarding a petition against a proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) against dogs.
During an Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, Lee raised concerns about the definition of casual
roles for transitioning agency staff, specifically questioning if they involved zero-hour contracts: > Something in there about agency staff transitioning to casual roles. Can you just tell me what your definition of casual is? And whether that involves any zero hours contracts?
and > Are they zero-hour contracts or not?
She also questioned the learning point regarding early and transparent union engagement, seeking clarification on why it was listed as a learning point if the engagement was positive: > And my second question is on what you put under staffing and harmonising. And you've put a lot of points to learn from in there. The thing that stood out to me was early and transparent union engagement... It seems like this didn't go as smoothly as it could have done... So I'm just wondering why that perhaps didn't go as smoothly as it could have done... So I'm just wondering what happened there. And how do we plan to address this going forward?
and > Can I just ask them, so why is a learning point to have early and transparent engagement with unions? Surely if that's a learning point it means it didn't happen in the way that you perhaps thought it would. If it was so positive what do we have to learn is my question. Because I'm just reading it off your report.
Lee also shared information from a meeting with branch secretaries, emphasizing the council's commitment to encouraging union membership and open conversations, contrasting it with past practices: > Can I also add to that Councillor that I met with the branch secretaries last week. One of the things that came up from that was that the previous leisure staff was told don't join the union. And if you do, you could be in trouble. And I was quite clear about that to the branch secretaries. That is not this place. We are not GLL and we encourage union membership and to have open conversations that helps us all. So, you know, we are committed to that.
Finally, she offered positive feedback, encouraging the council to acknowledge their achievements: > So, toot your own horn. Give yourself some credit. Sounds good.
She was present at a Budget Meeting and a Cabinet meeting, but the minutes do not record her speaking or taking any specific actions during those meetings.
Meetings in January 2025
Cabinet - Wednesday, 29th January, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 29 January 2025
Councillor Amy Lee was present at the Cabinet meeting on January 29, 2025. However, the available documentation does not indicate that she made any statements or took any specific actions during the meeting.
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 28th January, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 28 January 2025
Councillor Amy Lee raised concerns and questions regarding staffing and union engagement. She inquired about the definition of casual
roles for agency staff transitioning, specifically asking if these roles involve zero-hour contracts:
Something in there about agency staff transitioning to casual roles. Can you just tell me what your definition of casual is? And whether that involves any zero hours contracts?
Are they zero-hour contracts or not?
Lee also questioned the learning point regarding early and transparent union engagement, suggesting the report implied issues with the process. She asked for clarification on why it was listed as a learning point if the engagement was positive, referencing a comms plan and potential recruitment issues:
And my second question is on what you put under staffing and harmonising. And you've put a lot of points to learn from in there. The thing that stood out to me was early and transparent union engagement... It seems like this didn't go as smoothly as it could have done... So I'm just wondering why that perhaps didn't go as smoothly as it could have done... So I'm just wondering what happened there. And how do we plan to address this going forward?
Can I just ask them, so why is a learning point to have early and transparent engagement with unions? Surely if that's a learning point it means it didn't happen in the way that you perhaps thought it would. If it was so positive what do we have to learn is my question. Because I'm just reading it off your report.
Lee also shared information from a meeting with branch secretaries, emphasizing the council's commitment to encouraging union membership and open conversations, contrasting it with previous practices where leisure staff were discouraged from joining unions:
Can I also add to that Councillor that I met with the branch secretaries last week. One of the things that came up from that was that the previous leisure staff was told don't join the union. And if you do, you could be in trouble. And I was quite clear about that to the branch secretaries. That is not this place. We are not GLL and we encourage union membership and to have open conversations that helps us all. So, you know, we are committed to that.
She also offered positive feedback, encouraging the council to acknowledge their achievements:
So, toot your own horn. Give yourself some credit. Sounds good.
Council - Wednesday, 22nd January, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 22 January 2025
Councillor Amy Lee declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 8, the Opposition Motion to adopt the Migrant Care Workers’ Charter, because she works for Unison. She moved a motion to adopt the Migrant Care Workers’ Charter, which was seconded by Councillor Asma Islam, and accepted a friendly amendment proposed by Councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury and seconded by Councillor Sabina Akhtar. Additionally, she seconded the motion moved by Councillor Sirajul Islam regarding the petition requesting the Council reject or significantly reduce the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) against dogs.
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 actively participated in Tower Hamlets council meetings, demonstrating a strong focus on health and adult social care, scrutiny, and addressing issues of inequality and vulnerability. She consistently advocated for improved services and accountability.
Key Themes and Priorities:
- Health and Adult Social Care: Councillor Lee consistently engaged with health and adult social care matters. She welcomed the Draft Special Education Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion Strategy, emphasizing the importance of incorporating existing research and aligning co-production initiatives. She also inquired about the CQC inspection readiness and the integration of preparation work into daily routines. She raised questions about the age range of older adults being addressed by services.
- Scrutiny and Oversight: Councillor Lee played an active role in scrutiny committees, raising concerns about various issues, including the assessment criteria for council assets, the forecasted overspend within the Chief Executive Office, and late cabinet reports. She also questioned the handling of the statutory scrutiny officer setup and criticized the SGA corporate PR challenge action plan, finding the diversity and inclusion section
personally insulting.
She was nominated for multiple scrutiny lead positions. - Vulnerable Populations: Councillor Lee demonstrated a commitment to vulnerable populations, particularly families facing homelessness and children at risk. She voiced strong concerns about the premature implementation of the revised Homelessness Accommodation Placement Policy and advocated for the council to lobby for changes to the subsidy and relationship with other London boroughs. She also questioned the Mayor regarding a Family Court case, inquiring whether the council would open a serious case review.
- Council Culture and Communication: Councillor Lee expressed concerns about the council's culture, citing instances of intimidation, bullying, and harassment. She highlighted an example from a report where staff were allegedly asked to document questions and answers after meetings with inspectors, characterizing it as an extreme example of a negative culture. She also raised concerns about the council's communication with organizations in council assets regarding their leases.
Significant Contributions:
- Advocating for the inclusion of research on autism in Somali children in the Draft Special Education Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion Strategy.
- Questioning the Mayor about a Family Court case and the council's child protection responsibilities: >
Can you confirm whether you will be opening a serious case review in regards to a case heard at Family Court...
- Raising concerns about the revised Homelessness Accommodation Placement Policy and its potential impact on vulnerable families: >
This is always best interest of the residents, Councillor Abdul-Mannan, please.
- Criticizing the SGA corporate PR challenge action plan and highlighting the experiences of women councillors: >
Women in this council went and spoke to the LGA and talked about their experiences in this council...
- Voicing concerns about the council's culture and instances of intimidation, bullying, and harassment: >
My question is about culture...To me, those are quite extreme examples of something rotten.
Monthly Activity in 2024
In December 2024, Councillor Amy Lee attended the Appointments Sub Committee meeting on December 3rd. She sent apologies for her absence from the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on December 10th. During the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on December 17th, she voiced concerns about the council's culture, specifically citing instances of intimidation, bullying, and harassment. She highlighted an example from a report where staff were allegedly asked to document questions and answers after meetings with inspectors, characterizing it as an extreme example of a negative culture and inquired about potential solutions. > My question is about culture. So I'm just referring to the presentation. It talks about, particularly talking about the staff. So, just particularly the words intimidation, bullying and harassment. And I think the thing that stands out to me, there was an example in the report that was given of members of staff who were taken to one side after their meetings with the inspectors and told to write down what questions they've been asked and what answers they gave. To me, that's quite extreme. These are quite extreme examples of harassment, intimidation and bullying. So I just wonder if you have any advice on how that can be resolved. Because to me, that's not just a bit of an unhappy team culture. To me, those are quite extreme examples of something rotten.
Meetings in December 2024
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 17th December, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 17 December 2024
Councillor Amy Lee raised concerns about the council's culture, focusing on instances of intimidation, bullying, and harassment described in a presentation. She cited an example from a report where staff were allegedly asked to document questions and answers after meetings with inspectors, characterizing it as an extreme example of a negative culture. She inquired about potential solutions to address these issues.
My question is about culture. So I'm just referring to the presentation. It talks about, particularly talking about the staff. So, just particularly the words intimidation, bullying and harassment. And I think the thing that stands out to me, there was an example in the report that was given of members of staff who were taken to one side after their meetings with the inspectors and told to write down what questions they've been asked and what answers they gave. To me, that's quite extreme. These are quite extreme examples of harassment, intimidation and bullying. So I just wonder if you have any advice on how that can be resolved. Because to me, that's not just a bit of an unhappy team culture. To me, those are quite extreme examples of something rotten.
Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board - Tuesday, 10th December, 2024 5.00 p.m. - 10 December 2024
Councillor Amy Lee sent apologies for absence from the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on December 10, 2024.
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.
In November 2024, Councillor Amy Lee participated in several council meetings. At the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on November 5th, she inquired about the age range of older adults being addressed by services, specifically questioning the inclusion of individuals aged 55 and older. She asked if this was to cover all bases or if there was an observed increase in need earlier, and what kind of need it was, such as health or loneliness, and whether this was more pronounced in the borough. > I just wanted to ask about the sort of age range that we're working with here because we're talking about older adults but to me, 55 isn't old at all. Is that a case of just trying to cover all the basis or are we seeing an increase in need earlier? Because I feel like that's possibly the case but then what kind of need is it? Is that specifically sort of health or is it connected to the longiness issue and is that perhaps not unique to this borough but is this something we've noticed here more than perhaps in other places that this need for this kind of service is coming in earlier?
She was present at the Shortlisting for the Post of Director of Adult Social Care meeting on November 12th but did not speak or take any action. At the Council meeting on November 20th, she seconded the motion proposed by Councillor Chiarajal Islam regarding the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) against dogs. Finally, at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on November 26th, she was nominated for multiple scrutiny lead positions, including adults and health services, children and education, and housing and regeneration. > I would like to nominate Councillor Amy Lee. > I'll nominate Councillor Amy Lee.
Meetings in November 2024
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 26th November, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 26 November 2024
Councillor Amy Lee was nominated for multiple scrutiny lead positions, including adults and health services, children and education, and housing and regeneration. Two separate individuals nominated her, with one stating: > I would like to nominate Councillor Amy Lee. and another stating: > I'll nominate Councillor Amy Lee. The committee then voted on these nominations. The reports pack indicates she attended previous meetings on September 2nd and September 30th, but no specific actions or comments from her were recorded in the minutes of those meetings.
Council - Wednesday, 20th November, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 20 November 2024
Amy Lee seconded the motion proposed by Councillor Chiarajal Islam regarding the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) against dogs. She was also present at the Council meeting.
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 was a member of the Appointments Sub Committee and attended the meeting virtually on November 12, 2024. However, the records indicate that she did not say anything or take any specific action during the meeting.
Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 5th November, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 5 November 2024
Councillor Amy Lee declared no conflicts of interest at the start of the meeting.
She then raised a question regarding the age range being addressed by the services discussed, specifically focusing on the inclusion of individuals aged 55 and older. She inquired whether this broad range was intended to cover all bases or if there was an observed increase in need among younger older adults. She further questioned the nature of this need, asking if it was specifically health-related or connected to issues of loneliness, and whether this trend was more pronounced in this borough compared to others.
I just wanted to ask about the sort of age range that we're working with here because we're talking about older adults but to me, 55 isn't old at all. Is that a case of just trying to cover all the basis or are we seeing an increase in need earlier? Because I feel like that's possibly the case but then what kind of need is it? Is that specifically sort of health or is it connected to the longiness issue and is that perhaps not unique to this borough but is this something we've noticed here more than perhaps in other places that this need for this kind of service is coming in earlier?
During October 2024, Councillor Amy Lee was actively involved in council matters. She seconded a motion and an amendment concerning the Tackling Poverty Programme at the Council meeting on October 2nd. At the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on October 15th, she raised concerns about late cabinet reports and the appointment of an interim strategy scrutiny officer. She criticized Steve's handling of the statutory scrutiny officer (SSO) setup, stating: > ...we have always said that we actually like the set up and the support that officers give us, we want to keep the officers as it is, and we would like additional resources. You reassured us time and time again, and then you went off and then you sent us this letter almost like saying you were happy and proud to ignore us, and I don't actually appreciate that.
She also disagreed with Steve's recollection of previous conversations, stating: > Firstly, that's not my recollection of the conversations that you've had with this committee and it's on record.
Councillor Lee further criticized the SGA corporate PR challenge action plan, finding the diversity and inclusion section personally insulting.
She highlighted the experiences of women councillors and the impact on the community, stating: > Women in this council went and spoke to the LGA and talked about their experiences in this council, talked about how they'd been treated in these committees. They talked about the knock-on impact that that was having in the community. I've been on the receiving end of some absolutely horrendous aggression and abuse, which is a direct knock-on impact of what happens in this room, and to be told, don't worry, there's a women's commission...
She expressed a lack of confidence in the plan and felt it did not address the cultural problem
within the council. Councillor Lee was also present virtually at the Appointments Sub Committee meeting on October 15th, but there is no record of her speaking or taking action during that meeting.
Meetings in October 2024
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 15th October, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 15 October 2024
Councillor Amy Lee actively participated in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, raising concerns about late cabinet reports, the appointment of an interim strategy scrutiny officer, and the SGA corporate PR challenge action plan. She expressed appreciation to Steve for acknowledging the issue of late reports but criticized his handling of the statutory scrutiny officer (SSO) setup, stating:
...we have always said that we actually like the set up and the support that officers give us, we want to keep the officers as it is, and we would like additional resources. You reassured us time and time again, and then you went off and then you sent us this letter almost like saying you were happy and proud to ignore us, and I don't actually appreciate that.
She disagreed with Steve's recollection of previous conversations regarding the SSO and additional resources, stating:
Firstly, that's not my recollection of the conversations that you've had with this committee and it's on record.
She questioned the need for another interim SSO and the reasons for the previous officer's departure. Councillor Lee also criticized the SGA corporate PR challenge action plan, finding the diversity and inclusion section personally insulting.
She highlighted the experiences of women councillors who spoke to the LGA about their experiences and the impact on the community, stating:
Women in this council went and spoke to the LGA and talked about their experiences in this council, talked about how they'd been treated in these committees. They talked about the knock-on impact that that was having in the community. I've been on the receiving end of some absolutely horrendous aggression and abuse, which is a direct knock-on impact of what happens in this room, and to be told, don't worry, there's a women's commission...
She criticized the report for not consulting those women councillors and for relying on the Women's Commission, which was established afterward. She also questioned what great strides
had been made in diversity and inclusion. Furthermore, she stated that she felt the improvement plan did not address the cultural problem
within the council, expressing a lack of confidence in the plan.
Longlisting for the post of Director of Adult Social Care, Appointments Sub Committee - Tuesday, 15th October, 2024 6.00 p.m. - 15 October 2024
Councillor Amy Lee was a member of the Appointments Sub Committee and was present virtually at the meeting on October 15, 2024. However, there is no record of her saying or doing anything during the meeting.
Council - Wednesday, 2nd October, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 2 October 2024
Councillor Amy Lee seconded a motion and an amendment concerning the Tackling Poverty Programme.
During September 2024, Councillor Amy Lee actively participated in several council meetings, primarily focusing on issues related to homelessness, health and adult social care, and financial oversight.
Regarding the revised Homelessness Accommodation Placement Policy, she voiced strong concerns about its premature implementation without proper consultation, particularly its potential impact on vulnerable families. She shared an anecdote about a family placed in Medway facing difficulties and advocated for the council to lobby for changes to the subsidy and relationship with other London boroughs, rather than rushing to place people in temporary accommodation further away. She stated, > This is always best interest of the residents, Councillor Abdul-Mannan, please.
and > 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.
In the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee, she inquired about the integration of CQC preparation work into daily routines following recent staffing changes.
During an Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, she raised concerns about the forecasted overspend within the Chief Executive Office, specifically questioning the impact of moving responsibilities to other parts of the council and the significant pressure on legal services.
She also participated in an Extraordinary Meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, where she, along with other councillors, raised concerns about a paper requiring a signature, leading to the meeting itself. She questioned Warwick about his involvement in previous home care procurement processes, asking how the current process differed from past ones.
Councillor Lee was present at the Shortlisting for the post of Director of Adult Social Care Appointments Sub Committee and the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting, but the provided information does not indicate that she spoke or took any specific actions during these meetings.
Meetings in September 2024
Extraordinary Meeting, Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 30th September, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 30 September 2024
Councillor Amy Lee, a member of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, actively participated in the meeting. She, along with Councillors Islam and Natalie, raised concerns about a paper requiring a signature, prompting the chair to consult with the chief executive and others, ultimately leading to the meeting itself. During the meeting, she directed a question to Warwick regarding his involvement in previous home care procurement processes, specifically asking how the current process differed from past ones.
Councillor Amy Lee asked, can I switch off your mic please? Councillor Amy Lee asked you a question, before you answer please understand his question and then answer it fully. so my question is to you Warwick, have you been involved in other procurement processes for home care, if so, can you tell us how this process is different to the last one you have been involved in?
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
Amy Lee inquired about the forecasted overspend within the Chief Executive Office. She raised two main points:
- The impact of moving responsibilities from the Chief Executive Office directorate to other parts of the council, particularly Julie's area, on the overspend figures.
- The significant pressure on legal services, leading to a forecasted overspend of £0.5 million. She expressed alarm at this figure and questioned the reasons behind the high workload and associated costs.
Thank you, Chair. I'm just curious about this section on the Chief Executive Office. And if I get anything wrong, please do correct me. It's 4.47, it starts that. So as I understand it, it's saying you're forecasting an overspend of 0.5 after 2.2 million drawdown. So I've got two points on this. My understanding is that a lot of what is currently under the Chief Executive Office directorate that should be removed from that directorate and placed around the council, probably mostly with you Julie, so what impact is that having on these figures? And then also I have to say I'm quite alarmed to read that apparently the pressure on our legal services in this council is so high that we think it's going to cost 0.5 million pounds. So what on earth is going on in legal services? Actually I say that, I mean that's the overspend forecasted. So what on earth is going on there that the workload is so high that they're under that much pressure that it's going to cost this council that much money? That's quite alarming, don't you think?
Shortlisting for the post of Director of Adult Social Care, Appointments Sub Committee - Tuesday, 10th September, 2024 5.00 p.m. - 10 September 2024
Amy Lee was a member of the Appointments Sub Committee and was present at the meeting on September 10, 2024, concerning the shortlisting for the post of Director of Adult Social Care. The provided documents do not indicate that she spoke or took any specific action during the meeting.
Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 3rd September, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 3 September 2024
Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping, declared no Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs) at the meeting.
Councillor Amy Lee. Nothing to declare.
She inquired about the integration of CQC preparation work into daily routines, considering recent staffing changes. She referenced a previous presentation where the emphasis was on incorporating this work into ongoing tasks rather than treating it as a separate project.
Thank you. I think I've got a few but I'll just start with, so it does mention the final slide but last time we did, as you said we've had a presentation before, last time we did it was a lot about building, I think that's the language you're using, building all of this work into ongoing work so it's not a separate project it's just part of what you do on a daily basis. There has obviously been some staffing changes since then so I just wondered if we could get a bit of an update on that progress in that sense and I do have others but I think it's best to come back to me.
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 Overview & Scrutiny Committee meetings. She was present at the July 9th meeting but no statements or actions were recorded. At the July 23rd meeting, she raised concerns regarding the assessment criteria for council assets, specifically questioning the weighting of different criteria against each other and against existing organizations utilizing those assets. > Could you give a bit of an overview about how you envision those different assessment criteria to be weighted against each other, if at all? And then also, how will they be weighted against where there are organisations already using the assets? How will those assessment criteria be used to assess what value is already in the assets that we have in the Tower Hamlets? And how will the council then make a decision based on their strategic plan to either kick those organisations out and put in something else or use it in a different way?
She also expressed concerns about the council's communication with organizations in council assets regarding their leases and the lack of council involvement in their relationship with the buildings. > One of the concerns that I have come across in working with organisations that are in council assets is that the council is not good at communicating with them about the future of their lease. There are concerns about the lack of involvement from the council in their relationship to the building that they are in. This is obviously a strategic asset management plan which is focused on how we can get the most money out of the assets that we have, which is right. There is also a really important relationship management thing that could potentially be part of this. I wonder if there is something you can add there.
Amy Lee was absent from the Council meeting on July 17th, with an apology received.
Meetings in July 2024
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 23rd July, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 23 July 2024
Councillor Amy Lee attended the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting. She raised concerns about the assessment criteria for council assets, questioning how different criteria are weighted against each other and against existing organizations using the assets.
Could you give a bit of an overview about how you envision those different assessment criteria to be weighted against each other, if at all? And then also, how will they be weighted against where there are organisations already using the assets? How will those assessment criteria be used to assess what value is already in the assets that we have in the Tower Hamlets? And how will the council then make a decision based on their strategic plan to either kick those organisations out and put in something else or use it in a different way?
She also expressed concerns about the council's communication with organizations in council assets regarding their leases and the lack of council involvement in their relationship with the buildings.
One of the concerns that I have come across in working with organisations that are in council assets is that the council is not good at communicating with them about the future of their lease. There are concerns about the lack of involvement from the council in their relationship to the building that they are in. This is obviously a strategic asset management plan which is focused on how we can get the most money out of the assets that we have, which is right. There is also a really important relationship management thing that could potentially be part of this. I wonder if there is something you can add there.
Council - Wednesday, 17th July, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 17 July 2024
Amy Lee was absent from the Council meeting held on July 17, 2024. An apology for her absence was received.
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 the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on June 4, 2024, Councillor Amy Lee (Labour, St Katharine's & Wapping) declared no personal interests. She inquired about the CQC inspection readiness, specifically asking how streamlining activities into business as usual would be implemented and how staff would be brought along with the process. > can i just ask a little bit about ccc inspection um because what you're saying uh priorities is streamline this activity into business as usual which makes a lot of sense but can you just say a little bit more about how that's actually going to happen as we go along and how you're bringing staff along with you with that was that about the cqc oh cqc inspection readiness
Meetings in June 2024
Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 4th June, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 4 June 2024
Councillor Amy Lee, representing St Katharine's & Wapping for the Labour Party, was present at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on June 4, 2024. She declared nothing to declare during the Declarations of Personal Interest. During the meeting, she inquired about the CQC inspection readiness, specifically how streamlining activities into business as usual would be implemented and how staff would be brought along with the process.
can i just ask a little bit about ccc inspection um because what you're saying uh priorities is streamline this activity into business as usual which makes a lot of sense but can you just say a little bit more about how that's actually going to happen as we go along and how you're bringing staff along with you with that was that about the cqc oh cqc inspection readiness
During May 2024, Councillor Amy Lee was absent from two council meetings (May 8th and May 15th), submitting apologies for both. Consequently, she was unable to present a pre-submitted question at either meeting. At the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on May 21st, Councillor Lee questioned the Mayor regarding a Family Court case. She inquired whether the council would open a serious case review, referencing a judge's public statement that the local authority's approach constituted a serious failure in child protection responsibilities and reinforced patterns of significant domestic abuse. > Can you confirm whether you will be opening a serious case review in regards to a case heard at Family Court, the judgment of which is now fully public, in which the judge said that this local authorities approach to that case amounted to a serious failure in its child protection responsibilities, and that, again, that this council is responsible for reinforcing patterns of significant domestic abuse.
Meetings in May 2024
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 21st May, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 21 May 2024
Councillor Amy Lee (St Katharine's & Wapping) questioned the Mayor about a serious case review. She specifically asked if the council would open a serious case review regarding a Family Court case where the judge publicly stated that the local authority's approach constituted a serious failure in child protection responsibilities and reinforced patterns of significant domestic abuse.
Can you confirm whether you will be opening a serious case review in regards to a case heard at Family Court, the judgment of which is now fully public, in which the judge said that this local authorities approach to that case amounted to a serious failure in its child protection responsibilities, and that, again, that this council is responsible for reinforcing patterns of significant domestic abuse.
Annual Meeting, Council - Wednesday, 15th May, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 15 May 2024
Councillor Amy Lee was absent from the Annual Council Meeting on May 15, 2024. She sent apologies for her absence and was therefore unable to ask her pre-submitted question. The minutes record:
11.6 Question from Councillor Amy Lee Councillor Amy Lee was not present at the meeting to ask her question.
Council - Wednesday, 8th May, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 8 May 2024
Councillor Amy Lee submitted an apology for absence from the Council meeting held on May 8, 2024. As a result, she was not present to ask her question, which was listed as item 11.6 on the agenda.
It should be noted that while not pertaining to this meeting, the provided documents also indicate that Councillor Lee voted on several items during a previous council meeting on February 28, 2024. She voted against the Labour group amendment moved by Councillor Marc Francis, against the amendment moved by Councillor Nathalie Bienfait, and against the main Budget Motion moved by Mayor Lutfur Rahman and Councillor Saied Ahmed.
During April 2024, Councillor Amy Lee actively participated in several council meetings. At the Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on April 16th, she welcomed the Draft Special Education Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion Strategy 2024-2029, emphasizing the importance of incorporating existing research, particularly the Somali Working Group's findings on autism in Somali children. She also advocated for aligning the strategy's co-production charter with broader council initiatives, stating: > Thanks Steve, really welcome the strategy...I'd be really keen to talk to you to align that with co-production initiatives across the council and other partners because we're talking about that a lot and it would be useful to align, thank you.
Regarding the Just Say Hello campaign, she praised the film and inquired about measuring its impact on loneliness and isolation, as well as its costing and sustainability. She suggested expanding the campaign's reach through the Tower Hamlets Together partnership, focusing on community care, mental health services, and hospitals. She also proposed creating a similar video campaign targeting children and young people to address social isolation in that demographic.
Councillor Lee was present at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on April 18th, where she declared no pecuniary interests. She also attended the Licensing Sub Committee meeting on April 23rd, identifying herself as: > Councillor Amy Lee, St Catherine's and Mopo.
Finally, she is listed as a member of the Inner North East London Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee, although no specific actions or statements from her were recorded in the provided document for the April 24th meeting.
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 23, 2024. According to the transcript, she identified herself as:
Councillor Amy Lee, St Catherine's and Mopo.
Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Thursday, 18th April, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 18 April 2024
Councillor Amy Lee was present at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on April 18, 2024. She declared that she had nothing to declare regarding Declarations of Pecuniary Interest (DPI).
Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board - Tuesday, 16th April, 2024 5.00 p.m. - 16 April 2024
Councillor Amy Lee actively participated in the meeting, raising questions and offering suggestions on several agenda items.
Regarding the Draft Special Education Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion Strategy 2024 to 2029, she welcomed the strategy and emphasized the importance of leveraging existing research and recommendations, specifically mentioning the Somali Working Group's findings on autism in Somali children. She also expressed interest in aligning the strategy's co-production charter with broader co-production initiatives across the council and its partners:
Thanks Steve, really welcome the strategy. You talked about engagement and consultation and I would just make a plea to look at what's already been done so thinking particularly about the Somali Working Group looking into the research into the high incidence of autism in Somali children for example and they've come up with some really clear recommendations and a lot of those around access so language and provision for example at GPs so it's some really kind of basic things. So please look at, I'm sure you will. And also you talked about the co-production charter and I'd be really keen to talk to you to align that with co-production initiatives across the council and other partners because we're talking about that a lot and it would be useful to align, thank you.
On the Just Say Hello campaign, she praised the film and its positive impact. She inquired about the plans to measure the program's impact on loneliness and isolation, noting the lack of detail in the board papers. She also asked about the costing and sustainability of the program, questioning whether it was a small gesture, make a big difference
model or if it built capacity for ongoing impact. She suggested bringing the campaign to the Tower Hamlets Together partnership to expand its reach, particularly to community care, mental health services, and hospitals, to address social isolation after illness. She offered to facilitate the connection through herself and Vicky.
Finally, she suggested creating a similar video campaign targeting children and young people, potentially through schools, to address social isolation in that demographic, given that they might not frequent Warm Hubs.
Councillor Amy Lee attended the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on February 20, 2024. However, the minutes do not record her speaking or taking any specific actions during the meeting.
Meetings in February 2024
Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 20th February, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 20 February 2024
Councillor Amy Lee attended the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on February 20, 2024. She was also listed as attending virtually a previous meeting on December 12, 2023. However, the minutes do not record her speaking or taking any specific actions during either meeting.
Activity Timeline
Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.
81 meetings · Page 7 of 17
Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 8th April, 2025 6.30 p.m.
The Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee met to discuss initiatives for accessible sports and fitness for disabled residents, and a strategy for long-term condition prevention. The sub-committee reviewed an updated action plan in response to recommendations on empowering disabled residents, and also reviewed a presentation on the Tower Hamlets Strategy for Long-Term Condition Prevention: Vital 5.
Standards Advisory Committee - Thursday, 3rd April, 2025 7.00 p.m.
The Standards Advisory Committee met to conduct its annual review of the Code of Conduct for members, and to review reports on complaints, investigations, and the register of interests. The committee agreed to two minor typographical amendments to the code.
Council - Wednesday, 2nd April, 2025 7.00 p.m.
The Tower Hamlets Council meeting addressed petitions, a motion to support children with special educational needs, and a motion to address intimidation and harassment in politics. Councillors also approved the calendar of meetings for 2025/26 and designated a new monitoring officer.
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 25th March, 2025 5.30 p.m.
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the scrutiny improvement plan, a continuous improvement plan, the strategic performance and delivery report, and the budget monitoring report. The committee discussed the accuracy and measurement of the scrutiny improvement plan, and the need for more detail in the continuous improvement plan. They also raised concerns about homelessness, adult social care, and special educational needs and disability (SEND) funding pressures.
Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board - Thursday, 27th February, 2025 5.00 p.m.
This meeting was about the Health and Wellbeing Board considering updates on various health and wellbeing programmes in the Borough, and preparations for upcoming inspections of services for children with special educational needs. The meeting also included an update on mental health provision, and consideration of the minutes of the previous meeting.
Decisions from Meetings
14 decisions · Page 1 of 3
Budget Report 2025-26 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025-28
From: Cabinet - Wednesday, 29th January, 2025 5.30 p.m. - January 29, 2025
...how to allocate funds across various departments and services, including setting council tax rates and approving the Housing Revenue Account budget, for the financial years 2025-26 to 2027-28.
Recommendations Approved
Revised Adult Social Care Charging Policy Incorporating Free Community Based Services
From: Cabinet - Wednesday, 29th January, 2025 5.30 p.m. - January 29, 2025
...whether to agree to a revised Adult Social Care Charging Policy, incorporating free community-based services, effective from 1st April 2025.
Recommendations Approved
Proposal for the amalgamation of Globe Primary and Rachel Keeling Nursery Schools from 1 September 2025
From: Cabinet - Wednesday, 29th January, 2025 5.30 p.m. - January 29, 2025
... whether to begin the process of formally amalgamating Globe Primary and Rachel Keeling Nursery Schools into a single, 3-11 years primary school, with the ultimate decision resting with the Mayor.
For Determination
EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
From: Cabinet - Wednesday, 18th December, 2024 5.30 p.m. - December 18, 2024
Recommendations Approved
Strategic Delivery and Performance Report Year 3 Quarter 2
From: Cabinet - Wednesday, 18th December, 2024 5.30 p.m. - December 18, 2024
... whether to note the strategic delivery and performance report for Quarter 2 (1st July 2024 to 30th September 2024), including the status of 56 performance measures tracking progress on the Strategic Plan 2022-2026.
Recommendations Approved
Summary
Meetings Attended: 81
Average per Month: 3.2
Decisions Recorded: 14