Councillor Faroque Ahmed

Development Committee - Thursday, 6th February, 2025 6.30 p.m.

The Development Committee voted unanimously to grant planning permission to Leon Investments Ltd. for the redevelopment of 1-10 Bishops Square. The decision was made following a presentation by the applicant's agent and officers from the Council.

Licensing Committee - Thursday, 16th January, 2025 6.30 p.m.

The Licensing Committee received a report on the outcomes of late-night inspections and enforcement visits to licensed premises. The committee noted the report and no decisions were made.

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

The meeting started with a tribute to former Councillor Ray Gibson, who passed away at the end of 2024. The Council then received a presentation from pupils at St John's School, Bethnal Green, who sang to celebrate the Council's recent Ofsted rating for Children's Services. The Council formally noted the 'outstanding' rating, and discussed the improvements that have taken place in the service since it was rated as 'inadequate' in 2017.

Licensing Sub Committee - Tuesday, 7th January, 2025 6.30 p.m.

The Licensing Sub Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on 7 January 2025 to discuss two applications for new premise licences. The committee refused a new premises licence for Harvest, a supermarket on Brick Lane, due to concerns about its location within a cumulative impact zone[^2] and the potential for increased public nuisance and crime and disorder. An application for a new premise licence for Z & H One Rice Ltd, also on Brick Lane, was withdrawn by the applicant. The committee also agreed to extend the decision deadline for several other licensing applications.

Development Committee - Thursday, 28th November, 2024 6.30 p.m.

The committee unanimously approved an application to redevelop Montgomery Square in Canary Wharf. The plans will see a new, larger pavilion building built that will provide a new restaurant with terraces and spill out seating. The existing temporary marketing suite and the current occupier 640 East will be removed to allow for new landscaping that will increase the amount of Publicly Accessible Open Space and introduce extensive planting and new trees. In related changes, Water Street will be closed to vehicles travelling eastbound.