Councillor James King

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

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the Metropolitan Police's work in the borough, the Council's Workforce to Reflect the Community Strategy, and the Tower Hamlets Local Plan 2038. They approved the membership of the Council's scrutiny sub-committees, following recent changes to the political proportionality of the Council.

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

The Committee reviewed additional information on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the capital programme budgets that had been approved at the Cabinet meeting on 29th January 2025. It was agreed to refer queries about repairs and maintenance, and the Council's contract for this work, to the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Sub-Committee. The Committee will then monitor the work of the Sub-Committee and provide feedback to the Executive. The Committee also requested further information from the Executive about the timeline for the spending of the £140 million allocated to the HRA for improvements to the existing housing stock, including new windows, bathrooms, and kitchens. Finally, the Committee requested clarity on the process of bringing temporary accommodation in-house.

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

The committee discussed the insourcing of the leisure service, agreed a new scrutiny protocol, and agreed recommendations made in a report on flood risk management. The committee also agreed to hold an additional meeting to discuss two additional budget elements, HRA and Capital, on 4 February.

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.

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

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee reviewed the proposed Budget Report 2025-26 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2025-28 and the proposed Fees and Charges for 2025-26. The committee agreed to make a series of recommendations and requests for further information.