Mayor Lutfur Rahman

Cabinet - Wednesday, 8th January, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 31 December 2025

Lutfur Rahman, as the Executive Mayor, opened the first Cabinet Meeting of the New Year, extending New Year wishes to attendees. He then delivered a comprehensive speech on the budget report and the medium-term financial strategy. He expressed optimism for the year ahead, emphasizing a balanced, sustainable, and transformative financial strategy that prioritizes residents and frontline services, contrasting it with the political choices of cuts made by the previous administration. Key announcements included an increase in the general fund reserve to £25 million and significant investments across various services. These investments cover education (maintenance allowance, university bursaries, free school meals, free school uniform grant for eligible families), youth services, leisure services (keeping pools open, free swimming), winter fuel payments, waste services, and home care (free for all residents from April). He also detailed plans for reinvestment in CCTV cameras, recruitment of enforcement officers, reopening a culturally sensitive women's centre and drug rehabilitation facility, strengthening one-stop shops, reintroducing one-hour free parking in markets, and investing in affordable homes. Rahman highlighted that the new Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) would deliver £77 million in savings. He thanked officers and members for their work on the budget and expressed hope for cross-party support. He concluded his budget statement by reiterating the council's healthy reserves and the budget's focus on residents, before asking for approval of the recommendations. Subsequently, he moved the meeting to the next agenda item. In relation to the Highways & Transportation delivery spotlight, the Mayor requested the development of an appropriate communications strategy for tree planting.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 17th December, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 17 December 2025

Mayor Lutfur Rahman highlighted the Council's embedded culture of continuous improvement. He detailed cost of living support measures, including winter fuel payments to 400 residents and the positive feedback on the pilot Meals on Wheels program. He also mentioned the dedicated Drug Squad's efforts in tackling supply chains and supporting rehabilitation. Rahman reminded the Cabinet of the Housing Strategy's Local Plan, the accelerated housing program, and the focus on family-sized homes and tall building zones to address overcrowding. He thanked Councillor Abdul Wahid for his update and agreed to the publication of the Corporate Peer Challenge report online and its submission to the Central Government Minister. Finally, he requested that the Annual Resident Survey (ARS) 2025 results and analysis report be brought back to Cabinet with more detailed information on factors influencing resident perceptions of front-line services.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 26th November, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 26 November 2025

During the Cabinet meeting on November 26, 2025, Mayor Lutfur Rahman welcomed attendees, including young people, and acknowledged apologies. He approved the minutes from the October 16th meeting and thanked the corporate management team and staff for their work on the corporate peer challenge, emphasizing the importance of making the report public and addressing any issues. Rahman highlighted the re-introduced meals and wills program, expressing pride in its impact on protecting the elderly and infirm, and shared a personal anecdote about its success. He also announced the upcoming full rollout of this program and the council's continued efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable people. Rahman introduced the launch of a dedicated drug squad, detailing its dual focus on supporting police strategy and providing rehabilitation services. He reported on the local plan's passage, its provisions for housing, and the Mayor's accelerated housing program aiming to deliver over 3,000 affordable homes. He explained the necessity of upward growth due to space limitations and the expansion of tall building zones. Rahman expressed pleasure in representing the Truman's Brewery hearing and confidence in the regeneration of Spititifun's Bangla town. He thanked the young people, Deputy Mayor, and youth councillors for their eloquent presentations, stating,

They are the future of the borough.

Transformation and Assurance Board - Tuesday, 25th November, 2025 10.00 a.m. - 25 November 2025

Lutfur Rahman, as Mayor and Chair of the Transformation and Assurance Board, commenced the meeting by leading the Welcome and Introductions item on the agenda.

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

Mayor Lutfur Rahman presented an overview of the council's progress and achievements over the past year to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. His presentation, titled Mayor's Spotlight, covered key areas including governance, political culture, workforce, partnership, financial resilience, and service delivery excellence. He highlighted specific achievements such as improved governance structures, a new member pledge, increased staff diversity, the outstanding Ofsted rating for children's services, and significant investment in affordable housing. During the Q&A, Mayor Rahman discussed his commitment to the Women's Commission, the green agenda, and tackling hate crime. He also addressed concerns regarding call centre wait times, the sustainability of programs like free school meals and the School Uniform Grant, and the delivery of affordable homes, stating the council is on track to deliver approximately 9,000 homes over the next five to six years. He reaffirmed his commitment to AI and new technology, while emphasizing the need to ensure workforce stability and provide young people with access to technology. Mayor Rahman also expressed his strong desire to reduce overcrowding by delivering more three and four-bedroom affordable homes and identified the Meals on Wheels service as a particularly touching achievement. He assured the committee that the quality of care for elders and vulnerable individuals is paramount and clarified the council's position on extending free school meals to faith or independent schools based on current law. He also noted the positive impact of EMA and university bursaries on young people's education and expressed concern about potential discouragement of further education if these provisions were removed. Regarding free swimming sessions for women, he acknowledged the high demand and requested more sessions, also noting issues with the booking software.

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

Mayor Lutfur Rahman presented his report to the Council. Following the Opposition Group Leader's response to his report, Mayor Rahman provided concluding remarks.

Housing Management (Cabinet) Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 5th November, 2025 6.00 p.m. - 5 November 2025

Lutfur Rahman, in his capacity as Mayor and Chair of the Housing Management (Cabinet) Sub-Committee, expressed strong opposition to the government and Mayor of London's housing proposals, specifically the reduction of the affordable housing element to 20% and the removal of SIL for several years. He stated,

So as matters stand now, Cherry, just for the record, people are viewing this. We, I do not, and we do not as an administration, support what the government and what the Mayor of London have put out so far in reducing housing affordable element to 20%. I don't think that's the right approach. And I don't believe taking away SIL entirely for the next few years, I think it's the right approach. We need to reduce overcrowding in the borough. We rely on housing element. Our office is very good in negotiating appropriate housing through the planning application and SIL through the planning applications to support our communities. And that's the stance we're going to take. But we are yet to feed into the consultation process and we will do so very strongly with evidence.

He agreed to a joint letter opposing these government proposals, to be signed by the administration, housing scrutiny, and the overall scrutiny committee. Rahman also acknowledged and thanked officers for their work on several key policies and reports, including the Housing Management Services New Enlargement Adaptation Policy and the Damp and Mould Policy. He commented on the latter, noting,

It's sad that it needed death of a child, I'm sorry if I put it so crudely, for a law to come into being on damp and mould. It's so sad. But it's such overdue rules, law, legislation, given the condition that our residents live in. In time, some of our residents, whether in private dwellings or in social housing, council housing or RSL housing. Some of the damp infestation, some of the mould infestation that people have to live in and kids have to live in. So this is absolutely well overdue. And I'm glad that now we've adopted, we're going to adopt a policy, hopefully to get our stock into order, but also work with RSL's private landlords, that they get their stocks into order too.

Throughout the meeting, Rahman chaired discussions, approved recommendations for various housing policies and reports such as the Housing Management Data Quality Strategy and the Housing Management Strategic Risks report. He also approved the Landlord Health and Safety Policies (Big 6), the Housing Complaints Compensation Policy 2025-2028, and the Rent Collection Policy. He noted performance data and agreed to actions to address underperforming areas, and agreed the forward plan for the committee.

King George's Field Charity Board - Wednesday, 29th October, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 29 October 2025

Lutfur Rahman attended and chaired the King George's Field Charity Board meeting on 6 November 2024. He moved the recommendations for agenda items 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 15th October, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 15 October 2025

Lutfur Rahman attended the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, in his capacity as Mayor. The provided reports pack indicates his role in holding executive powers and making decisions, but it does not contain any specific statements or actions attributed to him during this meeting.

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

Lutfur Rahman, the Mayor, did not have his report considered during the Council meeting on 8th October 2025 due to lack of time. Therefore, there is no recorded activity or statements from him in the provided documents for this meeting.

Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 1st October, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 1 October 2025

Lutfur Rahman, as a member of the Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee, was involved in discussions regarding grant making authority for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. The 2024 HAF programme was overseen by the Executive Mayor, with delegation to the Chief Executive via an Individual Mayoral Decision (IMD). A key recommendation before the committee was to authorize delegation to either the Corporate Director for Resources or the Director of Customer Services to approve grant awards for HAF 2025/26 based on agreed scoring criteria, in consultation with the Mayor.

Housing Management (Cabinet) Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 24 September 2025

Lutfur Rahman, the Mayor, chaired the Housing Management (Cabinet) Sub-Committee meeting. He opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and confirming there were no public questions, apologies for absence, or declarations of interest. He then moved on to discuss various agenda items, posing numerous questions and requesting further information.

Regarding lift safety, he specifically inquired about issues at Eagle Court and the impact on vulnerable residents, and sought details on repairs at Angela Court, including the design flaws and potential permanent solutions. He also requested notes on Canary Wharf Group's liability and options for compensating Angela Court residents.

Concerning housing policies, Rahman asked about the approval of the Landlord Health and Safety Compliance Policies and sought clarification on the Housing Complaints Compensation Policy, including maximum compensation, benchmarking, determination of amounts, and handling of flood damage. He also inquired about deducting rent or service charges from compensation and the communication plan for the policy.

He further questioned the Rent Collection Policy, asking how evictions are avoided, the stages of intervention for rent arrears, the current rent collection rate, and for a breakdown of one percent rent arrears, including mitigation and support for affected individuals.

Rahman also asked about financial relationships with safeguarding and advice organizations, specifically regarding Account Three, and inquired about debt relief orders. He requested updates following the presentation of the Performance and Compliance Report.

In relation to repairs, he sought clarification on the Big Doorknock initiative and requested papers on repairs and missed appointments. He critically examined the graph on repairs completed, questioning its performance trend, data collection methods, and the accuracy of repair information, particularly how the council verifies contractor data and whether the information is sourced from those performing the work or independent officers.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 17th September, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 17 September 2025

Lutfur Rahman, as Mayor, opened the meeting by expressing deep concern about the far-right's activities in London and announced Tower Hamlets Council's dedication of the following weekend to celebrating East London's diversity. He highlighted two free events: a Town Hall Open Day on Saturday and the Brick Lane Curry Festival throughout the weekend, emphasizing the borough's history of standing up to racism and its diverse, cohesive community. He also welcomed Councillor Wahid and valued the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's work, requesting timely delivery of their papers. Rahman sought agreement on recommendations for the Statement of Gambling Policy, the Disbursements of Household Support Fund, the Contracts Forward Plan, RCDAs, and the Q1 Budget Monitoring Report. He thanked the Board for the Safeguarding Adults Board annual report and offered executive support. Rahman acknowledged the reintroduction of the Household Support Fund under his leadership and requested a launch event for clear communication. He also thanked the Corporate Director of Resources and their team for minimizing budget pressures and urged corporate directors and lead members to understand budget delivery. Rahman asserted that the council invests more in communities annually than any previous administration, focusing on investment rather than service cuts, while maintaining prudence and efficiency. He concluded by calling the meeting to a close.

Housing Management (Cabinet) Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 30th July, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 30 July 2025

Lutfur Rahman, serving as the Mayor and Chair of the Housing Management (Cabinet) Sub-Committee, opened the meeting and emphasized the need for a swift conclusion due to a prior engagement. Throughout the meeting, he facilitated discussions, introduced speakers, and guided the committee through various agenda items, including the approval of minutes, updates on reports, and specific agenda items concerning regulatory social housing inspections, the housing ombudsman self-assessment, performance and compliance, and the Your Voice Our Action initiative. He consistently thanked individuals, including David, Karen, Gulam, Stephen Platt, Councillor Ahmed, and the chair of the housing scrutiny subcommittee, for their contributions and reports. Rahman expressed the council's full acceptance of the inspection findings and highlighted the strong corporate commitment from himself, the Lead Member, and the Senior Leadership team to address the identified issues, particularly those faced upon insourcing.

The Council fully accepts the findings of the inspection and the Mayor and Lead Member, who were interviewed as part of the process are committed to addressing the issues identified within the inspection which the council faced upon insourcing.

He also acknowledged the value of the scrutiny subcommittee's work in holding the executive and officers accountable. Towards the end of the meeting, Rahman confirmed the forward plan was for noting, declared no other business, thanked attendees, and formally closed the session.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 23rd July, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 23 July 2025

During the Cabinet meeting on July 23, 2025, Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman addressed several critical issues. He clarified that the placement of asylum seekers in the Britannia Hotel was a central government decision, not the council's, and condemned the far-right's exploitation of the situation. He also revealed he had written to the Home Secretary on this matter.

Mayor Rahman presented the Mayor's Accelerated Housing Programme, detailing plans to deliver approximately 3,300 affordable homes on council-owned sites, in addition to over 4,000 already planned. He emphasized the commitment to affordable, family-sized housing and contrasted this with the previous administration's record on housing stock.

He also discussed the council's new local plan, which anticipates 59,000 new homes over 15 years. Furthermore, Mayor Rahman announced the council's intention to divest funds from companies involved in what he termed genocide in Gaza, urging the UK government to cease arms trade with Israel and demand a ceasefire.

Expressing gratitude for improvements in council performance, he also highlighted areas needing attention, specifically the timeliness of education and health assessments for vulnerable children and council tax collection rates. He defended the council's provision of services like free school meals and home care as a duty to support residents, not as freebies.

In a previous meeting (June 18, 2025), Mayor Rahman thanked officers for reports on the Mansards Roof Extension & Character Appraisal and the conversion of Virginia Community Primary School to Academy Status. He also approved the 2025/26 corporate performance measures and targets. Regarding Domiciliary Care Services, he requested a clarification on Option 2 concerning supplier inclusion for interim arrangements and stipulated that any contingency development should be reported back to the cabinet. He and the Cabinet agreed to Option 2. He also raised concerns about vandalism in Watney Market car park and requested an immediate report from officers.

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

Lutfur Rahman, the Mayor, addressed concerns about the Multitude farm, stating his full commitment to its continued operation and services. He emphasized that the farm would not close and that the council would continue to support it, referencing a 30,000 grant and previous support. He also highlighted the council's support for other farms in the borough, including Spitalfields, Stepney Green Park, and Mudshut farm. Rahman criticized the Labour Bench for their alleged failure to implement a 99-year lease decision made in 2019, stating they had three years to implement it and were incompetent in doing so. He reiterated his commitment to granting a long lease and supporting Mudshut farm, and announced he would request a meeting with the Corporate Director for Housing and Human Generation and the Chief Executive to review and to consider what length of lease more than 15 years can be granted. Additionally, he raised a point of order regarding facility management removing posters.

Transformation and Assurance Board - Monday, 14th July, 2025 3.00 p.m. - 14 July 2025

Mayor Lutfur Rahman, in his capacity as Chair of the Transformation and Assurance Board, opened the meeting by welcoming all attendees. He also invited specific individuals to introduce themselves.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 18th June, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 18 June 2025

Mayor Lutfur Rahman was present at the Cabinet meeting on June 18, 2025. He welcomed several reports, including those on Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services, the Out of Hours Noise Service – Insourcing, the Scrutiny Deep Dive Markets Challenge Action Plan, and the Introduction of a dog control public spaces protection order. He specifically thanked residents for their collaboration on the dog control policy. Rahman also expressed gratitude to officers for reports concerning the amalgamation of Globe Primary and Rachel Keeling Nursery Schools, and the Substance Misuse Service Redesign. Regarding the Substance Misuse Service Redesign and the Agency worker contract, he requested to be consulted on the draft tender documents and specifications before their release. He approved the unrestricted minutes of the previous Cabinet meeting. Additionally, it was noted that he attended a Council's Leadership conference focused on continuous improvement. Rahman was delegated authority to finalize the introduction of Dog Control PSPOs and was to be consulted on awarding contracts for the Substance Misuse Service Redesign and the Agency worker contract.

This meeting will start at either 5:45pm or 15 mins afterthe raise of the Housing Management (Cabinet) Sub Committee, King George's Field Charity Board - Wednesday, 4th June, 2025 5.45 p.m. - 4 June 2025

Lutfur Rahman was present at the King George's Field Charity Board meeting on 6 November 2024, serving as the Chair. In his capacity as Chair, he moved a resolution to exclude the press and public from the remainder of the meeting, which was subsequently resolved. He is listed as the Chair of the Board at the conclusion of the minutes.

Housing Management (Cabinet) Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 4th June, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 4 June 2025

Lutfur Rahman, as Mayor, chaired and actively participated in the Housing Management Cabinet Subcommittee meeting. He expressed a strong desire to expedite the policy framework review, particularly the knock-through policy, due to its importance in alleviating overcrowding.

Rahman voiced significant concerns about the turnaround time for void properties, deeming explanations for delays unacceptable given the pressure on temporary accommodation. He requested information on void reduction strategies and benchmarking against neighboring boroughs. He also sought a detailed paper on rent arrears, collection, enforcement, and bad debt write-offs over the past three years, aiming to learn from other authorities to improve cash flow.

He emphasized the importance of timely repairs for residents and expressed concern about repeated repair visits. Rahman questioned the extent of scrutinizing work by the tenant voice panel and inquired about their support and training. He acknowledged the Your Voice, Our Action programme as an improvement plan agreed upon in response to the housing regulator.

Earlier in the meeting, Rahman welcomed and agreed with the proposed terms of reference for the Sub-Committee, resolving that they be approved. He also welcomed and agreed with the process of recruitment and remuneration for independent advisors, resolving that the policy be approved. He thanked officers for their reports on performance, landlord compliance, and the Tenants' Voice panel workplan, agreeing with the actions outlined to address performance gaps and endorsing the proposed workplan. He also noted the progress made in delivering the Your Voice, Our Action programme and the updated Policy Framework.

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

Lutfur Rahman, the Executive Mayor, opened the annual council meeting, welcoming attendees and outlining the meeting's purpose, which included electing a new speaker, appointing committee members, and considering reports. He reminded the public and councillors of the rules of conduct, emphasizing brevity, relevance, respect, and speaking through him. He stated,

Good evening, everyone, and As-Salaamu Alaikum. This annual council meeting is a special meeting of the council to elect a new speaker of the council. Appoint councillors to serve as chairs and members of the committees for the forthcoming municipal year, and consider any reports necessary.

He also stressed the importance of decorum, warning that disruptive individuals would be removed:

In particular, I would like to remind all members of the public that you must not shout out or otherwise disrupt the meeting. If anyone does interrupt the meeting, I will ask for them to be removed from the meeting.

Rahman acknowledged the GLA member, Mr. Umesh Deshai, and requested applause for him. Later, he introduced agenda item seven, noting report on the mayor's cabinet and executive appointments for 2025-26, and moved the recommendation, stating,

I would like to propose as tabled.

He also indicated his willingness to let someone else lead a portion of the proceedings:

I'm happy for Mayim to lead the show today.

Additionally, Mayor Rahman presented his report to the Council and provided concluding remarks after the Opposition Group Leader's response.

Transformation and Assurance Board - Monday, 12th May, 2025 3.00 p.m. - 12 May 2025

Mayor Lutfur Rahman, in his capacity as Chair of the Transformation and Assurance Board, opened the meeting and welcomed all attendees.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 30th April, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 30 April 2025

Lutfur Rahman, as Mayor, chaired the Cabinet meeting on April 30, 2025. He opened the meeting, outlined usual drills, and acknowledged Councillor Mayim Deutu Meir. He sought agreement on the minutes of the March 26th meeting and thanked Steve for announcements regarding the Best Value Intervention. Rahman commented on the success of the Women's Award event and the leadership conference. He moved through several agenda items, seeking agreement on recommendations for Children, Adolescent Mental Health Services (6.1), statutory outdoor hours noise service insourcing (6.2), and the introduction of a dog control public spaces protection order (6.4). Regarding the dog control order, he stated,

I have no issues with dogs, but I do have issues with dangerous dogs. It's about live and let live.

He also addressed an out-of-hours report on market designation (6.3), thanking the Scrutiny Committee and Deputy Mayor, and clarified that any required funds for implementation would come from existing resources. Rahman asked for agreement to note the report. He then moved to the amalgamation of Amalgamate Club Primary School and Rachel Killing Nursery School (6.5), asking if it could be agreed in principle. For the substance misuse treatment and recovery system redesign (6.6), he asked Tala to present, cautioned members about an exempt paper, sought clarification on graph percentages, expressed strong support for the accommodation and the work of lead members and Georgia, and confirmed approvals for the recommendations.

Concerning the agency worker contract (6.7), Rahman asked if the award was accepted, invited Julie to add comments, reminded members of a confidential element, and thanked the paper, Julie, and Michelle Ablak, noting,

this gives an opportunity for us an opportunity for us to explore our options going forward, and whether – and in-house move forward.

He also inquired about departments' performance in meeting targets related to agency costs and congratulated the work on the MTFS and agency worker contract. He asked Councillor Cobbri and Mayun for further comments.

In a previous meeting on March 26, 2025, Mayor Rahman chaired the Cabinet meeting and announced the Council's shortlisting for Local Government Chronicle Awards and potential Municipal Journal awards. He thanked members and officers for their work regarding a rogue landlord's sentencing, noted an event supporting local businesses, mentioned upcoming Eid celebrations and the Brick Lane light switch-on, and reminded members about the first meeting of the Transformation Assurance Board. He welcomed and approved the recommendation for the Tower Hamlets Council Strategic Plan: 2025/26 Annual Delivery Plan. Rahman highlighted amber measures in the Strategic Delivery and Performance Report and welcomed proposed new Performance Panels. He led thanks to John Harrison, Director of Corporate Efficiency, and agreed recommendations for the Budget Monitoring 24/25 Quarter 3 report. He welcomed the 0-5 Public Health Nursing Services procurement report, proposing a simplification to Recommendation 2 to ensure the final decision returned to Cabinet. Rahman also welcomed the Mayor’s Waste Improvement Programme - Quarter 3 Update and the Reduction and Recycling Plan Progress Report – Quarter 3, 2024-25, highlighting improvements and increased resources. He introduced the Annual School Performance for 2023-2024 report, noting strong showings and areas for continued work, and endorsed the position statement regarding the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report. Finally, he welcomed the report on bringing estates parking enforcement services in-house and agreed the Record of Corporate Director’s Actions Quarter 3 (2024-2025), and approved exempt/confidential minutes from February 19, 2025.

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

Mayor Lutfur Rahman, in his capacity as Chair of the Transformation and Assurance Board, opened the meeting and welcomed attendees. He reaffirmed his dedication to fulfilling the agreed-upon Directions, emphasizing the importance of allocating sufficient resources and addressing the conduct of politicians to ensure successful delivery.

Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 9th April, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 9 April 2025

Mayor Lutfur Rahman was present as a Member of the Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee. While the minutes from the April 9th meeting do not record any specific statements or actions from him, a previous document from February indicates that a mayoral priority was to provide an enhanced police presence to tackle crime and support enforcement officers. Furthermore, the renewal of the S.92 Police Act 1996 Agreement with the Metropolitan Police was authorized, with the Corporate Director Communities acting in consultation with the Mayor, and the execution of necessary documentation instructed.

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

In his capacity as Mayor, Lutfur Rahman moved the budget and council tax proposals at the Budget Council meeting on February 26, 2025. He voted For the main Budget Motion, which was carried, and voted Against amendments proposed by Councillor Marc Francis and Councillor Nathalie Bienfait during the same meeting. He was also present at the Council meetings on January 22, 2025, and February 26, 2025.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 26th March, 2025 3.00 p.m. - 26 March 2025

Mayor Lutfur Rahman chaired the Cabinet meeting after a brief adjournment and agreed to a change in the order of business, bringing Agenda Item 6.11 forward. He welcomed and approved recommendations for several reports, including the Tower Hamlets Council Strategic Plan: 2025/26 Annual Delivery Plan, the Strategic Delivery and Performance Report Year 3 Quarter 3, and the Budget Monitoring 24/25 Quarter 3 report. He also welcomed the report on 0-5 Public Health Nursing Services procurement, proposing a clarification to Recommendation 2 to ensure the final decision returns to Cabinet, before agreeing the recommendations. The Mayor expressed satisfaction with improvements noted in the Mayor's Waste Improvement Programme - Quarter 3 Update and the Reduction and Recycling Plan Progress Report – Quarter 3, 2024-25, while acknowledging ongoing issues like fly-tipping. Introducing the Annual Report on School Performance for 2023-2024, he highlighted strong performance in Key Stages 2 and 4 and SEND provision, but noted areas for further work in early years and A-levels. Mayor Rahman endorsed the position statement following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report and agreed recommendations for bringing estates parking enforcement services in-house and the Record of Corporate Director’s Actions Quarter 3 (2024 -2025) report. He also thanked John Harrison, Director of Corporate Efficiency, who was leaving the Council. Finally, he signed the unrestricted and exempt/confidential minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on February 19, 2025.

Budget Meeting, Council - Wednesday, 26th February, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 26 February 2025

As Mayor, Lutfur Rahman moved the executive's budget proposals for the Council's Budget and Council Tax 2025-26. He expressed pride in proposing what he described as a groundbreaking budget and one of the strongest budget that this administration has presented, which he stated would be an envy to many local authorities across the country. He highlighted the budget's significant investment in supporting residents through the cost-of-living crisis, with particular emphasis on frontline services, universal school uniform grants, and free home care. Rahman addressed concerns regarding Food Hub funding, expressing disappointment at being misinformed about resource reductions. He confirmed that funding for the Food Hubs had been restored to the level he increased it to in 2022 and requested a review to prevent future oversights. He also formally moved the budget, encouraging support for what he termed unprecedented investment in our communities to improve the lives of all our residents. The reports pack indicates that the Mayor and Cabinet considered the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the initial budget proposals and authorized changes following the Local Government Finance Settlement announcement. Rahman also proposed an increase in council tax.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 19th February, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 19 February 2025

As Mayor, Lutfur Rahman presided over the Cabinet meeting on February 19th, 2025. He began by thanking attendees and officers. During discussions on waste services, he inquired about the size and purchase timeline for mechanical sweepers. He stipulated that We'll write the 10% in as a stipulation regarding social value in procurement. Rahman agreed to the updated workforce reflecting the community strategy, stating, It's agreed. He also approved the purchase of food waste vehicles with a 10% caveat, the 12-month extension of the East London Department contract, and the electrical MTC corporate contract.

Housing Management (Cabinet) Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 12th February, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 12 February 2025

Lutfur Rahman, in his capacity as Mayor, chaired the Housing Management (Cabinet) Sub-Committee meeting. He opened the meeting, welcomed attendees, and facilitated the discussion of various agenda items. He specifically welcomed Badul Chodhry, chair of the Housing Scrutiny Subcommittee, and thanked him for his comments, expressing a desire to work in partnership. Throughout the meeting, Rahman guided the committee through agenda items including the Terms of Reference, the Recruitment and selection and remuneration policy, the Housing Management Performance and Compliance Report, Your voice. I action, and the Housing Management Policies Plan. He consistently sought confirmation and agreement from committee members on each item, often asking if they were okay with the respective reports or policies before moving on. He emphasized that the most important aspect of the day is the tenant's voice and introduced Kobir to speak on this panel. Rahman concluded the meeting by thanking everyone for attending the first session.

Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 5th February, 2025 5.30 p.m. - 5 February 2025

Mayor Lutfur Rahman was present at the Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee meeting on February 5th, 2025, in his capacity as a Member of the committee. The provided minutes do not record any specific statements or actions made by him during the meeting.

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

Lutfur Rahman, the Mayor, presented the updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) report, describing it as a fully costed, balanced, and sustainable budget. He contrasted this with what he termed efficiencies from previous administrations, highlighting negative impacts on youth services, educational maintenance allowance, university bursaries, frontline services, child poverty, and community services. He outlined key budget priorities including ambitious investment in communities, securing a balanced medium-term financial position, and exceeding savings targets. Rahman announced an increase in the general fund reserve to £25 million and confirmed continued delivery of educational maintenance allowance and university bursaries. He detailed significant investments in youth services (£14 million per year), free school meals for all primary and secondary children, and in-sourced leisure services, including keeping all swimming pools open and increasing their number. He also committed to continuing free swimming for specific groups, winter fuel payments for 5,000 residents, and an additional £14 million investment in waste services. Rahman announced a freeze on council tax for the next three years for individuals earning £50,350 or less, and the provision of free home care for all residents (£4.9 million per year). Further investments were detailed for street safety (£3 million for CCTV, £1.5 million for enforcement officers), reopening a women's center and a drugs rehabilitation facility, continuing services from one-stop shops, and reintroducing one-hour free parking for market customers. He emphasized investment in affordable housing delivery and significant capital investments in new and existing council homes, as well as in community initiatives, schools, infrastructure, parks, and waste service assets. Rahman also addressed a previous council meeting incident, defending the administration's statement regarding a £62 million overpayment of a social care contract from a prior administration, citing an audit committee report to support claims of inherited governance and financial failings.

Earlier announcements from December 18, 2024, included the High Court ruling in favor of the Council to remove Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), investments in decarbonization, the reintroduction of the Meals on Wheels scheme with a £1 million budget, and campaigns for pension credit and winter fuel payments. He stated that 73% of manifesto pledges had been delivered. Rahman commented on various reports, welcoming achievements in the Strategic Delivery and Performance Report, expressing disappointment in underperforming areas like EHC assessments, and encouraging officers to find solutions. He welcomed budget monitoring reports, waste improvement updates, and progress reports on reduction and recycling plans, stressing the importance of engaging children in recycling efforts. He also welcomed the Best Value Report and the action plan on the performance of Registered Providers, highlighting collaboration between the executive and scrutiny. Rahman thanked frontline care workers and expressed the Safeguarding Adults Board's critical role. He welcomed the Record of Corporate Director’s Actions and provided assurance regarding the Homecare Procurement Contract Award, expressing confidence in the process and officers, and disappointment at the unacceptable and deliberate spreading of misinformation.

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

Lutfur Rahman, in his capacity as Mayor, presented a report to the council. He began by thanking young people for their performance and welcoming government envoys, expressing a desire for collaboration. A key announcement was a proposed motion to divest local pension funds from unethical investments, such as arms purchases, with a commitment to an audit for transparency if the motion passed. Rahman also stated that the medium-term financial strategy and proposed budget would be finalized and presented the following month, emphasizing sustainable investment and financial prudence. He highlighted the council's support for the elderly, noting that over 2,500 pensioners had claimed the £175 winter fuel payment and encouraging further applications before the January 24th deadline. Furthermore, Rahman expressed pride in the council's outstanding Ofsted result for children's services, viewing it as a significant improvement and a testament to the council's progress. He concluded by thanking the Chief Executive, Corporate Director, Directors, Officers in Children's Services, and the Deputy Mayor for their efforts in achieving this result. Following a response from the Opposition Group Leader, Mayor Rahman provided concluding remarks.

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

Mayor Lutfur Rahman was present at the Cabinet meeting on December 18th, 2024. Information from a previous meeting on November 27th, 2024, indicates his active participation. He announced various council initiatives including participation in White Ribbon Day, Islamophobia Awareness Month, and the launch of several new services and campaigns such as the Tower Hamlets Winter Fuel Payment, Credit Where Credit Is Due, and Warm Hubs. He also highlighted progress on reintroducing the Meals on Wheels scheme, opening new youth centres, reducing carbon emissions, and developing a grass cricket pitch. Rahman welcomed reports on Young Tower Hamlets, Housing Consumer Standard Compliance, Tenant and Leaseholder Engagement, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping, and Combating Drugs, emphasizing the need for strong academic focus, mentoring, and community representation in youth services, and improvements in housing repairs. He also endorsed action plans for Child Healthy Weight and Disabilities Peoples Access to Sports and Exercise Provision, and welcomed reports on Planning for School Places and the Stepney Greencoat CE School expansion, requesting a communications plan for the latter. He deferred the Neighbourhood Planning: Determination of Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum Redesignation Application pending resolution of community representation concerns, agreeing to authorize the Corporate Director of Housing and Regeneration to make the final decision after consultation. Rahman agreed to the continuation of Business Rates Pooling and the urgency of Be Well - Leisure Capital Investment Proposals. He specifically requested the inclusion of sauna and steam facilities for Poplar Baths and Tiller Leisure Centres, delegating authority for funding and feasibility studies to the Chief Executive, and also asked for a communications campaign for the Be Well proposals that would address disruption to residents.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 27th November, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 27 November 2024

Mayor Lutfur Rahman opened the Cabinet meeting on November 27, 2024, handling procedural matters and addressing questions. He discussed the council's housing management, noting his decision to self-refer the function to the Regulator and welcoming the establishment of a housing cabinet subcommittee. He emphasized the critical importance of investing in young people, stating,

Absolutely there should be no price when it comes to young people. Young people need the best infrastructure and the foundation in life to help them and support them to be successful adults.

In a previous meeting on October 16, 2024, Mayor Rahman announced a new winter fuel allowance for pensioners and expressed disappointment with opposition claims regarding the Housing Allocation Policy, reiterating the commitment to residents' proximity to the borough. He introduced several reports, including the Annual Resident Survey, the Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan, the Target Operating Model (TOM), and the Strategic Delivery and Performance Report. He approved resolutions related to these reports, including the launch of the TOM, progress on the CPC Action Plan, and the review of Licensing Act Cumulative Impact Assessments, agreeing to retain and expand the Brick Lane CIA and remove the Bethnal Green CIA. He also addressed the Supported Living Pathway, agreeing to an alternative approach under exceptional circumstances and requesting consultation before any award.

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

As Mayor, Lutfur Rahman presented his report to the Council. He also delivered concluding remarks following the Opposition Group Leader's response to his report.

King George's Field Charity Board - Wednesday, 6th November, 2024 6.00 p.m. - 6 November 2024

There is no record of Lutfur Rahman saying or doing anything in the provided documents for the King George's Field Charity Board meeting on November 6th, 2024.

Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 6th November, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 6 November 2024

As Mayor, Lutfur Rahman chaired the Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee meeting. He facilitated the discussion by thanking speakers, inviting the Deputy Mayor to speak, and acknowledging comments from council members. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the Limehouse Welfare Association. Rahman summarized concerns about the organization's operational status and structure, ultimately advocating for option two, which involved drawing funding from the organization. He stipulated that if the organization had genuinely incurred costs, they should be reimbursed after verification.

We're drawing funding from that organisation. However, if they have genuinely spent some money and incurred costs, we should apportion that cost and give them that money. But please do test it and make sure that cost has been incurred, but no further money should be awarded. I just want to request that. Is that okay? Is that okay? Yep.

Rahman emphasized the importance of monitoring, evaluation, and value for money in grant allocation, requesting a paper on other organizations of concern for the next meeting. He clarified the purpose of the grant program, stating:

This isn't a programme to hold their hands. That's another programme, capacity building. It's not this. This is a mainstream grant.

He confirmed the decision regarding the Limehouse Welfare Association and closed the meeting, thanking officers and members.

Quorum wasn't met so meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday 6 November 2024, King George's Field Charity Board - Wednesday, 30th October, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 30 October 2024

Lutfur Rahman, in his capacity as Mayor and Chair of the King George's Field Charity Board, presided over the meeting on 30 October 2024. Although the meeting was rescheduled due to a lack of quorum, his previous actions as Chair from the 29 May 2024 meeting are documented. In that prior meeting, he moved several recommendations, including noting the Charity Commission's Public Benefit Guidance, approving the minutes of the previous meeting, and noting the Board's terms of reference, membership, and quorum. He also moved recommendations for updates on the King George’s Field Trust regarding audited accounts, financial position, governance, activity, and grant funding, which were noted and reviewed. Furthermore, he moved recommendations for the King George's Field Trust's Review of Fees and Charges 2024/25, leading to the approval of proposed hire charge increases. He also moved recommendations concerning updates on leases for Commercial and Retail Assets, which resulted in the Board noting the status of payments, arrears, lease arrangements, and tenant discussions. Finally, as Chair, he moved the motion to exclude the press and public from the remainder of the 29 May 2024 meeting.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 16th October, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 16 October 2024

As the Executive Mayor, Lutfur Rahman announced significant financial support for pensioners, stating that the council had secured funds for a £175 payment to nearly 5,000 eligible pensioners towards their winter energy bills, totaling a £900,000 investment. He also highlighted the council's commitment to its residents, emphasizing that The people of this borough are in my heart and soul. Rahman discussed the positive outcomes of the annual residents survey, noting high satisfaction with the local area and perceived benefits from public service investments, while acknowledging areas for improvement in community safety and customer services. He expressed disappointment with the number of red measures in the performance report, stating, And the number of red and amber measures in this report is disappointing. Rahman also detailed the council's strategy for supporting children with SEND, progress on housing developments, and the violence against women and girls strategy. He strongly critiqued the opposition group, outlining their past failures and the mess his administration inherited, citing specific examples in youth services, education, waste management, and financial matters. He reiterated the council's commitment to homelessness support, assuring that No resident in this borough will be sent further than 90 minutes away from Tower Hamlets. Rahman addressed questions about the residents survey's methodology and the LGA corporate peer review, emphasizing the administration's dedication to improvement and transparency, stating, As an administration, we very much, you know, we've come back after seven years, we inherited stuff that was going on in this council that we had to, and officers had to help us to sort out, and it is an improvement council, it's an improvement council, there's always room for improvement... He also thanked officers and the Chief Executive for their help in complying with the LGA recommendations.

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

Mayor Lutfur Rahman delivered his report to the council, congratulating the new Councillor for Bow East. He announced that the council had received a Youth Justice Sent Quality Lead Status, an improvement from a previous failed inspection. He confirmed his decision to cancel proposed changes to the council's placement policy for homelessness services, with the 90-minute cap for housing placements remaining in effect. Rahman also announced the continuation of the warm hub and warm packs program for the winter. Expressing concern over the national decision to scrap the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, he stated that officers are assessing the feasibility of a Mayor's Winter Emergency Fund to mitigate this impact. He also mentioned a campaign to promote pension credit eligibility and that he will be writing to the Secretary of State to call for the reinstatement of these payments. Finally, he addressed the situation in Gaza, calling for a ceasefire. Rahman also provided concluding remarks following the Opposition Group Leader's response to his report.

Quorum wasn't met so meeting has been until the next meeting, Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 18th September, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 18 September 2024

Lutfur Rahman, as Mayor and Chair of the Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee, was listed as present at the meeting on September 18, 2024. However, the meeting was adjourned due to a lack of quorum. There is no record of him speaking or taking any specific actions during this particular meeting. His previous activity as Chair on June 26, 2024, involved asking officers for guidance on council intervention with underperforming community groups.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 11th September, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 11 September 2024

Lutfur Rahman chaired the Cabinet meeting and made several significant announcements and statements. He announced the suspension of the implementation of proposed changes to the Homelessness Placement Policy to allow for further review, citing pressures on the service and new data. He also launched the Free Swimming Programme for girls and women over 16 and men over 55, highlighting its investment and uptake, and reiterated his belief that bringing leisure services in-house was the correct decision. Rahman spoke about the Whitechapel Road improvement program, emphasizing the market's importance as a lifeline for the East End and the need to modernize its stalls and infrastructure. He also presented the Tower Hamlets Local Plan 2038, describing it as a new, holistic and revolutionary approach to planning and placemaking, built on foundations putting regeneration and residents first. He welcomed various reports, including those on the Serious Violence and Exploitation Strategy, Budget monitoring, Spitalfields & Banglatown masterplan, Council Housing Acquisitions Programme, and Fire Safety & Capital Investment Works. Rahman also requested that the Housing and Benefits IT System contract be rectified to include the standard 10% social value weighting and instructed that performance reviews be conducted for integrated sexual and reproductive health services, with an option for unilateral withdrawal after five years. He delegated responsibility for the academy conversion process to the Corporate Director for Children’s Services, in consultation with himself, and agreed to the urgency reasons for several procurement and capital investment contracts, asking for communication campaigns to be developed for some. He also stressed the importance of excellent care in domiciliary services and asked for provider performance to be monitored.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 24th July, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 24 July 2024

Mayor Lutfur Rahman initiated the move to the next agenda item, noting the absence of public questions. He decided to draw this paper from this session, from today, to allow for further enhancement and consideration for report 6.3, the Recycling Reduction Plan.

Rahman expressed strong support for a document outlining the borough's future development vision and regeneration, stating,

In the view of that, this document that we're going to agree today lays out the future development vision and regeneration of this borough. I'm making a following statement in support of this document. I'm incredibly proud, we are, all of us, to present the next stage in the journey of the Council's local plan 23, 24, 28 strategic document.

He voiced his opposition to restrictions on tall buildings, finding it offensive and insulting to be told that only one building should be the tallest. He advocated for a more challenging and creative approach to design and height, stating,

As a borough, our planners should be, and you are, we should be, and as a council, we should be much more challenging, much more robust, creative in designs, in height, and be enabling to invert investment in the borough.

Rahman encouraged welcoming and encouraging developers who propose iconic buildings, significant affordable housing, and public benefits, rather than restricting development. He recommended Option A for the local plan, describing it as a

fantastic opportunity to push the boundaries of regeneration and development for the future of this borough. It gives us the tools with which to deliver community-orientated planning and developments so that our residents are placed first, and that can make Tower Hamlets a trailblazer in building and regeneration.

He urged the cabinet to support Option A and its progress to the Regulation 19 stage. Rahman also sought agreement on the reasons for urgency for a late report and asked for agreement on the recommendation set out on page 86 of the report, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and ensuring the message reached every community.

Interview for the post of Corporate Director, Housing and Regeneration, Appointments Sub Committee - Tuesday, 23rd July, 2024 10.00 a.m. - 23 July 2024

Mayor Lutfur Rahman chaired the Appointments Sub Committee meeting on 23rd July 2024. In his capacity as Chair, he was present at the meeting and signed the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record of proceedings.

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

Mayor Lutfur Rahman expressed pride in the council's progress over the past 12 months, highlighting achievements such as signing off all accounts, exceeding service savings targets, and successfully sourcing free key services. He also announced the launch of a new policy offering free swimming for women and girls over 16 and men over 55, emphasizing its role in combating health inequalities. Rahman stated his support for an opposition motion on poverty, vowing to continue the fight against it and pledging sustained investment in housing, children's meals and education, care services for the elderly and disabled, and wellness initiatives to ensure residents can thrive. Be well and live a life underpinned by dignity, prosperity and comfort, not stress, poverty and hardship.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 10th July, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 10 July 2024

Mayor Lutfur Rahman opened the Cabinet meeting, explaining the filming protocol. He addressed a public question regarding the Advise Homeless Accommodation and Placement Policy, directing the Director to respond and subsequently stating he would not take further questions on the matter, emphasizing the established process and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's prior review. He moved the meeting through various agenda items, including budget monitoring, corporate directors' actions, procurement transformation, and performance reports. He highlighted the administration's commitment to supporting residents and managing finances, and expressed satisfaction that the procurement paper strengthened governance, referencing past failures of the previous administration. Regarding the performance report, he sought clarification on discrepancies and stressed the importance of challenging council performance, aiming to improve red and amber areas to green. He also made a statement for the record concerning the withdrawal of the local plan, explaining his request for postponement to explore options for increasing home delivery opportunities. He then introduced the Revised Homelessness Accommodation Placement Policy and New Homelessness Accommodation Procurement Strategy, describing it as a good document and good policy that aims to reduce homelessness and improve accommodation for residents, particularly vulnerable groups. He inquired about the administration of prevention grants and how people can access them. He also welcomed reports on the interim use of the former Shapla School site, market designations, and market/street trading fees, requesting specific breakdowns and goodwill proposals for shop owners. He introduced the LBTH Productivity Plan and the report on Nominations to Outside Bodies. He also welcomed the Annual Report on School Performance, expressing ambition to address underperformance and seeking a future report on options to improve attainment. Finally, he signed the minutes as a correct record of proceedings.

Interviews for the post of Director of Legal and Monitoring Officer, Appointments Sub Committee - Tuesday, 9th July, 2024 2.15 p.m. - 9 July 2024

Mayor Lutfur Rahman chaired the Appointments Sub Committee meeting on 9 July 2024. He was also a member of the committee. His signature appeared on the minutes of the previous meeting held on 30 April 2024, where he was also listed as Chair.

Shortlisting Corporate Director Housing and Regeneration, Appointments Sub Committee - Wednesday, 26th June, 2024 4.30 p.m. - 26 June 2024

Mayor Lutfur Rahman was appointed as the Chair of the Appointments Sub-Committee for the recruitment process of the Corporate Director, Housing and Regeneration. He also served as a member of the committee.

Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 26th June, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 26 June 2024

Lutfur Rahman chaired the Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee meeting on June 26, 2024. He opened the meeting, welcomed attendees, and confirmed the absence of apologies and declarations of interest. He guided the committee through the agenda items, seeking confirmation to agree recommendations and note reports. Specifically, regarding the London Dock Secondary School ICT item, he asked for clarification on payment schedules:

Just a clarification. I think you've got it in a note in the recommendation. So it's paid in phases. Is it paid in advance or in arrears?

He also inquired about the monitoring and evaluation processes for these funds:

Thank you. I just wanted to know what monitoring and evaluation are in place? How are we going to monitor it? I just wanted to know.

Rahman then sought agreement on the recommendation for the ICT item and proceeded to ask for confirmation to note various reports, including those on the local community fund, the Mayor's Community Grants Program, and VCS funding awarded under delegated authority. He concluded the meeting by asking if there was any other business and thanking everyone.

Longlisting Corporate Director Housing and Regeneration, Appointments Sub Committee - Wednesday, 5th June, 2024 4.00 p.m. - 5 June 2024

Mayor Lutfur Rahman was a member of the Appointments Sub Committee for the meeting on June 5th, 2024. However, the provided document does not indicate that he made any statements or took any specific actions during the meeting.

King George's Field Charity Board - Wednesday, 29th May, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 29 May 2024

Mayor Lutfur Rahman chaired the King George's Field Charity Board meeting on May 29, 2024. He also signed the minutes of the previous meeting, confirming them as a correct record of proceedings.

Cabinet - Thursday, 16th May, 2024 4.00 p.m. - 16 May 2024

Mayor Lutfur Rahman chaired the Cabinet meeting on May 16, 2024. He began by calling for a minute's silence to commemorate the anniversary of the nail bomb attacks. He expressed his gratitude to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their contributions to the Council's governance and decision-making, regretting his absence from their recent meeting due to a family bereavement.

Rahman welcomed the new Community Engagement Strategy, reiterating his manifesto commitment to a 'listening council' and emphasizing the importance of collaborating with faith communities and BAME media. He also welcomed the Women's Safety Action Plan, highlighting how his broader initiatives, such as tackling overcrowding and investing in youth services, would positively impact women's social and health benefits, thereby complementing the action plan's work. He requested amendments to the recommendations within this plan.

He also welcomed the report on New Social Housing Regulatory Functions and Nominees to Adopt Responsibilities. Regarding procurement, Rahman indicated his inclination to approve a six-month extension for the Tower Hamlets Young People’s Supported Housing Pathway contract as an exception, while stressing his general preference for open procurement and urging officers to ensure smaller providers are not excluded in future exercises. Similarly, he was minded to agree an eight-month extension for the School Health and Wellbeing Service and the Integrated Young People’s Health and Wellbeing Service contracts as exceptions, with the same emphasis on open procurement and inclusivity for smaller providers.

In discussions about the transforming to Hamlet's Council building a strong future report, Rahman agreed to the reasons for urgency and noted that the current strategic plan aligns with his mayoral manifesto priorities. He invited cabinet members to provide concise contributions to the discussion. He also agreed to the reasons for urgency for the Median Term Financial Strategy report and reiterated his commitment to reducing the Council's reliance on consultancy staff, stating his intention to secure better value from contracts while maintaining high performance. He invited Said to speak on this financial strategy.

The past year has seen the Council undergo significant transformation, with improved culture, a more joint approach to decision-making, a transformative budget focused on quality delivery for residents, and strengthened governance arrangements.

I reiterate my desire to push and squeeze the council's reliance on consultancy staff, stating that the fees and number of consultants ballooned under the previous administration.

The intention to squeeze more out of contracts while ensuring performance remains high.

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

During the Annual Meeting of the Council on May 15, 2024, Mayor Lutfur Rahman was asked to introduce a report on the Mayor's cabinet and executive appointments for 2024-25. He presented his report to the Council and provided concluding remarks after the Opposition Group Leader's response. The Council also passed several resolutions that called upon Mayor Lutfur Rahman to take specific actions. These included reducing the number of advisors and consultants in the Mayor's Office, removing media/communications staff from its line-management, and continuing to fully comply with requests from the 'best value inspection' team. Additionally, the Council called for full transparency in political decision-making, including providing elected members with legal advice obtained at the request of Mayor Lutfur Rahman regarding his powers in 2022 and 2023. The Council also urged the Chief Executive to maintain an open and independent process for appointments to the Women's Commission, established to address the lack of female voices in decision-making by Mayor Lutfur Rahman and his Cabinet. The minutes also acknowledged that two years had passed since the re-election of Mayor Lutfur Rahman and the Aspire group.

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

In the Council meeting on May 8th, 2024, Lutfur Rahman, as the Executive Mayor, delivered a report highlighting the achievements of his administration over the past two years. He stated that residents voted for change in May 2022, seeking a new brand of politics that prioritizes their interests and needs.

Key achievements he detailed included:

• Reintroducing and doubling educational maintenance allowances and university bursaries.
• Becoming the first borough to provide free school meals for both primary and secondary school children.
• Revitalizing the youth service with significant investment.
• Reopening resident hubs.
• Making progress on delivering affordable homes.
• Reopening roads that had been closed.
• Bringing the council's sports and leisure services back in-house under the Be Well brand, including free swimming sessions for specific age groups.
• Strengthening the council's governance and finances, noting that they inherited significant financial instability, including six years of unsigned accounts, missed savings targets, and financial discrepancies.

He also congratulated newly appointed permanent corporate directors. During the debate on a motion, Rahman responded to criticism by stating:

And it's a shame. It's a shame that councilors opposite do not see the transformation we have made in the last two years. It's a shame. That's why they remain as a minority opposition here, not within the administration. Because this is what we have transformed of our and our residents are appreciating what we have done so far.

He reiterated the financial issues inherited upon returning to office in May 2022, emphasizing the strides made within a sustainable financial framework and encouraging support for the administration's agenda. The minutes also noted that on November 29, 2023, Mayor Rahman and his administration agreed to change the council's policy on PTS criteria. He moved the budget and council tax proposals with Councillor Saied Ahmed and voted in favor of the main Budget Motion, while voting against amendments proposed by other councillors.

However, the minutes also recorded opposition to Rahman regarding Best Value Inspections, with statements suggesting the council was failing its best value duty under his leadership and calling on him to make fundamental changes. The council resolved to call on Mayor Rahman to reduce advisors and consultants in his office, fully comply with the best value inspection team, ensure transparency in political decision-making, and for the Chief Executive to continue an open process for appointments to the Women's Commission, which was being established to address the absence of female voices in decision-making by Rahman and his Cabinet.

Cabinet - Wednesday, 24th April, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 24 April 2024

Mayor Lutfur Rahman chaired the Cabinet meeting on April 24, 2024. He began by addressing formal agenda items, including apologies and declarations of interest, and welcomed attendees. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Brick Lane bombings, which he described as a devastating racist attack, and affirmed the community's commitment to a borough where hatred has no place. He requested Councillor Suruk to represent the council at a vigil and proposed a minute's silence.

Regarding the Community Engagement Strategy, Mayor Rahman emphasized its importance, stating:

Engaging with our communities are extremely important. Council does a lot of work, but people need to be consulting before we, you know, either deliver some of the work or in any event we need to hear from the people. He recalled his manifesto commitment to be a listening council and acknowledged past shortcomings in community consultation, expressing a desire to restore and improve engagement. He thanked officers and members for their work and highlighted the value of nurturing relationships with the voluntary sector, faith communities, and the Bangladeshi media. He called for the approval of the strategy.

Concerning the Women's Safety Overview and Scrutiny Committee Recommendations and Action Plan, he stated:

I think the recommendations we have here is actually very, very important. The Women's Safety Action Plan. It goes a long way. He highlighted financial support measures for families, women, and children as contributing to women's safety by alleviating financial pressure, and also mentioned the importance of prevention, including addressing overcrowding. He also asked for amendments to the recommendations.

In previous meetings (March 27, 2024), Mayor Rahman thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their work, welcomed reports on environmental crime and budget monitoring, and requested that budget variances be reported promptly. He also welcomed performance reports and asked for explanations for underperformance.

During this meeting, he also expressed his intention to agree to six-month and eight-month contract extensions for the Tower Hamlets Young People’s Supported Housing Pathway and the School Health and Wellbeing Service, respectively, as exceptions, while stressing the importance of open procurement and ensuring smaller providers were not excluded in future exercises. He signed the minutes as Chair.