The Cabinet of Tower Hamlets Council met on Wednesday 21 October 2020, discussing a range of important issues including safeguarding, school provisions, and infrastructure improvements. Key decisions made included the continuation of the COVID-19 Volunteering Hub, the approval of procurement for electric vehicle charging points, and the extension of a housing repairs and maintenance contract.

Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report

The Cabinet received and agreed the recommendations from the Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report for 2019-20. Christabel Shawcross, Independent Chair of the Safeguarding Adults Board, presented the report, highlighting an increase in reported concerns to 1,150, a rise from 721 in previous years, which was attributed to increased awareness-raising efforts. The report detailed that 462 concerns resulted in a detailed inquiry, with the majority of those abused being over 65. Abuse most commonly occurred in people's own homes, with neglect and acts of care being the most prevalent types, followed by financial abuse. The report also addressed the challenges and learning from six Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs), with a commitment to improving the timeliness of these reviews and ensuring better engagement with families. New priorities for the coming year include addressing the impact of COVID-19 on care homes, strengthening collaboration with the Children's Safeguarding Partnership, and developing a multi-agency dashboard to track improvements.

Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report

The Cabinet also approved the Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children Partnership annual report. Councillor Danny Hassell, Cabinet Member for Children and Schools, introduced the report, emphasizing the focus on establishing new partnership systems in line with legislation and the strengthened commitment from partners, including health, police, and the voluntary sector, particularly in response to the pandemic. James Thomas, Corporate Director for Children's Services, elaborated on the transition to new arrangements, including a leaner executive group and the appointment of an independent scrutineer. Key priorities for 2019-20 included strengthening safeguarding in education, multi-agency training on domestic abuse, and addressing the exploitation of children. The report noted a striking increase in neglect cases compared to London and national averages, prompting further investigation into the causes.

Amalgamation of Cubitt Town Infant and Junior Schools

A decision was made to proceed to statutory consultation for the amalgamation of Cubitt Town Infant and Junior Schools. Councillor Danny Hassell explained that the two schools, located on the same site in the Isle of Dogs and already sharing a head teacher, would merge to form a single primary provision. This move is intended to improve educational quality, enhance key transitions, and reduce unnecessary costs. Both school governing bodies support the proposal.

Proposed Closure of Shackler Primary School

The Cabinet agreed to move to the next stage of the process by issuing a statutory notice regarding the proposed closure of Shackler Primary School. Councillor Danny Hassell outlined that a review of primary places across the borough had identified a surplus of places, particularly in the area of Shackler Primary School. The school, a one-form entry institution, has experienced falling pupil numbers and significant financial difficulties, making it challenging to maintain educational standards. The consultation report indicated that while respondents understood the reasons for closure, many were saddened by the proposal. The statutory notice will allow for further public consultation before a final decision is made.

COVID-19 Volunteering Hub Grant Variation

The Cabinet approved a grant variation to continue funding the COVID-19 Volunteering Hub. Councillor Candida Ronald, Lead Member for Resources and the Voluntary Sector, explained that funding from the VCS Infrastructure and Capacity Building Grants Programme would be diverted to support the Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets in running the hub from October 2020 to September 2021. The hub has been instrumental during the pandemic, facilitating over 2,300 volunteers and more than 2,800 matches for roles such as delivering PPE and distributing food.

Approval of Procurement of Electric Vehicle Charging Points

Approval was given for the procurement of electric vehicle (EV) charging points, supported by £170,000 in grant funding, which requires a 25% match from the borough. Councillor Dan Tomlinson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Realm, presented the item, noting that the funding would be sourced from the existing street scene enhancements revenue account. Councillor Peter Golds raised concerns about the integration of charging points with existing streetlights and the capacity of the electricity network, which were addressed by Mehmet Mazhar, Head of Highways and Traffic Management. Councillor Sabina Akhtar also highlighted the demand for EV charging points from residents in flats and estates, a point that will be taken up offline.

Extension of Housing Repairs and Maintenance Contract

The Cabinet agreed to an eight-month extension of the housing repairs and maintenance contract with Mears. Councillor Asma Islam, Job Share Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Realm, explained that the current contract was due to expire in March 2021. Due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the planned retendering process has been hampered. The extension is necessary to ensure continuity of service while the procurement for new contracts progresses. Councillor James King, Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, declared a non-pecuniary interest as a leaseholder and raised questions about contract monitoring and the Council's involvement in the procurement process, which were addressed by Karen Swift, who confirmed close monitoring of spend and close collaboration between Tower Hamlets Homes and the Council's legal and procurement teams.

Better Care Fund Plan for 2019-20

The Cabinet formalised the spend on the Better Care Fund for 2019-20. Councillor Rachel Blake, Deputy Mayor, Lead Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, presented the plan, which totals £53.8 million and aims to improve outcomes and efficiency between health and social care services through integration. The funding supports vital services such as the Reablement Team, hospital social workers, the Take Home and Settle service, Linkage Plus centres, the Community Equipment Service, and the Carer Service. The report included technical delegations to officers to formalise agreements related to the fund.