The Council of Tower Hamlets Council met on Wednesday, 21 September 2016, to discuss a range of issues including parking charges, housing policy, and community language services. Key decisions included the adoption of a new substance misuse strategy and a clarification of the roles of the Mayor and Chief Executive.

Parking Charges Imposed by Poplar Harker

A petition was presented by Mr. Doros Oula regarding extortionate charges imposed by Poplar Harker on its residents. Mr. Oula highlighted that his street was transferred to Poplar Harker without resident consultation. He stated that garages intended for residents are being rented for commercial purposes, and parking charges have increased significantly. Freeholders are now paying £15 per week, while tenants and leaseholders pay £4 after the Mayor's intervention. Mr. Oula argued that Poplar Harker's charges are the highest in London and urged the council to break ties with the housing association unless they address resident concerns. Mayor John Biggs confirmed he had met with Poplar Harker on multiple occasions and acknowledged the outrageous behaviour, stating that the council transferred the right to make such decisions when the housing stock was transferred. He assured residents that strenuous representations would be made to Poplar Harker's board before their end-of-year review. The Corporate Director of Development and Renewal was tasked with providing a written response within 20 days.

Concerns Over Allford Housing Association Merger

Mr. John Forster presented a petition opposing Circle Housing Group's plans to close Allford Housing Association and centralise its services. The petition argued this was a breach of promises made to residents prior to the transfer from Tower Hamlets Council to Old Ford Housing Association, which was intended to be a community-based, locally managed association. Concerns were raised about Circle Housing's past performance with repairs and maintenance, and the failure to complete regeneration promises. The petition called on the Mayor to raise these concerns with the Homes and Communities Agency and the Housing Minister. Mayor Biggs acknowledged the petition and stated that the council would be initiating the dispute resolution process under section 17 of the Stock Transfer Agreement regarding decent homes. He committed to working with residents to secure better housing management and explore options for resident consultation on transferring to a new landlord. The petition was referred to the Corporate Director of Development and Renewal for a written response within 28-40 days.

Funding for Community Language Services

A petition with over 2,000 signatures was presented regarding the funding of the Council Community Language Services (CLS). The petitioners expressed concern over recent changes, including the discontinuation of early GCSE classes and the transfer of CLS from education and children services to the directorate of culture without consultation. They highlighted a reduction in overall yearly sessions and a potential budget cut. Councillor Asma Begum proposed a motion to recognise the importance of CLS, address budget overspends, and work with stakeholders to ensure the service is fit for the future. The motion was seconded by Councillor Rachel Blake. During the debate, concerns were raised about the nil assurance report from the Audit Committee regarding CLS, highlighting issues with performance measurement, safeguarding, and tutors without up-to-date DBS checks. Councillor Candida Ronald criticised the previous administration for the state of the service. Mayor Biggs stated that the administration had made no cuts to the service and that the allocated budget was £400,000 with an overspend of £800,000. He committed to protecting the service and improving its quality. The motion was ultimately adopted.

Housing and Planning Act 2016

Councillor Andrew Wood proposed a motion opposing the Housing and Planning Act 2016, describing it as an attack on the diverse communities in Tower Hamlets that would impede the council's ability to provide affordable housing. He highlighted concerns about the pay-to-stay policy and the cost of starter homes. Councillor Shiraz Islam seconded the motion, referencing a housing radicals exhibition and detailing the unaffordability of starter homes and the reduction in social housing stock. Councillor Chris Chapman, speaking for the opposition, defended the Act, stating its aim was to turn generation rent into generation buy and build more homes. He also pointed to the previous Labour government's record on house building. Councillor Cappell argued that the Act was a purge to get rid of social housing and that the pay-to-stay element was unacceptable. Councillor Andrew Wood then provided an update on the evolving starter homes policy, noting that the new Planning Minister was rethinking the policy. The motion was put to a vote and carried.

Substance Misuse Strategy 2016-2019

Councillor Shiria Khatun presented the proposed substance misuse strategy for 2016-2019. She explained that the strategy outlines a partnership approach to address substance misuse, with three core strands: behaviour change and prevention, treatment, and enforcement and regulation. Key changes include integrating drug and alcohol chapters, an increased focus on consistency and quality of information, and a commitment to recovery interventions. The strategy also emphasizes families, hidden harm, and intergenerational addictions. The strategy was adopted by the council.

Clarification of Mayor and Chief Executive Roles

Mayor John Biggs and Councillor Rachel Saunders spoke on a report proposing changes to the council's constitution regarding the powers and duties of the Mayor and Chief Executive. Mayor Biggs described the work as very important and aimed at crystallizing expectations and relationships, particularly in response to concerns from the Commissioners about conduct and accountability. The report defines the Mayor's role in offering leadership and the Chief Executive's role in greater detail, including provisions for the Chief Executive to issue directions in urgent situations. Councillor Saunders welcomed the changes, emphasizing the need for a proper chief executive with clear lines of accountability, a concern that predated the current administration. The report was commended and adopted.

Other Discussions

• Mela Event: Mayor John Biggs responded to a question about the recent mela event, stating that an estimated 40,000 people attended and that it was a cultural and family friendly event.
• Council Budget and Austerity: In response to a question about tackling injustice and inequality, Mayor Biggs expressed concern about the government's austerity policies and their impact on local government. He acknowledged that the council has had to make difficult decisions regarding rate rises and service cuts.
• Temporary Accommodation: A question was raised about families placed in temporary accommodation for over six weeks. The council reported that at the time of Mayor Biggs' election, there were 232 families in this position, and currently, there are none.
• Affordable Housing: The council is consulting on a new housing strategy and Mayor Biggs has pledged to build 1,000 council homes.
• Bulk Waste Collection: The council has made over 13,500 free bulk waste collections since scrapping charges, with over one in ten households using the service.
• Recycling: The council is working to improve recycling rates through letter campaigns, providing free recycling bags, and engaging with housing associations. A new contract with Veolia is expected to further improve recycling efforts.
• Youth Services: The Audit Committee received a nil assurance report on youth services, indicating concerns about mismanagement and potential safeguarding issues. Mayor Biggs stated that these matters were being brought into the open after being shrouded for too long due to potential legal actions.
• Electoral Fraud: Mayor Biggs welcomed an independent report on electoral fraud and highlighted changes made to tighten the voting system. He expressed concern that candidates who benefited from corrupt practices remain councillors and are unrepentant.
• Parks and Green Flag Awards: The council retained all its Green Flag status for parks, bringing the total to 10, the highest number ever achieved.
• 20mph Speed Limit: Mayor Biggs confirmed the permanent implementation of a 20mph speed limit across the borough, citing a 20% reduction in fatal and serious collisions during the trial period.
• School Exam Results: Councillor Rajib Ahmed updated the council on school exam results, noting strong performance at Key Stage 1 and 2, and steady improvement in post-16 performance, though more work is needed.
• London Fire Service Review: Mayor Biggs welcomed the review of the London Fire Service, highlighting cuts to funding and resources under the previous administration.
• Lincoln Plaza Carbuncle Cup: Councillor Chris Chapman raised the issue of Lincoln Plaza on the Isle of Dogs winning the Carbuncle Cup for worst new building. Councillor Rachel Blake responded, stating that the council strives for high-quality design and that the award was determined by a panel of judges.
• Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB): Councillor Shiria Khatun outlined measures to tackle ASB, including encouraging residents to report incidents, a fortnightly ASV tasking group, and community safety action plans.
• Dangerous Driving and Nitrous Oxide: Councillor Denise Jones raised concerns about dangerous drivers and the increasing use of nitrous oxide. Councillor Khatun stated that the council is working with the police and health partners to address these issues, including the use of a speed gun and information campaigns.
• PrEP Access: Councillor Danny Hassell inquired about access to PrEP for residents at risk of HIV. The council is engaging with the national campaign, and the manufacturer of the drug has extended provision for a further six months. NHS England is also consulting on a future commissioning policy.
• Independent Person Report: Councillor Danny Hassell presented the annual report of the independent person, noting a decrease in complaints and improved governance.
• Borrowing and Investment Activity: Councillor David Edgar presented a Treasury Management Report, proposing changes to increase investment limits and durations to maximise investment income.
• Motions: Several motions were discussed, including opposition to the Housing and Planning Act 2016, organ donation, electoral petition costs, the 2016 Carbuncle Award, and pollution near schools.