The Cabinet approved a new Damp and Mould Policy, a new Sufficiency Strategy for Children Looked After and Care Leavers, the school admissions determined arrangements for 2026/27, and the Draft Local Funding Formula for Schools 2025/26. They also agreed that Councillor Vicky Ashworth be added to the membership of the Shareholder Committee.

Damp and Mould Policy

The Cabinet approved the new Damp and Mould Policy, which sets out the council's approach to dealing with damp and mould in its council housing. The policy was written in response to the death of Awaab Ishak, a two year old who died from a respiratory condition caused by mould in his flat in Rochdale, and to strengthen the council's response to the Government’s consultation on Awaab’s Law. It sets out the council's commitment to tackling the issue and the timescales for investigating and remedying damp and mould. The policy also outlines how residents will be supported and how the council will comply with all legal and regulatory requirements. The Cabinet also delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Lead Member for Housing & Regeneration, and Director of Governance and Law, to amend the policy in response to any new legal requirements. The Cabinet report on the new policy stated that

The regulatory framework is being strengthened in relation to damp and mould through the introduction of Awaab’s Law as part of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023. This new piece of legislation requires landlords to investigate and fix reported health hazards within specified timeframes and strengthens the enforcement powers of the Regulator of Social Housing to take action against landlords who do not meet the standards. Timescales have been consulted on but are not yet in force.

A consultation was carried out with residents to get their feedback on the policy and a number of changes were made to the policy in response to this feedback.

Sufficiency Strategy - Children Looked After and Care Leavers 2024-2027

The Cabinet approved the Waltham Forest Children’s Sufficiency Strategy 2024-2027. The strategy is intended to ensure the Council meets its responsibilities to provide sufficient accommodation for children in care, and care leavers, locally. Councillor Gardiner, the Portfolio Lead Member for Children and Young People, stated that the strategy was necessary to help children in care and care leavers get the support they need, and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Grace Williams, referred to its importance in providing “a loving and safe home”. The strategy sets out three priorities:

• Ensuring children and young people are thriving in their homes or in alternative care settings.
• Ensuring all children and young people have access to safe, stable and supportive accommodation.
• Supporting young people by building their independence. A number of actions will be taken to achieve these priorities, including:
• Increasing the pool of local foster carers
• Improving the adoption and permanence service
• Promoting early permanence
• Working with national Children’s service providers to redevelop existing Council property into semi-independent accommodation for young care leavers
• Extending operating hours at Lester House, the Council's in-house children's home.
• Joining the London Borough of Newham’s Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for independent foster carers and residential care home placements
• Developing an emergency accommodation suite for young people under a Police Protection Order
• Developing a ‘Crash Pad’ provision for children and young people needing short-term intervention

The strategy will be overseen by the Waltham Forest Corporate Parenting Board, which is co-chaired by local young people with care experience, and will be monitored quarterly.

School Determined Arrangements 2025/26

The Cabinet agreed to reduce the Published Admission Number (PAN)¹ of two schools in response to changing demand for school places in the Borough. The schools are:

• Chapel End Infants School in Walthamstow, which will be reduced from 90 to 60.
• Edinburgh Primary School in Walthamstow, which will be reduced from 60 to 30. The Cabinet report on the changes stated that:

there were changes to the make-up of the borough, for example, the birth rate was declining in areas south of the borough whilst there was growth north of the borough.

The changes are planned to come into effect in the 2026/27 academic year. The Cabinet also approved the other school admissions determined arrangements for 2026/27 for community and voluntary controlled schools. A consultation was carried out on the proposed reduction in the PAN for both schools, but no responses were received.

Draft Local Funding Formula for Schools 2025/26

The Cabinet approved the draft Local Funding Formula (LFF) for schools for the 2025/26 Financial Year. The draft LFF was devised in consultation with the Schools Forum, which is made up of headteachers and governors from schools across the Borough. The LFF will be used to allocate funding to schools from the Schools Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant. The Cabinet report noted that

Schools had struggled financially over recent years

and that the Council has a

substantial funding gap of £18 – 24 million over the next 3 years

The report stated that it was important to use the National Funding Formula (NFF) as the basis for the LFF. This would ensure that all schools in Waltham Forest received a fair share of funding, as the NFF was based on the needs of pupils and schools. The Cabinet also agreed to set the Minimum Funding Guarantee at the maximum of 0.0%. This would protect schools from excessive year-on-year changes in funding. Finally, the Cabinet agreed to use any residual funding available to increase the Basic Entitlement (Age Weighted Pupil Unit) subject to the maximum permitted. This would provide schools with additional funding to meet the needs of their pupils.