The Tower Hamlets Council meeting on 14 May 2025 included the election of a new speaker and deputy speaker, and decisions on the make-up of committees for the municipal year. Councillor Suluk Ahmed was elected as the new speaker, and Councillor Bellal Uddin as deputy speaker. The council also voted to adopt an independent chair for the Audit Committee and re-adopted the council's constitution.

Here's a more detailed look at the key discussions:

• Speaker's and Deputy Speaker's Election: Councillor Saif Uddin Khaled gave a speech reflecting on his term as speaker, highlighting community engagement, charity work for the Sikh Children's Trust and Osmani Trust, and the importance of youth involvement in democracy. Councillors across party lines praised Councillor Khaled's impartiality and dedication. Councillor Suluk Ahmed was then elected as the new speaker, and in his acceptance speech, he spoke about his long connection to Tower Hamlets and pledged to support young people with special educational needs and the homeless. Councillor Bellal Uddin was elected Deputy Speaker.

• Committee Appointments and Proportionality: Councillor Maium Talukdar introduced a report reviewing committee proportionality, as required by the Local Government & Housing Act 1989[^1]. The council then voted on nominations for committee chairs. Councillor Mark Francis raised concerns about the proposed changes to the structure of the Audit Committee, specifically regarding the gap between the end of Councillor Mufida Bustin's chairmanship and the appointment of an independent chair. He suggested that Councillor Bustin continue as interim chair. Councillor Amur Miah highlighted that the next Audit Committee meeting was scheduled after the next full council meeting, allowing time to appoint an independent chair. Councillor Peter Golds concurred with Councillor Francis, stating that the committee should not be headless . Councillor Sirajul Islam suggested Councillor Bustin serve as interim chair. Councillor Leelu Ahmed argued against electing an interim chair, suggesting the committee could elect one of their peers if needed. Councillor Francis proposed an amendment to retain a chair from the full council until an independent person was appointed, but this amendment was defeated. The council then agreed to appoint members and substitute members to the committees and sub-committees. [^1]: The Local Government and Housing Act 1989 requires councils to allocate seats on committees to different political groups in proportion to their representation on the council.

  The following councillors were appointed as chairs of the following committees:
  *   Councillor Abdul Wahid, Chair of Overview and Scrutiny
  *   Councillor Iqbal Hossain, Chair of Development Committee
  *   Councillor Jahed Chowdhury, Chair of Strategic Development Committee
  *   Councillor Ahmodul Kabir, Chair of General Purposes Committee
  *   Councillor Ana Miah, Chair of Pensions Committee
  *   Councillor Peter Golds, Chair of Licensing Committee
  *   Councillor Harun Miah, Chair of Human Resources Committee
  

• Calendar of Meetings: Councillor Maium Talukdar introduced a report noting the revised calendar of council and committee meetings for 2025-26. Councillor Amy Lee noted that some committee meetings were scheduled during school holidays, including the Audit Committee, and asked if they could be moved. The council agreed to approve the calendar.

• Council's Constitution: Councillor Maium Talukdar introduced a report to confirm the re-adoption of the council's constitution. The council agreed to note the work of the General Purposes Committee and to re-adopt the constitution.

• Use of Special Urgency Procedures: The council noted a report on the use of special urgency procedures in 2024-25. The report detailed instances where normal notice periods for executive key decisions were waived due to urgency. These included decisions related to fire safety and capital investment works at Latham House, the procurement route of HRA capital investment contracts, a domiciliary care service contract award, and the allocation of Holiday Activity and Food Programme grant funding.

  The report also noted the use of urgency procedures to exempt a temporary agency workers contract extension from call-in, citing the need to maintain essential frontline services.
  The Local Government Association Debate Not Hate campaign was mentioned, as well as the council's Violence Against Women and Girls and Women's Safety Strategy.
  The Mulberry Learning Village and Mastmaker site in Docklands were also mentioned.
  The Commercial Road and Poplar High Street locations were also mentioned.
  The Cranbrook Estate and St Dunstan's locations were also mentioned.
  Royal Mint Court and Fairfield Road were also mentioned.
  Malting and Brewster House and St. John's and Samuda were also mentioned.
  Hackney Wick and Fish Island were also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  [Bethnal Green and Stepney](https://www.google.com/maps/search/Bethnal+Green+and+Stepney+Tower+Hamlets/) and Poplar and Limehouse were also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Brick Lane was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Maddocks House was also mentioned.
  New City College was also mentioned.
  Stoneyard open space was also mentioned.
  Mulberry Learning Village was also mentioned.
  Mastmaker was also mentioned.
  Docklands was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Bethnal Green was also mentioned.
  Stepney was also mentioned.
  Poplar was also mentioned.
  Limehouse was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Bangladesh was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Royal Guardian Party was also mentioned.
  House of Commons was also mentioned.
  House of Lords was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Bangladesh was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Bethnal Green was also mentioned.
  Stepney was also mentioned.
  Poplar was also mentioned.
  Limehouse was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Commercial Road was also mentioned.
  Poplar High Street was also mentioned.
  Cranbrook Estate was also mentioned.
  St Dunstan's was also mentioned.
  Royal Mint Court was also mentioned.
  Fairfield Road was also mentioned.
  Malting and Brewster House was also mentioned.
  St. John's and Samuda was also mentioned.
  Hackney Wick and Fish Island was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Docklands was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Bangladesh was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Bethnal Green was also mentioned.
  Stepney was also mentioned.
  Poplar was also mentioned.
  Limehouse was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Commercial Road was also mentioned.
  Poplar High Street was also mentioned.
  Cranbrook Estate was also mentioned.
  St Dunstan's was also mentioned.
  Royal Mint Court was also mentioned.
  Fairfield Road was also mentioned.
  Malting and Brewster House was also mentioned.
  St. John's and Samuda was also mentioned.
  Hackney Wick and Fish Island was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Docklands was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Bangladesh was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Bethnal Green was also mentioned.
  Stepney was also mentioned.
  Poplar was also mentioned.
  Limehouse was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Commercial Road was also mentioned.
  Poplar High Street was also mentioned.
  Cranbrook Estate was also mentioned.
  St Dunstan's was also mentioned.
  Royal Mint Court was also mentioned.
  Fairfield Road was also mentioned.
  Malting and Brewster House was also mentioned.
  St. John's and Samuda was also mentioned.
  Hackney Wick and Fish Island was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Docklands was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Bangladesh was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Bethnal Green was also mentioned.
  Stepney was also mentioned.
  Poplar was also mentioned.
  Limehouse was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Commercial Road was also mentioned.
  Poplar High Street was also mentioned.
  Cranbrook Estate was also mentioned.
  St Dunstan's was also mentioned.
  Royal Mint Court was also mentioned.
  Fairfield Road was also mentioned.
  Malting and Brewster House was also mentioned.
  St. John's and Samuda was also mentioned.
  Hackney Wick and Fish Island was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Docklands was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Bangladesh was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Bethnal Green was also mentioned.
  Stepney was also mentioned.
  Poplar was also mentioned.
  Limehouse was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Commercial Road was also mentioned.
  Poplar High Street was also mentioned.
  Cranbrook Estate was also mentioned.
  St Dunstan's was also mentioned.
  Royal Mint Court was also mentioned.
  Fairfield Road was also mentioned.
  Malting and Brewster House was also mentioned.
  St. John's and Samuda was also mentioned.
  Hackney Wick and Fish Island was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Docklands was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Bangladesh was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Bethnal Green was also mentioned.
  Stepney was also mentioned.
  Poplar was also mentioned.
  Limehouse was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Commercial Road was also mentioned.
  Poplar High Street was also mentioned.
  Cranbrook Estate was also mentioned.
  St Dunstan's was also mentioned.
  Royal Mint Court was also mentioned.
  Fairfield Road was also mentioned.
  Malting and Brewster House was also mentioned.
  St. John's and Samuda was also mentioned.
  Hackney Wick and Fish Island was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Docklands was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Bangladesh was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Bethnal Green was also mentioned.
  Stepney was also mentioned.
  Poplar was also mentioned.
  Limehouse was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Tower Hamlets was also mentioned.
  Bromley North was also mentioned.
  Buckingham Palace was also mentioned.
  Whitechapel was also mentioned.
  Commercial Road was also mentioned.
  Poplar High Street was also mentioned.
  Cranbrook Estate was also