The Waltham Forest Council met to discuss a range of topics, including amendments to the council's constitution, treasury management, and a motion regarding support for local businesses. Councillors agreed to amend the Council Procedure Rules and the Councillor's Code of Conduct, and noted reports on treasury management activities, scrutiny, and the use of emergency provisions. The council also rejected a Conservative Group motion calling for support for local businesses.

Amendments to Council Procedure Rules and Councillors' Code of Conduct

The council agreed to the proposed changes to the Council Procedure Rules and the Councillor's Code of Conduct. These amendments, which were endorsed by the Constitution Working Group and the Audit and Governance Committee, relate to public statements, councillor questions, and members acting as advocates for their constituents.

The changes to the Council Procedure Rules include:

• Increasing the time allotted to public statements to 20 minutes.
• Giving the Mayor discretion to vary the time allowed to each speaker.
• Amending the deadline for requests to speak to two working days before the meeting.
• Adding that a clear summary should be provided as notice and that the Mayor can request a statement in full in advance once permission is granted to speak.
• Adding clarification around how the Mayor may prioritise statements, formalising current precedent.
• Amending the deadline for questions to the executive to five clear working days before the meeting.

A minor update to the Councillor's Code of Conduct was also approved, accounting for circumstances where members act as an advocate for their constituents. The Monitoring Officer proposed adding a paragraph (6A) with the title 'Use of position – Advocacy', with the following wording:

Your role as an advocate is likely to generate a conflict between your duties to:

i. The Council and its officers,

ii. The service user for whom you are an advocate, and

iii. Other ward constituents

In some cases, this may also create an impression of undue influence due to your position within the council. In exceptional circumstances, such as where you may wish to act as an advocate for a family member or if you are a professional advocate, this should be explained and agreed in advance with the Monitoring Officer.

Conservative Group Motion: Support for Local Businesses

The council rejected a motion put forward by Councillor Jemma Hemsted and Councillor Kay Isa regarding support for local businesses. The motion called for the council to take several actions, including writing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to oppose the increase in employers' national insurance, rescinding the experimental Traffic Order no ET2(25), ensuring fair and reasonable rent rises for local businesses, and lobbying the government for a fair deal from any changes in business rates.

Treasury Management

The council noted the Annual Treasury Management Review for the financial year 2024-25 and agreed to the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report for the period from 1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025.

The Annual Treasury Management Review 2024-25 reported that investment income for the year was £2.4 million and interest payable outturn was £19.9 million. The council's average investments for the year were £48.1 million with an average rate of 5.0%, against a benchmark of the average o/n SONIA¹ rate of 4.90%. All treasury management activities within the year were in accordance with the approved limits and prudential indicators as set out in the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2024/25. The Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2025-26 stated that the council maintained an average investments balance of £49.9 million, and the average interest earned for the first six months of the year was 4.24% against a benchmark of o/n average SONIA at 4.21%. All treasury management activities within the first half of the year have been in accordance with the approved limits and prudential indicators as set out in the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2025/26.

Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25

The council noted the Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25, which provides an overview of the work undertaken by the council's scrutiny committees during the 2024-25 municipal year. The report outlines the activity undertaken by each committee and a summary of the recommendations and key impacts made throughout the year. It also includes an overview of the Scrutiny Reviews conducted and summarises the work and impact of the Council's Young Advisors and the Youth Independent Advisory Group on scrutiny committees.

Use of Emergency Provisions

The council noted a report regarding the use of special urgency provisions to directly award contracts to Enabled Living for the provision of integrated community equipment services. This action was taken following the unforeseen insolvency of the council's previous provider, NRS Healthcare, to ensure the continuity of critical services.

Calculation of Political Balance and Arrangements for Committees

The council noted the political balance of the council, which is: 45 members of the Labour Group, 12 members of the Conservative Group, and 3 ungrouped members (2 independent members and 1 member of Reform UK). The council agreed to vary proportionality as set out in Appendix 1 of the report and adopt some arrangement other than that prescribed by the Act or Regulations, and agreed to any changes to the memberships of those committees as tabled at this Council meeting for approval.

Appointments

The council agreed to the appointments set out in the order paper.

Minutes of the Council Meeting Held on 17 July 2025

The minutes of the ordinary meeting of the council held on Thursday 17 July 2025 were agreed.