The Council meeting on 21 January 2026 saw councillors pay tribute to the late Dobiru Islam Choudhury and Simon Baxter, with numerous members sharing fond memories and condolences. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to debating and voting on motions concerning the proposed Chinese Embassy development and the impact of government changes to affordable housing targets.

Tributes to Dobiru Islam Choudhury and Simon Baxter

The meeting began with heartfelt tributes to Dobiru Islam Choudhury OBE, who passed away at the age of 106, and Simon Baxter, the Corporate Director for Communities, who died on 4 January 2026. Councillor after councillor shared personal anecdotes and praised their dedication to public service, their contributions to the borough, and their positive impact on residents and staff. Dobiru Islam Choudhury was particularly remembered for his charitable work during the COVID-19 pandemic, raising £420,000 for relief efforts. Simon Baxter was lauded for his 41 years of public service, his commitment to improving the lives of Tower Hamlets residents, and his professional yet humorous approach to his work. Condolences were extended to the families and friends of both individuals.

Urgent Motion on the Chinese Embassy Development

An urgent motion was debated and unanimously approved concerning the Secretary of State's decision to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of the Royal Mint Court for use as the Chinese Embassy. Councillors expressed strong opposition to this decision, citing concerns about public safety, policing capacity, the impact on heritage sites such as the Tower of London, and the worsening of congestion in an already busy area. Councillor Kabir Ahmed, proposing the motion, stated that the decision undermines the role of locally elected representatives, ignores the clear voice of residents and councillors who know the area best. The motion resolves that the Council will write to the Secretary of State to express dissatisfaction with this undemocratic decision and to assert that planning decisions in Tower Hamlets must reflect the needs and safety of its residents.

Debate on Affordable Housing Targets

A significant debate took place regarding the impact of the government's proposed reduction in affordable housing targets from 35% to 20% for fast-tracked planning applications. Councillor Kabir Ahmed, proposing an administration motion, argued that these measures favour the profits of developers over responding to the real needs of working people and would lead to increased gentrification and pricing out of working-class residents. He highlighted that Tower Hamlets' local plan aims for 40% affordable housing and that the proposed changes would diminish the Council's Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, vital for infrastructure projects.

An amendment, proposed by Councillor Asma Islam, argued that these measures were temporary emergency measures designed to stimulate a stalled housing market and would be reversed once the market stabilised. She criticised the current administration's delivery record, stating they had built excuses, not homes. The amendment was ultimately defeated, and the main motion, urging the government and the Mayor of London to reverse the decision and proposing that Tower Hamlets Council offer its expertise in achieving higher affordable housing levels, was carried.

Housing Repairs and Service Performance

Councillor Marc Francis, on behalf of the Labour Group, presented a motion highlighting a perceived deterioration in the Council's housing service since 2022. The motion cited a downgrade in the housing service's rating by the Regulator of Social Housing to C3, citing serious failings in safety and quality standards. Performance data was presented showing low call answer rates, missed repair appointments, and low tenant satisfaction with repairs and complaint handling. The motion resolved to instruct the Chief Executive to resource additional scrutiny sub-committee meetings, ensure quarterly performance data is published, co-produce a Repairs Improvement Charter with tenants, prioritise the elimination of damp and mould, call on the Mayor to release capital investment for communal areas, and create neighbourhood housing forums. An amendment was proposed by Councillor Sirajul Islam concerning parking and mobility services, specifically addressing issues with estate Traffic Management Orders (TMOs) and Blue Badge renewals. Following debate, the amendment was carried, and the amended motion was subsequently carried.

Other Key Discussions and Decisions

• Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2025-2028: Council approved the Youth Justice Strategic Plan for 2025-2028, which outlines priorities focused on a Child First approach, consistently good practice, understanding culture and identity, and strengthening partnerships.
• Amendments to the Code of Conduct: Proposed amendments to the Code of Conduct for Members and the Arrangements for Dealing with Complaints of Breach of the Code were agreed. These changes aim to improve the operation of the Code and reference the newly appointed Independent Chair of the Audit Committee.
• Continuous Improvement Journey Update: Council noted the report on the Council's continuous improvement journey, which details progress made in response to Ministerial Directions and outlines priorities for the next phase of work.
• Response to Grenfell Tower Tragedy: Council noted the report detailing the Council's actions and activities in response to the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report, highlighting efforts to improve building safety, emergency preparedness, and tenant engagement.
• Statutory Recommendation on Internal Investigations: Council reviewed and agreed the statutory recommendation from the external auditor regarding the effectiveness of internal investigations, with an action plan developed to address the findings.
• Appointment of Independent Persons: Antoinette Bernard was appointed as an Independent Person for a four-year term, and Amanda Orchard was re-appointed for a second four-year term. Rachael Tiffin was thanked for her eight years of service.
• Approval of Exit Payments: Council approved exit payments for two postholders, exceeding the £100,000 threshold, as required by statutory guidance.
• Petitions: Three petitions were heard: Right to Grow in Tower Hamlets, requesting the use of public land for community growing; Extension of Bus Route 15/115/D6 to London City Island, seeking improved public transport links; and Petition to Remove Tower Hamlets LTNs, calling for the removal of Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes. All petitions were referred to the relevant directorates for a written response.
• Mayor's Report: Mayor Lutfur Rahman presented his report, which was followed by a response from Councillor Sirajul Islam, Leader of the Opposition.
• Administration and Opposition Motions: Due to time constraints, the Administration Motion on the impact of reduced affordable housing targets and the Opposition Motion on housing repairs were withdrawn.
• Written Questions: Due to time constraints, written questions from members were not considered orally, but written responses were appended to the minutes.

The meeting concluded at 10:07 p.m.