The Cabinet of Tower Hamlets Council is scheduled to convene on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, with a packed agenda covering significant financial strategies, housing development, environmental initiatives, and youth engagement. Key discussions are expected to revolve around the council's financial outlook for the coming years, the procurement of new housing projects, and progress on environmental targets.

Budget Report 2026-27 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2026-29

The Cabinet will consider the council's financial planning for the next few years, with a report detailing the Budget for 2026-27 and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2026-29. This report is expected to outline the council's financial approach amidst unprecedented challenges for local government. ¹ The discussions will be led by Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living, and will cover all strategic plan priorities.

New Build Housing Projects: Albert Jacob House, Brunton Wharf, Caxton Grove, Copenhagen Place and Rushmead

A significant portion of the meeting is dedicated to housing development, with a report seeking approval to progress the procurement and delivery of 148 new social rented homes across five schemes: Albert Jacob House, Brunton Wharf, Caxton Grove, Copenhagen Place, and Rushmead. These projects are part of the council's self-delivery programme and aim to address the borough's housing needs, reduce overcrowding, and support vulnerable residents. Councillor Kabir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding, is the lead member for this item. The report highlights the critical need for affordable housing, with over 30,000 households on the housing waiting list, many in overcrowded conditions or temporary accommodation. The proposed procurement strategy involves a mix of two-stage and single-stage tendering processes to ensure competitive pricing and effective risk management.

New Build Block Acquisition Programme

Furthering the council's commitment to increasing social rented housing, approval is sought for a programme to acquire new build residential blocks from developers and housing associations. This initiative aims to secure up to 329 homes across three development sites, with a focus on converting existing planned affordable housing and market-sale units into social rent properties. Councillor Kabir Ahmed is also the lead member for this item, which is identified as a Key Decision due to the significant financial implications. The report details opportunities with Berkeley Homes (BH) and Poplar HARCA (PH), with the intention of converting units to social rent, supplemented by GLA Social Housing Grant funding. The acquisition of these homes is presented as a way to increase the supply of social rented housing, particularly larger family homes, and to address the housing crisis in Tower Hamlets.

Reduction and Recycling Plan Progress Report – Quarter 2, 2025-26

Councillor Shafi Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Environment and the Climate Emergency, will present the progress report on the Reduction and Recycling Plan (RRP) for the second quarter of 2025-26. The report indicates a significant improvement in recycling performance, with the household recycling rate increasing to 19.92% and a reduction in contamination rates. Key achievements include upgrades to recycling infrastructure in numerous blocks of flats, extensive community engagement events, and successful pilot programmes. The report also highlights challenges such as landlord accountability and population density, and outlines priorities including the borough-wide roll-out of food waste services and the development of a landlord charter.

Child and Youth Participation Guide

Councillor Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, will lead the discussion on the Child and Youth Participation Guide. This guide aims to empower children and young people to actively participate in decisions that affect their lives, services, and the borough's development. It outlines the council's vision and definition of participation, emphasising meaningful, inclusive, and impactful engagement, and details various forums and methods for young people to voice their opinions. The guide is intended for all organisations working with children and young people in Tower Hamlets.

Adventure Play Premises - Lease Proposals

The Cabinet will consider proposals to offer longer leases, specifically 10 years at zero rent, to two voluntary organisations operating adventure playgrounds. This initiative, led by Councillor Kabir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding, aims to support these organisations through an extension of the Community Benefit Rent Reduction (CBRR) scheme, recognising their long-standing community service and strategic benefits. This approach represents a departure from the council's current VCS Premises Policy, which typically offers shorter leases and a lower percentage of rent reduction.

Retail Rent Support Scheme

Councillor Kabir Ahmed will also present a report on a pilot scheme designed to support small businesses occupying council-owned retail premises. The scheme proposes offering a rent support grant based on assessed social, economic, and environmental value to businesses facing financial hardship due to rent increases from lease renewals and rent reviews. This initiative aims to protect businesses that contribute significantly to the community.