Councillor Abdul Mannan

During November 2025, Abdul Mannan was active in three council meetings. As a substitute at the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Subcommittee on November 3rd, he raised concerns about the government's reduction of the minimum affordable home percentage to 20% and its potential impact on the council's 40% target, questioning implications for private sales and developers, and referencing past recessionary issues. He also inquired about resident complaints regarding water pressure in new developments and the use of pumps by housing associations. At the Council meeting on November 19th, he asked about the prioritization of school street implementation. On November 25th, as Vice-Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, he questioned the Mayor about their achievements and pre-election goals, referencing his prior communication about the Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee's focus on mental health and bullying in schools.

During the October 2025 Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on the 20th, Councillor Abdul Mannan, in his role as Chair, presided over the proceedings. He informed members that the 2025/26 work programme had been agreed and requested that Bullying be added to the Mental Health discussion. He also asked members to submit further work programme suggestions to Daniel Kerr by 24 September 2025. Additionally, he requested an update on an investigation into the death of a child, with officers to determine if further details could be disclosed. He concluded the meeting by signing the minutes as Chair.

During September 2025, Councillor Abdul Mannan was active in two council sub-committee meetings. On September 4th, he proposed Councillor Ahmodul Kabir for the Vice-Chair position of the Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee. On September 22nd, in his role as Chair of the Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee, he opened the meeting, welcomed attendees, and outlined procedures. He also proactively suggested rescheduling a future meeting to accommodate Ramadan and Eid, stating,

The last meeting, I think it was the 26th of March, something like that. When it comes to close, we may have to bring the meeting forward due to Ramadan, and the Eid as well, because it's a couple of days before the Eid, then we may not get quorum because of the special day and this and like that. But as the time closes, I will give you enough notice to shift the meeting a week earlier, if that will be okay.

It is also noted that he declared his wife works for Contract Services during a meeting on May 8, 2025, though this declaration occurred outside of September 2025.

During July 2025, Abdul Mannan was noted as being present at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on July 29th. No specific actions or statements were attributed to him during the Council meeting on July 16th.

During June 2025, Councillor Abdul Mannan was a prominent figure in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting. He was elected as the Vice-Chair of the committee for the 2025/26 municipal year and also elected as the Lead Member for the Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee. Councillor Mannan actively participated in discussions, making nominations for other scrutiny lead positions. He proposed a six-month follow-up to assess the progress of recommendations from the Net Zero Scrutiny Challenge Session, emphasizing the importance of tracking the implementation of work and energy invested. He also inquired about targeting specific community groups, suggesting the inclusion of tenants and residents associations and faith groups, and raised concerns about monitoring inequalities data during the consultation process for the Net Zero Scrutiny Challenge Session.

During May 2025, Councillor Abdul Mannan was active in two council meetings, focusing on the Children and Education portfolio. On May 6th, as Scrutiny Lead for Children and Education, he provided an update on the drafting of the CESSC Scrutiny Report on Free School Meals, noting that the report, which includes recommendations for the School Food System, had been well-received and was anticipated for further discussion. On May 8th, he chaired the Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting. During this meeting, he outlined procedures for members and declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest due to his partner's employment at a school involved in school meal provision, as the meeting agenda included items on free school meals.

During April 2025, Abdul Mannan attended two meetings: the Council meeting on Wednesday, 2nd April, and the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on Tuesday, 8th April. There is no record of him speaking or taking any action in either of these meetings.

During March 2025, Councillor Abdul Mannan, Scrutiny Lead for Children and Education, was noted as being late for the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on March 25th. He provided an update on the Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee Challenge Session on Free School Meals, which he chaired. This session involved evidence gathering, including school visits and a parental engagement session with 51 parents, as well as input from Youth Council Members and a review of the Universal Free School Meal Phase 5 Evaluation Report. Councillor Mannan expressed gratitude to all contributors and indicated that the final report is in draft and will be shared with the CESSC on May 8th, 2025, with members reconvening after Ramadan for further input.

During February 2025, Councillor Abdul Mannan was actively involved in several council meetings. He chaired the Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee on February 13th, where he welcomed attendees and emphasized the importance of clear communication for accurate recording, stating,

My name is Councillor Abdul-Mannan and I will be chairing this meeting.

In the Reserve Budget Meeting on February 4th, Mannan posed detailed questions regarding the capital program's four-year basis, its resilience, and governance. He also inquired about paused council-built home schemes, the rainy day contingency plan, the scope of the school uniform initiative, and the financial implications of unproceeded capital schemes. Additionally, he raised concerns about rent increases for those not on benefits and communication with residents regarding rent and planned works.

At the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on February 18th, Mannan questioned the Borough Commander about managing and reducing child exploitation related to drugs and organized crime, sharing a personal observation and asking about protective measures for vulnerable children. He also addressed Councillor Talha Chowdhury about the rise in thefts near DLR stations, inquiring about CCTV coverage and joint efforts with TFL to address these incidents.

During January 2025, Councillor Abdul Mannan was appointed as the Scrutiny Lead for Children & Education. This significant role includes the responsibility of chairing the Children & Education Scrutiny sub-committee.

During December 2024, Councillor Abdul Mannan was actively involved in two council meetings. On December 5th, he chaired the Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee, where he opened the meeting, declared his interests, and posed numerous questions regarding school place planning, post-16 capacity, school closure strategies, the impact of VAT on private schools, staff retention, and the transition of young people to adult mental health services. He also signed off on the minutes from a previous meeting in his capacity as Chair. On December 17th, representing Bromley North, Mannan raised significant concerns about a recent flooding incident, highlighting issues with the Canal River Trust's automated systems and their lack of priority in emergencies. He emphasized the risk to over 1,000 houses due to the system's failure and a lack of clear responsibility and communication between the Trust and the council, urging for improved communication and automatic responses in future emergencies.

During November 2024, Councillor Abdul Mannan was an active participant in council meetings. In the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee on November 5th, he focused on understanding and improving services for residents, particularly those over 55. He asked detailed questions about Linkage Plus and Tower Hamlets Connect, seeking clarification on service balance, monitoring methods, promotional strategies, and the accessibility of information for older residents. He also inquired about Gateway Housing Association's role in partnerships and resident awareness of available services. Later, on November 26th, at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Mannan was elected as the Scrutiny Lead for Children's and Education. During a discussion about a vote rerun, he commented on the process, stating,

Due respect to everybody here. These are, intentionally he didn't delay it but then again, just a few minutes ago your Chair, our Chair, whatever his mistake he would have knowingly didn't cast the vote. So what do you draw the line? We're here to serve the community. You're just making an argument for nothing. Sorry, you do sorry.

During October 2024, Councillor Abdul Mannan chaired the Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on October 17th. He opened the meeting and addressed technical difficulties impacting online participation, stating, I will decide how to proceed after consulting officers. He also reminded members to speak clearly for accurate recording. While the provided details of his July 11th activities are not directly relevant to his October actions, they establish his ongoing role as Chair of this committee.

During September 2024, Councillor Abdul Mannan was actively involved in several council meetings, focusing on policy implementation, social care, and governance. He raised concerns about the potential delays in the revised Homelessness Accommodation Placement Policy, questioning the risks and benefits and emphasizing the need to prioritize vulnerable residents. In the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee, he inquired about support for unpaid carers and measures to prevent dependency on social care. As Scrutiny Lead for Children and Education, he identified Free School Meals as the portfolio's next scrutiny review topic. Towards the end of the month, Mannan expressed significant concerns regarding the reassignment of a statutory office role without consultation, highlighting a departure from previous independent practice. He also questioned the urgency of a contract award and stated that he was not fully informed about a £190 million contract he was asked to sign, requesting better pre-meeting briefings for scrutiny chairs.

During July 2024, Councillor Abdul Mannan was elected as the Scrutiny Lead for Children & Education, a role that includes chairing the Children & Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee. He actively chaired the Sub-Committee meeting on July 11th, posing numerous questions on topics such as the EMA application process, headteacher performance, council authority over academies, potential ASD provisions, the Bowe Community Hub, recruitment strategies for young people, and the feasibility of reinstating programs like Rally International. In the Council meeting on July 17th, representing Bromley North, he questioned petitioners regarding the Boundary Estate community laundrette, specifically inquiring about their awareness of the laundrette not meeting the 2021 community premises criteria and whether it was consulted during the criteria's establishment. There is no record of his participation in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on July 23rd.

During June 2024, Abdul Mannan served as a Deputy member of the Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee. His primary recorded activity for the month was his role in chairing a previous meeting of this committee held on May 13, 2024, which concluded at 8:53 pm.

During May 2024, Abdul Mannan was actively involved in council proceedings and committee leadership. He delivered a comprehensive report to the council on May 8th, highlighting the administration's achievements over the past two years, contrasting them with the previous Labour administration's financial issues, and detailing investments in youth services, education, and leisure. He also voted on budget motions and spoke about ongoing struggles related to immigration and free speech. Mannan chaired the Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee on May 13th, managing the meeting, resident feedback, and addressing outstanding actions. On May 15th, he spoke at the Annual Council meeting, offering praise and gratitude to the outgoing speaker for his great job and wonderful job as an ambassador and fundraiser, particularly noting the personal significance of the chosen hospice charity. He also welcomed and commended the newly elected speaker for his commitment and character. By May 21st, Mannan took on new responsibilities, being appointed as Scrutiny Lead for Children and Education, and Scrutiny Lead for Resources for the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

During April 2024, Councillor Abdul Mannan was active in three council meetings. At the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee on April 18th, he declared no conflicts of interest and questioned the removal of the mental health priorities item from the agenda. On April 22nd, at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, he sought clarification on the measures in place for reporting clarity and accountability within the Council's internal governance arrangements review, asking: > Regarding the review of the Council's internal governance arrangement, what a specific measure has been taken to ensure clarity of reporting and accountability. Finally, at the Development Committee on April 25th, he noted that agenda item 5.1 might fall within his ward.

During February 2024, Councillor Abdul Mannan attended the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on February 20th. No specific actions or statements were recorded for him during this meeting.

During the January 29th Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, Councillor Abdul Mannan, representing Bromley North and the Aspire party, inquired about the pandemic's disproportionate impact on the Bangladeshi community and their recovery challenges. He also declared a non-financial interest as a Board of Director for the Bromley by Bow Centre.