Councillor Amin Rahman

Development Committee - Thursday, 6th February, 2025 6.30 p.m.

The Development Committee voted unanimously to grant planning permission to Leon Investments Ltd. for the redevelopment of 1-10 Bishops Square. The decision was made following a presentation by the applicant's agent and officers from the Council.

Reserve Budget Meeting, Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 4th February, 2025 6.30 p.m.

The Committee reviewed additional information on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the capital programme budgets that had been approved at the Cabinet meeting on 29th January 2025. It was agreed to refer queries about repairs and maintenance, and the Council's contract for this work, to the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Sub-Committee. The Committee will then monitor the work of the Sub-Committee and provide feedback to the Executive. The Committee also requested further information from the Executive about the timeline for the spending of the £140 million allocated to the HRA for improvements to the existing housing stock, including new windows, bathrooms, and kitchens. Finally, the Committee requested clarity on the process of bringing temporary accommodation in-house.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 28th January, 2025 6.30 p.m.

The committee discussed the insourcing of the leisure service, agreed a new scrutiny protocol, and agreed recommendations made in a report on flood risk management. The committee also agreed to hold an additional meeting to discuss two additional budget elements, HRA and Capital, on 4 February.

Council - Wednesday, 22nd January, 2025 7.00 p.m.

The meeting started with a tribute to former Councillor Ray Gibson, who passed away at the end of 2024. The Council then received a presentation from pupils at St John's School, Bethnal Green, who sang to celebrate the Council's recent Ofsted rating for Children's Services. The Council formally noted the 'outstanding' rating, and discussed the improvements that have taken place in the service since it was rated as 'inadequate' in 2017.

Strategic Development Committee - Wednesday, 15th January, 2025 6.30 p.m.

The Strategic Development Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Wednesday 15 January 2025. The meeting began with a discussion of a previously deferred application, PA/24/00173, a large mixed-use redevelopment scheme at 2-6 Commercial Street, 98-105 Whitechapel High Street and the site of the Canon Barnett Primary School. The application, which was recommended for refusal by planning officers, was to demolish 101 Whitechapel High Street, 6 Commercial Street and the western annex of the Canon Barnett Primary School, partially demolish 102-105 Whitechapel High Street and 2-4 Commercial Street (retaining the façades of those buildings) and redevelop the site to provide an 18-storey office block with community space, relocation and expansion of the school playground, and a new school annex. After discussing the application, the Committee resolved to grant planning permission.