Councillor Amina Ali

During December 2025, Amina Ali attended the Audit Committee meeting on December 3rd as a Substitute Member, with no specific actions recorded. She also attended the Human Resources Committee meeting on December 22nd, where she seconded a motion to exclude the press and public for the remainder of the meeting.

In November 2025, Amina Ali participated in two council meetings. On November 13th, she introduced herself as the councillor for Bow East at the Licensing Sub Committee meeting. Later, on November 19th, during a Council meeting, she questioned a petitioner about concerns regarding the cricket pitch in Victoria Park. She specifically asked for details about an incident in Battersea and why a similar event might occur in Victoria Park, stating,

As a parent, I do understand your anxiety about any kind of injury. In your petition, you talked about Battersea, which I'm also very much aware of. Can you explain to the full council tonight what happened in Battersea and why you're worried that a similar incident may happen here as well?

Councillor Amina Ali sent apologies for absence from the Council meeting on October 8th, 2025: > Apologies for absence from Councillor Amina Ali.

During September 2025, Councillor Amina Ali attended four council meetings. At the Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee meeting on September 16th, she declared her status as a Tower Hamlets Tenant. It was also noted that officers would follow up with her to discuss community workshops aimed at reassuring Somali residents about their concerns and input into service improvements. Councillor Ali was present at the Human Resources Committee meeting on September 1st, where she seconded a motion to enter a closed session regarding employee relations. She also attended the Licensing Sub Committee on September 4th and the Licensing Regulatory Committee on September 18th, with no specific actions or statements recorded for these meetings.

During the July 2025 Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee meeting, Councillor Amina Ali, representing Bow East and a tenant for Tower Hamlets Homes, raised concerns about the low percentage of asbestos safety checks for Gateway Housing Association. She observed a significant decline from the previous quarter and requested an explanation, stating she would await Gateway's response before proceeding with further questions.

During June 2025, Amina Ali was active in Licensing Committee meetings, focusing on the late-night levy and venue licensing. In the Licensing Committee meeting on June 3rd, she inquired about protections for vulnerable individuals, including trans women and street workers, under the late-night levy and suggested broadening the Volcar initiative. She also raised concerns about the financial management of the levy, asking how to monitor expenditures to avoid depleting reserves and seeking details on police patrol deployments. In the Licensing Sub Committee meeting on June 12th, representing Bow East and the Labour Party, Councillor Ali questioned an applicant about extending venue hours. She probed the enforceability of a re-admittance ban after 1:45 am and expressed concern about the venue becoming an after-party place. She also raised issues about the venue exceeding framework hours for community impact areas, questioned the justification for further extensions, and inquired about the applicant's understanding of the Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) and strategies for managing patron departures to mitigate noise and nuisance.

During May 2025, Amina Ali's only recorded activity was an apology for absence at the Council meeting held on April 2nd, 2025. There is no record of her speaking or taking any action during the May 14th, 2025 Council meeting.

During the April 2nd, 2025 Council meeting, Amina Ali actively participated by casting votes against several significant motions. Her dissenting votes were recorded against an amendment proposed by Councillor Marc Francis, an amendment proposed by Councillor Nathalie Bienfait, and the main Budget Motion presented by Mayor Lutfur Rahman and Councillor Saied Ahmed.

During March 2025, Councillor Amina Ali attended the Extraordinary Audit Committee meeting on March 13th as a substitute for Cllr Asma Begum. No specific actions or statements from Councillor Ali were recorded during this meeting.

In February 2025, Councillor Amina Ali from Bow East participated in council meetings. On February 24th, she attended an extraordinary Audit Committee meeting where she introduced herself and declared, > Hi, I'm councillor Mina Ali from Boise and I have no conflict. She also sent apologies for her absence from the Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee meeting on the same day, citing her attendance at the Audit Committee meeting as the reason.

In January 2025, Amina Ali sent apologies for her absence from the Council meeting held on January 22nd.

During the December 4th, 2024, Audit Committee meeting, Amina Ali attended as a substitute for Councillor Begum. She inquired about the extended timeframe for Deloitte's audit work, asking from a resident's perspective: > Could I ask a question that maybe the layperson would ask? So maybe if I was a resident at home listening to this. Why did it take Deloitte so long to complete?

During the November 20, 2024 council meeting, Councillor Amina Ali spoke about Somaliland. She paid tribute to the late President Ahmed Mohammed Mohammed Solania, recognizing him as a pioneer of the Somali National Movement and a freedom fighter who was instrumental in establishing a stable government and uniting Somali clans. Councillor Ali also congratulated the new president, Abdi Rahman Hamid Abdi Lahim Ira, on the recent peaceful elections in Somaliland, emphasizing the country's stability. She reminded the council of Tower Hamlets' 2015 recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, a motion she initiated, and expressed hope for continued council support for Somaliland's international recognition.

During the October 2024 Licensing Committee meeting on the 22nd, Councillor Amina Ali actively participated in discussions concerning the cumulative impact assessment policy. She specifically inquired about the policy's efficacy in regulating new or extended licenses for nightclubs and bars, particularly in mitigating anti-social behavior. Councillor Ali expressed a desire for the policy to grant committee members >a bit more teeth < to address these concerns, as she felt current arguments sometimes lacked sufficient weight during license reviews and grants.

During September 2024, Councillor Amina Ali was actively involved in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meetings. Her most significant contribution was on September 2nd, where she voiced strong objections to the council's revised Homelessness Accommodation Placement Policy. Ali argued that the policy was implemented prematurely and lacked sufficient consultation with homeless families, describing it as a policy of total and abject failure. She raised concerns about unsuitable placements, the potential impact on Muslim families' access to cultural facilities, and contrasted the current approach with past decisions to prioritize local placements. Ali emphasized that the focus should be on the well-being of vulnerable individuals rather than solely on the council's financial interests. She also noted that while the council aims for culturally sensitive placements and quick transitions to permanent housing, increased demand necessitates placements further afield. Ali confirmed that the council advises residents on their legal rights and does not support evictions without legal grounds. She attended two further Overview & Scrutiny Committee meetings on September 10th and September 30th, joining online for the latter, though no specific actions or statements were recorded for these dates.

During July 2024, Amina Ali had no recorded activity or statements in the council meeting on July 17th.

During the Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee meeting on June 24, 2024, Councillor Amina Ali declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DCI) due to her position on the THCH board, stating: > My name is Councillor Amin. I sit on the THCH board. Thank you. She also seconded the proposal of Councillor Amin Rahman for Vice Chair, saying: > Yes, I'm second.

During May 2024, Councillor Amina Ali was active in several council meetings. On May 8th, she seconded a motion regarding the LGA Peer Review and voted on budget-related amendments, voting 'For' one and 'Against' two others. At the Annual Meeting on May 15th, she thanked the Speaker for their service during a challenging year, acknowledging their grace and calmness. However, she also expressed a personal concern about feeling overlooked as the only Afro-Caribbean descent person in the chamber and hoped the new Speaker would ensure diverse voices, including women's, are heard clearly, stating,

Suppressing one voice is suppressing all voices.

During the April 2024 Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting, Councillor Amina Ali focused on the CQC inspection of maternity services at Barts. She raised concerns and asked detailed questions regarding staffing improvements, training, infection rates, and staff comprehension of policies. Ali also inquired about the recruitment of local staff with cultural understanding and the status of the Barkantine birth center. She specifically questioned the government's role in advocating for midwifery educational grants and the cultural competency of international recruits. Ali further probed the monitoring of the Barkantine center and lessons learned from its past successes. A significant portion of her contribution addressed enhancing cultural awareness among staff, particularly concerning FGM, and suggested involving charities serving ethnically diverse communities in training. She emphasized the importance of culturally sensitive communication and the role of organizations like Cyster Circle in providing support and advocacy through bespoke clinics, noting that midwives receive annual mandatory FGM training.

During February 2024, Councillor Amina Ali was present at the Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting on February 20th, attending virtually. No specific actions or statements were recorded for her during this meeting.