Councillor Jahed Choudhury

Budget Meeting, Council - Wednesday, 26th February, 2025 7.00 p.m.

The Council agreed to approve the 2025/26 budget report and the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2025-28. It was also agreed to adopt the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Investment Strategy Report and Capital Strategy Report for 2025-26. The Member Allowance Scheme for 2025/26 was also approved.

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.

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.

Extraordinary Meeting, Strategic Development Committee - Monday, 9th December, 2024 6.30 p.m.

The committee unanimously rejected the officer recommendation to approve the planning application for the development of Royal Mint Court. The committee also rejected the officer recommendation to approve the listed building consent for the heritage works associated with the same application. The committee deferred the application for the redevelopment of 2-6 Commercial Street, 98, 101-105 Whitechapel High Street and Canon Barnett Primary School for a site visit.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 26th November, 2024 6.30 p.m.

The Overview & Scrutiny Committee approved the appointment of Alia Begum to the Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee. The committee also approved the Scrutiny Executive Protocol and took note of reports from the Chief Executive and the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Climate Emergency, as well as updates from the scrutiny leads.