Councillor Mohammad Chowdhury

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.

Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee - Monday, 2nd December, 2024 6.30 p.m.

The meeting primarily focused on reviewing the progress made since the council took over housing management from Tower Hamlets Homes, examining tenant satisfaction measures, and analysing the performance of social housing providers. Notably, the meeting featured a discussion on two public interest reports from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, revealing significant shortcomings in the council's handling of homelessness cases.

Development Committee - Thursday, 28th November, 2024 6.30 p.m.

The committee unanimously approved an application to redevelop Montgomery Square in Canary Wharf. The plans will see a new, larger pavilion building built that will provide a new restaurant with terraces and spill out seating. The existing temporary marketing suite and the current occupier 640 East will be removed to allow for new landscaping that will increase the amount of Publicly Accessible Open Space and introduce extensive planting and new trees. In related changes, Water Street will be closed to vehicles travelling eastbound.

Council - Wednesday, 20th November, 2024 7.00 p.m.

At this meeting, the council debated three petitions from members of the public and two motions proposed by the political groups. The council unanimously voted to reject or significantly reduce a proposed Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for dogs and unanimously voted to adopt the Migrant Care Workers' Charter. The council also voted to adopt a motion asking for the reintroduction of Meals on Wheels. The council voted to change who chairs the council committees.