Councillor Mufeedah Bustin
Email: Mufeedah.Bustin@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Council: Tower Hamlets
Council Profile: View on council website
Committees:
Positions, Voting Record & Activity Summary
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin has consistently demonstrated a commitment to accountability, transparency, and resident concerns throughout her council service, with a notable intensification of these priorities in 2025. Her focus centers on ensuring good governance, ethical conduct, and responsiveness to the needs of her constituents in Island Gardens.
Key Themes and Priorities:
- Accountability and Transparency: This is a consistent thread throughout both 2024 and 2025. Bustin meticulously scrutinizes council operations, financial reporting, and audit processes. As Chair of the Audit Committee in 2025, this focus became even more pronounced, with her actively managing meetings, directing questions to auditors, and advocating for improvements in financial controls. She consistently pushes for action trackers to monitor audit recommendations.
- Resident Concerns: Bustin consistently prioritizes the needs and concerns of her constituents, particularly regarding development projects, community spaces, and local initiatives. This includes advocating for community consultation and mitigating negative impacts of council decisions.
- Ethical Governance: Bustin demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical conduct and due process. This is evident in her concerns about being asked to sign documents without adequate information, her scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest, and her concerns about the late publication of supplemental agendas.
Evolution of Focus: While the core themes of accountability, transparency, and resident concerns have remained consistent, Bustin's focus has evolved towards a more proactive and leadership-oriented approach. In 2024, she primarily questioned and scrutinized existing processes. In 2025, as Chair of the Audit Committee, she took on a more active role in shaping and improving those processes, driving improvements in financial controls and reporting. Her role as Audit Committee Chair in 2025 allowed her to more directly influence council policy and practice.
Significant Contributions (Especially Recent Years):
- Chairing the Audit Committee (2025): Her leadership in this role has been instrumental in driving improvements in financial controls, reporting, and overall governance within the council. She has been particularly effective in pushing for action trackers and addressing concerns about the Annual Governance Statement. >
I think from my perspective, when I read the pages 21 and 22...I, on first reading it, felt it was unbalanced in some ways.
- Advocacy for Mudchute Park and Farm (2025): Her strong support for the Mudchute Park and Farm petition demonstrates her commitment to community initiatives and her willingness to challenge the administration's approach when necessary. >
This is a matter of numbers. It's more than 6,000 signatories have signed this petition, and quite frankly, everyone on the island is talking about it.
- Scrutiny of Council Operations (2024 & 2025): Her consistent questioning of risk assessments, financial reporting, and audit processes has helped to ensure greater accountability and transparency within the council.
- Call-in of Victoria Park Licence to Occupy (2024): This action highlights her commitment to resident engagement and her willingness to challenge decisions that may negatively impact the community.
Patterns and Consistent Areas of Interest:
- Financial Oversight: Bustin consistently demonstrates a keen interest in financial matters, including expenditure increases, pension assets, and data sources. Her background and expertise likely contribute to this area of focus.
- Community Engagement: She consistently advocates for community consultation and seeks to address resident concerns related to development projects and community spaces.
- Procedural Integrity: Bustin is meticulous in ensuring that council procedures are followed correctly and that decisions are made in a fair and transparent manner. Her concerns about late agendas and potential conflicts of interest reflect this commitment.
Yearly Activity Timeline
In 2025, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin of Island Gardens was actively involved in Tower Hamlets council proceedings, particularly as Chair of the Audit Committee. A key theme throughout the year was her focus on accountability, transparency, and good governance. As Audit Committee Chair, she meticulously managed meetings, directed questions to auditors, and advocated for improvements in financial controls and reporting. She consistently pushed for action trackers to monitor audit recommendations and expressed concerns about the balance of the Annual Governance Statement, feeling it needed to address criticisms more thoroughly. > I think from my perspective, when I read the pages 21 and 22...I, on first reading it, felt it was unbalanced in some ways.
She also raised questions about expenditure increases, pension assets, and data sources. Bustin demonstrated a commitment to due process, raising concerns about the late publication of supplemental agendas at Appointments Sub Committee meetings, leading her to abstain from votes. She also scrutinized minutes at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, correcting inaccuracies and seeking clarification on various matters, including potential conflicts of interest. She showed strong support for community initiatives, notably the Mudchute Park and Farm petition, urging reconsideration of the administration's approach. > This is a matter of numbers. It's more than 6,000 signatories have signed this petition, and quite frankly, everyone on the island is talking about it.
While she sometimes disagreed with colleagues, she often supported officer recommendations, as seen in the 5 Park Drive planning application, prioritizing the encouragement of thriving restaurants. She also expressed gratitude and appreciation for the work of others, including the outgoing speaker and council staff. She consistently sought clarification and further information on a wide range of issues, demonstrating a commitment to informed decision-making.
Monthly Activity in 2025
Mufeedah Bustin attended both the Council meeting on November 19, 2025, and the Development Committee meeting on November 27, 2025, where she is listed as a member. However, the provided documentation does not indicate any specific statements or actions taken by her during either meeting.
Meetings in November 2025
Development Committee - Thursday, 27th November, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 27 November 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin is listed as a member of the Development Committee. However, the provided reports pack does not indicate any specific statements or actions taken by her during the meeting.
Council - Wednesday, 19th November, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 19 November 2025
Mufeedah Bustin was present at the Council meeting on November 19, 2025. However, the provided documents do not contain any record of them making any statements or taking any specific actions during the meeting.
During October 2025, Mufeedah Bustin attended the Council meeting on October 8th, though no specific actions or statements were recorded. She sent apologies for her absence from the Development Committee meeting on October 16th, as noted by the Chair: > Yes, Chair, I have received apologies from Councillor Mafida Bastin.
Meetings in October 2025
Development Committee - Thursday, 16th October, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 16 October 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin sent apologies for her absence from the Development Committee meeting on October 16, 2025.
Yes, Chair, I have received apologies from Councillor Mafida Bastin.
Council - Wednesday, 8th October, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 8 October 2025
Mufeedah Bustin was present at the Council meeting on October 8, 2025. However, the available documents do not contain any record of specific actions or statements made by them during the meeting.
During September 2025, Mufeedah Bustin, Councillor for Island Gardens, attended two council meetings. She was present at the Interviews for the Director of Corporate Properties and Estates, Appointment Sub-Committee meeting on September 9th, though the records do not indicate any specific actions or statements made by her. At the Development Committee meeting on September 11th, she declared that she had no Declarations of Pecuniary Interest (DPIs) to declare and mentioned, >I have also received some emails from residents, which I have not responded to either.
The minutes also referenced a previous declaration from July 24th, where Councillor Bustin stated >that she did attend an event where the applicant CEO was in attendance but no discussions on the application were held.
Meetings in September 2025
Development Committee - Thursday, 11th September, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 11 September 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, representing Island Gardens, is a member of the Development Committee. At the meeting, she stated that she had no Declarations of Pecuniary Interest (DPIs) to declare. She also mentioned receiving emails from residents, which she had not yet responded to.
Maafida Bustin, Councillor for Island Gardens. No DPIS. I have also received some emails from residents, which I have not responded to either.
In the minutes of the previous meeting (24 July 2025), Councillor Bustin declared that she attended an event where the applicant CEO was present, but no discussions regarding the application took place.
that she did attend an event where the applicant CEO was in attendance but no discussions on the application were held.
Interviews for the Director of Corporate Properties and Estates, Appointment Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 9th September, 2025 2.00 p.m. - 9 September 2025
Mufeedah Bustin was present at the Interviews for the Director of Corporate Properties and Estates, Appointment Sub-Committee meeting on September 9, 2025. However, the available documents (minutes and reports pack) do not indicate that she spoke or took any specific action during the meeting.
In August 2025, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin participated in the Appointment Sub-Committee meeting on August 18th, 2025, related to shortlisting for the Director Corporate Property and Estates position. She was present in person. However, the available record does not indicate any specific statements or actions attributed to her during the meeting.
Meetings in August 2025
Shortlisting for Director Corporate Property and Estates, Appointment Sub-Committee - Monday, 18th August, 2025 6.00 p.m. - 18 August 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin was a member of the Appointment Sub-Committee and was present in person at the meeting held on August 18, 2025. However, the provided document does not contain any record of specific statements or actions attributed to her during the meeting.
In July 2025, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin actively participated in several council meetings. She introduced herself at the Transformation and Assurance Board meeting. At the Council meeting on July 16th, she voiced strong support for the Mudchute Park and Farm petition, emphasizing its community importance and the potential negative impact of charging market rent. > This is a matter of numbers. It's more than 6,000 signatories have signed this petition, and quite frankly, everyone on the island is talking about it.
She urged reconsideration of the administration's approach, warning of potential political repercussions. At the Development Committee meeting, she engaged in a detailed discussion about the planning application at 5 Park Drive, seeking clarification on the proposed layout and public space. Despite disagreeing with colleagues, she ultimately supported the officer's recommendation to grant the application, citing the importance of encouraging thriving restaurants. > I don't see any strong reasons to refuse it so I'm inclined to grant to follow the officers recommendation and grant thank you.
During the Audit Committee meeting, she reiterated her concerns about executive members on the committee, requested the reintroduction of a matters arising
document, and questioned the planning scope and testing of the audit. She also requested a detailed action plan for the second recommendation issued by the External Auditor, asked for the LGA Peer Review Challenge findings to be incorporated into the Annual Governance Statement, and requested a breakdown of the types and nature of anti-fraud cases dealt with under the Whistleblowing policy. She was present at the Longlisting for Director Corporate Property and Estates, Appointment Sub-Committee meeting, but no specific actions or statements were recorded. While listed as a Deputy on the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and a Substitute Member of the Strategic Development Committee, the documentation does not indicate that she spoke or participated in those meetings.
Meetings in July 2025
Strategic Development Committee - Thursday, 31st July, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 31 July 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin was a Substitute Member of the Strategic Development Committee. However, the available documentation does not indicate that she spoke or participated in the meeting.
Longlisting for Director Corporate Property and Estates, Appointment Sub-Committee - Tuesday, 29th July, 2025 5.40 p.m. - 29 July 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin was present at the Longlisting for Director Corporate Property and Estates, Appointment Sub-Committee meeting on July 29, 2025. However, the minutes do not record any specific actions or statements made by her during the meeting.
Audit Committee - Monday, 28th July, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 28 July 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, representing Island Gardens, actively participated in the Audit Committee meeting. During introductions, she declared that she had nothing to declare. She congratulated the interim chair and expressed hope for the role's longevity.
Bustin raised concerns regarding the Audit Committee's terms of reference, reiterating her annual point that best practice dictates no executive members should sit on the committee. She also noted the absence of a risk paper in the pack, despite risk being mentioned in the terms of reference and work plan. > I make this comment every year, but it talks about there being a maximum of one member of the executive on the committee, um, and, uh, I think what the best practice is not to have any members of the executive on the committee, and I think that that's something that we should, um, acknowledge and be aware of.
> So, it talks about risk in the terms of reference, and yet we haven't had a paper in risk in this pack.
She requested the reintroduction of a matters arising
document to track agreed actions from previous meetings. > So, I think at some point in the last few meetings, we talked about having matters arising as a separate document, um, just to track the actions that we'd agreed as an audit committee. I think we had it at the last one. Um, I haven't got it this time. Is that something that we could resurrect for the next meeting, please?
Bustin questioned the planning scope and testing of the audit, seeking assurance that the planned level of testing would be completed, considering past issues with time constraints and resources. > What, um, and I guess this is for you as well, Abdul Razak as well as you, Steve, what is in place to, um, ensure that the level of testing that's planned for this audit is going to be completed, um, both from the audit side but also from the officer side as well?
She also inquired about the impact of leadership changes in the resources team on the risk profile and ongoing work. She asked about the transfer of powers from London Legacy Development Corporation to Tower Hamlets.
She echoed Councillor Ahmed's congratulations to the finance teams for their work on the draft statement of accounts. > So well done. I know a lot of time and effort has gone into that from all of the finance teams. So thank you so much for all of your work on this and getting this to such a good place.
She requested a detailed action plan for the second recommendation issued by the External Auditor, asked for the LGA Peer Review Challenge findings to be incorporated into the Annual Governance Statement, and requested a breakdown of the types and nature of anti-fraud cases dealt with under the Whistleblowing policy.
Development Committee - Thursday, 24th July, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 24 July 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin participated in a discussion regarding the planning application at 5 Park Drive. She began by thanking the officer for the report and presentation, stating: > Thank you, Chair. Thank you for your report and your presentation. It's really helpful.
She sought clarification on the proposed layout of the seating area, referring to page 34 of the pack and comparing it to the diagram in the update report, asking if the raised area would be used for dining seating. She inquired about the loss of public space and the amenity of the raised area, which could be used for seating. She also raised concerns about the perception of the walkway as public space and asked what measures were being taken to signal to residents that they could use it. She further inquired about the public benefits of the proposal and the consultation on the hours of usage, and requested a breakdown of the existing and new numbers of chairs and tables outside.
During the final debate, Councillor Bustin expressed disagreement with her colleagues and stated her inclination to follow the officer's recommendation to grant the application. She explained her reasoning:
I am inclined to disagree with my colleagues. I do think that the economic environment being what it is, I think there is a good reason to encourage restaurants to be thriving particularly at the moment where cost of living is so high. I think the officers have clearly demonstrated the alternative routes and I think the boardwalk is actually if I recall it is utilised by people pushing push chairs but with wheelchair use it's actually a wider space so I think it does encourage people to use it and the children as well although it is very close to the water's edge so I do sort of hear what you're saying but it's you know it is wide enough and I think the officers have clearly sort of shown as well how the building and how that relates away from the terrace and how that sort of protects the resident area a little bit as well so yeah I don't see any strong reasons to refuse it so I'm inclined to grant to follow the officers recommendation and grant thank you.
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 21st July, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 21 July 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin is listed as a Deputy on the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. However, the provided documents contain no record of her speaking or taking any specific action during the meeting.
Council - Wednesday, 16th July, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 16 July 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin of Island Gardens participated in the Council meeting on July 16, 2025. She was present and addressed the meeting following the Speaker's address. She also participated in the discussion regarding the petition for Mudchute Park and Farm, raising concerns about the diversity of visitors to the farm.
She spoke extensively about the Mudchute Park and Farm petition, emphasizing its importance to the community and the significant number of signatories. She argued against charging market rent, highlighting the potential financial burden on the charity.
Thank you so much for bringing this petition. It's incredibly important for the people of the island and the borough. My question for you is, what is the diversity of the people who visit the farm? I think there's a perception that it is of one part of the community, but I'd be interested to hear your view, please.
There seems to be some confusion in the council chamber this evening. But thank you, Mr. Speaker. I fell off my bike yesterday, and I know it was my own fault. I should have stopped for 30 seconds, but I fell off my bike, busted my knee, and my daughter drew me this picture of some farm animals. It's a rabbit and a horse, and what looks like a duck. And I wanted to bring it along today, because it's about the mud shoe. But the mud shoe and this petition is more than just about cute animals. This is a matter of numbers. It's more than 6,000 signatories have signed this petition, and quite frankly, everyone on the island is talking about it. I went to the gym a few weeks ago, and there were a couple of ladies there talking about how the mud shoe is going to close. I was out door knocking the other day. I spoke to a resident who claims to be a member of Aspire, who said to me, yes, he knows all about it, and the mayor will come, will do the right thing on it, is what he said to me. Now, the administration will say that there's a policy, and that what they're proposing is conforming with that policy of charging market rent. But when we get into the numbers on this, the mud shoe is 32 acres. Charging a rent of £14 per square metre comes to a rent of £1.8 million. The mud shoe is a charity of £2 million turnover. Charging them a rent of £1.8 million is a death sentence. But, you know, there is a policy in place. But the mud shoe is unique. It's in a unique situation, and no generic policy is going to cover the amazing work that the mud shoe does. And let's be clear, the people who can agree an exception to this policy are the mayor, his cabinet, and this chamber, as was done in 2019 when this council, via cabinet, agreed to provide a 99-year lease for a peppercorn rent. The amendment that the administration brought forward tonight takes out any commitment of the mayor to review the lease. It takes out any commitment for the mayor to provide a 30-year lease. So my advice to the mayor, to the lead member, and to the administration is stop. Take that 30 seconds to stop and think. Because if you don't, you will find that the residents of the island will be voting you off your bike. Thank you.
She urged the administration to reconsider their approach, referencing a previous decision to provide a 99-year lease at a peppercorn rent and warning of potential political consequences if they did not.
Transformation and Assurance Board - Monday, 14th July, 2025 3.00 p.m. - 14 July 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin was present at the Transformation and Assurance Board meeting on July 14, 2025. At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Lutfur Rahman, the TAB Chair, invited Cllr. Bustin to introduce herself to the Board.
During June 2025, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin actively participated in both the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and the Development Committee meetings.
At the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, she emphasized punctuality and meticulously reviewed the previous meeting's minutes, identifying and correcting inaccuracies regarding Councillor Amin's name, Councillor Abu Choudhury's attendance record, and her own vote on the education subcommittee. > Councillor Amin's name has been spelled wrong. So if we can correct that...
> So it says here, upon vote of five in favour and non against, the chair had the casting vote against. Okay. I didn't vote against. Clarify that. So I just want to clarify that.
She also sought clarification on the Council of Islam's involvement in a community safety position nomination. > Also, in terms of nomination for the community safety, there was a nomination for, I just want to clarify, there was a nomination for Council of Islam, which she withdrew. And then Council of Islam nominated Abdi, and then was voted in. Again, that hasn't been noted, that Council of Islam was.
Furthermore, she requested guidance on Councillor Goulam's potential attendance at a future meeting concerning domicile care, noting her previous request had not been addressed. > It was, I've requested guidance from legal or from democratic services about whether Councillor Goulam could be a childry, could attend the next meeting, given it was talking about domicile care. It's not being noted or resolved, and I've not been informed of anything. I asked for written information from democratic services or legal.
Councillor Bustin also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest for former cabinet members serving on the committee. > And moving forward, we have got two former cabinet members, so we need to think about how we deal with conflicts of interest when issues of the past might be coming back up.
She praised Councillor Abdi's work on hate crime and suggested a six-month review period for the report's progress. > My suggestion will be six months. I think this one is probably a six month report. And then we can see where we are and then come back in another six months time.
At the Development Committee meeting, Councillor Bustin commended the report and presentation. > Thank you, Chair. I don't have many, um, questions, because I thought your report was really good, and it answered all the questions I had, as did your presentation, so thank you.
She then proceeded to ask two questions, one regarding the determination of the consultation boundary and another concerning the resolution of an objection related to the storage of a mobility scooter.
Meetings in June 2025
Development Committee - Thursday, 26th June, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 26 June 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, a member of the Development Committee, participated in the meeting. She commended the report and presentation, stating:
Thank you, Chair. I don't have many, um, questions, because I thought your report was really good, and it answered all the questions I had, as did your presentation, so thank you. Um, just two sort of small ones, I suppose.
She then raised two questions: one regarding the determination of the consultation boundary and another concerning the resolution of an objection related to the storage of a mobility scooter.
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 11th June, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 11 June 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, representing Island Gardens, actively participated in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting. She began by emphasizing the importance of punctuality for committee members. She then identified several inaccuracies in the minutes from the previous meeting, including a misspelling of Councillor Amin's name, an incorrect record of Councillor Abu Choudhury's attendance, and a misrepresentation of her own vote on the education subcommittee.
Councillor Amin's name has been spelled wrong. So if we can correct that. Also, I don't believe in terms of Councillor Abu Choudhury, who's here today, it's been put down here as apologies for the last meeting. Is that correct?
So it says here, upon vote of five in favour and non against, the chair had the casting vote against. Okay. I didn't vote against. Clarify that. So I just want to clarify that.
Councillor Bustin also sought clarification regarding a nomination for the community safety position, specifically regarding the Council of Islam's involvement.
Also, in terms of nomination for the community safety, there was a nomination for, I just want to clarify, there was a nomination for Council of Islam, which she withdrew. And then Council of Islam nominated Abdi, and then was voted in. Again, that hasn't been noted, that Council of Islam was.
She requested guidance from legal or democratic services concerning Councillor Goulam's potential attendance at a future meeting about domicile care, noting that her request had not been addressed.
It was, I've requested guidance from legal or from democratic services about whether Councillor Goulam could be a childry, could attend the next meeting, given it was talking about domicile care. It's not being noted or resolved, and I've not been informed of anything. I asked for written information from democratic services or legal.
Councillor Bustin raised a point about potential conflicts of interest for former cabinet members serving on the committee.
And moving forward, we have got two former cabinet members, so we need to think about how we deal with conflicts of interest when issues of the past might be coming back up. It's just, I think, for conflicts of interest, because we've been so thorough, I think it's important. Could I refer that to Matthew, please?
During the discussion on hate crime, she praised Councillor Abdi's work and the collaborative atmosphere of the session, suggesting a six-month review period for the report's progress.
But this was one meeting that I felt really happy to be in, but also like the conversations wasn't formal. It wasn't it was a meeting, but it didn't feel like a meeting where the executive, to be honest with you, the cabinet member and honestly, the way they both were bouncing off each other. Like I felt heard. I felt like the fact that we were focused. So congratulations on the council for focusing on reporting, because I think that's a great place to start. And the executive, the cabinet member was really open.
My suggestion will be six months. I think this one is probably a six month report. And then we can see where we are and then come back in another six months time.
During the May 14th Council meeting, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin (Island Gardens) attended and offered congratulations to Supriya on her new role as monitoring officer. She also delivered a thank you to the outgoing speaker, praising his impartiality, handling of petitioners, and overall service during what she acknowledged was a difficult year. > Mr Speaker, thank you so much for your service over the last 12 months...Thank you so much for being impartial, allowing us time to speak, allowing time for debate...I think you've been particularly good when it comes to the petitioners, who are our residents, and allowing them the time to get their points across and make sure that they feel that they've been heard in this chamber...
Bustin also praised Councillor Saif Uddin Khaled for his year in office.
Meetings in May 2025
Annual Meeting, Council - Wednesday, 14th May, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 14 May 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, representing Island Gardens, attended the Council meeting. She congratulated Supriya on her new role as monitoring officer. Bustin also addressed the meeting to thank the outgoing speaker, Mr. Speaker, for his service over the past year, praising his impartiality and his handling of petitioners. She also praised Councillor Saif Uddin Khaled for his year in office.
Mr Speaker, thank you so much for your service over the last 12 months. I would say that it's probably been a really difficult 12 months for you personally, but also making sure that we're well-behaved within this chamber. You may have noticed that I have sort of slightly moved up the table. At the start of this last year, I think I was over here between my friends, Councillor Sultana and Councillor Kahn. And now I'm up here. I hope one day I will be in that seat as well. Maybe tonight. We'll see. But this isn't about me. It's about you. So, yes. Thank you so much for being impartial, allowing us time to speak, allowing time for debate. I think you've been particularly good when it comes to the petitioners, who are our residents, and allowing them the time to get their points across and make sure that they feel that they've been heard in this chamber, which is ultimately what we're all here to be doing. So thank you so much.
During April 2025, Mufeedah Bustin was active in Council and Audit Committee meetings. She was absent from the Development Committee meeting on April 24th, though she had attended a previous meeting in February with no record of statements or actions.
At the Council meeting on April 2nd, she participated in budget amendment votes, voting in favor of Councillor Francis's amendment and against Councillor Bienfait's amendment and the main budget motion.
As Councillor and Chair of the Audit Committee, she actively participated in meetings leading up to April, including those on December 4, 2024, February 24, 2025, and March 13, 2025. Her contributions included requesting action logs, reports on data cleansing and pension valuations, and a deep dive into Internal Audit and risk management. She also inquired about action plans for implementing new Global Internal Audit Standards and suggested prioritizing the Treasury Management Report, requesting training on the topic for committee members. She raised concerns about the Best Value Inspection report and the Audit Committee's composition. She moved to extend meeting durations and exclude the press and public for restricted agenda items.
In February, she requested updates on statutory recommendations and commented on the imbalance between the LGA Peer Review and the BVI Inspection, stating that > there was a focus on process and not the findings.
She questioned the HRA overspend, the reduction of the Pension Asset to zero, and the source of the figure of 459 affordable homes in 23/24. She clarified the Chief Executive and Mayor's ownership of the AGS. She also moved to exclude the press and public for the restricted (part 2) of the agenda.
In March, she emphasized management's ownership of actions related to internal control and procurement and inquired about the consequences of the Council not meeting the requirements of the Homecare Contract. She also moved and seconded a motion to extend the duration of the meeting. She also thanked various presenters for their reports and presentations across these meetings.
Meetings in April 2025
Audit Committee - Thursday, 24th April, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 24 April 2025
Mufeedah Bustin served as the Councillor and Chair of the Audit Committee. She actively participated in the meetings on December 4, 2024, February 24, 2025, and March 13, 2025, guiding discussions and raising key questions.
On December 4, 2024, she requested an action log be attached to future minutes, a report on the data cleanse exercise and the Triennial Valuation of the Pensions data, and an extraordinary meeting in February/March 2025 to deep dive into Internal Audit and risk management. She also inquired about a detailed action plan for implementing new Global Internal Audit Standards and suggested moving the Treasury Management Report higher on the agenda, also requesting training on Treasury Management for committee members. She raised concerns about the Best Value Inspection report and the composition of the Audit Committee under any other business. She also moved to extend the duration of the meeting and to exclude the press and public for the remainder of the meeting.
On February 24, 2025, she requested an update on the 3 statutory recommendations and commented on the imbalance between the LGA Peer Review and the BVI Inspection, stating that > there was a focus on process and not the findings.
She questioned the HRA overspend, the reduction of the Pension Asset to zero, and the source of the figure of 459 affordable homes in 23/24. She also explained that the Chief Executive and the Mayor had ownership of the AGS and any changes would need to be considered by them. She also moved to exclude members of the press and public for the restricted (part 2) of the agenda.
On March 13, 2025, she commented on the helpfulness of the action plan for closing accounts and emphasized that management should own the actions related to internal control and procurement. She inquired about the consequences of the Council not meeting the requirements of the Homecare Contract. She also moved and seconded a motion to extend the duration of the meeting.
Across these meetings, she thanked various presenters for their reports and presentations.
Development Committee - Thursday, 24th April, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 24 April 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin sent apologies for absence from the Development Committee meeting on April 24, 2025. It is noted that she was present at a previous Development Committee meeting on February 6, 2025, but there is no record of any statements or actions made by her at that earlier meeting.
Council - Wednesday, 2nd April, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 2 April 2025
Mufeedah Bustin was present at the Council meeting on April 2, 2025. She had previously attended the Council meeting on January 22, 2025. During the meeting, she participated in recorded votes related to budget amendments. She voted in favor of Councillor Francis's amendment, against Councillor Bienfait's amendment, and against the main budget motion.
During March 2025, Mufeedah Bustin participated in several council meetings. As Chair of the Audit Committee, she presided over the Extraordinary Audit Committee meeting on March 13th, managing the agenda, facilitating discussions on statutory recommendations, and moving motions. Regarding Recommendation Two, she stated >that she would expect the actions to be owned by management. She said she did not feel it was Internal Audit's responsibility to address this.
She also attended Appointments Sub Committee meetings on March 5th and March 25th, where she raised concerns about the late publication of the supplemental agenda, requesting officers provide members with more notice in the future. Due to these concerns, she abstained from the vote at both meetings, stating >Councillor Mufeedah Bustin asked that her concerns be noted that on this occasion the supplement agenda had been published very close to the meeting and that officers should work to ensure more notice was provided to Members in future, she would be abstaining on the vote at this meeting.
Meetings in March 2025
Interview for the post of Director of Housing Property and Asset Management, Appointments Sub Committee - Tuesday, 25th March, 2025 10.00 a.m. - 25 March 2025
Mufeedah Bustin attended the Appointments Sub Committee meeting on March 25, 2025. She raised concerns about the late publication of the supplemental agenda.
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin asked that her concerns be noted that on this occasion the supplement agenda had been published very close to the meeting and that officers should work to ensure more notice was provided to Members in future, she would be abstaining on the vote at this meeting.
Extraordinary, Audit Committee - Thursday, 13th March, 2025 6.45 p.m. - 13 March 2025
As Chair of the Audit Committee, Mufeedah Bustin presided over the Extraordinary Audit Committee meeting on March 13, 2025. She opened the meeting, welcomed attendees, and managed introductions, declaring she had no interests to declare. She acknowledged an email to be discussed later in the restricted session and confirmed no apologies were received. Bustin guided the agenda, introducing speakers and reports. She facilitated discussions on statutory recommendations, directing questions and summarizing key points.
Regarding specific recommendations, she commented that the action plan for Recommendation One was helpful. On Recommendation Two, she stated:
that she would expect the actions to be owned by management. She said she did not feel it was Internal Audit's responsibility to address this.
She summarized the discussion on Recommendation Two, noting that progress would be reported quarterly and that Directors would be invited to explain limited assurance recommendations. She also highlighted the need to consider processes during handovers between outgoing and incoming Directors. For Recommendation Three, she sought clarification on whether the EY recommendation specifically referred to agency workers and inquired about the completion of paragraph 3.7 of the report. She moved motions to extend the meeting's duration and to exclude the press and public for the restricted part of the agenda. Finally, she adjourned the meeting for a comfort break.
Shortlisting for the Post of Director of Housing Property and Asset Management, Appointments Sub Committee - Wednesday, 5th March, 2025 5.00 p.m. - 5 March 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin raised concerns about the late publication of the supplemental agenda. She requested that officers ensure members receive more notice in the future. As a result of this concern, she abstained from the vote at the meeting.
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin asked that her concerns be noted that on this occasion the supplement agenda had been published very close to the meeting and that officers should work to ensure more notice was provided to Members in future, she would be abstaining on the vote at this meeting.
In February 2025, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin participated in two council meetings. At the Development Committee meeting on February 6th, she stated her name, ward (Island Gardens), and declared she had nothing to declare.
As Chair of the Audit Committee meeting on February 24th, Bustin actively facilitated the meeting, directing questions and managing the agenda. She voiced concerns about the late release of papers and updated the committee on a prior informal meeting. She engaged extensively with the EY External Audit Report, questioning auditors about the BVI report's impact on financial controls, for example asking: > So, I guess Councillor Ahmed's question was around the BVI report and the assurance that it's given over the financial controls. Given that we have had that assurance from an external agency, why has the outcome of the BVI report featured so heavily in... As opposed to necessarily just the internal control environment as a whole.
Bustin also advocated for a tracker to monitor the progress of audit recommendations. Regarding the Annual Governance Statement, she expressed concerns about its balance, feeling it focused too heavily on positive aspects and lacked sufficient discussion of criticisms. > I think from my perspective, when I read the pages 21 and 22, so the comments on the peer review from the LGA, but also on the best value inspection, I, on first reading it, felt it was unbalanced in some ways. I felt that in particular with the LGA peer review, there was a lot of focus on the good points of the review, and there was less discussion in this statement on the criticisms that came out of the peer review. And I actually went back to read the peer review, and the executive summary, and I can see that quite a lot of the executive summary hasn't even been referenced in this annual governance statement. She emphasized the importance of documenting the committee's concerns and establishing a process for earlier review. She also raised questions about expenditure increases, pension assets, and the source of affordable homes data. Bustin oversaw the approval of the statement of accounts and letter of representations, facilitated discussions on policies and strategies, and proposed a private session to discuss a sensitive issue.
Meetings in February 2025
Extraordinary - , Audit Committee - Monday, 24th February, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 24 February 2025
As Chair of the Audit Committee, Mufeedah Bustin facilitated the meeting, managed the agenda, and directed questions to relevant officers and councillors. She expressed frustration with the late release of papers and requested more advance notice. She also updated the committee on an informal meeting held in January regarding committee performance and terms of reference.
Bustin actively engaged with the EY External Audit Report, posing questions to the auditors and ensuring councillors had the opportunity to contribute. She inquired about the BVI report and its impact on financial controls:
So, I guess Councillor Ahmed's question was around the BVI report and the assurance that it's given over the financial controls. Given that we have had that assurance from an external agency, why has the outcome of the BVI report featured so heavily in... As opposed to necessarily just the internal control environment as a whole.
She also pressed for assurance on the progress of recommendations from both current and previous auditors, advocating for a tracker to monitor progress and inquiring about timelines for its implementation and for statutory recommendations.
Regarding the Annual Governance Statement, Bustin expressed concerns about its balance, particularly regarding the LGA peer review and the best value inspection. She felt the statement focused too heavily on positive aspects and lacked sufficient discussion of criticisms. She summarized her perspective:
I think from my perspective, when I read the pages 21 and 22, so the comments on the peer review from the LGA, but also on the best value inspection, I, on first reading it, felt it was unbalanced in some ways. I felt that in particular with the LGA peer review, there was a lot of focus on the good points of the review, and there was less discussion in this statement on the criticisms that came out of the peer review. And I actually went back to read the peer review, and the executive summary, and I can see that quite a lot of the executive summary hasn't even been referenced in this annual governance statement. Similarly, I think in the best value inspection section, I agree with Councillor Francis in that there is more fact in here, rather than subjectivity. However, it's quite process-focused, and less conclusive around some of the findings. As a document that is there to describe the governance of the council, it's not one that I necessarily feel comfortable, slightly honest about it, so I do agree with Charlotte's observations as well. I think our comments as a committee need to be noted and need to be reflected in the minutes, but also we need to find a way of communicating, as a committee, our views, albeit, I appreciate there are differing views around this table, but there has to be a way that we need to make sure that these are being escalated to the senior management of the council as well.
She also sought assurance on the progress of governance actions and suggested more frequent reporting to the committee. While acknowledging her role in signing the statement of accounts, she emphasized the importance of documenting the committee's concerns about the annual governance statement and establishing a process for earlier review in the future.
Bustin raised questions about an increase in expenditure for housing and region, the pension asset showing a zero balance, and the source of a number related to affordable homes delivered, suggesting clarification on whether the number represented council-delivered homes or those delivered by all providers in the borough.
She oversaw the approval of the statement of accounts and the letter of representations. She also facilitated discussions on policies and strategies, areas for more detailed review, and the scheduling of upcoming meetings.
Finally, Bustin proposed moving into a private session to discuss a sensitive issue more openly and requested the exclusion of the press and public.
Development Committee - Thursday, 6th February, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 6 February 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin was present at the Development Committee meeting. At the start of the meeting, she stated her name and ward:
Good evening. I'm the feeder-busting Councillor for Island Gardens.
She also declared that she had nothing to declare:
I'm nothing to declare.
The minutes and reports pack do not record any further statements or actions from Councillor Bustin during the meeting.
In January 2025, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin (Island Gardens) attended two council meetings. During the January 22nd Council meeting, she spoke in response to the Ofsted outcome report, commending the children and the council for their achievement. > Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean, sometimes it's hard enough to stand up and speak at these council meetings, but to stand up and sing is quite remarkable. So, well done to the children and well done to the council. This is an amazing achievement for our children and for the children of Tower Hamlets and it's something that we should all be celebrating. It's not something that's come about easy. There's a lot of hard work behind that one word. And I think we, every member in this chamber, I'm sure, recognises that and wants to say a massive thank you to Susanna, Habon and their team, as well as to Steve and others who I don't have enough time to mention. But, yeah, really well done and look forward to seeing the improvement plan and how it progresses as well. Thank you.
She acknowledged the hard work involved and expressed her anticipation for the improvement plan. She is listed as a Deputy on the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, but there is no indication that she spoke or took any specific actions during the January 28th meeting.
Meetings in January 2025
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 28th January, 2025 6.30 p.m. - 28 January 2025
Mufeedah Bustin is listed as a Deputy on the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. There is no indication in the provided documents that she spoke or took any specific actions during the meeting.
Council - Wednesday, 22nd January, 2025 7.00 p.m. - 22 January 2025
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, representing Island Gardens, spoke during the discussion of the Ofsted outcome report. She commended the children and the council for the achievement, acknowledging the hard work involved.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean, sometimes it's hard enough to stand up and speak at these council meetings, but to stand up and sing is quite remarkable. So, well done to the children and well done to the council. This is an amazing achievement for our children and for the children of Tower Hamlets and it's something that we should all be celebrating. It's not something that's come about easy. There's a lot of hard work behind that one word. And I think we, every member in this chamber, I'm sure, recognises that and wants to say a massive thank you to Susanna, Habon and their team, as well as to Steve and others who I don't have enough time to mention. But, yeah, really well done and look forward to seeing the improvement plan and how it progresses as well. Thank you.
Throughout 2024, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin actively participated in council meetings and committees, demonstrating a strong focus on accountability, transparency, and resident concerns. A key theme was her diligent scrutiny of council operations, particularly within the Audit Committee, where she served as Chair in December. She consistently questioned risk assessments, financial reporting, and audit processes, seeking clarity and improvements. She commended well-written reports and sought to improve those that were not. >I think it's a really good report and it's really evident to see the improvements that have been made.
Bustin also prioritized resident concerns, particularly regarding development projects and community spaces. She raised questions about the Former Westferry Printworks development, Stebondale Street football pitches, and Victoria Park events, advocating for community consultation and mitigation of negative impacts. Her involvement in the call-in of the Mayor's decision regarding the Victoria Park Licence to Occupy highlights her commitment to resident engagement. She also demonstrated a commitment to ethical governance, expressing strong concerns about being asked to sign documents without adequate information and withdrawing a motion on abuse in political campaigning. Her actions demonstrate a commitment to representing her constituents and ensuring responsible governance within the council. She also showed a willingness to work with all members of the council, regardless of political affiliation. >It's not usual for both sides of the chamber to actually agree on a motion.
Monthly Activity in 2024
As Chair of the Audit Committee, Mufeedah Bustin presided over the December 4th meeting, focusing on objectivity and addressing the Best Value Inspection Report. She managed the agenda, facilitated introductions and declarations of interest, and addressed the minutes of the previous meeting, agreeing to Councillor Francis's suggestion for an action log: > Thank you, Councillor Francis. Yes, I agree. That would be really helpful if you could make that change. That would be useful.
Bustin introduced reports from Deloitte and EY, inviting presentations and questions. She inquired about the materiality of risks associated with members' data, asking: > So, this was something that was raised previously, and I would appreciate your comments around whether it's a material risk, what's the liability, what direction it goes in, you know, what's the issue for audit committee that we need to be aware of?
She summarized the situation regarding financial statements with disclaimers and requested a note about an upcoming report. Bustin also expressed appreciation for Deloitte's work, echoing Councillor Francis's sentiment: > Thank you, Councillor Francis. And absolutely, I just want to echo that as well. So, thank you very much, Jonathan and Angus, for all of your hard work and persistence over the last six years with Tower Hamlets. I think we've all valued your time and your commitment. And particularly, I understood that Angus had actually retired a few years ago. So, thank you for coming out of retirement to support with the closure of these audits. So, I wish you both well. Thank you. You're very welcome to stay for the remainder of the meeting, but I totally understand if you need to leave. Thank you.
She facilitated discussion on the EY Audit Status Report, directing questions to relevant parties, including Asan regarding land and property valuation, and inquired about support the committee could offer the finance team.
Meetings in December 2024
, Audit Committee - Wednesday, 4th December, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 4 December 2024
As Chair of the Audit Committee, Mufeedah Bustin presided over the meeting, ensuring it remained objective and focused. She opened the meeting, acknowledged past leadership, and addressed the Best Value Inspection Report. She guided the committee through the agenda, inviting members to introduce themselves, declare interests, and approve the minutes of the previous meeting. She addressed concerns about the accuracy of the minutes, acknowledging suggestions for improvements, such as Councillor Francis's action log proposal, stating:
Thank you, Councillor Francis. Yes, I agree. That would be really helpful if you could make that change. That would be useful.
Bustin introduced reports from Deloitte and EY, inviting presentations and facilitating questions from the committee. She specifically inquired about the materiality of risks associated with members' data, asking:
So, this was something that was raised previously, and I would appreciate your comments around whether it's a material risk, what's the liability, what direction it goes in, you know, what's the issue for audit committee that we need to be aware of?
She summarized the situation regarding financial statements with disclaimers and requested a note be made about an upcoming report. Bustin also expressed appreciation for Deloitte's work, echoing Councillor Francis's sentiment:
Thank you, Councillor Francis. And absolutely, I just want to echo that as well. So, thank you very much, Jonathan and Angus, for all of your hard work and persistence over the last six years with Tower Hamlets. I think we've all valued your time and your commitment. And particularly, I understood that Angus had actually retired a few years ago. So, thank you for coming out of retirement to support with the closure of these audits. So, I wish you both well. Thank you. You're very welcome to stay for the remainder of the meeting, but I totally understand if you need to leave. Thank you.
She facilitated discussion on the EY Audit Status Report, directing questions to relevant parties, including Asan regarding land and property valuation, and inquiring about support the committee could offer the finance team.
During November 2024, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin of Island Gardens participated in three council meetings. At the Strategic Development Committee meeting on November 13th, she attended as a substitute member specifically to hear item 6.1, stating, >I am a feeder busting counsellor for Island Gardens, nothing to declare. I am a substitute to Amir just to hear item 6.1 which I believe is going to be heard first. Thank you.
At the Development Committee meeting on November 28th, she declared, >Sorry, I'm a feeder busting Councillor for Island Gardens, nothing to declare.
At the Council meeting on November 20th, she spoke during the debate on the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) against dogs. She shared a personal perspective on dogs, highlighted statistics on dog bites, and criticized the council's approach, stating, >The best value inspection report criticises this council for pushing ahead with initiatives without a coherent strategy or without a detailed evidence base. The same report also criticises the council for not undertaking meaningful and comprehensive consultation.
She urged the administration to reconsider the proposal, concluding with, >I would urge the administration to take the proposal and in the words of my hero Snoop Dogg, drop it like its drop.
Meetings in November 2024
Development Committee - Thursday, 28th November, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 28 November 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, a member of the Development Committee representing Island Gardens, declared at the beginning of the meeting that she had nothing to declare.
Sorry, I'm a feeder busting Councillor for Island Gardens, nothing to declare.
Council - Wednesday, 20th November, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 20 November 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, representing Island Gardens, participated in the Council meeting on November 20, 2024, where she spoke during the debate on the petition concerning the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) against dogs. She began by thanking the Speaker.
She shared a personal anecdote about her evolving understanding of dogs, from a lack of knowledge to appreciating their benefits, particularly for the elderly, citing fitness, companionship, mental health, and socialization.
Bustin highlighted statistics about dog bites, noting that most occur within the home and involve familiar dogs, suggesting that leashing would not prevent such incidents. She acknowledged the rise in dog attacks and fatalities, attributing it to factors like the pandemic, increased dog ownership, and inadequate socialization. She thanked the petitioners for raising the issue.
She criticized the council, referencing a best value inspection report:
The best value inspection report criticises this council for pushing ahead with initiatives without a coherent strategy or without a detailed evidence base. The same report also criticises the council for not undertaking meaningful and comprehensive consultation.
She urged the administration to listen to the community and reconsider the proposal, concluding with a call to action:
I would urge the administration to take the proposal and in the words of my hero Snoop Dogg, drop it like its drop.
Strategic Development Committee - Wednesday, 13th November, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 13 November 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, representing Island Gardens, attended the Strategic Development Committee meeting on November 13, 2024, as a substitute member. She stated her presence was specifically to hear item 6.1.
I am a feeder busting counsellor for Island Gardens, nothing to declare. I am a substitute to Amir just to hear item 6.1 which I believe is going to be heard first. Thank you.
Records from the previous meeting on October 9, 2024, indicate that Councillor Bustin introduced herself for item 4.2 (PA/21/02707: Whitechapel Road Development Site) because she was physically present at the 28 August meeting. At that time, she declared no disclosable pecuniary interests but noted that she had previously met Jeff Simons in relation to other sites during item 5.1 (PA/22/01749: Blackwall Way Jetty, Blackwall Way).
During October 2024, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin actively participated in several council and committee meetings. She withdrew a motion on abuse in political campaigning at the Council meeting on October 2nd. At the Development Committee meeting on October 3rd, she inquired about traffic impacts related to a proposed development, specifically on Preston's Road, questioning the consideration of restaurant traffic and the status of a road slated for closure. At the Audit Committee meeting on October 10th, she questioned delays in information provision from the auditor's perspective and inquired about the management of finance audits given the pressures on the finance team. She also followed up on DBS checks across services with safeguarding responsibilities and commented on the need to reflect both positives and negatives from inspection reviews. At the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on October 15th, she voiced strong concerns regarding the Chief Executive's improvement plan, particularly the decision concerning the statutory scrutiny officer (SSO). She felt the Chief Executive disregarded the committee's preference to maintain the existing officer setup and instead provide additional resources. > You reassured us time and time again, and then you went off and then you sent us this letter almost like saying you were happy and proud to ignore us, and I don't actually appreciate that.
She challenged the Chief Executive's recollection of previous conversations, asserting that the committee consistently requested additional resources while retaining the existing officers. She questioned the rationale behind replacing the previous, experienced BAME SSO, highlighting the loss of experience and connection. She attended the Strategic Development Committee meeting on October 9th, but no specific statements or actions were attributed to her beyond her attendance.
Meetings in October 2024
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 15th October, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 15 October 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, representing Island Gardens, actively participated in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting. She expressed appreciation to Steve Halsey for his understanding of the issues but emphasized the need for more direction in future scrutiny efforts.
Councillor Bustin voiced strong concerns regarding the Chief Executive's improvement plan, particularly the decision concerning the statutory scrutiny officer (SSO). She felt the Chief Executive disregarded the committee's expressed preference to maintain the existing officer setup and instead provide additional resources. She stated:
The statutory officer, and I've spoken to Mr Ready just before this, this is nothing to do with Mr Ready personally, and I'm looking forward to working with him, but the previous SSO officer who had supported us, we've sat in this committee, when you've turned up at the development event for ONS and every time you've spoken to us, we have always said that we actually like the set up and the support that officers give us, we want to keep the officers as it is, and we would like additional resources. You reassured us time and time again, and then you went off and then you sent us this letter almost like saying you were happy and proud to ignore us, and I don't actually appreciate that.
She challenged the Chief Executive's recollection of previous conversations, asserting that the committee consistently requested additional resources while retaining the existing officers. She questioned the rationale behind replacing the previous, experienced BAME SSO, highlighting the loss of experience and connection. She further questioned how the actions taken aligned with the stated improvement goals and expressed feeling unheard, stating that there was a clear disagreement on what had been agreed upon.
Audit Committee - Thursday, 10th October, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 10 October 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, representing Island Gardens, participated in the Audit Committee meeting. She declared no Declarations of Private Interest (DPIs). During the discussion of the audit planning report, she inquired about delays in information provision, asking what was causing the delay from the auditor's perspective.
During the discussion of the internal audit and anti-fraud progress update report, Councillor Bustin congratulated the team on their EQA results and the fraud survey. She then raised two questions. First, regarding the number of finance audits, she asked how the audit fieldwork would be managed given the pressures on the finance team. Second, she followed up on a previous discussion about DBS checks in the SEN transport report, questioning whether a comprehensive review of DBS checks was being conducted across all services with safeguarding responsibilities, especially given the upcoming children's services inspection. She also commented on paragraph 5.5 of the report, stating that both the positives and negatives from inspection reviews ought to be reflected.
Strategic Development Committee - Wednesday, 9th October, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 9 October 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin was present at the Strategic Development Committee meeting held on 28 August 2024. However, the provided documents do not contain any specific statements or actions attributed to her beyond her attendance.
Development Committee - Thursday, 3rd October, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 3 October 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin of Island Gardens introduced herself and declared no conflicts of interest, noting she had previously met with the Canary Wharf group but didn't recognize anyone from the applicant's side present at the meeting.
She raised concerns about traffic on Preston's Road, referencing previous improvements made by the Canary Wharf group and inquiring about potential impacts from increased traffic due to the proposed development. Specifically, she asked:
I have a question about traffic on Preston's Road. So I know like there's been some work on Preston's Road from Canary Wharf group to improve access into Wood Wharf and you mentioned in your presentation there'll be an additional access from Preston's Road into Wood Wharf. When is that due to happen and when is the I think there was something that happened in terms of the agreement. I don't know if it was to do with still but the Canary Wharf group invested a lot in road improvements on Preston's Road as part of some previous application and I wondered whether this would generate something similar as well because obviously there'd be an increase of traffic from Preston's Road into Wood Wharf.
She also questioned whether traffic flow assessments considered the presence of restaurants and the resulting increase in taxis and deliveries.
Yes, well I was thinking like because the area's quite, there's a lot of restaurants as well so there'll be a lot of taxis and deliveries and that sort of thing so are they, when officers have assessed the increase or the impact on traffic have they looked at sort of traffic flows as well as part of that?
Finally, she sought clarification on whether the road slated for closure was currently open to the public.
So I just want to understand, so you know the road that's going to be closed, is that open currently?
Council - Wednesday, 2nd October, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 2 October 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin was present at the Council meeting. She withdrew her motion on abuse in political campaigning. The meeting chair confirmed this withdrawal.
During September 2024, Mufeedah Bustin chaired the Extraordinary Meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on September 30th. As chair, she opened the meeting by explaining its purpose, noting that Councillors Islam, Lee, and Natalie had raised issues with her and that she had been asked to sign a document without a full explanation. She then performed standard chair duties, including managing apologies, declarations of interest, the meeting structure, and member conduct. Bustin was also one of the Councillors who Called-In
the decision of the Mayor in Cabinet on 11 September regarding the Domiciliary Care Service Contract award. At the end of the open session, she expressed strong concerns about being asked to sign a document without adequate information, stating: > When I was asked to sign in, I wasn't fully explained what I'm signing. I wasn't given the full report, and I wasn't even told 190 million pounds of contract was involved. So, can you make a note that that never happened again? If a scrutiny chair is asked to sign something, he or she needed to be explained the full report before he signed, he or she signed it. This is my final comment on it.
Meetings in September 2024
Extraordinary Meeting, Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 30th September, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 30 September 2024
Mufeedah Bustin chaired the Extraordinary Meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. As chair, she opened the meeting by explaining the circumstances that led to it, stating that Councillors Asma Islam, Amy Lee, and Natalie had raised issues with her. She also noted that she was asked to sign a document without a full explanation. She then proceeded with standard chair duties, including asking for apologies for absence, declarations of interest, explaining the meeting structure (open and closed sessions), reminding members to act professionally and avoid political statements, clarifying the role of co-opted members, and requesting members to be mindful of time and concise in their contributions.
Bustin was also one of the Councillors who Called-In
the decision of the Mayor in Cabinet on 11 September regarding the Domiciliary Care Service Contract award.
At the end of the open session, Bustin reiterated her concern about being asked to sign a document without sufficient information:
When I was asked to sign in, I wasn't fully explained what I'm signing. I wasn't given the full report, and I wasn't even told 190 million pounds of contract was involved. So, can you make a note that that never happened again? If a scrutiny chair is asked to sign something, he or she needed to be explained the full report before he signed, he or she signed it. This is my final comment on it.
During the Strategic Development Committee meeting on August 28, 2024, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin (Island Gardens Ward) declared interests related to Item 4.1 and Item 5.1. For Item 4.1, she stated she was not present for the substantial debate and would abstain from voting. Regarding Item 5.1, she disclosed her past involvement, including >campaigning against the 2018 scheme and objecting to appeal schemes.
She also noted her participation in council-facilitated community engagement events, maintaining >an open mind and looking forward to the debate.
Councillor Bustin was later substituted by Councillor Mathilda Bustin.
Meetings in August 2024
Strategic Development Committee - Wednesday, 28th August, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 28 August 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, representing Island Gardens Ward, declared interests related to two items on the agenda. For Item 4.1, she stated she was not present for the substantial debate and would abstain from voting. Regarding Item 5.1, she disclosed her past involvement, including campaigning against the 2018 scheme and objecting to appeal schemes. However, she also noted her participation in council-facilitated community engagement events, maintaining an open mind and looking forward to the debate. Councillor Bustin was later substituted by Councillor Mathilda Bustin.
During July 2024, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin actively participated in council meetings, particularly focusing on audit and community matters. At the Audit Committee meeting on July 8th, she declared no DPIs. She commended the Risk Management Annual Report, highlighting the reduction in control measures being monitored and inquired about the future presentation of risk registers and plans for addressing persistent high-rated risks. >I think it's a really good report and it's really evident to see the improvements that have been made.
She also praised the Insurance Annual Report, questioning the high motor insurance loss ratio and the process for challenging repudiated claims. She found the audit committee work plan straightforward and suggested reflecting both positive and negative aspects of inspection reviews in paragraph 5.5. On July 17th, at the Council meeting, Councillor Bustin seconded the motion regarding the community laundry, emphasizing the strong local sentiment and the rare agreement between both sides of the chamber. >It's not usual for both sides of the chamber to actually agree on a motion.
She expressed confidence in the lead member and the Mayor to find a solution. While she was a substitute member of the Strategic Development Committee on July 16th, there is no record of her making any statements or taking any actions during that meeting.
Meetings in July 2024
Council - Wednesday, 17th July, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 17 July 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin seconded the motion for debate submitted by the administration regarding the community laundry. She acknowledged the strong feelings of local people, evidenced by the growing number of petition signatures. Bustin highlighted the unusual agreement between both sides of the chamber on this issue, noting the alignment of the administration and opposition motions. She expressed confidence in the lead member and the Mayor to find a solution, acknowledging their engagement and efforts to move the issue forward.
Thank you, speaker and thank you, petitioners. I'll keep it brief because I think a lot of the points and a lot of the feelings and sentiments are shared across the chamber. But from looking at the number of people that have signed the petition and the fact that it's growing, it shows that clearly local people feel very strongly about the community laundry. It's not usual for both sides of the chamber to actually agree on a motion. So the fact that Councilor Bastin says the administration motion and opposition motion that we have nicely sort of comes together and allows us to agree on something that the community feels very strongly about. I think the lead member, local ward Councillors, have made it quite demonstrable that they've engaged, have tried to engage and move this forward. I'm quite confident that the lead member and the Mayor will find a solution for this. And with that, I'd like to conclude my remarks.
Strategic Development Committee - Tuesday, 16th July, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 16 July 2024
Mufeedah Bustin was a substitute member of the Strategic Development Committee. While she was present at the previous meeting on May 14, 2024, according to the minutes, there is no record of her making any statements or taking any actions during that meeting.
Audit Committee - Monday, 8th July, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 8 July 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin of Island Gardens declared no DPIs at the beginning of the meeting.
During the discussion of the Risk Management Annual Report, Councillor Bustin commended the report and its evident improvements. She specifically noted the reduction in control measures being monitored from 40% to 20%. She then inquired about the risk registers, asking if they would be presented to the Audit Committee again, as she found them useful. She also asked about the plans for addressing higher-rated risks that haven't moved for some time.
Thank you, Chair. So, I had a few questions. I think first of all, well done. I think it's a really good report and it's really evident to see the improvements that have been made. I think the one that stood out for me was under 4.4. We talked about the control measures that were being monitored and the reduction basically that's reduced from 40% to 20%. So, I don't underestimate the work involved to do that. I just had two other questions. One was around where we've had the risk registers presented to audit committee in the past. Is that something that's going to come back to audit committee? Because I don't think we've had them at the last one, but I mean, I find them quite useful. The other question is around, within those risk registers, there's some risks that have been, that basically the risk score hasn't moved for some time. And I think you summarise those in the report as well. So, what works specifically is planned around those sort of higher rated risks that haven't moved for some time. Yeah, that was all. Thank you.
During the discussion of the Insurance Annual Report, Councillor Bustin again praised the report. She questioned the high loss ratio on motor insurance, asking if it was due to a single high-value incident or multiple incidents. She also inquired about the process for claimants to challenge repudiated claims for self-insured cases and whether the council analyzes overturned repudiated claims.
Yeah, thank you, Chair and thank you, David. Another good report, three in a row. The questions I have relate to claims. So firstly, why is the loss ratio on motor so high? Does that relate to just one high value incident or were there, you know, a number of incidents added to that? And then I had a question about repudiated claims for those where we self-insure. So do claimants have the ability to challenge any repudiated claims and what's the process for that and, therefore, do we do any analysis of any repudiated claims which are then overturned and end up being paid?
Regarding the audit committee work plan, Councillor Bustin found it straightforward.
Councillor Bustin also stated that both the positives and negatives from inspection reviews ought to be reflected in paragraph 5.5 ‘Other inspection work’.
During June 2024, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin (Island Gardens) participated in two council meetings. At the Development Committee meeting on June 12th, she declared no interests and echoed concerns about the size of properties being developed. At the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on June 18th, Bustin co-signed the call-in of the Mayor's decision regarding the Victoria Park Licence to Occupy. The call-in raised concerns about the extension of major commercial events in Victoria Park for an additional year (2027) without proper consultation with residents or the Friends Group. The call-in document stated that the report: > This report has enabled the Mayor to extend the excessive number of major commercial events in Victoria Park for an additional year (2027);
In keeping with its refusal to listen to the views of residents living around Victoria Park, this change has not been notified to residents or even the Friends Group; Para 5.2 presents AEG’s ‘community engagement’ as if it fulfills Tower Hamlets Council’s own obligation to consult residents on decisions affecting their lives; This change commits an incoming Executive Mayor following the May 2026 local elections to a programme of events for half their term of office. Bustin also co-signed the proposed alternative course of action: > The Mayor should reverse his decision of 16 May 2024 to extend the contract with AEG for its licence to occupy Victoria Park into 2027, and undertake proper consultation with residents before any decision is made;
Meetings in June 2024
Call in: Victoria Park Licence to Occupy, Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 18th June, 2024 6.00 p.m. - 18 June 2024
Mufeedah Bustin co-signed the call-in of the Mayor's decision regarding the Victoria Park Licence to Occupy. The call-in raised concerns about the extension of major commercial events in Victoria Park for an additional year (2027) without proper consultation with residents or the Friends Group. The call-in document stated that the report:
This report has enabled the Mayor to extend the excessive number of major commercial events in Victoria Park for an additional year (2027); In keeping with its refusal to listen to the views of residents living around Victoria Park, this change has not been notified to residents or even the Friends Group; Para 5.2 presents AEG’s ‘community engagement’ as if it fulfills Tower Hamlets Council’s own obligation to consult residents on decisions affecting their lives; This change commits an incoming Executive Mayor following the May 2026 local elections to a programme of events for half their term of office.
Bustin also co-signed the proposed alternative course of action, which was:
The Mayor should reverse his decision of 16 May 2024 to extend the contract with AEG for its licence to occupy Victoria Park into 2027, and undertake proper consultation with residents before any decision is made;
Development Committee - Wednesday, 12th June, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 12 June 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, representing Island Gardens, declared no interests in any of the agenda items. She later echoed concerns raised by another councillor (Muffida Buston) regarding the size of properties being developed under agenda item 5.1, agreeing with the sentiment that the properties were too large.
During May 2024, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin actively participated in several council meetings. A primary focus was on the Stebondale Street football pitches, where she raised residents' concerns about potential plans for floodlit pitches available for hire until 9pm. She inquired about the administration's plans and the timing of a consultation regarding the floodlights. At the Strategic Development Committee, she declared her position as Councillor for Island Gardens and stated she had no interests to declare. At the Audit Committee, Bustin declared no DPIs and expressed satisfaction with updates to the committee's terms of reference, hoping to strengthen them further. She requested a date change for a meeting. She questioned the robustness of the handover process between Deloitte and EY, seeking assurance about potential gaps in accounting processes and the acceptance of assumptions. She also raised several concerns about the Annual Government Statement (AGS), finding it unbalanced and lacking clarity. She questioned the internal audit assessment rating, the omission of criticisms from the LGA corporate peer challenge, and the lack of background information on the best value inspection. She inquired about consequences for corporate directors failing to deliver on assurance statements and sought clarification on financial risks associated with the waste service and leisure centre management. Finally, she felt the conclusion of the AGS needed strengthening. Regarding the audit committee work plan, she acknowledged the issue with the July 18th date and expressed willingness to be flexible if adjustments could be made. On May 8th, she stated:
Residents have heard rumours that the administration is planning to turn the Stebondale Street football pitches, in to floodlit pitches available for hire until 9pm at night. Please could the administration confirm what their plans are for the Stebondale pitches.
She also inquired:
Residents are concerned about the floodlights. Can the lead member say when the consultation will take place?
Meetings in May 2024
Audit Committee - Thursday, 23rd May, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 23 May 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin declared no DPIs during introductions. She expressed satisfaction that the audit committee's terms of reference had been updated based on previous discussions and hoped to strengthen them further. She requested a change of date for the July 18th meeting due to a clash with the development committee.
Bustin questioned the robustness of the handover process between Deloitte and EY, particularly regarding potential gaps in accounting processes and the acceptance of assumptions made by previous auditors. She requested that the committee be informed of any gaps or issues with assumptions after the handover was complete.
She raised several concerns about the Annual Government Statement (AGS), finding it unbalanced and lacking clarity. She questioned the internal audit assessment rating, the omission of criticisms from the LGA corporate peer challenge, and the lack of background information on the best value inspection. She inquired about the consequences for corporate directors who fail to deliver on signed assurance statements regarding savings. She also sought clarification on the financial risks associated with the waste service and leisure centre management, requesting specific numbers for context. Finally, she felt the conclusion of the AGS needed strengthening to clearly state whether good governance was in place.
Regarding the audit committee work plan, she acknowledged the issue with the July 18th date and expressed willingness to be flexible if adjustments could be made.
Annual Meeting, Council - Wednesday, 15th May, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 15 May 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin addressed the Council following the Speaker's address, though the content of her address was not recorded in the minutes. She also raised concerns on behalf of residents regarding potential plans for the Stebondale Street football pitches, specifically asking about rumours of floodlit pitches available for hire until 9pm and requesting confirmation of the administration's plans. Furthermore, she inquired about the timing of a consultation regarding the floodlights, reflecting residents' concerns about them.
Strategic Development Committee - Tuesday, 14th May, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 14 May 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin declared her position as Councillor for Island Gardens and stated she had no interests to declare regarding the agenda items.
Council - Wednesday, 8th May, 2024 7.00 p.m. - 8 May 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin attended the Council meeting on May 8, 2024, and asked two questions regarding the Stebondale Street football pitches. She stated:
Residents have heard rumours that the administration is planning to turn the Stebondale Street football pitches, in to floodlit pitches available for hire until 9pm at night. Please could the administration confirm what their plans are for the Stebondale pitches.
She also inquired about the timing of a consultation regarding the floodlights, saying:
Residents are concerned about the floodlights. Can the lead member say when the consultation will take place?
During April 2024, Councillor Mufeedah Bustin actively participated in council meetings, primarily focusing on planning and risk assessment. At the Strategic Development Committee meeting on April 3rd, she engaged extensively with agenda item 5.1 concerning the Former Westferry Printworks development. She declared her prior involvement in the planning inquiry for the previous scheme and sought clarification on various aspects of the new application. Her inquiries centered on private garden space justification, site permeability and public accessibility, potential impact on the E1 nightclub (requesting mitigation measures), the relevance of Crossrail references, the certainty and conditioning of access to the Ornamental Canal, and the play space strategy (suggesting consultation with local youth and questioning the nature and duration of planned events). She also questioned the affordable rent levels and the management arrangements for affordable properties. > Thank you, Chair. And thank you for the report and presentation. You answered most of my questions, however, I still have a few...
At the Audit Committee meeting on April 23rd, she questioned the high risk score (25) assigned to risk CSD0016, recalling its discussion in a prior meeting and seeking justification for the elevated score.
Meetings in April 2024
Audit Committee - Tuesday, 23rd April, 2024 6.30 p.m. - 23 April 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin questioned the high risk score (25) associated with risk CSD0016. She noted that this risk had been discussed at a previous Audit Committee meeting and inquired about the reasons for the elevated score.
Strategic Development Committee - Wednesday, 3rd April, 2024 5.30 p.m. - 3 April 2024
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin, representing Island Gardens Ward, participated in the Strategic Development Committee meeting on April 3, 2024, focusing primarily on agenda item 5.1. She declared taking an active role in the planning inquiry for the previous scheme at the Former Westferry Printworks, 235 Westferry Road, London that went to appeal, although was keen to understand how the scheme has evolved and stated she had no declarations of interest.
Bustin raised several questions and concerns regarding the planning application, including:
- The justification for private garden space and whether it is common for this type of application.
- The permeability of the site, ease of walking around, and whether outsiders will feel welcome, referencing paragraph 7.111 of the report and a previous discussion about removing fences in public gardens, seeking confirmation that this was included in the planning conditions.
- The potential impact of the development on the nearby E1 nightclub, citing potential noise complaints and the risk to the cultural venue, requesting more mitigation measures to protect the cultural venue from potential risks due to new residents.
- Clarity on the reference to Crossrail in paragraph 5.37.
- Clarity on the access to the Ornamental Canal, questioning whether it was definitely going to happen, when, and if it could be conditioned.
- The play space, suggesting consultation with local young people and seeking clarity on what constitutes an
event
in the context of the 12 events mentioned in the report, and for how long the commitment to those events would last. She also raised concerns about the lack of a football pitch on the site and suggested speaking to young people in the area for input on the play strategy. - The affordable rent levels and whether there is any scope for them to be increased by the developer.
- Who would manage the affordable properties and whether officers are content with the arrangements.
She directly stated:
Thank you, Chair. And thank you for the report and presentation. You answered most of my questions, however, I still have a few. One is to do with paragraph 5.37, where it says, where the word Crossrail is mentioned, the Mayor of London, Mayor of London, so towards Crossrail. And I wasn't quite sure how that was relevant here. I also just wanted some clarity on the access to the ornamental canal, because it's mentioned a few times and it's mentioned initially as something that's definitely going to happen. And then as you go through the report, it becomes vagar and vagar. So I just want to know, is it definitely going to happen if so when and can that be something that's conditioned as well? And then I've got some questions on the play space, which I'll come back to as well. Thank you.
Councillor Mufeedah Bustin declared taking an active role in the planning inquiry for the previous scheme that went to appeal, although was keen to understand how the scheme has evolved.
Thank you, Chair.
Activity Timeline
Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.
71 meetings · Page 10 of 15
Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 15th October, 2024 6.30 p.m.
The Committee noted the Council’s progress on the Local Government Association's (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) Action Plan and its performance in the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year. It also discussed the Council’s performance on tackling rent arrears, its Youth Justice Plan and the Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) Policy for licensed premises.
Audit Committee - Thursday, 10th October, 2024 6.30 p.m.
The Audit Committee discussed progress on clearing the backlog of audits from previous years, received an update on the current year’s audit and the appointment of new auditors, EY, considered a report on the Internal Audit function of the council including the findings of an External Quality Assessment, discussed the council’s risk management arrangements, and received a report on the council’s treasury management activities.
Strategic Development Committee - Wednesday, 9th October, 2024 6.30 p.m.
The meeting made decisions on three planning applications. Two deferred applications were granted and one deferred application was again deferred.
Development Committee - Thursday, 3rd October, 2024 6.30 p.m.
The Development Committee refused an application to redevelop Montgomery Square and Water Street. They voted to reject the officers' recommendation to approve the application because of concerns about the impact on local businesses and increased traffic congestion.
Council - Wednesday, 2nd October, 2024 7.00 p.m.
The meeting approved the creation of a Mayor's Winter Emergency Fund to provide financial support to pensioners ineligible for the scrapped Winter Fuel Allowance payments, and approved time-banded waste collection regulations. Two motions were also debated, one from the Administration on winter fuel payments and another from the Labour group about the council's homelessness accommodation placement policy.
Decisions from Meetings
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Summary
Meetings Attended: 71
Average per Month: 3.1
Decisions Recorded: 0