Councillor Suluk Ahmed

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

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

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 18th February, 2025 6.30 p.m.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the Metropolitan Police's work in the borough, the Council's Workforce to Reflect the Community Strategy, and the Tower Hamlets Local Plan 2038. They approved the membership of the Council's scrutiny sub-committees, following recent changes to the political proportionality of the Council.

Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Thursday, 13th February, 2025 6.30 p.m.

The committee heard two presentations, one on the provision of free school meals in Tower Hamlets and one on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and the advice that the council gives to schools on it. At the end of the discussion about RSE, the committee voted to request that the cabinet review the council's advice to schools to ensure that it reflects national guidance.

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

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

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

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