Tower Hamlets Council faced scrutiny over its housing policies at a council meeting on Wednesday, as an opposition motion highlighted concerns raised by the Regulator for Social Housing. The motion criticised the administration's progress on new council homes and the performance of the Housing Options Service.
The meeting addressed concerns from the Regulator for Social Housing, with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) potentially considering further action if the council doesn't collaborate with envoys and improve proactively.
Councillor Marc Francis, who proposed the motion, called for a special emergency Full Council meeting to address the Regulator's concerns. The motion also requested the council replace the Cabinet Member for Housing & Development and scrap plans for joint ventures with private developers, aiming to halt the practice of giving away public land to private developers through his failed Joint Venture and instead continue to bid for Social Housing Grant
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The focus shifted to housing as Councillor Francis and others voiced concerns about the council's approach. The opposition motion criticised what it called the administration's three years of housing failure
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In response, the administration's amendment to the opposition motion, detailed in the Aspire Amendment to the Housing Motion [https://democracy.towerhamlets.gov.uk/documents/s257067/Aspire%20Amendment%20to%20the%20Housing%20Motion.pdf], highlighted progress made, stating that the administration is about to unveil a cabinet report where a potential 3,300 additional affordable homes will be presented for development on Council-owned land; has over 11,000 properties in the planning process; and will exceed its 4,000 affordable homes delivery target. It also mentions a comprehensive acquisitions and buybacks programme.
Due to time constraints, the opposition's motion was not put to a vote.
