TRANSFORMING TOWER HAMLETS: THREE YEARS ON - MAYOR LUTFUR RAHMAN

8/12/2019 TRANSFORMING TOWER HAMLETS: THREE YEARS ON - MAYOR LUTFUR RAHMAN

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TRANSFORMING

TOWER HAMLETS:

Tower Hamlets First

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THREE YEARS ON


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TOWER HAMLETS FIRST ....................................................................04

FOREWORD .................................................................................................05

HOUSING AND REGENERATION ........................................06-07

EDUCATION AND YOUTH SERVICES.......................................08

COMMUNITY SAFETY AND COHESION................................09

JOBS, TRAINING AND WORKERS RIGHTS .................10-11

PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT ..........................................................12

HEALTH AND WELLBEING................................................................ 13

ARTS, HERITAGE AND LEISURE ....................................................14

COST OF LIVING ......................................................................................15

AWARD WINNING BOROUGH ......................................................16

DELIVERING PROGRESSIVE POLICIES....................................17

BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE ............................................... 18-19

DELIVERY TIMELINE .................................................................... 20-22

CO

NTENTTower Hamlets

has been part of mylife;I went to school

here and grew upwith children from all

backgrounds. I havereceived so much

from the area: I amwhat I am because of

Tower Hamlets andwhat public services

contributed to meand my family. I want

to give backto a

community that hasgiven so much.

MayorLutfur Rahman

THREEYEARSON

03TRANSFORMINGTOWER HAMLETS


3/13

In 2010, the people of Tower Hamlets electedme as the boroughs first Executive Mayor.When I came into office, I promised to improve

housing, education, jobs and communitysafety. I also promised to protect the boroughsheritage and green spaces and support ourmost vulnerable residents.

The last three years have been challengingbecause of unprecedented government cuts.Despite this, we have not only delivered onour promises but in some areas we have goneabove and beyond.

This report shows you what weve achievedtowards our 2010 promises, as well as theprogressive policies we have implemented,to help protect residents from the tougheconomic climate.

This delivery has only been possible due tothe hard work and dedication of my team ofcouncillors supported by our staff. I would like tothank them for all they have done, as well as ourresidents for all your support so far.

Lutfur RahmanMayor of Tower Hamlets

EXECUTIVEMAYORSFOREWORD

We were the first borough inthe country to adopt the LondonLiving Wage.

We were the first boroughto replace the EducationMaintenance Allowance axed bythe government.

We made school meals free forreception and year 1 pupils beforethe government adopted the idea.

We were one of the firstboroughs to absorb thegovernments cut to Council TaxBenefit.

We were the first borough tointroduce large scale bursaries tohelp students go to university.

TOWER HAMLETS HAS LED THE WAY IN DELIVERINGSOME OF THEMOST PROGRESSIVE POLICIES IN THE UK

We were the first borough topledge to protect workers bytackling the illegal practice ofblacklisting.

We have introduced thePeoples Plaques to replace theBlue Plaque scheme axed by thegovernment.

TOWERHAMLETSFIRST

04 TRANSFORMINGTOWER HAMLETS 05TRANSFORMINGTOWER HAMLETS


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HOUSINGANDREGENERATION

WHAT WEPROMISED

Build 4,000 affordable homes,especially family-sized homes.

Rehouse 1,000 overcrowdedfamilies each year.

Halve the number of councilhomes that fall below a decentstandard.

WHAT WE HAVEDELIVERED

3,250 homes built to date - ontrack to deliver 4,000 affordablehomes.

A 50m bonus from the

government for building the mostnew homes.

Over 3,000 overcrowded familieshave been rehoused.

The most sustainable homes inthe country.

Our 168m Decent Homesprogramme will see EVERY Councilhome renovated.

Rehoused 1,000 overcrowdedfamilies each year

TowerHamlets tops

new homesbonus leaguetable earning50m- more

than any otherlocal authority.

168million

DEC

ENTHOMESp

rog

ra

mme

will

se

eEVERYCounc

ilhomeren

ov

ated



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6/13


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PARKSANDENVIRONMENT

WHAT WEPROMISED

Protect and improve our parksand public spaces.

Invest in Victoria Park.

Ensure that our streets are clean.


A 12m regeneration of Victoria Parkand investment in green spaces acrossTower Hamlets.

Saving King Edward Memorial Park.

Winning the Keep Britain Tidyaward for cleanest streets in the UK.

800,000 for deep cleaning acrossthe borough.

99.85% refuse collected on time.

HEALTHANDWELLBEING

WHAT WEPROMISED

Protect the interests of residentsin the face of cuts and NHS reforms.

Promote support forindependent living.

Provide free Homecarefor the elderly.


Securing an extra 15m for healthfacilities in the borough.

Increase in lunch club provision,tackle loneliness and improve thehealth of older residents.

Remaining the only borough in theUK with free Homecare.

If the TowerHamlets Mayors

Higher EducationAward can in

any way alleviatestudents financial

difficulties,this it is to be

welcomed.Alan Bennett,

Playwright and author



8/13

ARTS, LEISUREANDHERITAGE

SINCE 2010, GOVERNMENT CUTSAND WELFARE REFORMS HAVECREATED NEW CHALLENGES

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE DOING TO HELP:

2m preventing homelessnessfund for those hit by the housingbenefit cap.

Council tax frozen since 2010saving you 300.

Introducing the Tower HamletsEnergy Co-Op to reduce fuel bills.

Extra funding for childcare and

support for the elderly and disabled.

Council tax rebate to 10,000pensioners, saving an average of218 a year.

COST OFLIVING

Absorbing the governmentscut to Council Tax Benefit, savingaffected families an average of218 a year, benefiting 25,000

residents on low income.

WHAT WEPROMISED

The refurbishment ofPoplar Baths.

Save the Cable Street Mural.

Renovating Bancroft LocalHistory Library.

Help build a memorial to theBethnal Green Tube Disaster.


36m to bring Poplar Baths backto its former glory.

Renovated Bancroft Local HistoryLibrary.

Funding the 75thanniversary of theBattle of Cable Street and restoringthe mural.

1.2m regeneration of Altab AliPark in Whitechapel.

100,000 towards building thememorial for the Bethnal Green Tube

Disaster.

Peoples Plaques to replace theBlue Plaque scheme axed by thegovernment.

A scheme to protect all theboroughs war memorials for the100th anniversary of WW1.

Lutfur Rahmanhas pledged notto close libraries,

childrens centresor leisure centres

and will keephomecare free.



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Tower Hamlets has led the way in deliveringsome of the most progressive policiesin the UK.

AWARDWINNINGBOROUGH

The highest New Homes Bonusfrom government for building themost homes in the UK.

The Sunday Times award for theBest Council Housing Scheme forOcean Estate transformation.

Our secondary schools areamongst the best in the countryaccording to Ofsted.

National award for Building theMost Sustainable Homes.

Local Government Associationaward for Health and Social Care.

National award for RiskManagement during the OlympicGames.

Victoria Park voted the Best Park inLondon by the Peoples Choice Award.

Green Flag Award for our largestparks as some of the best in the UK.

Best Customer Service Award forour Idea Stores and Libraries.

National Keep Britain Tidy Awardfor having the Cleanest Streets.

From fail toworlds best

schools:A lesson fromthe East End.

OUR WORK HAS BEENRECOGNISED NATIONALLY.

DELIVERINGPROGRESSIVEPOLICIES

Introduced Free School Mealsfor all reception and year 1 children.

Reinstated the EducationMaintenance Allowance axed by thegovernment for college students..

Launched The Mayors UniversityGrants to help undergraduates withuniversity costs.

Kept Homecare free forelderly residents.

Adopted the London LivingWage for all staff and contractors.

Pledged to take action againstthe blacklisting of workers.

Launched Tower Hamlets EnergyCo-op to reduce energy bills.

Introduced Dealer-A-Daystrategy to target drug dealers.

Established Tower HamletsFairness Commission to addressinequality.

Launched Peoples Plaques toreplace the Blue Plaque schemeaxed by the government.

Best Council

Housing Scheme

award for Ocean

Estate transformation.

17TRANSFORMINGTOWER HAMLETS16 TRANSFORMINGTOWER HAMLETS


10/13

T

his report has focused onwhat we have achieved overthe last three years. Now is

the time for us to consider what wewant Tower Hamlets to look like inthe future.

I want a Tower Hamlets we can all beproud of a place that has the bestschools and homes, the cleaneststreets, a place people want to visit,a centre of business opportunity,and a place we can all call home -whether you are young or old, richor poor, of any race or religion.

My first term was focused onensuring the needs of our residentswere met. We prioritised onproviding the best educationopportunities and building the mostaffordable homes in the country.

My vision for the future of TowerHamlets is to build on thesefoundations. We want to be at the

centre of growth and opportunities,bringing inward investment,creating jobs and helpingbusinesses to develop.

We are already the home of CanaryWharf, a key financial centre forthe whole country employing over100,000 people. We want to buildon our strong partnership with thebusiness community and ensurewe use the opportunities theyprovide at our doorstep to benefitour borough.

I have great faith in the people ofthis borough their potential andaspirations are limitless. We want to

help unlock their potential throughencouraging, for example helpingour young people to competenationally and globally.

Underpinning all of this is mycore principle of social justice andprotecting the vulnerable. While wefocus on growth and aspiration wewill ensure that the most vulnerable our poorest, the elderly, those withdisabilities - are never left behind.

With your continuedsupport, I believe I candeliver on this vision.

Lutfur Rahmanis every bit the

local champion.



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Free Homecarefor elderlyresidents

2010 20122011

OCT JAN JAN

FEB

MARMAR

JUNAPR

JUL

AUG

OCTJUL

NOVAUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Built new 35mSt Pauls Way

secondary school

Invested 380min education -transforming

all existingsecondary

schools andrebuilding new

ones Started workon 1.2m

improvements toAltab Ali Park

Funded Stairwayto Heaven

Memorial inBethnal Green Saved Glamis

AdventurePlayground from

closure due tocuts

Frozen council taxfor the fourth year

running

Opened newMeath Gardens

Childrens Centre

Victoria Park

voted the bestpark in London byPeoples Choice

Award

Reinstated

the EducationMaintenance

Allowance axedby government

Opened 50luncheons clubsfor the elderly at

900K

High St. 2012 -Whitechapel High

St. shop frontimprovements

RegeneratingWhitechapel andThe Royal London

Hospital site

Secured 3,950jobs and contracts

for local peopleduring the

Olympic Games

Won NationalKeep Britain TidyAward for clean

streets

Supported thecampaign to save

King EdwardMemorial Park

Restored theBancroft LocalHistory Library

RegeneratedVictoria Parkwith a 12m

refurbishmentprogramme

Renovatedthe famousSt Georges

swimming pool inWapping

Funded the 75thanniversary ofthe Battle ofCable Street

and restored theMural

2.5m to revampWhitechapel

Market

Extended LondonLiving Wage

to all staff andcontractors

Opened two new

care homes atShipton House

and Sue StarkeyHouse

Completedwork on 1.2m

improvements toAltab Ali Park

Our largest parks

named as someof the best in thecountry by Green

Flag Award

We havestrengthened

our No Place forHate strategyElected as Mayor

FEB

Funded 35 extraPolice officers atmore than 2.2m

7m for a newPhoenix special

needs school

21TRANSFORMINGTOWER HAMLETS20 TRANSFORMINGTOWER HAMLETS


12/13

Secured 2,728jobs for local

people

2,250 trainingopportunities for

local people

Invested 10m ayear in our youth

services

2013

JAN

Rehoused 3,000overcrowded

families

FEB

MAR

APR

JULMAY

AUGJUN

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Absorbed 2.6mof government

cuts to council taxsupport helping25,000 residents

Won Local

Governmentaward for Healthand Social Care

Invested355,000 for high

street markets

3m to improve

boroughs faithand historic

buildings

800,000 forborough-wide

cleaning

Opened a 4.5mIdea Store at

Watney Market

1.26m MayorsUniversity Grants

for studentsto help with

university costs

Building a brandnew 1,400 pupilBow secondary

schoolOpened Phoenix

Heights youthcentre in Isle of

Dogs

Invested 168min all council

homes for newkitchens andbathrooms

Created 2mPreventing

HomelessnessFund

TransformingRobin Hood

Gardens with1,600 new homes,

a communitycentre and a

primary school

Tower HamletsEnergy Co-op toreduce energy

bills

Invested 2m for40 Tower Hamlets

EnforcementOfficers

220mOcean estate

transformation -building 800 new

social homes

Planning theregeneration of

Whitechapel andthe old Royal

London Hospitalsite

Invested 36mfor Poplar Baths,

Dame ColetHouse and

Haileybury YouthCentre for stateof the art youthfacilities, new

swimming pooland 100 new

homes

National awardfor building the

most sustainablehomes in the UK

200,000 torepair potholes

across theborough

Delivered 3,246affordable homes

- the most in theUK

3m forcommunity Burial

siteInvested

100,000 to

improve cyclesafety in the

borough

Won the SundayTimes award forthe Best CouncilHousing Scheme

for Oceanestate housingtransformation

Blacklisting

pledge to supportworkers - first

council to do so

Launcheda Fairness

Commission toaddress inequality

Arrested over1,238 drug

dealers under ourDealer-A-Day

strategy

2.75m freeschool meals forall reception and

year 1 pupilsIf the government truly wants to improve school

standards, it needs to look no further than thesuccessfulcommunity schools in Tower Hamlets.

Baroness Estelle Morris,Former Education Secretary

22 TRANSFORMINGTOWER HAMLETS

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13/13

www.lutfurrahman.com

Tower Hamlets First

I

.

l

i

07806 882 995

@MayorLutfur

[email protected]

facebook.com/MayorLutfur

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TRANSFORMING TOWER HAMLETS: THREE YEARS ON - MAYOR LUTFUR RAHMAN

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