Government to intervene at Tower Hamlets Council

The government will send ministerial envoys into Tower Hamlets Council to tackle failing governance and local accountability.

Local government minister Jim McMahon said it was "both necessary and expedient" to intervene as the council had failed to improve in a number of areas.

An inspection report last year found that a lack of trust and a lack of respect between political parties meant the executive at Tower Hamlets remained unchallenged.

It concluded the council's decision-making was "dominated by an inner circle" around the mayor, Lutfur Rahman, who leads the Aspire party.

Rahman was banned from public office in 2015 when it was found he had won the previous year's election in the borough with the help of "corrupt and illegal practices".

These included smearing another candidate as a racist, and bribery.

Rahman was re-elected mayor in 2022 after the ban expired.

Inspectors raised concerns last February about the authority's culture and use of resources.

They cited a lack of respect between political parties preventing councillors from "engaging in a culture of genuine improvement", a lack of trust at top management levels, and "insufficient challenge to the executive".

The latest intervention, which is planned to last until 31 March 2028, will be led by Kim Bromley-Derry, a former chief executive of Newham Council, as ministerial envoy, supported by Shokat Lal and Pam Parkes as assistant envoys.

Lal is chief executive of Sandwell Council and Parkes is a government commissioner.

Tower Hamlets must prepare and agree a fully costed programme of "cultural change, a programme of political mentoring for members and a continuous improvement plan… with resource allocated accordingly".

The envoys are also expected to "take an interest in matters across the authority, beyond those identified in the directions", the government said.

The envoy will be paid a daily fee of £1,100 and the assistants £1,000 a day, for a maximum of 120 days a year.

A statement from the council said it was "on a continuous journey of improvement" and the envoys would support the council in that.

Mayor Lutfur Rahman said he "looked forward to working with the envoys".

Steve Halsey, chief executive of the council, described the intervention as "an exciting opportunity" to "engage positively with the collaborative and supportive approach promoted by the government".

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