Lutfur Rahman is the mayor of Tower Hamlets (Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
The Government is set to inspect Tower Hamlets Council due to worries about how it's being managed.
The local authority, under the leadership of Mayor Lutfur Rahman and his Aspire administration elected in 2022, will be scrutinised by inspectors over the coming months.
They'll be looking into a range of issues including high staff turnover in senior roles, budget plans, financial planning, the use of policy advisers, the ￡1.4million expansion of the mayor's office, and how grants have been distributed.
On Thursday (February 22), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) sent a letter to Stephen Halsey, the CEO of Tower Hamlets, about the impending inspection.
The DLUHC has also asked the inspectors to review the decision to bring Tower Hamlets Homes and leisure services back in-house, despite council officers advising against it as they didn't believe it was the best option for the council.
Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for DLUHC, has taken into account Mr Rahman's previous term, which ended in 2015 when he was removed from his position as Tower Hamlets mayor and banned from office for five years after being found guilty of election fraud.
In an official statement released this afternoon on X, Mr Rahman expressed his "disappointment" with the Government's decision to inspect the council but said he was "very confident" the outcome will be "positive".
Mr Rahman stated: "We will cooperate fully with the process. I am very confident that the outcome will be positive and that we will give the government the assurance it requests. Throughout this process, we will continue as usual in our mission of supporting residents through the cost of living crisis and delivering life-changing policies."
He continued: "...I remain focused on our residents first and foremost. Tower Hamlets is one of London's poorest and most overcrowded boroughs, and its residents deserve our continued dedication and service."
A representative for Tower Hamlets Council expressed surprise at the decision, but confirmed the council's full cooperation.
Trending
The spokesperson said: "Our work has been praised in recent independent reviews by the Local Government Association Peer Review and Investors in People. Although both reviews were positive, we are already delivering action plans to fulfil their recommendations for further improvement as is the culture in our council."
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Yorkshire cracking down on holiday lets as seaside towns overrun with tourists
4 Comments
Donald Trump's accounts could be 'liquidated' as ‘pressure' surges from $450m fine
56 Comments
Property expert issues warning over UK housing crisis - 'things are going to get worse'
1 Comments
Energy price cap to fall from April with families to save over ￡230 a year on bills
6 Comments
The societal chasm between the elite and those who pay their bills is growing
7 Comments
The abandoned UK airport that may reopen and start running cheap easyJet flights
73 Comments
Average Brit facing ￡100 council tax hike as most authorities raise amount by maximum
131 Comments
Spring Budget 2024 predictions: What tax cuts could Jeremy Hunt announce?
18 Comments
The famous UK seaside commuter city that's 'too close to London for its own good'
1 Comments
The London Underground line 'at risk of critical failure' if it's not overhauled
17 Comments
'I'm a finance expert - these are the four biggest tax mistakes and how to avoid them'
Comments
Inheritance tax revenue soars to ￡6.3bn but could give ‘headroom' for Jeremy Hunt's budget
10 Comments
Brexit 'never a risk', says expert as Airbus says quitting bloc wasn't so bad after all
1740 Comments
Wealth expert urges inheritance tax reform with one simple change to spare thousands bill
Comments
New rules for short-term lets to help locals in tourist hotspots afford housing
24 Comments
Council tax to rise by maximum amount in almost all areas - check how much more you'll pay
41 Comments
Cornwall locals fear for future as new holiday rules 'could deter tourists'
Comments
Rishi Sunak speaks well but needs to make one big change if he wants to beat Keir Starmer
18 Comments
Households face council tax hikes as cash-strapped local authorities increase levy
30 Comments
Council tax to increase by over ￡80 - check how much your bill is going up
3 Comments
Yorkshire cracking down on holiday lets as seaside towns overrun with tourists
4 Comments
Donald Trump's accounts could be 'liquidated' as ‘pressure' surges from $450m fine
56 Comments
Property expert issues warning over UK housing crisis - 'things are going to get worse'
1 Comments
Energy price cap to fall from April with families to save over ￡230 a year on bills
6 Comments
The societal chasm between the elite and those who pay their bills is growing
7 Comments
The abandoned UK airport that may reopen and start running cheap easyJet flights
73 Comments
Average Brit facing ￡100 council tax hike as most authorities raise amount by maximum
131 Comments
Spring Budget 2024 predictions: What tax cuts could Jeremy Hunt announce?
18 Comments
The famous UK seaside commuter city that's 'too close to London for its own good'
1 Comments
The London Underground line 'at risk of critical failure' if it's not overhauled
17 Comments
'I'm a finance expert - these are the four biggest tax mistakes and how to avoid them'
Comments
Inheritance tax revenue soars to ￡6.3bn but could give ‘headroom' for Jeremy Hunt's budget
10 Comments
Brexit 'never a risk', says expert as Airbus says quitting bloc wasn't so bad after all
1740 Comments
Wealth expert urges inheritance tax reform with one simple change to spare thousands bill
Comments
New rules for short-term lets to help locals in tourist hotspots afford housing
24 Comments
Council tax to rise by maximum amount in almost all areas - check how much more you'll pay
41 Comments
Cornwall locals fear for future as new holiday rules 'could deter tourists'
Comments
Rishi Sunak speaks well but needs to make one big change if he wants to beat Keir Starmer
18 Comments
Households face council tax hikes as cash-strapped local authorities increase levy
30 Comments
Council tax to increase by over ￡80 - check how much your bill is going up
3 Comments
Yorkshire cracking down on holiday lets as seaside towns overrun with tourists
4 Comments
Donald Trump's accounts could be 'liquidated' as ‘pressure' surges from $450m fine
56 Comments
Property expert issues warning over UK housing crisis - 'things are going to get worse'
1 Comments
Energy price cap to fall from April with families to save over ￡230 a year on bills
6 Comments
The societal chasm between the elite and those who pay their bills is growing
7 Comments
The abandoned UK airport that may reopen and start running cheap easyJet flights
73 Comments
Average Brit facing ￡100 council tax hike as most authorities raise amount by maximum
131 Comments
They added: "In recent months, the council has also made significant progress in resolving historic financial issues of audit, assurance and governance going back to 2016.
"All of this at a time when Tower Hamlets has delivered innovative measures to improve more lives, such as being the only local authority to provide free school meals for all primary and secondary schools - an achievement recognised with an award by a cross-party parliamentary group only last month."
The Government has appointed Kim Bromley-Derry to lead the inspection and he will report back to Mr Gove on May 31.
Related articles Junior doctors' strikes result in delays to more than 7,000 cancer operations SNP outrage as taxpayers fork out ￡11k for MSP to give 15-minute speech in LA 'Real reason' William has made major intervention into Israel-Hamas war Switzerland to get referendum to stop asylum seekers as population soars Five times the Royal Family have controversially waded into politics
Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading
Start 30-day
FREE trial