Over two million households paying more than a third of their income in rent
New House of Commons analysis shows that over two million private renting households in England currently pay more than a third of their income in rent. The number of households paying more than a third of their income on rent is much higher across London, and in Tower Hamlets households are spending on average 58% […]
Prime Minister warned we face a national SEND crisis
Government funding for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services failing to keep pace with rapidly increasing demand Tower Hamlets received £49.7m for SEND services, but it spent more than £56m “We have now reached a tipping point” In a letter to the new Prime Minister, the Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs and Cabinet […]
Mayor Biggs signs letter to Boris Johnson calling for more funding for councils
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs has joined with other Labour Leaders from across England and Wales to call on Boris Johnson, the new Prime Minister, to end cuts to local government. The letter has been signed by over 100 Labour Council Leaders from England and Wales and it calls on the new Prime […]
Government urged to restore role of local councils in schools
Tower Hamlets Council has agreed a motion calling on the government to restore the role of local councils in schools. The motion was proposed during a debate about Stepney Green Maths, Computing & Science College; an academy school run by The Tower Trust. The role of local authorities in schooling matters has greatly reduced over […]
Tower Hamlets Labour sets out ambitious plan to tackle air pollution
At a meeting of Tower Hamlets Council last week, councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of an ambitious plan to clean up our air and help tackle climate change. The plan, set out in a council motion, lists actions that the council will take to tackle air pollution over the coming months and years. The motion […]
“Let boroughs raise money from an ‘overnight stay levy’”
Mayor co-signs letter calling for Government to let boroughs raise money from an ‘overnight stay levy’ The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs has joined other local authority leaders in co-signing a letter calling for boroughs to be able to retain money from a levy on tourism. The letter to the Ministry of Housing Communities […]
£12.8bn needed per year to end the housing crisis
Commenting on new research from the National Housing Federation which reveals that the Government must invest £12.8bn a year to finally end the housing crisis in England: Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said: “These new figures from the National Housing Federation show the scale of the housing crisis we face and the level of […]
Mayor and headteachers warn nursery schools are ‘fighting for survival’
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs, MPs Rushanara Ali and Jim Fitzpatrick, the Tower Hamlets Schools Forum, Tower Hamlets nursery headteachers and the National Education Union have joined together to write to the Secretary of State for Education about the risk of maintained nursery schools closing. The letter (attached) to Damian Hinds MP highlights […]
IFS Report on School Funding
Commenting on new IFS analysis released yesterday (18 June 2019), ‘Extra spending on education in England’: Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said: “This is the latest evidence which shows the scale of cuts to school budgets over the last decade, with per pupil funding down by 8% in real terms. “Schools in Tower Hamlets […]
315 extra children with special needs supported by Tower Hamlets Council last year despite funding squeeze
The government’s latest figures show that 315 extra pupils in Tower Hamlets received a new Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan in 2018. EHC plans are for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through special educational needs support. EHC plans identify educational, health and social needs […]
