Top 20 Achievements of Mayor Lutfur Rahman
Tackling the Cost of Living Crisis
- Allocated and distributed nearly £10m in cost-of-living support to residents.
- Froze Council Tax for ALL residents in year 1, then introduced a Cost-of-Living Relief Fund for households earning under £50,350.
- Provided Winter Fuel Payment of £175 to 4,000+ pensioners and launched £1m a year Meals on Wheels service.
Homes for the Future
- 22,000 former THH properties brought back in-house.
- On track to deliver 4,000 affordable homes.
Accelerate Education
- Universal Free School Meals (primary & secondary) – saving families £3.7m annually.
- Introduced £1,500 University Bursary for 400 students (now 800 students in year 2).
- Brought back EMA (£400 → £600 per year, 1,200 students).
- Free school uniforms for 7,000 pupils per year.
- £13.7m yearly investment in youth services, including centres in all 20 wards.
Empower Communities to Fight Crime
- £4m invested to upgrade and install 350 CCTV cameras.
- £2.9m invested in 41 new enforcement officers (total 73 THEOs).
- Launched Tackling Drugs Taskforce (£1.5m investment over 3 years).
A Clean and Green Future
- £15m additional investment in waste services (+72 staff).
- Planted approximately 3,000 new trees across the borough.
Invest in Public Services
- £4.5m in Mayor’s Community Grants for voluntary and community sector.
- £4.9m yearly for new free homecare service for vulnerable adults.
Boost Culture, Business, Jobs & Leisure
- 248k free swimming and aquatic sessions for women & men; £40m invested in leisure facilities.
- £67m invested in St George’s state-of-the-art leisure facility (including family-size council homes).
- Introduced one-hour free parking to help market traders; Permit Transfer Scheme to support housing mobility.
A Council that Works for Everyone
- New Town Hall opened in Whitechapel – saving £16m annually.
