Over the past few months, John Biggs Executive Mayor and Councillor Rachel Blake, Deputy Mayor co-chaired the Tower Hamlets Co-operative Commission. They have led this work with a group of dedicated commissioners, and expert witnesses, from the co-operative movement. The Commission has explored potential mechanisms by which Tower Hamlets Council can empower communities to address some of the thorniest, multi-faceted issues in local government. The focus has been on implementing co-operative principles in practice in the care sector, and energy, fuel and food poverty.

The Commission held a number of evidence sessions to hear from external experts and explore practical solutions from across the country. The aim was to learn about schemes and approaches that have worked elsewhere, and probe how they might, or indeed might not, work in Tower Hamlets. The Council is proud of the work it is already doing in these policy areas but is always eager to learn from other best practice and challenge itself to embrace innovative methods of achieving better outcomes for the community.