| AdminHistory | Tower Hamlets saw a period of extensive administrative decentralisation - or 'devolution' as it was described at the time by its advocates - while under Liberal control between 1986 and 1994. In place of large directorates running services for the whole borough, certain powers were devolved to seven neighbourhoods and largely concentrated in Neighbourhood Centres, some of them specially built for the purpose and paid for by the sale of buildings previously occupied by Council staff.
The new administrative structure was launched in July 1986 and attracted a great deal of local and even foreign interest, including fact-finding visits from politicians from as far afield as Bolivia. The system was intended to give historically distinct local areas within the borough more control over decision-making and increase accountability. These innovative arrangements produced some interesting political outcomes: in July 1986 the Liberals were in overall control of Tower Hamlets Council together with four of the Neighbourhoods (Bethnal Green, Globe Town, Bow and Poplar), but by May 1989 - with the Liberals still holding power in the Council - Labour was running four of the Neighbourhoods.
Seven Standing Neighbourhood Committees (SNCs) were created (in brackets are assigned collection archive reference codes):
- Bethnal Green Standing Neighbourhood Committee (L/BGN): initially under Liberal control
- Wapping Standing Neighbourhood Committee (L/WAN): initially under Labour control
- Bow Standing Neighbourhood Committee (L/BON): initially under Liberal control
- Globe Town Standing Neighbourhood Committee (L/GTN): initially under Liberal control
- Isle of Dogs Standing Neighbourhood Committee (L/IDN): initially under Labour control (five councillors)
- Poplar Standing Neighbourhood Committee (L/PON): initially under Liberal control
- and Stepney Standing Neighbourhood Committee (L/STN): initially under Labour control
The names were later simplified from Standing Neighbourhood Committees to simply Neighbourhoods: the Isle of Dogs Standing Neighbourhood Committee, for example, became Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood.
Each SNC was independent, with its own Neighbourhood Chief Executive (George Lamb, acting CE in the case of the Isle of Dogs) and offices. However, the SNCs continued to be closely linked to Tower Hamlets Council in some respects; for example the clerking for meetings was often done centrally by Corporate Services, and the Neighbourhoods were obliged to enact the Council's homes and estates improvement programme which began in March 1987.
Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood was initially based at the Neighbourhood Centre, Great Eastern Enterprise, Millharbour, E14. It later moved to Jack Dash House, 2 Lawn House Close by 1993. The Neighbourhood Services Unit was based at 316 Poplar High Street, E14. Residents could make appointments with their councillors through the First Stop Shop located at Unit D, Great Eastern Enterprise, Millharbour, E14. The Isle of Dogs was divided into two wards: Blackwall and Millwall. Residents elected five councillors, who formed a Committee to decide the Neighbourhood's policies, priorities, inprovement programmes, budget and spending plans.
The Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood dealt with the following areas of local governance:
- Administration, personnel and finances
- Leisure
- Environmental protection
- Planning and development
- Legal services
- Building services
- Social services
- Administration
- Housing benefits and rents
- Policy
The District Housing Office was based at Woodstock Terrace, 117 Poplar High Street, E14. Housing advice, lettings and repairs were dealt with through the following estate-based offices (all in E14):
- Barkantine: 6 The Quarterdeck
- Cubitt Town: 21/23 Seysell Street
- Millwall: 361/363 West Ferry Road
- Poplar: 117 Poplar High Street
- Robin Hood Gardens: 4 Anderson House, Woolmoore Street
- Samuda: 350 Manchester Road
- St John: 4/5 Thorne House, Launch Street
- St Vincent/Birchfield: Limehouse Causeway
The Social Services office was located at the George Green Centre, 80 Manchester Road, E14.
In 1994 the return of labour government in Tower Hamlets signalled the end of the neighbourhood system. The Council along with associated local forum and area groups continued to administer the borough and give a voice to residents.
This descriptive account of the neighbourhood system is based on articles in 'Tower Hamlets News', July and October 1986, May 1989, June 1990 and March 1991. |