Peter Landman reports from the Newham Council Cabinet meeting on 5 December, where Newham leadership responds to the climate crisis.

By Peter Landman

With the focus on the recent world climate crisis talks in the United Arab Emirates, Newham Council took time to agree its
own response to the climate crisis at the Cabinet and Council meetings last month.

The Cabinet discussed a combined Council Officer and Consultants’ report, Newham’s Just Transition Plan which was also discussed at the Council Meeting of 11 December.

The main aims of the report are to outline a range of climate change actions and a strategy for future change. The importance of this is also highlighted in the report which shows that the strategy could be a lifesaver for the Borough. Deaths of residents in London increase with just two days of temperatures in excess of 24 degrees – and future temperatures could be as high as 45 degrees.

Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz said the Council is already moving ahead by bringing electric vehicles into the Council fleet; switching to street lighting with 100 percent renewable electricity; introducing the parking emissions scheme; ensuring building work is leading to more energy efficiency and more green space; and planting more trees across the Borough.

The strategy will be underpinned and rolled out under the leadership of a Director of Climate Action and a new Climate Action Working Group.

Among future proposals are plans to make homes, workplaces and schools energy efficient and to end reliance on fossil fuels; to lessen air pollution by avoiding car travel; and to develop a circular economy, by doing more repair work and bringing used and worn out objects and materials back into use.

The strategy will also encourage local community initiatives and see the planting of as many trees, shrubs and plants as there are residents of Newham. There will also be new plans for waste management in the light of the new East London Waste
contract with consultation with other boroughs.

Part of the climate change strategy also includes applications for funding support from Transport for London for More Healthy School Streets – keeping roads next to local schools as far as possible car- free at peak times – and for more places for more bicycle parking. Other funding applications are for local resident-led traffic improvement schemes and for improve-
ments to Jupp Road around the new South West Stratford station entrance.

Brighter future for Hamara Ghar in Upton Park

At present the Hamara Ghar Sheltered Housing Complex is a rather drab looking 10-storey 1960s block, housing 192 flats situated by Queens Market in Upton Park. But change is on the way. Cabinet agreed a contract to brighten up the block, including the reception and communal areas, and to install an energy efficient heating system.

Fresh action to confront homeless crisis

The Council has agreed a number of new measures to address the homes crisis across the Borough. Among the measures is a plan to rebuild 10 Victoria Street, close to Stratford Town Hall. This was originally planned as accommodation for single people, but is now housing homeless families.

The Council has decided to rebuild rather than renovate and will create a building that will be wheelchair accessible, energy efficient and will provide 124 new homes.

At the same time the Cabinet agreed the Council should acquire the freeholds of new homes in developments at Beam Park in Rainham and Burnt Mills in Harlow, which will be let to homeless families at affordable rents.

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