Peter Landman’s latest Newham Council round-up

The Newham Council meeting of 14 July was an opportunity for councillors to raise questions on issues troubling Borough residents.
Councillor James Beckles, for example, raised a concern that that the north of the Borough seems to get more resources than the south.

He called for a Business Investment District to be setup for Custom House and Canning Town, building on the success of the Business Investment District in Stratford. Getting businesses to invest more was the way to trigger growth in the Borough, he said. The Cabinet member for inclusive economy agreed to support.

Councillor Sabia Kamali focused on the issue of Family Hubs and asked about the achievements of these initiatives. She was told that Family Hubs had created benefits by triggering individual mental health support, backing care forums and working in the area of antenatal support.

For his part Councillor Mehmood Mirza, Independent, ran into a road block when he asked for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods to be abandoned. Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Cabinet Member for inclusive transport told him that responded that this was a one sided position.

There was support for Low Transport Neighbourhoods as well as opposition. She said a survey on the issue is to be carried out.
Two councillors submitted motions. One, from Councillor Melanie Onovo, herself a teacher, was a motion urging free school meals to be extended to all families on benefits or receiving Universal Credit.

The second, from Councillor Nate Higgins, Green party, was a motion to promote Zaynes Law, the adopted name for the campaign for stronger legislation on contaminated land. The campaign is named after the youngster who died from exposure to Hydrogen Cyanide from contaminated flood water.

We’re improving says Mayor

In her report Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz stressed that despite the challenges of recent months, Newham was on path to recovery and improvement.

The Council has received a government warning that it is not giving best value on its work and has been condemned over its role as a landlord after an official inspection, but she said improvements are on the way. embarking on an improvement journey.
Newham will have improved financial stability in the medium term financial settlement, and the Borough is continuing work with the Independent Transformation Board on improvements to housing policy and actions.

She said that there would be closer working between councillors and officers and clearer political leadership. She welcomed the challenge and maintained the Council is already Nevertheless, the reality of the financial crisis facing the Borough was highlighted by Councillor John Gray, ex cabinet member for housing, who in reference to the Start and Finish Report on the Temporary Accommodation Crisis said that the only way the Council’s financial crises could be resolved was for more government subsidy.

On the other major challenge for Newham – combatting poverty and providing adult social care – the late Councillor Neil Wilson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care referred to a coming peer review of Adult Social Care from the London Association of Directors of Adult Social Care.

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