Last Sunday I joined Labour colleagues and East Ham MP Stephen Timms in this ward for a street surgery. It went well and during the canvass I reported via the Love Clean Streets app https://lovecleanstreets.info/eets an abandoned fridge freez…Read more…
“Labour is delivering for Newham” – Council Budget meeting 26.2.26
At Thursday’s annual budget meeting I was pleased to second the motion approving the Housing Revenue Account for the coming year. My three‑minute contribution is at 1 hour 9 minutes in the recording. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY0ulkhVJy8. T…Read more…
Newham Bi Monthly Rough Sleeping Count Jan 26
Yesterday, I joined Newham staff and fellow councillors for the bi-monthly count of residents sleeping on the streets in Newham. We met at the Newham Dockside office at 11 p.m., and after an extensive briefing, we headed to various known “ro…Read more…
Newham Full Council Meeting 10.11.25 – Motion on Housing
A photo collage of myself speaking against a Green motion on housing and in favour of an amendment by my ward colleague, John Whitworth. I was to the point that while I recognise that political debate can be rough, the sheer hypocrisy of the Newha…Read more…
National Rough Sleeping Count: Newham October 2025
On Tuesday evening at 11pm I went to the Newham Dockside headquarters with fellow volunteers and outreach workers for a briefing by Council officers on this years National Rough Sleeping Count in Newham. Every year there is a national count …Read more…
Newham Street Count – September 25
Picture from last Thursday’s Rough Sleeper count. We were a mix of Newham and voluntary sector officers and Councillors. We met at the Newham Dockside building at 11pm. We had a briefing then we’re split up into teams of 2 or 3 and sent out to di…Read more…
West Ham and Manor Park Street Surgery
Last Saturday I joined my West Hammer comrades John & Varghese for our ward street surgery. We went to the historic heart of the ward – Church Street. As a local Councillor, I picked up case work on housing repairs – individual and commu…Read more…
Newham Rough Sleeper Count May 2025
Last night I joined the team going out from Newham Dockside Building to start the bi monthly count from midnight util 3am of rough sleepers in Newham, East London. The team is made up of Council officers, stakeholders and local Councillors. …Read more…
My Municipal Week- Full Council, Rough Sleeping Count & Spring Litter pick
A fairly busy week. On Monday I attended the Full Council meeting at Stratford Town Hall. I asked a question on the role of social economic class in reducing inequality in Newham and also moved an amendment on an opposition motion regarding Priva…Read more…
Ajitha’s Last Count
Picture is from last night just before midnight at Newham Dockside. We were just about to go out and take part in the bi-monthly Rough Sleeping Count. It was also the “Last Count” to be organised by Newham “Population Manager”, Ajitha Sajeev, who had b…Read more…
Rough Sleeper Street Count 2024
Picture is from around 11.45pm last night of 2 teams about to leave the Council offices in Dockside to go out and count rough sleepers in Newham. At least 4 other teams had already left for the midnight start. Today was a national annual count da…Read more…
Speech to Newham Council on Temporary Accommodation Crisis
Below are my notes for my speech yesterday evening. The motion was passed unanimously with cross party support. You can see the actual contents of the motion here mgov.newham.gov.uk/documents/s175786/Motions report.pdf which was seconde…Read more…
“Newham seeks EFS to stave off section 114 – but says only funding reform will prevent ‘exceptional becoming normal’
Important article in Room151 blog not only for Newham but also for many, many other Councils facing section 114 notices (a form of municipal insolvency and/or technical bankruptcy).My understanding is EFS is not an increase in Government funding …Read more…
A West Ham Labour doorstep
Picture collage of today’s doorstep with my West Ham ward Councillor colleague John Whitworth and our super local activist, Varghese. It did not start well since the Labour Party canvass software (contact creator) was not working and we could not…Read more…
Newham Council Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission
At start of @NewhamLondon Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission in #EastHam Town Hall. On hottest day of year…. We lost all those joining virtually due to sound issue but rest of scrutiny was positive and pretty constructive. …Read more…
NEWHAM COUNCIL ADOPTS DENTAL MOTION
Hat tip my Newham Councillor colleague Susan Masters.Tonight (Monday) at Newham’s Full Council, with the support of my colleague John Gray I finally saw my motion addressing Newham’s Dental Crisis adopted by Council. Given this non-contentious mo…Read more…
“Education stalwart remembered as Mayor of Newham leads tributes to former councillor Graham Lane”
I did not know Graham that well. He stood down as a Councillor in 2010 the same year that I first stood. However, I did go to various political events and campaigns (see posts) with him and found him polite, thoughtful and well informed.&nbs…Read more…
Newham Full Council Meeting 18.3.24
I am a bit behind on social media posts due to full on Union and Council business but this is a picture from Monday at Newham Full Council meeting when I was asking our Guest speaker (https://twitter.com/TheIFS) about how much money UK Local Gove…Read more…
What a good idea! Encourage tenants to downsize & free up family homes
Not a new idea but pleased about offer to Newham Council tenants of a brand new home in a over 55s block at a rent no higher than their current rent. Too often while canvassing I come across elderly tenants in family sized homes whose children ha…Read more…
Newham Council Homeless Street Count Jan 24
Last week at midnight (00.01 24.1.24) I joined Newham Councillors, outreach workers and officers to take part in the bi-monthly Street Count of homeless residents sleeping outdoors. We met up at Newham Dockside building beforehand, had a briefing …Read more…