From Newham Recorder page 2 December 2017 see my previous post on the protest here. Apologises for the mangled english in my quote. Hopefully a typo. Read more…
Why Local authorities need “honest serving” men and women with the tools to ensure effective scrutiny
I have just been re-reading an excellent hard hitting report published earlier this month by the Select Committee on Communities and Local Government.
The Select Committee examined the grossly inadequate scrutiny arrangements in many Local Authorities…Read more…
Update on Newham Council London/Olympic/West Ham FC Stadium loses
On Thursday 14 December I was at the meeting of the Newham Council Investment & Accounts meeting.
I had a chance to question the Newham Council Finance Director on matters arising from the joint audit meeting on the 27 September 2017.
At that time we knew that the £40 million loan (& £4.4…Read more…
“Councillors criticise loss of £52m after Newham Council gives up London Stadium ownership”
“Councillors have criticised the loss of more than £52 million as a result of the London Stadium’s ownership being transferred to the Mayor of London.The decision for Newham Council to relinquish its role in the E20 company was made following an independent review by Moore Stephens into the…Read more…
Grenfell Fire: Newham Scrutiny: Fire Safety in Tower Blocks Scrutiny
“Dear Robin
Thank you for your weekly briefing. I must admit that I am surprised and concerned that you are involving yourself in a scrutiny matter into your own Executive. I would have thought that if Cllr McAlmont wished to contact Councillors about…Read more…
Newham Compass debate on Adult Social Care – Quality vs Cash?
Dear Compass Supporter,
Here with details of our event on Thursdsay October 26th at 7.30:
Adult Social Care – Quality vs Cash ?
with Anna Bailey-BearfieldLead Officer: Fix Dementia CareThe Alzheimer’s Society
Larry SandersSocial Care Spokesperson: the Green Party
Jos BellChair: London…Read more…
Training for prospective Newham councillors – 5th & 12th October 2017
Have you applied to be a council candidate?West Ham Labour Party are running short training sessions for members who have interviews to stand as Labour Party council candidates.
The sessions will be led by Cllrs Seyi Akiwowo and John Gray and will tak…Read more…
Former Olympic Stadium Stratford report by Cllr Conor McAuley to his ward
Councillor’s Report to Custom House Branch Labour Party September 2017.
Former Olympic Stadium Stratford
I have been approached by a few Party members concerned about the stories they have seen in the local press about the apparent loss of the £40 million Newham Council investment in the stadium,…Read more…
Newham Council Motion on slaughter in Myanmar
As reported here I was really pleased at this debate and the unanimous decision of full council to support.
“MOTION REGARDING THE CURRENT SITUATION IN MYANMAR
PROPOSER – CLLR SALIM PATEL
SECOND – CLLR MAS PATEL
That Newham Council,
– having regard to the Report of the United Nations High…Read more…
“The Stadium Loan” and Questions to Council Meeting
See below today’s blog post by Newham Council Cabinet member, Cllr Rachel Tripp, on the controversy regarding the “The Stadium loan”. Also, my questions on this subject that have been sent to the Newham Full Council meeting being held tomorrow.
“Rachel writes…Introduction
I want to write a…Read more…
Council and school workers deserve a pay rise!
As a Councillor I was sent this motion by UNISON which I support and will send to our Council Labour Group, Newham School Governors and West Ham Labour Party Branch and General Committee.
(Please note that workers in local government and sc…Read more…
Grenfell Fire Disaster: Never, ever, again: Amendment to Newham Council Scrutiny report.
Tomorrow (Monday 10 July 2017) is the next Newham Council Meeting and on the agenda is a report about future “scrutiny” arrangements
I have proposed the following amendment to item 12 “Structural Review of Overview and Scrutiny”.
“3.5 Specific themat…Read more…
40% RENT UP – CAN’T PAY – WILL STAY! Message To One Housing Group
Photo from last night’s planning and action meeting of the Newham key workers facing massive rent rises by the Charitable Landlord, One Housing Group. The tenants are living in housing blocks that were handed over to the Housing Association in 1997 by …Read more…
“Newham declines FOI request for LOBO replacement loan rate”
This is really disappointing news. We are being ripped off by the Banks over our LOBO loans left, right and centre. This is a national issue not only a Newham issue.
Last night the BBC televised allegations that the Bank of England had been invo…Read more…
One Housing Group raises rents for Newham key workers by 40%
Tomorrow I will be attending this public meeting in the evening to discuss One Housing Group plan to impose new tenancy agreements and massive rent rises on a number of “key worker” tenants in Manor Road, E15.
These “key workers” are employed by local…Read more…
OPINION: Community Links life-president Kevin Jenkins wonders how Newham can maintain services on a council tax freeze
This article was in last weeks local Newspaper, the “Newham Recorder”. I have had no contact with Kevin about this but it would appear that this highly respected former senior Councillor shares some of my my concerns about the recent budget.
“On…Read more…
Newham ditches LOBOs pledging £94m in savings
This has been one of the most popular stories on the Local Government finance website Room 151 recently. By Colin Marrs. LOBOS is the Spanish name for wolf. “Newham Council has agreed a deal with Barclays to switch almost half of its Lender Option…Read more…
“I like to pay taxes. With them, I buy civilisation.” Newham Council Budget meeting 2017
This was to be my speech last night at the Newham Council Meeting on the budget. There was a free vote for Labour Councillors (i.e all of us) and I had proposed an amendment to the budget on increasing Council tax by 1.99% in order to pay for hardship …Read more…
“Unaccompanied Child Migrants” Forest Gate North Labour Party Branch meeting Thursday 2 March 2017
This is a flyer for our next branch meeting. As well as usual Labour Party business there is a motion and debate on “”Unaccompanied Child Migrants”.
“We call upon Newham Council to confirm that it agrees to accept a significant number of unaccompanied…Read more…
Hardship funds & Social care crisis: Proposed amendments to Newham Council Budget 2017/18
This is my proposed amendment to the budget which the Newham Council meeting on Monday 27 February 2017 should consider. See my previous post on this issue.
What I am hoping to do is persuade (there is a free vote) my fellow Labour Councill…Read more…