At the Newham Council meeting next Monday 27 February 2017 there will be a free vote of all Labour Councillors on the proposed Mayor;s budget. All Councillors in Newham are Labour so this an important development and I congratulate my Labour Group coll…Read more…
LOBOs “Newham to save up to £94 million on its debt portfolio”
Well I never. Hot off the press. I will ask for further details (it is inaccurate in some respects) but I am really happy that it appears that some of the problems with LOBOs can be sorted.
“Newham Council could save up to £94 million in future after the council’s Cabinet today (Thursday 16…Read more…
Holocaust Memorial Day – Newham 2017
On Friday I attended a very moving event to mark “Holocaust Memorial Day” which remembers the attempt by German Nazi to murder all Jews in Europe and all subsequent holocausts in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur and now Syria.
The wonderful guest spea…Read more…
Rising inequality helps explain Trump and Brexit
While I hope that the United States will not elect Trump to be their President tomorrow, I was
fascinated to read the statement below at a recent Newham Council Investment and Accounts committee.
“Even if Trump loses, the anti-Establishment, anti-tra…Read more…
Kindertransport Kids – London Liverpool Street Station 1938 and Calais 2016
This morning I was on my way to a seminar on opposing the new Housing & Planning Act.
I stopped off in London Liverpool Street station to take this photo of the statute (by the ticket office) in honour of the thousands of unaccompanied …Read more…
“Brexit and the New Age of Uncertainty” – Cllr Rokhsana Fiaz speach to Newham Full Council 19th September 2016
“Brexit and the New Age of Uncertainty: Implications, challenges and opportunities for Newham, London and our country”
“Thank you Chair for allowing me the opportunity to address colleagues at today’s Full Council.
I’ll be talking about the implications of Brexit as I see it; and a…Read more…
Prep for tomorrow’s Newham Triathlon OMG
Just getting things sorted for tomorrows self organised Olympic distance triathlon. Currently I am wondering why do I volunteer for such things!
I am meeting fellow Newham Councillor, Terry Paul, at the London Aquatic centre in Queen Elizabeth O…Read more…
£238 million reasons to stop Barclays Bank LOBO cheats ripping off Newham Residents
This was the written question I put to the Newham Deputy Mayor and Cabinet member for Finance, Lester Hudson, at the Full Council meeting last week
To the Executive Advisor on Finance, Cllr Lester Hudson
“Last week 3 more employees of Barclays Bank w…Read more…
Newham Council AGM 2016
Yesterday evening the official Council AGM took place at the main hall of the Old Stratford Town Hall. It started with local primary school children choir and band. I believe that they played a Soviet Red Army marching song which always goes down…Read more…
“Newham councillor gives gift of life with bone marrow donation”
Check out this report in this week’s Newham Recorder. Well done to Rokhsana for undergoing this operation to try and save a young child’s life. I must admit I winced at the thought of donating a pint and a half of my bone marrow. I have been a potentia…Read more…
Newham Council Budget 2016/2017 – my comments
Councillors were asked to submit questions and comments on the proposed Newham Council budget for consideration by the Mayor at the Cabinet meeting last Thursday. I was unable to attend this public meeting since it was at 5pm and I had a work commitmen…Read more…
LOBOs. Cllr Gray’s Response to Newham Council’s Annual Treasury Management Report 2014/15
I spoke after Cllr Whitworth raised concerns on this item 14 at Monday evening (7.12.15) at Full
Council.
“Thank you Chair. John Gray, West Ham ward, speaking as a Councillor, expressing concerns on behalf of my constituents about Newham Council’s exposure to LOBO loans, in this report referred…Read more…
LOBOs. Cllr Whitworth’s Response to Newham Council’s Annual Treasury Management Report 2014/15
This is the concerns expressed by Cllr John Whitworth during the discussion on item 14 at Monday evening (7.12.15) at Full Council.
“The issue of the servicing and repayment of the Council’s debt is obviously of major importance at a time when we are obliged to make savings in most…Read more…
We are all migrants
Yesterday the first official refugees from Syria arrived in the UK at Glasgow airport. Some random thoughts.
Firstly, I am reminded of this fascinating research about the generic make up of many Brits. The Romans, Vikings and Normans had apparently l…Read more…
By Election – Boleyn Ward, Newham Council
A Council By election has been called for Thursday 3 December 2015 in Boleyn Ward, Newham following the very sad and unexpected death of my colleague, Councillor Charity Fiberesima.
It is a “Women only” short list (the other 2 Councillors…Read more…
Camden NSL Parking Wardens Strike
This morning I went to Norwich by train to represent a UNISON member at a hearing then came back into London to attend a HR meeting on employment policies and procedures. On route I came across Camden UNISON members who work for the Parking Contractor …Read more…
LGA legal advice on Pensions for Councillors
The Local Government Association has publised guidence obtained from Eversheds solicitors on “Powers of Councils to Pay Pensions to Elected Members”.
The summary of this advice (copied below) is in its latest newsletter which can be found here. &…Read more…
“Bloody dangerous” Newham’s proposed pension Special Purpose Vehicle
I posted last week here my concerns about a proposal to Newham Executive about setting up a so called “SPV” for the Councils pension fund.
This would cost at least £500,000 to set up and is in my view very risky and could result in a complete waste of public money.
I am very concerned that there…Read more…
“Alternative Financing Proposals for the Newham Pension Fund”
Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
…Read more…
Submission on “Call in” over Pension Provision for Members 22 July 2015
This is a report I submitted today as a Councillor to Newham Overview and Scrunity Committee.
“Recommendation
1. Firstly, I would like to thank members of Overview and Scrutiny for supporting my request that this decision is “called in” and reviewed.
2. The decision by the Executive Mayor to…Read more…