Picture college from a “Walkabout” I went on in my Council ward, West Ham, with local residents and Council officers last week. There are a number of serious ASB issues in the locality and while it was very disappointing that a number of Council …Read more…
Newham Council Meeting – 1 August 2022
At @NewhamLondon Full Council meeting. This meeting replaces the one cancelled due to extreme heat a fortnight ago. There was a fascinating presentation by Sir David King, former Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor on the climate change emergency fo…Read more…
Be an effective Newham Councillor training – with Lewisham Mayor, Damien Egan
It was great to see so many Newham Councillors, new and old, turn up for this training led by Lewisham Mayor, Damien Egan, the LGA and Newham officers. I have known Damien since before he became Mayor and he is an great exemplar of British c…Read more…
Green on Green: A great day to wash your dirty laundry in public?
Please see the fascinating exchange of emails between the two Newham Green Councillors Nate and Danny (The Green Group Leader) copied into 64 Labour Councillors, Mayor and various officers. From: Nate Higgins (Councillor) <Nate.Higgins@ne…Read more…
Newham Council Education, Children & Young People’s Scrutiny Commission
My first such Scrutiny tonight in East Ham Town Hall. Chaired by Cllr Elizabeth Booker. Our current Ofsted inspection was obviously a key issue. Check out agenda https://mgov.newham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1510&MId=1398…Read more…
Happy 4th July & 130th anniversary of the election of Keir Hardie as MP for West Ham South
“I was really pleased that I was recently able to respond to a request by the Keir Hardie Society (via a former UNISON colleague) for a pdf copy of the booklet issued in 2012 to mark the 120th anniversary of Keir Hardie’s election. He w…Read more…
My Week 20.6.22-25.6.22
A really busy but interesting week. It was my first day back at work after almost 2 weeks holiday (Malta then UNISON conference in Brighton) so lots of tenancy and trade union issues to try and sort out (not helped by major IT/server problems).&n…Read more…
Newham Council Bi Monthly Street Count – Wednesday 26th May 2022
Picture of volunteers, Councillors and Council outreach staff before the latest bi monthly count of people sleeping “rough” in Newham.
We met at Newham Dockside building at 11pm. We had a briefing on the purpose of the count and how to make sur…Read more…
West Ham Ward Labour Street Surgery & Canvass – Meath & Chaplin Road
At the first door I knocked at this morning, the resident opened his front door with his hand raised upwards, clearly expecting a parcel. Despite this he was pleased to see a local Councillor, had no issues with Newham Council and confirmed that…Read more…
LoveE15 Community planters & West Ham Ward Labour Street Surgery
This morning West Ham Ward Councillors (myself, Charlene and John W) met with local residents and Newham Council officers to support and help out with filling Community planter boxes.
It was brilliant to see so many residents giving up their Sat…Read more…
West Ham Ward ASB Action Day (and Italian Street Food)
This evening I went with Newham Council funded Met Police and Council Enforcement officers for a “walkabout” in West Ham ward, which I represent as a Councillor. Yesterday and today were ASB “Action Days” in West Ham and Stratford. Local ward Cou…Read more…
103rd Anniversary of Armistice Day at East Ham Cenotaph
This morning I laid a wreath on behalf of Newham Councillors at the Cenotaph in Central Park, East Ham. My colleague, Cllr Carleene Lee-Phakoe, Cabinet lead for Brighter Futures, had firstly laid a wreath on behalf of the Council.
It was a very well …Read more…
Newham Council Pension Committee (& we are shortlisted for “Best Climate Change Strategy” award)
Great to be back tonight in the Newham Council Chamber in East Ham Town Hall for a meeting. Some interesting statistics from the agenda which included our draft annual report on the pension fund.
There are 29,122 scheme members53 different emplo…Read more…
A minutes silence for David Amess MP
Picture from start of Newham London Full Council meeting in Old Town Hall Stratford. Next we had a minutes silence in memory of murdered MP, David Amess. Then Cllr Griffiths, who knew David gave an emotional tribute followed by fellow St Bons “old…Read more…
Want to create a Newham heritage project? Apply for a grant today!
Exciting news about Newham Heritage Month 2022
Newham Heritage Month will be back for an exciting third year in June 2022! The festival is made by Newham’s community for the community and we’re offering you grants of up to £8,000&…Read more…
West Ham Ward Cllr Street Surgery: Uneven Pavements, Blocked drains, Fly tipping, Bulk Rubbish, Leylandii trees, Unsafe Roads…
My West Ham Ward Councillor colleague, John Whitworth and I (our ward colleague Charlene had a clash) had a really interesting Street Surgery this evening. Knocking on doors and introducing ourselves and asking residents if they had any issues wi…Read more…
Back to East Ham Town Hall
This evening I went inside East Ham Town for the first time since pre lockdown for a Crime & ASB Scrutiny Commission meeting. I only went to make sure that there was the minimum quorum of Councillors present, since I had an emergency tr…Read more…
Back to the Old Town Hall in Stratford
It was great to be in the historic Old Town Hall in Stratford for this evening’s Newham Full Council Meeting. There was even an demonstration outside by residents protesting about the closure of Newham City Farm.
It was a “blended” meeting with…Read more…
Fancy being an independent member of Newham Overview & Scrutiny Committee?
“We are looking to add further independence, skills and knowledge to Newham’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee by seeking 3 independent co-optee members.
For further information please visit https://orlo.uk/CommitteeVacancies_zZsiaClosing date 8 Augus…Read more…
Newham Council Rough Sleeping Street Count: 25 May 2021
Last night I took part again in the latest count of people “rough sleeping” in Newham. Council Officers, members, outreach workers and volunteers, turned up at the former Council staff restaurant area in Newham Dockside building at 11pm for a cof…Read more…