Newham council faces ‘significant disruption’ to council tax collection and rebates when staff stage a week-long strike in a job evaluation row which has cost them thousands of pounds in lost pay….Read more…
Stand Together – Holocaust Memorial Day – Monday 27 January 2020. Stratford Town Hall 9.30-12pm
“Stand Together is the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2020. It explores how genocidal regimes throughout history have deliberately fractured societies by marginalising certain groups, and how these tactics can be challenged by individuals standing to…Read more…
Community Wealth Building Launch in Newham Council
This morning we finally had the launch of the Newham Council Community Wealth Building (CWB) programme at The Crystal, Royal Docks. We had to postpone it twice due to Brexit debate clashes and the General election.
Newham directly elected M…Read more…
Newham Council brings back in-house Privatised Park Keepers and Gardeners
A great picture from yesterday when the Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz and cabinet lead for Environment, Cllr James Asser met staff who work in Newham Council Parks and Green spaces which have been brought back into public control from private contractors.
Many…Read more…
“Newham has the highest rate of homelessness in the country, report reveals, as council ramps up support”
Hat tip Newham Recorder
“Newham has the highest rate of homelessness in the country, a report by housing charity Shelter has revealed.
The council says a shortage of social rented property, high private rents and benefit changes are pushing more…Read more…
Newham Planning Committee approves 3 new developments at 100% social rents; rough sleeping assessment centre & new emergency family accommodation
This evening I took part in a 3 hour plus Newham Council Local Development Committee (LDC) meeting (small scale planning). There were 20 applications to consider.
There were 3 applications by Newham Council regeneration team for new build developments…Read more…
Impact investing in Social Housing: An Asset Owner & Landlord Prospective
Last month I was on a panel at a seminar on “social impact investing” in property. In my capacity as a pension trustee seeking long term financial returns and as the lead member for Housing in a Council with a desperate housing crisis.
While the …Read more…
Tackling Rough Sleeping at Newham Stepping Stones
Today I went on a visit with Cllr Zulfiqar Ali and Cllr Shaban Mohammed to our newly opened Newham temporary assessment centre for Rough Sleepers. The centre is called “Stepping Stones” and is staffed 24/7 and can house up to 20 people and another 5 wh…Read more…
A living wage for all from St Antony’s Primary School
Yesterday was quite unusual since I visited two excellent Newham primary schools (for different reasons). Check out previous post on West Ham Primary in the morning.
While after school I went to St Antony’s to listen to their fantastic choir sing abou…Read more…
Newham Council Rough Sleeping National Count – 29 November 2019
Picture of local volunteers, Charities, Council & Ministry staff, Councillors and outreach workers in Newham Dockside before the start of the annual national count of Rough Sleepers in Newham 12-3AM.
There were around 40 people split into 10 teams…Read more…
#Our Day – Celebrate Local Government in Newham
Today we celebrate Local Government in Newham and elsewhere. The collage above recognises what Newham Council workers deliver for our residents. day in and day out. The list is pretty endless. Newham Council provides lollipop crossing attendants, build…Read more…
Newham Council Pension Fund is 100% funded
On Monday evening during the Newham Pension committee meeting, I was pleased to read the following item in our “Investment Strategy Update”.
“2. Fund Investment Performance 2.1 The estimated funding level is currently at 100% the highest recorded for …Read more…
Newham Fireworks Night – Saturday 2 November at Silvertown Quays
Our entry FREE fireworks display is back on Saturday 2 November. This year we will be marking the 50th anniversary of the historic moon landing. Gates open 5.30pm Silvertown Quays, Royal Docks, E16 2BU (off North Woolwich Road)
The theme for Newha…Read more…
Newham Council Pension Fund is 100% funded!
This evening I attended the Pension Committee in East Ham Town Hall during which Council officers reported that for the first time in living memory, the staff pension fund was 100% funded with a record £1.5 billion of assets.
This means that at this m…Read more…
Landlords we want to help you find Newham tenants
In Newham we want to work with good landlords (and prosecute bad ones). Contact the Housing Supply team on 020 3373 1149 if you have a property to let. Read more…
Newham Full Council Meeting 14 October 2019: A minutes silence, Cabinet report on Education & Keynote Speaker Duncan Bew
Picture collage from last night’s Full Council meeting in the Old Town Hall in Stratford. It was a short but emotive meeting. Starting off with the Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, requesting that the meeting has a minute’s silence in memory of the young m…Read more…
A visit to a factory that builds homes
Yesterday Cllr Shaban Mohammed and I went to visit a factory and warehouse operated by Ardmore Group in Enfield. We were invited to attend following a presentation I had heard on how factory built modular housing could help Newham Council tackle our ho…Read more…
Newham Housing Special on Community Radio “Revive FM 94.0”
This afternoon I was interviewed live on “Revive FM 94.0” by my radio host colleague, Shaban Mohammed & community activist, Armond Dean on Newham Council Housing Policies.
It was a really good discussion on the housing crisis in Newham and what we…Read more…
James Asser re-elected to Labour Party NEC
Congratulations to my fellow Newham Councillor and Cabinet Colleague, James Asser, for being re-elected to the Labour Party National Executive Committee at our Conference last week.
James is a committed, experienced and hardworking Labour Movement act…Read more…
Newham’s Alternative Peace Exhibition: Tuesday 10 September 4pm-10pm at 51 Freemasons Road, E16
“Newham Council is giving residents the chance to show their opposition to the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair with its alternative peace exhibition.
The event, which follows a motion agreed by councillors in June expressi…Read more…