The Newham Council meeting on 14 July 2025 included discussions on a range of topics, from the council's culture and relationships to temporary accommodation and financial challenges. Councillors were scheduled to discuss a report from the Cross-Party Working Group, a response to a Best Value Notice, and a review of political proportionality. Members were also expected to address questions from the public and fellow councillors, and to consider two motions relating to free school meals and environmental safety.

Temporary Accommodation Crisis

A report on the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group was scheduled to be presented. The report noted that Newham has a disproportionately high number of households in temporary accommodation (TA), with over 7,300 households, a 170% increase since 2013. The report stated that the group had been formed to examine the causes and propose solutions to the TA crisis.

The report highlighted several factors contributing to the crisis:

• High eviction rates: Newham's eviction rate is significantly higher than the London average.
• Lack of social-rented accommodation: The number of permanent lettings has decreased significantly.
• Affordability of PRS properties: A shrinking supply of accommodation is affordable to those on Local Housing Allowance.
• Impact of landlords leaving the market: Landlords are increasingly selling properties or re-letting them as temporary accommodation.

The report included several recommendations, including:

• Producing a detailed and costed 10-year plan to mitigate the impact of the housing crisis.
• Lobbying the government to review financial support for councils and ensure Local Housing Allowance levels are sufficient.
• Actively working with partners to buy properties and expand leaseback schemes.
• Cracking down on illegal evictions and failure to maintain properties to minimum standards.

Best Value Notice

A report on Delivering Best Value for Our Residents was scheduled for discussion, relating to a Best Value Notice issued to the London Borough of Newham on 8 May 2025. The report noted that the notice was issued due to:

• Significant value for money weaknesses around the council's governance arrangements
• Cultural and governance issues identified in a scrutiny improvement review
• Significant delivery concerns about some of the programmes delivered by the authority, particularly following the Regulator of Social Housing C4 grading published in October 2024

The report also detailed the Council's response to the notice, which includes:

• Improving financial stability
• Working with the independent Improvement and Transformation Board
• Reviewing and clarifying roles and responsibilities and scrutiny processes
• Implementing and measuring cultural change
• Ensuring the effectiveness of the council's officer and political leadership
• Delivering at pace against the recommendations from the various reviews/inspections and action plans
• Engaging constructively with the government

Cross-Party Working Group Report

The council was scheduled to consider the report of the Cross-Party Working Group to support the positive development of culture and relationships. The group was established to address recommendations from a Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge, specifically focusing on:

• Relationship reset
• Culture change and workforce strategy
• Equalities, diversity and inclusion
• Member development

The report set out values, behaviours, and practices associated with a positive culture, and recommended embedding these in the council's code of conduct. It also recommended practical actions to support a positive culture, and opportunities for members to support equalities, diversity and inclusion.

Motions

Two motions were submitted for consideration:

• A motion welcoming the Labour government's extension of free school meals in the London Borough of Newham, and resolving to work with government to help bring down child poverty.
• A motion from Councillor Nate Higgins and Councillor Danny Keeling regarding Zane's Law¹, calling for legal reform to protect the public from the dangers of contaminated and flood-prone land. Councillor John Whitworth and Councillor Miraj Patel proposed amendments to this motion, the details of which were included in a supplementary agenda.

Questions From The Public

The agenda included a section to address questions from the public. One question from Andrew Baikie asked whether the council would commit to fully funding the Stratford Centre In shops until after the 2026 local elections. Another question from Chae Ho Hwang asked about the provision of clean water for the homeless during the summer. A third question from Jack Pickard asked whether the council would consider a scheme similar to one in Sheffield to tackle anti-social behaviour in council properties in Forest Gate South.

Questions From Councillors

The agenda also included questions from councillors to the Mayor and Cabinet Members. Councillor James Beckles asked whether the Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy would support the creation of a Business Improvement District in Custom House and Canning Town. Councillor Danny Keeling asked about alternatives to the closure of the cycleway connecting North to South. Councillor Nate Higgins asked Councillor Patel, as Newham's LVRPA board member, what he would do to ensure Newham residents' voices are heard on the matter of the Lea Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. Councillor Mehmood Mirza asked whether the council would scrap the Forest Gate LTN. Councillor Zuber Gulamussen asked how the council's austerity measures were not simply shifting the burden onto working families. Councillor Sabia Kamali asked how Family Hubs are currently helping families with key needs. Councillor Shantu Ferdous asked what improvements are in the pipeline to make the council's customer service team's helpline exceed residents' expectations.

Other Matters

The agenda also included items on:

• Political Proportionality and Review of the Allocation of Seats on Committees
• Special Urgency and Exempted from Call-In Procedure Decisions
• Members' Statements from Councillors John Morris and Simon Rush
• Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme and Future Commissions
• Constitution Review