The Cabinet of Newham Council met on Tuesday 18 November 2025 to discuss several key issues, approving funding for the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme, the Schools' Capital Condition Programme, and the Pride in Place Impact Fund. The Cabinet also considered a report from the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission regarding leisure inequalities in the borough.

Receipt of Pride in Place Impact Funding

The Cabinet agreed to accept £1.5 million in capital funding from the central government's Pride in Place (PiP) Impact Fund. This funding, which must be committed by March 2027, will be used for capital projects that enhance public spaces, community facilities, and town centres. The funding will be allocated across three parliamentary constituencies in Newham: Beckton, East Ham, and the wider Stratford area, building on existing place-based visions. The allocation includes £150,000 for project management and staffing, £150,000 for contingency, and £1.2 million for project delivery. This initiative aligns with the Council's broader programme of strategic neighbourhood investment and aims to support inclusive growth, improve health and wellbeing, and stimulate local economic activity.

Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme Grant 2026-2029

The Cabinet resolved to accept the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) grant from the Department for Education (DfE) for the 2026/27 financial year, anticipated to be between £1.8 million and £2.2 million. This funding will support the delivery of the Newham HAF programme during the Easter, Summer, and Christmas holidays for eligible children and young people. The DfE will provide similar funding for the 2027/28 and 2028/29 financial years. The Council will conduct an annual open tender process to procure delivery partners for the programme, divided into four lots: Primary School Aged Provision, Secondary School Aged Provision, Targeted SEND Provision, and Specialist SEND Provision. A review of the HAF delivery approach will be undertaken in the 2026/27 financial year to ensure a year-on-year increase in eligible children accessing the provision.

Pre Procurement Report Approval - Schools' Capital Condition Programme 2026/2027

The Cabinet agreed to the procurement of proposed capital condition projects for the Council's maintained schools, with an aggregate investment of £2.4 million from existing unallocated DfE School Condition allocations, and a further £4.0 million from the DfE 2026/2027 School Condition allocation. A contingency sum of £320,000 has also been agreed. The Director of Property, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Resources, has been delegated authority to extend the scope of the programme if the Council receives additional capital funding from the DfE. The approval also includes the re-procurement of the school's programme for 2026/27, with pre-procurement supplier market engagement to develop a sustainable procurement strategy for the future, potentially establishing an Open Framework for minor works. These works will improve the energy performance of the Council's school estate and contribute to its Just Transition Plan.

Report from the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission on Fit for Purpose? Newham's Leisure Inequalities and The Borough's Plans To Address Them

The Cabinet considered the report and recommendations from the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission regarding leisure inequalities in Newham. The Commission's report highlighted concerns about data monitoring, particularly concerning Global Majority communities, and recommended that the Council carry out its own survey of activity levels to support more refined monitoring. It also recommended a deep dive into physical activity levels across Global Majority communities and the development of a more nuanced system for classifying local activity levels. The Cabinet was asked to consider and respond to these recommendations, indicating how they have been taken into account. The report also made recommendations regarding the development of a Community Leisure Strategy, rationalising duplicated local activities, recognition of trade unions by leisure infrastructure providers, a joined-up approach to activity provision within LATCo-developed infrastructure, engagement with private gym providers, sharing of activity opportunities with primary care, exploring low-cost estate options for leisure activities, the development of a Newham Walks map, and the communication of local best practice. The Commission also recommended continuing to monitor inequalities and intersectionalities in physical activity levels.

The Cabinet resolved to consider and respond to the report and its recommendations, and to provide an Executive Response.