Councillor Areeq Chowdhury

Council - Thursday 27th February 2025 7.00 p.m.

Newham Council approved its annual budget for 2025/26 which included a council tax rise of 8.99%. Two amendments to the budget, one from the Newham Independent Group and one from the Green Group were rejected.

Audit Committee - Wednesday 15th January 2025 7.00 p.m.

The Audit Committee noted the Treasury Management Mid-year Report (Pages 29 - 50) and the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS) and Treasury Management Annual Investment Strategy (AIS) (Pages 51 - 86). The Committee also considered the London Borough of Newham Statement of Accounts 2023/24 (Pages 87 - 320) and delegated authority to the Chair of the committee and the Section 151 Officer[^2] to approve the statement of accounts once Ernst & Young (EY) have completed their work. They also approved the final Annual Governance Statement for 2023/24.

Council - Monday 16th December 2024 7.00 p.m.

The Council voted to approve the minutes of the last meeting, a range of treasury management proposals, amendments to the procedural rules, the new polling districts and polling places review, the recommended recipients of the Civic Awards, a report on exempted decisions made since the last meeting, and to appoint two Independent Persons[^1] for the council. The council also debated two motions, one about recruitment diversity and one about the Olympic Park Fixed Estate Charge. The Council voted to approve both motions, with the Fixed Estate Charge motion being approved as amended.

Extraordinary, Council - Monday 16th December 2024 6.30 p.m.

The Council voted unanimously to award the Honorary Freedom of the Borough to Lyn Brown and Paulette Watson MBE. No one was awarded the title of Honorary Alderman.

Themed, Council - Monday 21st October 2024 7.00 p.m.

The Council of Newham Council approved two motions, one regarding the establishment of a special task force to examine the causes of and possible solutions to the borough's temporary accommodation crisis, and one in support of the Labour government's national house building agenda. A motion calling on the council to adopt a number of policies advocated by the Green Party, including ending right to buy, introducing rent controls, and reforming council tax, was defeated.