Lakmini Shah - Councillor for Newham ( East Ham South)

Councillor Lakmini Shah

 Labour & Co-Operative  East Ham South  Scrutiny Commission Chair

Email: Lakmini.Shah@newham.gov.uk

Council: Newham

Council Profile: View on council website

Committees: Council (Member) Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Member) Chief Officer Appointments Sub-Committee (Member) Budget Scrutiny Commission 2024 Education Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission (Chair) Relationship Between Black Boys and the Borough Scrutiny Commission (Member)

Activity Timeline

Meetings Attended Note this may include planned future meetings.

55 meetings · Page 2 of 11

Relationship Between Black Boys and the Borough Scrutiny Commission Member

Relationship Between Black Boys and the Borough Scrutiny Commission - Thursday 13th November 2025 7.00 p.m.

The Relationship Between Black Boys and the Borough Scrutiny Commission met on 13 November 2025 to review the commission's phase two report, and to receive verbal reflections and concluding remarks from key stakeholders. The meeting was scheduled to take place at Newham Dockside, and members of the public were invited to watch via YouTube. The report pack for the meeting included the draft minutes from meetings held on 14 November 2024 and 21 November 2024.

November 13, 2025
Council Member

Themed, Council - Monday 10th November 2025 7.00 p.m.

The Newham Council meeting scheduled for 10 November 2025 included discussion of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s work programme, a themed report on growth, and the East London Joint Waste Plan. Councillors were also expected to discuss motions relating to housing and developer contributions, and to answer questions from both the public and council members. The council was also scheduled to hear from Sunder Katwala of British Futures on the work of the Commission for the Future of Belonging & Inclusion in Newham.

November 10, 2025
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Member

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 23rd October 2025 6.30 p.m.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Newham Council met on Thursday 23 October 2025, to discuss the council's finances, complaints procedure, and progress against a non-statutory best value notice. The committee was also scheduled to review a report on leisure inequalities in the borough.

October 23, 2025
Council Member

Council - Thursday 9th October 2025 7.00 p.m.

The Newham Council meeting on 9 October 2025 included discussion of gambling regulation, temporary accommodation safeguarding, and updates from scrutiny committees. The council approved the appointment of three co-opted members to the Standards Committee, and also received updates on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's work programme.

October 09, 2025
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Member

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 7th October 2025 7.30 p.m.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee convened to discuss a call-in of a Cabinet decision regarding the capital fit out of Manor Park Gym. The committee ultimately decided to refer the decision back to the Cabinet for reconsideration, citing concerns about the robustness of financial appraisals and the exploration of alternative funding options.

October 07, 2025

Decisions from Meetings

9 decisions · Page 1 of 2

Call-in of the Cabinet Decision: Manor Park Gym - Capital Fit Out

From: Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 7th October 2025 7.30 p.m. - October 07, 2025

...to refer the Cabinet Decision of September 16, 2025, regarding the Manor Park Gym capital fit-out back to Cabinet for reconsideration due to concerns about the robustness of financial appraisals and the exploration of alternative funding options.

Decision approved

Call In of Officer Key Decision: Juniper Ventures

From: Call in, Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday 21st May 2025 5.30 p.m. - May 21, 2025

...to ensure public accountability and transparency, the committee referred the Officer Key Decision regarding Juniper Ventures back to Cabinet for reconsideration, citing concerns related to business plans, documentation, risk planning, school meals funding, the appropriateness of the Officer Key Decision process, commercial and financial review, partnership opportunities, and accountability and transparency.

Item Deferred

CALL IN OF OFFICER KEY DECISION - JUNIPER VENTURES

From: Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 8th May 2025 6.30 p.m. - May 08, 2025

...the committee adjourned the Call In meeting regarding the Officer Key Decision on Juniper Ventures due to insufficient and incomplete information, postponing it to a later date.

Item Deferred

Call In of Cabinet Decision: Populo Living 2025/26

From: Call-In, Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 25th March 2025 7.30 p.m. - March 25, 2025

...to reconsider the Cabinet's decision regarding the Populo Living 2025/2026 Business Plan, citing concerns related to the plan's strategic direction, financial assumptions, and oversight, and outlining specific actions needed, including a five-year strategic business plan, a moratorium on new developments, and a forensic audit.

Decision approved

Summary

Meetings Attended: 55

Average per Month: 2.8

Decisions Recorded: 9