Friday, May 31, 2019

Newham Council Bi-Monthly Rough Sleeper Count 31.5.19

In the early hours of Friday morning I took part in my 3rd count of people sleeping rough in Newham.

We met up at Newham Dockside for a briefing at 11pm then were split into teams of 3 and sent out to different parts of Newham.

There were about 20 of us. My Councillor colleagues, Susan Masters and Winston Vaughan as well as professional homeless outreach workers and Newham Council staff and other resident volunteers. I finished early this time at about 2.30am.

Newham and other boroughs receive some Government funding to tackle rough sleeping (nowhere near enough but that is another story). So across London, there are bi-monthly counts to try and see how effective these measures are in reducing rough sleeping.

My team came across 4 people rough sleeping. Other teams found no-one while some teams found many. In Newham we don't just count but we try to speak and engage with people sleeping outdoors to see if we can help. However, the truth of the matter is that there is just not not enough decent, safe, supported and affordable homes. Until this changes we will never, ever solve homelessness.


Thursday, May 30, 2019

UNISON Notice Board - Preston City Hall

I do like a good trade union notice board. Today I went on a visit to Preston to meet the Labour Council Leader Matthew Brown regarding Community Wealth Building (The Preston Model). I will write more about this visit later. Congratulations to the local branch for a prominent and up-to-date UNISON  Notice board. 

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

End "no fault evictions" - May's legacy or is it that all careers in politics end in failure?

Recently Prime Minister, Theresa May promised to bring about the end of "No fault" (section 21) evictions but we wait to see if her successor delivers on her promise.

The motion below was sent by my branch to UNISON National Delegate Conference earlier this year calling for the end of such "no fault evictions".  Surely not shome  coincidence!

This conference notes:

1.That the number of households in London who rent from private landlords is up from 15% in 2000 to 27% in 2017 and that Shelter forecast that nationally this growth will continue.

2. The lack of security for private tenants causes unnecessary homelessness and makes it very difficult for private tenants to lead settled lives.

3. High rents in this sector cause hardship for tenants and leads to the taxpayer subsidising private landlords via housing benefit.

4. Shelter believe that the reasons behind Labour winning in Canterbury and Kensington is due to the number of private tenants voting Labour (the rent quake).
5. In the devolved nations “No fault” evictions and “Right to buy” have been abolished or restricted. 

Conferences therefore calls upon the NEC:

1. To hold a national wide campaign day in 2019 for proposals to improve the private rented sector.

2. To produce campaign materials for branches on the private rented sector.

3. To campaign and support calls for an end to no fault evictions and rent controls for the private rented sector.

4. To produce guidance for all branches on how the Letting Fees bill currently in Parliament should be enforced by local councils.

5. To ask Labour Link to support manifesto commitment to reform of the private rented sector.

6. Campaign for all local authorities to be able to suspend right to buy in their locality due to housing need.

UNISON Housing Associations branch (Greater London)


Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Obituary: Tributes to former Newham leader who saw through first council eviction over racism

Hat tip Newham Recorder "Tributes have been paid to former council leader Frederick Jones, who has passed away aged 84.

Born to Bill and Violet Jones on May 5, 1935, the former Newham Council leader who loved fighting in the ring and political arena attended Tollgate Primary and Plaistow Grammar before running May's Cafe near Freemasons Road.
His daughter, Sandra Jones, said: "His heart was representing the people of Newham. He just wanted to do right by people and fight their cause."
A left-wing councillor, Frederick became disillusioned with the direction of Labour under former prime minister Tony Blair and the knock on effects in Newham.
He became an independent councillor after a brief stint with the Liberal Democrats, representing the then ward of Greatfield.
In the 1980s, Frederick had risen through the ranks to become the councillor in charge of housing when the local authority expelled a family from their council home for being racist.
"I'm proud of the fact he did that. It was quite controversial because Newham was quite a racist place then.
"He always stood by his beliefs and wouldn't let anyone deter him from what he deemed to be right," Sandra said.
The keen chess player was no stranger to battles, having taken on the then Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher over hospital closures in Newham in the 1980s.
But a dedication to the people of Newham drove him on and saw him take a leading role in getting Newham University Hospital and London City Airport built.
Frederick married Lesley Garner in 1958 after their love of sport brought them together. They went on to have three children.
Much of family life revolved around politics. Sandra recalled leafleting and canvassing with her dad in the build up to elections.
"When he was no longer part of the council he would still help anybody. He was always keen to do right by people. That's how I remember Dad," Sandra said.
Frederick passed away in his sleep on May 13. He is survived by his children Leslie, Sandra and Claire and four grandchildren.
He will be laid to rest at City of London Cemetery in Aldersbrook Road at 11.30am on June 5."

Monday, May 27, 2019

Iftar at Forest Gate Mosque

Picture from tonight's breaking of the fast at Forest Gate mosque. Guests included Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz (whose father prays regularly at this mosque) and West Ham MP, Lyn Brown. As well as Councillors and local Labour Party activists.

We were all made very, very welcome and the food was delicious. 

Friday, May 24, 2019

ReviveFM 94.0 - Poverty in Newham (and what the Council is doing about it)

Yesterday, in between campaigning for the European elections, Newham Council Cabinet lead for Finance, Cllr Terry Paul and myself were interviewed live on Community Radio, ReviveFM 94, which is based in Forest Gate, Newham.

Our interviewer was our Council Cabinet Colleague, Cllr Shaban Mohammed, who was assisted by local researcher, Armond Dean.

We discussed poverty in Newham and what the Council is doing to tackle it. We have the lowest average income in London, 28 000 families on our Council House waiting list and over 5000 families who are homeless. We have 50% more children living in temporary accommodation in our borough than in the entire north of England!

Since May last year a new Labour administration led by directly elected Executive Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, has introduced anti poverty measures such as paying all our workers a London Living wage (with pay rises of up to £100 per week/£5000 per year); reducing Council tax for the poorest by 50%; building 1000 Council Homes at Council rents; ensuring that 50% of new developers homes charge a social rent; spending £120 million on improvements to our Council Housing stock: stop the privatisation of our Council services; introduce Community Wealth Building and tackle violence against our young people.

We did point out that while we can (and have and will do more) do many progressive things as a local authority to counter poverty in our borough, we need a change of our national Government and the election of one prepared to truly eliminate it.

Many thanks to Cllr Mohammed for organising and leading the discussion. Next Thursday he will have Newham Council Cabinet lead for Sustainable Transport and Parking, Cllr Zulfiqar Ali.

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Vote Labour to bring our country together - (Also not who but how to vote)


(As a Parliamentary Agent for the last 3 General elections here is what I think is some useful advice if you have never voted or not for a long while.)
  • Polling stations open today from 7am (Thursday 23 May) until 10pm
  • If you do not know your polling station google https://wheredoivote.co.uk/ and put in your post code
  • Don't worry if you cannot find your polling card, you can turn up and give your name address (if helps staff if you bring polling card but NOT essential)
  • If you are a postal voter and haven't posted your votes yet you can drop them off on polling day at any home borough polling station. 
  • While entering a polling station there may be some people representing political parties handing out leaflets. You do not have to speak to them but you may choose to tell them who you are voting for but you don't have to if you don't want to. 
  • You cannot vote on line or via your phone. This the current law. 
  • Don't worry if you have never voted. You just walk into your polling station, give your name and address; you are given ballot papers, you go to a private area (they have free pens/pencils), you put one X in a blank box on the ballot paper (Labour obviously) and then you put the ballot paper in slot in an obvious big black box. 
  • Polling staff are usually very understanding of first time voters. They are taught that there is no such thing as a stupid question. 
  • The ballot is secret. 
  • Today is too late for a proxy vote (where you can get someone to substitute for you). 
  • Vote for the Party you want or even don't vote for anyone. If so I would score out and write "none of above". It is important that you turn out to vote but you don't actually have to vote for anyone if you don't want to. 
  • Remember - many people died fighting to give ordinary working people the right to vote and that if you don't use it "they" will want to take it away from us. 
  • So Use it or lose it. 

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

West Ham Labour crew playing at home during Euro playoff

Picture college from Labour campaigning last night in West Ham ward. Labour has lost votes to remainer and brexit parties but the ward is still a Labour heartland. Some voters made it clear that while they are making a protest against current Labour Party/Government policy over Brexit and that they will return to Labour at the next election.

The single most significance response that I came across was still complete Labour Party identification and loyalty. "Of course we will be voting Labour".  Which is very humbling when we are clearly in a national political pickle.

There are always some light-hearted moments in practically any canvass. I knocked on one door and said I was here on behalf of the Labour Party etc. The resident told me he will not vote labour despite his support for Labour and the Party leader, since the Council and the Councillors are not any good! At this point I thought it best to declare that I have been his local Councillor for the last 9 years and am currently the Newham Council Deputy Executive Mayor. Following which we had a surprisingly constructive conversation about his concerns and I hope he has now changed his mind.

Another resident was very cagey about whether he was voting Labour and said he was undecided. I asked him if he had voted for Labour before and he answered "Yes, but the last time I voted for you lot, you f##ked up the Country!".

Finally, I met a lovely former Bow Neighbourhood, Tower Hamlets UNISON colleague who insisted that she was going to vote for me on Thursday no matter what. I had to explain I was not actually standing... 

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Mother & Child, Plaistow Station - Doreen Fletcher Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2019

"For 40yrs on & off, I tried but failed to get work selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. This year I’m pleased to say they made an exception with this painting ‘Mother & Child, Plaistow Station’. Thank you for your support@thegentleauthor @TownhouseWindow @BowArts

Well done Doreen! A beautiful and evocative painting. 

Plaistow Station. Where I have spent many a cold and windy early morning handing out Labour leaflets to disinterested commuters. 

Monday, May 20, 2019

Mears Cats at Dockside

This evening there was an action outside Newham Dockside by the People's Empowerment Alliance for Custom House (PEACH) led by Mears Cats.

Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, was at a Youth Board meeting in Stratford and asked me to go and speak to the protesters. The action was about the slowness of the Council to progress the agreed transfer of short-life homes into housing cooperatives. Now I know the full facts, I think we do owe PEACH an apology for not being quick enough (and most importantly, not keeping them up-to-date with what is going on)

The next meeting with PEACH and the Mayor will be on 30 May and I am sure that we will be much closer to sorting things out by then.

Picture college of today and past actions with PEACH, the Mayor and Mears Cats.

Nigel Farage wants you to think he's on the side of working people. He isn't. See what insurance based healthcare costs American workers per month

Nigel Farage wants you to think he's on the side of working people. He isn't. Don't forget to use your vote this Thursday



.....Currently, Americans pay $3.4 trillion a year for medical care (and, unfortunately, don’t get impressive results).
Here’s how much the average American spends on health care

"According to eHealthInsurance, for unsubsidized customers in 2016, “premiums for individual coverage averaged $321 per month while premiums for family plans averaged $833 per month. The average annual deductible for individual plans was $4,358 and the average deductible for family plans was $7,983.”

That means that, last year, the average family paid $9,996 for coverage alone, and, if they met their deductible, a total of just under $18,000. Meanwhile, an average individual spent $3,852 on coverage and, if she spent another $4,358 to meet her deductible, a total of $8,210.

These figures do not take into account any additional co-insuranceresponsibility she might have. In addition to co-pays and deductibles, an increasing number of plans now require co-insurance payments, which require that, even once you meet your deductible, you continue paying some percentage of all costs until you hit your out-of-pocket maximum.

Sunday, May 19, 2019

"Helping you stay in your home"

Hat tip Newham Magazine. While we should never let the Government off the hook for cutting and capping benefits below rents levels, no security of tenure for private tenants and inadequate subsidy for new social homes, there are things that can be done to prevent homelessness in the first place.

"Becoming homeless is often the end of a downward spiral that can include health problems, job losses or relationship break-ups. Newham Council is helping residents tackle such issues before they find themselves without a home.

The council’s debt advice service MoneyWorks and job brokerage scheme Workplace are working with the Homelessness Prevention and Advice Service to target and help households at risk of homelessness before they reach crisis point.

Known collectively as the Homeless Early Intervention Service, they will offer residents with a wide range of expert advice to overcome difficulties and stop them losing their homes. Newham residents can get in touch with the service if they are experiencing:

• Problems with rent or Council Tax arrears;

• Recent job loss;

• Money worries;

• Benefit issues;

• Budgeting or debt difficulties;

• Housing disrepair problems;

• Benefit caps;

• Difficulties with their landlord

• Have applied or are in receipt of discretionary housing payment.

Deputy Mayor Councillor John Gray, Cabinet member for housing services, said: “Instead of picking up the pieces when things go wrong, what we want to do is help residents tackle the problems that cause homelessness so they can stay in their homes while working through their issues.

“The Homeless Early Intervention Service will allow us to help these residents in a practical way that avoids them having to go into emergency or temporary accommodation which creates more problems than it solves and disrupts family life.”

If you are a Newham resident and you think you could benefit from the service, email HEIS@newham.gov.uk"


Saturday, May 18, 2019

Go for Growth – UNISON



http://goforgrowth.unison.org.uk
Last November showed that, by acting together, we can push our union into growth. So this May we’re having another recruitment and retention drive to make sure we keep growing!

Friday, May 17, 2019

The last weekend! West Ham Labour Grid as 18.5.19-23.5.19



Last weekend before the Euro elections on Thursday. I am sure that our ace GC Vice Chair Campaigns, Karl Lewis will be sending out an update soon but in the meanwhile.





Thursday, May 16, 2019

Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz first year in office - More to do but already delivering



I am back home after a really successful Newham Council AGM at the Old Town Hall Stratford, where this video on our achievements in the first year of Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz administration was played.

Love the "More to do but already delivering" theme.

My apologies for the scary "voting pic" towards the end of the video. I do get carried away on such occasions :-) 

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Last Chance for you to VOTE in UNISON NEC elections! Speak Now or....



Ballot finishes Friday 17 May 2019. So you will have to post by end of tomorrow (Thursday 16 May) and put on pre-paid envelope a FIRST CLASS stamp to make sure it arrive by Friday.

Check below all the regional and national recommendations I am making. I will now stop hassling everyone. Results due 4 June 2019.




Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Iftar reception with Beanibazar Thana Jonokollan Shomittee

Picture of Cllr Anamul Islam, London Assembly member Unmesh Desai and myself at tonight's Iftar reception at Impressions in West Ham. 

It was packed and well organised. It was good to meet so many friends from Tower Hamlets, many of whom I have not seen for many years. 

Many thanks for the invitation. 

Hat tip photo Shebul Khan

Monday, May 13, 2019

Why we should welcome the Regulators' involvement in the Local Government Pension Scheme


Professional Pensions Magazine (Paywall): John Gray predicts teething problems ahead and says regulation will result in a cultural shock for some schemes

"As someone who has been involved with the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) for a number of years, I have always been surprised how “light touch” government regulation of the scheme has been, when you consider the economic importance and huge scale of the LGPS. It is currently worth in total £225 billion, with over 5 million UK members and 10,000 plus employers.  

Especially in light of my experience of being a pension trustee on a private sector defined benefit scheme.

There are a number of reasons for this. Personally I welcome the pension regulators new role with the LGPS, this doesn’t mean necessarily that in the past, all schemes were run badly, nor does it mean that some of the long-standing problems of the LGPS will now be resolved because The Pension Regulator (TPR) is now knocking on its door.

TRP proudly announces on its web page that it is the public body in the UK that protects workplace pensions.

Yet as has been pointed out by a QC to the LGPS National Pension Board, there is no explicit British Government “Crown Promise” to pay these pensions nor is it protected by the TPR run pension protection fund.

I get the idea that the LGPS is a statutory pension scheme and by law, local authorities are obliged to pay accrued pension benefits.  However, all pension schemes should be thinking about a 50 year plus risk time line and who knows what will happen during the next 5 political decades. At the moment we don’t know what will happen over Brexit from day to day, or even morning to night!

Northamptonshire Council last year basically “ran out of money” to pay its bills. West Sussex, Surrey, Somerset, Norfolk, Lancashire Councils (and many others) are thought to face similar problems. I don’t think anyone really knows what will happen to its pensions if many Councils face financial “bankruptcy” at the same time as the Government faces a national financial crisis.

So to me, having a tough minded regulator to make sure that the LGPS is run properly and safely in the future makes sense. Even if currently the Regulator does not have any power over “investment decisions”. 

I think that there will be some teething problems ahead and that regulation will result in a cultural shock for some schemes.

I suspect that the TPR will be less than impressed with Councillors who do not turn up for meetings. Nor of minutes of meetings, where there is no evidence of appropriate challenge to officers or scheme advisors over key decisions. 20 year deficit recovery plans are also likely to be of “concern”.

I predict that at least one Chair of a pension committee or an executive member of a pool will explode about the “unelected bureaucrats interfering” in their scheme.

Data administration and record keeping is not a particular strong point of many schemes. The TPR may help prod schemes which have had their staffing budget slashed due to austerity to increase resources.

For my part the TPR seem to be disinterested so far in the governance of the scheme with regard to beneficiary representation and the conflicts between beneficiaries and the employer administrators but I hope that this will be addressed at some stage.

So I think this is a really positive move and that all of us involved in the LGPS should welcome the involvement of the TPR even though we know this welcome will be tested in the coming years. 

I for one, hope that I do not have to eat my words in the future and be the chair of a pension committee that throws his toys out of the pram at “unelected bureaucrats”.

Cllr John Gray Chair Newham Council Pension Committee (personal capacity)"

Sunday, May 12, 2019

"On the Knocker" for Labour in EU elections 2019 - sunshine and showers

Picture collage is from a canvass last Saturday in West Ham ward (with local MP Lyn Brown) and from yesterday in Forest Gate North.

Local Newham Councillor (and my Cabinet colleague) James Beckles, is a Labour Candidate for London, while another Newham Councillor, Rohit Das Gupta, is a Labour Candidate in South East England standing against Nigel Farage!


We got pretty wet last week and retreated to our tower blocks to continue to canvass while yesterday it poured down with rain before and after our canvass.


Elsewhere in the borough there has been a number of other Labour canvass sessions and street stalls. Both days we had big turn outs of activists. Personally, I am not aware of any opposition parties campaigning inside Newham.


So far, the results have been pretty solid for Labour but there has been some negative reactions from residents who are pro Brexit and also those who are pro Remain. I suspect that like the local Council elections last week, that the Tories will do very badly on May 23rd and that Labour will not "cover itself with glory" either.


I had a couple of interesting separate conversations with middle aged people, who have never voted in their lives. They were not hostile, they didn't have any particular objections to voting, just that they had never got around to doing it. I don't think lecturing people on ....how important voting is, on how people died for the right to vote etc really works, no matter how true this is. Explaining what happens when you walk into a polling station, that you don't need to find your polling card, how it is really secret, and you can ask polling staff questions if you don't understand anything -is more effective.


I did finish by saying that "they" never wanted to give people like us the vote and if we don't use it, they will take it away from us. 

Saturday, May 11, 2019

UNISON NEC elections 2019: Your Union Needs you! vote NOW....

Okay, it is time now to search through the heap of unopened mail in your kitchen drawer or window cill and look for your UNISON NEC ballot papers. The ballot ends next Friday, 17 May, so you need to post them back ASAP so they can arrive by then.

So below are my personal recommendations on who to vote for and who will stand up for UNISON members, their rights and our union.

You can vote for national and regional seats, depending where you work and what is your job. Make all your votes count!

(you have until Noon Tuesday 14 May to request a new ballot paper tel: 0800 0857 857)



Friday, May 10, 2019

European elections are on in West Ham!



European elections are on in West Ham!

John

We have had a great start to our campaign in West Ham, but the Brexit party have been busy (most people have already received a leaflet from them, they will get one from us later on), the Lib Dems and Greens have both been out in the north of the CLP.

Take a look below at the campaigns going on in our area, all experiences welcome and training offered to anyone who would like it.


Time
Ward
Type of event
Meeting place
Postcode
Contact detail
Friday 10
6:30pm
Canning Town North
Leafleting
Barking road - near the Iceland
E13

Saturday 11
11.30am
Forest Gate North
Doorknocking
Forest Gate Station
E7 0NF
Rachel 
11AM
Plaistow South
Doorknocking
African Caribbean Centre
E13 9EZ
Neil Wilson 
10.30am
Green Street West
Doorknocking
East Shopping Centre, Green Street
E7 8LE
Qasim 
Sunday 12
11am
West Ham
Door knocking
ATL cafe
E15 3ET

10.30am
Green Street West
Doorknocking
East Shopping Centre, Green Street
E7 8LE
Qasim (
Monday 13
6pm - 8pm
Canning Town North
Leafleting
Breammar Road
E16 4HQ

Tuesday 14
5pm-7pm
Stratford and New Town
Station leafletting and doorknocking
Stratford International Station
E20 1YY
Karl Lewis 
6PM
Plaistow South
Doorknocking
African Caribbean Centre
E13 9EZ
Neil Wilson 

The full and latest schedule can be FOUND HERE. Updates will also be made on our website.

Please get in contact with Karl Lewis if you have any questions or would like to set up an event in your area.



Campaign sessions in East Ham.


We have been informed of the following sessions in East Ham:

Wednesday- 15th and 22nd May
Time- 6pm
Meeting Point- Near Upton Park Station

Saturday- 11th and 19th May
Time-12pm
Meeting Point- East Ham Sainsbury

Thursday, May 09, 2019

UNISON School Uniform Grant 2019 - up to £120 per family

From May 13 UNISON members who receive housing benefit or have income of less that £18,000 (see exact eligibility here) could claim up to £120 for school uniform costs. 
"Families living on low income with children struggle constantly to make ends meet – and this can be particularly acute before the new school year begins when the extra costs hit hard.
But it’s not all bad news – help IS available.  The union’s welfare charity There for You has once more set up a limited fund to help members on low incomes towards the costs of school uniform through a one-off payment of £40.
The process is very similar to previous years and an amount of money has been ring-fenced to support this initiative. However, once it’s gone it’s gone! 
So don’t miss out.  Apply early and send your form and supporting paperwork in as soon as possible.  All the information you need can be found below.   Alternatively, contact UNISON Direct on 0800 0857 857 for a form to be sent to you. 
Just one more thing please don’t keep details of this grant a secret.  Help us to help even more members and let your work colleagues know that help is at hand.  There will be many, like you, worrying about how they will be able to afford uniform’s to send their children back to school in the Autumn. 
Completed applications need to be sent to There for You, UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AY by Friday 19 July 2019 at the latest".

Wednesday, May 08, 2019

One Year In - Tackling the Housing Crisis



A year since I was re-elected by residents of West Ham for a third term as a Newham Councillor and then appointed by directly elected Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, as Cabinet lead for Housing Services. The most demanding but also the most fulfilling year of my life so far. Put headphone on to listen to video. More to follow.

Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz "Today marks One. Year. In. as the Mayor of Newham! There’s more to do, but we’re already delivering and here’s a message to Newham residents that we published earlier:

​​‘Today marks a year since I stepped into office as Mayor of Newham. I wanted to say thank you for giving me and my administration the opportunity to put you at the heart of everything we do as a Council.​

You’ll be able to see some of the things we’ve achieved from a series of #DeliveringForNewham messages on social media, including the one below on housing. At next week’s Annual Council Meeting on 16 May I’ll also be outlining some of my plans for what happens next.

It’s certainly been a momentous first year, with some real highlights – getting my administration’s first Budget agreed, along with a new corporate plan (the first in several years) and a structure for the Council that will support the delivery of the promises I made to you when I was elected last May. We’ve driven forward an agenda of improving transparency and accountability, alongside involving residents in decision-making through the amazing Citizen Assemblies that we’ve held across borough.

We now have robust plans under way to deal with the housing crisis we face in Newham; I’ve laid down a huge marker about how we intend to deal with the climate emergency; and we’ve made a commitment to become a living wage council. We’re addressing poverty, tackling inequality and sharing economic prosperity through our Community Wealth Building agenda. Which means that investment coming into Newham, and already in the borough, benefits all our residents.

I’ve also announced great news relating to my promise to Newham voters that I would clean up the Council’s budget. A key element of that was to address the scourge of risky LOBO loans taken out before I stepped into office. On Friday, we finalised negotiations with NatWest Bank and I was thrilled to announce that we’ve terminated the RBS LOBO loans taken out under the previous administration, saving us £143 million that can be spent on Newham residents. Over the past ten years that the RBS loans have been in place, it’s cost us an extra £31 million in interest payments, so by terminating these LOBO loans, more money can be spent on services for Newham residents.

You’ll also have noted that my Cabinet and I have put our collective weight behind the children and young people of this borough – we will make sure our young people are safe, coupled with laying down the building blocks for generations to come so that their talent and potential is realised.

Safety of our young people continues to be a big issue for us and that’s why on Saturday, we’ll be holding an inaugural Love Life Gala at The Old Town Hall in Stratford to promote the importance of youth safety in Newham. The Gala promises to be an eclectic evening of food, entertainment and special appearances by renowned artists. All funds raised will be used to provide recuperative programmes and experiences for children and young people in Newham.

It’s also been a year peppered with challenges, which is why we’ll continue to drive changes at the Council so that we improve the way it serves our residents. There’s also been some low points in our borough, which is why I am humbled by the unity and resolve of our community following the horrendous attacks in Christchurch and Sri Lanka. We’re strengthened by coming together and I’m proud that Newham is a place where people embrace our diversity so positively.

When I was elected last year, I thanked Newham residents for putting their faith and trust in me; and in my vision for the borough. We’re already delivering for Newham residents, but there’s a lot more to do.

So I promise you this: as I progress through the second year of my administration, I’ll strive to achieve and deliver the best for you, your family and our community. Because the people of Newham are at the heart of everything I do. ‘