Love your ward & how about "DustyMcDustFace"?

This afternoon as a local ward Councillor, I went to support this event and speak to residents, officers and volunteers. The weather was not kind but everyone seemed very enthusiastic about its aims of encouraging recycling and the "give & take market" as well as practical steps such as litter picking, bulk rubbish collection and garden planting. My wife Gill had been busy clearing weeds from the communal garden.

We hope to attach the "Please Recycle" murals to the outside walls of Brassett and David Lee Point. I had a positive conversation with the artists who were spray painting them about communal art and I hope we can have more of this in our streets and estates. Behind us is blue boarding sectioning off land due to be redeveloped. Maybe we can do something with this boarding rather than leave it to be vandalised?

There was also a competition to give a name to the Newham Council Dust vehicle being used to collect bulk rubbish. All residents were asked to submit a name. I felt that I had to submit my suggestion "DustyMcDustFace". 

Love Your Ward: Saturday 12 October 10-3pm at Brassett Point/David Lee Point E15

Councillor Report to West Ham Ward 8 November 2018

Councillor Report to Ward As 8 Nov 2018

WEST HAM WARD LABOUR PARTY tel: 0203 373 3456 or email John.Gray@Newham.gov.uk

  

Ward issues

·        On 4 October after my surgery I attended a meeting of Leather Gardens Residents & Tenants Association with Cllr Whitworth in Brassett Point. It was a lively but constructive meeting with the Council concierge manager, discussing communal repairs, anti-social behaviour (ASB) & service charges. An inspection of David Lee Point was agreed as was a further inspection of Brassett Point.

·        A Council tenant who has caused ASB in the ward for many years to local residents was jailed this month for violent behaviour and homophobic abuse. A 3 year banning order was also imposed. Many thanks to local Police and Council enforcement officers for finally being able to bring this perpetrator to justice and protect residents.

·        23 October I took part in an inspection of all 21 floors in David Lee Point with Cllr Whitworth, Concierge officer, Leasehold services officer and a resident. The block was clean but minor repairs were noted and reported. Issues of ASB were also discussed.

·        All ward Councillors, Council senior officers and the Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz attended a remembrance ceremony on 24 October organised by the local Police to honour PC Nina Mackay, who was killed on duty 21 year ago in Arthingworth Street E15

·        All 3 Ward Councillors met on 29 October with representatives of Newham Clinical Commissioners to express our concern on behalf of many constituents over the pending closure of West Ham GP surgery following the retirement of its main doctor. There had been huge opposition to this plan. We asked for the closure to be reconsidered or at least postponed but this was refused on the grounds that the premises were totally unsuitable and the practice was too small. At my surgery on Saturday residents told me that they are collecting a petition and will be asking for a meeting with the board of the local NHS Trust to protest further.

·        The planning application for a very large private tower block in Abbey Road next to the DLR station has been refused by the local planning committee. Congratulations to local residents for their very effective campaigning against this unsuitable application. It is likely that the developers will come back with a revised plan which probably will still be of concern to residents.

·        I was pleased to attend the 2^nd anniversary of the opening of the Darul Jannah Community centre on November 5 and give out prizes to top performing students with Councillor Whitworth and other Councillors.

Other

·        I was also pleased that the Labour Candidate Moniba Khan was elected as a Councillor in the recent Boleyn by-election with 74% of the vote. I had been campaigning with ward members.

·        I am due to present on my role as Cabinet member for Housing services to next month’s meeting of the branch (Now January 2019).

If any member wishes to contact me about this report or my work as a Cabinet member please do not hesitate to do so.

Surgeries and case work

Please note the new time and place of my Councillor Surgeries

·        Stratford Library,  3 The Grove, Stratford E15 1EL 1^st Saturday in every month 10am-11am

·        1st Floor Tenants’ Room
Abbey Road, E15 3LA. 1^st Thursday in every month 5pm-6pm.

·         

I can also be contacted by email or phone (see top) or even via twitter (@grayee) or Facebook (search “John Gray Newham”)

Regards

John Gray

West Ham Ward Councillor

A day in the life - Thursday 27 September 2018

This is one day in my life as a Newham Council Cabinet member, which was particularly busy but pretty much reflects what all Newham Cabinet members experience on a regular basis. Compared to the Mayor's normal diary, it was probably a walk in the park.

I came back late on Wednesday evening from Labour Party conference in Liverpool. 9am on Thursday, I had my first meeting in Newham Dockside, chairing a working group of Council Officers on the future of Community Spaces (Centres) in the borough. A very difficult issue but the meeting (I felt) went really well and was positive and constructive.

Next I had to rush off to chair a UNISON London regional forum on the Local Government Pension Fund in central London. I had doubled booked myself so was a little late. In the afternoon I attended a fascinating meeting of the Newham Homeless Forum in Anchor House with Cllr Susan Masters, followed by a tour of the marvellous new register office at East Ham Town Hall. I then went across the road for a meet with Newham College of Further Education heads.

After that I had a surgery in my ward in the tenants and residents room in Brassett Point. Finishing with a meeting of Audit Committee in East Town Hall which ended around 9pm. (Followed by a short recovery drink in the Red Lion).

Hope this doesn't seem like gloating "look how busy I am" or "pity me". I am really enjoying the challenge because I am convinced that we (all Labour Councillors and the Mayor) will make a big difference for the better to the lives of our residents.

Councillor Report to West Ham Labour Party Branch October 2018

Councillor Report to Branch 4 October 2018

WEST HAM WARD LABOUR PARTY tel: 0203 373 3456 or email John.Gray@Newham.gov.uk

Surgeries and case work 

Please note the new time and place of my Councillor Surgeries

· Stratford Library, 3 The Grove, Stratford E15 1EL 1st Saturday in every month 10am-11am

· 1st Floor Tenants’ Room, Abbey Road, E15 3LA. 1st Thursday in every month 5pm-6pm.

I can also be contacted by email or phone (see above box) or even via twitter (@grayee) or Facebook (search “John Gray Newham”)

Ward issues
Following complaints from residents and my visits during the election campaign on 9 August I inspected, with technical and caretaking officers, Maud Gardens, E15. A number of communal repair, parking and caretaking issues were identified. We were also able to visit an elderly resident with a serious disrepair issue and since then an emergency decant to alternative accommodation has been arranged. The Council is carrying out what is called a “stock survey” of all its accommodation to identify repair and refurbishment works needed.

Friday 15 August I took part in an inspection of Brassett Point with residents, technical officer and concierge manager. The block was clean and secure but there was also a number of issues identified regarding communal repairs, anti-social behaviour, parking, and leasehold charges. Cllr Whitworth presented a petition from residents at the full Council meeting on 17 September. A follow up meeting with local ward Councillors has been arranged for 4 October 2018.

I also met up with Eastside Community Heritage about a possible “Art in Tower Blocks” scheme. Brassett Point residents indicated that they would be interested in finding out more. I will speak to officers. An inspection of next door David Lee Point is also being arranged.

Planning application in Abbey Road 
This application is for a very large new tower block on the site next to the DLR station. Local residents have been up in arms about this development as being unsuited to the neighbourhood in design and height (amongst other things). I have met with local residents who made a series of formal objections to the application. Newham planners have recommended that the application be rejected. Cllr McLean and I will support objectors when the application comes to planning committee. Cllr Whitworth is a member of Planning Committee so cannot be involved in this campaign.

Newham Boxing club 
The club has approached local Councillors for support to redevelop the site in Church Street. We have asked regeneration officers to look at the proposal.

Durul Jannah Community Centre, E15
Is appealing against a decision of the local planning committee. Cllr Whitworth and I spoke in favour of the application at the committee (before he became a member of the Strategic planning committee)

Other
Last month I attended the Labour Party conference in Liverpool as a Councillor (self funded). During which I attended 9 housing fringes.

I attended the evening meeting of the Stratford & West Ham Assembly on 12 September. It was well organised and very constructive with about 80 people attending. It is probably the best residents’ meeting I have ever been to either as a Councillor or officer.

If requested I would be happy to present on my role as Cabinet member for Housing services to a future meeting of the branch.

If any member wishes to contact me about this report to discuss any aspect please do not hesitate to do so.

Regards
John Gray
West Ham Ward Councillor

Newham Full Council Meeting 17 September 2018 (my twitter feed)

A busy evening. Confirmed new Chief Executive. Passed motions, submitted petitions, deputation that schools should have ballots before deciding to become academies, Councillor questions, public questions, Mayor and CEO report.

At @NewhamLondon Full Council meeting in historic Stratford Town Hall. Delegation speaking to meeting on anti-academy campaign, just moved petition on behalf residents from #BrassettPoint about repairs & #ASB (@WestHamBLP Cllrs have been #walkabout with residents)

His first speech to Full Council, Cllr @danielblaney speaks about how we need to change traffic management and support the near 50% of residents who do not have a car. “The roads belong to all of not just cars”@NewhamLondon

If this was a unison conference or TUC we would clap first time speakers :)

Now Cllr @labourpartyCTN Shaban Mohammed moves motion on #Academisation ballots calling for all schools considering becoming a #academy to hold a ballot. @CllrSarahRuiz seconds @NewhamLondon

#Cllr @rkdasgupta moves @CoopParty sponsored motion against #modernSlavery . I spoke about ensuring that the £1.4 billion @NewhamLondon #pension fund takes action to ensure that we do not allow such exploitation of workers in companies we invest in

Council meeting over. Now presentation by @LGBCE on electoral review of @NewhamLondon for 2022 elections. #SaveWestHam ward @WestHamBLP

Picture of #Newham @UKLabour & @CoopParty councillors supporting campaign and @NewhamLondon motion on #modernslavery

21 floor "walkabout" Brassett Point

On Friday I went on a "walkabout" with residents and Newham Housing officers from the top to the bottom of Brassett Point in my ward.

It is always encouraging when you see residents who actively care about their homes and their environment. They have collected a petition, which 90 out of the 120 flats have signed, calling for improvements in communal repairs and stopping anti-social behaviour.

A number of actions were agreed and there will be follow up inspection later in the year.

The sister block nearby, David Lee Point (see picture left who also sent a resident representative) will be next.

By coincidence it was good to meet up with former colleagues from Tower Hamlets Council. I used to work with Agnes, now a local resident, (2nd from right above) when she was a Homeless Officer and Bob, a local caretaker (not in picture) we met on the walkabout who used to work with me on the Ranwell East (Roman Road) estate.

The longstanding Leather Gardens TRA rep, Ted Nolan (1st on left), was there as ever, to keep things moving along and all of us in order.

The residents will be handing in their petition at the next full Council meeting and are planning to send in a delegation to speak at the meeting. They are also going to set up a Facebook page for the block.