The Cabinet noted the executive response to the Black Boys and the Borough Scrutiny report, and approved the acquisition of Chantler Close, Custom House, from housing association Look Ahead. They approved the adoption of a new Adaptive Street Lighting policy, and noted the request for a renewal ballot from the Stratford Original Business Improvement District (BID). The Cabinet also approved the procurement of a new Microsoft Enterprise Agreement.

Black Boys and the Borough Report

The Cabinet noted the executive response to the Black Boys and the Borough Scrutiny Report, which was published on the 4th of June 2024, and makes twelve recommendations for the Council to consider. The Cabinet have accepted recommendations 1, 3, 4 and 5 in their entirety. The Cabinet have partially accepted recommendations 2, 6, 7, 8, 8b, 9, 10, 11, and 12. The Cabinet have not accepted recommendation 10b. The recommendations cover a wide range of issues, and many relate to the Council's Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010.

Councillor Sarah Jane Ruiz, Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children Services and Education, presented the response to the scrutiny report, stating:

As the lead Members representing the cross-cutting nature of the Scrutiny Task and Finish Commission looking into ‘The Relationship between Black Boys and the Borough’, we thank the members for their work and for the conclusion of this Commission’s work across the areas as presented in their report.

Recommendation 1: Plan for action

The scrutiny report recommends that the Council should develop an action plan to address systemic and structural inequality across the Council and the community. The Cabinet have agreed to this recommendation, citing their Building a Fairer Newham Corporate Plan, approved in September 2022, and their new Equity and Equality model, which has recently been approved by the Council's Corporate Leadership Team. The new model will include training, an action plan, and the creation of an Equity Steering Group in Autumn 2024.

Recommendation 2: Targeting Progress Towards Equality

The scrutiny report recommends that the Council should review its Equality Monitoring processes. The Cabinet have partially accepted this recommendation, stating:

This recommendation is welcomed and partially accepted because of the work already underway through the Council’s existing Equality Monitoring Process, which was last reviewed in 2023.

Recommendation 3: Using Data and Lived Experience to Inform Policy

The scrutiny report recommends that the Council should use data and information on the lived experience of its residents to inform its policymaking. The Cabinet have accepted this recommendation, stating:

This recommendation is welcomed and accepted and is already delivered through various mechanisms within the Council.

The Cabinet listed a number of ways that the Council is already meeting this recommendation, including:

• The use of Equality Impact Assessments.
• The improvement of its data collection processes.
• Embedding lived experience in the design and delivery of Children and Youth Services.

Recommendation 4: Newham Safeguarding Children’s Partnership

The scrutiny report recommends that the Newham Safeguarding Children's Partnership produce an action plan with measurable outcomes to reduce disproportionality and disparity for Black boys in areas such as educational exclusion, child protection planning, care and the criminal justice system. The Cabinet have accepted this recommendation. A data dashboard for the Partnership, showing data disaggregated by ethnicity, is presently in development, and an update will be presented at their next meeting in November 2024.

Recommendation 5: Preventing School Exclusions

The scrutiny report recommends that the Council should review and build on its existing support to identify new ways to prevent school exclusions. The Cabinet have accepted this recommendation, stating:

We approve and accept this recommendation, as this is already a core area of work within the Council’s Education service.

Recommendation 6: School Behaviour Policies

The scrutiny report recommends that the Council should review the implementation of school behaviour policies in Newham. The Cabinet have partially accepted this recommendation, stating:

We recognise the importance of examining the School Behaviour policies, and understand the drivers and thinking that have given rise to this recommendation which we partially accept.

The Cabinet stated that a sole focus on behaviour policies would not be an effective way to address this issue. They instead believe that a focus on quality assuring and evaluating the impact of inclusive practice in schools will be a better way to improve inclusive practice.

Recommendation 7: Engaging on Community Safety Strategies

The scrutiny report recommends that the Council should review its community safety strategies and engage directly with young black boys and men. The Cabinet have partially accepted this recommendation, and listed a number of actions that the Council and its partners are already undertaking, including:

• A refresh of the Council's Youth Safety Strategy.
• A commitment for Newham to take part in the Mayor of London's Stop and Search project.
• Ongoing work to raise awareness about Stop and Search amongst young people.
• The creation of a Trust, Engagement and Equity subgroup by the Newham Safety Partnership.
• Several projects being delivered by the Violence Reduction Unit, including:
  • A young black boys and men's board.
  • Detached youth work.
  • A summer raising awareness programme.
  • School-based education to reduce robbery, gang involvement and joint enterprise.

Recommendation 8: Stretch Collaboration

The scrutiny report recommends that the Council should consider using the Stretch Collaboration methodology to help transform its services.

Stretch Collaboration and Transformative Scenario Building moves away from conventional collaboration. It helps people work together across differences to transform systems, sectors, organisations and perspectives.

The Cabinet have partially accepted this recommendation, stating:

This recommendation is welcomed and partially accepted, as links to the ambitions we have for creating enabling and empowering environments and experiences for all young people, including those at risk of exploitation and those facing disproportionality. It will be subject to an assessment of any revenue cost implications in line with the Council’s governance processes in place.

Recommendation 9: Mapping Opportunities

The scrutiny report recommends that the Council should map and publicise opportunities for young Black men and boys to engage with it. The Cabinet have partially accepted this recommendation.

Recommendation 10: Trauma Responsive Training

The scrutiny report recommends that the Council should identify and deliver trauma responsive training for all staff. The Cabinet have partially accepted this recommendation, stating:

In light of the work outlined below, we welcome and partially accept Recommendation 10 from the Scrutiny Task and Finish Commission. We will look to work with partners and providers to offer and/or promote evidence-based training on trauma-informed approaches, many of which rely on more than just a one-off training session. Our continued relationships across the VRU, voluntary sector and academic bodies ensure our approach to trauma-informed working in Newham is in line with pan-London and national progress.

The Cabinet listed a number of areas where the Council is already undertaking this work, including:

• A free training course on trauma-informed care, delivered in partnership with Teeside University and the North East London Training Hub.
• A new approach to trauma-informed working, called 'Caring Steps', which was developed in 2023 and piloted by three organisations.
• A centralised training page on the Well Newham website.
• Collaboration with the London VRU's Trauma Informed Project.

Recommendation 11: Black Youth Voices

The scrutiny report recommends that the Council should collate Black youth voices and experiences into one coherent strategy. The Cabinet have partially accepted this recommendation, stating:

This recommendation is welcomed but partially accepted. As part of the new Equity approach, services will be expected to identify and develop specific equity objectives and actions within the annual business planning cycle, based on gaps in resident outcomes and areas for improvement.

Recommendation 12: Black Boys and Young Men Working Group

The scrutiny report recommends that the Council should establish a working group of young Black boys and men, community leaders, business leaders and Council colleagues to help inform policy and service delivery. The Cabinet have partially accepted this recommendation, stating:

We partially accept the recommendation. As part of the Newham Equity Approach, a staff equity steering group is being set up to drive improvement in Council policy and service delivery. While the terms of reference of the group are yet to be finalised, the group will consider how it includes the lived experience and knowledge of residents, community members and businesses, including young black men.

Acquisition of Chantler Close

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, presented the report on the proposed acquisition of Chantler Close, Custom House, from housing association Look Ahead, stating:

The chair councils of the government finance and resources there in the cabinet lady we all are aware of the unprecedented challenges that we're facing in the homelessness in the barrel.

The scheme

Chantler Close is made up of two blocks of 26 self-contained one-bedroom flats and a large parking area. It is located outside of the Custom House Regeneration Area. Five of the flats are currently used for affordable housing, and the rest are used by Look Ahead to provide temporary accommodation. There are no planning restrictions on the site. The Cabinet heard that Look Ahead would relocate all existing tenants to suitable alternative accommodation before the sale is completed. The Council is expected to complete the purchase of the freehold in August 2025.

Use of the scheme

The Council are planning to lease the scheme to a third-party housing organisation, who will then let the units to people currently in temporary accommodation at rents linked to the Local Housing Allowance. The third party organisation will be responsible for all landlord functions, such as collecting rent and managing repairs.

Financial implications

The capital costs of purchasing Chantler Close will be funded through prudential borrowing. A financial analysis has demonstrated that the acquisition will provide a net income to the Council over 50 years, and will deliver a saving on the cost of temporary accommodation. The Cabinet heard that the acquisition would deliver an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 9.1%, while the current cost of borrowing is 5.5%.

Adaptive Street Lighting Policy

Councillor Sarah Jane Ruiz, Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children Services and Education, presented a report on the adoption of a new Adaptive Street Lighting Policy, stating:

In the last five years, the Council have invested in the replacement of its existing standard street lights, sodium lanterns, with new lighting, new light-emitting diodes, LEDs, for those of us who know the language.

What is Adaptive Street Lighting?

Adaptive street lighting uses modern technology to vary the brightness of streetlights, making it possible to reduce the energy consumption of street lights while still meeting the required standards.

The Cabinet heard that:

This form of modern technology means that lighting provision is no longer a one-size-fits-all offer. Instead, we can now increase lighting levels where necessary, especially for safety reasons, but also lower lighting levels where necessary, reducing costs and energy consumption, as well as ensuring residents' privacy and sleep are not disrupted by too bright a lighting.

The proposals

The Cabinet heard that Newham Council has already replaced around 90% of its Sodium streetlights with new LED units. This has reduced the Council's annual carbon emissions from street lighting from 2442 tonnes to 1220 tonnes. The policy will further reduce the Council's carbon emissions from street lighting to 854 tonnes per annum, and will save around £500,000 per year in energy costs.

The policy allows for lighting levels to be reduced at certain times of night, on certain types of road. Lighting levels will be reduced by up to 20% between 6pm and midnight, and up to 50% between midnight and 5am. The policy will not apply to areas such as zebra crossings, signal-controlled crossings and junctions, underpasses and footbridges. Lighting levels in Town and District Centres and outside of train stations will be reduced by 20% at all times.

The trial

A trial of the new policy was carried out between February and May 2024. The trial involved a variety of sites in different wards, and sought to understand the impact of adaptive lighting on:

• The local environment.
• Lighting levels.
• Perceived personal safety.
• Potential impacts on traffic safety.

The trial involved consultation with internal and external stakeholders, including local residents, Transport for London and local ward Councillors. The outcome of the trial was that there was no significant negative impact on residents from the reduced lighting levels.

The decision

The Cabinet approved the proposed Adaptive Street Lighting Policy, and delegated authority to Aled Richards, Corporate Director for Environment and Sustainable Transport, to make changes to the policy in order to maintain highway safety.

Stratford Business Improvement District Renewal Ballot

Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Portfolio Lead for Inclusive Economy, Strategic Housing Delivery and Culture, presented a report on the request by the Stratford Original Business Improvement District (BID) for a renewal ballot.

The Stratford Business Improvement District (BID), also known as Stratford Original, is a not for profit organisation funded and led by local businesses based in Stratford Town Centre. They have expressed their intent to the Council to hold a renewal ballot for its third five-year term in Autumn 2024, having been instituted in 2015 following the first BID ballot.

What is a BID?

A Business Improvement District is a defined area within which businesses pay a levy to fund projects that will improve their trading environment.

BIDs are business led partnerships which are created through a ballot process to deliver additional services to businesses in a defined location. They can continue for an unlimited number of terms, providing they are successful in their ballots.

What is Stratford Original proposing?

Stratford Original is seeking approval for a third five-year term, which will run from April 2025 to March 2030. They are proposing to expand the BID area to include 21 new businesses. The BID has notified the Council of its intention to hold a ballot, and has provided them with:

• A copy of their proposed business plan.
• A summary of their consultation with businesses in the BID area.

The decision

The Cabinet noted Stratford Original's request for a ballot, and delegated authority to Megan Charnley, Director of Community Wealth Building, to determine whether the proposal conflicts with any Council policies, and whether the Council should vote to support the renewal.

Pre-Procurement Services for Microsoft Licensing Agreement

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, presented a report on the procurement of a new Microsoft Enterprise Agreement.

In April 2023, by a Cabinet decision, the two Councils decided to split from the OneSource IT service and associated shared infrastructure to:

Why does the Council need a new agreement?

The Council is currently party to a shared Microsoft Enterprise Agreement with Havering Council, which expires on 31 March 2025. As part of the planned split from the OneSource shared IT service, the Council needs to procure a new agreement in its own right.

How will the new agreement be procured?

The Council is planning to procure the new Enterprise Agreement through Crown Commercial Services (CCS), a public procurement organisation. CCS run an aggregation service for public sector organisations, which brings together organisations with similar requirements in order to leverage savings.

The decision

The Cabinet approved the procurement of a new Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, to be awarded to the winning supplier through the CCS aggregate process.