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.

Council Tax

The Council's element of the Council Tax will rise by 8.99% for 2025/26, comprising a 2% Adult Social Care precept and a 6.99% general increase. The Labour Group argued that this rise was necessary because of 14 years of disastrous Tory mismanagement of the economy. They argued that Newham's Council Tax has been kept at a low level for too long, and that even after the increase, it will remain the lowest in Outer London, and the seventh lowest in London as a whole. The Labour Group also stated that without the unprecedented financial burden of £52 million created by the Temporary Accommodation crisis this year, they would have been able to set a balanced budget without the need for an increase. The Newham Independent Group proposed an amendment to the budget that would freeze the Council Tax, but the Section 151 Officer confirmed that this would result in a £32 million funding shortfall. The Green Group proposed an amendment that would cancel the planned £3 million annual contribution to the Council's reserves, and use that money to reverse cuts to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, but this amendment was also rejected. The approved budget included changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme that are expected to generate £2.9 million of additional income for the Council. These include a reduction to the maximum support available to 80%, an increase to the income taper from 20% to 25%, a reduction in the capital limit from £16,000 to £6,000 and a 10% increase to non-dependent deductions.

Olympic Park Fixed Estate Charge

Councillor Danny Keeling of the Green Group proposed a motion to ask the Mayor of Newham to write to the Mayor of London, all London Assembly Members and the Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, asking them to end the RPI index-linking of the Fixed Estate Charge, reverse the charge to 2014/15 levels and explore funding the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park through a London-wide precept. Councillor Kamali of the Labour Group proposed an amendment, which was accepted, to replace most of the original motion. The accepted motion states that the Fixed Estate Charge was introduced by Boris Johnson, and notes the massive funding cuts to GLA and Newham council by the previous Conservative Governments. The motion goes on to state that there are a number of developments in Newham where residents pay a similar charge, and that Newham Council had already made a submission to a review of the charge that called for businesses locating in the park to contribute more to the charge, and for alternative funding mechanisms based on affordability to be considered. The accepted motion also states that Newham Council will contact residents, GLA Representatives, MPs and Councillors to campaign for reform of the charge. It asks the Crime, Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee to consider alternative funding models for the park, and for the Mayor of Newham to work with residents and the LLDC, GLA and other stakeholders to reach a transparent, fair and equitable solution.

Black Boys Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Anthony McClelland, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, presented a report on the Council's scrutiny work since October, and raised concerns about the lack of engagement from the Council's partners in education with the Black Boys' Scrutiny Committee. He reported that no school governors attended a focus group with the Committee, and only one Assistant Headteacher attended out of 60 schools in the borough. Councillor McClelland argued that the narrative on Black boys has not changed since I came to the UK in the 1980s, and that the establishment of the Scrutiny Committee was initially met with resistance. He expressed disappointment with the lack of engagement, and asked, if this is my experience, if this is the Commission's experience, what is the reality for the Black boys who do not have an amplified voice? Councillor Sarah Ruiz apologised for the non-attendance of the school governors and teachers, stating that it was very bad form and that she would ensure that the focus group took place in the new year. Mayor Rukhsuan Affairs echoed Councillor Ruiz's comments, and promised to hold the schools to account. She stated that her administration had spotlighted on issues of disproportionality, and cultures within schooling, education environments and institutions that marginalise our young people, particularly those from our communities of colour and black boys. She added that she was looking forward to working with Councillor Ruiz and Councillor Melanie Onovo, the newly appointed Cabinet Member for Youth Power, to hold the schools to account.

Other Business

Mayor Rukhsuan Affairs announced that she would be appointing Councillor John Whitworth as the Cabinet Member for Air Quality and Climate Emergency. She stated that this reflected her administration's focus on the existential crises facing humanity. The Mayor also announced the appointment of Councillor Melanie Onovo as Cabinet Member for Youth Power. She said that this appointment reflected her commitment to ensuring that “young people are empowered at local regional and national level, so that funding flows to the things that matter to them the most”. Councillor Sarah Jane Ruiz, Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children Services and Education, presented an update on the Council's SEND services. She stated that the Council has recently been re-inspected, and moved out of Written Statement of Action. Councillor Mehmood Mirza, a Newham Independent Councillor, criticised the Council’s record. He argued that “over the past few years, we’ve seen the borough go backwards on nearly every metric that matters”, and that the “labour run council has put up council tax by an eye-watering 26% since 2018”. The Council agreed to the recommendations in the Treasury Management 2023/24 Year End & Quarter 1 2024/25 Update Report. The Council formally adopted the amended Council Procedure Rules, as recommended by the Constitution Review Working Group, and noted that the Constitution Review Working Group would continue to meet to discuss outstanding matters. The Council agreed to a number of proposals in the Polling Districts and Polling Places Review 2024, and noted others. The Council agreed to the recommendations in the Civic Awards 2024 - Recommendations of the Civic Awards Panel report, awarding two Honorary Freedoms of the London Borough of Newham to Lyn Brown and Paulette Watson MBE. The Council noted the Special Urgency decisions set out in the Special Urgency and Exempted from Call-In Procedure Decisions report. The Council agreed to appoint Mrs Bibi Pearce Johnson and Mr Gary Rogers as Independent Persons. The Council noted the membership of its committees. Councillor Shantu Ferdous' motion on diversity in recruitment was carried unanimously.