The Cabinet of Newham Council met on Thursday 24 February 2022, agreeing to adopt a new 15-year cultural strategy and to endorse Newham Sparks, a major initiative focused on developing the borough's data sector. The meeting also saw the approval of a significant refurbishment programme for homes at Hamara Ghar and the adoption of new standards to improve the resident experience when contacting the council.

Budget Scrutiny Commission Final Report

Cabinet resolved to respond to the recommendations made in the final report of the Budget Scrutiny Commission. Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, thanked the Scrutiny team for their hard work and diligence, acknowledging their efforts in particular to reduce the number of agency workers in Children's Services. The Mayor noted that Scrutiny had welcomed the engagement from the Executive.

London Borough of Newham Cultural Strategy

The council's approach to culture over the next 15 years was agreed with the adoption of the Building Newham's Creative Future, Our Cultural Strategy and Action Plan 2022 – 2037. This strategy aims to recognise and maximise the borough's unique cultural offer, driving growth in the creative and cultural sectors as part of the wider inclusive economy strategy. Cabinet also delegated authority to the Corporate Directors of Inclusive Economy and Housing and People, Policy and Performance to finalise the document. The 15-year timeframe aligns with the Local Plan and is designed to underpin participation in culture and arts.

Improving the experience of residents contacting the Council: Newham Resident Experience Standards and other measures

Cabinet agreed to note the contents of the draft Newham Resident Experience Standards, a guidance document for staff and contractors intended to ensure consistently excellent resident experiences. The document sets out how interactions with residents should take place and how to meet their needs, with an emphasis on co-production and clear expectations for staff. Cabinet also agreed to receive a progress report in six months and noted progress on other initiatives aimed at improving resident experience.

Newham Sparks

Newham Sparks, a major new strategic initiative for the borough, was endorsed as a key strategic initiative for the Council. This programme aims to make Newham a leading destination for the growing data sector in London and the UK. Launched in September 2021, it encourages businesses and residents to engage with data, with the council collaborating with the research department at the University of East London (UEL). The initiative is seen as a driver for inclusive growth and the acceleration of skills acquisition for the future world of work. Cabinet approved the programme blueprint and scope for the next phase and noted the outcomes of the initial Call to Action and the research collaboration with the Institute of Global Prosperity at UEL.

Refurbishment, Modernisation and Improvement Works at Hamara Ghar

Cabinet agreed to undertake a programme of works at Hamara Ghar, including external cladding refurbishment, window replacement, and roof structure repairs. These works are part of a larger masterplan for Queens Market. The works will be procured through the London Housing Consortium (LHC) Framework via a mini-competition. Authority was delegated to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing Services, to determine any further modernisation and improvement works and procure them as part of the same process. The council's in-house repair and maintenance team, RMS, does not have the capacity for this project, and a full procurement process was deemed to have no added benefits compared to using the existing LHC framework.

Concluding Statement

Before concluding the meeting, Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE made a statement regarding the unfolding events in Ukraine, expressing solidarity with the people of Ukraine and communities in Newham whose families are affected. She noted the capture of Chernobyl by Russian forces and the ongoing conflict, stating that the Global Mayor's Peace network would be calling for an end to the conflict.