The Newham Council meeting on 24 March 2025 included discussions on belonging and inclusion in Newham, and the adoption of a reviewed statement of licensing policy. The council also agreed to provide Councillor Mohammed Gani with a dispensation for non-attendance at meetings until 20 October 2025 due to ill health.

Commission for the Future of Belonging & Inclusion in Newham

The council heard from Sondra Katwala from British Futures about the work of the Commission for the Future of Belonging & Inclusion in Newham. She outlined the challenges faced in fostering inclusion and belonging, and how the commission aims to engage with schools, cultural organisations, businesses, and citizens to address these challenges.

Councillor Sabia Kamali asked how the commission's approach would differ from the current council strategy, particularly in addressing the impact of ethnicity, faith, and other protected characteristics¹. She also asked where the council had failed in engaging with residents and stakeholders, and what specific gaps existed in tackling hate and discrimination.

Councillor John Gray raised the issue of socio-economic class and intersectionality, highlighting how black, disabled women often suffer the most from inequalities. He asked for Sondra Katwala's thoughts on addressing this important issue in Newham, where there are huge differences in wealth. Sondra Katwala responded:

when people play a kind of competing grievances game, is it, do you care about ethnic diversity or do you care about gender or do you care about social class? To get it right, you know, it's a majority experience, you know, being from a minority or non-white background, it's a majority experience in Newham, but all of these things affect everybody.

Sondra Katwala outlined the commission's approach, which includes an open survey, street engagement, and a call for evidence from civic stakeholders and individuals. She encouraged councillors to host events and share information to support the commission's work.

Statement of Licensing Policy 2025-2030

The council considered and adopted the reviewed Statement of Licensing Policy, which will take effect for five years. The policy aims to assist the Licensing Authority in reaching decisions on applications, setting out matters that will normally be taken into account, and providing information for applicants, residents, businesses, and responsible authorities.

The policy was approved by the Licensing Committee on 20 February 2025, and by the Cabinet on 4 March 2025.

Key aspects of the policy include:

• Encouraging a wide range of entertainment activities and promoting live music, dance, and theatre.
• Balancing the licensed entertainment business sector with the impact of such activities on the licensing objectives.
• Protecting the amenity of Newham as a mixed commercial and residential area.
• Actively encouraging early pre-application engagement with responsible authorities and offering a pre-application advice service.
• Recognising the fundamental right that women should live without fear and committing to tackling violence against women and girls².
• Referring to the forthcoming Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, also known as Martyn’s Law.
• Highlighting the importance of protecting children from harm and promoting the Challenge 25 scheme.
• Maintaining the existing Special Cumulative Impact Policy, with a recommendation to remove applications for Club Premises Certificates and applications that involve Regulated Entertainment³ from the policy.
• Including a new Model Pool of Conditions to assist prospective licence holders, responsible authorities, and other individuals.

The council received seven responses to the consultation on the licensing policy. As a result of feedback, some minor changes were made to the draft licensing policy, specifically Section 28, to recognise that Women’s Safety measures prescribed in this section would also have relevance to wider vulnerable groups thereby ensuring the language is inclusive. Some external links in the section were also amended.

The council also considered the Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) and noted that no adverse impacts had been identified.

Attendance at Meetings - Authority to Exempt Councillor Mohammed Gani

The council approved a dispensation for Councillor Mohammed Gani in respect of attendance at any meetings of the council and its committees, sub-committees, panels, boards, working parties and outside bodies, until 20 October 2025, due to continued ill health.

Motions

The council considered two motions.

Enhancing Public Confidence through Mandatory Bi-Annual DBS Checks for Councillors

This motion, proposed by Councillor Mehmood Mirza and seconded by Councillor Sophia Naqvi, called for mandatory bi-annual Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for all serving and newly elected councillors. The motion argued that this would enhance public trust and ensure accountability, transparency, and public safety.

The motion also called for the Monitoring Officer to draft a policy outlining the procedures for DBS checks, and for the council to lobby the Local Government Association and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to amend national legislation to make DBS checks mandatory for all councillors in England.

Expanding Landlord Licensing To Stratford Olympic Park And Royal Victoria

This motion, proposed by Councillor Nate Higgins and seconded by Councillor Areeq Chowdhury, called for the expansion of the landlord licensing scheme to include Stratford Olympic Park and Royal Victoria wards. The motion argued that licensing is a vital tool for tenant justice and that all tenants in Newham should have equal rights and protections.

The motion also called for the council to commission an updated evidence base and proactively collect missing housing condition data, and to formally commit to extending landlord licensing across Newham if the evidence confirms it is permissible.

Members' Questions

Four questions were submitted by members:

• Councillor Shantu Ferdous asked about plans to address the need for more special or inclusion schools and SEND specialist professionals, given the current financial difficulties.
• Councillor Nate Higgins asked for clarification on the position of controlled parking in Chobham Manor, given objections to the expansion of the East Village Controlled Parking Zone.
• Councillor Joshua Garfield asked for an update on the multi-agency enforcement strategy being developed to address issues in Meridian Square.
• Councillor Danny Keeling asked if the Health and Adult Social Care team would work with sexual health partners in rolling out Naloxone to service users, to prevent overdoses related to chem-sex.

Public Questions

Three questions were submitted by members of the public:

• A question about provisions being made for low-cost gymnastics lessons and elite training opportunities in the Beckton Riverside area, given extensive housing developments and the eviction of the East London Gymnastics Club.
• A question about when the cinema promised at Hallsville Quarter will open.
• Ben Lambert asked when the council will provide a timetable for revisiting plans for the Woodgrange Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), following a hit-and-run incident on Balmoral Road.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme

Councillor Anthony McAlmont, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, provided an update on the committee's work programme and future commissions. The update included information on Council Tax collection rates, the Budget Scrutiny Commission, and the call-in of Cabinet decisions concerning the Restoration and Regeneration of the Carpenters Estate and the Development of the People Powered Places Programme 2025-2027.