The Newham Council meeting on 28 April 2025 focused on the theme of Our Young People, Our Future. Councillors discussed and approved a report outlining the council's commitment to young people, debated motions related to youth services and safety, and heard updates from partner organisations and cabinet members. The council also approved the submission of a new local plan.

Themed Report: Our Young People, Our Future

The council approved a report detailing its work and future plans for young people in the borough. The report covered topics such as youth empowerment, health and wellbeing, and skills and employment.

Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Cabinet Lead for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children's Services and Education, highlighted the Youth Safety Strategy 2025-2028, built on six core principles: working in partnership, tackling racism, inequality and disproportionality, prevent and intervention, early support and protection, disrupt and deter, and create safer spaces. She also spoke about improvements to the care leavers service.

Several members of Newham's youth participation groups presented their experiences and concerns, including calls for:

• Empowering youth services and voices
• Lowering the voting age to 15 or 16
• Prioritising wellbeing and mental health
• Creating safer communities and reducing knife crime
• Expanding free cultural activities and evening learning sessions
• Increasing support for all young people, including those with disabilities and immigrants
• Tackling homelessness and making housing more affordable

Mayor Roxana Fiaz proposed an amendment to the report to include the words and disabilities in section 3.7, which discusses equity and inclusion. She also emphasised the importance of involving young people in decision-making at every level of the council and with partner organisations.

Motions

The council considered three motions related to young people:

• Protecting our young people of our future (Green Group): Deferred to a future meeting. Councillor Nate Higgins, leader of the Green Group, requested that the motion be deferred so that a version of it that has unanimous support across the council can be brought forward at a later date.
• Invest in youth. Invest in our future (Newham Independence Group): Defeated. The motion called for reversing cuts to youth services, developing a long-term youth investment strategy led by young people, ensuring every ward has access to high-quality youth provision, and demanding transparency on youth services funding.
• Making Newham safer for our young people (Labour Group): Approved.

New Local Plan

The council approved the submission of a new local plan, with Councillor John Wentworth, Cabinet Member for Air Quality and Climate Emergency, seconding the motion. The plan sets out the council's vision for the borough's development over the next several years, including targets for new homes, social rent, energy efficiency, and green space. Councillor Nate Higgins expressed support for the plan's commitment to 50% social housing but cautioned that this commitment could be at risk if the Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, objects to the plan's deliverability.

Public Questions

Three questions from members of the public were accepted and answered. Joshua Okiki, a member of the Youth Empowerment Service, asked about support for young people with criminal records seeking employment. Issa Rafic, Member of Youth Parliament, questioned the council's strategies to support young people's development and address disengagement. Anaya Riyaz, nominated by Charlie Litna, asked about available support for young and adult carers in Newham.

Members' Questions

The council addressed three questions from councillors. Councillor Nate Higgins asked about the administration's strategy to reduce child poverty, including specific targets. Councillor Arik Chaudry questioned the council's position on proposed government reforms to welfare payments for young disabled people. Councillor Shantu Ferduz inquired about plans to build a specialist college and training centre for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Partner Update: Young People's Mental Health

Dr Khalid Ahmed, a consultant psychiatrist working for the NHS in East London, provided an update on young people's mental health. He highlighted the increasing numbers of young people struggling with mental health issues and discussed factors such as social media, the cost of living crisis, and societal alienation. Dr Ahmed emphasised the need for a collective approach to supporting young people's mental health, involving not just the NHS but also families, schools, and communities.

Other announcements

The Mayor of Newham, Roxana Fiaz, announced that she had accepted a role in the race, equity, and employment taskforce, and that the Newham Money Service had secured £700,000 to continue to offer targeted early intervention to prevent vulnerable households falling into crisis or further crisis.

The council observed a minute of silence in memory of Pope Francis and Loljita Nuzi, a local community activist and CEO of Plastor-based Serperas Program. Karen Watkins and Davin Oku, students from St. Bonaventure's Catholic School, Forest Gate, delivered a tribute to Pope Francis. Councillor Larissa Zielicka, Green Street East Ward, shared memories of Loljita Nuzi and her contributions to the community.

Councillor Karleen Liebukwui, Palastos South, spoke about the council's commitment to supporting children with special education needs and disabilities, highlighting the progress made through the SEND inclusion strategy but acknowledging that more work needs to be done.