The Newham Council meeting on 9 October 2025 included discussion of gambling regulation, temporary accommodation safeguarding, and updates from scrutiny committees. The council approved the appointment of three co-opted members to the Standards Committee, and also received updates on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's work programme.

Standards Committee Appointments

Full Council approved the appointment of Paul Hothi, Luís Hui, and William Llorel-Antoine as co-opted members of the Standards Committee for a three-year term ending on 9 October 2028. The Appointment of Co-opted Members to the Standards Committee report noted that the Standards Committee's function is to promote and maintain a high standard of conduct for council members.

The appointees' backgrounds include:

• Paul Hothi: Over 20 years of experience in legal, commercial, and governance roles, including senior management positions at the University of Birmingham and University College London.
• Luís Hui: Experience chairing third-sector subcommittees and serving as an Independent Monitoring Board Member at Gatwick Immigration Removal Centre (IRC).
• William Llorel-Antoine: A trustee and director at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), advising on risk management and transformational governance.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Update

Councillor Lester Hudson, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), provided an update on the committee's work programme and future commissions, as detailed in the Update Report OSC Chair Report to Full Council 1025 V2. Key discussion points included:

• Transformation: The OSC scrutinised progress on the 'Transforming Newham for the Future' programme, seeking clearer success metrics and assurances on digital inclusion.
• Organisational Performance: The committee considered a report on organisational performance related to the Building a Fairer Newham Corporate Plan, focusing on youth safety, domestic abuse, and disproportionality in the Youth Justice Service.
• Grants Funding: The OSC reviewed Newham Council's approach to grant funding, calling for a more structured corporate strategy to maximise external funding opportunities.
• Parking Strategy: The Crime, Environment, and Transport Scrutiny Commission reviewed the development of Newham Council's revised Parking Strategy. The commission proposed exploring a tiered vehicle removal system and assessing the feasibility of size- and weight-based parking charges.
• Food Waste Collection: The Crime, Environment, and Transport Scrutiny Commission discussed food waste collection, including plans for food waste collection and contract re-procurement through the East London Waste Authority (ELWA).
• Alcohol Harm: The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission considered evidence on alcohol-related harm in Newham, highlighting its disproportionate impact on deprived communities, women, young people and some ethnic groups.

The Annual Work Programme OSC Work Programme 2025_2026 1 OCTOBER 2025 outlines the planned programme of work for the Newham Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2025-2026 municipal year.

Public and Members' Questions

The council addressed questions from the public and its members on various topics.

Simone Salvatici asked about the regulation of betting shops. The council responded that it was committed to protecting residents from the impact of gambling, but that current legislation limited its powers. The council stated that it was one of 12 councils to be awarded £50,000 from the Mayor of London's £600,000 High Street Place Labs (HSPL) programme to create plans for upgrades to make East Ham High Street more attractive and walkable.

Councillor Thelma Odoi asked about period poverty. The council responded that it recognised the issue and was taking steps to address it, including providing free products in youth zones, food banks and through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

Councillor Liz Cronin asked for an overview of TfL Local Implementation Plan funding allocated to Forest Gate North in the 2022/3 - 24/5 period. The council responded that in December 2024 Cabinet approved the Newham Sustainable Transport Strategy and Transport for London (TfL) Local Implementation Plan (LIP) for the three year period 2025/26 to 2027/28, which included proposals for transport infrastructure in every ward in the borough.

Councillor Steve Brayshaw asked for an update on the Royal Docks Corridor Scheme. The council responded that the Royal Docks Corridor was officially opened on 19th September 2025, providing a new 2-mile-long segregated cycle track running from Connaught Road along North Woolwich Road and Silvertown Way, connecting the Royal Dock edge to Canning Town Roundabout and Cycleway 3.

Councillor Madeleine Sarley Pontin asked for more context about why West Ham LTN deserves to be nominated for the Community Engagement Project of the Year at the Team Modeshift's National Travel Awards. The council responded that the West Ham Park LTN team have sought to achieve best practice in meaningful community engagement.

Councillor Simon Rush asked what the annual cost to Newham Council was for the London Councils Freedom pass. The council responded that Newham's contribution to the Freedom Pass will cost £12.2m in 2025/26, which comes from the General Fund.

Councillor Sabia Kamali asked what safeguarding regulations and monitoring processes exist for private accommodation used as temporary housing. The council responded that Newham's Temporary Accommodation Service manages the contractual relationship with the property management agents who provide the council with temporary accommodation (TA).

Councillor James Beckles asked what tangible steps the Growth Plan will take to address the lack of opportunity for Custom House residents. The council responded that the Newham Growth Plan highlights the ongoing commitment to drive inclusive growth that benefits all residents.

Councillor Nate Higgins asked if the council would write to the Government and demand that Newham retains the right to divest on behalf of its residents, in line with international law and ethical responsibility. The council responded that the Newham Pension Committee will retain the right and ability to set its own responsible investment policy in a way that it sees fit.

Councillor Shantu Ferdous asked if schools could offer Bengali or other languages as optional subjects for students. The council responded that the local authority cannot make decisions about subject options on behalf of schools.

Councillor Areeq Chowdhury asked what actions the Council has taken to voice it's opposition to the Home Office regarding the Metropolitan Police's use of live facial recognition surveillance. The council responded that it's position remains clear in its opposition to the use of Live Facial Recognition.

Councillor Danny Keeling asked the Council to set out, in detail, the number of preachers, gazebo stalls, pop-up traders, table top perfume stands, electronic punch bags and other unlicensed or temporary setups operating in our high streets, markets, and squares over the past twelve months, what enforcement activity has been undertaken to regulate them, how this compares to the obligations and fees levied on fully licensed traders who must meet health, safety, and compliance standards, and what policy options are being considered to ensure that established traders who pay significant sums for the right to trade are not unfairly undermined. The council responded that all activities mentioned in the question either relate to unlicensed street trading which is enforced by the Community Safety Enforcement Team, or activities that do not require a licence, however, would need the landowner's permission.

Review of Gambling Act 2005 Licensing Policy

The council reviewed the Borough's Statement of Licensing Policy - Gambling Act 2005, as detailed in the Council- Statement of Licensing Policy Gambling Act 2005 report -V2. The Gambling Act 2005 splits gambling regulation between the Gambling Commission and local authorities. The council is a Licensing Authority under the act, and is bound by a statutory aim to permit and must grant premises licences so long as applications are in accordance with the Gambling Commission's codes of practice, the guidance to local authorities, the licensing authority's own statement of principles and the three licensing objectives.

The Gambling Act 2005 has three licensing objectives:

1. Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime;
2. Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way;
3. Protecting children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Newham has just renewed its Gambling Act Policy for the next three years. This new policy places a strong emphasis on the objective of 'Protecting children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling'. In particular, the council has introduced a new Gambling Vulnerability Area in East Ham.

Motions

The council considered the following motions:

1. Ethical Investment and Divestment from Human Rights Violations – Newham Independents Group
2. Thames Water – Labour Group
3. Newham Pensions Fund and investment in conflict areas – Labour Group
4. Support for a Fair Visitor Levy – Green Group