Questions to the Mayor

Read the answers to some of the most regular questions below.

If you wish to raise a specific issue please see the 'Contact the Mayor' page.

How can I meet the Mayor?

I make sure there are lots of opportunities to meet me in person. Please see the 'Meet the Mayor' page for further details.



Can the Mayor attend my event?

I try to attend as many local events as my diary allows. If you want to invite me to your event please fill in our invitation e-form.



What is the difference between a Council Leader and a Directly Elected Mayor?

As Mayor of Newham I am also the leader of the council. As Mayor I have executive authority, which means I make the decisions about how the council is run, rather than councillors taking decisions in committees. That means the council has clear and accountable leadership: I take the decisions and I take the responsibility.

The job of Mayor goes beyond delivering the council's services. Because I'm directly elected I have a mandate to speak up for Newham on a wider stage. That means I've spent a lot of time pushing our interests with government, negotiating with businesses and of course, campaigning to bring the Olympics to Newham. For further information on what I do please see the 'Role of the Mayor' page on this website.


How do you make decisions?

The key to making good decisions is listening to all points of view. I work closely with my team of councillors to channel their views into the decisions I make, especially those that affect the wards that they represent. I have a number of councillors who are Cabinet Members and Executive Members. These councillors aid me in their particular areas of responsibility; for example in dealing with anti-social behaviour, housing provision or local education.

The people I listen most carefully to when making decisions are the residents of Newham. I run loads of events where people have the chance to meet me and tell me what needs to be done and what their priorities are. I accept many invitations every month to visit schools, businesses, community groups where you can put your point of view to me.


What is your vision for Newham over the next few years?

The council and I have a very clear vision for Newham, we want it to be a place where people choose to live and work and stay. This encompasses the borough being clean and safe, people having job opportunities and being healthy, everyone having access to good education and so on. This is obviously a huge task, and this vision influences everything the council and I do.


What changes will the Olympics bring to Newham?

I was very involved in the Bid that bought London the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but I remain concerned that the legacy they bring must directly benefit the residents of Newham. The Olympics will bring a lot of physical changes to our Borough - the majority of the new Olympic and Paralympic facilities, including the main stadium, swimming pools, and the athlete's village will be here, and the Games will also bring changes to our transport links and to our streets.

However I want to make sure that the Olympics brings more than just physical changes to Newham. I want them to bring aspiration and opportunity for our residents. Once the games have been and gone, I want the facilities to be available for all to use and help foster the champions of the future. I want residents from all over the borough to benefit from the new infrastructure and opportunities that the Games will bring and in particular I want our residents to access the job opportunities created by the Games. You can read more about what the Olympics will mean for Newham here.