You do the talking

November 2005

Listening to the opinions, ideas and concerns of the people of Newham is the single most important part of my job. I live in the borough, the people I represent are also my neighbours and I want to make Newham a better place for all of us.

When I was elected Mayor of Newham, I made a commitment that I would listen to residents' views. Providing excellent services is founded on you letting us know what we are doing right and what we need to improve - so I want to encourage as many of you as possible to speak directly to me. If we don't agree about the best way to solve a problem, talking to each other will at least help us to work out the best solution.

There are three different ways that you can talk directly to me. First, by attending one of the regular 'Here to Help' events. There is no need to make an appointment to attend a 'Here To Help' session - just come along and speak to me. You can ask a question or express a concern to me or to one of my colleagues from the Cabinet if it comes under their particular area of responsibility. We will then look into your area of concern and get back to you.

There was a wealth of issues raised at the last event in September, including housing problems, employment advice for graduates and a building put up without planning permission. There are rarely instant solutions to these problems, but we are working on them and I will keep in touch with individuals on the answers I get and the progress I make.

I also hold Question Time events. These usually follow a walkabout during the day, which provides another chance for us to speak to each other. And whenever time permits, I get out and about in Newham to talk to the people who live and work here.

We all regularly encounter frustrating situations, from the mundane to the more complex. But we can achieve so much by expressing our point of view reasonably and listening to each other with consideration and respect. I want people in Newham to have excellent services and I believe that everyone can make a contribution to that goal. Please let me know what you think.

Information on future Here to Help events and Mayor's Question Time will be published on this site and in The Newham Mag.

Building communities

Dealing with the shortage of affordable housing to rent and to buy in Newham is one of my key priorities.

My view is that local authorities play a vital role in providing decent homes for people but power must be shifted further to tenants and buyers. Public money is not the only solution to providing new housing.

Through the 1980s and early 1990s the best council houses in this borough were sold, and we simply do not have the money to buy them all back. But Newham Council is working in partnership with the Government to purchase thousands of properties without using public money. Instead we are borrowing money from the private sector and within a few years we will be able to use the value of these homes to provide more affordable housing.

Crucially, we are working to build mixed communities where people with different levels of income live, in both rented and owner-occupied accommodation. I have no interest in creating sink estates, I want to walk down a street in Newham and see high quality housing for everyone in the borough.

At the same time we are piloting our Choice Based Lettings scheme, which for the first time in 25 years, offers applicants for social housing a say in where they live. This is proving extremely popular with our tenants.

There is a nationwide shortage of affordable housing. The problem is severe in some areas of Newham and I would not claim otherwise. That is why we are doing something about it. In Newham we are pioneering ambitious plans to increase the amount and quality of social housing.

We have a long way to go to meet our housing needs, but I am determined to deliver an improvement, and I believe that slowly but surely, this can be achieved.

Autumn cheer

Just as the nights are drawing in and things are getting wintry, there are a number of festivals and events to look forward to.

During the first week of November we will be celebrating Diwali, the festival of light; the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr, and Guy Fawkes' Night. As these celebrations are likely to involve fireworks, please observe safety rules and show consideration for others, and let them all be joyful occasions.