Role of the
Mayor
In 2002 the people of Newham
seized the opportunity offered by the Local Government Act 2000,
and in a public vote they choose to have a Mayor directly elected
by the residents of Newham, instead of the old style committee
system.
I was very proud to be the first directly elected Mayor
of Newham and delighted when I was re-elected in May 2010 for a
third term. But what does being a directly elected Mayor really
mean?
Firstly it means I am clearly and visibly accountable to
the people of this borough for the decisions I make. I
have a direct mandate to carry out the manifesto on which I was
elected. The buck stops with me - and that is a responsibility that
I take seriously.
I am the council's political leader, and I have
full executive decision-making power. I am responsible for shaping
the council's vision and delivering the priorities for Newham's
residents. I am supported in this by my
Cabinet and Executive Members who each have particular areas of
responsibility and can offer advice and expertise.
As Mayor my primary concern is about doing what is best for the
borough as a whole and for all Newham residents, not just one ward
or area. The starting point for all the decisions I make is what
you, as Newham residents, tell me you want.
Your priorities are my priorities. Each year I
publish the Mayor's Contract, which clearly spells out
what I want to achieve over the coming year, and you can read
more about this on the "My
Priorities" page on this site. I want to hear what you have
to say, which is why we carry out extensive community
consultations as well as the Newham Annual Residents Survey.
There are also many ways you can contact me and meet me to tell
me your views in person.
Improving council services is only one part of my
job. I am also a champion and advocate for Newham and its residents
and my responsibility extends to any issue that affects people in
this borough. Through the
Newham
Partnership Board I work with local partners such as the
police, the health service and the voluntary sector to develop a
shared vision for our local community that delivers the best for
all Newham residents.
I also represent the borough on the national and
international stage. My work with government ministers and
business leaders is crucial to promoting growth, prosperity and
improved quality of life in the borough. I was very involved in the
Bid that won London the 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I remain concerned to ensure
that there is a lasting legacy from the Games for the residents of
Newham. I have also helped to secure the
major regeneration projects
across the Borough and supported the
reinvigoration of the Royal Docks.
The role of the Mayor starts and ends with you. I'm here to
represent you and your needs and to improve the quality of life for
all the people who live and work in Newham.