In a speech to the Annual Meeting of the council on Thursday, Sir Robin outlined the priority issues as crime and anti-social behaviour, housing and employment.

Addressing councillors, Members of Parliament and other dignitaries, faith and community leaders, Sir Robin said: "Central to our vision is to build a strong community that is active and hardworking and which is inclusive and fair for everyone.

"The borough is moving forward at a rapid pace. Through education and employment, we will build a prosperous community. Our inclusive policies will ensure we maintain our cohesive society and through excellent service delivery we will build on our existing trust between our council and residents.

"In Newham, we are surrounded by change. Stratford International is near completion and work on the Olympic site is well under way. Work at Stratford City has already begun which will include a shopping centre much bigger than Bluewater.

"We've managed to bring this level of change to the borough through our hard work and effort and we are using the regeneration to drive forward our own council-led priorities.

"We are regenerating Canning Town and Custom House so that it can thrive, providing community facilities and quality 21st century housing. At the heart of our vision for the area and for Newham is mixed communities, which will build cohesion, where people in mixed tenure housing live side by side."

On crime and anti-social behaviour, Sir Robin said: "Our residents tell us crime and anti-social behaviour is their main concern, which is why I have made it my priority.

"In Newham, we introduced the estate-based sports programme and free swims to keep our young people busy, active and healthy during the school holidays.

"We have an ASB hotline which has an excellent response record. We care about our hard working, law-abiding residents and we're not afraid to use ASBOs and dispersal orders to protect them from a minority of people who think it's ok to flout the law.

"We are also investing more into extra police officers who will be tasked with addressing local concerns."

On housing, he said: "Newham is at the forefront of innovative policies. We listen to our residents and deliver accordingly. Even the Government has acknowledged that we have the most radical housing policies and that Newham is unafraid to lead the way with new ideas. For example, we recognised that our families needed good, suitable family housing, not just the one and two bedroom flats that private developers were interested in. Our housing policy provides residents with a sense of fairness as waiting times are based on a first-come-first-served allocation."

The Mayor addressed the issue of employment as a means to escape child poverty. He said: "I strongly believe that employment is the key to prosperity and we recognise a great opportunity when we see it. We are already training people through our own employment service, Workplace, to get our residents ready for the new jobs that are already becoming available on the Olympic site, Stratford City and the Docks.

"Newham is going to change and together we will build a Newham where people want to work, live and stay."