Involving You

Most of the major decisions about the council's business are made at meetings which are open to the public.

Everyone has the right to attend meetings of the council and of committees and sub-committees (although they may sometimes be excluded while particular items concerning exempt matters are being discussed).

The Mayor's monthly Cabinet meetings and fortnightly Mayoral Proceedings meetings take place in public. See details of the dates and times on the calendar of meetings.

There are a number of ways in which you can make your voice heard, including speaking at meetings, provided you have followed the correct steps (see below).

Even if you can't attend the meeting you can see the papers relating to decisions made by the Mayor, the council and its committees.

These are available at our offices and local libraries.

How can I get the council or a committee to consider my views?
There are a number of ways in which you can let councillors know your views:

(1) Contact your councillor


(2) Deputations

We make time for local people to make deputations about specific subjects to our representatives. This means you can come along with four other people to a meeting and three of you may put your case before the meeting.

You will have 10 minutes to speak and then councillors may ask you questions. If you wish to make a deputation you will need to contact Member Services at Newham Town Hall. Please contact the Head of Committees and Partnerships on 020 3373 1257 for further details.

Deputations may be made at any meeting of the council, its committees or cabinet on receipt of a written notice at least five working days in advance of the meeting or at the invitation of the Chief Executive in consultation with the councillors.

On receiving a request, the Chief Executive will decide the appropriate decision making body to which the Deputation should be referred having consulted the Mayor or relevant Member and taking account of the wishes of the Deputation.


(3) Petitions

Newham Council welcomes petitions and recognises that petitions are one of the ways in which people can let us know of their concerns. Newham Council has published its Petitions Scheme (Word doc.) which sets out how it will respond to petitions which are received.

All petitions sent or presented to the council will receive an acknowledgement from the council within 10 days of receipt. This acknowledgement will set out what we plan to do with the petition. We will treat something as a petition if it is identified as being a petition, or if it seems to us that it is intended to be a petition.

Petitions can be presented to a meeting of the council by one of your local ward councillors. Council meetings take place five times a year. Dates and times can be found on the council's website.

If you would like your councillor to present your petition on your behalf, please contact the Head of Committees and Partnerships on 020 3373 1257 at least 10 working days before the meeting and they will talk you through the process. Alternatively, your petition should be sent to:

Head of Committees and Partnerships
Democratic Services
London Borough of Newham
3rd Floor, East Wing
Newham Dockside
1000 Dockside Road
London
E16 2QU

If you wish to start a new petition, a standard template in Word format is available to download.

Newham Council has developed an e-petitions facility which will allow anyone who lives, works or studies in Newham to create, sign and submit a petition online.


(4) Public Question Time

If you have a question for the Mayor, look out for some of his special events and submit your questions. If you want to know more about the Mayor's Question Time events, please contact the Mayor's Office on 020 3373 3444.


(5) Planning and Licensing Applications

The Strategic Development Committee and the Local Development Committee make decisions on major planning applications. Objectors to planning applications, and applicants where an application is objected or is recommended for refusal, may request to speak at the committee meeting.

If you wish to speak on an application you must contact Committees and Partnerships on 020 3373 1255. Reports are published five clear working days before the meeting. If you want to speak at the meeting you must give written notice by noon two days before the meeting.

Speakers are usually allowed up to 5 minutes to speak, and the committee may then ask questions. You should not lobby individual members of the committee as it could compromise their position and prevent them from taking part in the decision.


(6) Newham Community and Police Forum

The Forum enables a two-way flow of information between the police and the local community as required under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

It may look at operational matters, the outcomes of complaints, the attitude of the police and the community, generally and towards one another, encourage greater understanding of policing issue, and responses of the police and the community to major incidents. It may not look at individual cases or current investigations or allegations.

Members are appointed from the council and the police, as well as the borough's MPs. Other members are nominated from bodies with a close interest in the police and justice system, such as the Crown Prosecution Service and Victim Support. Other representatives are sought form faith and equality groups, tenants and residents, the education service and other bona fide community groups.

Members Wanted
We are currently looking for new Members of the Forum. For more information contact Committees and Partnerships on 020 3373 1256.


(7) Education Appeals

We operate an independent appeals service to hear appeals from parents/guardians whose children have been refused admission to the school of their choice, or who have been excluded from schools. These meetings are sensitive and held in private.

However, we are anxious to maintain a well-trained and committed body of individuals from the community who are prepared to volunteer to sit on Appeals Panels and hear these cases. If you are interested in making this contribution and would like an application form, please contact Committees and Partnerships on 020 3373 1254.


(8) Scrutiny

Scrutiny is undertaken by councillors to act as a check and balance on the Mayor, holding him to account for his decisions. You can assist or encourage your councillor in this by for example doing research. For more information contact the Head of Overview and Scrutiny on 020 3373 7872.