Cabinet

Mayor of Newham and Portfolio Lead for Community Safety and Regeneration

Mayor Forhad Hussain was elected as the Mayor of Newham in May 2026. A lifelong resident of Plaistow, he has a strong connection to the borough and its communities. Mayor Hussain attended Newham Sixth Form College before studying Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College London. He lives with his wife and young family in Plaistow.

He served as a Labour councillor for Plaistow North from 2010 to 2018, holding senior roles including Cabinet Member for Commercial Opportunities, Cabinet Member for Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour, and Chair of the Audit and Pensions Committee.

As Mayor, he is focused on cleaner and safer streets, improving housing services, supporting young people and families, and putting Newham residents first.

Portfolio responsibilities include:

• Delivery of regeneration schemes and growth initiatives
• Planning policy and development management
• Local Plan
• Capital Programme Delivery
• Housing Supply
• Populo
• Property and Asset Management Strategy
• External Partnerships
• Best Value Notice
• Communications
• Mayor’s Office

Community Safety:

• Reducing crime and anti-social behaviour
• CCTV, noise services and enforcement
• Crime prevention and tackling violence
• Police relationships
• Regulatory services

Transformation and Resident Experience:

• Transformation programme and performance
• Digital, Data and ICT
• Resident access, insight and digital experience

Click for the Mayor’s biography

Statutory Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing

Cllr John Gray has been a West Ham councillor since 2010 and has held several roles including Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing services. He works for a large Housing Association as a trade union convenor.

Portfolio responsibilities include:

• HRA business plan and housing finance
• Council housing improvement
• Compliance and safety
• Temporary accommodation and homelessness prevention
• Private sector housing
• Housing needs and allocations
• Leaseholders
• Housing repairs and improvements

Cllr Zulfiqar Ali has lived in Plaistow for over 30 years and is proud to represent the community he calls home. As Cabinet Lead for Finance, he is committed to fair, transparent and responsible financial stewardship, with residents at the heart of every decision.

Portfolio responsibilities include:

• Budget setting and financial controls
• Revenues and benefits
• Internal Audit
• Procurement
• Corporate governance of Council companies
• Pensions
• Human Resources
• Legal Services and One Source
• Democratic Services

Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Environment

Having lived in East Ham for over 30 years, Cllr Masters is proud to represent the community. She is active locally as a school governor and founding member of Newham Save our NHS.

Portfolio responsibilities include:

• Adult social care and safeguarding
• Public Health
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Homelessness and rough sleeping
• Transport and highways
• Climate change and air quality
• Parks and open spaces
• Burial sites and cemeteries

Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Communities

Cllr Shah has lived in East Ham for over 33 years and works to promote social justice, equality and safer neighbourhoods, with a strong focus on supporting families and communities.

Portfolio responsibilities include:

• Children’s social services and safeguarding
• Corporate parenting and care leavers
• Early intervention
• Youth justice
• Education and SEND services
• Community services and neighbourhoods
• Libraries and cultural activities
• Voluntary and community sector engagement