Who serves on the different committees?
All councillors except the Mayor and Cabinet members may be members of the Scrutiny Committees.
The Scrutiny Committees may also appoint co-opted members to the committee. Co-opted members are not allowed to vote with the exception of parent or diocesan representatives on the Education, Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee who can vote on education matters.
Scrutiny Committees in Newham
Scrutiny arrangements differ from council to council.
The committee receives reports by the executive on progress against priorities, organisational restructures, budget and performance monitoring, and leads on commissions which cross-cut multi-service areas (such as homelessness), along with updates and engagement from various statutory partners as required.
The Chair of the statutory Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) for 2026-27 is Cllr Sophia Naqvi
The OSC Membership also includes co-opted members.
In addition to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, there are four thematic committees which are aligned to the main service directorates at the London Borough of Newham. These Committees have the following Chairs:
- Crime, Environment and Transport Scrutiny Committee: Cllr Obaid Khan
- Education, Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee: Cllr Kelly Drake
- Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee: Cllr Idris Ibrahim
- Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee: Cllr Joe Hudson-Small
Find out more details about the membership, meetings and agendas of the Scrutiny Committees.
Each Committee scrutinises subjects at four meetings over the course of the municipal year and may also instigate ‘Task and Finish’ groups. These culminate in focused research reports on a given scrutiny topic chosen by Members. Recommendations from the work of scrutiny are presented at Cabinet, or to the relevant Individual portfolio lead in the Executive - for their respective consideration.
