The budget provides one-off £330,000 Mayoral Covid-19 Hardship Relief Fund to help people hardest hit by the pandemic and continues record investment in youth services and affordable housing .
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz said: ‘I have listened to the people of Newham and it is my number one priority to help people survive the daily challenges thrown at them by Covid.
‘Many have told me that self-isolating is impossible for residents living in overcrowded households. You have told me you worry about taking time off work because you can’t afford to lose wages and you worry about buying food.
‘That is why I want my council to continue to help people in overcrowded homes to self-isolate by providing hotels for those who have to self-isolate. It is why I’m investing £6.5 million to help the most vulnerable people in Newham with food and household items and providing £500 of support per child per year for working families by guaranteeing Eat for Free for all children in Newham primary schools regardless of their backgrounds.’
The Covid Pledge comes on top of a commitment to maintain vital services including weekly bin collections, libraries, adult social care as well as an affordable house-building programme.
‘Our Newham has had its government funding slashed by 50% since 2010,’ said Mayor Fiaz. ‘Despite this and the huge £12m cost of Covid on Our Newham which the government promised to fund but didn’t, we will continue to listen to residents and to strive to protect the vulnerable and nurture and provide for our young people so they may thrive.’
However, cuts and the cost of Covid have taken their toll and the council is being asked to approve a 4.99% council tax rise to cover any shortfall. This will be used to meet the growing cost of adult social care.
‘Despite the government letting down the people of Newham by paying for the cost of Covid as promised, our council tax will still be the lowest in east London,’ added Mayor Fiaz.