What is more concerning is what he/she/they are working on.

Every reader of these pages will be aware that Newham is experiencing, what is probably the worst financial crisis in its history. Tens of millions of pounds will need to be cut from the annual budget. Yet it seems there is still enough to pursue a cultural strategy.

Fiaz’s administration has been marked by internal discord and governance issues. A 2023 report by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny highlighted “poor relationships” among councillors and a “real personal animosity” between certain councillors and the mayor, which hindered effective scrutiny and decision-making. 

The decision, in a time of financial crisis, seems bizarre. The mayor’s willingness to alienate stall-holders, shopkeepers and customers alike seems politically courageous* given that the Green St wards and Boleyn ward must be amongst the most vulnerable in the borough to a challenge from Newham Independents.

It would appear that Mayor Fiaz has selected two names for promotion to cabinet. We understand that she will announce the names this evening.

It is evident that even one-time allies have now fallen out with the mayor. Those who put in great efforts to get her selected are sadly disappointed and want change.

One such is Mohammed Uddin, who can be found writing  for ‘Newham Muslims on Twitter/X. 

Newham has perfected its new source of income generation. NE Londoner  reported that Newham was second, only to Westminster, in the number PCNs issued in London. These PCNs brought in some £21.5m between 2023-24. Two thirds of these were for parking offences.

It seems that the anti-Fiaz factions came out the winners at this year’s council AGM.

Amongst the uncontested places, Cllr Hudson took the Chair of the OSC. Members have voted and the three scrutiny chairs are as follows: Joshua Garfield, Susan Masters and Lakmini Shah.

Scrutiny is now firmly set to focus on the plans that Fiaz has with all places going to individuals critical of the mayor.

We reported that the Labour Party had so little confidence in the Newham Council Labour Group that they would not let them pick their own officers. Well, the Labour Party has chosen, and there are some interesting changes!

Many readers will now be aware of the death of former Newham councillor, Andrew Baikie, aged 70. He died whilst on holiday in Jamaica. 

Andrew was first elected to Newham Council in 1992 in a by-election for Little Ilford ward.

R.I.P. Andrew. A friend, a colleague and a comrade.

Newham Independents Leader, Councillor Mirza has written to the Newham chief exec, Abi Gbago regarding the letter from The Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

It seems that if Newham Labour councillors are unwilling to take up the issue, the Newham Independents will. In his letter he seeks a “fundamental refresh” of the political and administrative leadership.

One way in which Fiaz might begin to regain some credibility is to sack her cabinet and reduce its size. They are clearly incapable of either delivering or challenging her. She is clearly on the way out, so she has nothing to lose by getting rid of some dead wood.

The atmosphere in Labour Group was described as “toxic”. That’s not our words, that’s the Regional Director. We have occasionally used the same word, (here, here, here, here, here, and here) to describe the atmosphere created by Mayor Fiaz. Now it’s official!

As low-paid staff have the value of their terms and  conditions eroded, Newham councillors  continue to enjoy another year of pay increases.

That might seem a little unfair to outside observers.

Formal complaints by staff, complaints to the Labour Party by councillors and nearly £4m spent on gagging orders suggest that this is an administration whose time is over and which needs to be replaced.

What is of interest to us is the value of this astonishing generosity. Remember, Newham had to go cap in hand to the government recently begging for an additional £51m to balance the books. You would expect that all of these highly paid individuals would bringing down costs and making the council run more efficiently. That is certainly what they would have us believe.

In 2023, the other Mirza (Tahir) took just under 18% of the vote in East Ham. If the general election was today, the Independent candidate would be expected to take 35% of the vote and the additional numbers would be taken from Labour.

The offhand attitude that the Labour Party has taken towards local government may now be coming back to bite it.

Labour were humiliated on 27th March. Another Independent candidate trounced the Labour hopeful.

the council’s auditors, Ernst and Young stated that the “Council were unable to provide full supporting records for the 2023/24 audit and therefore we concluded that they were not ready for an audit.”

We didn’t see any press releases saying that almost the entire independent membership of the standards board had resigned, but looking at Newham London Twitter/X account, that seems to be the only explanation.

About a week after publication we learned that Mr Desai had had the suspension suddenly lifted and that all “enquiries” were seemingly at an end.