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Letter in the Newham Recorder

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An excellent letter in the Newham Recorder by John Saunders of Newham Voting for Change:

Under the committee system, the council leader would have to reflect the views of the whole council and be governed by the decisions of the committees – and every councillor would be a member of a committee.

This means that residents would have two or three local ward councillors who have real influence in the council and would therefore be able to represent their views and interests more effectively.

Directly elected mayors do not give their residents a greater voice, the committee system does.

https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/thanks-mayoral-referendum-cancer-champions-and-maths-fun-7911256

Knowing the referendum choice

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Great letter by Newham Voting for Change supporter Simon Rush in the Newham Recorder:

My understanding is simply we keep the current status quo where the mayor has overall control or more open governance of a borough run as a committee-based system – which I believe to be a fairer, more open form of running for Newham’s constituents where all elected councillors have more say during councillor meetings, not solely the cabinet who often do as instructed by following the guidance of the whip, sometimes not speaking out for fearing losing their position within the cabinet.

As a final note, this local newspaper needs to do a lot more to inform the residents of the two choices available for the referendum on May 6 as, after all, part of the remit of any quality newspaper is to inform its readership of important issues within its readership.

We agree!

Cllr Anam Islam and Josephine Grahl on The Tuesday Show – East London’s weekly news review

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Anam Islam and Josephine Grahl from Newham Voting for Change appeared on The Tuesday Show to talk to Jenny Fisher about the Newham Referendum and the advantage of the committee system.

Anam: “In a committee structure… people in the community can attend meetings, have their say, and they can make their contributions when we are making that decision, when we are taking that vote. That’s more inclusive and it won’t only empower those backbench councillors but it will also empower communities… It will be an enhanced version of what is already happening in Newham.”

Josephine: “An advantage of the committee structure in boroughs like Newham where the Labour Group is completely dominant and of course Labour Group meeting do take place behind closed doors and are confidential, whereas committee meetings take place in public and are open to the public. And that gives the councillors greater accountability.”

Cllr John Gray appears on Relaks Radio to discuss the referendum

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John Gray appeared on the Politics Show on Relaks Radio talking to Councillor Puru Miah and Councillor Andrew Wood from Tower Hamlets about the referendum:

“Your local councillors should be key to not only representing you but representing your borough. Unfortunately under the executive Mayoral model and also the leader and cabinet model, the power of councillors is very very limited. It’s still an important role, but power is concentrated in the hands of a very few.”

Cllr Whitworth writes for Newham Voices on the committee structure

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West Ham councillor John Whitworth on why residents should vote for the committee model in the upcoming governance referendum:

May 6th is the date, not only for the election of the London Mayor and Greater London Assembly Member, but also for the important Newham Governance Referendum. This comes 20 years after this borough voted to have one of the country’s first Directly-Elected Mayors in a referendum which was perhaps not widely nor fully understood. Newham was one of only 11 authorities which voted to adopt the Mayor model and there are currently just 15, with many more referendums proposing a Mayor being lost than won. Since 2002, the voters of Stoke-on-Trent, Hartlepool and Torbay have opted to abandon the Mayor model they had previously adopted, two for the Leader and Cabinet and one for the Committee model.

Sir Robin Wales, elected Mayor of Newham in 2002, remained in office until he was defeated by Cllr Rokhsana Fiaz in the selection for the Labour Party’s Mayoral candidate in 2018. Of those who believed this model would work better with Cllr Fiaz in the post, many also felt that the DEM model was in any case flawed. She expressed the view that this model had not worked well for Newham and pledged, if elected, to hold a referendum on its future by May 2021.

How the full powers of the Mayor are used depends greatly on the incumbent’s character but, according to the Local Government Act 2000, the Mayor – elected separately from the councillors and therefore of higher status – appoints and dismisses Cabinet members. Stemming from this authority, the Mayor is able to ensure the Cabinet’s assent and exercise considerable influence over the councillors belonging to the dominant party.

In contrast, under the Committee model the Council delegates decision-making powers to committees corresponding to Council directorates, such as Adults & Health and Inclusive Economy & Housing. Full Council elects the chairs of these committees and the Council Leader, and has direct responsibility for the overall policy framework and the budget.

The campaign group, Newham Voting for Change, believes that the Committee system is more democratic, equal and inclusive than the DEM system because all councillors participate in making policy. Working in committees encourages co-operation rather than division, talent is nurtured and expertise developed more productively, and all councillors are more accessible and accountable for the Council’s actions.

Residents will hopefully participate in the referendum in large numbers to play a role in shaping Newham’s future.

The article originally appeared in Newham Voices, a new independent community newspaper distributed around the borough.

Zoom meeting on 9 March 2021

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On 9 March 2021 Newham Voting for Change held a public online meeting to discuss the reasons for the campaign and the advantages of the committee structure.

Chaired by Martin Warne with speakers from Newham Voting for Change and supporters of the campaign, we had a great discussion about the background to the referendum and some of the ways we want to campaign for change in Newham.

Many thanks to all who attended and to Martin for chairing so well.

If you would like to support the campaign, please donate to our crowdfunder where we are raising funds to make a promotional video to explain the referendum and promote our campaign.

Newham Voting for Change – on Revive FM

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Newham Voting for Change activist Josephine Grahl was interviewed today on community radio station Revive FM.

She talked to Simon Rush about the reasons for the referendum, the advantages of the committee structure, and the way the council will work if Newham voters opt for the committee structure in May’s referendum.

You can hear the full interview here:

Court result – judge finds in favour of Newham Council

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The court case against Newham Council has concluded, with the judge upholding Newham’s decision to hold a referendum giving voters a choice between the committee structure and the current Directly Elected Mayoral system.

The full judgement can be found here.

Newham Voting for Change are delighted that the referendum on the 6 May 2021 will offer a real choice and a chance for change in Newham.

Councillor John Whitworth, who has been a long term champion of the committee model, said:

“The committee structure is a genuine alternative to the Mayoral system, and we think Newham voters will be enthusiastic about having a real say in how their council is run. We look forward to making the arguments for the committee system and we encourage everyone with an interest in local government to get involved in our campaign.”

Full press release here.

 

Newham Lib Dems vote to support the committee structure

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The Newham Liberal Democrats have voted to campaign for the committee structure in the referendum on local governance later this year.

They say:

we will be supporting what is officially called Committee Model, but is actually decision making by groups of elected Newham councillors. This system will ensure elected councillors will also have a say on decisions made by the council, ensuring differing opinions and voices are heard from across the borough.

Lib Dem leader of Sutton Council Ruth Dombey made a strong case for the committee structure at our meeting in December and we’re glad to see the local Liberal Democrat party agree with her.