Newham Council is addressing concerns raised in a Best Value Notice issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) in May 2025. The council convened a meeting on 14 July 2025 to discuss the notice and outline its plans for improvement.

The Best Value Notice, detailed in the Delivering Best Value For Our Residents report, was issued on 8 May 2025, and cited several key areas of concern:

  • Significant value for money weaknesses in governance arrangements, highlighted by the external auditor in the annual report published on 20 February 2025.
  • Cultural and governance issues identified in a scrutiny improvement review.
  • Delivery concerns regarding social housing programs, particularly following a C4 grading from the Regulator of Social Housing in October 2024.

The council's response, as outlined in the report, focuses on three main themes: Governance, Culture & Capability; Financial Sustainability; and Improving Services for residents.

If the council fails to demonstrate continuous improvement, the Secretary of State may consider using their statutory powers, according to the Delivering Best Value for Our Residents report.

Addressing Key Concerns

The council's plan includes several specific actions to address the issues raised in the Best Value Notice:

  • Improving Financial Stability: The council aims to enhance its Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to reflect a commitment to financial stability.
  • Strengthening the Transformation & Improvement Board: The council is working with the independent Newham Transformation & Improvement Board, including its independent Chair, Rob Whiteman, to provide support and assurance.
  • Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities: A review of roles, responsibilities, and scrutiny processes is underway to enable more effective decision-making.
  • Implementing Cultural Change: The council is committed to implementing and measuring cultural change, particularly in improving relationships between members and officers.
  • Ensuring Effective Leadership: A comprehensive retention strategy is being developed to ensure the effectiveness of the council's officer and political leadership.
  • Delivering on Recommendations: The council is focused on delivering against recommendations from various reviews and inspections, meeting set milestones, and measuring the impact of change.
  • Engaging with Government: The council will continue to engage constructively with the government on at least a quarterly basis to discuss progress.

The Newham Council is committed to working collaboratively with government, local organisations, and residents to address the challenges outlined in the Best Value Notice and improve services for all residents. The council will provide regular progress updates to Cabinet, Council, Overview & Scrutiny, and the Audit & Governance Committee.

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