Newham Council's Audit and Governance Committee convened on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, to review the Treasury Management mid-year report for 2025/26 and other crucial updates, including progress on the 'Tell Jane' project and the impact of the Workforce and Culture Board. Action AC272 from the previous meeting stated that the HR report due for consideration on 5 November should reference an update on the Tell Jane service and the impact of the Workforce and Culture Board.

The committee, including Councillor Carleene Lee-Phakoe, Councillor Aktharul Alam, Councillor Melanie Onovo, Councillor Thelma Odoi, Councillor Anthony McAlmont, Councillor Anamul Islam, Councillor Terence Paul, and Councillor Areeq Chowdhury, examined the projected outturn, estimated prudential indicators, and treasury limit outturn as detailed in the Treasury Management Mid-year Report 2025-26. The report included appendices for prudential indicators and external credit loans and equity.

The meeting also covered a range of other topics, including:

  • Best Value Response: The committee received a quarterly update on the Best Value Response, following a non-statutory Best Value Notice issued to Newham Council in May 2025. The report, Delivering Best Value for Our Residents Quarterly Report, included several appendices, such as the Delivering Best Value for Our Residents Plan and the LGA Peer Review Action Plan Progress Update.
  • Internal Audit Update: A quarterly update on internal audit activities was presented.
  • Transformation and Improvement Board: The committee received an update on the work of the Transformation and Improvement Board. The agenda included a report titled Update on the work of the Transformation and Improvement Board .
  • Counter Fraud Progress: The quarterly counter fraud progress report was discussed. In the previous meeting, the committee discussed housing tenancy fraud, including a case of illegal sub-letting that lasted nine years, and resulted in the recovery of £68,000.
  • Risk Management: A quarterly update on risk management and the risk register was reviewed. Minutes from the previous meeting on July 16, 2025, indicated that cyber security had been moved to the inherent risk register and that a counter terrorism risk was added in response to proposed Martyn's Law legislation. High risk public spaces were under review and an action plan was in place discussed at meetings of the CONTEST Board.
  • Human Resources Update: The committee discussed a human resources update report. At the previous meeting, the committee noted that HR would provide an update on the Tell Jane project and the impact of the workforce and culture board.
  • Savings Delivery Programme: A quarterly report on the Savings Delivery Programme was presented.
  • Contract Waivers: A quarterly report of contract waivers was reviewed. The minutes from the previous meeting on July 16, 2025, mention that the committee considered a report which held one contract waiver for the last quarter. The officers said that the scaffolding had been erected for emergency remedial work and left in situ for a window replacement project which had been won by an alternate contractor to the remedial work provider.
  • Year Ahead Forward Plan: The committee discussed a draft of the Year Ahead Forward Plan.

The meeting agenda is available online.