Hello Everyone,
I held back from sending my weekly message till now, as I wanted to update you on the Council’s Draft 2026/27 Budget plans for next year, which we published yesterday.
Our ‘Newham's Draft Budget 2026/27: Creating the pathway to financial sustainability and delivering a Fairer Newham’ shows that thanks to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 by the Government last week, in the coming financial year Newham Council will be able to set a legally balanced Budget plan for 2026/27, and that there will be no need for Exceptional Financial Support from government.
Significantly, for the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) period, we are able to forecast a provisional surplus Budget position of £13m and £15m respectively for the 2027/28 and 2028/29.
Read more here and you can read all the draft budget pooposals here.
It's been no small feat dealing with the budget challenges we have faced and arriving at the position we have got to without the additional support of this government. They have finally recognised our needs as a borough through a fairer funding formula for Newham.
It has been another busy year for our borough. In 2025 we celebrated Newham’s 60th birthday and welcomed the news that historic markets Billingsgate and Smithfield had chosen our borough as their new home. We’ve built new homes for local families, and agreed plans to transform our majestic Royal Docks, and breathe new life into Silvertown, with 7,000 news homes, a new pedestrian and cycle bridge and a thriving activated dockside. As part of plans to Build a Fairer Newham, we’ve made sure growth benefits everyone in our borough, with inward investment funding community spaces like Dovetail Community Hub, and apprenticeships for local young people. We’ve made progress in our commitment to combatting the climate crisis, publishing our Just Transition Two Year Impact Report, detailing how we’ve unlocked retrofit and heat decarbonisation at scale. Directly improving the lives of our residents through improved housing and reduced energy bills; and building resilience to extreme temperatures and future flash flooding. Perhaps most significantly we have also sparked a collective campaign across the capital and nation, inspiring change at every level of government. 2025 has also been the year that, following our efforts, the government confirmed DLR expansion through Beckton to Thamesmead. The expansion will improve travel for the south of the borough and unlock land for 25,000 new homes and up to 10,000 jobs. Throughout the year we’ve continued to drive forward plans to make Newham the best place for our children and young people to feel supported and thrive. Since 2018, we’ve been bucking the trend nationally, by reversing disinvestment in our Youth Empowerment Service, committing to widening opportunities for all our children and young people in Newham. This year our efforts have been recognised with our Youth Empowerment Service noted as ‘exemplary’ by the National Youth Agency. Although we have faced challenging times and tough choices in 2025, it has been a privilege to serve as your Mayor. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been invited to join so many local people at Newham Christmas events recently, ushering in the festive season with school choirs, charity partners, and Newham families - and lighting Christmas Trees 🎄 we’ve put up across the borough! Nothing drives home the great responsibility and privilege of representing the people of Newham more than seeing the talent, ambition and enthusiasm of local children, speaking to parents fighting to give their families a good life, and meeting with business owners driving growth in our local economy. It’s been an honour to celebrate the start of the Christmas season with the people of Newham. I know that this time of year can also be really difficult for some of our residents. That’s why there are a number of services that will continue to provide vital support over this holiday season: - StreetLink help the Council to support rough sleepers. You can make a referral via the StreetLink website or by calling: 0300 500 0914. StreetLink alert outreach teams who quickly connect rough sleepers to support services.
- The Newham Mental Health Crisis Line is open 24 hours a day to support all people of any age living in Newham experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency. Run by mental health professionals, the helpline is free to call and available 24 hours a day (including at weekends and bank holidays). Just call: 0800 073 0066 when needed, and you can also visit their website.
- Newham’s Healthy Mind website is also filled with advice, guidance and links to services that can help your mind stay healthy, including details regarding mental health, connecting with others, volunteering in your community and coping with bereavement. Please visit the Well Newham website for more information.
Here at the Council, some services will pause over the festive period, with others operating to a Christmas and New Year schedule. You can find out more via the Council’s website where you’ll see the latest information, including opening days, hours and contact details. There will also be some changes to waste collection during the festive period, you can check your bin collection dates by clicking here. As the year draws to a close and we take time to celebrate with our loved ones, I will be reflecting on my time serving the residents of our borough this past year, the successes we have achieved together, and the work left to do to build a fairer, prosperous, and more inclusive borough for generations to come. Finally, Happy Christmas on Thursday and a Happy New Year in advance of next week! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or any other festive tradition, on behalf of everyone at the Council, I wish you and your loved ones a joyous festive season - and I hope you’re able to take time to have a break, see loved ones, and enjoy yourself.
Catch up in January 2026, as we have loads happening as we countdown to May! Take good care.
Best wishes,
Rokhsana Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE Follow what I am up to via X/Twitter: @rokhsanafiaz | 
