Hola Everyone!
Well, it certainly feels as if Spring 2025 has well and truly arrived with a lot of warm weather this week, and warmer than some parts of Spain! It’s clearly lifting moods, as everyone I’ve been bumping into this week has a spring in their step and smiling even more so too. It’s also been lovely seeing many residents heading to our parks around the borough, and getting involved in this week’s Great British Spring Clean which is all about encouraging all to do our bit to keep our neighbourhoods clean. On Monday, I joined volunteers in Plaistow for a litter pick, and this morning, I was out with our Environment Crime Team in Forest Gate to see first-hand the great work they do – and join in! It’s really great to see so many residents driven by a strong sense of civic pride as they do their bit to keep our streets and neighbourhoods clean. Armed with gloves and bags our volunteers make a real difference in shifting behaviours and mobilising pride in our borough to keep it clean. That’s why we’ve taken a tough stance on those who litter and fly-tip because we need to make clear that dumping rubbish on our streets is not on. This year so far, fly-tipping incidents are down by 11% because our actions on fly-tipping are making a difference, with more and more local residents pleased. For instance, last week I received a heartening email from a Stratford resident who has lived in Newham for over 40 years: “I just wanted to give the Mayor and the team a compliment. Over the last year, I’ve seen road and pavement cleaning at all hours of the day, and Stratford has never looked so clean!”
Much of this progress is thanks to Aled Richards, our outgoing Corporate Director of Environment and Sustainable Transport, who is sadly leaving us for another London borough. Councils are full of unsung and committed public service heroes like Aled, whose work is visible to residents every day. We thank him for his service and dedication. If you’d like to get involved in a litter pick or start your own, visit our website for more details. Our borough’s young people are our future, and I was proud to highlight the incredible contribution of youth workers at a panel discussion for the National Youth Agency annual conference on Tuesday. This was followed by a visit to our Forest Gate Youth Zone. At 6:30pm on a Tuesday evening, the zone was bustling with over 50 young people – taking part in a range of sport, dance, cooking and music activities, or just chilling out with friends! This is our next creative generation and seeing the impact youth workers have on them is always inspiring. Youth workers are more than mentors; they are lifelines for young people, offering guidance, emotional support, and a sense of belonging. They provide safe spaces, instil confidence, and in many cases, help to transform or even save lives. They are often an extension of family, stepping in where support is most needed, and their work is vital in ensuring young people can grow into happy, healthy, and successful adults. Their dedication is something we should celebrate and champion, and I will continue to support their invaluable role in our communities. Our youth workers play an important role in our Building a Fairer Newham mission for our borough and all its people. Supporting our young people and making Newham the best place for them to grow up and be supported to thrive and be safe is my dedication. On that note, our next Full Council meeting in April will be dedicated to young people, under the theme ‘Our Young People, Our Future’, which I’m looking forward to as it’ll also involve young people letting us know what’s important to them and why they need to be part of decision making. Next Tuesday is a significant milestone for Newham, as the 1st April marks 60 years since the London Borough of Newham following the ‘merger’ of the county boroughs of West Ham and East Ham in 1965. Over the subsequent six decades a strong and diverse community has grown and thrives; as we progress with our people. This 60th year anniversary is a moment to reflect on how far we have come and to look forward to the future we are shaping together. It is a testament to the power of unity, and I hope we can all take pride in the borough we call home. We’ll be publishing next week a range of things that we’ll be doing as we celebrate our borough’s birthday! This weekend, many of us in the borough will also be celebrating Eid ul-Fitr, marking the end of the Ramadan month of fasting. Expected to take place on Sunday 30th March or Monday 31st March, depending on the sighting of the new moon, Eid is a time of joy and togetherness with loved ones. To help residents make the most of the celebrations, we have put together advice and tips, which you can find on our website. My fondest Eid Mubarak to all who are celebrating! Until next week, stay happy and keep looking after yourselves (and loved ones!),
Best wishes,
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE
Follow what I am up to via X/Twitter: @rokhsanafiaz | 
