Published:
12:46 PM May 10, 2021
Newly-elected councillor for East Ham Central, Farah Nazeer, pictured with agent Alan Griffiths. Cllr Nazeer was victorious after securing 2,297 votes - 53 per cent of those cast.
- Credit: Cash Boyle
Farah Nazeer has been elected as a councillor for East Ham Central.
The Labour candidate secured victory in last week s by-election by securing 2,297 votes - 53 per cent of those cast.
Her nearest challenger was Conservative candidate Zakir Hossain, who secured 1,288 votes.
Remaining candidates Danny Keeling (Green), Ed Comaromi, (Liberal Democrat), Paul Jobson (Christian Peoples Alliance) and Lois Austin (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition - TUSC), secured 283, 239, 115 and 91 votes respectively.
NEWHAM DECIDES: THE RESULTS MAY 6 2021 ELECTION GOVERNANCE REFERENDUM
In the referendum on the future governance of Newham, voters have elected to retain the Directly Elected Mayor model.
Newham residents had been offered a straight choice between the current model, where the Mayor is elected directly by the people and the Committee Model, where councillors elect the Mayor.
The votes were as follows:
Directly Elected Mayor model – 45,960 votes (56%)
Committee model – 36,424 votes (44%)
(Turnout: 37.68%)
The result means the way the borough is governed remains the same.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz welcomed the decision to keep the Directly Elected Mayor governance arrangements for Newham following the referendum on 6th May.
Follow our liveblog for updates from the count at ExCeL London
- Credit: PA Archive/Press Association Images
Newham people have had a chance to have their say at the polling booth for this year s local elections.
There are three incoming results particularly affecting the borough - for the Greater London Authority seat representing City and East, for a by-election for the East Ham Central ward, and for a referendum deciding if Newham Council will be lead by a directly-elected mayor or a leader chosen by elected councillors.
Our liveblog below will be updated throughout the day with the results as they come in.
Committee model
Cllr John Whitworth, West Ham ward, writes:
If the committee model is chosen in the Newham governance referendum there will be major changes in decision making, as a mayor will no longer have local “presidential” powers above those of councillors.
The council will take responsibility for local government and empower its committees to make decisions for each of the different services, with every councillor having a seat on a committee which will work closely with local residents.
The committees will fit with the existing directorates responsible for housing, health, etc, so the council will still have the same structure and deliver the same services - but what is done will be decided collectively and not by a single person.
Newham s 2020/21 budget includes £169million worth of investment in new council homes and £70m to improve others.
Ms Austin claimed: Instead of providing social housing, the council relies on the good offices of big property developers.
In September, Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz called for changes to national policy and proper funding to help local authorities build affordable homes.
In the last 25 years, Newham has lost 9,000 dwellings under the right to buy scheme. The mayor said at the time that the council is on track to build 1,000 homes.
Ms Austin said: The council shamefully allowed East Ham Market Hall to be demolished. The vast majority of homes being built will not be affordable. We say no to gentrification and big business land grabs.