> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.newhamcitizen.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Opposition parties threaten to boycott Newham neighbourhood plan - URL: https://www.newhamcitizen.co.uk/opposition-parties-boycott-newham-neighbourhood-plan/ - Published: 2026-09-09T12:28:54.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-09T12:29:14.000Z - Description: Newham Independents and Greens will stay away unless ward councillors can pick their own area leads - Author: Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter - Tags: Newham Council, Forhad Hussain, community neighbourhoods, local democracy, Newham Independents, Newham Green party Opposition parties have threatened to boycott Labour's plan to transform how Newham Council works in the borough's neighbourhoods. Labour mayor Forhad Hussain wants to set up eight "community neighbourhoods" to feed into his decision-making. But all eight are set to be led by Labour councillors, even in areas predominantly represented by the Newham Independents and Greens. Newham Independents councillor Oli Rahman said both groups "have made it absolutely clear that they will not participate" unless ward councillors can choose who leads their neighbourhoods. **Eight areas** Hussain's community neighbourhoods aim to bring together councillors to draw up plans for each of their areas. The eight proposed neighbourhoods are Stratford and West Ham, Forest Gate, Manor Park, Green Street, Plaistow, East Ham, Beckton and Royal Docks, and Custom House and Canning Town. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/0b/1a0bbdc5-3104-4b69-8f0a-e4bea2090efe/content/images/2026/09/IMG_9264.webp) Newham Green group leader, councillor Arshan Baskaran. Credit: Newham Green Party Proposals say they will gather feedback from residents and improve co-operation between the council and community, voluntary and faith organisations, and other local services. The new bodies will "provide a shared understanding of each area, helping services and partners focus on what matters most to local people". However, community neighbourhoods will not be able to make decisions themselves. Instead, they will feed recommendations and advice back to Hussain through councillors he has appointed to lead them, known as "lead commissioners". **Mandate** Although the lead commissioners have not been formally announced, the Newham Independents and Greens have been told all eight will be led by Labour councillors. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/0b/1a0bbdc5-3104-4b69-8f0a-e4bea2090efe/content/images/2026/09/Cllr_Lakmini_Shah_C.webp) Labour councillor Lakmini Shah. Credit: Newham Council The two opposition parties challenged the plan at an overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Wednesday 2 September. Newham Independents councillor Sophia Naqvi pointed out that no single party has a majority on the council following elections in May. She said: "Given that Newham is a no-overall control council, and this report repeatedly emphasises partnership, resident participation and local leadership, how does the mayor or cabinet lead member justify appointing community neighbourhood lead members to areas where their party has no elected councillors, or few? "What consideration was given to ensuring neighbourhood leadership reflects the democratic mandate of the council residents actually elected?" **Allowances** Green councillor Nate Higgins noted that lead commissioners would be able to claim money back from the council through special responsibility allowances. He asked how residents would know they were "doing a good job". Cllr Higgins said: "The meetings we've had so far are in private. Do people even know who these people are? What does accountability look like?" Newham Independents leader Mehmood Mirza told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) his group would "not take part in the programme under the current arrangements". Green leader Arshan Baskaran told the LDRS that the consensus among his councillors was that they would not attend either. **Mayor's choice** Senior Labour councillor Lakmini Shah, responsible for communities, said that, as elected executive mayor, Hussain is entitled to make the appointments himself. She said he would need "to have a person, a colleague or a councillor that he will work with, and that person will take the messages back from the collective neighbourhood councillors". Cllr Shah said the community neighbourhoods would aim to "resolve stubborn issues" affecting different areas of Newham. She added: "It is for colleagues here to come and attend the meetings, tell what your priorities are, get the services done for your residents. "If you don't attend you will not have the opportunity to deliver." Janie Berry, the council's monitoring officer, responsible for ensuring the council follows its own rules and the law, said Hussain would be responsible for holding the lead commissioners accountable.