Cllr Shaban Mohammed “thrown under the bus”.
A special meeting of the cabinet was called on on 2nd April 2024.For some reason, when you click on the video link, it goes to a special meeting of the cabinet in February. Because of this we have had to rely upon the accounts that emanate from those present.
One of the central issues of the meeting was the overspend on the affordable homes programme. The cabinet papers state the following, “we are recommending that Cabinet approve this paper to withdraw from the delivery of the current approved scheme at Hathaway and agree the contract variations to secure the delivery of 126 social rent and 25 intermediate homes at Greenhill and John Street.”
The homes planned for Hathaway Crescent are being cut. “1.10. The recommendation (is) to continue with the Greenhill and John Street projects but to withdraw from the Hathaway project…”
We are told that the mayor, effectively poured all of the blame on her bumbling cabinet member for Housing and informed the cabinet that she was taking back control of parts of his portfolio. Mohammed, we are told, sat silently throughout the meeting.
We see that the plan is to spend more money and continue the two sites at Green-hill and John St, albeit at a cost of a further £20m. There will also be a cost of withdrawing from the Hathaway Crescent programme.
Unfortunately, we don’t know how much that withdrawal will be because in the spirit of openness that we have become accustomed to, the figures were tabled on Green Paper. That means that they are kept secret, ostensibly because they are commercially sensitive. Just what is the cost?
We have learned that the Labour Group is having a special meeting in April in order for the mayor to explain why her housing promises are falling apart.
The report states, regarding the Hathaway site that
Increased costs and delays; failure to deliver on promises. It could almost be the strapline to the mayor’s performance.
Just as a footnote, we observe that Hathaway Crescent is listed as being in East Ham Central Ward, whereas it is in Plashet. Funny that.
This is an extract from the map on the council’s website. We don’t suppose anyone noticed.
We like to be helpful, so Newham Council might want to amend any papers before they appear on the agenda again.