The Overview and Scrutiny Commission is a statutory body charged with the independent scrutiny of actions by the executive (the Mayor and Cabinet). As such it should be free from political interference.

STOP PRESS: The judge ruled that the application can be heard.

A couple of years ago, new and enthusiastic back-bencher Mariam Dawood proposed a motion to the Labour Group on the council.

Historically, Newham has had one of the highest numbers of ‘statutory homeless’ people in London.