Newham Council rewarded for excellence 

Newham Council has received a special London Councils award to mark its good work in helping its councillors do a better job.

The Member Development Charter is awarded to councils in recognition of their work to provide councillors with the support, skills and training they need to develop and to effectively manage their local authority’s budgets and services. It is backed by the Improvement and Development Agency (I&DeA).

Chairman of London Councils, Councillor Merrick Cockell, presented a Charter to Councillor Christine Bowden, Newham’s deputy mayor and lead member for development.

Among the initiatives Newham has developed include an Influential Councillor scheme to enhance members’ community leadership skills, and an appraisal system where the performance of councillors is assessed by a number of their peers as well as senior members.

The council has also elected a young mayor and has successfully involved young people in civic life and advising councillors on policies that directly affect them.