08 14 19 Support for Taste of Get flu families success protection issue 401 // 19 Oct – 01 Nov 2018 // Every fortnight Cleaning up our borough Tackling fly-tipping (p16) Look out for the next issue from 2 November 2018. Contents. On the cover 08 14 19 Support for Taste of Get flu families success protection 08 HELPING FAMILIES CHANGE issue 401 // 19 Oct – 01 Nov 2018 // Every fortnight - team of experts will support you 14 CHOCOLATE WITH A CONSCIENCE - one woman makes it guilt-free 19 STAYING WELL IN WINTER Cleaning - getting the flu vaccine up our borough Tackling fly-tipping (p16) 10 In this issue 10 RECOGNISING SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES - entrepreneurs receive awards 13 LOOKING AFTER SEXUAL HEALTH - new service opens in Stratford 16 MAKING A CLEAN SWEEP - tackling fly-tipping, street by street 13 Regulars 03 NEWS - three pages of news from across the borough 06 MAYOR ROKHSANA FIAZ - Mayor speaks to residents 22 OUR NEWHAM - community news 24 KIDS’ CORNER - poems, pictures and puzzles for our younger readers 26 WHAT’S ON - five pages of activities and events for you to try 16 Find us online at www.newham.gov.uk/mag For information on all Newham Council services visit www.newham.gov.uk @NewhamLondon www.facebook.com/newhamcouncil If you do not receive the Newham Mag at home, or know someone who doesn’t, PUBLICATIONS OFFICER: Kay Atwal please call 020 3373 1517, write to The Newham Mag, West Wing, 4th Floor, Newham STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Andrew Baker Dockside, Dockside Road, London E16 2QU, or email [email protected] Call the Mag team on 020 3373 1517 Publication of an advert in the Newham Mag does not constitute endorsement of any To advertise in the Mag call goods or services offered. The Newham Mag is printed on 100% recycled paper by GD Julie Madell on 07890 529 090 Web Offset Ltd and distributed by Letterbox Distribution. 2 New s Rogue landlords cough up Council Tax Newham Council’s private rented sector licensing to £30,000 or a criminal prosecution and unlimited fines. scheme has now recovered more than £5 million in In addition, from 1 October this year, new regulations Council Tax from rogue landlords renting out houses mean properties, no matter how many floors they in multiple occupation. are arranged over, which are rented to two or more Newham’s Private Rented Sector (PRS) licensing households, and/or five or more occupants, require a scheme first began five years ago but was forced by the mandatory HMO licence. Government to re-launch from scratch in March. Since its The new legislation won’t affect most Newham landlords restart the PRS team have processed and issued more as they are already required to get a licence to rent out to than 30,000 new licences. three or more individuals through Newham’s Additional In the same period the team has taken action against HMO Licensing Scheme. The exception is some landlords landlords in 120 cases where serious and dangerous in the E20 part of Stratford and New Town ward who will disrepair was discovered or landlords were breaking now be required to obtain a HMO licence where previously the law. they were not required to. Councillor John Gray, Cabinet member for housing, said: Councillor Gray said: “I would urge any landlords to “This £5 million, which would have been lost to the council engage with our team especially if they are unclear about and therefore the taxpayer, has been recouped by the the new regulations. We genuinely want to work with private rented sector team, and will help us fund the crucial landlords to create a fair rental market for them, and for all services that our residents rely on, from elderly care, to our residents. Together we can work to drive the rogues out supporting our young people.” of the market and improve the lives of tenants.” The council would like to thank those landlords who have If you are a landlord and are unsure about any aspect of joined the new scheme, but remind those that have not yet the Newham licensing scheme, or you want to apply online, applied that failure to get a licence can result in fines of up visit: www.newham.gov.uk/propertylicensing The scheme will tackle properties like this Conditions found in unlicensed properties Scheme recovers £5 million 3 New s Young people are keen to help Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz was invited to be the special guest at a community fun day to see some of the activities on offer to young people in Canning Town. The CanningFEST event was organised by FindX Community Initiatives, a partnership made up of young people from all walks of life with a desire to contribute positively to the continued transformation of the borough. Among the activities that the group of volunteers offer is youth mentoring, after-school clubs, holiday camps, GCSE revision classes, fitness sessions for Cllrs McLean and Masters at the event young people, organising activities for older people, street cleaning projects, cyber awareness training and computer coding classes. Promoting wellbeing The fun day, which took place at The Hub centre in Star Lane, was also attended by Canning Town North in the workplace ward councillor Canon Ann Easter. The Mayor said: “It was inspiring to see the lengths that some young Businesses and local employers took part in a series of people are going to, to support others.” workshops to learn about promoting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. Deputy Mayor Councillor Charlene McLean and Councillor Susan Masters, Cabinet member for health and adult social care, attended the event organised by Newham Council’s employment service Workplace to mark World Mental Health Day. Other organisations that contributed included the Department for Work and Pension, the National Health Service, and the Shaw Trust, a national charity which helps disabled and disadvantaged people into employment and independent living. Councillor Masters said: “Mental health problems can affect people at work and those trying to find employment. It is imperative that employers work to ensure those affected receive the relevant support.” For information about supporting employees to deal TheA fly-tip Mayor in and Newham Cllr Easter at the fun day with mental health issues, contact Joseph Kunyeda at Workplace on [email protected] Support for mental health at work 4 ...in brief More changes to Stadium parking restrictions Parking restrictions are in place around London Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic town centre Park on West Ham United match days. The next stage of Controlled parking hours in Stratford the transformation of Central, Stratford North West, Stratford Stratford town centre South West, Stratford South East and West comes into effect Ham residential parking zones (RPZ) are on 22 October when the extended and apply from 8am to 9pm. Only whole of Great Eastern permit holders can park in RPZs at this time Road and The Grove will with priority given to residents and local have two-way traffic. businesses. Plans for an improved Event days are advertised at the entrance Two-way traffic for Stratford town centre were to each of the RPZs. The next event days developed by Newham are 31 October (Tottenham Hotspur) and 3 Council over a two-year period in consultation with residents and local November (Burnley). businesses. Traffic on Stratford Broadway, between High Street and Promoting wellbeing Romford Road has been two-way since last month. The improvements include separated cycle lanes, new crossings, wider pavements, trees Opinions on housing in the workplace and shrubs, and better lighting. services Councillor Rachel Tripp, Cabinet member for environment and Newham Council is carrying out surveys highways said: “The former one-way system was frustrating for many with tenants and leaseholders to gauge residents. The changes will make it easier and safer for pedestrians and opinions on housing services and discover cyclists to make their way around Stratford.” what they think about their property, landlord The whole town centre transformation is expected to be complete by and neighbourhood. The surveys will be next Spring. More details on the project can be found at done on doorsteps by interviewers with full www.newham.gov.uk/Stratford. accreditation from independent research agency Opinion Research Services (ORS) between October and December. Health centre plan A new multi-million pound health centre is proposed for the Royal Information exchange Docks after Newham Council together with East London Foundation An information exchange day will take place Trust (ELFT) and Newham Clinical Commissioning Group (NCCG) on 1 November at the Old Town Hall in agreed a 999-year lease on a property in Royal Wharf. Stratford for parents and carers of children GP services are set to be offered at the Pontoon Dock Health Centre with special educational needs and disability. alongside a range of community health, social care and a variety of Residents can find out what is available from clinical services. The site for the centre has been acquired by the newly local and national organisations as well as established Health & Care Space Newham, set up by the partners to teams from Newham Council, from 10am deliver new health facilities and keyworker housing. Royal Wharf is the to 2pm. For more details contact first acquisition for HCSN. [email protected] Support for mental health at work Multi-million pound health centre 5 Cllr Tripp and the Mayor and residents at the fly-tip workshop “What has the Council ever done I made when I was elected, which is Mayor for us?” It’s a phrase I heard often why I called in outside experts to help before I became Mayor.