Scrutiny Committee Secure Key Win For Newham Residents Over Parking Permit Charges

In a major success for residents, the Newham scrutiny committee have played a crucial role in challenging and ultimately reducing proposed changes to visitor parking permit charges in Newham.

Behind the scenes, councillors on the Scrutiny committee worked tirelessly to scrutinise the proposals put forward by the Cabinet. Their efforts led to a significant victory for residents, especially those reliant on visitor permits for carers, family visits, and essential services.

Chair of the Crime, Environment, and Transport Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Terence Paul, praised his colleague, saying, “A huge thank you to Cllr Sabia Kamali, who went through the documentation line by line, identified key issues within the proposal, and brought them to my attention. Thanks to her persistence, we ensured the cost of visitor permits was reviewed and addressed.”

Cllr Paul also added, “Because of our scrutiny work, I was in a position to have serious behind-the-scenes conversations with Cabinet leads and officers. We pushed back strongly and made sure changes were made to the original proposal. It was essential that resident concerns were properly heard.”

During the meeting, Cllr Kamali further questioned the legitimacy of the consultation process, stating:
“Newham’s population exceeds 350,000 residents, yet only 467 individuals participated in the consultation on the proposed changes to visitor parking permits. That represents less than 0.2% of our borough’s population. Given how many households depend on visitor permits for support and care, how can the Council justify that this consultation adequately captured the voices of those most impacted?”

Labour Cllr Kamali and Cllr Paul have demonstrated their commitment to representing the interests of all Newham residents. This achievement reflects their dedication to transparency, fairness, and putting people first in council decision-making.