Newham Council outlined their “ambitious” agenda for the coming year at the Annual Meeting of the Council in Stratford.

Before official proceedings began, pupils from Nelson Primary School in East Ham, all participants in Every Child a Musician scheme, gave a special performance for councillors and invited guests.

Cllr Amarjit Singh was re-elected as Chair of the Council and Cllr Michael Nicholas retained his position as Deputy Chair for 2012/13 municipal year while Mayor Sir Robin Wales had “no changes to make at this point” to his executive arrangments.

Cllr Singh paid tribute Cllr Pat Sheekey who died at the age of 71 and the meeting held a minute’s silence.

The Council then approved the Localism Act 2011 which abolished the current standards regime and requires the adoption of a local Code of Conduct.

After new policy proposals were agreed, the Mayor outlined his agenda, talking of the job opportunities secured with the opening of Westfield Stratford City, Workplace and the Olympic Games, school programmes Every Child A Musician and Every Child A Sportsperson, an extension of eligibility for free school meals, commitment to demolishing “squalid” buildings, investment in community hubs, and an expansion of a deposits programme for prospective homeowners.

The Mayor said it was “an ambitious agenda with resilience at its heart” and “radical in our approach.”

Newham’s Young Mayor Ali Mohamed made a speech thanking the borough for the opportunity to represent young people while the Mayor said Ali had been “passionate, dedicated, and his integrity has been an inspiration to young people.”