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24 December 2019
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I hope you have a very enjoyable festive season however you choose to celebrate and enjoy time with family and friends.
2019 has been a year of significant achievements in Havering.
Last month we were named the best council in London for the second year running for delivering outcomes that make a real difference to residents’ lives. According to the annual ‘Which Councils Are Best?’ report from IMPOWER, Havering is also the 5th best Council in England for using resources in the most effective way.
Romford's Sapphire Ice & Leisure was named the UK's best new civic building at a national awards event and the new Sports centre in Hornchurch is on track to open next year.
Look out too for some exciting news on a further new leisure centre in the south of our borough early in the New Year.
Finally may I wish you, your family and friends a very Merry Christmas.
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 A campaign aimed at helping people who feel unsafe when on a night out has launched in Havering pubs, clubs and entertainment venues.
People visiting Havering venues will be encouraged to ‘Ask for Angela’ at the bar if they are feeling vulnerable.
The code-word notifies bar staff in a discreet way to situations where people may feel uncomfortable.
Christmas is a special time of year for many, but it can also be a lonely one for many residents.
We have some top tips and advice from overcoming loneliness to where to find an out of hours GP.
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Christmas is traditionally the season of goodwill, present giving, spending time with family and friends, but also sees an increase in household rubbish.
Over the festive period, food waste alone can make up a massive 80 per cent of black sack waste, not to mention all the leftover packaging from presents.
Havering Council has lots of info on how you can minimise your waste, save yourself and the Council money, plus help the environment at the same time.
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The Big London Energy Switch is a way of saving money on your gas and electricity.
Residents group together and then the energy companies bid against each other in an auction to get their custom.
By grouping together residents can get much lower tariffs as the energy companies want to get lots of customers in one go, and so offer much lower tariffs than if an individual customer had contacted them. Nearly 16,000 residents have already signed up to save.
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If you need to walk off the Christmas Day excess, or keep the children entertained over the holidays, then you may want to take part in a Winter Scavenger Hunt and Festive Decoration Making organised by RSPB at the Rainham Marshes nature reserve.
Held on Saturday 28 December it's just £2 per child (£1.50 for RSPB members). Pop into the visitor centre any time between 10am and 3pm to pick up a special Winter Scavenger Hunt sheet. You'll then adventure into nature with your family to try to find the items on your self-guided hunt.
When you've found everything head back into the Visitor Centre to meet the RSPB team to make festive decorations using the items you've collected.
RSPB Rainham Marshes nature reserve is at New Tank Hill Road, Purfleet,
Essex RM19 1SZ. Tel 01708 899849.
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You can help design the future plans for King George and Queen’s hospitals.
Over the last few months, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust has been reviewing what King George and Queen’s hospitals should look like in the future to make sure that all residents, regardless of where they live, can access high-quality services across both sites.
The plans will then be developed into what is called a clinical strategy.
Key to developing the plans is to hear from people who use the hospitals and other local health services to understand what matters most to them, and to hear their ideas to make services easier to access and better for patients.
The Trust is holding a public meeting on Tuesday 21 January from 6.30pm to 9pm
Queen’s Hospital, Rom Valley Way, Romford, RM7 0AG in January to do just that.
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Council Tax scams continue to do the rounds so extra vigilance is always required. Residents can get advice from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline by calling 03454 040 506.
More information about scams in general is available on the Citizens Advice website.
Scams should be reported to Action Fraud.
If you think your Council Tax band is too high you can query it free of charge.
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There are lots of ways you can dispose of real Christmas trees after the celebrations are over.
Residents who pay for our wheeled bin Garden Waste collection service should cut up their trees and place them in the bins with the lids closed, ready for collection day.
Alternatively residents can visit Gerpins Lane Reuse & Recycling Centre, Upminster or Gidea Park Sports Ground, Romford, on Saturday 4 January between 10am & 2pm.
Another option is to recycle your Christmas tree and help raise funds for local charity Saint Francis Hospice.
On Saturday 11 January and Sunday 12 January, volunteers from the charity will be out across the borough collecting the trees. It is free of charge but a donation is welcome.
You need to register to say you want a collection and then make sure the tree is left in your designated place before 8am on one of the two collection days. Please ensure all decorations are removed beforehand.
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