Tackling crime isn't just about investing in police officers. Havering Council is also funding the use of drug sniffer dogs at stations across the borough. I had a chance to go out with our local police and British Transport Police last autumn, and last week the dogs were back in action in Elm Park and Upminster.
Numerous arrests were made throughout the day and a very strong message was sent out that the Council is pro-actively working with the police to make sure that crime does not pay. That was also the message hammered home as a benefit cheat was put behind bars. (See below.)
Earlier this week my deputy, Cllr Robert Benham, attended the official opening of the new science block and sports complex at Redden Court School in Harold Wood. This is the first of a series of projects, including work at my former school, Marshalls Park in Romford, that will be delivered as part of our schools' improvement and expansion programme.
Lastly I would encourage as many of you as possible to consider holding a street party to mark the 75th anniversary of VE day in May. Seventy-five years ago the end of the war in Europe was celebrated with a parade in Romford Market and street parties across the borough. We are organising a host of activities in Romford Market for Saturday 9 May (see below) and it would be great to see bunting flying across Havering over that long weekend.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
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 A man who cheated Havering Council out of over £30,000 through council tax and housing benefit fraud has been put behind bars.
David James Richards was handed a seven-month prison sentence at Westminster Magistrates Court last week after refusing to pay a court order of £18,388.90.
Over 100 people attended a Holocaust Memorial Day service and reception last Sunday.
Organised by Havering Council and led by Reverend Lee Sunderland, Rabbi of Romford and District Synagogue, the service was held in Coronation Gardens, Main Road, Romford.
Holocaust Memorial Day this year marked 75 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
The theme for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day was ‘Stand Together’.
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Havering Council and Wates Residential have called for local businesses to be part of their ambitious programme to deliver 3,500 high-quality homes for local people during the next 12 to 15 years.
The joint venture partners hosted a fourth and final ‘Meet the Buyer’ event last week at Havering College for local suppliers.
It was an opportunity for them to learn about contract opportunities including the supply of white goods, painting and decorating services, wall and floor tiling. Other site services include cleaning, security, catering and labour on the biggest regeneration project in the borough.
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Two new multi-million pound buildings were opened at Redden Court School in Harold Wood to help pupils reach their goals.
West Ham United goalkeeper David Martin opened a new sports complex, which will cater for the school’s 867 pupils, while the Deputy Mayor of Havering, Councillor John Mylod, opened a new science block.
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Don't forget that you have until 10 February to comment on plans to tackle homelessness and make Havering a place where nobody needs to sleep rough.
Havering Council has set out its draft Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy, which includes new plans on how to tackle rough sleeping over the next five years.
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Havering will celebrate the VE Day 75th anniversary weekend with an event in Romford Market on Saturday 9 May, from 11am to 4pm, which will include a host of attractions for all the family and sing-alongs.
The Council is also encouraging residents to hold street parties on the VE Bank Holiday, Friday 8 May, or over the weekend of 9 and 10 May.
Guidance on holding a street party and how to apply for a road closure is available on the Havering Council website.
The photo shows the Victory in Europe parade in Romford Market on Sunday 13 May 1945. It was taken by Irvon Radford, from above his father's cycle shop called Harry's Cycles.
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Havering Works, the employment and skills service run by Havering Council, has celebrated its first year, assisting more than 400 residents to overcome barriers to employment.
Funded by Havering Council, the Department for Work and Pensions, and a number of other sources, Havering Works aims to ensure Havering residents can find work and have the opportunity to benefit from local developments.
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You can vote for your favourite adult fiction book as part of the Havering Reads initiative to get more adults reading.
Until 16 February you can vote for any adult fiction book that was published between 2018 and 2020.
Voting slips will be available in libraries, and votes can also be sent by email to kathy.scourfield@havering.gov.uk. All libraries will have a box for people to cast their votes.
The winning book will be celebrated with events in libraries throughout May.
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The Land of the Fanns Landscape Partnership Scheme is running a series of training days for local heritage or environmentally focussed small charities and voluntary groups.
The training will help them gain useful knowledge across various aspects of fundraising, managing volunteers and working with different communities.
The next training day is Wednesday 5 February with others taking place throughout the first half of the year.
Epitome Consultancy and Training will run the day-long courses at the Havering Volunteer Centre, The High Street, Romford.
The training sessions are open to all, but places are limited and booking is essential. The cost for each session is £5.
To book, please email landofthefanns@thameschase.org.uk, providing your name and contact details.
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Each year Havering Council publishes a policy on how we meet the travel assistance needs of children and young people in our borough every year.
It has now launched a public consultation seeking views on proposed changes to these travel assistance services from September 2020.
Have your say on the proposals by 2 March.
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The latest edition of Living in Havering magazine was published this week.
This is a special edition sponsored by Wates Residential. It focusses on Havering Council's joint venture with Wates to redevelop 12 Council housing estates across the borough.
If you live in Havering and don't receive a copy by this weekend please let us know by using the form on our website. In the meantime you can pick up a copy at any library in the borough, at the Town Hall in Main Road, Romford, or read it online.
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