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Friday 23 October 2020
 We understand that it is a difficult time for everyone, and while most people are doing their bit to keep Havering safe, I am the first to recognise that it can be a real challenge to stay up to date with the latest guidance.
That's why Havering Council is hosting a live Question and Answer online Zoom session on the Tier 2 COVID-19 restrictions, on Thursday, 29 October, at 12.30pm.
I'll be on the panel along with our Director of Public Health, Mark Ansell, members of our Public Protection teams, and others, tackling your questions on COVID-19 restrictions, staying safe at this time, and the support on offer to those who are struggling.
To take part in the live online session, please register.
Our weekly report shows further increases in cases of coronavirus in our borough and, sadly, more deaths. There has also been more evidence this week of the long-term health problems that many unfortunate people experience after contracting COVID-19. It is clear now that for many people COVID-19 is not at all like catching the flu.
I hope you have an enjoyable and safe weekend. See our website on how you can do your bit to keep us all safe.
If you want to contact me directly, email me. However, please be patient as there may be a delay of a day or two in getting back to you due to the volume of messages I am receiving.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
Havering Council and the Metropolitan Police are urging residents not to go trick or treating this year, instead opt for safer ways to celebrate.
Halloween, like many other events, will be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the current restrictions in place.
Havering’s local COVID-19 alert level was moved from medium to high on 17 October following an increase in coronavirus cases.
Households can no longer meet with other households indoors, and cannot meet in groups of over six outdoors.
Traditional Halloween activities like trick or treating or parties risk breaking these restrictions and further spreading the virus.
Havering Council will be hosting a range of virtual events throughout the day on their Facebook and YouTube channels.
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Yesterday the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced additional support for businesses across the UK, particularly those operating under Tier 2 level restrictions.
Cash grants of up to £2,100 a month will be given to affected hospitality, accommodation and leisure premises businesses.
New funding will also be provided to the Job Support Scheme where the employers' contributions will be reduced from 33 per cent to five per cent. In future employees will only need to work 20 per cent of their normal hours instead of the original scheme threshold of 33 per cent.
The size of grants available to self-employed people will also be doubled to £3,750 with the amount of average profits they can claim for rising from 20 per cent to 40 per cent.
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COVID-19 testing is available in Romford, South Hornchurch and Harold Hill, for people with symptoms of the virus.
There are two walk-through test centres open seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm.
One is in Harold Hill, called Dagnam Park Drive, on the multi-use sports pitches located behind Central Park Leisure Centre. The other is at Cherry Tree car park, off Rainham Road, South Hornchurch. You must book an appointment before attending.
The Mobile Testing Unit, at the rear of the Town Hall, Romford, operates a drive and walk through system. Testing, by appointment, will be available between 10.30am and 3.30pm this Monday, 26 October.
Vehicles and pedestrians should enter via Park End Road, Romford RM1 4AU. Do not try to enter from Main Road.
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Havering Council is supporting the fight against coronavirus with a £500 Havering Helps package to support residents asked to self-isolate due to COVID-19.
You are required by law to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19 or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace. If you fail to self-isolate when required to do so, or knowingly provide false information about close contacts to NHS Test and Trace, you may be fined.
If you must self-isolate, are unable to work from home, are losing income, and are claiming qualifying benefits or working tax credit, you are eligible for a one-off £500 ‘Test and Trace Support’ payment.
Registered local charity DABD are administering this process for Havering Council. If you think you are eligible for the £500 payment please apply via their website.
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Parents in Havering are being urged to get their children vaccinated from flu this winter.
Without the flu vaccination children are more likely to contract the flu at nursery or school and then spread the virus at a rapid rate, posing a particular risk to other people at higher risk like babies and the elderly.
For children, the nasal spray flu vaccine is free on the NHS for children aged 2 or 3; all primary school children (reception to year 6); all year 7 in secondary school; and children aged 2 to 17 years with long-term health conditions. The flu jab is also available for free to pregnant women.
The child nasal vaccination is available from your GP, pregnant women can get a flu jab from their midwife, and school age children will be offered it at school.
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The Havering Local Plan was subject to independent public examination following its submission to the Government in March 2018.
Examination hearings have taken place over the last two years under the direction of a Planning Inspector.
The Council and the Inspector are now undertaking further work aimed at the Council formally adopting the Local Plan in 2020.
In August Havering Council published modifications to its local Plan for consultation.
The consultation period for this document and the modifications that it relates to has been extended to 5 November 2020.
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If your child was born between 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010, they are due to start secondary school in September 2021.
If your child falls into this age range you should apply by Saturday 31 October for their secondary school place.
Due to the current social distancing requirements many secondary school open events are not taking place this year.
Havering Council's website has a list of school open or online events.
If you provide false or deliberately misleading information whilst completing an application, it will become invalid and may be a criminal offence.
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As part of a series of half-term holiday events leading up to Halloween, Havering Libraries presents Sbooky Library – a Magical Quests Adventure film.
It's a fun Halloween film – set in a haunted library with two ghost busting librarians trying to figure out why the books keep disappearing and what that spooky wailing is.
Join in the fun on Monday, 26 October, at 11am on Havering Libraries’ Facebook page.
And you can join Miss Whale to make some Halloween crafts, sing a few spine-chilling songs, and listen to a hair-raising tale.
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Tune in if you dare on Wednesday, 28 October, at 11am on Havering Libraries’ Facebook page.
These events are suitable for anyone four years of age or older.
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At the end of the Transition Period on 31 December 2020, whatever the outcome of the trade talks with the EU, full customs declarations will be required for all goods imports and exports shipped between Great Britain and the EU.
The new requirement to provide customs paperwork will inevitably cause delays at the border.
In response, yesterday, the Government announced measures to manage traffic flow on Kent’s road network in the event of severe disruption to services across the English Channel.
Hauliers will be able to use a new service to check that an HGV has the right paperwork for the goods it’s carrying before it crosses the English channel. Hauliers must use this service for HGVs travelling via the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel to get a ‘Kent Access Permit’ before they enter Kent.
You can be fined £300 if you do not use the service when you travel via the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel, or if you provide a fraudulent declaration.
It will be optional to use the service for all other GB ports. The Government has said the new service will be fully operational by December 2020.
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Measures have been put in place to keep everyone safe, across the London public transport network.
When travelling you must wear a face covering over your mouth and nose for your entire journey including inside stations and on platforms.
Keep in mind, some passengers might be wearing an exemption badge as they are not able to wear a face covering for reasons that may not always be visible. Unless you are exempt, you could be refused travel or face a £200 fine, which doubles with every violation up to £6,400.
On the District line on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October, there will be no service between Tower Hill and West Ham. Replacement buses will operate.
On Sunday 25 October, there will be no service on the London Overground between Romford and Upminster. Use local bus services instead.
On Sunday 25 October, there will be no TfL Rail service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Use Central line connections between Liverpool Street and Stratford or Newbury Park. Replacement buses will operate.
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Roadworks are taking place in Laburnum Walk, Hornchurch and Macdonald Avenue in Emerson Park from Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 October.
A new entrance to Marshalls Park Academy in Pettits Lane, Romford is due to be constructed with work starting next week. As a result, temporary traffic lights will be in operation outside the school from Monday 26 October until Friday 6 November.
Work in St Lawrence Road, Upminster, is expected to be completed by 31 October.
There will also be roadworks in Minster Way, Upminster Bridge, between Thursday 29 October and 20 November.
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