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Monday 29 March 2021 (Update #199)
Yesterday (Sunday) was a significant day: no COVID-related deaths were reported in London for the first time since 14 September.
This good news, coupled with the vaccine roll-out now passing 30 million people in the UK, comes as we continue on the Government's sensible, cautious, roadmap out of lockdown restrictions.
From today, you can meet outdoors in groups of up to six people, or two households, and outdoor team sports are permitted. For those who enjoy golf, tennis or basketball, today is a welcome day as courses and courts re-open.
However, many restrictions remain in place. You must not socialise indoors with anyone you do not live with or have formed a support bubble with. You should continue to work from home if you can, and minimise the number of journeys you make where possible.
I fully support the head of NHS England's appeal to us all not to squander the gains we have made in recent months. If we continue to follow the guidelines we can look forward to the next step - due no earlier than 12 April - when non-essential retail, restaurants and pubs will be able to re-open, although those pubs and retsaurants will have to serve customers outside.
Please continue to do all the things that really matter: washing hands, maintaining social distancing, wearing face coverings and getting the vaccine when it is offered.
If you are unsure as to what you may do, please check the Government's guidance.
Lastly, if you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
 Havering Council is again supporting eligible families with school meals during the school holidays.
For the Easter holiday eligible families will receive £30 per child.
There’s no need to re-apply if you have previously received money via the School Meal Holiday Scheme. If you haven’t previously applied, but need to, please click on the button below.
Applications for new claims close next Tuesday, 6 April, at 9am.
You can book tests or place an order online for home test kits (pictured) if you are in a household or support bubble where children are attending, or an adult is working in, a primary or secondary school, or a nursery.
You can also collect your home test kits without an appointment from any of our Local Testing Sites. Do check the times on our website before visiting.
You should still be tested even if you have had one or both doses of the COVID-19 vaccination.
Have symptoms?
Of course, it also remains vitally important to book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms. There is information on booking procedures, and opening hours for all our local testing locations on our website.
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Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines at an online event tomorrow (Tuesday 30 March).
Organised by the NHS in east London and partners including the British Islamic Medical Association, it will discuss and answer questions that have been raised by members of the Muslim community.
This will include questions such as: is the vaccine halal? Is the vaccine safe and effective? Will it affect fertility? And will having a vaccine during Ramadan break my fast?
Anyone can register to take part in this ‘Big Conversation’ event.
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NHS England has produced an animated video, aimed at anyone who has received their COVID-19 jab.
It explains why it remains important to follow current infection prevention guidelines after vaccination.
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 Havering Council’s helping residents to celebrate another cracking Easter – with a series of online events.
On Saturday 3 April, at noon, you can create your own rabbit ear headband. It's a fun alternative to an Easter bonnet.
Later that same day at 1pm, you can join a face painting tutorial. Beginners of all ages can learn how to face paint. Following the success of last year's Easter Bunny tutorial, this year you can learn how to paint a baby chick.
Other online events will run across the weekend.
The good weather this week means that Havering's parks will be busy.
Despite the relaxation in the lockdown rules from today, you should still follow social distancing guidelines when walking or jogging on pathways.
Even if you have had one or two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine you can still pass on coronavirus, or get ill yourself, as no vaccines are 100 per cent effective.
Please use bins for any masks, gloves or empty sanitiser bottles. Littering not only spoils the experience of our parks for others but is damaging to the environment and wildlife.
If you buy food or drink from any of the takeaway kiosks or cafes in our parks, please maintain social distancing while queueing, and walk away as soon as you have collected it.
COVID Marshals will be regularly patrolling our parks to make sure that coronavirus lockdown rules and park byelaws are followed.
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The new plaza outside Harold Wood station will need more work before it can be opened to the public.
This means that the plaza is not anticipated to open before the end of April.
Meanwhile the pedestrian ramp and the entrance from the car park to platform 4 is temporarily closed until 21 April.
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If you are a Self Assessment taxpayer, you have until midnight on Thursday (1 April) to pay any outstanding tax liabilities in full, or set up an online payment plan for the 2019 to 2020 financial year, to avoid a penalty.
Late payments incur a 5 per cent penalty charge.
You can pay online, via your bank, or by post. Alternatively, setting up a Time to Pay arrangement allows taxpayers to spread the cost of their Self Assessment tax bill into monthly instalments until January 2022.
Anyone worried about paying their tax and unable to set up a payment plan online should contact HM Revenue & Customs for help and support on 0300 200 3822.
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Havering Libraries' Book Club meets again on Wednesday 7 April from 7 to 8pm.
Join via Zoom to chat about new books, favourite books and the Book of the Month, which for April will be The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.
April's meeting will also discuss your favourite books read in childhood.
Email to book your place.
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Sunday 21 March was Census Day.
If you haven't filled in your census online, or sent back a paper form if you requested one, please do that as soon as possible.
Census officers will be calling on homes that haven't completed it. If you are having difficulty, or have lost your access code, help is also available online.
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If you are a registered voter on Thursday 6 May, you can vote in London's elections for the Mayor of London and Members of the London Assembly.
The deadline for receiving applications to register to vote is midnight on Monday 19 April.
The deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes, is 5pm on Tuesday 20 April.
In this election you have three ballot papers:
If you haven't registered for a postal vote, you can vote in person. Polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm on 6 May.
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A student from Hornchurch has been selected from over 200 auditionees across the country to join the UK’s flagship National Youth Dance Company of England (NYDC).
Kian Crowley, studies Performing and Production Arts at New City College’s Ardleigh Green campus in Hornchurch.
Kian was one of just eight male and 13 female dancers chosen to join NYDC and work with Guest Artistic Director Alesandra Seutin.
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Havering Council is holding its Easter 2021 Para Music Session online.
This Special Educational Needs and Disability session will be delivered by Havering Music School on 14 April.
It will offer musical and creative experiences in a relaxed group setting. No prior musical knowledge or equipment is required.
The session includes a variety of activities supporting musical expression, body awareness and movement and allows everyone to take part at their own pace.
A carer, parent, or guardian must be present throughout the session.
The session is free, but you must register for a place by Tuesday 13 April. To register or for further information call 01708 434135 or send an a email.
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