Tuesday 6 July 2021
 After yesterday's announcements by the Prime Minister and Health Secretary we can look forward to 19 July with confidence that most elements of our lives will soon begin to return to normal.
Until then we must continue to follow the Government's "hands, face, space, and fresh air" guidance and, of course, we must wait until next Monday (12 July) for formal confirmation that Step 4 on the Government's roadmap out of coronavirus restrictions will be reached on 19 July.
As the Prime Minister said, this pandemic is far from over. The continuing spread of the Delta variant, as our latest weekly COVID-19 report shows, just underscores how important it is that we use any new freedoms we will have later this month responsibly.
Please be considerate of those who want to continue to take precautions against catching or spreading COVID-19 by wearing a face covering or requesting social distancing.
One of the best ways of helping us all stay safe is by getting fully vaccinated against coronavirus and encouraging those who haven't had a jab yet to do so. It's so easy to do that now. This week there are many opportunties to visit a walk-in, no appointment, vaccine centre in Havering. See below for all the details.
As restrictions ease, many of us will have the chance to get out more which is why we have launched our Havering's Hidden Gems campaign this week.
There are so many wonderful green spaces, (like Bedfords Park with its superb view of London, pictured), places of historical interest, and businesses and community groups doing Havering proud. Over the next two months we hope to shine a spotlight on a few of them.
If you are at a loose end now, or over the school summer holidays, and looking for something to see on your doorstep check out our gems. You can read more about the campaign below.
Lastly, 'good luck' tomorrow night to England in their most important football match since the last World Cup. Come on England!
If you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
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Over the next two months Havering Council will be sharing photos, videos and clips of your favourite areas in the borough, highlighting the lesser known places, people or activities unique to Havering that only the locals know about.
Havering’s Hidden Gems is a campaign to highlight everything that makes our borough special and unique, from our parks, green spaces and wildlife to our history, local businesses and community champions.
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The Council is partnering with parenting community Mum’s Guide to Romford and sharing some of their content around the best parks and things to do for parents and families in the borough.
Peter Stremes, the Editor of Living in Havering writes:
I've recorded a short video showing what I think is one of Havering's "Green Gems".
If you would like your photos or videos to be a part of this campaign, please email your submissions to the Communications Team with "Hidden Gems” as the subject line.
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Havering Council's Cabinet (pictured in pre-pandemic times) meets again tomorrow night (Wednesday 7 July).
You can follow the meeting live online from 7.30pm.
The meeting agenda can be viewed on the Council's website.
Items for discussion include:
- a report by Councillors on Havering Councils's response to the pandemic
- a proposal to increase allowances and benefits for Havering Council foster carers. This includes giving foster carers Council Tax Relief, free access to the borough’s leisure centres plus free green bin collections and parking in resident bays and Havering Council's car parks
- holding a 10 week public consultation this autumn on a new draft Street
Trading Policy. This would cover, for example, street trading pitches, tables and chairs on pavements, shop front displays and advertising boards
- a proposal to hold a public consultation on a new strategy for the East London Waste Authority.
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The Government has announced that from 2030, new petrol and diesel cars will be prohibited from sale within the United Kingdom.
Over the next decade, the number of electric vehicles within the country and in Havering is expected to significantly increase.
In order to meet this challenge, the Council is considering the options available and wants to know your views on where electric vehicle charging points could be located.
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Havering Council is urging Highways England to rethink a U-turn that would mean the scrapping of a local resident discount for Havering residents for the future Lower Thames Crossing.
Highways England had previously promised the Council that Havering residents would qualify for a reduction on the toll charge for the new crossing in the same way as residents in Thurrock and Gravesham.
However, Highways England went back on their word last year which has since resulted in Havering Council officially pulling its support for the project.
Residents can back the council’s campaign by signing the petition for a local Havering discount.
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 Getting vaccinated is one of the key ways to get things back to normal and will protect you, your friends and your family from COVID-19.
Read more about vaccines.
If you are aged 18 or over you can book appointments at a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy now, or use one of the walk-in centres shown above where no appointment is required.
If you book online, you'll need to book appointments for both doses.
If you have had your first dose through your GP surgery, you'll be contacted when it's time for your second dose.
 Every week Havering Council publishes a report on coronavirus in the borough on its website.
It includes data on infection rates and testing, as well as the vaccine roll-out. It also compares the success of that programme in Havering with other parts of London and the rest of the country.
The graph above is taken from the report. It shows the number of Havering residents testing positive for coronavirus each week since 6 March last year.
There were 374 cases reported in the last week,167 more than the previous week.
This corresponds to an incidence rate on 2 July of 144 new cases per 100,000 population. This is lower than the London (194/100,000) and the whole of England (246/100,000) figures. Unfortunately the incidence rate in Havering has increased by more than 600 per cent since the beginning of June.
Sadly, a total of 924 people in Havering have died with COVID-19 but no new deaths have been reported in the week ending 25 June.
Vaccines
The latest data shows that by 27 June nearly 75 per cent of all adults in Havering have had at least one dose of the vaccine.
More than 54 per cent of all adults in Havering have now received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Hospitals
As of 5 July there were 15 inpatients admitted due to COVID-19 to our local hospitals.
The trust that runs those hospitals, BHRUT, also publishes weekly data on the number of patients it is treating.
As we edge nearer to 19 July and Step 4 on the Government's roadmap out of coronavirus lockdown restrictions, please remember that we need to continue to take precautions.
COVID-19 is still with us, and infection rates have increased in recent weeks in Havering as our weekly COVID-19 report shows.
To help make sure you're not passing on COVID-19 without knowing, regular, twice-weekly rapid testing for people without symptoms is available for everyone in Havering.
You should still use testing even if you have had one or both doses of the COVID-19 vaccination.
You can order a test kit online or pick one up from many places in Havering.
Have symptoms?
It remains vitally important to book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
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A specialist metals recycling scheme has enabled staff at South Essex Crematorium to recently present a cheque for £10,000 to Havering Rail Pastors.
They patrol Romford Station in a bid to reach out to people in moments of crisis.
The Mayor of Havering, Cllr. John Mylod presented the cheque to Gary Seithel, Chairman of the Trustees of Havering Street Pastors, an award winning charity whose volunteers have been patrolling Romford and Hornchurch town centres for many years.
Rail Pastors is an initiative of the Ascension Trust, working in partnership with the British Transport Police, train operators, Network Rail and the Samaritans.
Havering is one of nine areas in the UK to benefit from the initiative since the first rail pastor group was set up in Barnet – saving three lives in its first year.
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 Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch have announced today that they will be streaming their new epic play that tells the story of five lives colliding on a single day along the banks of the river Thames, free to view.
The online premiere will take place on Monday 12 July at 7.30pm and will then be available for one week on the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch YouTube channel and via their website.
Tales from the Thames begins as the sun rises over the river, and when everything comes to life.
The soundtrack of the Estuary is heard, from the dawn chorus of birds to engines starting, front doors closing and metal containers being loaded onto waiting ships; across South Essex journeys are about to be made. But today is different...
Michael Bennett from Romford, created the sound design, and Josh Mead, from Upminster, designed the lighting for the show.
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Designers Brennan and Burch have launched The Thing about Artists, a book celebrating 48 urban artists from Essex and London.
It’s a mash-up of styles including graffiti, pop art, illustration and photography to grab your imagination.
Examples of the artists’ works will be in all Havering libraries until Friday 9 July and copies of the book are available to loan.
Havering Libraries is also hosting a free Zoom event with Brennan and Burch on Wednesday 21 July from 6 - 7.30pm.
Email to book your place.
If you belong to a charity or voluntary organisation and would like to promote your forthcoming event in Havering in this email bulletin, free of charge, just email us brief details and (ideally) an image.
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 Are you a parent or carer living in Havering with a child or children under the age of five?
If that's you, please take part in the School Readiness Survey.
The last year has been tough and this is an opportunity to help the Council understand the impact of the pandemic, as well as some of the general challenges around ensuring children are ready to start school.
The survey should take no more than ten minutes to complete. It's open until 16 July.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding tax credits customers that they have less than four weeks left to renew their tax credits claims ahead of the 31 July deadline.
Annual tax credits review packs were posted to customers between late April and early June.
Customers will have either received an ‘auto-renewal’ reminder or a ‘reply required’ notice.
All ‘reply required’ customers must renew their claims or contact HMRC to notify them of any change in circumstances ahead of the deadline to continue receiving tax credits payments.
Claims can be renewed online.
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Liverpool Street Elizabeth line station has been officially transferred to London Underground from the construction contractors.
This will imediately benefit customers using Moorgate station because part of the work undertaken by Crossrail included the refurbishment of that station's entrance area.
Step-free access to the London Underground’s Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith and City lines has been provided with new lifts serving the eastbound and westbound platforms.
The new Elizabeth line stations are of such a scale, due to the new trains that are more than 200 metres in length, that many will have more than one station entrance. Customers at Liverpool Street will be able to use Moorgate, as well as the new entrance at Broadgate, to access Elizabeth line services.
TfL say that the rest of the new Liverpool Street Elizabeth line station will open with the start of cross-London Elizabeth line services in the first half of 2022.
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