Tuesday 20 July 2021
 Now that we are free from most legal restrictions put in place to protect us from coronavirus, you may feel tempted to abandon all the precautions that have become part of our daily lives over the last 16 months.
I strongly urge you not to do that.
Despite a hugely successful vaccination programme, as COVID-19 infection rates rise rapidly, as shown in our local weekly COVID-19 report, it is essential that we continue to be careful and, I hope, also courteous.
Face coverings will still be required in many places including in Havering Council buildings, health premises, and on public transport, so please continue to keep one in your pocket - even if you are not wearing it all the time. Put one on if you are in a confined space, or can see that someone else is anxious about being close to unmasked people. Read more about this below.
In another article later in this newsletter you can read about a further consultation on Havering's Local Plan. It's a statutory requirement for us to have a Local Plan and it ensures that any development in Havering is shaped by local residents, businesses and organisations. It provides residents with certainty about the development strategy and future land uses within our borough.
This further consultation was requested by the Planning Inspector to take into account what are known as "Further Main Modifications" around parking and home-building.
Havering Council has consistently argued that the parking standards imposed on us by the Mayor of London are not appropriate for our borough.
Havering Council is actively working with Transport for London and the Government to ensure that residents have a choice of travel options to reduce the reliance on car ownership. Until improvements are made to public transport locally we understand that many residents will continue to rely on their cars.
I encourage you to take part in the consultation.
I also want to thank Colonel Markham Bryant who has stood down after 10 years of service as our Deputy Lieutenant.
I look forward to working with his successor, Nick Bracken OBE, (pictured). You can read more about him later in this newsletter.
Lastly, if you haven't already done so, please back our campaign to get Highways England to rethink their plan to scrap a local resident discount for Havering residents using the future Lower Thames Crossing.
See the news item below, and sign our petition for a local Havering discount.
If you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
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Havering Council has joined other public sector organisations and businesses calling on local people to continue to wear face coverings and to social distance when using its buildings.
Although wearing a mask is no longer the law, Havering Council would like people to help protect themselves, the staff and others by wearing one while in Council buildings and on public transport.
Social distancing will also still be encouraged to keep everyone safe.
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Havering Council has been asked by the Planning Inspector to hold a further consultation on Havering's Local Plan.
This is because the Inspector has proposed some changes known as "Further Main Modifications".
This follows examination hearings that took place in October 2018 and May 2019, and a consultation on what were known as the "Main Modifications" to the Local Plan carried out in September and October last year.
One of the ‘Further Main Modifications’ looks at parking provision in the borough. Havering Council has argued that the parking standards imposed by the Mayor of London are not appropriate for this part of London.
Residents can read the dialogue between the Council and the Planning Inspector on this issue, and more about the history of Havering's Local Plan and previous comments on the Local Plan examination page on our website.
You now have the chance to comment on these further changes in a consultation that is open until 26 August.
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Public Health England has extended its heat-health alert to Friday 23 July as the Met Office forecasts hot weather will continue for a few more days.
Havering can expect hot weather, with high temperatures also expected to persist overnight offering little respite throughout this period.
Please remember to stay hydrated, look out for vulnerable family and neighbours, including young children, and keep your pets cool.
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Highways England has now formally launched its consultation on the further work that has been done on the Lower Thames Crossing proposals since last October.
The new consultation will last until 8 September.
Havering Council is running a petition for a local Havering discount to apply to Havering residents as it does to residents of two other council areas directly affected by the project.
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Transport for London (TfL) is reminding customers that they will continue to be required to wear a face covering on TfL services for the duration of their journey unless they are exempt.
This covers London Underground, London Buses, London Trams, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail.
The exemptions that existed prior to 19 July remain unchanged. Customers not wearing a face covering may be refused entry or asked to leave the network.
Research carried out by YouGov shows that 68 per cent of people support the retention of face coverings on public transport at this point in the pandemic, and that face coverings play an important role in giving people confidence to use public transport.
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Public Health England’s infection prevention control guidelines and hospital visiting guidance will remain in place for all staff and visitors to hospitals, health clinics and GP surgeries.
Staff, patients and visitors will also be expected to continue to follow social distancing rules when visiting, as well as using face coverings, masks and other personal protection equipment.
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Wates Residential are recruiting.
As part of the terms of the joint venture Wates have agreed with Havering Council to redevelop 12 estates across the borough, a number of jobs will be reserved for local residents.
The roles Wates Residential are looking to fill include qualified plumbers, electricians, store person, labourers, administrative apprentices, electrical apprentices and a plumbing apprentice.
Think that could be you, or someone you know? To apply email a CV to recruitment@esgplc.com
The closing date for applications is 4 August.
If you need help with your CV writing skills, please visit the employment section of the Havering Community Hub where you can get help you to perfect your CV.
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 We have newsletter subscribers Trish, Jane and their neighbours to thank for today's Havering Hidden Gem.
They have chosen an alleyway that runs between Cambridge Avenue and Amery Gardens in Gidea Park (pictured).
The alley is full of carefully tended plants including some delightful roses and small conifers.
Perhaps there's an alleyway near your home that could look like this with some tender loving care?
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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 The COVID-19 Local Support Grant has been extended, which means Havering Council can continue to help eligible families with school meals for the summer holidays with £90 per child.
If you have received money via the scheme previously (for October, December 2020, February, April and May 2021 school holidays), you do not need to reapply. The money will be paid into your nominated bank account automatically by Monday 26 July.
If you haven’t previously applied, but need to, please check eligibility before completing the form.
Applications for new claims close at 5pm on Friday (23 July). Money for new approved claims will be paid into applicants' bank accounts on Thursday 29 July.
Residents and business owners in Harold Hill are being encouraged to share their views on proposed plans for Farnham and Hilldene shopping area.
The site is part of the 12 Estates housing project across Havering.
The joint venture partnership between Havering Council and national developer Wates Residential is working on the neighbouring Chippenham Road development, with Havering Council delivering the Farnham and Hilldene scheme directly.
A series of ‘meet the developer’ sessions are being held at the new Harold Hill Community Hub, Chippenham Road, later this month and in August, where you will be able to meet representatives from the Council and design consultants working on plans for the site.
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 If you haven't received your first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, or it's more than eight weeks since you had your first jab, you can use a walk-in centre where no appointment is required. Details above.
 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 972 cases reported in the last week, 405 more than the previous week.
This corresponds to an incidence rate on16 July of 375 new cases per 100,000 population. This is lower than the London (394/100,000) and the whole of England (497/100,000) figures. There has been a very large increase in the incidence rate in Havering since the beginning of June.
Sadly, a total of 925 people in Havering have now died with COVID-19.
Vaccines
The latest data shows that by 11 July 77 per cent of all adults in Havering have had at least one dose of the vaccine.
58 per cent of all adults in Havering have now received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Hospitals
As of 17 July there were 32 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.
The Government also provides daily COVID-19 data broken down by town or even postcode level. For example, you could check the data for the RM7 7EP part of Romford.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has completed its Electoral Review of Havering's ward arrangements.
There will be an increase of wards from 18 to 20, which results in changes to the current ward boundaries and the Polling Districts within them.
As a consequence, Havering Council has to conduct a review of polling districts and the location of polling places and stations for use at both national and local elections, in order to mirror the changes to the ward boundaries.
The outcome of that review will be reported to the Council to enable the Electoral Registration Officer to make any alterations necessary to the register of electors when it is next revised on 1 December.
You can now comment, by email, on the existing and proposed arrangements.
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At the end of this month Thames Chase are embarking on their first outdoor theatre event, bringing the Pantaloons performance of the family classic tale Wind in the Willows to Upminster.
The Essex-based Pantaloons Theatre Company will be putting their own anarchic spin on Kenneth Grahame’s classic countryside caper, suitable for the whole family.
The performance takes place at Thames Chase (RM14 3NS) on Friday 30 July at 6pm. The performance is outside, and will take place in nearly all weathers, so dress accordingly.
Ticket information is available online.
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Meanwhile, Romford's Brookside Theatre has announced that their Christmas show this year will be Elf - the Musical.
The all-singing, all-dancing musical version of the Will Ferrell movie, tells the story of Buddy The Elf, a human accidentally transported to the North Pole as a baby and raised there with the misbelief that he, like everyone around him except Santa and Mrs. Claus, is an elf.
Performances take place from 10 – 23 December and tickets are now on sale from the theatre's box office on 01708 755775 or online.
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After serving ten years as The Representative Deputy Lieutenant for The London Borough of Havering, Colonel Markham Bryant MBE (pictured) has reached the age of 75 and therefore has to stand down.
Colonel Bryant said that it had been a great honour to serve the people of Havering and that during his tenure he had been overwhelmed to have met so many people who volunteer to support local charities and other groups that care for disadvantaged people who are homeless and live on the streets.
He is replaced as the Deputy Lieutenant by Nick Bracken OBE.
Nick was born in West Ham and lived there until moving to Havering in 1993. He is a retired Police Officer having served 33 years in both the British Transport and Metropolitan Police services.
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Outstanding students who had shown tenacity, determination and compassion for others were honoured at New City College's end-of-year Campus Award Evenings.
Students, their families and college staff attended the celebrations to hear citations read out in honour of the winners, who had been nominated by their teachers.
A special award – The Jodie Chesney Award in memory of the Havering Sixth Form student who was tragically murdered in 2019 - was presented to Klaudija Lukosiunaite by Jodie’s aunt and uncle, Karen and Rob Chesney (pictured).
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The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) was established in 2010 as an independent Research & Technology Organisation with the objective of bridging the gap between the academic world and industry.
Called 'An Introduction to the MTC Manufacturing Support Services', their latest webinar for businesses will be taking place on Tuesday, 27 July at 10am.
The event will share information about the support available from the Manufacturing Technology Centre to help businesses address technical and strategic challenges.
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