Tuesday 5 October 2021
 In 2019 residents told us that improvements to roads and pavements in our borough should be a priority for the Council.
As a result we committed to spend £10 million a year over the following four years to get that job done.
The aim was to make it easier for residents to get around, see the pavements outside of their homes looking smart and safe to walk on, and helping improve the look of our borough.
Since then we have repaired or improved 49 miles of local roads and nearly 30 miles of pavements.
Together with our partners, we are also continuing to repair, replace and maintain lamp posts and street lighting, work on dropped kerbs and grass verges, and fix hundreds of potholes every month.
There is still work to do, but the programme is continuing to provide residents with better roads and pavements.
Sadly, as our weekly COVID-19 report shows, we haven't beaten the virus yet.
Three more people in our borough have lost their lives, and infections last week were up on the previous week.
Please do continue to take precautions like regular hand washing, wearing a face covering if you are with people you don't know in crowded spaces, and get tested regularly. You can read more on how to do that below.
Lastly, if you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
Havering Council is proud to celebrate Black History Month with a range of events and activities planned throughout October.
Black History Month is an annual celebration of the history, achievements and contributions of Black people in the UK. It officially commenced in Havering last Friday (1 October) at a flag raising ceremony at the Town Hall.
That ceremony was attended by The Mayor, Cllr John Mylod, Andrew Blake-Herbert, Chief Executive of Havering Council, and representatives from the Council’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E) staff forum.
There, a unique flag designed by forum member Marilyn Howell was unveiled to commemorate the start of celebrations.
See later in this newsletter for details of some of the Black History Month events in Havering that you can join.
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Rainham now reigns as the centre of the renewable heating revolution after the launch of a brand new, state-of-the-art, air source heat pump showroom.
The Daikin Sustainable Home Centre was launched by The Quantum Group, one of the UK's largest air source heat pump installation companies, together with heat pump manufacturer, Daikin – and it’s the first of its kind in Greater London.
The centre will also house a heat pump training centre to help the region’s plumbing and heating installers diversify into renewable heating and ensure the long-term competitiveness of their businesses, as fossil fuel boilers are phased out.
The opening was attended by Lord Callanan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (pictured cutting the ribbon), and Havering Council's Deputy Leader, Robert Benham (pictured second from right).
Havering Council supported this new venture with a discretionary business grant, and also through the Business Innovation Fund, which gives businesses the ability to adapt to new technology and ways of working.
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Havering Council will commemorate the impact of COVID-19 on our communities through the planting of over 1,000 trees at selected sites.
The series of local individual tree plantings in borough wards and at significant sites such as hospitals is in development, with an extensive Memorial Woodland of native trees set within Hornchurch Country Park.
Local communities and businesses are welcome to contribute to the memorial through the installation of dedicated memorial benches (like the one pictured) at the Hornchurch Country Park site.
To express an interest and to receive more information regarding memorial benches please email our Memorial Woodland team.
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Vulnerable households will soon be able to access financial help if they are struggling.
Last week the Government announced a new £500m Housing support fund for the country to help vulnerable households with essentials over the coming months.
The money will be available later this month through local councils.
As soon as Havering Council has details from the Government of who will be eligible, and how much money it will be receiving, you will be able to read about it in this newsletter, and on our website.
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 As part of Black History Month, Havering libraries have an event on National Poetry Day this Thursday, 7 October, with guest poet Tolu' A. Akinyemi.
It's a free event held online via Zoom and it starts at 6.30pm.
Tolu’ is a multi-award-winning author who writes poetry, short stories, children’s literature and essays.
There will be an opportunity to tell your experiences and your stories through poetry or bring along your favourite poems about Black experience and culture.
Everyone is welcome. Email to book your free place or see more information online.
There will also be a Community Cultural Celebration at Langtons Gardens organised by the Havering BME Forum.
The fun for all the family event will be on Saturday 23 October between 12 noon and 5pm in the Western Garden or Fielders Field.
You will be able to enjoy live music, dance, food, craft, plus children’s entertainment. Tickets will be sold on the day and are just £1 for adults. Children go free.
The NHS Stoptober campaign is designed to help you if you're ready to quit smoking.
You can use the NHS Quit Smoking app this Stoptober to help you quit smoking and start breathing easier.
Stoptober is a 28-day stop smoking challenge. The app allows you to track your progress, see how much you're saving, and get daily support.
The good news is, if you can make it to 28 days smoke-free, you're five times more likely to quit for good.
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 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 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 563 cases reported in the last week, 92 more than the previous week.
This corresponds to an incidence rate on 1 October of 217 new cases per 100,000 population. This is higher than the equivalent figure for the whole of London (190/100,000) but below the England average of 390/100,000.
The total number of those who have died in Havering with COVID-19 now stands at 942 after three more deaths were recorded in the week ending 24 September.
Vaccines
Over 79 per cent of all adults aged 18 or over in Havering have had at least one dose of the vaccine.
Nearly 75 per cent of the adult population in Havering have had their second dose of the vaccine which is higher than in East London (60 per cent) and London as a whole (62 per cent), and the same as the national average for England.
Hospitals
As of 1 October there were 48 inpatients admitted due to COVID-19 to our local hospitals, the same as the previous week.
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.
If you had your second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago, you'll be contacted about your booster jab if you are:
- Living in a residential care home for older adults
- Aged 50 or over
- A frontline health and social care worker ·
- Aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put you at higher risk of severe COVID-19
- An adult household contact of an immunosuppressed person or people.
Vaccines for 12–15-year-olds
Starting this week 12–15-year-olds in Havering will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine as part of a school-based vaccination programme. Parental consent will be sought and the programme is not yet available in all secondary schools.
Please don't contact your GP about this, your school will be in touch.
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COVID-19 infection rates are still high in Havering as our weekly COVID-19 report shows.
By taking a rapid test twice a week, you will help protect yourself and your colleagues as you’ll be coming into contact with more people throughout your day.
If you’re feeling unwell, make sure that you stay home and take a PCR test if you suspect you have COVID-19.
You can order a lateral flow test kit online or pick one up from many places in Havering.
Find your nearest testing site and collection point.
If you aren't sure how to do a rapid test at home, visit one of these centres first and be shown by the professionals. You can then take a test kit home with you to use in the following weeks.
Have symptoms?
It remains vitally important to book a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms.
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For nearly three decades the United Nations has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits - called COPs - which stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’. In that time climate change has become a global priority.
This year will be the 26th annual summit – giving it the name COP26. With the UK as President, COP26 takes place in Glasgow starting on 31 October.
Havering Council is committed to tackling climate change and plans to be Net Carbon Neutral no later than 2040.
To meet this target it is currently reviewing everything it does and will publish a climate action plan in November on how it will achieve that target and also meet the Government’s commitment to the UK being net carbon neutral by 2050. The plan will also set out what it is already doing.
To gain opinions from as many young people as possible, Havering Council is running a survey that will be open until the end of COP26 summit on 12 November.
If you're under 30 please take part in the survey, or encourage anyone you know who is, and lives in Havering, to share their thoughts.
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Havering Council's Autumn Blitz of deep-cleaning activities across the whole borough, as part of its COVID recovery plans continues.
The campaign focuses on sprucing up Havering's streets. This includes street cleaning, weeding, grass cutting, litter picking, enforcement of environmental issues, and graffiti removal.
In recent days crews have been focused in Harold Hill and later this week a number of pedestrian subways in the borough will be given a special deep clean targetting graffiti.
If you see fly-tips or other rubbish issues please report them using our website or the Love Havering app.
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Havering’s flagship community hub at Harold Hill will be celebrating helping over 1,000 people at its open day on Thursday 14 October.
The doors will be open from 1pm for residents to come and meet the team.
Pop along and you can enjoy a range of activities including applying for local jobs, talking to experts about a career in construction or social care, and getting your weekly essentials from the Community Food Shop where you can receive £15 worth of shopping for only £5 with the first 15 new members getting their shopping free!
The community hub is part of the new way the Council are delivering localised services, in partnership with the voluntary community sector, making it easier for Havering residents to get support when it's needed.
The Hub is temporarily based in the old Housing Office at Chippenham Road, until the Harold Hill Library location is ready.
Another hub in Rainham
You can also get support every week at the Rainham Pop-up Hub.
It's available on Wednesdays between 10am and 12.30pm at Rainham Library.
The Hub can provide you with advice and support on Council housing issues, including repairs that need resolving, paying household bills and managing debt, supporting a child who has additional needs, or improving your health and wellbeing.
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 Havering Music Makers are back with their first post-COVID show, `Let’s Go On With The Show’. It's an original comedy review show telling the story of a group of actors rehearsing for a show after lockdown.
It features a wealth of songs from smash-hit West End shows such as Hamilton, Come From Away, Hairspray, Six, Mamma Mia and Singin’ in the Rain.
The show will be at Tweed Way Hall, Tweed Way, Rise Park, RM1 4AZ. Show dates are Friday 8 and Saturday 9 October at 7.30pm, and a Sunday 10 October matinee at 2pm.
Refreshments will be available.
Tickets can be purchased from the Havering Music Makers' website or by calling 01708 520778.
A photographic group meets on the first Thursday of every month at 1.30pm at Havering Museum, 19-21 High Street, Romford.
This group is for people who love to take pictures, and gives an opportunity to learn from others. They also organise outings for day and night time photography and socials. It's just £5 to attend and you can book a place on the Museum's website
or phoning 01708 766571 (Wednesdays to Saturdays).
The October lecture for The Arts Society, Havering, will be held on Tuesday 12 October at 10am at New Windmill Hall, St Marys Lane, Upminster, RM14 2QH.
The subject will be the work of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. The talk will be given by Daniel Robbins and is open to members and guests. It's just £8 to attend. Find out more on the Arts Society's website.
WW1, The Story of Grey Towers: Injury, Recovery and Community is the title of a talk given by local historian Brian Evans at the Havering Museum, 19-21 High Street, Romford, on Saturday 23 October.
Brian will bring to life the stories of local people who supported Grey Towers, the hospital in Hornchurch for soldiers from New Zealand.
The talk begins at 1.30pm and runs until 3pm. Refreshments are included in the £5 charge. More information on the Museum's website.
Havering Singers' first post-COVID live performance is a selection of Choral Favourites including Mozart's Ave Verum, Handel's Zadok the Priest and Brahms'
How Lovely are thy Dwellings.
This concert, at St Peter's Church, Gubbins Lane, Harold Wood, RM3 0QA, on Saturday 6 November, is free of charge but ticketed to allow for safe COVID-19 measures. You can get tickets from their website or by calling 01708 341265.
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The Coopers Coborn School in St Mary's Lane, Upminster, are holding a fireworks display on Saturday 13 November. Gates open at 5.30pm with the display due to start at 6.30pm.
Limited free parking is available on site. There will be a barbecue and bar, plus live music throughout the evening.
The evening is a fundraising event on behalf of the Parents and Friends Association of The Coopers' Company & Coborn School, a registered charity.
Advance tickets are available online, or from the school office, at £5 for adults, £3 for children (under 16's), or £14 for a family ticket (2 adults and children) with under 3's free.
Havering Concert Orchestra are holding a Belated Happy Birthday Beethoven concert on Saturday 20 November at 7.30pm. The venue will be Frances Bardsley Academy, Brentwood Road, Romford RM1 2RR.
Tickets are £10 in advance. You can get more information on their website.
A free outdoor Christmas Fair will be held at Langtons Gardens in Hornchurch, on Sunday 21 November. If you are interested in having a free stall at the event use the online registration form.
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Havering Libraries are holding a competition to mark National Poetry Day on Thursday, 7 October.
You are invited to write a poem for the day on the theme of ‘Choice’
Put your name, age and library card number on your entry and drop it into a library or send it in by email.
The closing date is 13 November.
Winners will receive book prizes, and their poems will be displayed in all libraries.
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If you rent out property in England you must check that a tenant or lodger can legally rent your residential property.
Since 1 July this year. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens have had to evidence their rights in the UK, including their right to rent, either using their online immigration status (eVisa) or with a physical immigration document.
You can use the Home Office online checking service on GOV.UK to view the immigration status of existing and prospective tenants.
The service is free to use and enables checks to be carried out by video call. You do not need to check physical documents if you use the online checking service, as information about an individual’s right to rent is provided in real time directly from Home Office systems.
You could face a civil penalty if you rent your property to someone who does not have the right to rent, if you have not carried out a correct right to rent check.
You should not discriminate when conducting right to rent checks. See the code of practice for landlords for more information.
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Last year, in response to the transport challenges of the pandemic, temporary changes were made to the London Congestion Charge.
This included extending charging hours until 10pm each day and increasing the charge to £15.
Transport for London has been consulting on new proposals that include reducing the charging hours to between 7am and 6pm on weekdays, and to midday to 6pm at weekends.
Click to read about the full set of proposed changes, and if you wish to comment, do so before this consultation closes tomorrow (Wednesday 6 October).
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