 This is my last opportunity to talk to you before the local election process begins tomorrow (Thursday). Therefore, I would like to look back at some of the highlights from my administration at Havering Council.
We made sure to focus on the things that matter most to residents. This has included: clean streets, road and pavement repairs, rubbish collections, public safety, homes, leisure facilities and good schools.
I am deeply proud to have brought forward one of the largest ever highways investment programmes. We are spending around £45m to upgrade our local network. So far we have repaired and replaced over 100 miles of roads and pavements.
We invested in six police officers for Havering. They have made over 200 arrests, making them one of the most effective council-funded police teams in London.
We increased road sweeping and street cleaning and thanks to our investment in our green spaces, we are lucky to now have a record 16 Green Flag parks.
In response to climate change we set an ambitious target for the Council to reach carbon neutral by 2040. We are also working to achieve this for the whole borough.
Unlike many other councils, we continue to invest in our leisure facilities. We have opened two leisure centres in Romford and Hornchurch, with a third set to open next year in Rainham.
The ‘topping out’ ceremony that was held earlier this week at the former Napier and New Plymouth House site in Rainham was just the latest milestone in Havering Council's joint venture partnership with Wates Residential to regenerate 12 council estates across the borough. This video provides an update on progress.
We have put young people at the core of what we do: increasing our Ofsted ranking from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’. We invested in schools, have offered 60,000 free swim classes, and continue to provide free school meals during holiday times despite national funding ending.
During the coronavirus pandemic, we also launched the £1.5m Havering Helps emergency support fund. In the year to date we have given almost £1m which has helped more than 700 residents pay for utility bills, food or furniture and white goods.
In some of our darkest days we have seen the best from our Council and from our borough. We will always be there to support our most vulnerable residents while ensuring we continue to maintain and invest in the services that matter most.
Lastly, if you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
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Havering Council has officially opened a new memorial woodland to recognise those lost to COVID-19.
At a ceremony today (23 March), the Mayor of Havering, Cllr John Mylod joined representatives of the Council, borough, voluntary sector and families who lost loved ones to open the COVID-19 Memorial Woodland at Hornchurch Country Park.
The opening ceremony coincided with the National Day of Remembrance, marking the second anniversary of the UK lockdown.
The Memorial Woodland, consisting of over 4,000 trees, is a living testament to those who have lost their lives, family or loved ones.
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This week (21- 27 March) is Debt Awareness Week 2022.
It aims to help people open up about the worries they face and get the help they need and is organised by Step Change, the debt charity.
These are challenging and difficult times for many families and households.
Some people face uncertainty and hardship alone but help and advice is available. If you are experiencing difficulties or worried about your finances, Havering Council and other organisations can help.
Havering Council's Havering Helps is an emergency assistance scheme run with the help of local charity DABD. Havering Helps can provide financial support with clothes, goods, bills and food.
If you are on a low income and having problems paying your Council Tax, you can apply for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
Step Change also has helpful advice if you, or someone you know, owes money to a loan shark, or illegal lender.
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Havering Council has appointed Mears as its new repairs and maintenance contractor, servicing the borough's 12,000 council homes.
The new 10-year contract, which begins from Friday 1 April, will see Mears carry out all repairs work across the borough’s social housing estates, providing quick and effective repairs for council tenants.
They will also be carrying out work on empty properties, getting them ready to let to new tenants.
The new contract will reflect changes in work and childcare patterns to provide extended, more flexible hours. From April, repairs will take place between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.
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More electric vehicles charging points will be installed in Havering.
About 150 more charging points will be installed in Council car parks and on the borough's streets.
This green boost is the result of a successful funding award of £346k from the Office for Zero Emissions (OZEV).
The funding secures 68 new charge points for Council car parks, designed to help households that don’t currently have the option to charge their car at home.
On-street charge points would be integrated into lamppost columns, ensuring residents can charge vehicles conveniently.
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The Green Flags that Havering Council successfully retained last year, are now flying across 16 of the borough’s parks, including Bedfords Park (pictured).
Due to COVID-19 restrictions last year, it was not possible for Council staff, friends of parks groups and volunteers to get together to raise the flags.
A Green Flag Award means the parks boast the highest possible standards, are well maintained and have excellent facilities. The recognition is awarded by environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy.
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A new viewing platform has been unveiled today (Wednesday) at Harrow Lodge Park, in Hornchurch (pictured).
When it is open to the public it will give park users the chance to take in a magnificent view over the western lake.
Construction of the platform is part of a programme of work which has now begun to improve the condition of the lakes and help enhance the wildlife habitat.
That work, by environment specialists Ebsford Environmental, will include the dredging of over 30,000 tonnes of sediment from the lake which will be re-used to help create a bankside habitat for wildlife with aquatic plants and wildflowers.
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Entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den winner Levi Roots has put some spicy reggae flavours on Havering school menus.
In his first visit to a school since teaming up with Green Gourmet to introduce some exciting fusion flavours to school menus, Levi Roots, met students from Brittons Academy in Rainham to find out how his latest recipes were going down.
Pupils sampled his signature flavours, which have been added to Havering secondary schools menus.
These include Levi Roots Jerk Chicken Fillet, and Levi Roots West Indian chicken fillet. Pupils gave Levi, famous for his Reggae Reggae sauces, the thumbs up.
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On Havering Council's website you can see details of any applications to change a Premises Licence.
There are currently three applications open for consultation.
These applications range from the SmartHub Logistics Unit 6 on the Segro Industrial Park, Consul Avenue in Rainham, to the Orange Tree pub in Havering-atte-Bower.
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During COVID restrictions in September 2020, 12 year-old local girl Ruby Price (pictured) created a blog called ‘Ruby’s Rocking Adventures’.
So far she has written over thirty blogs that inform residents in Havering about what you can do locally to keep fit and active.
She has also recently developed ‘Ruby’s Rocking Reviews’ where she shares her experiences visiting sporting venues in and around Havering. She hopes to inspire other children in the community to become more active and also have fun.
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 You can join a talk about one of the most famous courts in the world at Havering Museum, 19-21 High Street, Romford, this Saturday (26 March) from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
This talk covers the history, secrets and chilling trials of the Old Bailey. You can book your place online. It costs £5 to attend and refreshments are included.
Harold Hill Knit and Natter meet every Thursday from 10am to 12 noon at Harold Hill Library in Farnham Road. Bring your knitting, crochet or other crafts and join the chat. Everyone, from beginners to those with experience, is welcome.
Havering Chamber of Commerce and Industry's networking breakfast will be hosted this month at Pinney Talfourd's Upminster Branch. It's on Wednesday 30 March from 8am to 9:30am.
It's free for members, £5 for guests, payable on the door. Reserve a place online. To sign up for the Chamber newsletter, or get more information about what the Havering Chamber can offer your business, send an email.
"Fabulous, fun and filthy" is how the Brookside Theatre in Romford describes its first adult pantomime Sinders.
Featuring a score of well-known songs including Walking On Sunshine, You’ve Got A Friend in Me, and Diamonds are Forever, fabulous costumes and more innuendo than you ever thought possible, this naughty twist on the classic ‘rags to riches’ tale, is for adult boys and girls only.
The show opens on Wednesday 30 March and runs until Saturday 2 April. For tickets telephone the theatre on 01708 755775 or book online.
South Hornchurch library is holding an Easter craft session on Friday 8 April between 2pm and 3pm. Easter decorations will be made. The event is suitable for all children aged three and over, and all materials will be provided. The cost is just £2.50
The Arts Society Havering meets again at 10.15am on Tuesday 12 April at New Windmill Hall, in Upminster. The subject will be William Kent, architect and garden designer.
William Kent trained as an artist before spending ten years in Italy, where he studied painting, classical buildings and Italian gardens. He painted ceilings for Chiswick House and his gardens at Rousham (Oxfordshire) and Stowe
(Buckinghamshire) are the finest surviving examples of the new landscape garden.
The talk will be given by Caroline Knight, an architectural historian. Visitors pay £8. More details on the Society's website.
A keep fit music and dance session for those over 50 years old will be held on Wednesday afternoons at St. Laurence Church Hall, Corbets Tey Road, Upminster, starting on 20 April. It's from 2pm to 3.30pm and the first class is free. Everyone is encouraged to work to their own ability and needs.
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Registered charity, Mind in Havering, Barking and Dagenham, that works with Havering Council to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing, is recruiting.
It is looking for positive team members who have the skills, empathy and experience to support adults and young people with mental health problems in both boroughs.
Specifically it is looking to recruit a Wellbeing and Peer Support Project Worker, and a Prevention Service Project Worker.
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Cadent Gas will be carrying out gas main replacement work in Ardleigh Green Road until 28 March, and also in Butts Green Road until 27 March.
Resurfacing and drainage work in Tomkyns Lane, Upminster is expected to be completed by 4 April.
Pothole repair work means that temporary traffic lights will be in use in Aveley Road, Upminster near the junction with Bramble Lane from 24 to 28 March. Similar work will be carried out in Warley Road, Upminster from 25 to 28 March.
Resurfacing work by the Council's contractor Marlborough Highways in Kenilworth Gardens, Hornchurch should be complete by 28 March.
Ardleigh Green Road will be resurfaced between its junctions with Slewins Lane and Nelmes Way, Hornchurch, from 28 March until 5 April, and Pretoria Road, Romford from 28 March to 29 March.
Temporary traffic lights will be in use on Monday 28 March at the junction of Mungo Park Road and Freeborne Gardens in Rainham. This is to allow for the replacement of a BT telegraph pole.
Water main repair work by Essex and Suffolk Water will be taking place in Hacton Lane, Upminster at its junction with Berwick Pond Road and Park Farm Road from 29 to 31 March.
Temporary traffic signals will be in use overnight from 11.30pm on Friday 1 April until 5.30am on 2 April in Ockendon Road, Upminster, during inspection work.
Lastly, road resurfacing work will be carried out in Melville Road, Rainham, beginning on 5 April. That work should be completed by 8 April.
On the tracks
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This Saturday and Sunday (26 and 27 March) there will be no TfL Rail service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will operate.
This weekend there will also be no London Overground train service between Romford and Upminster. Use local bus routes 165 (Romford-Emerson Park), 248 (Romford-Upminster) and 370 (Romford-Emerson Park-Upminster).
Due to Network Rail's overhead line work between Barking and Grays, c2c trains on the Rainham line will not be running this weekend (26 and 27 March). Rail Replacement buses will run between Upminster and Grays via Rainham.
Also, due to overhead line work between Grays and Pitsea, c2c trains on the Ockendon line will start and terminate at Grays this Sunday (27 March). Rail Replacement buses will run between Grays and Pitsea via Tilbury.
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