 I am really pleased to be able to write in Living in Havering for the first time as the new Leader of Havering Council.
This is an historic moment for us as this is the first time that the Havering Residents Association, working in co-operation with the Labour Group, has led Havering Council.
I am proud that the public have given us this opportunity to take over from the last administration.
The next steps are for us to fully understand the challenges ahead and we will be reviewing how the Council works including the finances. It is clear that whatever people think, we know that we need to get the finances right as Havering Council gets less and less money from the Government.
However, what I can say will change is how we work with our residents to make sure we have an inclusive council.
We will not lose sight of where we started as a residents' association and we will look at ways where residents can be more involved in decision making or offering their views back on how we run services. This includes making sure ward councillors are picking up issues and feeding it back, rather than everything coming through me or a select few councillors.
On Monday evening we will announce the members of the Cabinet and the new committees at a reconvened annual council meeting - see more on this below.
We want to make decision making easier, so this will mean a more streamlined committee process – this will go to a vote on Monday.
It will also mean we have representation from both my group and the Labour Party in the Cabinet.
Lastly, I was delighted to attend the YMCA on Wednesday to see the one-stop shop set up to help refugees from Ukraine and their sponsors (pictured).
I am pleased that Havering Council is playing its part in supporting our friends from Ukraine.
You can read more about this important work later in this newsletter.
Have a great weekend.
Cllr Ray Morgon
Leader, Havering Council
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As a result of the Jubilee holiday period, there are changes to orange and black sack, garden waste, clinical and bulky waste collections this week.
Normal service resumes on Monday 13 June.
You can see details of revised collection days on our website.
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The reconvened Annual Council Meeting will be held on Monday 13 June at the Town Hall at 7.30pm.
You can read the agenda for the meeting on our website, and also watch proceedings from the comfort of your own home via our web broadcast.
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Tuesday 14 June marks the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower Fire in west London in which 72 residents died.
In tribute and memory, the Town Hall in Romford will be lit up in green on Monday and Tuesday.
Grenfell United, a campaign group made up of survivors and the bereaved, is holding the silent walk starting in Notting Hill on June 14.
Other events planned for June 14 include a service at Westminster Abbey at 11am, and a multi-faith event at the Grenfell Tower site at 4pm.
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Pride Month is celebrated every June.
The month features protests against anti-discrimination laws and the continuing oppression of LGBTQ+ people around the world, and also celebrates the LGBTQ+ community.
The Pride in London parade that rounds off the month of celebration will be held on Saturday 2 July. It has extra significance this year, as it is the 50th anniversary of the first UK Pride.
The Council is proud to be participating in the parade for the first ever time to promote acceptance and inclusivity in Havering.
- To mark Pride Month, Havering libraries has a special collection of Pride themed books for young adults on its eBooks site. These books are all available for library members.
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Havering marked the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a huge number of special events and street parties.
The four days of celebrations began on Thursday 2 June with a church service at St John the Evangelist in Havering-atte-Bower.
The service included readings from the Mayor, Cllr Trevor McKeever, and Nick Bracken OBE, Deputy Lieutenant of Havering, (pictured outside the church by Top-Pic Photography).
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Following the service, the Beacon Lighting ceremony took place on the village green.
The Dagenham Girl Pipers played ‘Diu Regnare’ and a bugler from the Royal British Legion Band and Corps of Drums Romford, played the specially written piece ‘Majesty’ after which the Mayor lit the beacon (pictured).
On Saturday (4 June) around four hundred people attended the Platinum Party in the place event in Romford's Market Place, sponsored by Romford BID.
They enjoyed free entertainment from the Romford Shakespeare company who performed an extract of The Tempest, Romford Guildonians who performed an extract from She Stoops to Conquer’.
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The Leader of Havering Council, Cllr Ray Morgon, the Mayor and Deputy Lieutenant also attended the event and saw the ‘Regal Robe’, a gown designed by New City College fashion students, on display (pictured).
There were several live performances on the stage throughout the day including, dance from Razzamataz Theatre School and Jam Dance Company, and performances from students of New City colleges.
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 There was also free children’s arts and crafts, face painting and stilt-walkers.
Across Havering dozens of streets were closed as local residents organised their own jubilee celebrations.
In Strathmore Gardens, Hornchurch, pictured here, the fun on Saturday began at midday with the national anthem and a toast to the Queen.
That was followed by traditional games for the children, a shared lunch, and a royal quiz.
Throughout the day residents marked the Queen's 70-year reign with hoopla, hopscotch, face painting, music and dancing.
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Havering Council and YMCA Thames Gateway Group have teamed up to open a new service offering vital support to help Ukrainian refugees to settle in to the borough.
The new one-stop shop – based at YMCA Romford, Rush Green Road - has brought together a number of different Council services and local partners to provide essential help to get Ukrainian guests in Havering set up for a new life in the UK.
On Wednesday, 8 June, the Leader of Havering Council, Cllr Ray Morgon, visited the one-stop shop for refugees from Ukraine to see for himself how help is being provided to Ukrainian refugees.
Each Wednesday between 10am and 4pm, arrivals from Ukraine and their sponsors, including family sponsors, can receive help in making Universal Credit applications, GP registrations, get assistance with food bank vouchers or just socialise with other families and volunteers in similar circumstances.
The assistance provided by the one-stop shop is for those on the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the Family Visa scheme, or any other visa scheme for Ukrainian nationals.
There is no need to make an appointment – visitors are encouraged to come along when best suits them. A translator will be on hand to offer extra help and there will also be food and drink available for those attending.
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 A special Jubilee citizenship ceremony took place at Langtons in Hornchurch on Tuesday (7 June).
The new Mayor of Havering, Cllr Trevor McKeever, attended along with the Deputy Lieutenant for Havering, Nick Bracken OBE, who represented the Queen.
It was a very proud moment for 22 citizens from around the world (pictured above), who took their oath of allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen in the historic building and celebrated afterwards with a traditional afternoon tea.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 hasn't gone away.
Vaccinations remain free and are available at vaccination centres and pharmacies for everyone over the age of five.
See the NHS website for more information on vaccinations.
Havering Council's Public Health team produce a monthly report that brings together data from various public sources to provide residents with a clear statement about the coronavirus pandemic in Havering and produce graphs like the one below.
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If you are a Council Tax band A to D household who does not pay Council Tax by direct debit, there is now a form that you can complete on Havering Council's website. This will enable you to apply for your energy rebate to be paid into your bank account or your Council Tax account.
The aim is that these households receive their payment within ten working days of their application.
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 The NELFT NHS Foundation Trust and partners are hosting a Men’s Health Day (as part of Men’s Health Awareness Week) on Monday 13 June from 10.30am to 2.30pm on the first floor of the Mercury Mall, Romford.
Information and advice stalls to be found under the escalator area will include Havering Samaritans, Change Grow Live, Mind, Havering Public Health, Age UK, and Talk 4 Health.
They will be promoting conversations around mental health and suicide, loneliness, wellbeing, and how to access or signpost someone to support.
Harold Hill Library in Farnham Road runs Wiggle and Giggle sessions for children aged from two to four years old on Tuesday afternoons between 2pm and 2.30pm during school term times.
During these sessions the children sing nursery rhymes and this has been proven to help children develop their language and pre-literacy skills. Using actions with songs also improves hand-eye co-ordination.
These sessions can also be of value for families who have English as a second language. For more information call 01708 434973.
Tickets are now available for this year's Langtons Summer Concert (pictured in 2018).
This popular event organised by Havering Council returns, after a two year break, on Sunday 19 June, for an afternoon of musical entertainment.
The event is sponsored by West and Coe Funeral Directors and supported by Mullis and Peake LLP Solicitors and Moore Kingston Smith.
Tickets are £6 on the day, (£4 in advance), and free for children under 10. Assistance dogs only permitted. Tickets can be booked online.
Havering Concert Orchestra's Summer Concert will be held on Saturday 2 July at Frances Bardsley Academy, Brentwood Road, Romford RM1 2RR.
It starts at 7.30pm and runs until 10pm.
Tickets in advance from the Orchestra's website are £10 (£5 for children or students). Tickets are £12 on the door.
The programme will include popular symphonies and songs performed by soprano Jennifer Tatnall.
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Havering Council’s Para Music session returns to Fairkytes Arts Centre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, during the Summer school holiday.
This session, for special educational needs and disabilities young people will be held on Tuesday 26 July between 1pm and 2pm and led by a team from Time Music therapy (pictured).
Parents, carers or guardians must stay throughout the session. You need to book in advance by phone on 01708 433860 or by sending an email.
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On Havering Council's website you can see details of any applications to change a Premises Licence.
You have a right to object to an application for a new premises licence or club premises certificate, or if an application is made to vary the licence or certificate.
There are currently three applications open for consultation.
These applications come from Turtle Bay Hospitality Limited at Unit 1 and 2 at The Brewery shopping centre in Romford; from Darjeeling Tandoori in Collier Row Road; and from RM5 Lounge on Clockhouse Lane.
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 Harold Hill Community Hub has moved to its new permanent location of Harold Hill Library (upstairs).
You will be able to enter The Hub from East Dene Drive. The opening times and support available will remain the same, including the Community Food Shop.
Havering Council and Havering Museum are hosting a Climate Change is Everyone's Business drop-in networking event on Tuesday 14 June between 11am and 3pm.
This free to attend event is for businesses in Havering to explore and exchange ideas for climate change action in the borough. The event will also include presentations, business stalls, and light refreshments.
The event is part of Havering Council's work to become carbon-neutral by 2040.
The venue for the drop-in is Havering Museum at 19-21 High Street, Romford.
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Havering Council's partner for the redevelopment of 12 estates across the borough, Wates Residential, is piloting a new eight to nine week traineeship for local residents aged 16 to 24.
The next course with 10 places available begins on 20 June, so applications are welcome now.
Wates will pay travel and meal costs, and will offer work experience for all participants, and interviews for entry level jobs or apprenticeships at the end of the programme.
For more information email Samantha or call 07783 829233.
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Improvement work on the lakes in Harrow Lodge Park (pictured) has continued in recent weeks.
Thanks to the help of volunteers, planting has been taking place along the banks of the lakes.
Low growing plant species have been used for the northern banks and taller species for the southern bank in order to provide unobstructed views of the new open water.
The variety of plants were selected for their value to wildlife and suitability to the differing planting areas. All of the plants will also be sown with native wildflower seed mixes.
In order for these new plants and seeds to take hold, survive and thrive after planting, some low level temporary fencing and nets have been installed to protect the plants from being eaten by birds. Once the plants have become established the netting will be removed. If the fencing becomes damaged, please report it.
Please continue to help to protect the waterways and wildlife on the lake by only feeding a very small amount of healthy food to the birds. This includes dry cereal, plain wheat grain, uncooked oats, nuts, seeds, or duck food.
Please do not throw loaves of bread into the lakes - this is too much food for the swans and ducks which means it then sinks to the bottom of the lake, creates sludge, and causes silt to build up.
Over £750,000 has been invested into the cleaning up of this waterway and, with your support, Havering Council can keep it healthy.
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A local man is among celebrities that have been chosen to run the Queen's Baton Relay.
The relay is part of the build-up to the Commonwealth Games that will be held in Birmingham in July.
Actor Nick Joseph, (pictured) known for his roles in Star Wars, Dr Who and Eastenders will be running with the baton on 8 July.
Nick lives in Harold Wood, along with his wife, Doris.
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 Talented athletes in Havering have been given the opportunity to gain much-needed support as part of a sports talent development programme.
Now in its sixth year, Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions scheme will provide more than one thousand up and coming athletes in the UK, including a number from Havering, with free access to more than two hundred leisure facilities across the country.
Athletes accepted onto the scheme in the area this year include British Ice Skating champion, Graham Newbery who performed at the opening of the Sapphire Ice and Leisure centre in Romford.
Alongside free access to Everyone Active centres, Sporting Champions will also get the chance to receive valuable mentoring and guidance from some of the UK’s most influential sports stars.
Everyone Active is the trading name for Sports Leisure Management, which operates leisure centres in Havering in partnership with Havering Council.
On behalf of Havering Council, Marlborough Highways is resurfacing Maple Avenue, Upminster, today (10 June), followed by Murfitt Way, Upminster, on Monday 13 June, The Grove, also in Upminster, from 14 to 17 June, and the completion of Melville Avenue in Rainham on 20 June.
The part of South Street, Romford, near the station, will also be resurfaced on the night of Monday, 20 June, and Grenfell Avenue, in Hornchurch will also have its resurfacing completed on 21 and 22 June.
Part of Marks Road in Romford, from Mildmay Road to Mawney Road, and part of Mildmay Road, Romford, (between Cherry Street and Marks Road), will be resurfaced on 23 and 24 June.
Lastly, the stretch of Corbets Tey Road in Upminster from the junction with St Mary's Lane to number 130, will be resurfaced with overnight work taking place from 27 June to 4 July.
Public transport
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Transport for London has made changes to bus route 497.
This follows a public consultation which ran last year.
The route has been extended from its previous terminus at Harold Hill (Gooshays Drive) to Dagnam Park Drive, serving an additional 14 bus stops.
Buses run every 30 minutes during the daytime Monday to Saturday, with an hourly service in the evenings. There is now no service on Sundays.
On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June, there will be no District line tube service between Tower Hill and West Ham. Replacement buses will operate.
Due to Network Rail undertaking overhead line work between Grays and Pitsea, c2c trains on the Ockendon line on Sunday (12 June) will start and terminate at Grays. Rail replacement buses will run instead of trains.
Also, due to overhead line work between Barking and Grays, c2c trains on the Rainham line will not be running on Sunday (12 June). Rail replacement buses will run between Upminster and Grays via Rainham.
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