 I am very pleased to announce that our Administration’s first budget, which will ensure we can continue to offer key services to the people of Havering, has been approved by Council earlier this week (Wednesday 1 March).
It is no secret that this is one of the toughest budgets this Council has ever had to face, as we find ourselves in the middle of a cost of living crisis and period of high inflation.
We have had to make decisions that will be unpopular with some, including reducing some services and raising Council Tax.
But we have done all we can to try and minimise the impact on residents by ensuring front-line services carry on with continued investment in the areas residents value the most.
This includes more funding for public safety, keeping our streets repaired, and the return of 30-minute free parking in Hornchurch and Upminster town centres. We have also reviewed our plans around cutting funding for Citizens Advice Havering and closing the Children’s Centre at Elm Park for another year.
You can read more about our full budget proposals online, and watch my video update on the Council's YouTube channel.
 The increase in Council Tax is clearly not good news for residents because other costs have gone up. But please remember, there is support available for those who need it either through our cost of living online hub or our Council Tax team.
We still have a long way to go, with a further £28.5 million to save over the next 4 years, and the cost to provide services predicted to keep going up.
However, I want to assure you we have plans in place to take on these challenges and do all we can to deliver the best services possible and make the borough the Havering you want to be part of.
We have also been working hard to find a solution to the Launders Lane situation, and you can read an update on this below.
Finally, you’ll be aware of the incidents that have taken place in the borough recently involving knife crime. Though it is too soon to know all of the details, we have been working with the police to assist their investigations, and want to reiterate that we condemn any such violence in Havering. You can read my full statement on knife crime on our website.
As always, if you have an issue and you need help, please feel free to email me or you ward Councillor.
Cllr Ray Morgon
Leader, Havering Council
An update on Launders Lane from Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council:
“The Launders Lane working group met again last week to assess where we were on the air quality monitoring plus all the other issues affecting this site.
“It is important to be clear that this is a complex issue around private land – which is not owned by the Council. The land has a long history of issues and has changed hands after a previous prosecution.
"The ideal solution would be for the landowner to solve this and we are engaging with them about the site and their plans for it...
|
Havering residents have responded in their thousands to nominate local businesses for this year’s Small Business Awards, as the first round closes.
The Council received over 4,200 nominations throughout the two-week nomination period, with more than 430 individual small businesses put forward for awards.
Now the top three finalists from each category that received the most nominations will go through to the final voting round, giving members of the public the chance to select their favourite finalist in each of the categories.
The finalists will be announced on Wednesday 8 March, when online voting goes live.
|
Advertisment
 Free support to quit smoking is now available from local pharmacies in Havering.
A 12-week support programme including up to six weeks of medication is available to help you quit.
Stopping smoking can:
For the list of local participating pharmacies visit the link below.
A record number of Havering pupils will be heading to secondary school this September.
On National Secondary Offer Day 2023 (1 March 2023) 3,236 pupils were offered places – over 100 more than last year.
It means nearly 79 percent of pupils have been given their first choice of school and more than 93 percent have been offered a place at one of their top three preferred schools.
|
If you’re an unpaid carer living in Havering, you’re being invited to take part in our survey to find out how we can continue to support you.
An unpaid carer can be someone from any background, who helps another person - usually a friend or relative - with their daily tasks and everyday life.
The results of the survey will help the Council and its local partners across health and social care to create a new All Age Carers Strategy and improve support for carers in Havering.
The survey will be open until 24 March.
|
The Met Office has issued a cold weather alert from Monday through to Wednesday next week. This includes the possibility of frost, snow and ice in the London area.
The Council's gritters and road maintenance crews are ready to respond to keep key routes clear if needed.
Residents worried about heating their homes should visit one of our Warm Spaces across the borough.
Check the Council's social media channels for local updates and service disruption.
|
 Havering Council is once again offering support to families through the Easter School Holiday Meal Scheme, which will open for application from Wednesday 8 March.
The scheme is part of the government’s Household Support Fund, and allows eligible families to apply for £30 per child to buy food to replace the meals their child would have received at school.
Families that have previously received money for their child or children from the scheme and are still eligible, do not need to apply again, and will automatically receive the money into their chosen account.
Parents and carers should check the claims criteria on the Council’s website as they may now be eligible to make a claim or are able to claim for an additional child.
Applications open at 9am on Wednesday 8 March and will close at 5pm on Wednesday 15 March.
Fly-tipping was cleared up at the Farringdon Avenue Flood Lagoon playing fields recently, as part of the Council’s participation in the Community Payback Scheme.
The scheme involves people carrying out community service as part of their rehabilitation from crime.
Supported by Council service teams, they will be returning to clear up graffiti, which has also blighted the area.
|
Knowing what to do and being prepared is a big help towards reducing the risk of flooding to homes and communities.
Our services work with residents and partners such as the Environment Agency, in looking to limit damage following flooding where prevention is just not possible.
There are also several ways in which residents and businesses can prepare themselves, such as:
- Finding out if you’re at risk
- Signing up for flood warnings
- Making a flood plan and kit
- Preparing inside and outside your home
- Seeing who is responsible for sewers, drains and water systems, so you can report issues to the relevant organisations
- Knowing what the main water routes are in Havering.
Become a Flood Warden
We’re also looking for residents to join our flood volunteer scheme.
Flood Wardens would be encouraged to check the flood storage and critical drainage areas in their local community and share any information by taking photos of what they think might be a risk.
To become a voluntary Flood Warden and find out more, please email the Emergency Planning Team.
|
Residents are reminded that we are currently upgrading our Planning casework system.
This means that, from today (Friday 3 March), some systems are unavailable for approximately six days.
During this time, the following systems will not be accessible:
- Planning applications
- Planning appeals
- Planning Enforcement
- Building Regulation applications
- Land Charges system
- Street Name and Numbering
All consultation periods on planning applications and appeals taking place during the downtime will be extended by seven days to compensate for this.
It is possible that services may resume earlier – please check the Council’s website for updates and further information.
|
 To submit events for possible inclusion in this section of the newsletter, please use the form on our website or send an email
The world premiere of Queen's Theatre Hornchurch's The Flood, by Vickie Donoghue, opens today (Friday 3 March).
Based on real-life events, this new production of an extraordinarily tender and timely play is about calling place home - and what that really means.
The Flood commemorates the 70th anniversary of the 1953 Canvey Island flood in which 58 people lost their lives. The Flood is playing until Saturday 18 March. Tickets from £12.50
Havering Antique Collectors Club is hosting Antique Artefacts Quiz on Friday 17 March from 7:30pm.
The quiz will feature a selection of special antique artefacts and members and guests will have to guess what they would have been used for.
The event takes place at Neighbourhood Centre, Gubbins Lane, Harold Wood. Tickets cost £5.
Havering Museum is hosting a special illustrated Talk on Upminster Windmill on Wednesday 15 March, from 1:50pm to 3:30pm.
The talk will discuss the history and recent renovations of the windmill, which should be reopening later this year. Entry costs £5, but is free for 'Friends of Havering Museum' members. Please book in advance at the Museum on High Street, Romford, or call 01708 766571 between 11am and 4pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays.
|
There’s another chance coming up to chat and share experiences around making Havering safer for women.
The second of three informal pop-in sessions led by the Council’s community safety team, is taking place on Tuesday 7 March, 10:30am to 12noon, at Rainham Library.
Head to Victory Hall, Harold Hill at 10am on Tuesdays for Beginner Line Dancing classes.
Starting from the basics, the class will add more steps and music genres as dancers develop their skills.
No partner or previous dance experience required. Classes begin on Tuesday 7 March and cost just £6.
Atte Bower Short Mat Bowls Club are looking for both experienced or new players to join them.
The group meets on Monday evenings at 7:15pm and Thursday mornings at 9:15am, at Bower Hall, Wellington Avenue, Havering-atte-Bower RM4 1QP.
The first session is free, and then just £3 per session plus an annual fee. You can find more information on their website, or by calling 01708 706833.
|
Best selling author Ben Aaronovitch will be visiting Hornchurch Library on Thursday 9 March from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
Ben will be discussing his latest book, Amongst Our Weapons, and talking about his writing career which delivered the fantastic science fiction series Rivers of London.
There will be a chance to buy the book and get it signed. The event is completely free, but please book in advance at any Havering Library to guarantee a place
Elm Park Baptist Church is holding a Table Top Sale on Saturday 11 March, at Elm Park Baptist Church from 10am to 2pm. There will be lots of bargains, refreshments and a chocolate tombola.
Final reminder that New City College is hosting open days tomorrow (Saturday 4 March) at its Ardleigh Green campus on Ardleigh Green Road, Hornchurch, Havering Sixth Form campus on Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, and Rainham Construction & Engineering campus in New Road, Rainham.
The sites will be open from 10am to 2pm for members of the public to look around facilities, talk to teachers and find out more information about courses. More information can be found on the website.
|
Fairview Avenue will be closed for gas mains works at its junction with Upminster Road North, from 8am today (Friday 3 March) to 5pm on Friday 10 March.
Essex Gardens will be closed at its junction with Wingletye Lane for carriageway repairs between 9:30am and 3pm on Wednesday 15 March.
Fen Lane remains closed for electrical cabling works between its junction with Ockendon Road and Scorers Football field until Friday 31 March.
Public transport
|
The c2c Rainham line will not run on Sunday 5 March due to overhead line works between Barking and Grays. A rail replacement service will be available between Upminster and Grays via Rainham and Purfleet.
Please check the c2c website for a full list of changes.
The TfL Elizabeth line will not run between Stratford and Shenfield on Saturday 4 or Sunday 5 March.
The TfL London Overground line will not run between Romford and Upminster on Saturday 4 or Sunday 5 March.
Due to engineering works, Greater Anglia services will not run from London Liverpool Street and Shenfield on Saturday 4 or Sunday 5 March.
Rail replacement services will be available. Check the Greater Anglia website for details.
|
|
