Friday 22 December 2023
 As we reach the end of another year, I'd like to thank every one of you for the support and dedication you've shown to your friends, neighbours and the wider community over the past 12 months.
It has been a difficult time for all of us. The rising cost of living has hit families and households hard this year, and continues to cause stress and worry to people across the borough.
As the holidays roll around, please keep an eye on your friends, neighbours and family members who may be struggling in silence - a helping hand or a warm gesture can make all the difference, and its up to all of us to stick together as a community.
Even the Council has been hit by the cost of living, rising social care costs and heavy inflation. Thank you to the thousands who took the time to read through our budget proposals for next year and shared your thoughts. We understand there are some very unpopular and difficult decisions to be made, and the truth is that sometimes the only choices you can make are hard ones, but you still have to make them.
We will now work on the final budget proposals to present to Full Council in the new year, and rest assured your feedback is being taken into account to help when making decisions.
All that remains is for me to wish you all peaceful and joyous holiday season, however you plan to celebrate, and hopefully a safe and prosperous New Year.
Merry Christmas,
Ray
 Council services will be closed certain days over the Christmas break. For more on service changes and opening times, visit the website.
During the times we are closed, if you have an emergency please call our out of hours team on 01708 433999.
Statement from the Leader of Havering Council, Cllr Ray Morgon, about the Government settlement.
“Once again the Government has short-changed local government in the recent finance settlement.
"Havering is on the brink of effectively declaring itself “bankrupt” by issuing what is known as a Section 114 notice because of the cost of social care, homelessness and inflation is greater than the money we receive.
"We have been warning the Government for some time about this, and despite these warnings, they have not helped us deal with this problem.
“Although we have seen a small rise in core spending power in the settlement, which includes increasing Council Tax to the maximum without a referendum, it is a mere drop in the ocean and goes nowhere near to meet the rapidly rising costs to carry out the services that we must provide by law.
"The rise was even less than what we were expecting..."
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 Rubbish and recycling collections will change over Christmas and New Year.
Collections will run as normal until and including today, (Friday 22 December) and then will be followed by the revised dates (see above). This also applies to clinical waste collections. Usual collection dates return from Monday 15 January 2024.
Recycle and reuse
Information has been included in the leaflet sent out to households in October, it can also be found below, on the Council website, social media platforms and on posters around the borough.
Glass is now part of your weekly collection and with many households hosting family and friends this Christmas and New Year, if you have extra bottles or other glass, please remember not to overfill your recycling bags.
With extra packaging also likely to be amongst your waste collections over the next few weeks, please follow the advice on folding any cardboard and place it alongside your black bag and orange recycling sacks. A reminder on what additional plastics you can now recycle can be found on the website.
You can also find tips on how to reduce food waste with Love Food Hate Waste - including how you can make many different meals for the family from all the leftover food this Christmas. There is also advice on how to recycle batteries.
Green and bulky waste
There is no bulky or garden waste collections from Monday 25 December, with those collections resuming from Monday 8 January 2024.
If you have a real Christmas tree, you can recycle this by booking with St Francis Hospice along with a donation. Alternatively, you can take it to Gerpins Lane tip or if you are a garden waste customer, cut it in half and put in your bin with the lid closed.
DIY and renovation waste
From Monday 1 January, if you have DIY waste to take to the tip in any vehicle, you must book with East London Waste Authority (ELWA) beforehand.
This is required for all vehicles bringing this type of waste to Gerpins Lane or other reuse and recycling sites.
Anyone using a van or trailer to bring commercial or restricted waste to the tip also need to book ahead of visiting, and can book up to 12 visits in a rolling 12-month period, with two of those visits allowing them to get rid of restricted waste.
For more information including booking, visit the website.
We have had a fantastic response to our first ever children and young person’s budget consultation, SHOUT About the Money.
To allow even more young residents the chance to have their say, we have extended the closing date to Monday 1 January 2024.
Please encourage your children to take 10 minutes this Christmas break to read our proposals and let us know their thoughts.
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As part of an ongoing programme of improvements to our online services, we will be updating My Havering to a new system in early January 2024.
If you’ve logged in before to access your Council Tax and Housing services, we will email you in early January with advice on how to create a new account and continue to access your details.
Keep an eye out for this email and make sure to sign up for the new My Havering portal when invited.
You will still be able to access all of your Council accounts and your customer record will automatically be transferred as long as you use the same email as your old My Havering account.
Look out for more information on the new My Havering system in Living in Havering next year.
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Havering Council’s trading standards team have taken a number of illegal skin lightening products off the borough’s streets.
The Council’s trading standards officers, along with enforcement and police officers, raided a Romford business recently, following an investigation which included several test purchase visits.
They seized 1,400 skin lightening items which included soaps, serums, creams, and lotions. All of these products are non-compliant with UK regulations or are illegal to sell within the UK.
The estimated retail value of the products is around £21,000.
Some of the products are known to be unsafe and contain banned ingredients such as mercury, hydroquinone, and corticosteroids, all of which are known to have extremely harmful side effects.
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Families living at Royal Jubilee Court in Romford have been getting into the festive spirit.
A children’s party was thrown by Havering’s Housing Services earlier this week to ensure families living in the temporary accommodation could enjoy the Christmas season.
They took part in arts and crafts, such as colouring, creating tree decorations and having their faces painted – as well enjoying lunch and a visit from Santa.
The festivities took place in a newly opened lounge, which will provide residents with a place to relax and enjoy a number of activities during their stay.
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Havering Council’s Cabinet last week agreed to appoint Bugler Development Limited to undertake the construction for the new Family Welcome Centre and Health Centre in Harold Hill.
Under the plans, the welcome centre will consist of 74 self-contained dwellings in a variety of sizes, with the largest size accommodating up to eight family members. The new Family Welcome Centre will replace the borough’s existing hostels.
Construction of the medical centre is from existing budgets and therefore the scheme is unaffected by the Council’s current financial position.
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Money is often given by generous people to those found begging in Havering’s streets and town centres, with many believing they are helping those they are giving the money to.
However, residents and shoppers have been urged to be aware that not everyone begging on the streets is homeless or in need.
Some people that are begging, who are known to Havering Council officers and police, travel into Romford and other town centres with sleeping bags and old clothes to appear homeless when they actually have accommodation or have been offered a placement.
Begging can put people at serious risk of exploitation, the money given to them is found to be mainly spent on alcohol, illegal drugs and other substances.
This can then lead to issues to drug addiction habits, selling of drugs to others, alcohol abuse, anti-social behaviour and violence in public places, which can put themselves and the public at risk.
It leads them away from having contact with Council services and others who could actually help them more.
There are other ways in which to help those who find themselves on the street and are in genuine need. You can give to charities including Crisis or Salvation Army, that help rough sleepers across the country.
If you see someone sleeping rough in the borough’s streets, you can report this via SWEP system, which will alert Council officers to those needing help.
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Rainham Village Primary School Choir stopped by their local Rainham Library on Thursday 14 December to perform Christmas carols.
Festivities included hot drinks and mince pies to accompany the carol singing for the visitors in attendance.
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Havering Council and Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering have now officially recruited 500 Health Champions.
The Health Champions help others by signposting to support services within their communities, and help people adopt healthier lifestyles.
Anyone in Havering who is over the age of 18 can become a Health Champion, and will receive training through Age UK as part of the My Health Matters community project.
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Think smart and protect your home this Christmas.
Burglars are often opportunistic thieves and seek out any opening that they can take advantage of, specifically doors and windows that are left open or unlocked, or are easy to force.
Here's some advice on what to look out for and to help you protect your home:
- Burglars target homes that they think will contain valuables. A giveaway is leaving packaging from expensive items outside your front door.
- They will often look for homes with windows or doors left open or with vulnerable features that they can easily exploit.
- They strike when they think you are not at home, such as during the school run or holidays.
- Burglars often choose a home because they’ve spotted a specific vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle they want to steal – and the keys are more than likely stored somewhere inside the residence.
- Sheds and garages are often vulnerable as they are not as secure, and sometimes contain tools which the burglar can use to assist them to gain entry to a home.
- Homeowners that failed to upgrade security following a previous burglary are particularly at risk.
To get more advice, keep up to speed with crimes and anti-social behaviour in your area, report it, and hear directly about the action being taken.
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In the lead up to Christmas NHS services will be extremely busy due to strike action, including today, Friday 22 December, and tomorrow, Saturday 23 December.
If you need medical help use NHS 111, speak to your GP or local pharmacy.
Urgent GP appointments will still be available and many pharmacies are open late.
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There are few things more heart-warming than the excitement of children diving into their presents at Christmas, even more so for those children spending Christmas in hospital.
St Edward’s Church in Romford has been working with Lennox Children's Cancer Fund to donate toys and gifts to children in Queen's Hospital this Christmas.
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 To submit events for possible inclusion in this section of the newsletter, please use the form on our website or send an email
Upminster Windmill will be hosting its very own Christmas Market tomorrow, Saturday 23 December, from 10am to 3pm.
Head along to tour the Upminster Windmill, visit the Christmas Market (free to enter) and fill your stockings with homemade crafts and gifts, and grab some refreshments from the onsite café.
Unfortunately, there is no parking on-site due to ground conditions. Mill visits are subject to a cost, availability and restrictions.
All Saints Church, Ardleigh Green Road, are welcoming families to a Children's Christmas Eve Service on Sunday 24 December, 4pm to 4:45pm. After the bustle of last minute shopping, before the excitement of Christmas Day, head along and remember the real meaning of Christmas.
Join in the Nativity Play, sing carols, and watch the Christmas story illustrated on the large screen. Everyone welcome.
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St Edward's Church is holding two special services on Christmas Eve, Sunday 24 December.
Join the congregation for a special Crib Service from 4pm until 5:15pm, where a warm welcome awaits young members of the community and their parents to the church in the Market Place, Romford.
Then from 11pm until midnight, join the church for Midnight Mass to bring in Christmas Day.
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Upcoming proposed road closures
Havana Close in Romford will be closed daily at its junction with South Street for the installation of a cycle way, crossing and traffic measures. The road will be closed 8am to 5pm from Thursday 4 January 2024 to Friday 18 January 2024.
Parsonage Road in Rainham will be closed daily at its junction with Upminster Road North for gas mains work, 7am to 7pm from Thursday 4 January to Friday 19 January 2024.
London Road (western and eastern side banjos) will be closed daily at the banjo entrance at the side of number 337 for gas mains work, 8am to 5pm from Thursday 4 January 2024 to Sunday 21 January 2024.
Chandlers Way in Romford will be closed nightly at its junction with Eastern Road for the installation of a cycle way, crossing and traffic measures. The road will be closed 10pm to 5am from Thursday 4 January 2024 to Friday 26 January 2024.
Ongoing closures
London Road (cycle lane) in Romford remains closed daily on both sides from its junctions with Lonsdale Avenue to its junction with Coombewood Drive, for gas mains work. The closures will take place 7am to 6pm until Friday 16 February.
Public transport
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All c2c lines will be shutdown on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Due to engineering works between Fenchurch Street and Upminster, all c2c lines will terminate at Upminster on Wednesday 27 December.
There will be a reduced service on all c2c lines on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 December.
Engineering works between Limehouse/Fenchurch Street and Upminster will affect afternoon and evening services on all c2c lines from Monday 1 January 2024 until Thursday 4 January 2024.
Check the website for full details on all c2c service changes.
All Greater Anglia services will have a reduced service on Christmas Eve (Sunday 24 December) from 7pm, with services shutting down from 10pm (except the Stanstead Express). All Greater Anglia lines will be shutdown on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and have reduced services on New Years Day (Monday 1 January 2024).
Greater Anglia services have a reduced timetable for the remainder of the week, with lots of engineering works taking place. Check the website for full details on Greater Anglia service changes.
There will be no service on the TfL London Overground or Elizabeth Lines on Christmas Day or the TfL Elizabeth line on Boxing Day. The TfL London Overground line will not run between Romford and Upminster on Boxing Day.
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