Friday 9 February 2024
Havering’s Cabinet has approved the Council’s budget for 2024/2025 amid a funding crisis which could see the council triggering a Section 114 notice - effectively declaring itself bankrupt – unless the government approves a £54 million loan (Capitalisation Directive).
At a meeting of the Cabinet earlier this week (Wednesday 7 February), the administration signed off on the budget report for the next year as the authority faces a £32.5 million budget gap, which rises to £81.9 million over the next four years.
This is set against a backdrop of an outdated funding formula which hasn’t kept pace with the rapid change in population, resulting in years of systemic underfunding from government.
This is coupled with the increase in the cost of living and a reduction in available Housing, which has led to a significant rise in homelessness and temporary accommodation costs.
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 For the next financial year, subject to agreement at Council, it is proposed there is an increase to Council Tax by 2.99 per cent with an additional 2 per cent, as set by the Government, for social care – making the total proposed increase 4.99 per cent. This does not include the Mayor of London’s precept.
After the biggest ever consultation with residents where almost 4,000 people responded, Cabinet has agreed to remove the proposal for charging in park car parks and Sunday parking charges.
They’ve also agreed to a reduction in the proposed pay and display increase from 40 per cent to 20 per cent, as well as only raising the cost of football pitch fees by inflation.
The budget features further savings proposals, including:
- Generating income through increasing fees for registration services, parking, bulky waste and green waste collections
- Dimming lights on main roads and being more efficient on road schemes
- Increase market pitch fees and ending the Sunday market in Romford
- Reviewing preventative contracts and amending rent subsidies for the voluntary sector
- Increase events in parks and reduce cost of Christmas lights and trees
- Launch a review of Children’s Centres and Libraries
- Review alternative bin collection.
 Work is also taking place to see if Christmas lights and trees can be funded by traders or other groups so that they still go up during the festive season.
Cabinet also approved spending plans for the next four year Mid-term Financial Strategy (MTFS).
Joint partnership working between Havering Police and Havering Council has led to a persistent thief being jailed.
Residents and local businesses in Farnham Road, Harold Hill, had reported anti-social behaviour and constant shop lifting which was having a demoralising effect on the community.
After building up evidence, police arrested Michael Devlin, 43, from Romford.
At Barkingside Magistrates Court, Devlin was found guilty of multiple counts of theft shoplifting. He was handed 24 weeks imprisonment, reduced to 16 weeks by the Magistrate.
The action is part of a police initiative known as Clear Hold Build to target offenders and carry out community driven action to address and work towards the prevention of crime.
It comes as part of the ongoing and combined efforts by the Police and the Council to address residents’ concerns about anti-social behaviour in the area.
This has included awareness days, and a ‘day of action’ which featured a roadshow in December offering advice on how to stay safe and how to report crime.
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 Make sure you check in on family, friends and neighbours during the winter months.
There is plenty of information and support available online about winter wellness and help with the cost of living.
However, not everyone has the internet and is able to access this information, so that’s where you can help by printing off or passing on the information.
Havering Sports Council held its annual Awards Night at Upminster Golf Club on Monday 5 February, crowning this year's winning sports stars from across the borough.
The event was hosted for the 27th consecutive time by diving coach John Whitby, with speeches from Councillor Stephanie Nunn, Mayor of Havering, and Havering Sports Council President Jeremy West MBE.
Congratulations to this year's winners:
- Junior Sports Competitor of the Year - Hope McSheffrey
- Sports Competitor of the Year - Peter Brinton-Quinn
- Disability Sports Competitor of the Year - Olly Beadle
- Sports Volunteer of the Year - Trevor Wells
- Sports Team of the Year - Romford Golf Club Cadets
- Senior School Team of the Year - Redden Court Under-13 Football Team
- Primary School Team of the Year - Gidea Park Primary School Year 5/6 Girls Football Team (pictured)
- Peter Bruce Lifetime Achievement Award - Terry Fisher and Jill Wright
You can read more information about each of this year's winners on the Havering Sports Council website.
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A couple of weeks ago, the Council removed benches from the Hilldene area as part of the ongoing estates improvement to Farnham, Hilldene and Chippenham Estates, until the regeneration can take place.
The benches had become a prime location for antisocial behaviour in the town centre. This week, after a deep clean, they have been installed in Central Park.
Two of the benches featured dedication plaques and we worked with the families to make sure they could attend the installation, and they can continue to pay their respects to their loved one in a more peaceful and beautiful location.
To find out more about what we’re doing in the Hilldene area, visit the website.
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Parsonage Farm Primary School in Rainham heard from the Mayor of Havering, Councillor Stephanie Nunn, last week as part of the schools Aspirations Month.
Cllr Nunn spoke to pupils about the role of the Mayor and local councillors, as pupils attended assembly dressed up as the career they'd like to pursue.
Careers included vets, deep sea divers, police officers and even a Newcastle United footballer (from the Head Teacher himself, Mr Abrahall).
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 Havering is bidding to become London Borough of Culture in 2025.
Watch this video that captures what culture means to the borough.
Thanks to everyone who has supported the bid, if you haven’t already, you can still ‘back the bid’ by visiting Havering London.
Havering Council and Thames Chase Trust have worked in partnership to plant 958 trees at the Upminster Cemetery, which will help to improve the Cemetery’s biodiversity and to help establish a new natural burial section.
The project saw Councillor Paul Middleton join staff from the Council’s Cemetery and Crematorium teams, together with the Thames Chase Conservation Volunteers to plant four species of trees; Pedunculate Oak, Beech, Hornbeam and Field Maple.
The Beech, Hornbeam and Field Maple will form small hedges around water taps and out-buildings. These will help screen off these areas and improve the surrounding habitat for wildlife.
This project was funded by Trees For Climate, part of the national government-led Nature for Climate fund and is being delivered by England’s Community Forests.
Photo credit: Paul Vine for Thames Chase
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 Havering Council is seeking residents’ views on living a healthier lifestyle in a bid eradicate childhood obesity in the next 20 years.
The Council has been working in partnership with over 25 local organisations to develop a strategy to address obesity in Havering.
It wants to hear residents’ views on proposals to tackle obesity over the next five years. The consultation closes on Sunday 3 March.
 To submit events for possible inclusion in this section of the newsletter, please use the form on our website or send an email
Queen's Theatre Hornchurch is currently showing the world premier of the striking biographic play and musical Wilko, following the extraordinary life of Dr Feelgood co-founder Wilko Johnson.
In 2012 the iconic rock star was told he had inoperable cancer and a year to live. Refusing all treatment, he decided to spend his last months living meaningfully: seeing the people, places and things which meant most to him during his remarkable life. Then, a miracle happened...
This new play is a mixture of words, rock ‘n roll, and quotes from the man himself, and tells the amazing, uplifting true story of Wilko, as presented by Jonathan Maitland. Wilko runs until Saturday 24 February. Book your tickets on the website. (Photo L-R David John, Johnson Willis & Georgina Field, credit: Mark Sepple)
The Arts Society Havering is hosting a talk on The Art of Trickery, by Ian Keable, Chartered Accountant and Professional Magician.
The talk explores how magicians are seen in paintings, prints and cartoons throughout the centuries.
The Art of Trickery lecture takes place on Tuesday 13 February, 10:30am until 12noon at New Windmill Hall, Upminster, RM14 2QH. Tickets costs £8 for non-members. You can find more information on the website.
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Fairkytes Arts Centre is hosting a number of February Half Term Craft Activities for children from Monday 19 February to Friday 23 February.
Activities start from £6 per child, and children must be registered in advance. You can find the full list of dates and activities on the Havering Active website.
Following registration, staff will be in contact to arrange payment when your booking is completed, please allow a few days for this.
MyPlace, Harold Hill, RM3 9EN is also hosting a wide range of fun activities during the February Half Term Holidays, including kite-making, musical theatre, and other themed arts and crafts activities.
Sessions take place between Tuesday 20 and Friday 23 February, and are for ages 2 to 12 years. The full list of activities, along with prices, start times and appropriate ages, can be found on the MyPlace Facebook page. Please make sure you book the correct session for your child's age.
To book, call 01708 376004 or speak to the MyPlace reception.
New Life Church Emerson Park is hosting free a Kids Play and Craft event on Wednesday 21 February, 11am to 1:30pm.
Perfect for kids aged 3 to 5, parents and other siblings to stop over and play with toys, listen to stories and make little arts and crafts to take home. Book your place online.
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 Beam Park Group are hosting a series of free half term sporting activities for kids aged 5 to 18 years (though parents are welcome to take part too), including football, tag games, basketball, and more.
The activities take place between Tuesday 20 and Thursday 24 February, 11am to 1pm, at the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) near Sainsburys and Beam Park Square. Visit the website for more information.
New Windmill Hall is hosting weekly Chair-Based Yoga sessions aimed at those with mobility or pain issues that prevents them from doing mat-based exercise.
Suitable for all ages, sessions cost £10, with a block-booking discount available. The sessions take place Fridays, 12:45pm to 1:45pm. Visit the website or send an email for more information.
Essex Wildlife Trust is holding a talk on Wildlife seen in South Essex by wildlife photographer Neil Philips.
The illustrated talk takes place at Fairkytes Arts Centre, Hornchurch, RM11 1AX, on Monday 12 February, 2pm to 3:30pm. Tickets cost a donation of £5, and includes light refreshments. Contact Lynda via email on by calling 01708 473920 for more information.
Upcoming road closures
Epsom Way and Haydock Close in Hornchurch will be closed for grass verge works, 7am until 4:30pm on Monday 5 February.
Clay Tye Road in Upminster will be closed daily between its junctions with St Marys Lane and Ockendon road for resurfacing works. Closures take place 9am to 3pm from Monday 12 February until Friday 16 February.
Burntwood Avenue will be closed daily for gas mains work, 7am to 7pm from Monday 12 February until Monday 26 February.
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.
Sylvan Avenue in Hornchurch remains closed daily at its junction with Woodlands Avenue and Elm Grove for gas mains work. Closures take place 7am to 7pm until Sunday 18 February.
Elm Grove in Hornchurch remains closed daily at its junction with Woodlands Avenue and Sylvan Avenue to its junction with Burntwood Avenue for gas mains work. Closures take place 7am to 7pm until Sunday 18 February.
Fernbank Avenue in Hornchurch remains closed daily from outside number 64 to the junction of Elms Farm Lane for sewer works, 8am to 6pm until Tuesday 20 February.
Jutsums Lane in Romford remains closed daily at its junction with London Road for gas mains work, 7am until 7pm until Sunday 25 February.
Douglas Road in Hornchurch remains closed daily at its junction with Brentwood Road for gas mains work, 7am to 7pm until Sunday 25 February.
Southern Way remains closed daily at its junction with London Road for gas mains work, 8am to 5pm until Wednesday 28 February.
Eastern Road in Romford remains closed daily at its junction with Thurloe Gardens for cycle lane installations, 7am to 6pm until Friday 15 March.
Public transport
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Engineering works between Liverpool Street and Barking are affecting c2c Basildon line services on Saturday 10 February and Sunday 11 February.
Engineering works between Grays and Pitsea, and Barking and Grays are affecting c2c Ockendon line services on Saturday 10 February and Sunday 11 February.
Engineering works between Fenchurch Street and Barking, and between Barking and Upminster, are affecting all c2c line evening services from Monday 12 February to Thursday 15 February.
Check the website for full details on all c2c service changes.
Greater Anglia services from Liverpool Street to Shenfield, Southend Victoria and Southminster will not run on Saturday 10 February and Sunday 11 February due to engineering works. Rail replacement services will be running.
Greater Anglia services from Liverpool Street to Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and branches will not run between Liverpool Street and Shenfield due to engineering works on Saturday 10 February and Sunday 11 February due to engineering works. Rail replacement services will be running.
Check the website for full details on Greater Anglia service changes.
The TfL Elizabeth line will not run between Liverpool Street and Shenfield on Saturday 10 February and Sunday 11 February.
The TfL London Overground line will not run between Romford and Upminster on Saturday 10 February and Sunday 11 February.
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