Since the local elections in May 2022, as no one party had an overall majority, the Council’s Administration has been made up of Havering Residents Association (HRA) and Labour Councillors.

This arrangement has now come to an end. This means the HRA will now lead the Council as a minority Administration.

The numbers are as follows.

• HRA – 26
• Conservative – 16
• Labour - 8
• East Havering Residents Group – 3
• Resident Association Independent Group – 2

This has also led to a change in Cabinet. Councillor Natasha Summers (HRA) will become Cabinet Member for Housing Need, replacing Councillor Keith Darvill (Labour).

The portfolio holder who will look after Climate Change will be confirmed in due course.

Councillor Paul McGeary will remain in Cabinet as the portfolio holder for Housing and Property, as a HRA member.

⇒ Read more about the administration changes

The Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has called the next General Election, which will take place on Thursday 4 July.

There are three parliamentary constituencies in Havering - Romford, Hornchurch and Upminster, and Dagenham and Rainham.

Nominations for candidates in each constituency close today (Friday 7 June) at 4pm, with final candidates and notice of polling stations being announced at 5pm this evening. You will receive your poll card in the post shortly.

Register to vote

If you're not already registered to vote, you need to register by 11:59pm on Tuesday 18 June. You can check if you are registered or get registered through our website. There are also details for those with friends and relatives who cannot access the internet. 

Proxy and postal votes

You do not have to vote in person. If you're unable to attend the polling station on election day, you can either apply for a postal vote, or have someone vote on your behalf. 

If you want to vote by post, you must apply on our website by 5pm on Wednesday 19 June. This is also the deadline for cancelling or making changes to an existing postal vote. 

If you want to have someone else vote on your behalf, also known as a proxy vote, you must apply on our website by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June. Postal votes can be sent back in the pre-paid envelope provided, delivered by hand to Havering Town Hall, or taken to your polling station on the day. If you are posting your vote, please be sure to allow enough time for it to reach us. 

Voter ID

Remember, you now need a valid form of ID to be able to vote in an election in the UK.

Valid ID includes a passport, driver's licence, blue badges and more. If you don't have these forms of ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.

Check if you have the correct ID or apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate on our website. You must apply for ID by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.

Please note, you cannot use a picture or photocopy of your ID - you must bring the official document to the polling station.

Election day

Polls will open at 7am on Thursday 4 July, and remain open until 10pm. Details of your polling station will appear on your poll card. Be sure to bring a valid form of ID and vote for your preferred candidate. 

You may find candidates and canvassers outside your local polling station on the day. They are allowed to campaign for your vote on the day, but must not obstruct access to the polling station, enter the site, or act in an intimidating manner. They may also ask who you voted for when you leave, as part of an exit poll - you do not have to tell them if you'd rather keep this to yourself. 

If any candidate makes you feel uncomfortable or obstructs access, please report this to the staff at the polling station. 

⇒ Find more information on the 2024 General Election

Havering Police had three good results against crime when pursuing a suspect in Rainham recently.

Officers arrested a man who was armed with a knife and had been involved in an incident. Further searches on the man then found he had Class A drugs on him.

They also managed to return a bike the man had stolen, back to its rightful owner.

In Harold Hill, police were joined by Havering Council environmental enforcement officers in a day of action as part of Operation Sceptre, tackling knife crime and anti-social behaviour.

The teams worked together in Farnham Road, Petersfield Avenue and around the Briar Road Estate, to carry out weapon sweeps and investigations around fly-tipping.

Police and Council officers will continue to speak with residents and businesses on concerns and issues under the Clear, Hold, Build initiative, looking into and working on the prevention of crime and anti-social behaviour across communities.

Earlier this week, officers from our enforcement team joined officers from the Havering Joint Taskforce to carry out a weapon sweep in Romford. Thankfully, no weapons were found.

⇒ Follow Havering Police on X

Central Park has officially opened in Rainham, as part of the Beam Park regeneration scheme from Countryside Partnerships and L&Q.

This new public green space is part of their £1billion plus Beam Park regeneration scheme delivering 4,000 homes in Rainham, Essex.

The new park opened to the public on Friday 31 May. An event was held for residents and the local community, which provided a range of free entertainment including an inflatable helter-skelter, Ferris wheel, games, DJ, face painting and an ice cream van.

Central Park is a large, 2.5-hectare, riverside park that sits either side of the River Roding and offers a range of play facilities for children and families. These include: a river-themed play trail, encompassing wooden structures to climb on and rocks to jump on; a swings area; a play area comprising a swing set, jungle gym and climbing structures; and another playground.

The opening of Central Park adds to the incredible changes that have already taken place at the Beam Park regeneration scheme, with the derelict site of a former Ford manufacturing plant transformed into a new and vibrant community.

1,063 homes have now been delivered in the first two phases of Beam Park, along with extensive community facilities including a new nursery, medical centre, retail spaces and primary school (currently under construction).

Yesterday, the UK and France commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944 with a series of events.

D-Day, the historic operation that saw our Allied Forces mount a large-scale invasion of Nazi-occupied France, ultimately tipped the course of the Second World War in our favour.

We must never forget the sacrifice, hard work and courage our armed forces have shown in risking their lives to keep us safe, both then and now.

Havering’s appreciation for the armed forces remains as strong as ever, the Mayor of Havering, Cllr Gerry O’Sullivan, the Leader of Havering Council, Cllr Ray Morgon, together with a number of other Councillors and staff members joined veterans at Havering Town Hall, Romford, to show their support to all servicemen and servicewomen across the United Kingdom.

A lamplight of peace was displayed inside Havering Town Hall at 9.15pm last night to commemorate D-Day with the rest of the nation.

Havering's Housing Repairs contractor, Mears, has built an outdoor mud kitchen play area for The Federation of Towers School in Hornchurch. 

The new mud kitchen was completed over the recent half term as part of Mears' social value commitments to the borough, and will provide a great place for the Primary School-aged children to play with (and get nice a messy and in the process).

Siobhan Lloyd, Acting Head Teacher of the Infant School, said: 

"We are immensely grateful to the team at Mears for their generosity in providing and building a wonderful new mud kitchen for the children at The Federation of Towers Schools. This addition will greatly enhance the children's play experiences as part of our Outdoor Play and Learning initiative."

Tickets are still available for this Sunday’s Langtons Summer Concert at Langtons Gardens.

Pre-booked tickets are available via the Queen's Theatre Box Office until midnight tonight (7 June), these are priced at £6, admission is free for children under 10 years old.

Any remaining tickets, will be available on a cash only basis, priced at £10, on Sunday at the main entrance of Langtons House from 1.30pm.

Please note Keswick Avenue entrance will be for pre-booked tickets only, tickets cannot be purchased from this entrance.

Attendees can bring chairs, blankets, picnics and drinks, whilst enjoying an afternoon of both classical and popular music performed by Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra led by Jonathan Butcher.

No dogs permitted, except assistance dogs.

⇒ Get your tickets now

The Great Big Green Week kicks off tomorrow (Saturday 8 June) across the UK, with a whole host of community events and groups coming together to tackle climate change, protect nature, and learn about sustainability.

The week kicks off with a community litter-picking event in Romford tomorrow (Saturday 8 June, 11am and 1pm) in Romford Market Place with Romford BID and the Romford Wombles. 

You can also join the Big Help Out at Rainham Hall from 12noon to 3pm tomorrow, Saturday 8 June. Everyone is welcome to drop-in for the community gardening session as part of the Big Help Out. Stay for as long or little as you like. Find more information for either event, or book your places on the website.

Other events taking place throughout The Great Big Green Week include upcycling workshops, gardening projects, children's activities and the return of the Repair Cafe. For the full list of events, times and dates, please visit the website.

Upminster Windmill will be hosting a Father’s Day Craft Market on Saturday 8 June, 10am to 3pm.

The event will include homemade crafts, sweet treats, artwork, trinkets, personalised gifts, and foodie goods.

Windmill Tours are also available. Visit the website for more information. 

The Arts Society, Havering is hosting it's next lecture, entitled Photography as an Art Form: From Negative to Positive, Photography's Long Road to Recognition on Tuesday 11 June, 10:15am to 12noon. 

The talk takes place at New Windmill Hall, St Marys Lane, Upminster. Tickets cost £8 for non members. Find out more on the website.

Havering Museum is hosting its next lunchtime lecture on Thursday 13 June, 12noon to 1pm, on New Zealand. 

The one-hour lecture features travel photographs and anecdotes from the beautiful country of New Zealand, and includes light refreshments. Book online or by visiting the museum (open Wednesdays to Fridays, and some Saturdays).

Havering Community Learning Disability Team will be celebrating Learning Disability Week with an event at The Liberty Shopping Centre, Romford (between River Island and WH Smith Post Office) on Wednesday 19 June (9am to 5pm).

Learning Disability Week is celebrated annually in the UK and will held this year from Monday 17 June to Sunday 23 June. This year’s theme is “Do You See Me?” and the team’s continual aim is to work towards being seen, heard and valued.

The team will be joined by partner agencies from across the borough to celebrate this event and will offer advice and information on the services they provide.  

Diabetes UK - Havering Group runs regular meetings offering help and support to local people living with diabetes along with their families and carers. The group is holding its next meeting on Monday 17 June, with a talk about ageing and immunity.

The meeting takes place at 8pm at Large Hall, 24 North Street, Hornchurch, RM11 1QX, and is completely free to attend. Call the group secretary on 01708 935779 for more information. 

Upcoming road closures 

The A12 eastbound exit slip road from the M25 will be closed for installation of a new culvert from 10pm tonight, Friday 7 June until 5am on Monday 10 June, and again from 10pm on Friday 14 June until 5am on Monday 17 June. 

There will be no waiting or parking on Brookdale Avenue in Upminster between its junction with Bridge Avenue and Boundary Road for a school sports event, 7.30am to 4.30pm on Wednesday 19 and Wednesday 26 June.

Ernest Road, Hornchurch, will be closed outside number 1 for desilting work between 9.30am and 3.30pm on Monday 10 June. 

Havering Road in Romford will be closed overnight, 8pm to 5am, from outside number 406 to its junction with Glenton Way for speed table installation, between Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 June. 

Havering Road in Romford will be closed at its junction with Mashiters Hill for lining work, between 9.30am and 3pm on Monday 12 June. 

Blackwall Tunnel

Blackwall Tunnel will be closed to southbound traffic across a number of weekends in May and June to help support carriageway works on the northbound Blackwall Tunnel approach. 

The closures are required to help implement the road configuration for the new Silvertown Tunnel which will open in 2025. The closures will take place across Saturday 8 June to Monday 10 June and Saturday 29 June to Monday 1 July.

During these weekends, a range of works will be undertaken, including resurfacing roads and pavements on the tunnel approaches, installing safety barriers, work to retaining walls and landscaping works.

The closures will all start at 12am on the Saturday morning, with southbound traffic being restored by 5am on the Monday morning at the latest. Further information about the closures can be found on the TfL website.  

Ongoing closures

Maylands Way is currently closed from the A12 for utility works until 9am on Tuesday 11 June. 

King Edward Road in Romford remains closed daily from its junction with Victoria Road for gas mains works, 7am to 7pm until Saturday 15 June. 

Victoria Road in Romford remains closed daily from its junction with South Street for gas mains works, 7am to 7pm until Saturday 15 June.

Maylands Way in Romford will be closed daily from its junction with Johns Terrace for excavation work, 9:30am to 3pm from Tuesday 28 May until Tuesday 11 June.

Parts of the A127 (Southend Arterial) remain closed to all traffic for drainage works, between 10pm and 5am, until Tuesday 18 June. The on-slip road connecting the eastbound carriageway with the M25 junction 29 roundabout, and the off-slip road connecting the M25 junction 29 roundabout with the A127 will be closed during this time. 

Public transport