Enjoying a crime-free Christmas

A great Christmas can be ruined if criminals get involved but some simple steps can keep the burglars away.

At home Use a timer switch to operate lights and a radio when you’re not at home – Havering residents can collect a free timer from the Police Shop, opposite Poundland in Laurie Walk, the Liberty centre, while stocks last Keep tools and ladders locked away so burglars can’t use them Close and lock doors and windows, even if popping out for “just a few minutes” Keep presents out of sight – make sure they can’t be seen through a window When the presents are opened keep the packaging out of sight, especially for expensive or electrical items, - tear the boxes up and put out the recycling bags only on the day they will be collected Never leave the key in your car ignition when parked outside your home Keep your car keys well away from letterboxes so thieves can't hook them out while you're asleep

Festive fun at the Older People's Christmas Party

​Older residents enjoy the Christmas party

​Around 55 of the borough’s older residents enjoyed a festive lunch at the YMCA in Romford on Tuesday (16 December). 

​The successful Older People’s Christmas Party was organised by the Council for some of the borough’s most isolated and vulnerable individuals. The event allowed the residents to come together and enjoy a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, while meeting new people and socialising. 

There was entertainment from Havering Music School, bingo and a raffle with various prizes. 

Volunteers helped out at the event, getting people to and from buses, as well as serving the food and clearing the tables.

Father Christmas and one of his elves also helped out on the day, providing entertainment and helping to serve the food.

Councillor Roger Ramsey, Leader of the Council, said:

“Christmas is a time when older people can feel quite isolated, especially if their loved ones are no longer with them and family don’t live nearby, and also if they can’t get out for mobility reasons or because of the cold weather. This event gave residents an opportunity to eat a good dinner and celebrate Christmas with other like-minded people, and I’m really pleased it was such a success.”

Carers Event at the Queen's Theatre

Carers from across Havering find out about help and support at open day

Thursday 04 December 2014

​Exhibitors from the event with Dame Angela Watkinson MP and Councillor Wendy Brice-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Health

​Havering carers flocked to a special open day held specifically for those who care for others to find out about the help and support available to them in the borough, on Friday 28 November.

​Held at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, the event was run by the Havering Association for people with Disabilities (H.A.D), along with Havering Council and the Havering Safer Neighbourhood Board, to mark the national Carers Rights Day.

 

As well as H.A.D, there were other voluntary organisations there to speak to people about how they may be able to help them, as well as Council officers talking about the support it provides to carers.

 

Organisations attending included the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and the Alzheimer’s Society, and carers were also able to find out more about the new Care Act 2014, and how it may affect them.

 

Several attendees signed up to the Council’s carers’ register on the day so they will receive a carers’ newsletter and be updated on future similar events.

 

Councillor Wendy Brice-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services, and Health, who attended the event, said:

 

“I was pleased to see so many local organisations and carers at this event. We have many people in our borough who give up their time to care for others, and some may not even realise they are a carer.

 

“But no carer should do it all on their own. There is support out there and we want to ensure everyone who should have it, knows about it. The Care Act will also bring in changes which affect all carers, so it’s important they know about it, and what it will mean for them.”

 

Anyone unable to attend but who would like to sign up to the carers’ register, as well as receive regular updates, can email carersservices@havering.gov.uk.

 

Carers can also sign-up online to receive the e-bulletin, care connect, or by emailing careact@havering.gov.uk.

Electric Blanket Testing

                        Age UK Electric Blanket Testing

Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering is running an Electric Blanket Testing Event for Older People to prepare for the colder winter months by having FREE Electric Blanket Testing.

The Event will be taking place on:

Date: Friday 19th December 2014

Time: 10am – 4:30pm

Venue: Liberty Shopping Mall, Romford.

On the day, blankets will be tested by a company that specialises in Blanket Testing and has worked with Age UK’s across the country in running these events. We will check that your Electric Blanket is working properly and is safe to use.

It is very important that your Electrical Blanket is regularly tested to ensure that it is safe to use and so we are urging all Older People with an Electric Blanket to come and have it tested or if you have an older relative, friend, neighbour that may not be able to come along then you can bring their blanket along for testing.

You will also have the opportunity to speak to a member of our Advice & Information Service who will be promoting our Spread the Warmth Campaign and so you can speak to an Advice Worker about: Benefits Checks, Winter FuelPayments, Warm Home Discount, Practical Advice on keeping Warm over winter, Information on Energy Efficiency, Tariff Checks to ensure that you are on the right energy tariff in order to reduce gas & electricity bills, advice on using your electric blanket safely and information from Trading Standards about accessing approved traders as well as lots of other useful information about local services that will be able to offer help and support during the cold winter months. We shall be giving out Winter Warmth Information Packs which include a free room thermometer and recipe book.

If you have an Electric Blanket that you would like tested, please call Priti Mistry on 020 8220 6000 for further information or to book an appointment for your Electric Blanket to be tested on the day.

Tis’ the season to be jolly in Romford Market Place

​A bright green magical postbox, will appear near the Clock Tower end of Romford Market on Wednesday 3 December, for all the good boys and girls to send their letters to Father Christmas.

​Father Christmas is looking forward to receiving lots of letters from children visiting Romford Market to help him decide what to bring them on Christmas Eve. He will do his best to reply to every child who writes to him via the magical postbox.  Father Christmas has asked that all children write their name and address clearly on their letter, because his friends at Havering Council will be posting the replies for him and they don’t have his magical powers.

 

As Father Christmas is very busy, all letters must be received by Wednesday 17 December to ensure he has time to reply before loading up his sleigh in preparation for his busiest night of the year.

 

The postbox will be in the Market Place on market days only, and from Friday 12 December, the market will be open every day, including Sundays, up to and including Christmas Eve. 

 

“Christmas is such a magical time, and especially for children! I hope all kids in the borough have the chance to write their letter to Father Christmas and post it in the special postbox. Parents can then enjoy seeing their faces light up when they get their reply!” said Councillor Robert Benham, Cabinet Member for Environment.

 

It’s hoped that the festive atmosphere and Christmas cheer will draw people in from far and wide to take advantage of the diverse range of stalls offering everything they’ll need this Christmas, including fresh meat and fish, fruit and veg, the latest fashions, cards and wrapping and lots of gift ideas.

 

Councillor Benham added: “Christmas spirit has most certainly arrived in the borough, and as always, we’ve arranged lots of things that families and friends can come along to and enjoy together. I hope everyone gets involved and joins in the celebrations.”

 

Residents can also enjoy a whole host of activities arranged in the market place in the run-up to Christmas:

​Saturday 6 December	​Children’s face painting
​Saturday 13 December	​Children’s face painting  Hornchurch Drum & Trumpet Corps
​Sunday 14 December	​The Haverettes All Girls Marching Band, and for the first time, A Christmas Vintage Market
​Saturday 20 December	​Free Children’s face painting  Costumed Reindeer and Santa Bear  The Hornchurch Drum  & Trumpet Corps   The Haverettes All Girls Marching Band
​Sunday 21 December	​Free Children’s face painting
​Monday 22 December	​Real reindeer ‘Rudolph and Comet’ in the Market before they start their epic journey on Christmas Eve
​Tuesday 23 December	​A Magical Christmas Puppet Show with three shows between 11am and 4pm​

Music for a Winter's Night at Langtons House

One of the highlights of Havering’s cultural calendar, Music for a Winter's Night, returns in November with a new season of classical and chamber music at Langtons House, Billet Lane, Hornchurch.

This year’s stellar line-up includes award-winning classical guitarist Gary Ryan, and Jakob Lindberg, Professor of Lute at the Royal College of Music, and leading figure in the renaissance of 'Early Music'.
 
Organised by Havering Council, the concerts bring some of the UK’s finest classical and chamber musicians to the borough.
 
Councillor Melvin Wallace, Cabinet Member for Culture and Community Engagement, said: "Music for a Winter's Night offers a chance to hear outstanding musicians in a wide range of styles and genres. I can hardly believe that this will be our sixth year of promoting this wonderful concert season.

"Havering Council is committed to bringing the finest live music of all kinds to the borough. In past years, we've brought some of the very biggest names in classical and chamber music, including Craig Ogden, Emma Kirby, John Mills and the Mozart Players, and this year is no exception."

The concerts run between November and February on the following dates, all start at 8pm:

Thursday 20 November 2014 - Jakob Lindberg (Lute)

Thursday 18 December 2014 - The Crystal Palace String Quartet
Thursday 22 January 2015 - Gary Ryan (Guitar)
Thursday 19 February 2015 - Divertimenti Ensemble
 
Jakob Lindberg, Thursday 20 November 2014
Appointed professor of lute at the Royal College of Music in London in 1979, Jakob Lindberg is the first lutenist to have recorded the complete solo lute music by the celebrated English composer John Dowland. His recordings of Bach's music for solo lute are considered among the most important readings of the works.

Jakob has performed recitals with Emma Kirkby, Ann Sofie von Otter, Nigel Rogers and Ian Partridge and has worked with the English Concert, Taverner Choir, the Purcell Quartet, Monteverdi Choir, Chiaroscuro, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Academy of Ancient Music. 
 
The Crystal Palace String Quartet, Thursday 18 December 2014
One of London’s most in-demand string ensembles, the Crystal Palace String Quartet, features violinists Julia Burkert (leader of the German Doctors’ Orchestra, who has also led the Cambridge, Guildford and Croydon Symphony Orchestras) and Alice Butcher (National Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, RTE National Symphony Orchestra) alongside cellist Sarah Westley (Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Brandenburg Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera) and Chris Brody on viola, who is chairman of the chamber orchestra Camerata of London.

Gary Ryan, Thursday 22 January 2015
An Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, Gary Ryan has a string of international honours and awards to his name, recognition for his highly innovative guitar compositions which draw on the rich traditions of the instrument and combine them with contemporary influences and extended techniques.

Gary's ground-breaking work for solo guitar, Scenes from The Wild West, has become an international best-seller.  On his latest CD, Visions and Vistas, he has multi-tracked his ensemble pieces, including Generator (for guitar duo) and, Scenes from Brazil and Songs from Erin (both for solo guitar) to critical acclaim.
 
Divertimenti Ensemble, Thursday 19 February 2015
Founded in 1978, the five-piece Divertimenti still includes four original members. Their wealth of international concert experience as soloists feeds into an ensemble which has forged an impressive reputation for an adventurous repertoire that champions lesser known composers, particularly British composers, and 20th-century compositions.

Divertimenti have performed live for BBC Radio 3 and at festivals such as Aldeburgh, Bath, King's Lynn and Lichfield as well as in Italy, France, Germany and Greece. Their recordings have been recommended by Radio 3's Record Review, the International Record Review, BBC Music Magazine and Classic FM.

 
Ticket information:
Phone the Box Office at Fairkytes Arts Centre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1AX on 01708 456308, or email fairkytes@havering.gov.uk
 
Tickets for individual concerts are £13.50 and £9.50 concessions, or book all four shows for £40.50 or £28.50 concessions.
 
All Music for a Winter's Night concerts include a 15-minute interval with complementary refreshment.

Residents who care for others encouraged to come along to Council's carers rights day

​To mark the national Carers Rights Day, the Havering Association for people with Disabilities (H.A.D), along with Havering Council and the Havering Safer Neighbourhood Board, is holding an event on Friday 28 November at the Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch.

​The theme of this year’s Carers Rights Day is ‘Looking after someone? Know your rights’, and anyone who provides unpaid care for a family member or friend who could not manage without them, whether due to illness, disability or frailty, is welcome to come along to the event.

 

Carers will have the chance to meet other carers and access a wide range of information and advice, including finding out about a range of support services from organisations across the borough.

 

The event runs from 10am to 2.30pm.

 

Councillor Wendy Brice-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Health, said:

 

“There are many people in our borough who give up their own time to care for others, whether a partner, relative or friend. Many may not even realise that they are a carer.

 

“This event is open to anyone who looks after someone and I really hope people will come along and find out more about what support is available to help them.”

Refreshments and a buffet lunch will be provided.

 

For more information about the event contact H.A.D, 01708 476 554.

Vintage buses to run through the Borough

Friday 21 November 2014

​Vintage buses will run from Saturday 6 December, giving passengers the opportunity to experience travelling on vintage buses from the 1930's to the 1970's on three special routes.

​Three services will be run by Ensign Bus Company Ltd:

X55 - Upminster to Gravesend
X81 - Shenfield to Grays 
X86 - Upminster to Brentwood.

 

A day ticket for adults costs £8 and £4 for children. Other local fares will be available for single and return journeys. Concessionary passes, Oyster cards, Travelcards, tickets from other bus companies and train tickets will not be accepted.

 

The buses will run every 30 minutes. Further details, including the timetable for all three routes and fares for using the services, can be found on the Ensign Bus website.

£4.1m to transform Havering's Crossrail stations

​TfL have awarded Havering around £4m to transform areas around Havering’s Crossrail stations.

​The funding will improve the spaces around the stations in Romford, Gidea Park and Harold Wood, which will include improvements to pavements, roads and other public areas near to the station entrances and car parks.

 

Gidea Park and Harold Wood are in line to receive £1.4m each and Romford should receive £1.3m to spend on the improvements. During the design process amounts may change.

 

A very successful bid from Havering Council meant that the funding awarded was almost 20 per cent more than what Crossrail had advised the Council to expect to achieve.

 

The Mayor of London has awarded more than £28m to outer London Boroughs to improve public spaces around the stations and make them more pleasant for passengers.

 

The improvements will be made by 2019, and will follow a range of other benefits that customers will experience when TfL takes over services between Liverpool Street and Shenfield from 31 May next year, ahead of Crossrail arriving.

 

Leader of the Council, Councillor Roger Ramsey, said:

 

“We welcome this funding very much; working with Crossrail and TfL, we will be able to make the necessary improvements to these areas to make them more pleasant and easier to travel through to get to and from the stations. The work will complement the improvements planned inside the stations for Crossrail.

 

“Crossrail will offer better commuting and business connections to the city and boost growth in the borough.”

Renewal of Freedom Passes

Older people who enjoy free travel across London with the Freedom Pass will now be able to renew their passes online following the launch of a new website.

The site has been tested extensively – including by current Freedom Pass users – and is easier to use on smartphones and tablets, reflecting the changing way people access the internet.

Cllr Julian Bell, Chair of London Councils Transport and Environment Committee, said: “This new website will be really helpful to Freedom Pass users, whether they’re renewing their passes this winter or looking for more information on the scheme.”

Ahead of the renewal process, London Councils polling showed around 50 per cent of Freedom Pass holders either intended to or were interested in renewing their Freedom Pass online.

Research by Ofcom shows 42 per cent of people aged 65 and older use the internet, a rise of 27 per cent between 2012 and 2013.

Pass holders will still be able to renew with a paper form and can get assistance at their local library in most boroughs.

Of the 1.3 million Freedom Pass holders across London, around 860,000 older person’s passes will expire on 31 March 2015. Letters explaining the renewal process will be sent to passholders from the start of November 2014.

To see the new website, visit www.freedompass.org.

Adopting more than one child "can be challenging - but it's also more rewarding"

​As Havering marks National Adoption Week, from 3 to 9 November, a Havering adoptive father, Jack*, has spoken out about adopting three children from the same family.

​The theme of this year’s national event is to encourage more people to consider adopting siblings, as families willing to adopt more than one child are among the hardest to find, and therefore this leads to many brothers and sisters being split up.

 

Keeping siblings together can help children feel more secure when they are adopted and even help them settle into their new home more quickly.

Jack, 44, and his wife Andrea*, who live in the borough, have adopted sisters aged two and three, and their baby brother.

 

Jack, who works in finance, said:

 

“We were open to adopting more than one child as we didn’t want to narrow it down too much, and I’d grown up with siblings so we thought it would be nice for them to have each other to play with.

 

“I’m surprised people aren’t as willing to take on siblings, it wasn’t an issue for us. But they may worry they’ll be more effort, and more than one child does take more effort, but’s it’s also a lot more rewarding.”

 

The couple decided to adopt after they struggled to conceive and IVF treatment was unsuccessful - they found adoption a natural progression.

 

Jack added:

 

“It’s not second best; we got past any of those thoughts very quickly, they are our children. It was incredible bringing them home but it is a huge commitment and anyone considering it needs to be sure, there is a lot of information out there, do your research.

 

“We found it really helpful talking to people who had been there. And while the process does take time, it should do, you’re taking on a huge commitment.”

Andrea, 47, who gave up her job to be home with the children, added:

“Bringing your children home isn’t the end of the journey, it’s just the start. It was a realisation that we had new people in our house and their needs came first. It takes time to settle them in and you must build a bond with them, it won’t be immediate. You have to be resilient and not take things personally if you don’t bond straight away.”

 

The couple’s extended family have also been a great help, and Andrea has found huge support from fellow adopters, attending regular coffee mornings with other adoptive parents in the borough to share their stories and experiences.

 

Encouraging other parents to consider adoption, particularly sibling groups, Jack said:

 

“It’s a life-changing event, in the same way having a birth child is. Expect your life to change and invest time in it.

 

“And support is out there right until they turn 18, and we use it. If you do struggle, reach out for it.”

 

Havering Council runs regular adoption information events, the next is on Wednesday 19 November from 5.30pm at Havering Town Hall, Main Road, Romford. Anyone is welcome to attend.

 

Councillor Meg Davis, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, said:

“National Adoption Week is a great time to hear the wonderful stories of local families who have used adoption to complete their families. Adoption is wonderful for a child who cannot live with their birth family for whatever reason.

 

“Of course there are challenges involved, as any parent of a child adopted or otherwise would tell you, but there are also huge rewards. I hope the national event this year will really raise awareness of the need to find more families willing to adopt siblings, as it is much better for children when they can be kept together.”

Older people and the internet

The radio programme ‘Does he take sugar?’ highlighted a tendency to treat disabled people as generally incapable. The same syndrome affects older people and the Internet.

At a conference last week on social care and digital, one of the speakers spoke of research with care home residents that showed a mismatch between their digital aspirations and those of their families.

While the older people told researchers they had been hoping to receive tablets and smart phones for Christmas, family and friends had actually produced chocolates, perfume and other items considered suitable for Grandmas (Grandads presumably getting socks and jumpers).

Statistics do tell us that older people are less likely to use the Internet. ONS data says that of 6.7m UK adults (13.1%) who are not online, almost three quarters of this group are 65 or older, and in the 75+ age bracket, more than 60% of people are not online.

There are many reasons for this. Research studies highlight the cost of devices and connection, lack of digital skills (older cohorts may never have used computers at work), security concerns, lack of interest and even fear and resentment at the age of ‘digital everything’.

The cost issues are fast diminishing now that free wifi is widespread (although important to remember not everywhere) and connection through hotspots is increasingly an option. The price of tablets and smartphones is also tumbling. At the same time there is increasing evidence of the benefits of being online, ranging from access to lower cost goods and services, to opportunities for connecting with existing friends and family, as well as finding new interests and new social networks online.

The digital skills charity Digital Unite says the latter is particularly important, with depression affecting 20% of older people living in the community and 40% living in care homes for older people, compared with 10% of the population at large.

Digital Unite research has shown that, of those over 55s who are using the internet, four out of five (86%) said it had improved their lives. 72% said that being online had helped reduce their feelings of isolation and 81% said it makes them feel part of modern society.

The same research also says that rates of digital exclusion in social care are higher than in the general population. So, with 1.6 million people providing adult social care services in England, and 6 million unpaid carers (many of whom suffer equally from loneliness and isolation), it is important to work with both carers and those who are cared for to ensure both parties are digitally capable and confident.

One lever that can be used to overcome the perception by some older non-liners that ‘there is nothing on the internet for me’ is their health. There is plenty of information and advice online to help and support people with disabilities and long-term conditions, and this can be used as an incentive to get people started.

This is part of the thinking behind NHS England’s Widening Digital Participation programme, which is run by the Tinder Foundation (which also runs UK Online centres) to get large numbers of people, particularly older people, to improve their digital health literacy.

Senior musicians show the kids how it's done

​All participants with Cllr Barbara Matthews

​Havering’s senior musicians showed youngsters a thing or two when they performed to a packed Queens Theatre foyer last Friday (17 October) at the annual Havering 60+ Musician of the Year Competition. 

​In the tightest competition for years, First Prize went to a surprised first-time entrant, Denis Maguire, for his classical guitar performance of music by the famous Brazilian composer Villa Lobos. 

Saxophonist, Brian Luck, came second with a rendition of Chattanooga Choo Choo, that could only be described as ‘rabble-rousing’, while Third Prize was awarded to songstress, Jean Gibbons, who included ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ in her performance.

Trophies were awarded by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Barbara Matthews.

Councillor Melvin Wallace, Cabinet Member for Culture and Community Engagement, said:

“Music is something that has no boundaries, it can touch all of us no matter what age, and those who took part in the competition are an inspiration to us all.”

Havering Council issues warning of an inheritance scam

​Havering council is alerting residents to an inheritance scam involving a letter being sent to residents.

​The letter is from an ‘investment manager’ and assumes that the partner of the recipient has passed away. It informs them that their late relative has investments in a company in China and that unless the money is claimed, the Government will take it.  Although the current scam uses China as its place of origin other foreign countries could be used in similar scams.

 

The letter then asks for details and encourages the recipient to keep quiet about the matter in case the inheritance ‘falls into the wrong hands’.

 

The letter is a scam and residents who receive it should dispose of it and not communicate with the sender.

 

Councillor Osman Dervish, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said:

 

“This letter is simply a scam and while we cannot always stop them from being delivered, we can help our residents identify them so that they don’t fall victim to this despicable crime. Anyone who does receive such a letter and wants to report it, can do so at the Action Fraud website or call 0300 123 2040.”

 

Residents are encouraged to pass this information on to their friends and relatives.

Comms and Admin post

Creative Barking and Dagenham (CBD) are seeking a Communications and Adminstration Coordinator to join their busy team.
 
This is a new post, created to provide dedicated communications and administrative support to the Creative Barking and Dagenham Programme Directors. The role will help to deliver and promote Creative Barking and Dagenham projects and act as the first point of contact for the day-to-day administration of the programme.

CBD is part of a national action research programme to get more people involved in the arts in areas where people don’t normally get involved.  Creative Barking and Dagenham (CBD) is funded by both Arts Council England and Barking & Dagenham Council.
 
This is a full time post for 1 year, with a salary of £20,300.  The deadline for applications is Monday 27th October.  Interviews will be held on Monday 3rd November.       

For more details including how to apply please visit http://bit.ly/1uQQfEu

Community Cultural Celebration Event

​A celebration of culture in Havering will take place at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch on Saturday 11 October from 10am to 4pm.

​The annual event has been organised by Havering BME Forum’s Community Cultural Celebration in partnership with Havering Council and will be opened by Mayor of Havering, Councillor Linda Trew.
 
The aim is to bring together residents from all cultures and give everyone the opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the borough’s diversity.

There will be a wide range of performers, including singers, musicians and dancers and activities for all ages including Henna, threading and sari wrapping and workshops.
 
Visitors will also be able to try various cultural cuisine including Asian, Thai, Caribbean and English food.
  
Entry to the event is £1 for children under 16 years, £1.50 for pensioners and £2 for all others.

Cycle maintenance classes are back by popular demand

​Havering Council’s cycle maintenance classes will begin again in October, after a trial set of sessions over the summer were fully booked.

​The classes will be held in Harold Hill to help cyclists at any level to learn how to fix a puncture, adjust brakes and gears and carry out a general safety check. A more advanced course will cover removal and installation of cycle parts.

 

The classes are free, although a £5 refundable deposit will be required. All advanced courses are from 10am to 4pm and all basic maintenance sessions are 10am to noon or 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Cyclists should bring their own bike to the sessions.

 

Both courses are being held at myplace, 343 Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill, RM3 9DJ. Places are limited and can be booked by calling 01708 376004.

 

Councillor Robert Benham, Cabinet Member for Environment, said:

 

“These courses have been really popular and it just shows how many keen cyclists we have in the borough.

 

“I hope this motivates those who haven’t yet given it a try to get on their bikes. Those who have a bike sat in the shed should dust it off and bring it along to get it back on the road.”

 

All dates and times for the maintenance classes are available on the cycle maintenance page.

 

These sessions are in addition to the ‘Mark it in the Market’ events that take place on the first Saturday of the month in Romford Market, and the regular cycle training.

Event for young people to find out more about opportunities post 16

​Havering Council is hosting an all-day ‘Moving On’ event on Thursday 9 October, where young people in school years ten and eleven can find out about their options once they hit 16.

​This follows the introduction the Government’s Raise of the Participation Age initiative, meaning that young people no longer leave school at 16, but are required to continue in education, training or employment with training, until age 17, raising to 18 next year.

 

But this does not mean young people have to stay in school, there are a range of options open to them including apprenticeships, volunteering and training.

The event, which is also open to parents of invited young people, will take place at Hornchurch Sports Centre in Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch from 10am until 7.30pm.

 

Around 28 local education and training providers will exhibit at the event, including colleges, private training companies and public services such as the police, armed forces and NHS.

 

Young people will also be able to try some practical taster sessions in careers including hairdressing, beauty, catering and engineering.

 

This is the third time the Council has hosted this event, and this year, pupils from special schools Ravensbourne, Corbets Tey and Dycorts, will also be attending.

Budget consultation launched

On Monday 29 September Havering’s Cabinet launched major public consultation on widespread budget proposals.

The Council needs to reduce its overall budget by around a third over the next four years, in response to Government funding cuts, and the rising costs of providing services to a growing and ageing population.

The proposals would maintain weekly rubbish collections, protect the upkeep of parks, keep town centre CCTV and preserve vital social services. No libraries in Havering would face closure, but there would be changes to their opening hours.

If agreed, the proposals would also usher in other changes to many council services.

In addition there are three specific consultations being launched on the same day regarding proposed changes to Council Tax Support, libraries and parking.

From Monday 29 September, residents can have their say on the overall proposals. The consultations end on Monday 29 December 2014.

Tenants offered wider choice as part of Council Home Swap event

​Social tenants in Havering will be given the chance to move to a more suitable property as part of the Council’s Home Swap event next week. 

​The information day, on Tuesday 23 September in Romford Library, will see officers on hand answer any questions and share tips about how mutual exchanges can be done. 

The scheme is eligible for people who are already housing association or Council tenants, and who do not have rent arrears. For those looking for a more appropriate property, for example pensioners who may want to move to a smaller property or those desperate for more space, a home swap is the perfect solution. 

 

Running from 11am to 3pm potential swappers will be able to meet others looking for a home and staff will be able to organise swaps on the day.   For those who would just like more information they’ll be able to put themselves forward to find out more about the scheme. 

 

Councillor Damian White, Deputy Leader of Havering Council and Cabinet Member for Housing, said:

“I want to put tenants in the driving seat, and this event will give people the chance to find a property perfect for them. If you’re overcrowded or struggling with a home that is too big for you, do come along on the day and staff will be on hand to help make swapping a reality.”

The event will be held on the ground floor, Romford Central Library, St Edwards Way, Romford. For more information about the day please ring 01708 434668.

TfL Commissioner Sir Peter Hendy praises work at the Battis and Victoria Road

​Sir Peter Hendy, Commissioner for Transport for London (TfL) met with Councillor Roger Ramsey, Leader of the Council last week to discuss schemes that the Council and TfL are working on jointly.

​Havering Council also raised the issue of improving safety at Gallows Corner, which has become a cause of concern for residents recently.

 

Other key matters discussed included Crossrail and Romford Station access, and the possibility of a further major development scheme for Western Road (Romford) to complement the new Romford leisure development. Sir Peter Hendy said he was happy that Crossrail will be a great economic benefit to the town.

 

They also discussed the TfL river crossings consultation, which includes plans for a new river crossing from Belvedere to the A13 in Rainham.

 

TfL representatives were then given a quick tour of Victoria Road and The Battis, both part of the current Romford major scheme and funded by TfL and Sir Peter Hendy was impressed with the work that had been done so far.

 

Councillor Roger Ramsey, Leader of the Council, said:

 

“We had a very successful meeting which will help us to move forward with a lot of projects that we are working on jointly with TfL.

 

“Some of those are coming to an end soon and it was a great opportunity to show off what all the hard work has achieved.”

 

A street party to celebrate the works on Victoria Road and the Battis as part of the major scheme will take place on Victoria Road on Saturday 22nd September from 12noon until 3pm.