Havering Consultations

Between November 2023 and January 2024, we carried out another round of surveys that built on and added further detail to the information shared by parents and carers in response to the ‘Havering: SEND Survey for Parents and Carers’ in March 2023. 

Using three separate surveys, one for children and young people, one for parents and carers, and one for professionals working within Havering’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) partnership, we sought views on how well the SEND partnership is promoting positive outcomes and experiences for children and young people with SEND and their families.

Where the earlier survey informed priorities linked to the Council’s involvement in the Department for Education’s (DfE) Delivering Better Value scheme, these additional surveys were used to inform the partnership’s evaluation of how well it is supporting children and young people with SEND and their families, and in turn, determine the priorities for its new SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy (2024-2028).

A combined total of 292 responses were received to the surveys.

Parents and Carers

We received 190 responses from parents/carers of children and young people living in Havering.

Summaries of what they told us can be found here: SEND Survey – Parents and Carers

Children and Young people

We received 29 responses from children and young people living in Havering.

Summaries of what they told us can be found here: SEND Survey – Children and Young People

Professionals

We received 73 responses from professionals working with children and young people living in Havering.

Summaries of what they told us can be found here: SEND Survey – Professionals

These responses and information from other engagement activities with children and young people, families and those working in the local area have been used to create the local area’s SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy (2024-2028), which sets out how the local area partnership will work together with the community to improve experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families over the coming years.

The Strategy, and the partnership’s Self-Evaluation, was agreed by the Council’s Cabinet in September 2024 and is now available to view on the Havering SEND Local Offer, here. 

Havering’s Local Heritage List helps our communities and the local planning authority to identify heritage assets (for example, buildings, monuments, sites and landscapes) that are much loved and a distinctive part of our local historic environment. It provides a comprehensive list of the location of assets and what is significant about them.  

During June - August 2023, we asked for your comments on the criteria.  Robust criteria ensure the local list is properly evidenced, which in turn allows each nomination to be given full consideration during planning decisions.  

We received 21 responses.

• You mentioned group value to be considered
• You suggested views and townscapes to be included in the criteria
• You suggested to put greater emphasis on pre-war buildings
• You mentioned a number of buildings for consideration

The Local Heritage List criteria have now been updated, taking on board comments we received during the consultation.  Changes include: 

• Updating the text in the ‘Age’ criterion to reflect Havering’s development over time
• We have assessed the proposition to include views in the local heritage list. Views can be identified and protected through planning policies or any specific framework- i.e. Conservation Area, Local Plan, Within designated park and gardens. However, views cannot be designated as heritage assets in the local list.  
• We will consider Townscapes for future Conservation Area assessment in terms of how a character of a townscape contributes to the special interest the conservation area.
• All buildings mentioned for consideration will be assessed for inclusion in the updated local list.

As part of Havering’s refresh of our Local Plan 2021, Havering Council carried out a consultation between March and May 2023 to ask people around the borough about their views on the characters of the areas where they live, work or study.

Led by Havering Planning team, with input from departments across the Council and an urbanisation practice, we delivered four pop-up events, a community workshop and an online survey to ensure we heard from a wide group of people.

What we learned from 91 responses that were received to the online survey:

Positive feedback from the survey told us that:

• There were 98 (108%) positive responses about the green spaces and parks in Havering.
• 74 (81%) were based on transport which included trains, buses and the underground services.
• 22 (24%) of respondents said that the community is the strength of Havering.
• 14 (15%) said they valued the heritage and historic buildings of the borough
• 7 (8%) praised Havering’s amenities and facilities
• 5 (5%) commended Havering’s sense of safety
• 3 (3%) said they valued the peace and tranquillity the borough gives

Negative feedback from the survey told us:

• There were 22 (24%) negative responses about anti-social and safety issues in Havering.
• 17 (19%) of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the over-development of the borough, including building heights.
• There were 17 (19%) negative responses about the litter in Havering and a lack of care and maintenance in the borough.
• 14 (15%) of negative responses were based on issues with transport.
• 10 (11%) said that the sense of community spirit that was once there is now lost.
• 7 (8%) addressed issues with inadequate road surfaces in the borough.

What we learned from face-to-face engagement we did with local people:

The survey results are being reviewed and will help us to:

• Understand the key issues and concerns about each place to help us shape the ideas and opportunities in the Character Study.
• Understand how local people define the edges and reach of their local area to help us shape the neighbourhood character area plan in the Character Study.
• Understand what local people value about the identity of their local area to help us shape the characteristics and qualities for future development defined in the Character Study.