We Asked, You Said, We Did

As part of our statutory duty to maintain an up-to-date waste plan, the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, and Redbridge have been working collaboratively to develop a new East London Joint Waste Plan (ELJWP).

Between 19 May and 30 June 2025, we invited residents and stakeholders to comment on an updated ELJWP to replace the outdated 2012 version. The draft plan incorporated comments from a previous consultation in Summer 2024.

We received 18 responses to the consultation which are being reviewed.

The East London Joint Waste Plan is on track to be presented to Full Council by year-end, marking a key milestone before submission to the Secretary of State for examination.

Alongside the Plan, a Consultation Statement will be published, summarising and responding to all feedback received during the Regulation 19 stage.

Between 28 April and 9 June 2025, we invited residents and stakeholders to comment on updated Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans (CAAMPs) for Romford, Rainham and Gidea Park. These areas are recognised for their special architectural and historic interest, and the CAAMPs help guide how they are managed and protected from inappropriate development and change.

We received 21 responses to the consultation.

Many of you expressed support for the proposed boundary changes and shared a strong appreciation for the importance of protecting Havering’s heritage.

We updated the conservation area appraisals and management plans (CAAMPs), based on your responses.

Havering's Cabinet met on 17 September 2025 and agreed to formally adopt the new CAAMPs.  For further information, please see the full Public Document Pack Here, which includes our Consultation Statement.

The new CAAMPs documents are now published on our website, you can find them Here.

In partnership with the NHS North of England Commissioning Support Unit (NECS), we carried out a survey between 1 May and 5 June 2025 to gather your thoughts and opinions on pharmacy services in Havering.

We received 169 responses to the online consultation:

Your feedback helped us better understand what residents need from local pharmaceutical services, including:

• Where community pharmacies are located
• What services they currently offer
• What pharmacy services will be needed in the future across Havering
• Opening new pharmacies
• Changing or merging existing ones
• Expanding the range of services available to you

Your views have helped shape Havering’s draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2025-28.  We are now consulting on the draft, which means you have another opportunity to influence the final version.

The consultation is open until 17th August 2025.  Please click HERE if you would like to take part.

All feedback will be carefully reviewed and considered in the final version of the assessment.  The PNA will be published on Havering Council’s website by 1 October 2025, and your input will help ensure it reflects the real needs of our residents.

We carried out a consultation between 16 March and 16 May 2025 to seek views on temporary modular homes that were erected in Market Place, Romford.

Havering, like much of London, is seeing a significant increase in the number of people placed in temporary accommodation such as hotels, B&B’s or hostels, which often lack privacy, cooking facilities and adequate living space and places a substantial financial burden on the Council.

We are committed to providing decent homes for our residents, and the modular homes exhibition demonstrated how we can provide energy efficient, well insulated and secure temporary housing for those families transitioning towards long-term housing.  The Council are proposing to erect modular homes in their proposals for the Waterloo and Queen Street scheme, which will be subject to a full tender process and planning.

We had many people visit the modular homes and we received a total of 8 on-line responses to our survey:

• 6 people told us that the homes either met, or exceed their expectations, whereas 2 people declined to say.

• 6 people said they would live there with their family, whereas 2 people declined to say.

• We asked respondents to rank which features of their own home are the most important to them.   In order they were:  Being able to cook in your own kitchen (5), Having separate bedrooms for adults and children (4), followed jointly by Living Space (2), Safety and security (2), and Privacy (2).

• 6 people felt that the homes would be a safe and welcoming environment for children to grow up in, whereas 2 people declined to say.

Planning permission was granted on 30 May 2025 for 18 modular homes on the Waterloo and Queen Street Estate in Romford. 

The scheme is part of the wider regeneration joint venture between Havering Council and Wates Residential that will deliver up to 5,000 new homes across the borough.

Please see Havering Council's news article for more information, and you can find the planning decision here.

We carried out a consultation between 24 March and 2 May 2025 to seek views about the C-card (Come Correct) service - a free and confidential scheme providing access to condoms, sexual health information, and advice.

We asked young people in Havering (aged 16 to 24) how we could raise awareness of the scheme and make it easier for young people to access the service.

We received 53 responses to the online consultation:

• The majority of respondents were aged 16-18 (50), along with 19-21 (1) and 22-24 (2).
• 33 respondents described their gender as female, 19 said male and 1 person preferred not to say.
• The overall majority of respondents (52) had not used the service.
• 43 respondents didn’t know about the service.
• When asked why they hadn’t used the service before, the top 3 answers were:  because they hadn’t heard of it (38), because they were not sexually active (21) and because they didn’t know where to go to access it (8).
• 38 respondents said they would prefer to collect condoms at a pharmacy, 23 said a doctors surgery or health centre, 18 said a school or college, 9 said a children’s centre, 6 said a youth centre, and 3 respondents said ‘other’.
• When asked how young people would prefer to find out about the scheme, 33 said via a relationship and sex education class (RSE), followed by Tiktok (23), health centres (22), school websites (22), Instagram(15), posters in schools (15), youth centres (14) community events (7) and children’s centres (3).

As a direct result of your feedback, our action plan includes:

• We are developing a youth-friendly communications plan to raise awareness of the scheme across schools, local services, and the wider community.
• We are delivering C-card training to staff working across the borough to build confidence and consistency in the delivery and promotion of the scheme.  
• We are reviewing the distribution of outlets across the borough to enhance geographical coverage and ensure better access for young people.
• We are engaging with new potential outlets, including healthcare settings, schools, colleges, youth clubs, and community spaces.

You can find out more about the C-card scheme and sign up here.

We carried out a consultation between 17 February and 31 March 2025 to seek views on Havering’s draft Tobacco Harm Reduction Strategy 2024-2029.

Smoking is the leading cause of avoidable ill health such as cancer, heart and lung disease and also results in premature deaths.  The Council has been working in partnership with numerous health and social care professionals and community organisations to develop a strategy to address tobacco and vape harm in Havering.

The strategy aims to focus on local challenges and to reduce both tobacco and vape harm in the borough over the next five years in line with the national ambition of creating a smoke-free society by 2030

The development of the draft strategy has been led by the Council’s Public Health Service, working with service areas across the Council alongside a Tobacco Harm Reduction Partnership Group which includes members and stakeholders from the Integrated Care Board (ICB), the National Health Service (NHS), the North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), healthcare partners and the voluntary and community sector.

Various groups and partners such as the Tobacco Harm Reduction Partnership group (which includes NHS Partners), stop smoking services, HealthWatch, and Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PHSE) Leads were engaged in the consultation design and methods to ensure questions reflect strategy priorities and were clear and relevant.

We asked respondents to share their views on these four priority areas:

• Prevention – empowerment not to smoke or vape
• Supporting smokers to quit and reducing smoking variation
• Creating smoke-free environments
• Regulation and enforcement

125 responses were received to the online consultation:

• 90% of responses came from Havering residents and 10% were from people who either worked in Havering or represented a charity or community group.
• 20% of these respondents were parents and 2% were young people, aged under 18.
• The highest number of responses came from people between the ages of 55-74 years.
• 79% of respondents agreed with the four priorities identified in the strategy, with ‘Supporting smokers to quit’ and ‘Preventing uptake of smoking and vaping (amongst young people)’ being slightly more supported than ‘Creating smoke-free environments’ or ‘Strengthening regulation and enforcement’.

Priorities

Your comments on priorities were categorised into the following Key themes:

• Choice to smoke/vape
• Smoke-free environments
• Enforcement/Licensing of cigarettes and vapes
• Focus on substance misuse
• Education

Children and young people were most frequently identified as a priority group, followed by people from diverse ethnic backgrounds and individuals who use drugs, including cannabis.

Your feedback has been taken into account and we have updated the Strategy to reflect your input in the following ways:

We have renamed the priority group from ‘Young People’ to ‘Children and Young People’ to better reflect the age range and focus.

We have strengthened our commitments for address smoking and vaping among children and young people. These include:

• Partnering with parents to raise awareness of the harms of smoking and vaping.
• Signposting parents who smoke to local stop smoking services, helping reduce second-hand and third-hand smoke exposure at home.
• Collaborating with youth groups and professionals in Havering to co-create relevant resources and campaigns.

We expanded our Enforcement and Regulation priority to include:

• Working with Licensing and Trading Standards teams to ensure premises comply with their issued licenses.

Havering's Cabinet met on 11 June 2025 and approved the Havering Tobacco Harm Reduction Strategy 2024-2029 for implementation.

Please see the full Public Document Pack Here

Between 4 March and 31 March 2025, we ran a consultation to gather your views on a proposed active travel scheme for Marsh Way in Rainham.

The Council is committed to encouraging more sustainable travel, with a goal of increasing the number of residents walking, cycling, or using public transport to 65% by 2041.

Marsh Way is a key route linking major housing and employment regeneration areas in Rainham. However, the road is currently busy and lacks dedicated cycling infrastructure, making it challenging for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers to share the space safely. Businesses in the London Riverside Business Improvement District have also reported difficulties in attracting and retaining staff due to limited travel options beyond car use.

To address these issues, we proposed creating a continuous and safe walking and cycling route connecting the A1306/Marsh Way with nearby new housing developments, commercial areas, and the proposed Beam Park railway station. This route would also improve access to jobs in the London Riverside Business Improvement District.

The aim is to offer a practical alternative to car travel, making it easier for people to commute sustainably.

46 responses were received to the online consultation:

• Nearly half of the responses (46%) were from the RM13 postcode area, where Marsh Way is situated.
• Over half of those responding (62%), travel on Marsh Way either a few times a week or every day. 3 respondents have never travelled on Marsh Way.
• The majority of respondents travel this route by car (37 people), and/or by bike (10), and/or by bus (6), 4 people travel on foot and 2 by van or lorry
• Just over half of respondents agreed with the principle of the scheme (54%), 30% did not agree and 15% were neutral.

Respondents were asked to provide their opinions on specific elements of the proposed scheme:

• 21 respondents (46%) agreed with the proposal for a two-way cycle track and footway, 17 (37%) did not agree and 8 respondents (17%) were neutral.

• 21 respondents (46%) agreed with the proposal to relocate the bus-stop on the southbound carriageway of Marsh Way, 16 (35%) did not agree and 9 respondents (20%) were neutral.

• 25 respondents (54%) agreed with the proposal to make the section of the walking and cycling route through the Centre of Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence (CEME) a shared use facility (meaning it can be used by both pedestrians and cyclists), 13 (28%) did not agree and 8 respondents (17%) were neutral.

• 29 respondents (63%) agreed with the proposal to improve the pedestrian crossing at the junction of Marsh Way and the exit road from the CEME site, 10 (22%) did not agree and 7 respondents (15%) were neutral.

The results have been reviewed and recorded and have helped to inform our Business Case that has been submitted to the Thames Freeport, in order to secure the necessary funding  to deliver this project.

Havering Council carried out a survey between 14 February and 14 March 2025 to seek views that will help guide and improve our future prevention services for the community. 

The Council commissions prevention services to support our residents in maintaining their independence and engage with activities and services that enhance their quality of life.  We are embarking on a new approach to commissioning prevention services which builds upon this work by reducing the need for more intensive support, such as hospital visits or formal social care, and promotes stronger personal resilience among the people of Havering.

261 responses were received to the consultation.

237 people told us the types of support they received that helped them avoid the need for more intensive services such a GP, Hospital, Social Care and Police.  They could choose as many options as they wished, the top three were: 

• Information and advice (169)
• Peer Support/Activity Groups/Respite (148)
• Emotional support (93).

190 people said that when they used more than one service at a time, they: 

• Received all the support they required in a timely manner (182)
• Found it difficult to navigate multiple services (7)
• Experienced lengthy waiting times due to being signposted to another organisation (5)
• Received conflicting advice (1)
• Other (4)

249 people told us whether they felt prevention services have helped them maintain their independence:

• 231 people said it had helped them
• 15 people were not sure
• 3 people said that it hadn’t helped them

Respondents told us the type of prevention services they would like to see in Havering:

• Autism Support:  Services for adults with autism, centrally located, with trained staff.
• Housing and Accommodation:  Assistance in accessing appropriate housing or sheltered accommodation.
• Shopping Assistance:  Help with shopping needs.
• Local Drop-In Centres:  More local drop-in centres for easy access to services.
• Mental Health Support:  At-home or chosen location mental health support. Bereavement groups, trauma therapy, and buddy schemes for anxious individuals.
• Information Accessibility:  Easier access to information, less confusing online resources. More one-to-one services and better advertisement across the borough.
• Exercise Classes:  More exercise classes, including chair yoga, seated yoga, tai chi, boccia, and dancing. Classes for balance, coordination, and general well-being.
• Counselling and Social Groups:  Counselling support and social groups.  More social activities, especially at weekends.
• Pavement and Walkway Improvements:  Better condition of pavements and walkways for mobility issues.
• Clinical Pharmacist:  Availability of a clinical pharmacist in medical centres for medication reviews.
• Complementary Therapies:  Reflexology and massage embraced in the NHS.
• Healthy Eating:  Activities to promote healthy eating and combat loneliness.
• Service Awareness:  Better advertisement of services in libraries, supermarkets, and various media.
• Medical Hubs:  Offering face-to-face contact in medical hubs.
• Independence Support:  Services to help older people remain independent and out of hospitals.
• Falls Prevention:  More falls prevention services and classes.
• Fraud Prevention:  Scam advice lines and courses on computer and phone scams.
• Gardening and Housework Support:  Practical support for gardening, housework, and shopping.
• Men's Groups:  Support groups for men.
• IT Support:  More accessible IT support and basic tuition in IT skills.
• Bereavement Support:  Easier access to bereavement support and counselling.
• Social and Craft Groups:  More social and craft groups, especially at weekends.
• Social Isolation:  Services to prevent isolation and loneliness, more social gatherings.
• Physical Wellbeing:  Classes for breathing, balance, pain management, and general well-being.
• Community Wellbeing:  Holistic collaborative support to enhance community wellbeing.
• Continuation of Existing Services:  Continuation and better advertisement of existing services.

212 people told us that they would like services local to where they live, with 43 people saying they would like services in Central Romford.

Respondents also told us what type of activities they would like to see become part of prevention services:

• Exercise Classes: Including chair-based exercises, Tai Chi, yoga, Pilates, dance, walking groups, and seated exercise talks.
• Social Activities: Coffee mornings, social clubs, peer support groups, organised trips, and community meeting places.
• Health and Wellbeing: Relaxation classes, self-help massage, knowledge sharing on health issues, and preventative help on common complaints.
• Creative Activities: Craft activities, painting, sketching, and singing for fun groups.
• Educational Support: IT advice, fraud prevention, and educational courses for the 50 plus age group.
• Counselling and Support: Counselling for anxiety and depression, social groups, and alternatives to A&E.
• Specialised Programs: Di's Diamonds, Everyone Active, Age UK, and dementia carer support.

Your feedback has provided valuable insights into the current state of prevention services and the needs of the community. The results highlight the importance of exercise classes, social interaction, mental health support, and practical assistance in helping individuals maintain their independence and avoid more intensive services. Additionally, your feedback emphasises the need for better accessibility, awareness, and continuity of services.

This survey feedback has formed part of a wider engagement piece that was undertaken with service users and commissioned providers and has identified key areas for improvement, such as increasing the availability of exercise classes, enhancing social interaction and mental health support, and improving communication about available services.

The overall feedback will be used to inform the development of Havering’s new prevention services which aim to address these needs, and better support the community in maintaining their independence and overall well-being.

We carried out a 21 day statutory consultation from 18 February – 7 March 2025 to seek views on our proposals to install Electric Vehicle Charging Parking Points (EVCPs) in Havering’s residential streets.

The initiative supports national policy to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035 and aims to expand public charging infrastructure to meet growing demand for electric and hybrid vehicles.

The Council’s Climate Change Action Plan targets carbon neutrality by 2040 or sooner and includes the rollout of on-street EVCPs to help residents charge their vehicles safely and conveniently. With limited current infrastructure in Havering, the Council has secured over £340,000 in government funding to install 61 EVCPs in council car parks and up to 74 in on-street residential areas. Connected Kerb Ltd are also financially supporting the project and will manage and maintain the charging units for 15 years.

Designated EV bays will be reserved for electric vehicles actively charging, while dual-use bays will remain accessible to other vehicle types. Details on parking restrictions, including maximum stay and no return periods, were available in the consultation letters sent to local residents in the vicinity of each site. Residents could also view the letters, proposed locations and affected bays on our consultation website and via https://havering.traffweb.app/.

We received responses for each road affected:

• Bader Way – 6 objections from members of the public.
• Kensington Road - 1 objection from a member of the public.
• Upminster Road South – 1 objection from a Ward Councillor and 8 objections from members of the public.
• Ongar Way – 1 objection from a member of the public and 1 in support.
• Lower Mardyke Avenue - 1 objection from a member of the public.
• Saddleworth Road - 2 objections from members of the public
• Pretoria Road - 3 objections from members of the public.
• Corbets Tey Road - 3 objections from members of the public.
• Collier Row Lane - 2 objections from Ward Councillors and 1 in support, and 7 objections from members of the public.
• Trowbridge Road - 2 objections from members of the public.
• Birbeck Road – no objections
• Margaret Road - 4 responses raising concerns from members of the public.
• Marks Road - 2 objections from a Ward Councillor, and 1 objection from members of the public.
• Abbs Cross Gardens - 2 objections from Ward Councillors, 13 objections and 1 in support from members of the public.

Your feedback has been taken into account and the proposals for each street have been considered individually and reported to the Cabinet Member of Environment

Following review of consultation feedback, on 5 August 2025 the decision was taken for some proposals to be implemented as advertised, some not to be implemented and one to be implemented with amendments.

For further information and the individual decisions taken per street, please see the full Public Document Pack Here.

We carried out a consultation between 25 November 2024 and 17 January 2025 to seek views on Havering’s draft Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy 2025-29.

VAWG is deeply linked to gender inequality and can have a huge impact on individuals and society. While most victims and survivors are women and girls, people of any gender can experience these types of abuse.

We asked respondents to share their knowledge, understanding and perceptions of VAWG to help shape our services going forward and ensure our draft strategy supports our residents and their needs and makes Havering a safer place to live.

157 responses were received to the online consultation:

• Connection to Havering: 63.06% of respondents live in Havering, 32.48% are educated there, and 24.84% work in the area
• Gender Identity: 89.17% of respondents identify as female, 7.64% as male, and smaller proportions identify as non-binary or prefer not to disclose their gender.
• Sexual Orientation: 78.98% identify as straight or heterosexual, 9.55% as bisexual, and smaller proportions identify as gay or lesbian or prefer not to disclose.
• Faith: 48.41% identify as Christian, 33.12% as having no religion, and smaller proportions identify as Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, or prefer not to disclose.
• Disability or Health Condition: 24.84% reported having a disability, impairment, or health condition.
• Age: Most respondents fell into the age brackets of 16-17 (36.31%), 55-64 (17.83%), and 45-54 (11.46%).
• Locations of VAWG: Home was the most common setting (37.58%), followed by public transport (26.11%), town centres (7.64%), open spaces (7.01%), pubs, bars or restaurants (5.73%), and work (2.55%).
• Engagement with VAWG Services: 12.10% of respondents had used VAWG services in the last 12 months, with Havering Women’s Aid being the most accessed.
• Critical Issues: The top three issues identified were sexual abuse, domestic abuse, and stalking and harassment.
• Key Needs: The top three areas of focus included the provision of counselling and mental health services (68.15%), education and prevention programs (64.33%), and emergency shelters or refuges (62.42%).

Havering's Cabinet met on 9 April 2025 and agreed the Havering Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy 2025-29 and Action Plan.

As a direct result of your feedback, our actions include:

• Enhance community outreach and awareness.
• Improve access to counselling and mental health services.
• Strengthen emergency shelters and refuges.
• Implement education and prevention programs.
• Enhance legal assistance and understanding of rights.
• Support perpetrator change programs.
• Address critical issues identified in the survey.
• Improve engagement with VAWG services.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of VAWG services.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders.

An action plan has been developed which includes the findings, key areas of enquiry, and recommendations highlighted from the consultation survey which aim to improve the overall response to VAWG in Havering. The VAWG strategic partnership will take ownership of the action plan and support its delivery.

Please see the full Public Document Pack Here which includes the consultation report, action plan and equalities and health impact assessment.

Havering Council launched a consultation on our Budget 25-26 draft proposals, from 22 November 2024 to 3 January 2025, which set out how the Council propose to save money whilst still providing vital public services.  We asked for feedback on how these proposals would affect Havering’s residents.  We also held a public event on Wednesday 18 December 2024 which was attended by 14 people.

At the time the consultation was published, we were predicting a budget gap of around £74 million and we explained that Havering is in this position as the funding we receive from government no longer meets rising costs and the borough’s changing population and that, as in recent years, we knew we would have to make some difficult decisions during the setting of the 25-26 budget to ensure money is directed to where it is needed most.

We also explained how we continue to lobby the government for a fairer funding deal which accurately reflects the changing population and needs in Havering and asked residents to help us by signing our petition and writing to their local MP. 

608 responses were received to the consultation, which included 25 paper copies.

• The three most important issues that respondents felt Havering is likely to face in the next year by weighted rank are: Crime and Community Safety (14.9%), The Economy and Cost of Living (14.4%) and Increasing Population Levels (14.1%).

• The three most important issues that respondents are personally most concerned about are: Cleanliness of Street and Local Area (17%), Anti-Social Behaviour in My Community (14%) and Paying Bills/Rent/Mortgage (10%).

Residents were asked if they would support an increase in Council Tax.  We did not include any particular assumptions on a Council Tax increase but provided an illustration of how a 5% increase in Council Tax would mean an increase of £1.66 per week on an average Band D property in the borough:

• • 40% supported an increase of up to 5%
  • 15.5% supported an increase of 5% or above
  • 41% did not support an increase

Respondents were asked if they would support a Council Tax premium for second homes which have been empty and furnished for more than twelve months in the same way as empty and unfurnished properties:

• 80% supported charging a premium
• 13% did not support charging a premium

We asked for feedback on our proposals which we grouped into themes:

Council Tax Increases:  Many comments expressed concerns about the affordability of council tax increases, especially for pensioners and low-income households. There was general sentiment that any increase above 5% would be unaffordable to many residents.

Empty and Second homes:  There were mixed opinions on charging a premium for empty and second homes. Some believed that second homes are a luxury and should be taxed if left empty, while others want exceptions in cases like long-term hospital stays, care homes or probate delays.

Council Efficiency and Spending:  Some comments highlighted the need for the council to improve efficiency and reduce wasteful spending. Suggestions included better management of council resources, reducing high salaries, and cutting down on unnecessary projects.

Social Care and Essential Services:  There was an emphasis on the importance of funding essential services such as social care, policing and education. Some residents were willing to support a council tax increase if it ensured the maintenance or improvement of these services.

Fairness and Equity: The theme of fairness was prevalent, with many comments suggesting that council tax should be based on the ability to pay.

Government Funding: A recurring theme was the need for increased government funding to support local councils to alleviate the burden on local taxpayers

Havering's Cabinet met on 26 February 2025 and agreed proposals for the Council's 2025-26 budget.

As a direct result of feedback:

• Council tax will be increased by 4.99% from 1 April 2025
• The Council will continue to invest in safety with a new CCTV system coming online and another year of funding for the section 92 police officers.
• Parks will continue to be maintained and the Council will carry on building homes for Havering residents through a number of different regeneration schemes.
• The Council will continue to invest in our roads, support local businesses through a new campaign, and ensure help remains for our most vulnerable through the cost of living challenge. 

Please see the full Public Document Pack Here which includes the 2025-26 Council Budget Setting Report.

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. 

We carried out a consultation between 23 October and 6 December 2024 to seek views on Havering’s Active Travel Strategy for Havering.

The strategy is an ambitious roadmap designed to revolutionise the way we move around our community over the next 15 years. By prioritising active travel - walking, cycling, and wheeling - we aim to create a healthier, more connected, and vibrant borough.

Active travel can improve air quality, reduce congestion, improve public health, boost the local economy, decrease social inequalities, reallocate road space for community uses and improve a sense of belonging.

We also launched a special version of our Active Travel Consultation just for children and young people aged under 18, and up to age 25 with special educational needs, to ensure we captured the views of all our residents.

We received a total of 365 responses:

• 145 responses were received to the main consultation
• 220 were received to the Children and Young People’s consultation.

Main consultation

• 79 people (55%) said they walk every day, with 9 people (6.5%) saying that they don’t walk.
• A 20 minute walk was the most popular (28%), followed by walking up to an hour (21%).
• 84 people (58%) said that they didn’t own a bike, and 58 people (40%) said they did, however, 96 people said that they do not cycle (66.5%).
• 6 people (4%) cycle to work and 45 people (31%) cycle for recreation.
• 60 people (41.5%) said they supported Havering’s Active Travel strategy and what we are trying to achieve, whereas 38 people (26.5%) did not support it, and 47 people (32%) were unsure.
• The majority of respondents (63%) supported the measures and initiatives that the Council has been delivering in recent years to support walking and cycling in the borough, however, 42 people (29%) did not.
• 71 people (49%) agreed with our strategy’s vision and goals, with 49 people (34%) not agreeing.
• 54 people said the strategy did not reflect their own vision for Havering, whilst 49 said it did, and 42 were either unsure or did not answer.
• 51 people felt that the strategy was ambitious enough, whereas 31 people did not, and 63 people were either unsure or did not answer.

Children and young people consultation

• 168 (76.5%) of young people who responded own a bike or scooter, whereas 32 (14.5%) do not.
• The majority of young people (82%) felt that the goals in the strategy were a good idea, however 4% did not.
• The majority of young people (69%) felt that our plans will make Havering safer for walking, cycling and wheeling, whereas 4% did not.

The draft Active Travel Strategy is currently being amended following your feedback and will be presented at Havering's Cabinet where it will be recommended for adoption.

We will update this page once a decision has been made.

We carried out a consultation between 9 October and 30 November 2024 to seek views on Havering’s upcoming new food waste collection service.

The government, by law, requires all local authorities to provide a separate household food waste collection by March 2026.  In response to these future compulsory changes, we asked residents to share their thoughts on collecting, separating, storing and presenting cooked and uncooked food waste to help us shape how a separate home food waste collection service would work.

1868 responses were received to the consultation which includes 47 paper copies.

Orange sacks

• 1849 respondents said that they currently use the orange sack recycling service (99%)
• 1567 respondents told us that they recycle glass in their orange sack (84%).

Black sacks

• The most common type of food waste thrown away in black sacks is: plate scrapings and left-overs (86%), followed by tea and coffee grounds (73%), meat, bones and carcasses (73%), fruit and vegetables (70%), bread and cakes (57%), dairy products (40%) and pet food (19%).

Food Waste

• Just over a quarter of respondents currently compost their food waste (26%).
• 1405 respondents said that they would use a dedicated weekly food waste collection service (75%).
• Of the 463 respondents who said that they wouldn’t use a dedicated weekly food waste collection service, the top three reasons were:  lack of space indoors (46%) and outdoors (31%), and a dislike of keeping food waste separate (37%).
• A quarter of residents who would not use the food waste service stated they do not produce any food waste.
• 174 who said they wouldn’t use the food waste service provided a comment, the top three barriers were:  hygiene and smell (45), already using their own composting methods (30), and jointly, vermin and pests (28) and not producing any food waste (28).
• 80% of respondents said that the provision of liners for their kitchen caddy would encourage or enable them to use the food waste service, followed by clear guidance on how to use the service (73%), information on how saving money may benefit the council (24%), information on the effects on the environment (21%), knowledge around benefits (17%), if they saw their friends or neighbours doing it (5%), other (4%) and if they had help from household/family (3%).

Havering's Cabinet met on 22 January 2025 and agreed the permission to delegate the purchase of food waste caddies and food waste vehicles to Havering Council’s Director of Environment, in order to introduce a borough-wide separate food waste collection service from October 2025 (please note that this date is subject to change due to vehicle manufacturing period).

As a direct result of feedback, we now have an action plan in place to ensure appropriate messaging is considered when rolling out the service, and will focus on particular concerns residents may have to ensure service guidance is fit for purpose. 

We will also continue to encourage home composting and overall waste reduction as a means of reducing food waste.  A decision on whether to use caddy liners or not will be made in due course, but will likely be influenced by financial considerations.

Please see the full Public Document Pack Here which includes the consultation report, Cabinet report and appendices such as costs.

Havering Council carried out an independent customer satisfaction survey between 1 November and 30 November 2024 in collaboration with the Institute of Customer Service (ICS), to help shape and improve our customer service.

968 customers responded to our survey.

The results have been received and have provided us with some insightful data.  We will publish your feedback once we have been able to fully analyse the findings.

Once we have analysed the feedback report, it will be used to shape and improve the customer experience.  More information will follow on any improvements we will be making.

We carried out a consultation between 16 October and 29 November 2024 to seek views on Havering’s draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) and to help us understand our resident’s personal encounters with flooding, and their awareness of the measures taken by the council and others that can help towards the prevention of flooding.

The strategy sets out the risk of flooding in the borough and the actions that the Council and other partner organisations such as the Environment Agency, Water Companies and Highways Authorities can take to manage the risk.  It focuses on the risk of flooding from small watercourses, surface water (the overland runoff after heavy rainfall) and groundwater.

48 responses were received to the online consultation.

• 44 responses were received from the public (92%),
• 4 were from other stakeholders (8%), which included the London Riverside Business Improvement District (BID) and the Roding, Beam and Ingrebourne (RBI) Catchment Partnership.
• The Environment Agency did not complete the online questionnaire but shared their response via email to the LLFA.  
• Thames Water did not submit a formal response but participated actively in the stakeholder workshops during the review of the LFRMS and Action Plan.

Awareness of flood risk

• 88% of participants responded that they were aware of flooding in the borough, and 12% of participants said that they were not aware. 
• 21% of participants had been directly affected by flooding in their property.
• The majority of the participants were very concerned about flooding in their community.  69% of the participants rated their concern as 5 (highest degree of concern) and 16% of participants rated it as 4, with 15% of participants rating it as 1-3 (lower concern).

Response to flooding

• If there was a risk of immediate flooding, 35% of respondents would contact three emergency responders: the Environment Agency, the Council and the emergency services. 
• Of the 40% of respondents who said they would use a single contact, 23% said emergency services, 11% said the Environment Agency and the council, with 17% of respondents not knowing who to contact.

Barriers to managing flooding

• The top three barriers were:  I don’t have the information I need (14 responses), I need more technical assistance (12 responses) and I don’t have enough time (5 responses).

Objectives

• The majority of respondents (81%) felt that there was a need for more public education on flood risks and preparedness.
• Respondents suggested a range of flood-related information and resources which included printed leaflets, social media posts, emails and text messages.
• Just over half of respondents (52%) understood the roles of different organisations, 20% did not understand them and 24% were not sure.
• 44% of respondents knew about the role the Council have in managing flooding, which was joint with those who did not know (44%), and 12% said they were unsure.
• 83% of respondents felt that the current drainage infrastructure in the borough is inadequate.  6% felt that is adequate.
• The use of sustainable drainage solutions (eg permeable paving, green infrastructure) in the borough was widely supported by respondents (83%), 2% did not support its use and 9% were not sure.
• Just over half of respondents (52%) said they would be willing to adopt sustainable drainage on their property, with 10% who would not be willing, 19% were unsure and 15% chose ‘other’.

Strategy

• Just over half of respondents (53%) understood what the draft strategy is about and why it has been done, 15% did not understand and 21% were unsure.

Action Plan

• The majority of participants (45%) felt that the actions were not ambitious enough, 23% were not sure, 21% were happy with the ambition and 11% felt that they were too ambitious.
• The actions which participants felt were missing from the action plan included:
  • Nature-based solutions
  • Collaborative working
  • Scheme to help homeowners implement measures on their properties
  • Community involvement

Practical Information and how to improve the strategy

Suggestions for additional evidence in the strategy included:

• • Statistics on flooding
  • Information on gully maintenance
  • How the Strategy aligns with wider London
  • Areas of flood risk
  • What actions will be implemented and who is responsible
  • What is already being done within Havering
  • Nature-based solutions
  • Yearly updates published about progress

Respondents also recommended how to improve the strategy, which included:

• • To be made more user friendly and simplified
  • To be organised into local areas
  • To include collaborative working

The consultation results are being reviewed and will be included in a draft report to inform our new Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

We carried out a formal consultation between 30 September and 11 November 2024 to seek views on Havering’s draft Romford Masterplan.

The Masterplan is a strategic plan aimed at guiding future development within the area and aims to improve Romford's unique character and history, creating a vibrant, mixed-use town centre.

The Masterplan will serve as a planning policy document, influencing private landowner developments within Romford, with financial contributions from these landowners expected to fund public space improvements.

The consultation followed the process set out in the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement  which was adopted in 2021.

Previous community engagement on the Masterplan was carried out in 2019, 2020 and in early 2024.  This informal public engagement fed into the draft Romford Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Statutory consultees such as the Environment Agency and Historic England as well as utility providers and the NHS were notified, along with 67 land owners, those already on the Havering planning policy database, 55 volunteer groups and charities, and the 18 schools in Romford.  A statutory notice of consultation was published in the Romford Recorder and 3 drop in sessions were held in Romford Central Library.

Overall, we received 101 responses to the consultation; 79 responses were received to the online consultation, along with 22 via email:

• 69 from residents
• 6 from community groups
• 9 from landowners
• 10 from statutory consultees
• 3 from Councillors
• 4 from others

Overall, the feedback was supportive of the Masterplan. Key issues raised included:

Townscape and Height:

• It was suggested that the existing heights in Romford should not be referred to as ‘low-rise’ and that the Masterplan should acknowledge the heights of emerging buildings. There was support for the strategic approach to townscape and height, but some felt there was further opportunity for height in certain areas.
• Comments regarding urban grain suggest that references to a 'historic urban grain' should be specific to South Street, North Street, High Road, Market Place, and their adjoining streets and alleyways. However, the areas where the Brewery, Liberty, and Mercury shopping centres are located did not replace any historic urban grain. Instead, it is recommended that the Masterplan should mention the introduction of a new 'finer urban grain' in these locations.

Viability:

• Comments raised concerns about the viability of projects within the site guidance, including infrastructure projects like the potential new station entrance. It was suggested that viability testing should be emphasised, especially considering the social infrastructure components. Collaboration with relevant bodies, such as Network Rail, was also recommended for the new station entrance.
• Some comments highlighted concerns about the masterplan's viability, such as deculverting the Rom and responsibility for interventions like bridges across the Rom. The Masterplan asserts that the value added from these interventions will be broader and more positively impactful than point-in-time viability calculations can show, and that collaboration with bodies like Network Rail is essential for these interventions to be feasible and practical.

Safety:

• There was support for promoting safe environments, with requests for more references in the Masterplan to the need to make Romford safer, to link to existing documents and that the narrative on safety, equity, inclusivity, and diversity could be strengthened.

Culture:

• There was support for the Masterplan’s focus on cultural amenities and local identity, with suggestions for more clarity and references to the health benefits of cultural places. 

Public Transport:

• Comments emphasised the need to safeguard the bus network and infrastructure, ensuring any changes to depots and other facilities require reprovision. The potential redevelopment of the North Street bus depot and Station Gateway bus standing area was noted, with calls for clarity and further engagement with TfL.
• The importance of buses and the benefits of the Elizabeth Line were highlighted, with suggestions to align with new funding approaches and enhance the interchange between train and bus services. The positive impact of an additional station entrance on town centre growth was also supported, with requests for clarity on funding and delivery.

Parking:

• Comments focused on the importance of prioritising blue badge parking and ensuring that town centre parking provisions support those who need it most. There were also concerns about car parking numbers and the allocation of existing provisions to neighbouring site guidance areas.
• Support was shown for removing car parking from the Market Place and for a rational town centre parking strategy. Additionally, there was backing for promoting active travel, such as walking and cycling. The comments aligned with the Masterplan's approach, but further clarity and a detailed car parking needs assessment were suggested.

Infrastructure:

• Clarity was sought on the provision or reprovision of infrastructure components, including the Romford Ambulance Centre, and projects listed in the Implementation chapter’s infrastructure delivery table. Specific details were requested for certain locations, and updates or corrections were needed for pricing and delivery dates.

De-culverting the River Rom:

• Comments strongly supported the de-culverting of the Rom, emphasising the importance of natural infrastructure enhancements. There were inquiries about potential funding and viable delivery methods. Additionally, comments highlighted the responsibility to improve through re-naturalisation, suggesting alignment with policy and if possible, to exceed the current masterplan's provisions.

Havering's Cabinet met on 12 March 2025 and agreed to adopt the Romford Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Whilst no material changes were made to the Masterplan, as a direct result of your feedback, changes were made that are corrective, to add clarity, alter or refresh references, refine terminology and to add further emphasis.

The Full Public Document Pack which includes the adopted Romford Town Centre Masterplan SPD, the Consultation Report and consultation statement setting out respondent’s feedback can be found on our Decisions page Here, or alternatively please see our Planning page Here.

Havering Council carried out a consultation between 3 October and 8 November 2024 to seek views on which social value projects residents felt are a priority.  We partner and collaborate with Havering's contractors who generously fund or volunteer their time to support initiatives that will make a positive impact on our community.

113 residents responded to our survey.

• The top three priorities that residents said mattered most to them by weighted rank were:  Employment Opportunities (63%), Supporting Green Spaces, eg Litter Picks (56%) and Energy Efficiency in Your Home Sessions (52%).
• Other priorities by weighted rank were Local Apprenticeships (37%), Sponsorship of Community Events/Groups (31%), Work Experience Opportunities (20%), School and College Engagement (16%), CV Writing and Interview Skills (11%), Supporting Start-Up Business Training Sessions (9%) and Other (5%)

We have reviewed your feedback with our contractors and developed an action plan. Our initial focus is on addressing your top three priorities, and as a direct result of your feedback, we are either working on, or having started some of the following initiatives:

Employment opportunities:

• Promoting Havering Works to both residents and contractors, with a focus on advertising roles for Havering residents.
• Working on integrating contractor job listings into the Havering recruitment website.
• Contractors have committed to hiring Havering apprentices for training.
• Contractors are actively attending school fairs, and offering work experience placements for students.

Supporting Green Spaces:

• Collaborating with the Where We Live campaign to identify areas in need of volunteer litter-picking and clean-up initiatives.
• A dedicated programme of clean-up days is being developed to enhance and maintain our green spaces.

Energy Efficiency in Your Homes:

• Organised a DIY skills session that featured energy efficiency training.
• Actively promoting the Energy Doctors initiative to our residents.

Once these are underway, we will assess how to implement the remaining priorities and keep you updated on our progress.

Havering Council carried out a survey between 3 October and 31 October 2024 to seek your views on our Integrated Starting Well Plan called Happy, Healthy Lives and how we will achieve our vision.

Underpinning our work in Starting Well (Children’s Services) is a comprehensive improvement plan that was developed following our inspection by Ofsted in December 2023 under the Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) framework.

Our Happy, Healthy Lives plan does not attempt to replicate the actions that have already been identified through this improvement plan, but instead brings together a number of key strategies which collectively respond to evidence, recommendations and importantly, feedback from children and young people, in order to deliver our vision of enabling our children and families to lead happy, healthy lives.

To achieve our vision, we have organised our work under five priorities, which together describe our WISH for children and young people in Havering. We want children and young people to be:

• Well
• Inspired
• Safe
• Heard

Alongside our four wishes is a commitment (our fifth priority): for children and young people to be treated fairly.

29 responses were received to the consultation.

• All respondents (100%) agreed that it should be a priority for children and young people to be well, and over half of respondents (55%) felt it was clear how we would work with partners to achieve this.
• Most respondents (97%) agreed that it should be a priority for children and young people to be inspired and two-thirds of respondents (66%) felt it was clear how we would work with partners to achieve this.
• All respondents (100%) agreed that it should be a priority for children and young people to be safe, with almost two thirds of respondents (62%) feeling it was clear how we would work with partners to achieve this.
• Most respondents (93%) agreed that it should be a priority for children and young people to be heard, and over half of respondents (55%) felt it was clear how we would work with partners to achieve this.
• Most respondents (93%) agreed that it should be a priority for children and young people to be treated fairly, with a large majority of respondents (72%) feeling it was clear how we would work with partners to achieve this.

As a direct result of feedback, several changes were made to the final draft of the plan and Havering's Cabinet met on 20 November 2024 and agreed the Happy, Healthy Lives plan. The changes that were made included:

• Strengthening the links between action being taken related to climate change, active travel and road safety
• Expanding on action being taken to support school attendance
• Adding a section on hearing the voice of very young children
• Outlining actions being taken to address disproportionality
• Expanding the section on Early Help for families

An action plan has been produced to support the delivery of our vision and priorities. As part of this, key performance indicators are being identified so that our progress over the next three years can be measured.  This will be overseen by the Babies, Children and Young People (BCYP) Board, under the Place Based Partnership.

We are now working with Havering’s Youth Council and a local inclusive theatre company, The Habbit Factory, to coproduce a children's version of Happy, Healthy Lives, for sharing in the summer.

Please see the full Happy, Healthy Lives plan here and the high level action plan here.

Havering’s Safeguarding Partnership carried out a consultation from 5 July – 30 October 2024 seeking views to help shape our forthcoming priorities for safeguarding children and adults.

57 responses were received to the consultation.

• The three highest priorities that respondents said mattered most to them by weighted rank are:  Child Sexual Abuse (33%), Exploitation of Children and Adults (16%) and Mental Health (11%).

Our safeguarding priorities going forward are:

• Child Sexual Abuse
• Child Sexual Exploitation
• Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
• Neglect and Self-Neglect
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Transitional safeguarding including for those with disabilities and special educational needs

We have already started working on our action plan which includes:

• A Deeper focus on Early Years, Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Early Help including an upcoming pilot for Operation Encompass alerts that will be sent to Early Years settings.   
• We will host an Early Years Conference in autumn 2025.
• Starting Well updates: Early Help Strategy and early help support provided in Havering.
• A Review of our Transitional Safeguarding arrangements with a new transitional team being set up in both Adult and Children’s Social Care.
• A Refresh of the Havering Safeguarding Children Partnership Exploitation and Neglect Strategies with the Havering Neglect Strategy refreshed and published in February 2025.
• Development of Local Guidance on working with those affected by Substance Use.
• Promotion of Advocacy, Best Interests, and Support for Carers, including Young Carers.
• Identification of Private Fostering arrangements – termly results from local schools have been collected for the past year.
• Havering Housing organised a Housing Providers Street Sleeping conference in November 2024, which was attended by 60 people.
• Development of Mental Capacity Act Champions and Suicide Prevention pathways.
• A Task and Finish Group was set up to work with those people who are exploring their gender identity.