We Asked, You Said, We Did

During December 2025 we ran a ‘Christmas Means Community’ campaign to bring residents together through joyful, inclusive activities that embrace diversity, boost wellbeing, and strengthen connections. 

Hosted by our Housing Engagement Team and our fantastic partners, we held events that spread festive cheer and created opportunities for everyone to get involved and feel part of something special. 

We asked you for your favourite things at Christmas, be it food, people, traditions and Christmas songs.

Many people shared their views on our social media channels, and we had 17 people respond to our online survey.   

This is the data from the online survey: 

• The most Christmas cheer came jointly from the post code areas of RM13 (Rainham, South Hornchurch, Wennington and Beam Park East) and RM14 (Upminster, Cranham, North Ockendon and Bulphan). 

• The most favourite Christmas song was jointly Driving Home for Christmas (Chris Rea) and Fairytale of New York (The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl). 

• Your most favourite festive tradition was spending time with your family, whether by having Christmas dinner together, watching a Christmas movie, shopping or baking together. 

• You shared your favourite recipes which included homemade cookies, cakes, sausage rolls, left-over turkey pie and a twist on cooking brussels sprouts for those who don’t like them! 

• Most residents said that the people or person who made Christmas special for them was their family, neighbours, front-line people working over Christmas and Santa!  

We shared your feedback on social media and in our Living in Havering e-newsletter.  You can sign up here for Havering Council news and updates. 

During November and December 2025, we carried out a 6 week consultation to ask Havering residents about their views on our draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) 2025-30. 

The draft plan sets out the actions we’ll take to tackle air pollution and protect public health. Our focus is on reducing harmful pollutants like Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) and Particulate Matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅) - most of which come from road traffic, but also from sources like construction, wood burners, domestic heating and industry. 

We received over 130 responses to our survey, both online and by email from individuals, groups and statutory consultees. 

We are currently analysing your feedback and adjustments will be made to the final plan where needed. 

Adoption of Havering’s Air Quality Action Plan 2025-30 by the Council requires the prior ratification of the plan by the GLA and a decision by our Cabinet.  We are striving to achieve this within this administration, prior to the local elections in May and will be able to share the finalised plan, consultation report and analysis with you then.

Between August and September 2025, we asked residents, businesses, and key stakeholders for their views on a proposal to introduce a Lane Rental Scheme on selected parts of the borough’s road network in Havering, aimed at reducing disruption from road and street works. 

In line with national Lane Rental Regulations and Department for Transport guidance, the proposed scheme would help minimise congestion in the busiest areas, improve coordination of works, and encourage quicker completion by applying charges to activities on high traffic roads at peak times. This approach supports the Mayor of London’s commitment to expand Lane Rental schemes and has been developed in partnership with Transport for London, using TfL’s pan London data to identify where charges should apply. 

We carried out a traffic sensitive review relating to the proposed Lane Rental streets, with notification provided to stakeholders on 8th July 2025. 

Additionally, an online public consultation exercise was launched on 29th August and ran to 30th September 2025.

Similar documents were made available to both consultation exercises, with both stakeholders and members of the public invited to send general comments via email.  

We received 4 responses to the first part of the consultation, including 3 from utility companies, and 1 from the Greater London Authority.  

All 4 of these responses contained a series of questions and comments relating to points of clarification and the costs and benefits of the proposed scheme.  

A total of 11 comments were received from the online consultation. 

There were several common responses raised by the consultees, these were in relation to:  

· The charge free period for immediate works 

· The categorisation of footways and cycle tracks 

· The use of Street Manager terminology 

· The Cost Benefit Analysis 

· Waivers and exemptions 

· Waivers for collaborative works 

· The application of revenues 

· The categorisation of weekends and Bank Holidays 

· The benefits of a consistent pan-London scheme 

Havering's Cabinet met on 8 January 2026 and agreed to proceed with the lane rental charging scheme.   

As a result, the Council will now submit an application to implement a lane rental scheme to the Department for Transport (DfT).  

The DfT will need to consider whether to grant the application. Havering Council will update our website with the outcome of the DfT’s consideration of our application as soon as they announce it to us. Officers will also write to all those individuals and organisations who replied to the consultation. 

Your comments have been taken into account and any amendments to our proposals can be found in the full Public Document Pack Here which includes the consultation report, Cabinet report and appendices. 

During August and September 2025, we asked for your views on Havering’s current Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). 

The JSNA provides essential insight and understanding of the current and future health and wellbeing needs of Havering's population and is relevant to everyone.  It tells us how Havering's health outcomes - that is the physical and mental wellbeing of individuals and communities - are impacted by social, economic and environmental factors.  These factors cover a range of areas such as education, housing, employment, planning, transport and community safety.  

By bringing this together in one document, the JSNA helps to support evidence-based decision making to improve the lives of our residents. 

We received 41 on-line responses to our survey. 

• The majority of respondents were Havering residents, council employees and NHS professionals. 

Data Needs and Usage 

• Most of the respondents said they require borough-level data for planning services, business cases, and funding bids. 

• Most requested data types included demographics, health outcomes and social outcomes. 

• The most preferred formats for data presentation are infographics and maps. 

JSNA Familiarity and Usefulness 

• Over a third of the respondents were familiar with the JSNA, while about a half were not. The most-used section was demographics. 

Navigation and Accessibility 

• Half of respondents had not accessed the JSNA. Over a third who had accessed it, found it easy to navigate. 

• The majority of the respondents had not accessed local insight explorer. 

Identified Data Gaps 

• Information on air pollution in Rainham. 

• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). 

• Pregnant women. 

• Elderly and digitally excluded populations. 

The JSNA production is a complex process that involves multiple stakeholders and takes months to accomplish. No formal evaluation/review has been taken in the recent past to clearly identify strengths and weaknesses of the process and products, along with opportunities for improvement. 

Your experiences, views, and local knowledge are of great significance. By taking part, you have helped us develop a clearer understanding of what is working well, where improvements can be made, and will help us to form a 3-year delivery plan. 

Next steps:  

• Public Health Intelligence and Insight teams will utilise survey feedback and other resources to develop new templates and recommendations for improvement. 

• Stakeholder workshops will be developed for input on templates, plans and recommendations. 

• A stakeholder steering group will be put together to review and approve recommendations. 

• A 3-year delivery plan is scheduled to be implemented from April 2026 

You can view the current JSNA and related profiles here:  Havering JSNA Webpage. 

You can also access the JSNA Local Insight interactive data and map explorer here:  Map | Local Insight. 

Between August and September 2025, we consulted residents on Havering’s Statement of Gambling Principles. This policy outlines the Council’s approach to licensing gambling premises, managing those licences, and the standards expected of licensees. 

The Statement of Gambling Principles is reviewed, consulted on, and re-published every three years. The current version is due for renewal this year, so we have refreshed it to ensure it remains up to date and reflects Havering’s current circumstances and their impact on the local gambling economy. 

We received 17 responses to the online consultation along with 2 written responses from key stakeholders: the Betting and Gaming Council, via Gosschalks Solicitors, and the charity Gambling Harm. 

• All online respondents (100%) identified as residents of the borough.

• Some comments were supportive of the draft Statement of Gambling Principles.

• A larger number of comments were less supportive and raised concerns about the number of premises in the borough, however, it is not possible under current legislation for us to limit the number of premises. 

As a direct result of your feedback, we will make some minor amendments to the policy before it is presented to Havering’s Cabinet for a decision in the near future. 

We will update this page as soon as a decision has been made. 

Between August and September 2025, we invited residents to share their views on the Summer Family Fun Day events we put on and tell us how well Havering Council communicates with you. As part of the survey, respondents also had the chance to enter a free prize draw. 

Families were able to enjoy these events:

21 responses were received to our survey: 

• All 21 people (100%) said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with our events. 

• Everyone (100%) was also satisfied with the date and time of our events as well as the locations, duration and the activities on offer. 

• The majority of people were very satisfied with the free food and beverages on offer (95%), with one person being dissatisfied as they missed the opportunity for refreshments.  

• We had some very positive comments with 2 people saying they would like to see more arts and crafts activities for children. 

• We had lots of comments on people’s highlights of the day, especially for the children’s entertainer, the face painter, the bouncy castle and our friendly staff. 

• Respondents said the free event along with free food and water was greatly appreciated. 

• 18 people were either satisfied or very satisfied with the way we communicate with residents, with 3 people neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. 

• Just over half (58%) found out about our events from Facebook. 

• We had 2 suggestions of how better to communicate our events with you, one person said that all housing estates should get a newsletter and another person asked for the events to be shared by schools in their newsletters.  

• 11 people shared their contact details with us, so we will ensure they find out about ways to get involved and help improve the Housing Service, such as taking part in our surveys. 

• Free food and water were provided through Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) funding. As the events are open for anyone to drop in, it can be difficult to predict demand, and supplies may run out sooner than expected, but we will take this feedback on board for future events. 

• Our communications are via an e-bulletin or social media, so if you want to find out more, please check out our website or sign up for all or one of our newsletters, or follow us on Facebook. 

• We also tell our schools about events so they can share them via their parent mail. 

• The Council’s housing repairs and maintenance contractor, Mears, sponsored our free prize draw, which was won by 4 residents who each received a £50 B&Q voucher. 

• Find out more and continue to help us shape Housing Services – click HERE for more information.   

Between July and September 2025, we invited residents and partners to share their views on Havering’s Corporate Parenting Strategy 2025–28 and to help us ensure the strategy genuinely reflects the needs, priorities, and aspirations of children in care and care experienced young people, supporting meaningful improvements in the services they receive. 

The Corporate Parenting Strategy outlines how the London Borough of Havering will fulfil its responsibilities as a corporate parent over the next three years. It builds on the foundations of the Happy, Healthy Lives plan and is shaped by the voices, lived experiences, and ambitions of our children in care and care experienced young people.

We received 21 responses to the consultation. 

• Almost half (48%) of responses were from those who work with or support children and young people. 

• Promise 1: The majority (90%) of respondents agreed that “We’ll help you stay healthy, support your mental wellbeing, and make sure your health needs are met” should be a priority. 43% felt it was clear what actions the Council and professionals will take to support children and young people in care and those with care experience.  

• Promise 2: The majority (90%) of respondents agreed that “We’ll cheer you on at school, help you plan for your future, and give you chances to try new things” should be a priority. 43% felt it was clear what actions the Council and professionals will take to support children and young people in care and those with care experience.  

• Promise 3: The majority (90%) of respondents agreed that “We’ll work with others to keep you safe at home, in school, and in your community” should be a priority. 48% felt it was clear what actions the Council and professionals will take to support children and young people in care and those with care experience.  

• Promise 4: All respondents (100%) agreed that “We'll ensure your voice matters. We’ll listen, involve you in decisions, and support you to speak up” should be a priority. 52% felt it was clear what actions the Council and professionals will take to support children and young people in care and those with care experience.  

• Promise 5: The majority (86%) of respondents agreed that “We’ll celebrate who you are and make sure everyone is treated with respect and kindness” should be a priority. 48% felt it was clear what actions the Council and professionals will take to support children and young people in care and those with care experience.  

Overall, the consultation responses suggest that the priorities and promises outlined within the strategy are the right ones; however, clarity around the action being taken by the Council and professionals was felt to be lower and some respondents reported that it was difficult to know how the priorities would be delivered without an underpinning action plan being made available alongside the strategy.  

Havering's Cabinet met on 12 November 2025 and approved the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2025-28. 

It was noted that the Corporate Parenting Panel will: 

• Monitor the delivery of the strategy and associated action plan.  

• Monitor progress through key performance indicators and qualitative feedback, with updates to be shared with stakeholders, including children and young people, by officers in the Starting Well directorate. 

And that: 

• Directed officers to carry out an internal review of the strategy for late 2027, and to make any interim revisions to the action plan as needed to ensure continued relevance and impact. 

Please see the full Public Document Pack Here which includes the finalised Corporate Parenting Strategy 2025-28, the Consultation Comments, the Cabinet Report with consultation analysis, and any other appendices.  

Between July and September 2025, we ran a borough-wide survey to gather residents’ views and experiences of crime and anti‑social behaviour - both across Havering and within local neighbourhoods. 

The findings will help inform the work of our multi‑agency Community Safety Partnership, which brings together Havering Council, the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, Probation Services, Health partners, and a range of other organisations. The results will also play a key role in developing Havering’s Community Safety Partnership Plan for 2026–2029. 

385 responses were received to the online survey. 

• The majority of respondents (96%) either live, or both live and work in Havering. 

• 43% of respondents told us they are satisfied with their neighbourhood as a place to live or work, whereas 42% said they were dissatisfied. 

• 49% of respondents told us that they felt unsafe in their neighbourhood, whereas 35% said they felt safe.   

• 42% of respondents said that crime is high or very high. 

• 74% of respondents believe that crime has increased in the last year. 

• 73% cited personal or close contacts’ experiences 

Your views have been taken into account and contributed to the final plan.   Havering's Cabinet met on 14 January 2026 and approved the Havering Community Safety Partnership Plan 2026-29. 

You can see the full Public Document Pack Here which includes the Havering Community Safety Partnership Plan 2026-29, the Cabinet report and appendices. 

During June, July and August 2025, we asked for your views on Havering’s Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2025–2028.

PNAs play an important part in public health and healthcare planning. They are strategic documents used to inform the development of local healthcare planning and commissioning of services. PNAs assess the availability and accessibility of pharmaceutical services, taking into account the health needs of the local population, identifying where there may be a lack of pharmaceutical services or unmet needs.

To help produce this PNA, the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge jointly appointed North of England Commissioning Support (NECS), an independent organisation with specialist expertise in this area. The work was guided by a joint steering group made up of representatives from the three boroughs, NEL ICB, and the Healthwatch teams in Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge. Together, they worked to understand current pharmacy services, identify commissioning challenges, and set priorities for the future across the three boroughs.

We used a wide range of information to shape the draft PNA, including feedback from our recent Community Engagement Questionnaire – Using Your Pharmacy – Havering (May–June 2025). This means many residents have already had a say in developing the draft, and this consultation offered another important opportunity for you to influence the final PNA.

Overall, we received 46 responses to our consultation which included online responses and additional feedback from the London Pharmacy Commissioning Hub, on behalf of NEL ICB.

• 94% of the responses were from members of the public.
• 60% of respondents agreed that the PNA reflects the current provision of pharmaceutical services.
• 78% of respondents believed that there were no gaps in the provision of pharmaceutical services for Havering that were not identified in the PNA.
• 48% of respondents felt the PNA reflects the needs of the local population.
• 48% felt that the PNA provided enough information to inform future pharmaceutical provision and plans for pharmacies and dispensing appliance contractors.
• 56% of respondents fully agreed with the overall conclusions presented in the PNA, with 27% partially agreeing with the conclusions.

Your feedback indicates that Havering currently has no gaps in the provision of pharmaceutical services, either during normal working hours or outside normal hours.

The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2025–2028 was formally approved by the Havering Health and Wellbeing Board, and the final report was published on 1 October 2025. You can access the full report here:  Havering PNA 2025-2028.

Working alongside Cadence Innova, an independent consulting firm, we carried out a 12-week public consultation between April and July 2025 to gather feedback from residents, tenants, landlords, letting and managing agents, businesses, organisations, and anyone with an interest in Havering’s private rented sector. 

Across the private rented sector (PRS), we continue to see examples of poor housing conditions. The Council is committed to improving the standard and safety of PRS homes, ensuring a fair and well‑managed environment for tenants and responsible landlords, while taking firm action against rogue landlords and unsuitable properties. 

As part of this commitment, we consulted on proposals for new property licensing schemes to take effect when the current additional (HMO) and selective licensing schemes end on 24 January 2026.  

The Council is proposing to introduce a selective licensing scheme for all privately rented homes (excluding HMOs) within seven out of 20 wards to address the prevalence of poor housing conditions. These wards include:  

• Beam Park 

• Harold Wood 

• Rainham & Wennington 

• Rush Green & Crowlands 

• Squirrels Heath 

• St Albans and St Edwards.  

It is a requirement of the scheme that all properties in the designated areas that are rented to a single household (e.g., a family) or two unrelated sharers (e.g., two friends living together) will need to have a licence to be legally let.  

The Council is also proposing to introduce a borough‑wide additional HMO licensing scheme, which would apply to all smaller HMOs that are not currently covered by the mandatory HMO licensing scheme. 

Our consultation was widely advertised in the media with press releases, social media posts and leaflets, and included an online survey, 2 virtual public forums and direct emails to key stakeholders. 

403 responses were received to the online consultation. 

A total of 150 people attended the virtual public forums. 

A total of 35 written or email responses were received from stakeholder organisations and another borough council. 

• 220 responses were received from Havering residents or local businesses (but not landlords). 

• 174 responses were received from landlords, letting or managing agents with properties in Havering. 

• 9 responses were received from other types of stakeholders which included a councillor, a private renter’s group and a resident’s group. 

• Of 403 online responses, 41% agreed with the proposal for selective licensing and 47% disagreed.  

• Of 403 online responses, 59% agreed with the proposal for additional HMO licensing and 31% disagreed. 

Havering's Cabinet met on 10 December 2025 and agreed: 

• The proposed licensing scheme objectives. 

• The proposed additional HMO licensing conditions that would accompany any granted HMO licence. 

• The proposed selective licence conditions that would accompany any granted selective licence. 

• The proposed fee structure for licence applications made under the additional and selective licensing schemes. 

Please see the full Public Document Pack Here which includes the Consultation Report, Cabinet Report and Appendices. 

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.

Overall, we received 43 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. 

All feedback was carefully reviewed and considered in the final version of the assessment.  The PNA is now published on Havering Council’s website and your input helped ensure it reflects the real needs of our residents.

You can find Havering's Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2025-28 Here.

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.