We Asked, You Said, We Did

During January and February 2026, to inform our health needs assessment to better understand the emotional wellbeing needs of babies, children and young people in the borough, we asked professionals working in local services who provide emotional wellbeing support to share their views and experiences.  

This insight is valuable for shaping local service delivery to ensure that services  are responsive to local needs and to improve outcomes for babies, children and young people. 

As part of this, we asked services to tell us: 

• What support they provide, including how this aligns with the THRIVE Framework 

• How they measure the impact of their work 

• What is working well and what challenges they face 

• Where there are gaps or unmet need 

We received 15 responses to our online consultation. 

• We had a variety of responses from different organisations, including the NHS, the Local Authority, the voluntary sector and Education. 

• Collectively, they described providing a broad mix of early intervention, targeted support and specialist provision to support the emotional wellbeing of babies, children and young people. This includes school-based programmes, counselling and mentoring, and low‑intensity therapeutic interventions. Provision often combines whole‑school approaches with one‑to‑one and group support, alongside family and parent programmes, and activities such as youth clubs and wellbeing sessions that promote emotional resilience and social connection. 

• Respondents were asked how the support they provide aligns to the THRIVE Framework: 

• 12 (80%) said it aligns to ‘Thriving – help children and young people to stay well (e.g. resilience workshops and sports and leisure activities)’. 

• 12 (80%) said it aligns to ‘Getting Advice – give advice and signposting (e.g. helplines, drop-ins)’. 

• 11 (73%) said it aligns to ‘Getting Help – provide focused goals-based input (e.g. counselling)’. 

• 7 (46%) said it aligns to ‘Getting More Help – provide more extensive and specialist and specialised goals-based support, e.g. CAMHS interventions)’. 

• 6 (40%) said it aligns to ‘Getting Risk Support – support for those who are unable to engage or benefit from interventions but remain high-risk and in contact with services (e.g. crisis teams or multi-agency management teams). 

• Respondents said they collect a range of data to understand and improve their services, including attendance and referral information, basic demographic details, and pre‑ and post‑intervention measures such as wellbeing or behaviour change. They also gather feedback from children, young people and families through comments and case studies, and one respondent said they track progress against their overall targets. 

• Respondents highlighted several key strengths across their services. These include strong partnership working with schools and other agencies, regular monitoring and use of data, and clear evidence of positive impact on young people’s wellbeing. Respondents emphasised a consistent, whole setting approach where emotional wellbeing is embedded into daily practice, supported by trained staff and accessible support for children and families. Services are described as responsive and person‑centred, with effective referral processes, timely access to support, and a focus on building trust through regular contact and safe, consistent environments. 

• Respondents highlighted several common challenges across their services, particularly around limited funding, staffing and increasing demand, which mean many organisations are unable to meet need or sustain provision long term. Respondents also identified gaps in specialist support—especially for children with complex needs or those experiencing emotional based schools' avoidance (EBSA) - as well as pressures on time and resources within schools. Wider issues such as inconsistent partnership working, difficulties navigating multiple pathways, and the impact of family circumstances, including parental mental health and socioeconomic factors, were also seen as ongoing barriers to delivering effective support. 

• The top three main barriers for children and their families accessing emotional well-being support were, jointly, Long Waiting Times (73%) and Lack of Awareness of Available Support (73%), followed by Parental Engagement or Consent Issues (46%). 

Feedback suggests several unmet needs remain across their services, particularly for children whose needs sit between existing thresholds, such as those not meeting CAMHS criteria but requiring more than early help support. Gaps were also identified in provision for specific groups, including children with EBSA, neurodivergent young people, early years children, isolated families, and those from refugee, ethnic minority or LGBTQ+ communities. Respondents also highlighted a lack of timely access to support, limited alternatives to counselling (such as therapeutic or activity-based provision), and insufficient support for families, siblings and wider networks. Overall, there is a clear need for earlier intervention, more inclusive and flexible support, and improved pathways to prevent needs escalating into crisis. 

We have incorporated the findings from the survey into the health needs assessment, and this insight will inform the recommendations developed with local partners.  

The health needs assessment is due to be finalised in summer 2026.  

During February 2026, we carried out a 4 week consultation to ask those who work directly with children and families - schools, early years providers, health professionals, community organisations, and other education partners about their views on our draft Best Start in Life (BSiL) Plan 2026–29, a borough-wide strategy that sets out our collective ambition to ensure every child has the strongest possible foundations from birth through Reception.

This three‑year action plan outlines how Havering will deliver the Department for Education’s (DfE) Best Start in Life strategy locally. It draws on national policy, local priorities, and - most importantly - the lived experiences of Havering’s children and families.

Underpinned by a robust understanding of local need, including insights from the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), the plan aligns with the borough’s commitment to reducing inequalities, raising aspirations, and enabling every child - regardless of background - to flourish.

The BSiL strategy also aligns with wider national priorities, including the Healthy Child Programme, SEND reforms, early language development, school readiness, and the national drive to narrow the attainment gap.

We received 8 responses to our on-line consultation.

To deliver this vision, Havering’s BSiL plan focuses on three strategic priorities shaped by engagement with partners and informed by local data; our stakeholders told us:

Priority 1 - Better Support for Families – Strengthening early help, parent engagement, and family wellbeing.

• 63% agreed that the actions under Priority 1 will reduce inequalities in early childhood, whereas 37% did not.

Priority 2 - More Accessible Early Education & Childcare – Addressing sufficiency, affordability, and inclusivity to increase take‑up.

• 75% agreed that this priority and the specific actions reflected their experience of local needs and delivery realities, whereas 25% did not.
• 63% felt that the plan would increase uptake of entitlements among disadvantaged families, whereas 37% did not.

Priority 3 - Improving Quality in Early Years, Including Reception – Enhancing workforce development, promoting high‑quality practice, and improving transitions into school.

• 88% agreed that this priority and the specific actions reflected their experience of local needs and delivery realities, whereas 12% did not.
• Confidence that the Priority 3 actions will contribute to reaching the DfE Good Level of Development (GLD) target (75.8% by 2028), was evenly split, with 50% of respondents agreeing and 50% not agreeing.

Overall, most respondents felt the Best Start in Life (BSiL) Plan provides a clear and well-structured framework, with priorities, roles and actions that are realistic and achievable. There was strong confidence that the plan will be effectively delivered within existing capacity and will lead to improved outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged children.  However, some respondents raised concerns about whether there are sufficient resources and funding available to fully deliver the plan’s ambitions.

Our Best Start in Life action plan is now finalised, and you can find it HERE.

During March 2026, we asked Havering residents for their support to help us bid for external funding for these play areas in our parks:

• Bosworth Field (Myrtle Road) Playsite 
• Forest Row Playsite
• Oldchurch Playsite
• North Hill Recreation Ground (Rocket Park)
• Keats Avenue Playsite
• Collier Row Recreation Ground
• Chelmsford Avenue Playsite

Funding providers want to see how much local communities value their play spaces, so we asked you to tell us why the play area in your local park matters; why it needs improving and how a refurbishment would benefit children and families in your community.

We received 24 online responses to our survey.

• Residents value having a playground within walking distance, particularly families living in flats without gardens. Even where equipment is poor, people express gratitude that a play space exists locally and recognise its importance for everyday use.

• Many comments highlight how vital playgrounds are for children’s physical activity, social interaction, mental wellbeing and family life. Residents clearly care about these spaces and see them as essential community assets worth investing in.

• Although some feedback is critical, residents are very positive about what the playground could be. There is strong enthusiasm for refurbishment, new equipment and better design, with many constructive ideas offered, showing optimism and support for future improvements

The top three most common concerns raised by residents were:

1. Old, worn out and outdated equipment

Residents repeatedly described the playground equipment as very old, run down and past its usable life. Many comments refer to rust, peeling paint, equipment being “20 years old”, and features that no longer work or are no longer attractive to children.

2. Safety issues and hazards

Safety is a major concern throughout the feedback. Residents mentioned broken or unstable swings, damaged or uneven surfacing, rusty joints, broken glass, graffiti, dog mess, and other hazards. Parents expressed worry about the risk of trips, falls and serious injuries, particularly for younger children and toddlers.

3. Lack of enough engaging play for different ages

Many residents felt there is not enough equipment and that what is provided is boring or not suitable for the number of children using the space. There were frequent comments about limited choice, poor design, overcrowding, and a lack of age-appropriate play for both younger children and older children.

Your feedback will be used to support our applications for external funding for necessary refurbishments, and we will update this page with our plans if successful.

During February and March 2026, in partnership with Romford BID (Business Improvement District), we carried out an eight-week survey to better understand how people travel to and from work in Romford. Romford BID works alongside the council to support local businesses and help make the town centre a leading destination for visitors.

Businesses and employees in the BID area and beyond, were invited to share their experiences of commuting to and from work, helping to inform future travel improvements in Romford.

The survey asked both employees and employers about their travel patterns, the barriers they face to more sustainable and efficient travel, their ideas for improvement, and the impact of infrastructure works, ULEZ and local transport services on their commute.

We received 115 responses to our on-line consultation.

102 responses were from employees:

• The most popular reasons for working in Romford are Proximity to Home (66%), Career Opportunities (40%), and Accessibility and Transport Links (29%).
• The majority of employees (75%) feel that Romford has adequate transport options for their commute.
• The largest overall barrier to using public transport is Cost (40%) followed by Lack of Direct Routes (28%) then Personal Safety Concerns (25%).
• The most cited barrier for active travel (such as cycling or walking) is Personal Safety Concerns (17%), followed jointly by Poor Walking Infrastructure and Lack of Direct Routes (both 9%), then jointly by Lack of Confidence or Ability (8%) and Poor Cycling Infrastructure (8%).
• The Gallows Corner improvement works were the most frequently mentioned issue throughout the survey comments with drivers more affected than non-drivers.  78% of all employees reported some impact on their commute to work, with 58% reporting a significant impact.
• 73% of all employees suggested at least one improvement that would make their commute easier or more sustainable – 21% of employees selected to Increase Bus Frequencies and Reliability, followed by Create Safe, Continuous Walking and Cycling Routes from Romford Station (9%) and Implementing Greening and Lighting Improvements along Pedestrian Paths (7%).

13 responses were from employers:

• 6 employers said that current travel links either moderately or significantly improve their business operations, whereas 7 said they either moderately or significantly hinder business operations.
• Of the 10 employers who shared at least one challenge related to staff travel, 90% cited Congestion, 60% mentioned Personal Safety Concerns and 50% referred to Parking Availability.
• All employers suggested at least one improvement to local transport or infrastructure that would make their site more accessible.  The most popular option was to Implement Greening and Lighting Improvements along Pedestrian paths (54%), followed by Create Safe, Continuous Walking and Cycling Routes from Romford Station (38%), Increasing Bus Frequency and Reliability (30%) was jointly with “Nothing, we have good transport links” (30%).
• 11 employers (85% of those surveyed) stated that the ongoing and overdue transport infrastructure works – with Gallows corner improvements given as an example in the question – are currently affecting their business to some degree.  All 11 employers said that customer or visitor access was affected, 9 of these reported impacts on staff commuting, 5 said that deliveries or logistics were impacted, and 4 of these 11 respondents said that their overall business operations were impacted.

The survey has provided valuable insight into how employees and employers in Romford currently travel, the challenges they face, and the improvements they would like to see. We will use this evidence to strengthen future funding bids for transport improvements in and around Romford, helping to secure investment that benefits both residents and businesses.

The findings will also support the Council’s efforts to encourage more journeys by walking, cycling and public transport, contributing towards TfL’s goal of 65% of trips in Havering being made by sustainable travel by 2041.

By improving transport connections and accessibility, we can help create a town centre that is easier to reach, better connected and offers more practical travel choices. The results will also provide a strong evidence base for future engagement with local businesses and stakeholders as we continue to shape Romford’s future.

From November 2025 to March 2026, we carried out a health needs assessment (HNA) to understand how children and young people in the borough are using vapes and other oral nicotine products (ONP)*.

Use of vapes and oral nicotine products among children and young people has risen over the past five years. While the full health effects are still being studied, we already know these products can be harmful.

Through two separate surveys, we asked school and youth service professionals, and parents and carers, to share their views and experiences of children’s use of oral nicotine products and the impact they believe these products have.

Tobacco products were not included in this HNA because tobacco harm reduction is already covered by an existing Havering Public Health Strategy.

*Oral nicotine products include, but are not limited to, disposable and rechargeable vapes (devices containing nicotine e-liquid), nicotine pouches, nicotine strips, dissolvable films and nicotine toothpicks.

Thank you to everyone who took part. We are now reviewing and analysing the results, which will be used in a draft report to help shape our understanding of local needs and improve outcomes for children and young people.

Once the HNA is complete, the findings and recommendations will be published, with all responses anonymised. We will update this page when more information is available.

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 asked residents about their experiences of cost of living pressures in Havering and their awareness of the Council’s Emergency Assistance Scheme. 

We wanted to understand whether the Scheme is reaching everyone who may need support and to gather broader information about financial pressures across the borough.  

Working with Westco, a public sector communications agency, we carried out an online survey and three in-person sessions using a World Cafe approach. 

World Café sessions are larger than traditional qualitative group discussions and focus on allowing participants to discuss their personal experiences in a more informal setting.   Attendees discussed four key topics throughout each session: 

• You and your money 

• The cost of living 

• When times get tough 

• Help and support 

All attendees were recruited from across Havering and were eligible for Universal Credit or Pension Credit.

• We received 1526 responses to our online survey. 

• Despite conducting initial recruitment with 80 people and gaining their agreement to attend the World Café sessions, we achieved a total attendance of 36 participants. 

Your feedback told us:

• Confidence in managing money tends to grow with age and experience, peaking during working life, while younger residents (aged 18–34) are more likely to describe their financial situation as poor. 

• Food is seen as the top spending priority, followed by essential housing costs such as rent or mortgage payments and Council Tax. 

• Many residents feel that rising living costs are largely outside their control, particularly younger people, and would welcome clearer, trusted support and information. 

• Financial pressures take up a significant part of daily life and can affect wellbeing, highlighting the importance of support that considers both financial and mental health. 

• Most residents facing financial challenges have already taken steps to manage their spending, but low savings mean there is limited room to plan ahead or build resilience. 

• People are more likely to turn to family, friends and community networks for support, with different types of support being valued at different life stages. 

• Residents who have accessed the Emergency Assistance Scheme generally view it positively, though almost half of residents were unaware of the financial support available. 

We used this feedback to shape our help and support over the Christmas period in terms of what we did and who we targeted. 

We also used your feedback to help shape our response to the Crisis Resilience Fund, a grant from Government which is designed to help and support people to become more financially resilient. 

We will continue to use your views to shape our plans going forward, ensuring support is clearer, more accessible and better targeted.  

• Our plan will include your feedback to assume low prior knowledge when communicating about support, using simple, reassuring language.  

• Use a mix of communication channels to reach different age groups, while recognising the importance of human, direct contact.  

This insight will help us strengthen how residents access support, including through phone and face‑to‑face options, so people feel listened to and supported when they need help most. 

If you would like further help or information, please visit the Havering website.

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 November 2024 and December 2025, we asked our residents to help us fight for our fair share of government funding by signing our petition and writing to their local MP.

In 2010, the Council received £70 million of Revenue Support Grant which is now £2 million today. The Revenue Support Grant coupled with other funding such as business rates makes up the Council’s core grant known as the Settlement Funding Assessment.  This was reduced from £100 million to £40 million over the same time period. Despite the borough’s fast changing population, Havering’s core grant remains one of the lowest in London.

This formula means Havering Council Taxpayers are having to pay more to fund the increasing costs of helping vulnerable people than in parts of London, like Westminster, and parts of Essex.

Residents took part in our online petition, signed the petition in our libraries and at face-to-face opportunities in the borough.

We received almost 6,000 signatures, a clear demand from residents that Havering deserves a funding settlement that truly meets its needs and rapidly changing population.

Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council, delivered our petition to Downing Street on 18 December 2025.

This action followed the Government’s announcement of its financial settlement for Havering for the next three years.

While the settlement includes an increase to the Council’s ‘core grant’ to just under £40 million, it falls far short of addressing the significant financial challenges the borough faces, following years of historic underfunding, as well as adding new burdens expected of us. 

The petition will now be considered by the Government, and Havering Council will continue to press for a fairer deal that reflects the true needs of our community.

You can read Havering Council’s press release here.

In October 2025, we carried out two surveys inviting parents, carers, young people and education staff to share their views and experiences to help shape the future of the Healthy Child Programme in Havering. 

The Healthy Child Programme provides support for all children and families, from pregnancy through to age 19, and up to 25 for young people with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities). This support is delivered through our Health Visiting and School Nursing services, which play an essential role in promoting the health and wellbeing of children, young people and their families: 

• Health Visitors support families from pregnancy until a child is 5, offering regular visits and expert advice. 

• School Nurses work with children and young people in schools, focusing on emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships, healthy weight and more. 

Here's the feedback from both surveys:

Survey for Parents, Carers and Young People (Aged 16+) 

We received 47 online responses to this survey, of these, 45 were from parents or carers and 2 were from young people aged 16 or over. 

• Respondents reported that Health Visiting support was mainly accessed through health reviews (i.e. new baby review, 6-8 week review and 1-year review), with nearly half of respondents also using the Single Point of Access for advice. 

• Around 31% of respondents reported that they received timely support from the Health Visiting Service either ‘always’ or ‘most of the time’. However, several respondents described delays, rushed or impersonal contacts. 

• Around 36% of respondents reported being ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with the support provided by the School Nursing Service. Several respondents also expressed the need for more school nurses.  

• Around 30% of respondents reported that they received timely support from the School Nursing Service either ‘always’ or ‘most of the time’. 

• School Nursing support for children with health conditions or disabilities is highly valued and is currently the most frequently accessed type of support.   

• Respondents identified mental health support for school-aged children as key priority for the School Nursing Service in the future. 

Overall, residents would like increased staffing and availability, restored clinics/drop-ins, better communication and promotion of services, improved continuity between stages and more personalised, evidence-based support for specific topic areas such as sleep and infant feeding. 

Survey for Havering Education Staff 

We received 15 online responses to this survey, of these, 7 were from school safeguarding staff, 5 from school leaders (headteachers or governors), 2 from Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) and 1 from an Early Years provider. 

• Respondents felt that strong relationships matter; individual nurses were praised as approachable and supportive, with consistent contact leading to more positive experiences. 

• It was felt that capacity pressures affect access as higher caseloads and stretched resources have reduced availability, leading to delays, inconsistent contact and more reactive support. 

• Respondents said that Safeguarding and SEND support is highly valued; schools particularly value support for pupils with health conditions/disabilities and safeguarding, including care plans, and Child Protection meetings. 

• Schools highlighted a need for more mental health support and a return to preventative work. 

• Although there is limited and inconsistent support for school avoidance, respondents felt that where it is provided, it has had a positive impact. 

Overall, education staff would like increased staffing, restored onsite drop-ins and workshops, regular visits, clearer communication about the service remit and more training/support for staff and parents. 

We have incorporated your feedback into a comprehensive service review of Havering’s Healthy Child Programme. This review summarises what is working well and identifies areas for improvement and highlights feedback from residents and local professionals. 

Your feedback will directly shape the future delivery of the Healthy Child Programme in Havering. 

During September and October 2025, we carried out a consultation to seek your views on phase 2 of our proposals to install Electric Vehicle Charging Points in residential streets across the borough. The proposals mean, where necessary, some existing parking places being altered to accommodate the new charging bays.

Our proposals support the Government policy to switch from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle ownership and usage across the country to electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, with new diesel and petrol engine cars banned from sale from 2035. As part of that policy, the Government would like to improve and expand the infrastructure needed to charge vehicles in the public domain, and that means more publicly available electric vehicle charging points (EVCPs).

Although Phase 1 of our programme is nearing completion, there is still a limited availability of Electric Vehicle Charging infrastructure across Havering, with sites largely restricted to private car parks and residential developments.

Phase 2 of our programme proposed the installation of EVCPs across a further 7 residential streets in the borough with external funding from the Government and contractual match-funding provided by Connected Kerb Limited, who were appointed by the Council in September 2023 to deliver the EV Charging Project for Havering.

Our consultation included online information setting out the location plan, the formal notice and the consultation letter which was also sent to residents living near the proposed locations.   

We received a number of responses from both ward councillors and members of the public, some of which were in support, and some had objections.

Following careful consideration of all the feedback received, on 22 April 2026, Havering's Director of Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, approved the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCPs) on 3 of the proposed residential roads.

Work is now underway to deliver the approved charging points, helping to support residents who own or are considering switching to electric vehicles. You can read the final report Here which provides a summary of the feedback received for each proposed location and explains the recommendations that informed the final decisions.

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.