 As the awful conflict in Ukraine enters its third week, I know that many residents want to help, or have concerns as to whether we are doing enough to bring this war to an end as soon as possible.
Havering Council has reviewed all of its contracts to identify any links to Russian businesses. We have no direct links to Russia or Russian companies.
The best way to help the people of Ukraine right now is through financial donations, rather than donations of food, clothes or medical supplies.
Donating to the the UK Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal helps provide food, water, shelter, healthcare and protection to the people who need it most in Ukraine and in the neighbouring countries where so many refugees have fled.
Havering is home to people of many races and backgrounds. One of our largest communities is of people from Lithuania, Romania and Poland and other East European countries. Understandably, many people will be very concerned about their friends and families impacted by the war - whether that is as a refugee, hosting refugees, or living under bombardment in Ukraine.
Please show consideration to anyone who may be feeling worried or upset because of the war. Discrimination against people, for example those speaking Russian, is totally unacceptable. It is also the case that many Ukrainians, Lithuanian, Latvians and others also speak Russian as their first language.
Havering Council actively works against racism and discrimination and we do not tolerate it. I want everyone to feel at home in Havering, regardless of race, background, religion, gender or sexuality. We must continue to work together to make sure we treat everyone with equality, fairness and kindness in everything we do.
Unfortunately, although it has been knocked off the front pages and most news bulletins, COVID-19 has not gone away. The latest government figures showed a sharp 46 per cent rise in new recorded UK cases week on week – and a 12 per cent rise in hospitalisations to 8,950.
So please take care, particularly if you are over 50 years old as it is mainly in that age group where infections are rising again. Keep washing your hands, wearing a face covering in crowded spaces, and test if you think you have caught coronavirus.
A further push on vaccinations is due in early April when over-75s and the clinically vulnerable will be offered a fourth shot, or a fifth in the case of people with severely weakened immune systems.
Lastly, if you want to contact me directly, you can email me.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
 To help protect households against rises in energy costs and a cost of living squeeze, households in Council Tax bands A-D will receive a £150 rebate on Council Tax bills for the financial year ahead.
If you don't already pay your Council Tax bill by direct debit you may want to sign up now. That way you will receive your £150 rebate faster as it can be paid straight into the same bank account you use to pay your Council Tax direct debits. The rebate is likely to be paid into your bank account following your first direct debit payment for the 2022/23 financial year.
If you don't pay your Council Tax bill by direct debit more details will be provided shortly on how you will receive this rebate.
Under this Government scheme this £150 rebate does not need to be repaid.
Second homes or empty properties will not benefit from this rebate.
There will be additional support for vulnerable households who may not qualify for the £150 Council Tax rebate. This includes people on low incomes in Council Tax bands E-H. Again, more details on that will be provided in the near future.
As part of Havering Council’s budget for 2022/2023, it is providing a further £1.35m to help low-income families and vulnerable residents with rising food and fuel costs.
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Havering Council is launching a Learning Disability weight management programme.
The programme will be delivered by Everyone Active in partnership with Sport for Confidence.
This weight management programme is part of the Live Healthier Havering programme which is aimed at individuals with Learning Disabilities and is a 12-week face to face programme for individuals with mild to moderate learning disabilities with a BMI between 25 and 40.
Family members are encouraged to attend the programme alongside those on the course to support them. The programme is led by a weight management specialist and an occupational therapist. Referral is either self-referral, or through family members and healthcare professionals.
The first programme is due to start on Thursday (17 March) at the Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre, between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.
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Hornchurch Library (pictured) will be re-opening on Monday (14 March).
This follows a temporary closure as everything was put back in its usual place following the closure of the COVID-19 vaccination centre inside the library.
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On Havering Council's website you can see details of any applications to change a Premises Licence.
There are currently four applications open for consultation.
These applications range from Ped's Pizza in Main Road in Gidea Park to the Orange Tree pub in Havering-atte-Bower.
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Advertorial
It’s easy to reduce food waste
This Food Waste Action Week (7 -13 March), try out some of the easy ways to make your food last longer, helping you to protect the environment and save money on your weekly shop.
For instance, you can freeze your bread before it goes mouldy, and just put frozen slices straight into the toaster when you need them.
Use your freezer to create a store of ingredients to put into a recipe whenever you need them.
Grated cheese and chopped fresh herbs freeze really well, and you can fill ice cube trays with portions of pesto and other sauces.
For more hints and tips, visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com.
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Romford Business Improvement District (BID) have launched another “Pitch for your Pitch” competition and are now taking applications.
The prize will be for at least one start-up company or entrepreneur to have the chance to be offered a BID Sponsored pitch in Romford Market (pictured) from the end of April.
For more information on the sponsorship, and to find out how to apply, send an email to express your interest.
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 Havering Chamber of Commerce and Industry's networking breakfast will be hosted this month at Pinney Talfourd's Upminster Branch. It's on Wednesday 30 March from 8am to 9:30am.
It's free for members, £5 for guests, payable on the door. Reserve a place online. To sign up for the Chamber newsletter, or get more information about what the Havering Chamber can offer your business, send an email.
Maylands Green Adult Table Tennis Club is a community club. It runs six tables and meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7pm and 10.30pm, with another session on Sundays between 9am and midday. Become a member or pay £5 per session. Coaches are available.
The club competes in the Romford League. They meet at The Barn (to the left of the Manor House) at Brettons Outdoor Recreation Centre, Rainham Road, RM13 7LP. More information on the club's webpage.
Havering Singers will be holding their 75th Anniversary Concert on 2 April at 7.30pm at St Peter’s Church, Gubbins Lane, Harold Wood, RM3 0QA.
They will be performing Handel's Messiah accompanied by a baroque orchestra with soloists Cheryl Enever (soprano), Freya Jacklin (alto), Richard Dowling (tenor) and Greg Link (bass) .
Tickets cost £15 for adults and £6 for children. More information on the Havering Singers website.
The Liberty of Havering Outdoor Bowls Club is holding open days between 11am and 4pm on Friday 6 May and Sunday 8 May. The club is looking for new members and you are invited to come and have a go at bowls.
Equipment is provided but please wear flat soled shoes or trainers. Refreshments will be available.
The club is located just beyond the leisure centre’s car park in Harrow Lodge Park. Club members will be available throughout the day to give advice. Alternatively, call Sheila on 07949 307336 or Richard on 01708 449245 for more information.
Havering Council’s Arts Development Team's annual photography competition and exhibition is open for entries.
All ages are welcome to take part.
There's no theme this year, so all subject matters are welcome, providing that they are family-friendly in content.
To enter, or for more information, send an email.
The closing date for entries is 1 April. The minimum file size is 1MB.
Once the photographs have been received (and consent organised) a show reel of all the suitable photos will be shared on the Havering Culture and Leisure YouTube account. Winning entries will be displayed throughout Havering over the next year.
You can view previous exhibitions online.
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The Mayor of London is looking to widen London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to cover the entire city by the end of 2023.
Drivers who enter the zone in a vehicle that does not meet minimum emissions standards are charged £12.50 a day.
Check if your car, motorbike or van meets the ULEZ standard.
The Mayor of London has said that the expansion of the zone will help tackle air pollution, climate change and congestion.
The Leader of Havering Council, Cllr Damian White, has said he cannot support the expansion until more money is invested in public transport in the borough.
As part of the consultation process on the expansion proposal, the Greater London Assembly are keen to understand your views on traffic congestion, air quality and climate change in a short survey.
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Gas mains replacement work means that Craigdale Road and Kyme Road will be closed at their junctions with Brentwood Road until 13 March. A diversion route will be signposted.
Essex and Suffolk Water will be working in Straight Road, Harold Hill, at its junction with Shenstone Gardens near Gallows Corner this Sunday (13 March). Temporary traffic signals will be in use.
Cadent Gas will be carrying out gas main replacement work in Ardleigh Green Road until 28 March, and also in Haynes Road until 20 March and in Butts Green Road between 14 and 27 March. They will also be working in Frederick Road, Rainham from 21 to 25 March.
Mobile phone company EE will be working in Rainham Road at the junction with South End Road and Cherry Tree Lane on Friday 18 March.
Thames Water will be working in High Street, Hornchurch over this weekend (12 and 13 March).
Road resurfacing works continue in Glanville Drive and Maywin Drive until 15 March (excluding this weekend,12 and 13 March) and in Ingrebourne Road between 14 and 18 March.
Later in the month road resurfacing work will take place in Cherry Walk, Rainham, between 8am and 5pm on Monday 21 March. Resurfacing work in Tomkyns Lane, Upminster will begin on 21 March and is expected to be completed by 4 April. These roads will be closed to traffic during the works.
Telecoms work in Rainham Road South in South Hornchurch, near the junction with Simpson Road, will mean that temporary traffic signals will be in use from 21 to 25 March.
Temporary traffic lights will be in use on Monday 28 March at the junction of Mungo Park Road and Freeborne Gardens in Rainham. This is to allow for the replacement of a BT telegraph pole.
On the tracks
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On the London Overgound there will be no service between Romford and Upminster this weekend (12 and 13 March). Use local bus routes 165, 248 or 370 instead.
This Saturday and Sunday (12 and 13 March) there will be no TfL Rail service between Liverpool Street and Shenfield. Replacement buses will operate.
c2c trains on the Rainham line are not running this weekend (12 and 13 March). Rail replacement buses will run between Upminster and Grays via Rainham.
Due to Network Rail undertaking overhead line maintenance work between Grays and Pitsea this Sunday (13 March), c2c trains on the Ockendon line will start and end their journeys at Grays. Rail replacement buses will run between Grays and Pitsea via Tilbury.
On the District line there will be no service between Turnham Green and Ealing Broadway this weekend (12 and 13 March).
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