This week in Havering:

Green Belt Battery Storage Plan Sparks Debate

The Strategic Planning Committee was scheduled to discuss a controversial application for a large-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on Green Belt land near Ockendon. The proposal by Clearstone Energy Ltd has divided opinion, with supporters highlighting its potential to boost renewable energy and critics raising concerns about the impact on the Green Belt.

Key Points:

• 200MW BESS: The application seeks permission for a 200MW BESS, designed to store energy for a temporary period of 40 years.
• Green Belt Location: The proposed site is within the Metropolitan Green Belt and the Thames Chase Community Forest, raising concerns about the impact on the openness of the area.
• Very Special Circumstances: Clearstone Energy argues that very special circumstances justify the development, citing its contribution to renewable energy, energy security, and climate change mitigation.
• Biodiversity Net Gain: The applicant claims the project would lead to a biodiversity net gain¹.
• Community Benefit Fund: Clearstone Energy offered a community benefit fund of £50,000 per annum, but council officers advised that this did not meet the tests of planning obligations.

Concerns:

Local ward councillors called in the application, highlighting concerns about the impact on the Green Belt. Council officers acknowledged that such a development would normally be considered inappropriate for the Green Belt, and would have a significant impact on its openness.

Potential Outcomes:

The council officers recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions, including a time limit, a scheme for decommissioning and restoration, landscaping, noise protection, and drainage. A supplementary agenda item recommended the inclusion of a detailed Battery Safety Management Plan (BSMP).

Why it Matters:

This decision highlights the tension between the need for renewable energy infrastructure and the protection of green spaces. The outcome could set a precedent for future developments in the Green Belt, and will have a significant impact on the local environment and community.

Link to meeting

Landfill Extension: Waste Management vs. Sustainability Goals

The Strategic Planning Committee was also scheduled to consider an application from Veolia ES (UK) Ltd to extend the operational life of landfill and composting facilities on Coldharbour Lane, Rainham until the end of December 2029. The application also included plans for restoration of the land by 31 December 2031, and aftercare to 31 December 2036.

Key Points:

• Extension of Landfill Life: The application seeks to extend the operational life of the landfill and composting facilities for another five years.
• Waste Input: The annual projected input is stated to be 200,000 cubic metres of waste, equating to 1 million cubic metres of waste after 5 years.
• Mayor of London Referral: The application falls within the categories that must be referred to the Mayor of London under the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order.
• Deferred Decision: The item had been deferred at a previous meeting to obtain further clarity on the section 106 Heads of Terms² and to address questions raised by committee members.

Council Stance:

The council report stated that the proposal was considered acceptable and in line with the borough's waste management strategy and sustainability goals, as well as the Joint Waste Development Plan for the East London Waste Authority Boroughs. The report also referenced Policy 35 of the Havering Local Plan (2021), which supports essential infrastructure required for sustainable waste management.

Potential Outcomes:

Council officers recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions and the prior completion of a legal agreement.

Why it Matters:

This decision highlights the ongoing challenge of managing waste in a sustainable way. While landfill remains a necessary part of the waste management system, extending its lifespan raises concerns about environmental impact and the need to prioritise waste reduction and recycling.

Link to meeting

Special School Proposal Faces Sport England Objection

The Strategic Planning Committee was scheduled to receive a development presentation on a proposed special school (SEND) for 300 students with complex autism, aged between 4 and 19 years old. The proposed school would be built on an open playing field located west of Balgores Lane, Romford.

Key Points:

• Special School: The proposed school aims to cater to the needs of 300 students with complex autism.
• Playing Field Location: The school would be built on an open playing field currently used for informal sport and amenity by Squirrels Heath Infant School.
• Sport England Objection: Sport England has raised a fundamental objection to the proposal due to the loss of the playing field.
• Transport for London Concerns: Transport for London (TfL) has expressed concern about the level of proposed parking.

Council Objectives:

The council report stated that the key objective would be to create a high-quality public school building catering for pupils and students with special needs and disability, within the London Borough of Havering.

Potential Outcomes:

The committee was not required to make any decisions at this stage, with the reports presented as background information.

Why it Matters:

This proposal highlights the difficult choices councils face when balancing the need for specialist education facilities with the preservation of green spaces and recreational areas. The loss of a playing field could have a negative impact on the health and well-being of local residents, while the new school would provide much-needed support for children with autism.

Link to meeting

NHS Deficit and Staffing Cuts Loom Over Health Services

The Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss a health update from NHS North East London (NEL), revealing a significant deficit and planned staffing cuts that could impact service delivery.

Key Points:

• £79.7m Deficit: NHS North East London reported a deficit of £79.7 million.
• Staffing Reductions: All organisations are planning for reductions in substantive staff, which will reduce capacity and will impact day to day service delivery.
• Agency Staff Cuts: Trusts must deliver a minimum 40% reduction in agency spend and a 15% reduction in bank staff³.
• Demand Pressures: There is very limited growth funding included within plans, raising concerns about the ability to meet demand, particularly for non-elective activity and mental health independent sector beds.

Homeless Health Strategy:

The committee was scheduled to hear about a NEL Homeless Health Strategy, co-designed with experts from lived experience and system partners, which aims to address the serious health inequalities faced by people experiencing homelessness. The strategy focuses on people who are rough sleeping, families living in temporary accommodation and people seeking asylum and refuge.

Superloop Bus Route Debate:

The committee was scheduled to discuss a proposed TfL Superloop bus service SL12: Gants Hill to Rainham via Romford, and a suggested alternative route serving St George's Health and Wellbeing Hub, Hornchurch submitted by Havering Healthwatch. Healthwatch argued that the alternative route would better serve key locations and populations.

Why it Matters:

The financial challenges facing the NHS in North East London could lead to longer waiting times, reduced access to services, and increased pressure on staff. The Homeless Health Strategy is a welcome step towards addressing health inequalities, but its success will depend on adequate resources and effective implementation. The Superloop bus route decision will impact transport accessibility for residents, particularly those relying on public transport to access healthcare services.

Link to meeting

Internal Audit Reveals Budget Management Weakness

The Audit Committee met to discuss the external audit plans for 2024/25, the annual treasury management report for 2024/25, and the head of assurance annual report for 2024/25.

Key Findings:

• Limited Assurance: The Head of Assurance could only provide limited assurance on the overall effectiveness of the control environment, specifically the management and oversight of departmental budgets and expenditure.
• Fraud Risk: Instances of potentially fraudulent activity identified in the final quarter of 2024/25 and a control failure in the Temporary Accommodation service highlight a weakness in the management of budgets across the Council.
• External Audit Fees: The scale fees for the 2024/25 audit will be £452,308 for the Council and £96,974 for the Pension Fund.
• Treasury Management: Investment income from treasury investments received for 2024/25 was £4.2m, while interest payable as a result of debt for 2024/25 was £16.6m.

Why it Matters:

The internal audit findings raise concerns about the council's ability to manage its finances effectively and prevent fraud. Addressing these weaknesses is crucial to ensuring that public money is spent wisely and that services are delivered efficiently.

Link to meeting

Other Matters

• The Governance Committee met this week. No video of the meeting was provided.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• The People Overview & Scrutiny Sub Committee will meet on Tuesday 15 July 2025 to discuss the Care Quality Commission (CQC)'s assurance of local authorities, Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) needs and pressures, and nominations for the Outer North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (ONEL JHOSC). Link to meeting
• The Local Pension Board will meet on Tuesday 15 July 2025 to discuss feedback from recent Pensions Committee meetings, a pensions administration update, and pensions administration strategy monitoring. Link to meeting
• The Council will meet on Wednesday 23 July 2025 to receive annual reports from committees and member champions, consider exceptions to the call-in procedure, address petitions, and elect Member Champions for the Over 50s and for the Voluntary Sector Compact. Link to meeting
• The Strategic Planning Committee will meet on Thursday 24 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Licensing Sub-Committee will meet on Thursday 24 July 2025 to consider a new premises licence application for Geturkish Ltd. Link to meeting

This week in Havering:

Damp and Mould Action Plan Approved, But Will it Help Those Most in Need?

The Place Overview & Scrutiny Sub Committee met this week to discuss the council's approach to tackling damp and mould in its properties, approving a new policy designed to comply with Awaab's Law. While councillors welcomed the updated measures, concerns were raised about whether the policy goes far enough to support vulnerable residents and proactively address the root causes of damp and mould.

Key Points:

• New Policy Approved: The council's new damp and mould policy, approved by cabinet on 11 June 2025, commits to addressing damp and mould hazards within stricter timescales, in line with Awaab's Law.
• Faster Response Times: The council aims to raise an emergency call within 10 days for priority mould treatment, ahead of the 14-day requirement in Awaab's Law.
• Damp MOTs: The council will offer additional support through a damp MOT treatment process for up to four months, involving monthly mould treatments and surveyor inspections.
• Data Collection: The council is using specialist damp and mould SOR codes¹ to track and monitor cases, and is developing a KPI² report to monitor performance.

Concerns Raised:

• Prioritising Vulnerable Residents: Councillor Matthew Stanton asked whether staff who visit properties for other reasons would be made aware of the timescales for responding to damp and mould reports.
• Addressing Lifestyle Factors: Councillor Philippa Crowder raised the issue of lifestyle choices as a cause of damp and mould, and asked how the council was balancing this with the need to avoid blaming residents.
• Long-Term Solutions: Councillor Philippa Crowder asked what the cure was for cold bridging³ in older buildings, with an officer responding that the only long-term solution was retrofit, including insulation and improved ventilation.

Recommendations:

The committee made several recommendations to improve the council's approach, including:

• Reviewing the housing policy to ensure it gives sufficient priority to those suffering from damp and mould, in advance of them getting a GP referral.
• Proactively pushing out advice on damp and mould prevention on social media.
• Exploring the feasibility of identifying other metrics that correlate with the incidence of damp and mould, and proactively communicating with those households.
• Looking at the feasibility of annual follow-up, and including it as part of the strategy.

Why it Matters:

Damp and mould can have serious health consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions. Awaab's Law aims to protect social housing tenants from these risks, but effective implementation requires a proactive and holistic approach. The committee's recommendations highlight the need for the council to not only respond to reports of damp and mould, but also to identify and support residents most at risk, and address the underlying causes of the problem.

Council Exceeds Targets for Re-Letting Empty Homes

The Place Overview & Scrutiny Sub Committee also received a report on the council's voids performance, revealing significant improvements in recent years. A void is a council property that is unoccupied, usually between tenancies. The council aims to make void properties available for letting as quickly as possible, to minimise rent loss and maximise the available housing stock. The meeting heard that the council's key-to-key time⁴ performance has improved significantly, from an average of 80 days in 2020-21 to 55.13 days in 2024-25.

Key Achievements:

• Top Quartile Performance: Havering is now in the top quartile of London boroughs for key-to-key time, outperforming the top quartile average of 66.27 days.
• Streamlined Process: The council has streamlined the voids process by using one contractor to manage the entire process, eliminating delays between different contractors coming in and out.
• Customer Satisfaction: The council has launched customer satisfaction postcards to gather feedback from new residents on the condition of the property and the quality of service they have received.

New Ideas:

Councillor Matthew Stanton suggested that the 360-degree views of properties should be made available on the lettings website, and that the council should consider offering properties as is, with essential works carried out but the option for residents to accept the property with less cosmetic work done.

Why it Matters:

Reducing the time it takes to re-let empty homes not only benefits the council financially, but also ensures that more people have access to safe and affordable housing. The council's improved performance is a positive step towards addressing housing need in the borough.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• The People Overview & Scrutiny Sub Committee will meet on Tuesday 15 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Audit Committee will meet on Tuesday 08 July 2025 to discuss the external auditor's annual reports and audit plans, the annual treasury management report, and the head of assurance's annual report. Link to meeting
• The Local Pension Board will meet on Tuesday 08 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee will meet on Tuesday 08 July 2025 to discuss a health update from various NHS providers, and to examine integrated neighbourhoods. Link to meeting
• The Strategic Planning Committee will meet on Thursday 10 July 2025 to discuss several planning applications, including a presentation on a proposed special school, and applications relating to land adjacent to St Mary's Lane, Ockenden and the Veolia ES landfill site on Coldharbour Lane, Rainham. Link to meeting
• The Governance Committee will meet on Friday 11 July 2025. Link to meeting

This week in Havering:

Pension Fund Performance Under Scrutiny

Havering Council's Pensions Committee convened this week to review the performance, accounts, and budget of the Havering Pension Fund. The meeting covered a range of critical issues affecting the financial security of current and future pensioners in the borough.

Key Discussions:

• Pension Administration Budget: Councillors considered and approved a proposed budget of £0.740m for pension administration, an increase of £92,000 from the previous year. This rise is attributed to increased membership, inflationary pressures, and the need to comply with new legislative requirements like the McCloud remedy and the pensions dashboard.
• Annual Report and Business Plan: The committee reviewed its work from 2024/25 and outlined a business plan for the next three years. Key priorities include managing climate risk, exploring local investment opportunities, and ensuring compliance with governance standards.
• Investment Performance: The fund's performance for the quarter ending March 2025 was presented, revealing a slight decrease in asset value to £1,007.9m. The fund underperformed against both tactical and strategic benchmarks, primarily due to negative performance in equity allocations.
• Pension Fund Accounts: The committee noted the unaudited accounts for 2024/25, which showed an increase in net assets to £1,008m, up from £969m the previous year.

The committee was also asked to consider the annual report on its work during 2024/25, as well as its business plan for the three-year period covering 2025/26 to 2027/28. The report detailed the key targets and methods of measurement, the level of internal and external resources, financial estimates, major milestones, training, and recommended actions.

Why it Matters:

These decisions directly impact the financial well-being of Havering's pensioners. Effective management of the pension fund is crucial to ensuring that retirees receive the benefits they are entitled to. The increase in the administration budget, while necessary to meet rising costs and regulatory demands, highlights the ongoing financial pressures faced by the council. The fund's recent underperformance underscores the importance of careful investment strategies and risk management.

Other Matters

• The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education met this week. No video of the meeting was provided.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings and their main topics:

• The Place Overview & Scrutiny Sub Committee will meet on Tuesday 01 July 2025 to discuss the council's approach to damp and mould in its properties, and an overview of the process for managing void properties. Link to meeting
• The Overview & Scrutiny Board will meet on Thursday 03 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Audit Committee will meet on Tuesday 08 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Local Pension Board will meet on Tuesday 08 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee will meet on Tuesday 08 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Strategic Planning Committee will meet on Thursday 10 July 2025. Link to meeting
• The Governance Committee will meet on Friday 11 July 2025. Link to meeting

This week, the Havering Council held a Pensions Committee meeting on Tuesday, 25 June 2024. The committee discussed several important matters related to the London Borough of Havering Pension Fund. Here are the key decisions and discussions from the meeting:

Pension Fund Accounts 2023-24

The committee reviewed the audited accounts for the Pension Fund for the fiscal year 2023-24. The accounts revealed that the fund had a market value of £1.84 billion at the end of March 2024. Unfortunately, the fund returned -1.2% during the year, underperforming its custom benchmark return of -0.5%. Despite this underperformance, the accounts were noted by the committee.

Pension Administration Budget 2024-25

The committee approved the Pension Administration Budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2024-25. This budget, which covers costs such as staff, office, and IT expenses, totals £1.904 million. This represents a 7.3% increase (£129,000) from the previous year.

Administration of the Cleantech Fund

A significant decision was made to transfer the administration of the Cleantech Fund to the Pension Fund team. This move aims to provide members of the Cleantech Fund with the same high level of administrative support currently enjoyed by Pension Fund members. The committee approved this transfer.

This will provide a number of advantages. Primarily it will give members of the Cleantech fund access to the same high level of administrative support that is currently enjoyed by members of the Pension Fund.

Pension Fund Monitoring Report

The committee received a performance report for the first quarter of 2024-25. The report indicated that the Pension Fund had outperformed its benchmark during this period, a positive sign amidst the previous year's underperformance.

Pension Fund Business Plan

The committee reviewed the Pension Fund's Business Plan for 2023-24. This plan outlines the fund's objectives, investment strategy, and risk management framework, providing a roadmap for future operations.

Review of Pension Fund Administration Policy

Lastly, the committee considered a report recommending changes to the Pension Fund's Administration Policy. These changes were mainly administrative and did not affect the overall policy. For example, one change updated the notification timeline for applicants:

To change the wording 'The Pensions Manager will notify the applicant in writing of the decision within 10 working days' to 'The Pensions Manager will notify the applicant in writing of the decision as soon as possible.'

Understanding the workings of the Pensions Committee is crucial as it impacts many residents relying on the Pension Fund for their future financial security. The decisions made in these meetings shape the administration and performance of the fund, affecting its sustainability and reliability.