The Cabinet of Havering Council met on Wednesday 14 October 2026, approving a new lane rental scheme to reduce roadwork disruption and extending key contracts for extra care and reablement services. The meeting also saw the approval of a new digital strategy and the disaggregation of legal services from the oneSource shared arrangement.

Lane Rental Scheme Approved

Cabinet approved the implementation and operation of the Havering Lane Rental scheme. This scheme, which has received approval from the Secretary of State for Transport, will charge utility companies and contractors for occupying busy roads during peak hours. The aim is to encourage more efficient working practices, reduce disruption for residents, and reinvest generated funds into highway maintenance and improvement projects. Councillor Alex Sibley, Cabinet Member for Highways, presented the report, stating the scheme was designed to encourage utility companies to get in, get the job done and get out again, particularly on our busiest roads and at our busiest times.¹ Concerns were raised by Councillor Ford about the oversight of the scheme after the initial 12 months and the targets for assessing disruption reduction, to which Councillor Sibley responded that an annual report would be provided and that the scheme was an overlay to the existing permit scheme. The scheme was approved, subject to call-in.

Extra Care Contract Extended

The contract for Extra Care and Support with Care-Away Limited t/a Care Support was agreed to be extended until 30 November 2028. This extension will maintain 24-hour on-site care, emergency response, and wellbeing services for residents at Draywood Court, Paines Brook Court, and St Ethelburga Court. Councillor Graham Day, Cabinet Member for Adults & Health Care, highlighted the positive performance of the current provider and the benefits of continuity for residents. The decision also included a noted amendment to manage Extra Care as an Adult Social Care placement option, rather than a housing-led referral route, to better align with assessed care needs and future planning for alternatives to residential care. Authority was delegated to the Strategic Director of People for implementation.

Reablement Contract Extended

Cabinet agreed to extend the Reablement contract with ECL Trading Ltd for a maximum of 12 months, from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028, at a total cost of £2,585,723.28. This extension includes an increase in core delivery hours to 1,100 per week and funding for an additional Occupational Therapy Assistant to support the Home First assessment capacity. Councillor Graham Day emphasised the importance of reablement in helping individuals regain independence after hospital discharge, stating, re-enablement gives the person that help to make them get back on their feet.² The decision aims to ensure continuity of this vital service while a full recommissioning exercise is completed. Authority was delegated to the Strategic Director of People for the necessary paperwork.

Havering's Market Position Statement Approved

Cabinet approved the publication of Havering's Adult Social Care Market Position Statement 2026-2031. This document outlines the council's commissioning priorities, service landscape, and strategic direction for adult social care over the next five years. Councillor Graham Day stated that the statement was crucial as the previous market position statement dated from 2016 and no longer reflected current demographics or priorities. The statement aims to support statutory duties under the Care Act 2014³, promote transparency, and strengthen engagement with care providers to foster a sustainable and high-quality care market.

Disaggregation of oneSource Legal Services Approved

Cabinet authorised the withdrawal of Havering Council's delegation from oneSource relating to Legal and Governance, and the retention of Exchequer and Transactional Services and Print Services within oneSource. This decision will lead to the creation of a separate Havering Legal Services department. Councillor Keith Prince, Leader of the Council, explained that this move was to respond to each Authority's Corporate Plan priorities, and in particular reflecting Havering Council's Administration's manifesto commitments.⁴ The disaggregation is intended to allow Havering to set its own priorities for legal services and ensure dedicated resources are available. Transitional arrangements and a collaboration agreement with Newham Council will be put in place. Authority was delegated to the Chief Executive and Strategic Director for Resources to manage the necessary arrangements, with the budget for the new Havering Legal Services structure to be addressed as part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) process.

Havering Digital Approach Strategy Approved

The Havering Digital Approach Strategy 2026 was approved as the council's strategic framework for technology, data, and modern ways of working. Councillor Sean McMahon, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, IT & Digital, presented the strategy, highlighting its focus on using digital tools to improve efficiency, financial resilience, and service delivery for residents. The strategy endorses a move away from standalone IT projects towards a more integrated approach, emphasising stronger governance, secure technology choices, reuse of existing platforms, and the development of a single secure data platform. Future digital decisions will be aligned with council priorities, value for money, cyber resilience, accessibility, and resident needs.

Forward Decision Plan Noted

Cabinet noted the Forward Decision Plan for information.