The Council meeting on 18 March 2026 addressed various council procedures, policies, and community issues. Key decisions included the adoption of revised Contract Procedure Rules, approval of the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27, and the setting of council meeting dates for the 2026/27 municipal year. The meeting also heard several petitions and debated motions concerning libraries, tax rises, SEND provisions, community assets, and local plan sites.

Contract Procedure Rules Adopted

The Council adopted revised Contract Procedure Rules 2025, in place of the Contract Procedure Rules 2016. This decision was agreed by 32 votes to 5, with 11 abstentions.

Pay Policy Statement Approved

The Council approved its Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27. This statement, required under the Localism Act 2011, outlines the remuneration of chief officers and lowest-paid employees, as well as the relationship between their pay. The report was agreed by 34 votes to 4, with 10 abstentions.

Council Meeting Dates Set

Dates for council meetings for the 2026/27 municipal year were agreed without division. It was also agreed that changes to meeting dates would be determined by the Mayor in consultation with Group Leaders.

Petitions Presented

Several petitions were presented to the Council, covering a range of local concerns:

• A petition from Councillor Jane Keane requested that parking arrangements on Park Lane be aligned with those in central Hornchurch.
• Councillor Jane Keane also presented a petition calling for measures to reduce speeding in St Albans ward.
• Councillor Matthew Stanton presented a petition requesting the introduction of CCTV in the Rainham and Wennington ward.
• Councillor Frankie Walker submitted a petition concerning the installation of public toilets in Hilldene Avenue.
• Councillor Judith Holt presented a petition requesting the installation of double yellow lines in George Street at its junction with Thurlow Gardens.

Motions Debated and Decided

Libraries Motion Not Agreed

A motion proposed by Councillors Keith Prince and Michael White, calling for a halt to plans to sell or demolish Harold Wood, Gidea Park, and South Hornchurch libraries, was not agreed. Amendments from the Conservative Group and the Labour Group also failed to pass. The Conservative amendment was lost on the Mayor's casting vote (25 votes to 24), and the Labour amendment was also lost on the Mayor's casting vote (25 votes to 24). The original motion was then defeated by 24 votes to 5, with 3 abstentions.

Tax Rises Motion Amended and Agreed

A motion by the Conservative Group condemning government tax changes that put local businesses at risk was amended by the Labour Group. The amended motion, which acknowledged the necessity of taxation for public services while calling for proportionality in national tax policy, was agreed by 6 votes to 3, with 23 abstentions. This amended motion then became the substantive motion and was agreed without division.

SEND Provision Motion Agreed

A motion by the Labour Group, calling for a cross-party commitment to strengthen Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision and ensure continuity across administrations, was agreed by 31 votes to 0, with one abstention. The motion resolves to adopt a cross-party guarantee to deliver planned SEND expansion, safeguard funding and capacity, and commit to a clear multi-year plan with targets for reducing out-of-borough placements, improving EHCP timeliness, and strengthening inclusion, and asks for an early public update from any incoming administration alongside annual reporting to ensure stability for children and families.

Community Assets Protection Charter Motion Not Agreed

A Labour Group motion to adopt a cross-party Community Assets Protection Charter to safeguard community buildings and spaces was not agreed, with 21 votes to 8, with 3 abstentions.

Local Plan Sites Motion Agreed

A motion by Councillors John Tyler and Laurance Garrard, requesting that the list of sites submitted as part of the Local Plan's Call for Sites be made available to Members as a confidential document, was agreed without division. An amendment by the Labour Group was not agreed by 22 votes to 6, with 4 abstentions.

Members' Questions Addressed

A total of fifteen questions were asked by councillors, covering a range of topics including the cost of withdrawing from the Greater London Authority, changes to housing legislation, parking enforcement, council expenses, highway schemes, legacy landfill reports, penalty charge notices, moving traffic violations, litter bin emptying, tree cover, planning enforcement, and funding for parks. The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ray Morgon, and Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Barry Mugglestone, provided responses to many of these questions.

One notable exchange concerned the potential financial impact and service losses if Havering were to withdraw from the Greater London Authority area. Councillor Michael White's question was answered by Councillor Ray Morgon, who stated that it would be a risk too far at this stage.

Questions regarding parking enforcement on grass verges and the emptying of litter bins in Romford Town Centre were addressed by Councillor Barry Mugglestone. He outlined the council's procedures for issuing letters, considering bollards, and the existing schedule for bin emptying, respectively.

Councillor Trevor McKeever raised concerns about the fall in tree cover, and Councillor Barry Mugglestone detailed measures to plant new trees and preserve existing stock, noting that Havering's tree stock had increased under the current administration.

Regarding planning enforcement at 143 North Street, Romford, Councillor Graham Williamson confirmed that an enforcement notice had been served and an appeal dismissed, with compliance required by 28 March 2026.

Finally, questions about funding for parks and financial support for road maintenance due to the Gallows Corner works were addressed by Councillor Barry Mugglestone, who highlighted the extension of UK Shared Prosperity Fund funding and ongoing efforts to secure compensation from Transport for London.