Bryan Vincent

Planning Committee - Thursday, 23rd April, 2026 7.00 pm

The Planning Committee of Havering Council met on Thursday 23 April 2026. The committee considered an application for a change of use at 51 Windermere Avenue, Hornchurch, to establish an Ofsted-regulated residential children's home for up to two children aged between 8 and 17. The application had been deferred from a previous meeting to clarify matters regarding police reports of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area, and to gain insight from the Havering Social Care Team on carer-to-child ratios. During the meeting, it was noted that while there had been some police attendances at the property, the number of recorded incidents linked to the address since October 2024 had been minimal. The Havering Strategic Commissioner had indicated that there was an overprovision of children's homes in the borough, meaning there was not a local need for this specific proposal. Officers recommended that the matter be deferred, and the committee voted to agree with this recommendation.

Strategic Planning Committee - Thursday, 26 March 2026 - 7.00 pm

The Strategic Planning Committee of Havering Council met on Thursday 26 March 2026 to discuss the redevelopment of the Angel Way multi-storey car park in Romford. The committee voted to approve the application by three votes to two, with one abstention, following extensive discussion.

Overview & Scrutiny Board - Wednesday, 25th March, 2026 7.00 pm

The Overview and Scrutiny Board met to consider a call-in of a recent Cabinet decision regarding a Build to Rent scheme at the Local Housing Allowance. After discussion, the Board voted on whether to uphold the requisition. The vote was tied at five members for and five against. The Chair used their casting vote to not uphold the requisition, meaning the Cabinet's decision to proceed with the scheme can be implemented.

Council - Wednesday, 18 March 2026 - 7.30 pm

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.

Overview & Scrutiny Board - Tuesday, 17th March, 2026 7.00 pm

The Overview and Scrutiny Board met on Tuesday 17 March 2026 to discuss corporate HR metrics, including sickness absence and the use of agency workers, as well as the council's commercial strategy and the effectiveness of the board's own work. Key decisions included noting improvements in sickness absence rates and a reduction in agency worker spend, while also highlighting areas for further investigation and recommendations for enhancing the scrutiny process.