Annual Report 2012/13 www.havering.gov.uk Contents Welcome to our Annual Report 2012/13 3 Our Living Ambition for a better quality of life 4 Environment to ensure a clean, safe and green borough 5 Learning to champion education and learning for all 8 Towns and Communities to provide economic, social and cultural opportunities in thriving towns and villages 11 Individuals to value and enhance the lives of our residents 14 Value Getting Information in your language or another format to deliver high customer This is Havering Council’s Annual Report 2012/13 which outlines the key satisfaction and a stable achievements and progress made towards delivering the Council’s vision Council Tax 19 and corporate goals during the year. If you would like to get this document Our Finances 21 in your language or in another format (large print, Braille, audiotape or easy read), please contact the Corporate Policy and Partnerships Team at Our Performance 23 [email protected] or on 01708 434343. 2 2 | | Havering’sHavering’s Annual Annual Report Report 2012-13 2012-13 Welcome to our Annual Report 2012/13 Cllr Michael White, Cheryl Coppell, Leader of the Council Chief Executive 2012/13 has been another Drapers Academy, marking a milestone Our success has been recognised challenging year for Havering. in the regeneration of Harold Hill. A over the last year through a clutch of Against a backdrop of organisational number of important new projects industry awards as well as independent change and financial challenge, we have been launched this year including assessments by Investors in People have continued to deliver a number Active Living, a partnership project that (IiP) and the LGA through a ‘peer of innovative projects and further aims to get older people to socialise, challenge’. The Peer Challenge improve services for our residents. remain fit and healthy, get more Report, provided by the LGA and other involved in their local community and members of the peer team, including In October we welcomed Homes in have someone to turn to for a chat, Senior Officers and Members from Havering, responsible for managing advice or help around the home. other Local Authorities, stated ‘The Council homes, back into the Council London Borough of Havering has made and in April the Public Health Team As well as delivering these exciting significant progress in recent years and were transferred to the organisation. projects the Council has been working the Council is rightly proud of what has These changes have provided further hard to protect frontline services been achieved.’ opportunities to integrate work by reviewing back office functions programmes and provide a more and making savings wherever The Annual Report 2012/13 highlights holistic and seamless service to our possible. Through our transformation some key examples of the work customers. programme, we have invested in new we have been doing over the past technology, introduced new ways 12 months and through these As well as considerable change, the of working and made it easier for achievements, the progress we have last year has also been a time of customers to access Council services made towards achieving our goals and continued achievement – from the online and via the telephone. These ultimately our vision: a better quality of incredibly successful Cleaner Havering changes are all aimed at improving life for residents now and in the future. Campaign which has made some services whilst delivering efficiencies. real improvements to the Borough And it’s working - we are on track to based on resident feedback, to new deliver £40 million of savings by 2014, educational facilities including the without a significant impact to Avelon Road Centre which provides day frontline services. opportunities for Adults with learning disabilities, and the new buildings at Havering’s Annual Report 2012-13 | 3 Our Living Ambition for a better quality of life The London Borough of Havering is We will deliver a better quality of life in Havering by aiming for five goals: situated in the North East of London and is home to 237,000 people, Since we launched our Living Ambition including the highest proportion of in 2008, Government action to cut older people in London. At around the deficit has meant councils have 40 square miles, it is the third largest much less money to spend, and as a borough in Greater London, covering result the relationship between public some 43 square miles. Romford is services and local communities has the Borough’s largest town and other changed. urban centres include Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham. The Borough In response to this, the Council is mainly characterised by suburban launched a wide-ranging development with large areas of Environment Towns & Communities transformation programme to deliver protected open space and more than to ensure a clean, safe and green to provide economic, social and the Living Ambition vision in a more half the Borough is designated as Borough cultural opportunities in thriving towns efficient and focused way whilst greenbelt land. and villages remaining fair to the people who rely on the Council for support. A breadth of data, information and research about the Borough can be The Council has now started to found on our Data Intelligence Hub at look towards 2018 and how the www.haveringdata.net organisation may need to change in the future to meet resident needs in In 2008 the Council launched our light of further projected funding cuts Living Ambition, a long-term vision to from Central Government. Through improve still further the quality of life careful strategic planning we will enjoyed by Havering residents. continue to review how we deliver services whilst ensuring the best The vision is that: Learning Individuals outcomes for local people. to champion education and learning to value and enhance the lives of our “Havering residents enjoy the highest for all residents The activities the Council is undertaking possible quality of life, in a Borough to achieve our Living Ambition and five that thrives on its links to the heart goals are outlined in our Corporate Plan of the Capital, without ever losing the 2013/14 which is being used to deliver natural environment, historic identity our priorities for the Borough over the and local way of life that makes next year. This Annual Report sets out Havering unique.” our key achievements and activities that have taken place in 2012/13. Value to deliver high customer satisfaction 4 | Havering’s Annual Report 2012-13 and a stable Council Tax Environment to ensure a clean, safe and green borough Working with our partners, the Dog Watch Scheme Community Clean-up Events Other initiatives as part of the Cleaner Council has made great progress in Havering Campaign include: making the Borough an even more Residents told us that one of their As part of the Cleaner Havering pleasant and safe place to live, work biggest concerns was dog mess and, Campaign the Council is encouraging • Around 100 new bins have been and visit this year by listening to our in response, the Dog Watch Scheme local residents to carry out community placed in locations around the residents and addressing their key was launched at the Havering Show clean-ups. In April, members of the Borough to further encourage priorities and concerns. 2013 as part of the Cleaner Havering Briar Residents’ Action Group (BRAG), people to bin their rubbish and not Campaign. Through this scheme in Harold Hill, along with Council staff drop it on the ground. residents are encouraged to report and McDonald’s employees, braved repeat dog mess offenders by filling in snow showers to litter pick in their local • 16 ‘Ghost Buster’ style back- an online form on the Council website. roads. Various other community clean- mounted vacuum cleaners and The Council has also teamed up with ups have been taking place across four ‘wheel bin’ type cleaning Asda to reward residents who take the borough, including one at Tweed machines have been purchased to pride in the Borough– Council staff who Way Hall in April, where 28 volunteers pick up broken glass, drink cans and spot someone that cleans up after helped clear the garden and grounds cigarette butts in places such as their pet or picks up litter are entered of the Hall and in June, more than 30 parks and children’s playgrounds, Cleaner Havering Campaign into a monthly prize draw, with a £50 members of the community helped to where our cleaning vehicles cannot Asda voucher as first prize and a food clean up Crow Lane in Romford. reach. In Spring 2012, the Council undertook hamper as the second prize. Free the Spring Clean Survey, which asked pooper scoopers are also available to • New street lights and benches have residents what more could be done to all residents and staff from the Town been installed and flower and tree make the Borough cleaner and tidier. Hall reception. planting schemes have been carried The main issues identified through the out across the Borough including survey were dog mess, general litter in Romford, Rainham, Harold Hill, and petty vandalism. There was also TCH SC Hornchurch and Upminster. widespread support for more seating A H in parks and town centres, more trees More initiatives to improve the W E and plants and improvements in some Borough are planned throughout areas to lighting. Using this feedback, G M 2013, including a major push to reduce O the Cleaner Havering Campaign was E the amount of litter linked to take- launched. Recently released survey D aways, which residents also cited as results in 2013 show how successful ★ a problem. To find out more about the programme has been: in total 87% R ★ the campaign and how you can do of residents reported their local park E T your bit to help keep the Borough to be clean and tidy (an increase of P I clean, visit www.havering.gov.uk/ 14% points from 2012) and 78% of O T cleanerhavering residents said that their local streets R are clean and tidy (an increase of 4% points from 2012).