Havering’s Council Meeting, 18th March 2026

Question Time (QT)¹

Question one² was a political question! Michael White (25 minutes) asked about Havering joining Essex. He was digging out Andrew Rosindell and his Reform UK party.Apart from flags, Andrew is obsessed by the ‘Evil Empire’ that is London. Ray Morgon eagerly joined in, listing the inescapable advantages that the GLA brings Havering. Michael concluded by saying that leaving London was “a risk too far”. Ray was only too pleased to agree.

QT went downhill after this

Questions 3 and 6 were identical (33 and 39). Barry Mugglestone realised that giving identical answers was ridiculous. It didn’t stop him.³ Irony isn’t Barry’s strong suit. He likes being the centre of attention at whatever cost to his dignity.

There were eleven questions for Barry out of 15. QT is a golden opportunity for councillors, but they don’t use it to any good purpose. Red hot topics are ignored. The East Havering Data Centre was unquestioned even though the three HRA ward councillors oppose it. This includes two councillors who are cabinet members. They haven’t resigned. Then there’s the multi-million pounds loan from government. How much has Havering borrowed this year, what’s the repayment period, and at what ruinous interest rate? No-one was interested.

Keith Prince (35) asked Q4 about mislabeling staff agency costs as telephone expenses.⁴ The amount was £262,000. Apparently ‘mistakes’ happen and ‘lessons have been learned’. Keith accepted this. This is amazing. The ‘mistake’ is so bizarre it needs a vivid imagination to think how it could have been made. Keith’s fatal lack of probing curiosity is characteristic of councillors who literally don’t know how to do scrutiny. Everything is accepted at face value regardless of how ludicrous.

The 2022-26 HRA Council finished with a whimper.

Notes

1 (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Council, 18/03/2026 19:30 p325 for all printed questions See Annotator Player for the webcast All times relate to this webcast

2 Can the Administration please confirm which services will be lost and what the approximate financial impact would be on the Borough should Havering withdraw from the Greater London Authority area? It shouldn’t be forgotten that Andrew tried, and failed, to become the Conservative Mayoral candidate.

3 Groundhog Day – Wikipedia

4 In the interests of transparency can the Leader explain why, who and what amount is being referred to in the Standard article which says Havering Council has tagged payments to one of its recruitment and workforce suppliers as “telephone expenses”.

Havering’s Data Centre Consultation, 25th March 2026

The consultation meeting held at the Town Hall was challenging. The room was inadequate. Neither the acoustics nor sightlines aided discussion. These problems were exacerbated by a chair who was inexperienced. Panel members huddled defensively behind computer screens instead of standing and clearly addressing the meeting. As a result, members of the public were helplessly holding up their hands for inordinate periods of time.

Havering’s Friends of the Earth: A Visualisation

The group¹ have produced a visualisation to aid understanding. The link is here:

HFoE – VDC Tour

Greenwashing

As with all intrusive industrialisation projects, there are heroic efforts to greenwash. The pretence is that there is an environmental gain from the industrial use of the Green Belt. The offer here is an ‘ecology park’ and small-scale agriculture.

This is a tragic lost opportunity. The Data Centre will become Havering’s industrial frontier. Why not go the whole hog? Why not pivot towards intensive industrial farming?² Another warehouse would fit in visually and help meet Britain’s insatiable desire for salad food all year round. Industrial farming would curb imports and the destructive carbon footprint miles.

The ‘ecology park’ is comically misplaced. It’s as appropriate as putting it at the junction of the M25 and A13. Far better would be land south of Albyns Farm in Hornchurch Country Park.³ A sensitive development would enhance the ‘jewel in the crown’ that is the country park. It’s possible to imagine the ‘ecology park’ being a destination if placed in a country park. It is impossible to imagine people having a day out next to industrial warehouses.

Finally

Section 106 agreements could show ambition. A Data Centre is massively intrusive and alters the character of Havering. The Council should be demanding significant and bold investment in Havering as a mitigation of the industrialisation of the Green Belt.

Notes

1 Havering Friends of the Earth

2 Vertical Farming Transforms The Farm-to-Fork Supply Chain

3 Havering’s Finest Park – Politics in Havering

Havering’s Council Meeting, 21st January 2026 (part one)

Question Time (QT)

Councillors instructed ChatGPT to ask Family Friendly questions.

Sounds Familiar?

Q2 Jane Keane¹ asked about CCTV. Barry Mugglestone said it defeated crime.

Q3 Darren Wise asked about parking tickets. Barry said they were wonderful.

Q5 Judith Holt asked about parking fees in Hornchurch. Barry is working hard to please everyone.

Q6 Trevor McKeever asked about speeding. Barry said enforcement is for the police.

Q7 Martin Goode asked about potholes. They are being repaired quickly and effectively Barry said, without a blush.

Q8 Judith Holt asked about Visitor Parking Permits. Barry said the system worked beautifully.

Q10 Christine Vickery asked about Gallows Corner. Barry said he’d do whatever she wanted but she might regret what she wished for.

Q14 Viddy Persaud asked about traffic monitoring. Barry said she could have whatever she wanted. But she’d forgotten what she’d asked for.

Q15 Nisha Patel asked about parking enforcement. Barry worried about elderly people putting a ‘O’ in the machine instead of a Zero. But cheerfully said he couldn’t do anything about it.

Barry sat down for the 20^th time looking tired and happy.

Killer Questions

A killer question is one where every answer is wrong. These are perfect for pre-election QTs because answers can be publicised.

Q1 Dilip Patel asked about asylum seeker accommodation. This is a toxic question. Natasha Summers said she’d rejected the government’s request for accommodation. Dilip looked disappointed.

Q4 Keith Prince asked about unauthorised gypsy/traveller sites. Ray Morgon said officers were like bloodhounds seeking them out and were closing them with alacrity. Keith mocked this. He quoted the Daily Mail as evidence that Havering is overwhelmed with unauthorised sites. Ray said he didn’t read the Daily Mail.

Q11 Keith Darvill asked about housing allocations. Natasha Summers said they were on track. Keith said two years delay was unacceptable. Natasha said it was a software problem, and everyone was convinced.

Q13 David Taylor asked about temporary housing on the Waterloo Estate. Graham Williamson waffled. And that’s a multi-million pound scandal buried. A housing estate has been demolished and replaced by 18 temporary homes for the foreseeable future. Foreseeable means years, by the way.

Conclusion

The administration is lucky no-one knows how to use a killer question.

Note

1 (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Council, 21/01/2026 19:30 QT times relate to this webcast

Havering Council Meeting, 19th November 2025 (part two)

Motions¹probe the Administration. Labour and the Conservatives failed to prove that they are a better alternative.

Labour’s motion was on tree management and falling trees. The Conservatives considered the reduction of hours at Romford Police Station, which Havering isn’t responsible for.

Ray Morgon is lucky having a weak disorganised opposition.

Tree management

Labour: Keith Darvill (1 hour 12)² blamed ‘climate change’ for falling trees. Jane Keane (1:37) promoted volunteer tree wardens

HRA: Barry Mugglestone (1:17) was thin skinned. Gerry O’Sullivan (1:33) defended him. Reg Whitney (1:37) said falling trees was a national problem.

Conservatives: David Taylor (1:20) was worried about trees, Judith Holt (1:28) and Tim Ryan (1:35) wallowed in local knowledge.

East Havering RAs: Brian Eagling (1:21) and Martin Goode (1:25) talked about themselves.

Reform: Keith Prince (1:31) nit-picked. He enjoys this even when no-one else does.

Everyone agreed that randomly falling trees are a ‘Bad Thing’.

Romford Police Station

Conservatives: David (1:49) said a 24 hour front desk was vital to public safety. Dilip Patel (2:10) and Judith (2:11) saw a Labour plot in the reduction.

Labour: Keith D. (1:54) thought a review was a good idea. Jane (2:09) said it wasn’t.

Residents’ Association IG: John Tyler’s (1:57) ‘Good Old Days’ thoughts were from his days as a police officer.

Reform: Keith P. (2:00) dislikes Mayor Khan. He’s vitriolic. Keith is petulant and it spoils the flow – such as it is.

HRA: Stephanie Nunn (2:07) felt lied to about the reduction. Barry (2:08) said voting Labour worked and cited Margaret Mullane’s lobbying successes in Dagenham. Reg (2:09) said Havering was lucky to have a police station at all.

Hostility to Mayor Khan ignores a changing world and budget deficits.

Perhaps better motions would encourage councillors³ who were absent to come next time?

Notes

1 (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Council, 19/11/2025 19:30 These are the emotions for debate

2 Annotator Player Times relate to this site

3 Councillors Anderson, Benham, Best, Chapman, Glass, McArdle, McKeever, Ruck, Tumilty, Vickery, Williams, White D, and White M. Councillors Anderson and Tumilty have long-term illnesses No explanations are needed otherwise. This is a quarter of all councillors. For attendance over the last six months see Councillors attendance summary, 29 May 2025 – 21 November 2025 | London Borough of Havering

The Magnificent Two: Hornchurch and Romford

Havering has been named the worst place to live in Greater London in a new study….[because of] natural beauty, wellbeing, heritage and culture, schools and jobs, and value for money.¹

There are five categories used in this judgment. The article received wide-spread coverage despite the authors being deluded. Havering has two of the very best centres in outer-London. Focusing on the Magnificent Two:, we find regional centres of excellence in very different arenas.

Hornchurch

Hornchurch is the centre of the regional hospitality scene. Its bustling high street is populated by thriving pubs, restaurants, café society and entry level eateries. To the north is the wonderful Queen’s Theatre, which is the centrepiece of the culture quarter. A quality library, the Fairkytes centre, and a grade two listed building in Langtons, which opens on to Langtons Park. Immediately to the east is St Andrew’s church, which is a grade one building The church is an entry point for the War Graves cemetery.

Hornchurch is an unmistakeable urban masterpiece.

Romford

Romford exists in a challenging retail environment. Think of the competition. Lakeside to the east, Westfield to the west and e-commerce. Multi-billion pounds of predatory retail.

Romford is thriving. Why?

The irreducible fact is that people like shopping near to their homes with human contact. Transport is a key ingredient in Romford’s success story. It’s a transport hub for every element in society. Links to all parts of the borough are quick and easy by public transport and, for car drivers, car-parking is guaranteed on busy days.

The principal shopping malls are attracting new activities, which further enhance the allure [CP1] of the town centre. An entrepreneur has opened a cinema for a vote of confidence in Romford.

The worst place in Greater London? Balderdash!

Note

1 Havering named the worst place to live in Greater London | This Is Local London

[CP1]

Hornchurch Country Park: Squadrons Approach to Berwick Ponds

There are number of walks beginning in the Country Park’s spacious car park. The easiest is walking in a more-or-less a straight line down to Albyn’s Farm pond and returning for a cup of tea at the lovely cafe. The walk has a good surface for its entire length so ordinary shoes are OK. There are views about half way along from the top of a steepish slope. This is wonderful if you have a child who wants to run and suddenly realises it’s steeper than it looks.

Both walks are about two miles.

The next one is with the café to the left. Keep going for about a quarter of a mile and turn left. In front of you is a Bailey Bridge. This is a relic of the Second World War. It was originally used by the army in Europe after D-Day.

A Bailey Bridge in use in 1944 in France

After the bridge walk about 100 yards. There’s a signpost, which is easy to ignore as it has graffiti on it, but go to the right. You are leaving the gravel path and the surface is unmade. Walk for about 300 yards and there is another signpost. Take the route to Berwick Ponds. Again, the path is unmade. If there has been a lot of rain it will be muddy!

The ponds are serene and will reward for your efforts. The café is a great place to reward yourself after your exertions.

photograph Graham Carr Taken in late January 2024

Havering’s Places Overview and Scrutiny committee, 14th September 2023

Two very contrasting items dominated this meeting. The first was a presentation by an enthusiastic officer who had a good story to tell. Ray Morgon has emphasised good communications with the public and so will be delighted to know that the call centre is putting in a stellar performance with a mere 30 second wait for response.

The perennial problem for councils is the management of voids. Here was a very good report where the housing stock has not been allowed to rot in extended periods of neglect. Mandy Anderson (32 minutes)¹ said that she’d noticed the improvement in housing maintenance in her casework.

The Green Flag Award recognises parks of a high standard. There is a great deal of civic pride involved in having 16 of Havering’s parks acknowledged in this way. The officer said 16 was the limit because of resource constraints. A spokesman for Friends of Raphaels and Lodge Park gave a presentation (51-4 mins). What was said was probably unwelcome. He felt Raphaels Park was unworthy of the honour and they’d nearly written to the Green Flag organisers to say so. For example, the grass had only been cut twice this year in June and September.²

Every councillor who contributed to this meeting spoke well.

Notes

1 Webcast Agenda for Places Overview & Scrutiny Sub Committee on Thursday, 14th September, 2023, 7.00 pm | The London Borough Of Havering All times relate to this webcast

2 David Taylor should find out what the contract for grass-cutting Raphaels park demands and see if this is a management problem or a designed failure.

Absences

Sue Ospreay, Kath Tumilty and Brian Vincent

Contenders for the coveted Damian White ‘Slacker of the Year’ Cup are four Councillors at 50% Philippa Crowder, Sarah Edwards, Robbie Misir and Christine Vickery. Current leaders for the cup are Councillors Robert Benham and Damian White at 43% attendance over six months.

Source Councillors attendance summary, 6 April 2023 – 29 September 2023 | The London Borough Of Havering

Havering’s Places Overview and Scrutiny Committee, 18th July 2023

David Taylor’s debut as chair proved he’s affable and courteous. The principal items on the agenda concerned trees and Havering’s fleet of vehicles. Both items had officers presenting reports with skill and panache. It was refreshing to hear experts nimbly answering questions.

Trees are very complex. A ‘canopy’ cover in Havering was a surprise. What wasn’t a surprise was a discussion of fruit trees. Brian Eagling (39 mins)¹ and Gerry O’Sullivan (46 mins) spoke passionately about the damage, danger and mess they cause. They are an unintended consequence of the 1987 Great Storm, when there was no choice of replacement trees. The lack of maintenance was emphasised by Brian Vincent (34mins). Nonetheless the political consequences of stripping trees from streets was remembered by Osman Dervish (35 mins). Trees have passionate supporters.

The principal officers for Havering’s fleet of vehicles were a masterful double-act. The ULEZ programme has many ramifications. ULEZ fines were a burning topic and no-one believed the implementation August 29^th date will be postponed.²It seems Havering will pay about £88,000 in fines. This has incentivised the procurement of compliant vehicles. Air pollution was emphasied as a driving force in addition to efficiency though Climate Change wasn’t mentioned.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Havering Daily: a comment

The e-newspaper did a survey of councillors about ULEZ.³ Not a single councillor mentioned Public Health, which was depressing. Even the Labour Party is trapped by a desire to have it both ways.

The Havering Daily should be congratulated for their efforts. And councillors who replied are sensitive to the democratic necessity of transparent dialogue – so they too should be congratulated. A surprising non-responder was Keith Prince – a ULEZ ultra.

Notes

1 Annotator Player (sonicfoundry.com) All times refer to this webcast

2 And they were quite correct as the High Court ratified ULEZ on the 28^th July

3 Havering Councillors Reveal Their Views on the ULEZ Expansion and Pay Per Mile Scheme – The Havering Daily

The Power of Positive Politics

Visitors to the Ingrebourne Hill Country Park¹ don’t realise that it was once an environmental disaster zone. There were major fly-tipping problems, rat infestation, motor-cycle nuisance and horses were tethered and left over the winter months, many of whom starved to death. In the long hot summer of 1976 major fires happened frequently because of the rotting waste producing methane gas. On at least two occasions the flames rose above the height of the houses.

Airfield ward councillors Ray Emmett (1982-2002) and Chris Purnell (1990-2002) led a campaign for a positive environmental solution, with the Labour Administration. There was a wonderful proposition, which resulted in the country park. Nothing less likely could have been imagined. Derelict land ravaged by decades of abuse was given an enormous facelift to the benefit of the entire community.

But there was a cost. The land was used as a dumping site for inert waste from all over London with hundreds of lorry movements each month. Simultaneously there was gravel winning which also meant a great deal of industrial activity. Ingrebourne Hill was engineered using that inert waste and then capped and sculpted into what it is now. The lake which is adjacent was the result of the gravel winning. Years of disruption for the Park’s neighbours have been richly rewarded.

The Ingrebourne Hill Country Park has mountain bike tracks, a short and challenging climb to the top and also, less energetically, gentle walks through to Albyns Farm. A further cost was the political careers of the Labour councillors who promoted that vision, which took just too long for the voters to see through to fruition.

Note

1 Ingrebourne Valley | The London Borough Of Havering

Langtons Gardens, Hornchurch

Langtons Gardens doesn’t have Havering Park’s magnificent redwood trees, or the broad acres of Hornchurch Country Park. Nor does it have a deer park with vistas across Havering that are so good they could be prescribed by your GP. Right in the centre of Hornchurch the gardens are the beating heart of the urban area.

The Georgian house in Langtons Gardens. It’s now a wedding venue

Covid-19 has taught us about the critical importance of parks. Havering is blessed. Langtons Gardens are part of Havering’s historical legacy, which is very easy to take for granted.¹The magnificent gardens are maintained at a very high level, which is essential because they are under constant pressure by thousands of visitors. The garden’s constant improvement has seen a cafe opened and public toilets.

The lake in Langtons Gardens with the Georgian house in the background

Langtons has a wonderful Georgian house and Orangery. These are picture perfect for wedding photos. The gardens include lawns, flowerbeds and a large lake. The pathways are smooth and readily accessible by everyone. There are numerous benches. After Fielders Field was opened there are more extensive walks. In the summer Fielders Field is used for cricket. Young children use the woodland adventure playground.

Langtons Gardens are a delight and a credit to Havering Council.

Note

1 Langtons Gardens, Havering | GoParksLondon