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A Dagenham-born man has been bestowed the honour of being named the borough’s Mayor for 2019-20.

Councillor Peter Chand took over the reins from out-going Mayor, Cllr Sanchia Alasia, at the annual ceremonial event on Friday, 17 May at Barking Town Hall.  

The 53-year-old, who is a governor at Dagenham Park School, also announced the two charities that he will be fundraising for throughout the year – Dagenham United and Independent Living Agency. 

In partnership with The Alzheimer’s Society, Barking and Dagenham Council hosted an action day to raise awareness and highlight the support available locally to help people with dementia.



The event which took place Monday 20 May in Barking Town Square included an array of information stalls, interactive activity and live entertainment, including information on how to become a ‘Dementia Friend’

Fines for anyone caught fly-tipping are set to more than double, after Barking and Dagenham Council agreed a host of new, tougher penalties to combat enviro crime.

Offenders will have to fork out £400 – the maximum allowed under current legislation – an increase of 166 per cent on the present charge of £150, and with no early repayment discount being offered. 

Anyone caught littering will also face a stiffer fine, with the penalty increasing from £75 to £150.

The new fly-tipping and littering fines came into effect on Monday 3 June. 

Headteachers from schools across the borough joined representatives from the local community, the Met Police and Barking and Dagenham Council to discuss how to make sure classrooms are a safe place for pupils. 

The training event provided guidance to schools on what powers they have when it comes to searching pupils and confiscating banned items such as knives, as well as discussing student and staff safety.

Would-be solicitors in the borough are being offered an alternative route into the profession thanks to a new six-year apprenticeship scheme being offered by Barking and Dagenham Council. 



The programme offers A-level students the opportunity to achieve full solicitor qualifications through a mix of on-the-job training and a fully-funded university law degree. 



The scheme means aspiring lawyers will be able to become qualified without the burden of getting into debt from university fees and student loans. 

Barking and Dagenham businesses are being encouraged to sign up to an initiative to give young people the skills they need before entering the workplace.

 

The London Enterprise Adviser Network (LEAN) EAST was launched earlier this year to support the Mayor’s Skills for Londoners Strategy and Careers for Londoners Action Plan, that aim to ensure that all Londoners have the skills they need to fulfil their potential. 

 

Six men urinating in public are among a host of new faces caught on camera in the latest grime crime video on Barking and Dagenham Council’s Wall of Shame.

The unsavoury perpetrators were all caught relieving themselves at Westminster Gardens, in Barking, close to the A13, at the end of a residential street in broad daylight. 

The film also features people caught dumping drawers and bin bags. 

Grafton Primary School in Dagenham has moved from ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’ following a recent Ofsted inspection.

The Ofsted report, which was published last week, shows that inspectors were impressed with the leadership of the school with it stating ‘the headteacher and his senior leadership team have successfully instilled a culture of respect and high expectations for all, which supports pupils to excel in their learning.’ 

The owners of R&T Cosmetics beauty store, based on Dagenham Heathway, have been fined more than £14,500 for selling ‘dangerous’ skin-whitening cosmetics. 



Trading Standards officers from Barking and Dagenham Council visited the premises in May 2017 and seized 360 products, including some products containing hydroquinone, a skin-bleaching substance banned from over-the-counter sale in the UK. 



The labels on the substances failed to meet strict EU regulations and, in some instances, listed incorrect ingredients.

Students from Eastbury Community School recently ventured out into the working world as they took on a two-week work experience placement.

Nearly 300 Year 10 pupils took part in the work experience programme which saw them going to a number of different industries ranging from: administration, education, construction, legal, banking, pharmaceutical, property, accountancy, retail and manufacturing.