Staff working for Barking and Dagenham Council who are experiencing domestic abuse will now get up to 10 days paid leave thanks to the introduction of a ground-breaking policy to address the issue.

 

Tackling domestic violence and abuse is a key priority for the council. It recently announced plans for a commission to explore local attitudes and perceptions to domestic abuse. Just under 40% of the council’s workforce also live in the borough and so it is starting with its own workforce. 

All Saints Catholic School in Dagenham has been awarded with the Centre of Excellence status for a second year in a row. 

Inclusion Quality Mark Ltd (IQM) gave the award which recognises the ongoing commitment by schools to provide the very best education for all children irrespective of their differences and abilities. 

The reported commented on ‘how the school continues to move forward at an impressive pace and that its commitment to inclusion was exceptional and was evidenced through its policy and practice in all areas.’

Ninety-year old volunteer, Evelyn Karstadt has been specially recognised by the Mayor of London and is set to be one of the stars on the Mayor’s Instagram page as an ‘amazing women’ during women’s empowerment month.

Evelyn will be part of an online gallery to celebrate incredible women Londoners who have been behind some of the greatest achievements and discoveries in the Capital.

Almost three out of four young people in Barking and Dagenham will attend their first preference secondary school from September this year.

 

Figures show that out of 3,452 applications, 2,534 (73.41 per cent) of 11-year-olds have been offered their first preference compared to the capital’s average of 65.89 per cent. 

 

From Tuesday 5 March 2019, Cadent Gas will be carrying out gas mains replacement work along Rainham Road South, between the junction of Reede Road and the junction of Dagenham Road. 

Work will be carried out in five phases between March and July 2019. During these phases, parking bays will have to be suspended and there won’t be access to Surrey Road from Rainham Road South at times that will be displayed on the road. 

 

Barking and Dagenham Council’s battle against grime crime continues with the release of the fourteenth CCTV Appeal film.

The video series catches people who are illegally dumping rubbish in the borough. The latest episode shows people brazenly dumping fridges, mattresses, umbrellas and even a boiler in different locations across the borough. 

A new programme to bring art and culture into social care services is coming to Barking and Dagenham, after New Town Culture launched at Barking Town Hall today (Thursday 28 February).

A food company in Barking and Dagenham has been ordered to pay more than £7,000 for selling undercooked chicken to a customer. 

 

Council officers investigated after a customer complained that Haji Baba Ltd, which operates within Asda Barking, sold them raw chicken drumsticks on Wednesday 13 September 2017. 

 

At a hearing at Barkingside Magistrates Court on Friday 8 February 2019, Haji Baba Ltd were found guilty and fined £3,500. They were also ordered to pay costs of £1,804 with a victim surcharge of £120. 

The votes are in and Barking and Dagenham has a new Young Mayor, Joshua Singh-Hill.

Singh-Hill, 16 of All Saints Catholic School will replace Wesley Oparaugo and will be the Young Mayor until February 2020.

The All Saints pupil has been part of the Barking and Dagenham Youth Forum for the last two years and felt now was the right time to stand to be Young Mayor.

A church formerly based in Barking and the landlord of the property it rented, have been ordered to pay a combined confiscation order of £196, 250.59 in contravention of a planning enforcement notice issued by Barking and Dagenham Council.

 

At a hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday 18 February, both defendants were sentenced to confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.