Residents of Barking and Dagenham are benefitting from cleaner streets and tidier neighbourhoods, after the council invested in ten electric blowers to help keep the borough clean.

The new electric blowers are very effective for getting litter and leaves out of difficult to reach places, for example in and around parked vehicles on streets, while also being easy to use for long periods. 

The new cleaning blowers are electric, rather than running on petrol or oil, quieter to use in residential areas, and more environmentally-friendly as they have zero-emissions.

New parents in Barking and Dagenham are being urged to claim their Child Benefit, even if they have not yet been able to register the birth of their new-borns, to ensure they don’t miss out.

Claims can only be backdated by up to three months, so it’s important that new parents claim as soon as they can to receive the maximum support available.

Usually, to claim Child Benefit parents must register their child’s birth first. However, due to the pandemic the local register office is operating at a reduced capacity and some parents have been unable to register their child.

Residents in Barking and Dagenham facing reduced income as a result of lockdown, or that have been made redundant and now claim Universal Credit, are being encouraged to take advantage of the council’s Cosy Homes scheme.

Cosy Homes is a partnership between the Council, E.ON energy and installers J & J Crump, and aims to help residents make their homes warmer and cheaper to heat.

A government backed initiative which has the potential to create 1.5 million jobs and bring in up to £115 billion into the UK economy has been launched.

The Thames Estuary Growth Board, led by Government-appointed Envoy Kate Willard, and includes Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, launched ‘The Green Blue’, which sets out plans for the region over the next two years, looking ahead over the next ten years.

Residents of Barking and Dagenham who may have lost their jobs during the pandemic or may be considering a career change are able to find out about opportunities available at a career change online session.

On the day, participants will be able to find out about starting their own business, support available from the Barking Enterprise Centre, Job Centre Plus and local job opportunities available.

In addition, employers including the Met Police, the Care sector and Barking Riverside London will be available to talk about jobs on offer and how to apply.

An east London council is determined to win the war against fly tipping and is determined not to take any prisoners in doing so.

 

Over the last few years, Barking and Dagenham Council has been leading the way in the battle against fly tippers but lockdown has seen an increase in ‘tossers’ dumping their rubbish across the borough. That’s why the council is launching a new initiative to deter the offenders as well as relaunching the award-winning Wall of Shame series that names and shames people on social media dumping their rubbish.

 

A two-day joint operation between the police and council officers to address anti-social behaviour (ASB) and crime in Barking Town Centre has resulted in a number of arrests.

The operation, which took place in the afternoon and evenings of Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 July included a dispersal zone in Barking Town Centre, extra patrols, issuing of anti-social behaviour tickets and intelligence gathering. 

As Lockdown eases, shops open and some people are returning to work, Barking and Dagenham Council has pledged its commitment  to the work essential workers have been doing over the past months by extending its offer of free parking for NHS staff and key workers until the end of September. 

When lockdown was announced the east London council quickly recognised the important role NHS staff, key workers and volunteers would play in keeping residents safe and that’s why they offered them the opportunity to apply for a free parking permit.

An exclusive interview with the Sunday Times bestselling author, Jane Corry sits at the centre of an extraordinary COVID-19 edition of Write On! 5. However, Jane’s is just one of the voices that have contributed experience, strength and hope to the issue. This special edition brings together the diverse voices that have created such power through Write On! Extra, into a beautifully designed, digital magazine.

This week, (13 -17 July) is Private Fostering Week, which aims to raise awareness about the number of young people that are living in other people’s care as well highlighting the importance of letting their local council know.

If you are currently caring for someone else’s child who is under the age of 16 years (or 18 years if disabled), for longer than 28 days, then you are private fostering and must inform the council immediately unless you are a close relative. Close relatives include stepparents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles or aunts (related by blood).