The Mayor presented Canon Ken Wylie of St Andrew’s Church, Hornchurch with a badge to mark his year as the Mayor’s Official Chaplain.

Apologies for absence have been received from Councillors Mandy Anderson and Katharine Tumilty.

To receive any other apologies for absence.

Received from Councillors Mandy Anderson, Jacqui McArdle and Kathy Tumilty.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mandy Anderson, Jacqui McArdle and Kathy Tumilty.

Members are invited to disclose any interest in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting. 

Members may still disclose any interest in an item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

None.

There were no disclosures of interest.

Report of Chief Executive (attached).

Note: the deadline for amendments to all reports published with the final agenda is midnight, Monday 19 May.

Report agreed without division.

A report of the Chief Executive asked Council to consider the granting of an exemption to section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 for Councillor Mandy Anderson who had been unable to attend recent Council meetings due to ongoing medical treatment. This would allow Councillor Anderson to continue as a Member of the Council.

The report was agreed without division and it was RESOLVED:

That Councillor Mandy Anderson be exempted from the requirements of Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 and, accordingly, shall continue to be a Member of the Council.

To receive announcements (if any).

The outgoing Mayor thanked Members for allowing him the opportunity to be Mayor. He also recorded his thanks to the Mayoress – Susan O’Sullivan and his Official Chaplain – Ken Wylie.

(a)  To elect the Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2025/26.

Motion on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group

That Councillor Sue Ospreay be elected to the office of Mayor for the municipal year 2025 - 2026.

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

That Councillor Pat Brown be elected to the office of Mayor for the municipal year 2025 – 2026.

(b)  To receive notice of the appointment of Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2025/26.

Councillor Sue Ospreay ELECTED as Mayor for the 2025/26 municipal year by 25 votes to 15 for Councillor Pat Brown, with 10 abstentions.

Appointment of Councillor Barry Mugglestone as Deputy Mayor noted.

Motion on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group

That Councillor Sue Ospreay be elected to the office of Mayor for the municipal year 2025 – 2026.

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

That Councillor Pat Brown be elected to the office of Mayor for the municipal year 2025 – 2026.

Following proposing speeches by the respective Group Leaders, Councillor Sue Ospreay was ELECTED as Mayor for the 2025/26 municipal year by 25 votes to 10 for Councillor Brown with 16 abstentions (see division 1).

Councillor Sue Ospreay, having made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Mayor, as required by the Local Government Act 1972, then took the Chair and thanked the Council for the honour bestowed upon them.

The Leader of the Council expressed the thanks of the Council to the outgoing Mayor – Councillor Gerry O’Sullivan for his service during 2024/25. Councillor O’Sullivan suitably replied.

The Mayor indicated that the Mayoral Consort for the year would be Ms Sharon Sutton.

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, the Mayor signified in writing the appointment of Councillor Barry Mugglestone as Deputy Mayor for the coming year and to carry out the duties of the Mayor in case of the Mayor’s illness or absence.

Councillor Mugglestone made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office accordingly. The Mayor indicated that the Deputy Mayor’s consort for the year would be Councillor Stephanie Nunn.

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 26 March 2025 (attached).

Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 26 March 2025 AGREED as a correct record, without division.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 26 March 2025 were AGREED as a correct record, without division.

The Mayor advised that her charity for the year would be the MCA Trust which supported local children with cancer and their families.

Report of Chief Executive (attached).

Amendment by the Labour Group NOT AGREED by 25 votes to 7 with 19 abstentions. Deemed motion by the Administration AGREED, without division.

Deemed motion by the Administration

That the report be adopted and its recommendations carried into effect.

Amendment on behalf of the Labour Group

Following debate, thee amendment by the Labour Group was NOT AGREED by 25 votes to 7 with 19 abstentions (see division 2). The deemed motion by the Administration was AGREED, without division and it was RESOLVED:

That the report be adopted and its recommendations carried into effect.

To consider motions (attached) regarding the appointment of Committee Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen.

Procedural motion on behalf of the Labour Group that the nomination of Councillor Mandy Anderson for the position of Chairman of Pensions Committee be withdrawn, AGREED without division.

Councillor Julie Wilkes ELECTED as Chairman of Audit Committee by 26 votes to 25 for Councillor Phil Ruck with 1 abstention (casting vote of Mayor).

Members were appointed by Council to positions as follows:

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

Motion on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

Motion on behalf of the Residents’ Association Independent Group

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

A Procedural motion on behalf of the Labour Group that the nomination of Councillor Mandy Anderson for the position of Chairman of Pensions Committee be withdrawn was AGREED without division.

Members were appointed by Council to positions as follows:

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

Councillor Julie Wilkes was ELECTED as Chairman of Audit Committee by 26 votes to 25 for Councillor Phil Ruck with 1 abstention (casting vote of Mayor, see division 3).

To consider motions (attached) regarding the appointment of the Member Champions.

Councillor Robby Misir ELECTED as Member Champion for Equality and Diversity by 25 votes to 9 for Councillor Jane Keane with 17 absentions.

Members were appointed by Council to positions as follows:

Motion on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group

That the following be appointed Champions as indicated:

For the Armed Forces – Barry Mugglestone

For Equality and Diversity – Robby Misir

For the Historic Environment – Bryan Vincent

For the Over 50’s –

For the Voluntary Sector Compact –      

For Young People –

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

That the following be appointed Champions as indicated:

For the Armed Forces –

For Equality and Diversity – Jane Keane

For the Historic Environment –

For the Over 50’s –

For the Voluntary Sector Compact –      

For Young People – Frankie Walker

Members were appointed by Council to positions as follows:

Councillor Robby Misir was ELECTED as Member Champion for Equality and Diversity by 25 votes to 9 for Councillor Jane Keane with 17 abstentions (see division 4).

To receive a statement by the Leader of the Council.

The Leader emphasised the lack of funding received from Central Government, particularly given the rising costs in areas such as temporary accommodation and services for children with special educational needs and disabilities. A budget petition had also been launched.

Planned improvements in transport infrastructure included a new Superloop route serving the borough and improvements to the Gallows Corner flyover. Housing had developments had progressed in areas such as Rise Park and Harold Hill where the Family Welcome Centre has been opened.

Five village greens had been delivered in Havering and a £66m investment in school expansion was planned. The Where We Live campaign had been introduced recently to keep the borough clean, green and safe. A Keep It Local campaign sought to boost the Havering economy.

The Leader also emphasised how the Council was supporting businesses and looking to attract new businesses to come to Havering.

Initiatives to tackle crime & disorder included a new CCTV control room and the continued success of the Council funded section 92 police officers. The Leader also met on a bi-monthly basis with faith leaders to ensure the borough remained as cohesive and safe as possible.

The record of voting decisions is attached as appendix 1 to these minutes.