Hornchurch & Upminster MP, Julia Lopez, has today led a Havering delegation in a meeting with government ministers about the borough’s budget.

The meeting was set up by Mrs Lopez after the Council issued a warning to local media about the borough’s financial management.

Joined by Council Leader, Cllr Ray Morgon, and senior Havering council officers, Mrs Lopez set out some of the budget challenges facing Havering to Local Government Minister, Lee Rowley. 

It is the second such meeting that Mrs Lopez has arranged with Minister Rowley on behalf of Havering Council after a successful December 2022 summit in Westminster led to an increase in the borough’s grant funding and overall core spending power. 

Since then, cost pressures from adult and children’s social care have continued to affect Havering disproportionately due to the growing number of older and younger people with complex needs that the borough serves. Mrs Lopez has long campaigned for a change to the way in which Havering’s population needs are worked out so that Havering gets the right support, and has also been working with Havering Council on attracting more businesses to the area through projects like the Thames Freeport. 

Commenting after the meeting, Mrs Lopez said:

‘I am, once again, very grateful to Minister Rowley for accepting my request so rapidly to meet senior leaders at Havering Council to discuss their financial position. We hope that the upcoming Local Government Financial Settlement will help address some of the challenges that were set out. In the meantime, the Minister has instructed his officials to work closely with Havering and I will continue to provide any help and support I can so we get the best outcome for the residents I serve.’