Reform UK Marks First 100 Days Running Havering Council 2026

Key Points

• Reform UK’s administration at Havering Council is marking its first 100 days in office with a focus on stabilising council finances and delivering local improvements.
• The administration aims to make Havering “London’s Super Suburb” while addressing key issues such as infrastructure, accommodation, and anti-social behaviour.
• Long-running works at the Gallows Corner junction are nearing completion following a deadline set for utility providers and Transport for London, with a full reopening expected by the end of September.
• Council financial reviews have identified strategies to cut temporary accommodation costs, which are projected to yield approximately £1 million in annual savings.
• Environmental and community safety initiatives include a Summer Deep Clean in Romford, proposed increases in penalties for waste offences, an Article 4 Direction consultation for HMOs, and a borough-wide Public Spaces Protection Order.
• Regulatory action regarding Launders Lane is escalating, with potential enforcement measures including a Remediation Notice, Step-In powers, and direct appeals to central government.

Romford (East London Times) September 3, 2026 – Speaking at Full Council ahead of the administration reaching its 100-day milestone, Leader of Havering Council, Councillor Keith Prince AM, outlined the initial progress made by the local authority. The Reform UK administration, which assumed control following the local elections in May, focused its early months on reviewing council finances, establishing project timelines, and addressing persistent borough issues. According to Keith Prince, the priority of the administration was to stabilise the council’s position, evaluate inherited structural challenges, and initiate visible services for local residents.

Addressing the chamber, Keith Prince stated:

“When residents elected Reform UK in May, they voted for change. They wanted a Council prepared to challenge the way things had always been done, get a grip on the finances, stand up for residents and restore pride and ambition to Havering. Our first 100-days were never about pretending every problem could be solved overnight. They were about putting the foundations in place and beginning to deliver.”

The administration highlighted progress at the Gallows Corner junction as a primary infrastructure objective. Following deadlines issued by the council leadership to Essex & Suffolk Water and Transport for London, the utility provider completed its phase of the works and handed control back to Transport for London. The junction is scheduled to return to full operational capacity by the end of September.

How Is Havering Council Addressing Financial Challenges and Local Services?

The administration completed a comprehensive financial review of Havering Council ahead of the upcoming budget-setting cycle, prioritising fiscal efficiency and service delivery. Measures aimed at reducing expenditure in temporary accommodation are projected to save approximately £1 million annually. The council is currently negotiating with service providers to secure alternative housing arrangements for families requiring temporary accommodation within the borough.

Local environment initiatives included the delivery of a Summer Deep Clean across Romford town centre, incorporating targeted street washing and high-pressure jet cleaning. The council is preparing frameworks to roll out similar sanitation programmes to other commercial centers throughout Havering. In addition, local policy adjustments under consideration include higher financial penalties for littering, graffiti, and illegal fly-tipping.

Regarding local enforcement and public standards, Keith Prince stated:

“Civic pride means having a Council prepared to clean up our borough, but it also means taking action against those who make a mess of it. We want residents to feel proud of where they live and to know that their Council is on their side.”

What Policies Are Being Introduced for Housing, Community Safety, and Environmental Hazards?

The local authority initiated regulatory measures targeting Houses in Multiple Occupation across the borough. A public consultation is currently active regarding the implementation of an Article 4 Direction across Havering. If adopted, the directive would remove permitted development rights for HMO conversions, requiring landlords to submit formal planning applications prior to establishing multi-occupancy properties. Concurrently, the council opened consultations on a borough-wide Public Spaces Protection Order designed to grant officers additional statutory powers to address anti-social behaviour.

At Launders Lane, the council is advancing formal enforcement measures following the withholding of permission by the landowner for temporary mitigation works. The authority is drafting documentation for potential legal enforcement, including the issuance of a formal Remediation Notice. The council is also assessing the statutory criteria required to execute its Step-In powers should the responsible party fail to meet legal obligations. Furthermore, Keith Prince confirmed he has formally written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, requesting that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs evaluate options for government-funded site clearance and environmental remediation.

Background of the Particular Development

Havering Council transitioned to a Reform UK-led administration following local elections, marking a shift in the political composition of the outer East London borough. Havering faces complex operational pressures common to suburban London authorities, including escalating demands for temporary accommodation, managing highways infrastructure managed jointly with Transport for London, and regulating housing density in commercial and residential zones.

Key historical pain points, such as the persistent traffic congestion at the Gallows Corner roundabout and ongoing environmental concerns surrounding the Launders Lane site, have required multi-agency coordination between local government, utility firms, regional transport bodies, and national departments. The landmark of 100 days in office represents a standard administrative checkpoint for newly elected local authorities to present operational reviews, report on early policy directives, and layout statutory consultation processes before formal budget settings occur later in the fiscal year.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Havering Residents and Local Stakeholders

The ongoing policy directions and statutory consultations initiated by Havering Council during its first 100 days are likely to impact several local stakeholder groups across the borough over the coming months:

• Local Residents and Commuters: The expected completion of works at Gallows Corner by the end of September should reduce traffic delays and improve transport connectivity across main arterial routes in Romford and surrounding areas. Expanded deep-cleaning programmes and stronger enforcement penalties against fly-tipping and littering may lead to visible improvements in town centre maintenance.
• Property Owners and Tenants: The prospective borough-wide Article 4 Direction would alter the local planning landscape for residential properties. Landlords looking to establish HMOs will face stricter scrutiny and formal planning requirements, which could limit the rapid expansion of unmanaged multi-occupancy housing while affecting local rental availability and housing stock management.
• Families in Temporary Accommodation: The restructured procurement and efficiency measures targeting temporary housing aim to stabilize council finances by £1 million annually, which may alter the distribution, quality, and location of housing options allocated to vulnerable families reliant on local authority support.
• The Launders Lane Community: Continued legal escalation, statutory notices, and potential government intervention regarding Launders Lane may accelerate long-delayed remediation attempts, potentially addressing persistent air quality and environmental safety concerns for neighbouring residents.