Households across the borough are being urged to be first in line to get their £150 energy bill rebate by setting up direct debits for their council tax payments.

For those who are in council tax bands A to D, they will receive the one-off payment, paid into their bank account in May to help with the increased cost of living.

Signing up to pay their council tax by direct debit means the council will have all the information required to make the payment as soon as it is available.

An Arts Award Discover project set up by Barking and Dagenham’s Cultural Education Partnership, Inspiring Futures, was the largest in the country in the 2021/22 financial year, with a huge cohort of 1,664 young people achieving the award.

Another 50 trees are being planted across the borough, as part of Barking and Dagenham Council’s drive to be the green capital of the capital. 

 

The trees will be planted at primary schools, and in nearby streets and green spaces with the aim of improving air quality and biodiversity.

 

The votes are in! Zubin Burley, 14, has been elected as the new Young Mayor of Barking and Dagenham.

Zubin was recently voted into the role by his peers in the Barking and Dagenham Youth Forum, picking up the baton from his predecessor, Labella Anum.

The new Young Mayor has been a member of the youth forum for the past year and was keen to stand for the position. 

After being elected, Zubin said: “I see it as an honour to represent the young people of Barking and Dagenham.

Children and young people in Barking and Dagenham came together at a rousing climate crisis summit this week to learn more about environmental challenges and voice passionate views on what should happen to protect the planet for future generations. 

180 young people from across 31 schools, learned more about the council’s Carbon Neutral Roadmap, which seeks to make the borough carbon neutral by 2030, two decades ahead of the UK's overall target. 

Residents who are concerned, anxious or fearful about local tensions in Barking and Dagenham can now report their concerns directly to the local Community Safety Partnership with the help of a new online form.

 

The new online form hopes to address issues early to tackle and reduce the risk of crime and disorder that can occur when there are problems that need resolving.

 

Local people interested in working in the construction industry are being invited to attend a job fair at the Barking Learning Centre in Barking Town Square, on Wednesday 16 March between 10.30am and 1pm.



At the event, they will be able to speak to a range of employers and apply for jobs within the borough. Attendees will discover a whole host of job vacancies, as well as receive professional careers and guidance. There’ll be a job brokerage service, a construction desk from the Barking and Dagenham Job Shop, and a CV service.

A woman from Dagenham who refused to dispose of her general waste correctly has been issued with a £400 fine after she fly-tipped her bin bags outside her property on Parsloes Avenue.



The incident came about after Barking and Dagenham Council’s refuse team refused to empty her brown recycling bin as it was filled with general waste and the rules clearly state residents can’t do this.

In its aim to ensure that Barking and Dagenham continues to be safe place to live and work for residents, the east London council continues to fund a Crime and Enforcement Police Taskforce for the borough.



The Taskforce, which currently consists of nine police officers, has been funded by the council since 2012 and deals with crime and antisocial behaviour relating to tenants and leaseholders.



As well as this, the team works closely with the council’s enforcement team going on weekly joint operations and regular weapon sweeps.

Residents of Barking and Dagenham who are worried about their finances and need help to tackle debt are now able to get advice and support from a new local website.



Barking and Dagenham Money has been developed as part of the council’s wider work with its partners to tackle the challenges faced by residents around money and debt. As well as helping residents take control of their finances, it will connect people to support that can reduce the stress that debt and financial worry place on their lives.