Barking and Dagenham Council joined up with organisations from around the world to draw attention to the continued violence endured by members of the transgender community, and to remember those that have sadly passed away.

Every year on 20 November, the lives of trans and gender-diverse people murdered are remembered. In total, 350 transgender people were killed this year (2020), a figure that has risen compared to last year’s total of 331.

The council’s cemeteries have been awarded a Gold Award for the second year running, indicating that our cemetery services are ranked among the highest in the country.

This year’s Gold Award confirms our strong commitment to the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM), which develops and improves bereavement services and sets the standards of service for the industry, as well as the Charter for the Bereaved.

Barking and Dagenham Council last night revealed that it will be extending its offer of free parking for NHS staff and key workers until the end of January 2021.

The extension of the offer was made at the council’s Cabinet meeting, will see NHS workers and key workers, such as some frontline council staff, carers, volunteers, teachers and police will be able to park in the borough’s car parks and in Residents and Paid Parking Bays in the controlled parking zones for free.

Blue Badge fraudsters and persistent parking ticket evaders have seen their vehicles being taken away by a very happy tow truck.

In the last month, Barking and Dagenham Council’s Parking Service has ramped up its on enforcement on people falsely using Blue Badges, and drivers who think it is okay not to pay parking tickets, especially where the offending vehicles are either unregistered or foreign vehicles.

Residents of Barking and Dagenham will see new Covid Marshals patrolling areas with high footfall providing guidance and reassurance across the borough.

Officers, wearing highly visible Covid Marshal jackets, are already patrolling the borough’s streets to offer guidance and advice to businesses and residents on staying safe, obeying the rules and acting responsibly during the pandemic, including providing information on social distancing and the wearing of face coverings.

The Marshals will also support the council’s enforcement officers with:

Barking and Dagenham Council wishes a very happy Diwali to its residents who are celebrating this weekend.

The council knows this is a special time of year, usually a time for coming together with family and loved ones. 

But as new lockdown restrictions came into place last week, the council wants to remind residents that it’s vital that they celebrate at home and only with those from within their household or support bubble.

Dagenham Park CofE School has created a stunning display as part of a whole school Remembrance Day project.

Staff and pupils made 963 poppies to create a wonderful four-metre high structure to commemorate those who lost their lives during the wars. Pupils learned the meaning behind different colours of poppies and included these in the display to honour all members of the community.

The Barking and Dagenham catering service BD Together is celebrating the recognition of two of its school catering teams in the LACA Awards for Excellence.

The LACA Awards acknowledge individuals and teams who make a real difference to school food and education catering. William Bellamy Primary School and Eastbury Community School were shortlisted in the Primary School Team of the Year and Secondary School Team of the Year categories, respectively. 

Councillors from across the capital with responsibility for the safety and educational needs of children have written to the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson MP, asking for more support to make school settings safe for staff and young people.

In their letter, the Councillors made clear their desire to work closely with the government to minimise the impact of Covid-19 on the health, wellbeing and education of children. 

Barking and Dagenham council’s ground-breaking Wall of Shame web series has reached its 50th episode.

The pioneering series, which premiered in August 2018, aims to identify and fine fly-tippers caught on camera with the help of eagle-eyed viewers.