Residents of Barking and Dagenham and surrounding areas who are experiencing or are affected by domestic violence can now get free, independent and confidential legal advice.

The ground-breaking initiative – DV FLAG East, the first of its kind in the country, has been set up with a grant from the council’s internal Legal Service and is run by Citizens Advice in Barking and Dagenham. The Council’s Legal Service will work jointly with the CAB.

Barking and Dagenham Council’s fight to crack down on rogue landlords and protect tenants has been given a huge boost as the Government has agreed a five year Property Licensing Scheme. 

 

The borough wide scheme, which is the only one that has been approved by the Government, means that every privately rented property in Barking and Dagenham will need to be licensed and comply with strict conditions to ensure each property is safe and properly managed. 

 

Barking and Dagenham Council has received £33,539 from HM Courts & Tribunals Service after a church formerly based in Barking, and the landlord of the property it rented, were found guilty of a breach of notice issued by the council. 

 

At a hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court earlier this year, both defendants were sentenced to confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and ordered to pay a combined confiscation order of £196,250. 

 

The total number of valid votes given to each registered party and individual candidate in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham area is as follows:

Total verified votes cast: 38,244

Turnout: 31.56%

A Dagenham-born man has been bestowed the honour of being named the borough’s Mayor for 2019-20.

Councillor Peter Chand took over the reins from out-going Mayor, Cllr Sanchia Alasia, at the annual ceremonial event on Friday, 17 May at Barking Town Hall.  

The 53-year-old, who is a governor at Dagenham Park School, also announced the two charities that he will be fundraising for throughout the year – Dagenham United and Independent Living Agency. 

In partnership with The Alzheimer’s Society, Barking and Dagenham Council hosted an action day to raise awareness and highlight the support available locally to help people with dementia.



The event which took place Monday 20 May in Barking Town Square included an array of information stalls, interactive activity and live entertainment, including information on how to become a ‘Dementia Friend’

Fines for anyone caught fly-tipping are set to more than double, after Barking and Dagenham Council agreed a host of new, tougher penalties to combat enviro crime.

Offenders will have to fork out £400 – the maximum allowed under current legislation – an increase of 166 per cent on the present charge of £150, and with no early repayment discount being offered. 

Anyone caught littering will also face a stiffer fine, with the penalty increasing from £75 to £150.

The new fly-tipping and littering fines came into effect on Monday 3 June. 

Headteachers from schools across the borough joined representatives from the local community, the Met Police and Barking and Dagenham Council to discuss how to make sure classrooms are a safe place for pupils. 

The training event provided guidance to schools on what powers they have when it comes to searching pupils and confiscating banned items such as knives, as well as discussing student and staff safety.

Would-be solicitors in the borough are being offered an alternative route into the profession thanks to a new six-year apprenticeship scheme being offered by Barking and Dagenham Council. 



The programme offers A-level students the opportunity to achieve full solicitor qualifications through a mix of on-the-job training and a fully-funded university law degree. 



The scheme means aspiring lawyers will be able to become qualified without the burden of getting into debt from university fees and student loans. 

Barking and Dagenham businesses are being encouraged to sign up to an initiative to give young people the skills they need before entering the workplace.

 

The London Enterprise Adviser Network (LEAN) EAST was launched earlier this year to support the Mayor’s Skills for Londoners Strategy and Careers for Londoners Action Plan, that aim to ensure that all Londoners have the skills they need to fulfil their potential.