central park Dagenham illegal encampment

An illegal traveller encampment was moved within two hours of appearing in one of the borough’s parks, in the latest example of Barking and Dagenham Council putting its powers to use.

Seven caravans and vehicles appeared in Dagenham’s Central Park in the early hours of Friday morning (8 June).

The offenders were issued with an enforcement notice ordering them to vacate the site or risk being arrested – within two hours they had left.

It was a day to remember as Barking and Dagenham paid tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Dagenham Ford Sewing Machinists strike.

The strike by 187 women workers back in 1968 was one of the major triggers that paved the way for the introduction of the Equal Pay Act of 1970 that made it illegal to pay men and women differently for the same job.

We have launched our biggest recruitment drive for several years in a bid to fill vacancies in the waste collection service.

Councillor Sanchia Alasia has been appointed as the new Mayor for Barking and Dagenham.

During her year in charge, she has pledged to serve the whole borough that values and celebrates its diverse cultural communities and hopes to encourage young people to take an interest in health-related issues during 2018-19.

Having worked in human resources for over ten years in various public-sector organisations, she is an award-winning HR and diversity specialist.

Barking and Dagenham Council will join the rest of the country in holding a minute’s silence on Tuesday 22 May to remember those who tragically lost their lives during the Manchester terror attack last year.

Leader elect, Councillor Darren Rodwell will be joined by councillors and staff from the council as they pay their respects to the 22 people who were killed by a suicide bomber following the explosion at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena.

The bombing was the deadliest attack on the UK since 56 people were killed in the 7/7 London attack back in 2005.

Councillors, religious leaders and council employees stood in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community as they marked the 14th International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia with a flag-raising ceremony at Barking Town Hall.

Construction on Barking and Dagenham’s OnSide Youth Zone moved a giant step forward with the completion of the building’s steel frame this week.

Work began on the facility, named Future by local young people, in January this year and despite wintry conditions carrying on through Spring, the building is developing at a rapid pace with the steel structure now complete.

The development will continue with the floors, staircases and roofing being fitted over the next few weeks.

Barking and Dagenham Council have come out on top once again after the Human Resources team secured the ‘Transforming the Working Environment’ award at the Excellence in People Management PPMA Awards.

Having recently won the prestigious Council of the Year and Driving Growth awards at the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) awards in London, the council celebrated more success at a gala event in Newcastle.

A takeaway shop in Dagenham has been ordered to pay over £1000 after failing to provide Waste Transfer Notes – a document that must be completed when waste is transferred from one party to another.

Moon Pizza in Broad Street first came under the spotlight when officers visited the premises back in July 2017 and a random trade waste inspection was carried out.

Mr Abdul Mohammadi, who ran the chicken and pizza takeaway, was unable to provide any documents at the time of the visit, having explained that he had recently shown the council his waste transfer notes.

New powers to tackle anti-social behaviour look set to be implemented across more Dagenham streets following overwhelming support during a public consultation.

In total, 627 people responded to Barking and Dagenham Council’s survey on whether to apply a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) around Dagenham Heathway.

Ninety-seven per cent (609) of respondents were in favour of new powers being implemented, which are used to control behaviour that is either having, or is likely to have, a harmful effect on a local community’s quality of life.