A property manager who illegally converted two family homes into eight flats without permission has been given three months to stump up £73,850 – or face nine months behind bars. 

 

Muhammad Saeed Baig, 59, of Hathaway Gardens, Chadwell Heath, was responsible for the management of two adjoining houses in Whalebone Lane South, Dagenham, which had been purchased by his relative in 2017. 

 

More than 20,000 people enjoyed a weekend of free entertainment in the borough to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

To support the valuable contribution that unpaid carers make to health and social care services, Barking and Dagenham Council has launched a Carers Charter to coincide with this year’s Carers Week.



Informal carers make up a large proportion of the population in the borough, with around 23,000 of our residents providing care for someone. However, many of these are ‘hidden carers’ are not known to support services or registered for any support.

To support the valuable contribution that unpaid carers make to health and social care services, Barking and Dagenham Council has launched a Carers Charter to coincide with this year’s Carers Week.

Teachers, school governors and education experts came together last week to hear how the arrival of the new film studios in Barking and Dagenham will benefit the borough’s pupils.

 

Hot topics included education and training, employment, and wider community benefits such as special events and afterschool clubs.

The workshop marked the launch of Film Barking and Dagenham’s Make It Here programme, which focuses on uniting all film & tv related activity happening in the borough.

Stores across Barking and Dagenham have been praised for their responsible approach to selling knives, following a series of test purchases carried out by an underage teenager.



On Tuesday 31 May, the council’s Trading Standards team visited nine shops in the borough and tasked a 13-year-old volunteer to try and buy a knife.



Eight of the stores refused to sell, with only one store failing to identify the underage shopper.



In the UK, it’s illegal to sell a knife or similar bladed article to anyone under the age of 18.

This June sees the return of Pride Month in Barking and Dagenham and we will once again take part in Pride in London – 50 years after the first LGBTQ+ parade took place in the capital.



This year marks the return of Pride in London on Saturday 2 July, after the parade was cancelled in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions.



It will be the fifth time Barking and Dagenham has taken part in the extravaganza, which draws thousands of people from across the country to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Due to great public demand, a new adventurous playground was installed and opened on Tuesday 31 May at Eastbrookend Country Park.

The Barking & Dagenham Rangers Service secured funding through the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), funds provided by developers working in the borough to help build new infrastructure, to install a fantastic new children’s adventurous play area aimed at 2–12-year-olds. The new play area features fun and challenging play apparatus, for users of all abilities, that complements the country park setting.

A philanthropist, a Bishop, a 60s popstar, a chief executive, and former headteacher have all been awarded the freedom of Barking and Dagenham. 

The five recipients received the coveted title in recognition for their services to the borough at a special ceremony held at Barking Town Hall on Friday 27 May.  

Among those receiving the award, which is the highest accolade the council can hand out, was former headteacher, David Dickson. 

Cllr Faruk Choudhury took over from out-going Mayor, Cllr Edna Fergus, at the annual ceremonial event held on Friday 27 May at an Extraordinary Ceremonial Council.