The Dolphin Centre was a swimming and leisure facility in Romford , in the London Borough of Havering , England.
67-553: Havering London Borough Council approved the design and £7.5 million construction of the Dolphin Centre in April 1980; it was named after a public house which existed in the nearby Romford Market from 1630 to 1900. When the centre was opened in April 1982, by Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester , it had a state-of-the-art pyramid roof (the first of its kind in Europe). However, corrosion and
134-601: A local education authority since 1965. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees. Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the English local government system the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of
201-586: A 2012 Supreme Court case , were estimated to be between £650 million and £760 million by March 2023. An external audit statement made by Grant Thornton on 6 September said that relevations that would "significantly increase" the council's equal pay liabilities meant that its 2020/21 and 2021/22 accounts were "materially misstated". The auditors said the equal pay claim was "one of the most significant challenges that any Council in England has ever faced". The council stated that, with its equal pay liabilities accruing at
268-459: A breach of trust. Patricia Brown herself said that "HRA members have demonstrated time and again over the past two years that self-service comes before working together for the benefit of residents". For its part, the HRA disagreed and stated that there was nothing on the mayoralty included in their agreement. During the meeting, Labour councillor Paul McGeary abstained on voting for Labour's candidates for
335-478: A family holiday abroad when the section 114 notice was issued but said that he had had "no prior notice" of it and that he took "immediate steps to grip the situation". Jess Phillips , Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley , said that the long-term pressures on councils would result in "more of this to come" and that other local authorities would also end up having to issue section 114 notices. Khalid Mahmood , Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr , said that he believed
402-445: A former Conservative administration. In February 2024, the government permitted the council to raise its council tax by up to 10%, above the normal 5% limit. Birmingham City Council issued a section 114 notice on 5 September 2023 due to a budget deficit "in the region of" £87 million, forecast to rise to £164.8 million in the 2024/25 financial year. The council blamed the deficit on liabilities over equal pay claims, problems with
469-574: A golden decade for the city"; following the section 114 notice, Robert Alden, the Conservative opposition leader on the council, accused the administration of "lying to the people of Birmingham" and calling the idea of a 'golden decade' " fools' gold ". Andy Street , the Mayor of the West Midlands , said that the notice was "deeply disturbing" and that Birmingham "deserves so much better". Street said that
536-497: A joint letter with Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund calling on Birmingham's commissioners to ensure the city's heritage and culture is "protected and prioritised" and that "Birmingham's financial reconstruction must not come at the cost of its priceless heritage". In February 2024, the council published its budget proposals for 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. The government commissioners said
603-412: A new budget to introduce cuts and reduce spending. Amongst other instances, section 114 notices have been issued by Hackney Council in 2000, Northamptonshire Council twice in 2018, Croydon Council in 2020 and 2022, Slough Council in 2021, Thurrock Council in 2022, and Woking Borough Council and Birmingham City Council in 2023. Notices can be made under several parts of section 114 of
670-463: A rate of between £5 million and £14 million per month, it did not have the resources to pay the claims. Problems with a new Oracle IT system were set to cost up to £100 million to fix according to Cotton. BBC News reported that the system was so broken that council staff could not produce accounts detailing the council's financial situation, leading to financial statements being unable to be signed off by auditors. Anushka Asthana reported that
737-754: Is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Havering". From 1965 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the Greater London Council . The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, flood prevention, and refuse disposal; with the boroughs (including Havering) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Havering has been
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#1732852844288804-434: Is a local education authority and is also responsible for council housing , social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health. The council has been under no overall control since 2014. The first election was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1965. Political control of
871-593: Is a group of residents' associations and some HRA candidates run under local residents association labels. The HRA members of the council include Graham Williamson who is also a member of the National Liberal Party . ** John Tyler was elected under the Cranham and Upminster Residents Association label and never sat with the Havering Residents Association group in the council. When Philip Ruck left
938-768: Is the local authority for the London Borough of Havering in Greater London , England. It is a London borough council , one of 32 in London . The council has been under no overall control since 2014; after the 2022 election , it was run by a coalition of the Havering Residents Association and Labour ; since 2024, it has been run solely by the HRA. The council is based at Havering Town Hall in Romford . The London Borough of Havering and its council were created under
1005-484: The Local Democracy Reporting Service that the end was "inevitable" but had "expected there’d be a rift next year" and Darvill similarly stated that he had "expected it". Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 55 councillors representing 20 wards , with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. As part of the process of reviewing
1072-476: The Local Government Act 1999 to give Croydon's Improvement and Assurance Panel a statutory footing, allowing the panel to direct rather than guide the council's activities if needed. The Written Statement accompanying the directions cited the discovery of significant additional historic issues as the reason for moving the intervention to a statutory footing. In May 2023, a government review revealed that
1139-473: The Local Government Finance Act 1988 , with the different types of notice having different effects: The first two types of notice target specific spending and have to be made in consultation with the head of paid service (commonly referred to as a council's ' chief executive ') and the monitoring officer. The notice will suspend any relevant expenditure until the decision has been considered by
1206-489: The Local Government Finance Act 1988 . The most common type of notice is made under section 114(3) which restricts all spending except for that which funds statutory services. Despite the fact that local authorities in the United Kingdom cannot go bankrupt, issuing a section 114 notice is often described in the media as a council effectively declaring bankruptcy . Most councils under a section 114 notice will then pass
1273-496: The London Government Act 1963 , with the first election held in 1964 . For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's two outgoing authorities, being the borough council of Romford and the urban district council of Hornchurch . The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old districts and their councils were abolished. The council's full legal name
1340-481: The financial year . Budget cuts of around £4.5m were needed for the 2000-2001 financial year and £18m for the 2001-2002 year. The council's managing director Max Caller, who had started the job that June, blamed the financial situation on previous mismanagement by council officers. A 1997 policy called 'Transforming Hackney' had removed centralised financial management in favour of budgets being set by individual council officials which, according to Jay Rayner , left
1407-506: The "ability to keep our children safe and well" at risk. The total defunding of arts and cultural organisations was criticised by Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor from Duran Duran , director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta , artist Pogus Caesar , and comedian Joe Lycett . Nottingham City Council issued a section 114 notice on 29 November 2023, saying it was on track for a £23 million overspend for
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#17328528442881474-461: The 2000-2001 financial year and £16m of cuts for 2001–2002. Further cuts were projected at £9m for 2001–2002, £10m for 2002-2003 and £11m for 2003–2004. Northamptonshire County Council issued a section 114 notice on 2 February 2018, saying that there was a "significant risk" that the council would not be able to balance its budget for the 2017/18 financial year and could end up with a £10m deficit. Expected savings of £27m that had been forecast for
1541-420: The 2020/21 financial year and predicted an overspend of £66m. After the 2022 council election , the council moved to no overall control being led by new Mayor of Croydon Jason Perry . The council issued a third notice on 22 November 2022 due to a projected £130m budget deficit. In February 2023, Croydon was given permission by central government to increase council tax by 15%, 10 percentage points over
1608-440: The 2023-24 financial year. In a statement, the council said that the budget gap was down to social care cost, rising homelessness and the impact of inflation. The council noted that "past issues relating to financial governance [...] and an overspend in the last financial year" had affected its financial resilience. By halfway through the 2023-24 financial year, the council was forecasting an overspend of around £57 million, which
1675-520: The Council with a majority HRA cabinet and a minority of Labour members. John Tyler, residents association councillor for Cranham, announced he would not join HRA Group in the weeks after the coalition was formed, stating that bringing national party politics into local governemnt was "fundamentally against [his] principles". In September 2022, three Conservative councillors jointly announced they were joining
1742-631: The HRA due to a lack of support from their party after the July wildfires in Wennington . The death of HRA councillor Linda Hawthorn in May 2023 saw a by-election in Upminster where the group kept their seat. In January 2024, Conservative councillor Robby Misir joined the HRA having criticised his former party's local leader Keith Prince over a debate about school transport. Three more Conservative councillors defected to
1809-644: The HRA in February 2024, the two formed the Residents Association Independent Group. Following the 2022 election , the council remained under no overall control with the Conservatives remaining the largest party but still shy of a majority. After weeks of negotiations, and following Labour's rejection of a confidence and supply arrangement , a coalition arrangement was reached between the HRA and Labour which saw Ray Morgon appointed Leader of
1876-507: The HRA in late April. On 22 May 2024, at the annual meeting of the full council, the HRA elected their own councillor Gerry O'Sullivan to be the ceremonial Mayor of Havering. This came as a shock to the Labour Group which expected their outgoing Deputy Mayor Patricia Brown to be elected mayor as is tradition. Labour councillor Trevor McKeever described it as breaking the coalition agreement and local Labour leader Keith Darvill described it as
1943-713: The London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation, and has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It sets council tax and as a billing authority also collects precepts for Greater London Authority functions plus levies on behalf of the East London Waste Authority , the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and others. It sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly. It
2010-568: The Unite union , said that council workers "must not pay the price" for the council's "incompetence and financial mismanagement". A statement from the GMB union called the situation a "humiliating admission of failure" and said the council was responsible for the crisis because it had "stolen wages from its low-paid women workers". BBC News reported that residents were worried about cuts in youth services leading to rising crime, increases in business rates ,
2077-432: The available range of powers and functions. In September 2023, the leader of the council warned the authority could be six months away from triggering a Section 114 notice because of the increasing cost of social care and housing. The council managed to set a budget in 2024, but only through relying on an exceptional £54 million loan from the government. The local authority derives its powers and functions from
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2144-493: The boundaries leading up to the 2022 changes, there were accusations that the Conservative administration was attempting to gerrymander the new boundaries. The council's then leader, Damian White, was secretly recorded outlining plans to modify ward boundaries to the advantage of the party. White reportedly said the Local Government Boundary Commission had so few staff it was "highly unlikely they'll put in
2211-399: The budget was "deliverable", but that "the real work of delivery needs to take place with discipline and pace" and that "[t]here are no other choices available". Proposals in the budget included: The government permitted Birmingham City Council to raise its council tax by up to 10%, above the normal 5% limit, despite having expressed concern about "the significant financial mismanagement at
2278-477: The closure of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery , cuts to park services and the future of Perry Park . Organisers of the city's Christmas Market announced that the market would be held and that an agreement for it to continue up to 2027 would remain in place. With Birmingham set to host the 2026 European Athletics Championships , the European Athletic Association said it had confidence in
2345-461: The collapse of one of the panels in the roof led to it being draped with netting in 1990 to calm safety fears. As well as the swimming pool, with its slides and wave machine, the Dolphin also contained a gymnasium and squash courts , and acted as a community functions centre for meetings, social events and exhibitions. After thirteen years, the Dolphin Centre was closed to the public in April 1995 in
2412-578: The council "at the mercy of legions of incompetent council officials". Caller also said that previous cost-cutting measures, such as a resolution that no more permanent staff should be employed, had been "not understood, ignored or subverted" by council workers. In September 1999, the council had had to implement an internal spending moratorium in order to manage that year's budget deficit. The council's revenue and benefits department and its waste management service were both running deficits of £3m and transport services were £600,000 over budget. Almost half of
2479-528: The council (for Section 114(2) notices) or the cabinet (for Section 114A(2) notices), at which point the suspension ends. The third type of notice, made under section 114(3), is the most commonly issued and can be made by the chief finance officer without consulting other council leaders. Once a notice has been issued, no new expenditure is permitted except to fund statutory services although existing commitments and contracts are honoured and staff wages are paid. Councillors must then meet within 21 days to discuss
2546-416: The council had been effectively operating under section 114 spending controls for two months before the notice was officially issued. On 17 September, The Sunday Times reported that housing secretary Michael Gove was to appoint commissioners to take over running Birmingham City Council who would make recommendations on what assets needed to be sold to balance the council's finances. A government source
2613-463: The council since 1965 has been as follows: The role of mayor in Havering is largely ceremonial, usually being held by a different councillor each year. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council . The leaders since 1965 have been: Following the 2022 election , a subsequent by-election and changes of allegiance up to June 2024, the composition of the council is: * The HRA
2680-548: The council would avoid bankruptcy. In October 2020, Secretary of State Robert Jenrick had launched a review into the council's finances, saying the situation was "deeply concerning". The council's CEO Jo Negrini had resigned in August and the council's leader Tony Newman, deputy leader Alison Butler and its cabinet member for finance Simon Hall had all resigned in October. Croydon's external auditors Grant Thornton had highlighted
2747-399: The council would have debts of £2.4 billion by 2026, 100 times the size of its annual £24 million budget, including investments in hotels and residential skyscrapers, and a £6.4 million loan to a local private school. Risky property deals were attempts to offset the impact of UK Government funding cuts. The Minister for Local Government Lee Rowley announced that the council
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2814-482: The council". It was estimated that this would raise an extra £21.8 million of revenue. Michael Gove said it was "disappointing" that taxpayers would have to "foot the bill for the council's poor governance". The council confirmed that it would increase council tax by 21% over two years. Over 100 doctors in Birmingham signed an open letter to the council warning that the £51 million cut to children's services would put
2881-585: The council's "deteriorating financial resilience" due to increased costs of adult and children's social care and low levels of reserves. Risky investments were also blamed as a cause of the council's financial problems. The council had borrowed £545m to invest in property, including £30m in the Croydon Park Hotel and £46m on the Colonnades retail park . Both the hotel and the retail park were forced to close due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions which reduced
2948-493: The council's ability to hold the championships and was "actively assessing" the situation. When bidding for the competition, the council had agreed to underwrite contributions of £13.7 million to fund the event. Tony Hadley, the chair of Birchfield Harriers , said that the three years until the competition were "a long time in sport, ... [and] a long time in politics" and that the council should be given time to sort out their finances. On 28 September, Historic England published
3015-453: The council's overall deficit was also caused by the fact that the it had passed its budget on the assumption that 96% of council tax would be collected; instead the collection rate was around 65%. Urgent budget cuts were approved on 6 November 2000 and involved cutting back on temporary staff and overtime and car allowances. In December 2000, the council agreed on a three-year proposal to improve its finances. The plan led to £4m of cuts for
3082-558: The defunct Robin Hood Energy firm were "small in comparison" to funding cuts, despite the Local Democracy Reporting Service reporting that taxpayers were on the hook for £38.1 million after the energy company collapsed. Financial problems were expected to persist for several years; the council had estimated a gross budget deficit of £50.903 million for the 2024-25 financial year by July 2023 which, even with initial cost-cutting measures being put in place and council tax being increased by
3149-527: The earlier draft proposals. The council is based at Havering Town Hall on Main Road in Romford, which was completed in 1937 as 'Romford Town Hall' for the old Romford Urban District Council. It was formally opened on 16 September 1937, on which day Romford was also presented with its charter of incorporation turning the urban district into a borough. The building was subsequently extended in 1960 and 1988. In May 2024,
3216-416: The effort" to scrutinise the changes and that "they only look at what was discussed... at the full council meeting. So there will be only one option." Following the emergence of the recording there was a local outcry. The Local Government Boundary Commission consequently revised its proposals for the new wards and carried out further public consultation, which led to notable changes in the final boundaries from
3283-662: The face of escalating operating costs and repayments on the finance lease. The site remained derelict until June 2003 when it was agreed to demolish the centre and build a new 15-storey residential tower block , providing over 200 new homes, above an Asda supermarket there. Demolition of the Dolphin Centre commenced in July 2004 and construction of the new development began in October 2004. 51°34′44″N 0°11′02″E / 51.579°N 0.184°E / 51.579; 0.184 Havering London Borough Council Havering London Borough Council , also known as Havering Council ,
3350-421: The government for a £134m loan to stabilise its finances as it produced a three-year plan towards budget sustainability. A second section 114 notice was issued on 2 December 2020 after councillors met the day before (as required by the initial notice) but failed to agree a suitably balanced budget. Taylor stated that "without external support ... it will now be impossible for a balanced budget to be delivered" in
3417-560: The government had "stepped in to provide support" pointing to an additional £5.1 billion it had provided to councils for the 2023/2024 financial year and adding that "it's for locally elected councils to manage their own budgets". In Prime Minister's Questions on 6 September, Nicola Richards , Conservative MP for West Bromwich East , asked "Does the Prime Minister agree that Labour have demonstrated yet again that they always run out of other people's money?"; Rishi Sunak responded that she
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#17328528442883484-479: The government would eventually have to bail out the council. Birmingham Liberal Democrats released a statement calling the situation a "failure of Titanic proportions" and Roger Harmer, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, said that "every one of Birmingham's citizens will feel the pain of this decision" and called on council leaders to apologise. Sharon Graham , the general secretary of
3551-467: The income the council received from them and the Croydon Park Hotel fell into administration in June 2020. The council prepared to reduce services to the bare legal minimum, focusing on providing social care and waste collection services. Cuts were expected for the borough's 13 libraries and nine children's centres and 35 buildings owned by the council were to be shut or sold off. It also announced it had asked
3618-431: The installation of a new IT system and government cuts amounting to £1 billion over ten years. John Cotton and Sharon Thompson, the council's leader and deputy leader, stated that the authority had fallen victim to "a perfect storm" of financial challenges including increases in adult social care expenditure, reductions in business rates revenue and high inflation . The council's equal pay claims, some dating back to
3685-459: The mayoralty and for the chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, with him defecting to the HRA just over a week later. With only Labour leader Keith Darvill left representing his party in the cabinet, the HRA decided on 3 June 2024 to end the agreement and govern as a minority administration. Darvill criticised the HRA for " populism and empty gesture petty politics". Council leader Ray Morgon told
3752-573: The normal raise cap of 5%. In March 2023, it was announced that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was proposing intervention to put the council into special measures . The intervention did not mean that government commissioners would take over the day-to-day running of the council; instead, management decisions would be subject to strict oversight from a government appointed panel. The proposals were put into place on 20 July 2023 when Secretary of State Michael Gove used powers under
3819-410: The notice was "not surprising" due to general financial strain upon local government, budget pressures from Northamptonshire's education sector and its growing elderly population, and the county's 'transformation programme' which depleted savings reserves. In July 2018, the council issued a second section 114 notice after a projected budget deficit of between £60m and £70m for the 2018/19 financial year
3886-525: The region's combined authority may have to step in to fund certain projects if Birmingham City Council could no longer afford them. Labour leader Keir Starmer told BBC Breakfast that "[taking] a step back from Birmingham, you'll see there are versions of this across the country and that is because for 13 years local authorities have been stripped of the funding they need". The council's Labour leader John Cotton apologised to residents, pledging to protect "the things that matter most". Cotton had been on
3953-457: The situation and consider what action to take; once the notice has been considered, spending controls end. Although the original notice may end, if the council does not address the problem another notice may be issued, such as in Croydon in 2020. Hackney London Borough Council issued a section 114 notice on 17 October 2000, predicting that it would have a £15.5m hole in its finances by the end of
4020-473: The town hall experienced an arson attack, damaging the property but not leading to any injuries or loss of data. The current composition of Havering Council's Cabinet is as follows. Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing Section 114 notice Section 114 notices are reports issued by the chief financial officer (or Section 151 officer) of a British public body to prevent certain types of expenditure. The notices take their name from section 114 of
4087-481: The year did not appear, exacerbating the situation. Sajid Javid , the then- Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government , had opened an independent investigation into the council's finances in January 2018 after the council had announced the previous month that it would seek to increase council tax by 5% and pursue £34.3m of cuts. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy said that
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#17328528442884154-528: Was "exactly right" and that "they [Labour] have bankrupted Birmingham, we can't let them bankrupt Britain". Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said the government would "do what is right" for Birmingham but said that no request for emergency funding had been made to the Treasury. The council had previously described its 2022 financial plans as a "bold budget" that would "maximise the potential of
4221-480: Was later cut to around £23 million by making savings and using its reserves. A report earlier in November had shown the council to be considering issuing a notice with council leader David Mellen saying that £21 million of the excess spending was on social care and tackling homelessness. Mellen had said that councils not being funded properly was the main reason for Nottingham's financial problems and that mistakes such as
4288-489: Was reported that the council looked like it would overspend by £60m by the end of the year and that it had debts of £1.5bn. The notice had been drafted in early September 2020 but had not been formally issued due to ongoing conversations with the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government over a possible solution. Croydon's finance director Lisa Taylor had warned in August 2020 that it could not be guaranteed that
4355-432: Was reported to have said that the "scale of mismanagement" was "much worse than we thought". It was suggested that targets for a "fire sale of assets" could include the 54,000 council houses owned by the city, Birmingham's main library , Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery , Aston Hall and Sarehole Mill . The Prime Minister's spokesperson acknowledged that the notice would be "concerning" for residents but said that
4422-417: Was to be overseen by a team of expert commissioners until the council could "address their commercial and financial challenges, and make transformative change across its entire operations." On 7 June 2023, Woking Council issued a section 114 notice after forecasting a deficit of £1.2 billion for the year ending 31 March 2024 due to losses on risky investments involving hotels and skyscrapers instigated by
4489-453: Was uncovered. Mark McLaughlin, the council's outgoing finance officer, said that the council had "no financial resilience". The council announced that it was set to lift the section 114 notice in March 2019, with council leader Matt Golby saying that they had "built stability back into the council's finances". Croydon London Borough Council issued a section 114 notice on 11 November 2020. It
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