We are seeing more news stories about councils issuing or warning they may issue section 114s. Sadly, in Havering, we are also facing this. However, this is not due to bad investments or longstanding pay claims. In context, we are a well-run, efficient council, with the second oldest population and second lowest reserves in London at £47.8m.

We are currently forecasting an overspend of £23m and have delivered £163m of savings to date, most re-invested to different service areas, leaving us a budget gap of £31.2m for next year and £77m over four years. The key pressures are around social care and homelessness.