Havering Council has secured extended funding for its park safety officers, ensuring the continued enhancement of safety within the borough's green spaces. The funding, originally provided by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and scheduled to conclude on March 31, 2026, has now been extended to September 30, 2026. This extension will facilitate the recruitment of additional park safety officers.

Councillor Barry Muggleston, Cabinet Member for Environment and Deputy Mayor of Havering, confirmed the funding extension. He also revealed that the administration is actively exploring alternative funding streams to ensure these vital roles can be sustained beyond September 2026. Councillor Muggleston emphasized the council's dedication to maintaining safe and welcoming park environments, pointing to Havering's 16 Green Flag parks as evidence of their commitment.

Responding to concerns raised by Councillor David Taylor regarding the reliance on short-term funding, Councillor Muggleston provided assurances. Councillor Taylor had specifically asked, With the funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund extended until only, if I heard correctly, 30th September 2026, could you please outline what alternative funding sources you have looked into to replace that from August 2026? This highlights a concern about the finite nature of the current funding and the need for a sustainable plan beyond September 2026.

Councillor Muggleston also addressed the staffing levels of park safety officers, drawing a comparison with the previous administration. Because when we took over this administration, there's only two parks officers. Only two. And they worked four days in and four days off. That's what we was left with by the previous administration. The Conservatives, David. So we walked into it only two. Four days on, four days off, yeah? So we've got now four and then seven days a week, he stated. This indicates that under the previous administration, there were only two park safety officers working a four-on, four-off shift pattern, whereas the current administration has increased this to four officers working seven days a week.

Councillor Muggleston also stated that efforts would continue to secure additional funding for park officers and to upgrade CCTV systems.