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Barking and Dagenham council

97 stories · discussed at 12 council meetings · 3 councils

Barking and Dagenham Council is currently focusing on housing development, social housing compliance, and enhancing community services.

Barking and Dagenham Council's Planning Committee approved plans in October 2026 for 300 affordable homes on Green Belt land at Crowlands Golf Centre, part of a larger 1,298-home scheme. The Cabinet also approved a new policy in October 2026 to tackle 410 empty homes in the borough, introducing increased council tax premiums for long-term vacant properties. In July 2026, the Cabinet approved plans for three new children's homes to provide 17 placements.

The council is preparing for a Regulator of Social Housing inspection between January and March 2027, rebuilding tenant engagement structures and targeting 1,200 fire door retrofits by March 2027, as updated to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in October 2026. Separately, the Planning Committee unanimously approved a new dental school and healthcare facility at Maritime House in October 2026.

In October 2026, the Audit and Risk Committee noted a 'Very High' risk of the council failing to handle major incidents due to insufficient plans or training. The Cabinet approved a 30-year lease for the Galleon Arts Centre in October 2026, and the Full Council adopted a new Community Safety Partnership Strategy for 2026-2030 in September 2026. The Licensing and Regulatory Committee approved a revised Gambling Licensing Policy for 2026-2029 in September 2026.

Key facts

  1. Barking and Dagenham Council's Planning Committee approved plans for 300 affordable homes at Crowlands Golf Centre in October 2026. Source
  2. The Planning Committee unanimously approved a new dental school and healthcare facility at Maritime House in October 2026. Source
  3. In October 2026, the Cabinet approved a new policy to tackle 410 empty homes in the borough. Source
  4. The Cabinet approved a 30-year lease for the Galleon Arts Centre to Creative Barking & Dagenham in October 2026. Source
  5. The council is preparing for a Regulator of Social Housing inspection between January and March 2027. Source 1 Source 2
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 15 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 5

  1. Barking and Dagenham Council's Internal Audit Team Grapples with Staffing Shortages Barking and Dagenham Council's internal audit team is grappling with significant recruitment and retention challenges, impacting its ability to deliver its full audit plan. The... Barking and Dagenham 27 March 2026
  2. Audit Committee to Oversee Subsidiary Company Accounts Following Auditor Recommendations The Audit and Risk Committee of Barking and Dagenham Council will now oversee the accounts of the council's subsidiary companies, a move prompted by recommendations from... Barking and Dagenham 27 March 2026
  3. Barking and Dagenham Council Audit to Face Disclaimed Opinions Until 2028/29 Barking and Dagenham Council's audit is expected to continue facing disclaimed opinions for several more years, with a full unqualified opinion unlikely before the 2028/29... Barking and Dagenham 27 March 2026
  4. Biodiversity duty statement approved Barking and Dagenham Council has approved an interim biodiversity duty statement, outlining the council's commitment to conserving and enhancing biodiversity across the borough.... Barking and Dagenham 26 March 2026
  5. Barking and Dagenham Council Approves Regeneration Partnership to Accelerate Development Barking and Dagenham Council has approved a new partnership aimed at accelerating development across the borough, with two preferred partners – Bidder A and Bidder B – appointed... Barking and Dagenham 26 March 2026
  6. Barking and Dagenham Council Rent Collection Misses Target Amidst Universal Credit Migration Concerns Barking and Dagenham Council's rent collection has fallen short of its targets, with concerns mounting over the ongoing migration of tenants to Universal Credit. The latest... Barking and Dagenham 26 March 2026
  7. Council approves dementia care expansion Barking and Dagenham Council's Cabinet has approved a significant £3.25 million investment to expand dementia care facilities by redeveloping Fews Lodge. The project will create... Barking and Dagenham 26 March 2026
  8. New £4.8m fund to help low-income households Barking and Dagenham Council has launched a new £4.8 million fund to provide a crucial safety net for low-income households facing financial hardship. The Crisis and Resilience... Barking and Dagenham 26 March 2026