Borough ranks highest in London for first-choice secondary school offers – again
Four out of every five local pupils moving up to secondary education in September have been offered a place at their first choice school
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/03/10/b...
Free bulky waste collections offered by council in bid to stop fly-tipping
The town hall is stepping up its efforts to clean up the borough's streets
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/03/06/f...
Dagenham charity shop set to be converted into restaurant
Richard House Children's Hospice ceased operations last year
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/03/05/d...
Unauthorised conversion of pub into mosque set to be reviewed by planning inspector
Al Noor Masjid failed to win permission for the conversion but is now appealing against a council enforcement notice
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/03/04/u...
New homes completed in Dagenham as ex-Ford car plant scheme moves up a gear
Thousands of homes are planned over the coming years at the former Ford Dagenham plant, which employed 40,000 workers at its peak in the 1950s
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/03/02/n...
Khan's City Hall budget for 2026/27 approved as amendments from rivals fail to pass
The total £21billion budget is shared across City Hall, Transport for London, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, and London Fire Brigade
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/02/27/k...
Next five years 'not easy' admits council leader as budget passed
Almost £9m of "savings" agreed for 2026/27 council budget but further £82.4m needs to be found by 2031
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/02/26/n...
Owners of unauthorised shisha lounge inhale £25,000 fine
Nebula Lounge in Chadwell Heath was being used for smoking shisha despite not having planning permission
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/02/25/o...
Plans to reopen Barking nature reserve welcomed
The council has "signalled its intention" to reopen Ripple Nature Reserve but still needs to find a partner to finance it
barkingstar.co.uk/?p=175
Debt repayment doubts as council-owned housing firms hit by rising costs and delays
Councillors have agreed to wind down the council's borrowing programme and seek to sell "low value and underperforming properties"
barkingstar.co.uk/?p=162
King Charles visits Barking and Dagenham
The monarch's tour of the borough included a family learning hub, a college and a film studios
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/02/18/k...
New Women's Museum exhibition showcases 'lived experiences of people on the margins'
The museum in Barking Wharf Square is reopening to the public next month
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/02/18/n...
'Cowboy builder' handed jail sentence for defrauding residents
It followed an investigation by the trading standards team at Barking and Dagenham Council
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/02/17/c...
Council faces backlog on special needs assessments amid staffing challenges
Children in the borough face assessment delays after a third of Send staff left the town hall under "incredibly high pressure"
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/02/16/c...
Council health boss admits to town hall 'misspending' of government grant
Nearly £2m of a supposedly ringfenced grant for public health was instead spent on other council services
barkingstar.co.uk/?p=151
No need to feel down as new YMCA building wins backing from councillors
However the scheme still needs approval from Havering Council as the site in Rush Green straddles the borough boundary
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/02/12/n...
Council still faces big budget 'squeeze' in coming years despite recent funding boost
A funding gap of £82m by 2031 has been forecast ahead of the next budget being agreed later this month
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/02/11/c...
Government funding boost for local hospice charity
The boss of Saint Francis Hospice says the £300,000 capital funding is welcome but that more long-term funding is still needed for the sector
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/02/09/g...
Major £1.3m refurb planned at Barking Sporthouse
New and refurbished soft play areas and trampolines are set to arrive this spring thanks to investment from operators GLL
barkingstar.co.uk/?p=132
Dagenham man who played 'extremely loud music' told to pay £2,000 by court
Peter Hewit repeatedly breached the terms of a noise abatement notice issued by Barking and Dagenham Council
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/02/06/d...
Government cash boost gives council financial 'breathing space'
Recent review of funding offers cash-strapped Barking and Dagenham Council £10m more than expected
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/02/04/g...
Beavers and white storks to help 'rewild' Dagenham
The two species had both been extinct in Britain until relatively recently but could soon be seen at nature reserves in the borough
barkingstar.co.uk/2026/01/22/b...
