Firstly, congratulations to all the returned and new councillors - of all parties and residents’ assocations - in the local elections of May 3.

The results saw a definitive shift in the south of the borough.

Whilst the Resident Association candidates managed to hold on to all nine of the seats across Rainham and Wennington, South Hornchurch and Elm Park, the results – as close as just 74 votes in one ward – highlighted that many people in the south are ready for change.

Labour ran a positive campaign and were rewarded with three new councillors elected in Gooshays and Heaton wards. The next four years will be a real test for whoever takes overall control of the council, and the Labour group will no doubt work hard to hold the administration to account.

The result has left Havering in a precarious position of no overall control, and the shenanigans have already started with “Independent” councillors crossing the floor to bolster the Conservative position.

It has been said many times but recent actions in South Hornchurch support the stance that if you vote RA/Independent you get a Tory.

The people of Havering deserve better and my teams in the south will be working side by side with Hornchurch and Upminster, and Romford Labour to ensure that residents are properly represented.

The sad state of affairs is that many residents expressed the view that the area had suffered in recent years, with the south of Havering being used as a dumping ground for undesirable projects such as landfill, and there is a fear that the return of the RAs will see more of the same.

The local authority is set to be hit by another wave of budget cuts from the Tory government, and there will be tough decisions to make.