Christmas festivities in Havering will be reliant on sponsorship and community groups for the third consecutive year, the council has confirmed.
A spokesperson for Havering Council said that it is reaching out to community groups and sponsors to see what their plans are for the town’s Christmas celebrations.
The spokesperson told this paper: "The new administration are committed to making sure that Christmas is celebrated across our town centres and that trees and lights are a part of these festivities.
"The council has already been in touch with town centre groups across Havering this year to see what their plans are along with potential sponsors for this year's Christmas trees and lights."
The spokesperson subsequently clarified that the council will be reliant on sponsorship but will "look to cover the difference from council funds".
This will mark the third consecutive year that Havering’s Christmas celebrations have not been funded by the council, after originally being stopped in 2024 due to "urgent" budget issues.
That year the council secured £54 million of government support after it was unable to produce a balanced budget.
For that year’s Christmas celebrations, Marlborough Highways donated £20,000 to fund festivities and Romford Business Improvement District also put together a line-up of events.
Last year’s festivities were made possible by donations from Marlborough Highways, Elm Site Services, AJS, FCC Environment, NC Construction Services and Moss and Coleman Solicitors.
Their funding was then topped up by council money from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy.
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