The new mayor of Havering will be sworn in at a ceremony tonight.

A new council leader and cabinet will also be announced at the annual mayor making event at the town hall, Main Road, Romford.

A motion supported by the Conservative group will be put forward nominating Cllr Philippa Crowder to become the new mayor.

If elected, the current deputy mayor will formally take over the chain of office from the current mayor of Havering, Cllr Brian Eagling.

Cllr Crowder has been a councillor since May 2014 and became deputy mayor last May.

Mayors act as civic representatives of the boroughs they serve.

Havering’s mayor typically attends more than 600 events a year, including fundraisers, school events and ceremonial meetings.

As well as the mayoral election, this meeting of full council will see councillors thank chief executive Cheryl Coppell for her nine years of service.

Mrs Coppell, who joined the local authority in 2007, announced her plans to retire in January.

She has been succeeded by Andrew Blake-Herbert, who had been the council’s acting chief executive for two days a week, since Mrs Coppell began working part-time.

Following this, the council will appoint members to committees – including the selection of chairmen and vice-chairmen – and decide upon the “member champions” for various areas, including the Armed Forces, equalities and diversity, the over-50s, young people, the voluntary sector and the historic environment.

For a full report of the council meeting, see Friday’s Recorder.