Councillors Urge Residents to Use Official Channels, Not Social Media, for Reporting Issues

In Havering, some councillors are more active on social media than others, frequently engaging with residents and sharing updates. However, councillors are reminding the public that while they are there to bridge the gap between the community and the Council, they cannot be expected to monitor social media constantly for reports of local issues.

Social media, while a useful tool for general discussions, is not an effective method for formally logging concerns such as missed rubbish collections, fly-tipping, or street maintenance. Councillors stress that this informal approach does not ensure issues will be properly recorded or resolved. They are urging residents to take the initiative and use the proper reporting channels to guarantee their concerns are addressed.

“We appreciate people using social media to communicate, but it’s essential to understand that we cannot track and manage issues if they aren’t reported through the correct channels,” said Cllr Philippa Crowder. “As councillors, we are here to represent you, but we need residents to ensure their concerns are formally logged with the Council.”

The Council provides several official ways to report problems and concerns:

• General Enquiries: 01708 434343 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
• Out of Hours Service: 01708 433999 (available outside normal working hours)
• Environment and Street Cleaning: 01708 432563
• Housing Enquiries: 01708 432824
• Council Website: Visit www.havering.gov.uk/report to log issues directly.
• Email your ward Councillor

“It’s crucial for residents to use these formal channels, or email their ward councillors directly if they need support doing so.” added Cllr Gillian Ford. “The Council’s systems are set up to ensure reports are logged and dealt with efficiently. Relying on social media for this can lead to important issues being missed.”

While councillors remain engaged with the community on social media, they emphasise that reporting concerns through official Council channels is the only way to ensure that issues are properly addressed. Social media is not equipped to track or manage these matters, and using the right methods guarantees that all concerns are logged, prioritised, and resolved in a timely manner.

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