The leader of Havering Council said he is confident in his group’s minority administration amid financially challenging times, due to its independence and lack of party ties.

Ray Morgon, leader of the Havering Residents Association (HRA), has headed the east London authority since 2022.

Havering is the only one of London’s 32 boroughs to be controlled by a residents’ association, which claims to prioritise residents over wider national party politics.

The council, however, is not alone in its financial woes.

It began the year with a £32.5million black hole in its budget and has since explored controversial ways to save cash, including closing libraries and selling car parks to housing developers.

Cllr Morgon told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “When you’re hamstrung by a national party, you don’t have the freedom to do what you want or need.

“[The previous Conservative leader, Damian White] could not be critical of the government around finance, because it was the same party.

“Local parties running things is better.”

The HRA broke away from a coalition with the Labour group in June to form a minority administration with 26 members.

It is currently two away from a majority, following a string of defections from both the Conservatives and Labour.

Though the HRA has the manpower needed to win votes in the chamber, it has gained a prominent new critic in Labour.

Keith Darvill, the Labour leader and former cabinet member for climate change, often challenges the HRA on its eco credentials and plans.

Meanwhile, Labour councillors Jane Keane and Mandy Anderson have been passionate opponents of the proposed library closures, arguing they would cause “poverty of the heart, mind and soul”.

Cllr Morgon said: “When we were with the Labour group, we had a good rapport and worked well together.

“I would expect them to be scrutinising us, challenging us, and holding us to account. I’ve never had an issue with that, from any of the opposition parties.”

He continued: “Keith [Darvill] has asked pertinent questions and that’s fine. If you’re confident in what you’re doing, you don’t mind people challenging and scrutinising you.”

Though some colleagues had advised him to “limit their questions,” the leader said he wants to keep discussions “open, honest and transparent”.

The HRA claims to be politically independent and therefore free from “restrictive” allegiances to national parties. Cllr Morgon has been a councillor since 2002 and previously worked for Andrew Rosindell, the Conservative MP for Romford.

Speaking to the LDRS, Cllr Morgon said the HRA prioritised residents’ views but did not give any indication if it was a right-wing, left-wing or centrist organisation.

He said: “We’re a residents’ association and we’re linked in with our members, so we know what’s important to them.”

He continued: “We are only accountable to residents, not some higher authority.”

He added that he was not approaching the new Labour government any differently to the Conservatives.

At the time of the coalition breakdown in June, Cllr Darvill told the LDRS that it was a “futile” move, considering that Labour was then correctly predicting a national election victory.

He said: “At a time when the council is in difficult financial situations, needing government support and clear political direction, the decision to go it alone seems weird.”

The cabinet also faces opposition from small splinter groups, such as the East Havering Residents’ Group and the two-strong Residents’ Association Independent Group.