The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, flood prevention, and refuse disposal; with the boroughs (including Havering) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection.

[7] In September 2023, the leader of the council warned the authority could be six months away from triggering a Section 114 notice because of the increasing cost of social care and housing.

It is a local education authority and is also responsible for council housing, social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health.

[17] John Tyler, residents association councillor for Cranham, announced he would not join HRA Group in the weeks after the coalition was formed, stating that bringing national party politics into local government was "fundamentally against [his] principles".

[27] In September 2022, three Conservative councillors jointly announced they were joining the HRA due to a lack of support from their party after the July wildfires in Wennington.

[20] In January 2024, Conservative councillor Robby Misir joined the HRA[21] having criticised his former party's local leader Keith Prince over a debate about school transport.

[23] On 22 May 2024, at the annual meeting of the full council, the HRA elected their own councillor Gerry O'Sullivan to be the ceremonial Mayor of Havering.

[24] With only Labour leader Keith Darvill left representing his party in the cabinet, the HRA decided on 3 June 2024 to end the agreement and govern as a minority administration.

The council's then leader, Damian White, was secretly recorded outlining plans to modify ward boundaries to the advantage of the party.

White reportedly said the Local Government Boundary Commission had so few staff it was "highly unlikely they'll put in the effort" to scrutinise the changes and that "they only look at what was discussed... at the full council meeting.

It was formally opened on 16 September 1937, on which day Romford was also presented with its charter of incorporation turning the urban district into a borough.