Newham has “filthy” streets and unwashed windowpanes, a Havering councillor told his cabinet as the members discussed merging the two boroughs’ back office services.

Cllr Jeffrey Tucker voiced concern about the proposed merger, saying: “You walk round the streets of Havering and we have clean streets, good shops, good housing stock and a well-run council.

“But Newham’s streets aren’t clean like our streets. Their shops are open all hours [with] no control.

“Our residents understand we have to take our curtains down and wash our windows, but go around Newham and look at some of their curtains and they’re stuck to the windows. You look at the streets and they are filthy. You look at the shops and they aren’t clean like our shops.

“We are putting our well-run council at risk,” he concluded during Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.

Leader Cllr Michael White said there were “real issues around deprivation” in parts of Newham but did not pass comment on the cleanliness of the windows.

The Recorder has requested a comment from Newham mayor Sir Robin Wales on Cllr Tucker’s views.