This week in Redbridge:

SEND Funding Faces Scrutiny Amidst Performance Concerns

The Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee reviewed the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Priority Action Plan, revealing concerns about funding and implementation. The plan, developed after a critical Ofsted/CQC inspection, aims to address widespread and/or systematic failures in the Redbridge Local Area SEND Partnership.

• Funding Gap: The council is expected to contribute £1.793 million over three years, but this contribution has no allocated budget, creating pressure on the general fund. Councillor Anne Marie Sachs, Chair of the Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee, stated the committee would seek assurance that that 1.8 million has been found.
• Health Service Contribution: The Integrated Care Board (ICB) is expected to contribute £0.596 million, and the committee agreed to seek assurance that this funding would be available.
• Slow Progress: While improvements have been made, the council is only achieving 25% of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) within the 20-week statutory timeframe, far below the national average of 45-50%.

These funding uncertainties and slow progress could mean continued struggles for vulnerable children with SEND and their families. Chris Spencer, the new Executive Director for People Services, said that the independent chair of the SEND and AB board would hold partners to account for their actions in relation to the priority action plan, and that health services would be held to account for their contribution. Read the full transcript here.

Trauma-Informed Practices in Schools Aim to Address Root Causes of Behaviour

The Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee also received a presentation on trauma-informed practice (TIP) in Redbridge schools. The Redbridge Mental Health Support Team (MHST) is working to implement a trauma-informed approach across educational settings and within the Education and Inclusion Directorate.

• Understanding Trauma: Trauma-informed settings aim to see beyond behaviours and consider what a person needs, rather than focusing on punishment.
• Positive Feedback: Approximately 200 staff have been trained to date, with feedback consistently positive and a significant increase in confidence in their knowledge of trauma-informed practice.
• SEMH Project: The Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) project, delivered in collaboration with SENDATSS (Advisory Teachers Service), supports emotional well-being and mental health across the whole school community.

By focusing on understanding and addressing the root causes of behaviour, trauma-informed practices could lead to improved outcomes for vulnerable students and a more supportive school environment.

Post-16 Education Focuses on SEN Students and Vocational Pathways

The Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee received an overview of key stage five results, highlighting disparities in outcomes for students with special educational needs (SEN).

• SEN Disparities: SEN students' outcomes are lower than national averages for the average point score, particularly in academic subjects.
• Vocational Success: SEN students perform better in vocational technical education routes.
• Post-16 Strategy Group: The council has formed a post-16 strategy group as part of the school improvement strategy, working with the Preparation for Adulthood (PFA) team to form a cohesive strategy.

These findings underscore the need for targeted support and alternative pathways for SEN students to ensure they have the opportunity to succeed in post-16 education. Read the full transcript here.

Smoking Cessation Service Sees Significant Improvement

The Redbridge Council Health Scrutiny Sub-committee received an update on smoking cessation efforts in Redbridge, highlighting the ongoing challenges of smoking-related illnesses and the success of the 'Redbridge Quits Smoking' (RQS) service.

• Smoking Statistics: 11.4% of adults in Redbridge are smokers, and 466 deaths in Redbridge each year are attributable to smoking. The social care costs due to smoking-related illnesses are estimated to be £33.7 million each year.
• RQS Success: The specialist smoking cessation service, 'Redbridge Quits Smoking' (RQS), has seen a significant improvement in the number of residents accessing the service and successfully quitting smoking since its launch in April 2023.
• Vaping Concerns: The report also addresses the growing concerns around young people vaping, noting that while nicotine vapes can be an effective tool for adults to quit smoking, there is growing evidence that vapes are becoming a gateway product to nicotine addiction among young people.

The success of the RQS service offers hope for reducing smoking rates and improving public health in Redbridge, while the focus on vaping highlights the need for continued efforts to protect young people from nicotine addiction. Read the full transcript here.

Staffing Sub-Committee Discusses Education and SEND Director Post

The Staffing Sub-Committee met to discuss the Education and SEND Director post. The public was excluded from the meeting. Link to meeting

Other Matters

• The Children and Young People Policy Development Committee discussed SEND in mainstream education. Link to meeting
• The Shareholder Reference Group discussed the performance and governance of Redbridge Civic Services Ltd (RCS), and Roding Homes Ltd. Link to meeting

Upcoming Meetings:

• Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 01 December 2025 - Link to meeting
• Strategy and Resources Policy Development Committee - 02 December 2025 - Discussion on the launch of the improved Redbridge Council website, updates from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and a review of the Strategy and Resources Work Plan. Link to meeting
• Licensing Sub-Committee - 02 December 2025 - Discussion of an application to vary a premises licence for Eastwood Off-Licence. Link to meeting
• East Area Committee - 03 December 2025 - Link to meeting
• Licensing Sub-Committee - 04 December 2025 - Discussion of a new premises licence application for Lahori Kulfi & Falooda. Link to meeting
• West Area Committee - 08 December 2025 - Link to meeting
• Audit and Risk Committee - 08 December 2025 - Link to meeting
• Pensions Committee - 10 December 2025 - Link to meeting
• Cabinet - 11 December 2025 - Link to meeting
• Regulatory Committee - 11 December 2025 - Link to meeting

This week in Redbridge:

Council to Review Housing Allocation Policies After Concerns Raised

Following concerns raised at a Homes and Neighbourhoods Policy Development Committee meeting, the council will undertake a review of its housing allocation policies. The decision came after Councillor Muhammed Javed raised concerns about affordability and membership disparities in leisure facilities between the north and south of the borough.

• Affordability Concerns: Councillor Javed highlighted deprivation in areas like Clementswood, Loxford, and Mayfield, questioning how the council would address affordability issues.
• Leisure Pass Disparity: Councillor Namreen B. Chaudhry, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Communities, noted a disparity in leisure pass uptake, with lower usage in the south of the borough.
• Data Collection: The committee agreed to explore the reasons behind the disparity, potentially through data collection and analysis.

The review of housing allocation policies could lead to changes that better address the needs of vulnerable residents and promote greater equity in access to council services. Read the full transcript here.

Pension Fund Investments Outperform Benchmark Despite Market Volatility

The Pension Fund Committee met on November 19th to review the Pension Fund's quarterly performance and discuss the administration of the council's Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

• Investment Performance: Despite mixed performance returns from individual portfolios, the Pension Fund's investments outperformed the benchmark over most measurable periods.
• Asset Allocation: The fund has committed £48m to the LCIV UK Housing Fund and £30m to the Nature Based Fund.
• Cash Balances: As of September 30, 2025, the fund held £4.987m in cash balances.

The committee also discussed pension administration, noting that the team is working closely with the council's Corporate Fraud Team and migrating to a new member portal. Link to meeting

Council to Develop Ilford Town Centre Masterplan

Redbridge Council is set to commission a comprehensive Ilford Town Centre Masterplan to guide regeneration efforts over the next 10-15 years. The decision was made at a full council meeting on November 20th.

• Regeneration Focus: The masterplan aims to integrate existing schemes like the Council Homes Acquisition Programme (CHAP), Ilford Arrival programme, and Ilford Western Gateway project.
• Frontline Worker Support: The council reaffirmed its zero-tolerance approach to abuse of frontline workers, committing to work with the police to ensure incidents are followed up.
• Air Quality Improvements: The council celebrated improvements in air quality and resolved to continue working with partners to develop the next Air Quality Action Plan (2026–2031).

The masterplan could significantly shape the future of Ilford Town Centre, while the council's commitment to frontline worker support and air quality improvements could benefit residents across the borough. Link to meeting

Other Matters

• The Licensing Sub-Committee met to discuss a review of the premises licence for Swaminarayan Sports World. Link to meeting
• The Governance and Assurance Committee discussed the outcome of a hearing regarding a complaint against Councillor X, and a hearing regarding Councillor Noor Jahan Begum. Link to meeting
• The Redbridge Schools Forum discussed school funding and related issues. Link to meeting
• The Redbridge Health and Wellbeing Board discussed a range of health and social care issues in the borough. Link to meeting

Upcoming Meetings:

• Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee - 26 November 2025 - Discussion of end-of-life care, emergency care, and smoking cessation. Link to meeting
• Licensing Committee - 27 November 2025 - Link to meeting
• Shareholder Reference Group - 27 November 2025 - Discussion of the Redbridge Civic Services Ltd (RCS) Board of Directors report, the RCS quarterly performance, and Roding Homes Ltd. Link to meeting
• Staffing Sub-Committee - 28 November 2025 - Discussion of the Education and SEND Director Post. Link to meeting
• Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 01 December 2025 - Link to meeting
• West Area Committee - 02 December 2025 - Link to meeting
• East Area Committee - 03 December 2025 - Link to meeting
• Licensing Sub-Committee - 02 December 2025 - Discussion of an application to vary a premises licence for Eastwood Off-Licence. Link to meeting
• Children and Young People Policy Development Committee - 25 November 2025 - Discussion of SEND in mainstream education. Link to meeting

This week in Redbridge:

Councillor Conduct Under Scrutiny: Two Standards Sub-Committee Meetings Held

Two meetings of the Standards Sub-Committee took place on November 13th to address complaints against Councillors Noor Jahan Begum and Tanweer Khan. One meeting concerned a complaint against Councillor Begum, while the other concerned a complaint against Councillor Khan. No videos were provided for either meeting.

Complaint Against Councillor Noor Jahan Begum

The sub-committee was scheduled to determine whether Councillor Noor Jahan Begum breached the Members' Code of Conduct following a complaint by Councillor Tanweer Khan. The allegations included distributing a flyer containing defamatory statements and harassing Councillor Khan.

• Investigator's Report: An investigation report by Miranda Carruthers-Watt of Verephi Ltd found that Councillor Begum had failed to comply with paragraphs 1.1 and 5 of the code of conduct regarding defamatory statements, but found no breach regarding the harassment allegation.
• Possible Sanctions: If a breach was found, the sub-committee could recommend actions to the Governance and Assurance Committee, including a motion of censure, publication of the hearing findings, removal from committees, or mandatory training.

Complaint Against Councillor Tanweer Khan

The sub-committee was also scheduled to discuss a complaint against Councillor Tanweer Khan, alleging breaches of the Redbridge Council Member Code of Conduct. The complaint was submitted by a member of the public after Councillor Khan had made a complaint about Councillor Noor Jahan Begum involving the same incident.

• Allegations: The complaint alleged that Councillor Khan took pictures of the complainant, shouted at her, and threatened to sue her while she was delivering leaflets.
• Investigator's Findings: The investigator concluded that Councillor Khan was acting as a Councillor at the time of the incident, but that his behaviour did not amount to a failure to treat people with respect. The report recommended that there was no breach of the code of conduct, and returned this matter to the Monitoring Officer.

These cases highlight the importance of ethical conduct among elected officials and the potential consequences of violating the council's code of conduct.

Budget Overspend Looms: Council Faces Tough Choices

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on November 10th to discuss the council's financial situation, revealing a forecast overspend of £31.666 million for the current financial year. The meeting covered the budgetary control report, treasury management strategy, and budget strategy for the upcoming year.

• Savings Shortfall: Concerns were raised about the low achievement of savings targets, particularly in place and communities, with Councillor Daniel H. Morgan-Thomas questioning whether the directorate's savings target was ever attainable.
• Preventing Deficits: Councillor Paul Canal asked about actions to prevent ongoing overspends from becoming structural deficits. Deputy Leader/Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Vanisha Solanki, outlined initiatives to address pressures in homelessness and adult social care, including working with health partners and a 'Home Truths' campaign.
• Reserve Levels: Councillor Canal also questioned the minimum safe level of reserves and the risk of a Section 114 notice¹. The Section 151 officer stated the aim to rebuild the general reserve to around £20 million and the statutory requirement to issue a Section 114 notice if a balanced budget cannot be set.
• Temporary Accommodation: Councillor Alex Holmes raised concerns about the impact of temporary accommodation placements from other boroughs on Redbridge and the lack of support for vulnerable individuals.

The council's financial challenges could lead to difficult decisions about service cuts and increased financial pressures on residents.

Greenway Court Development Faces Planning Scrutiny

The Planning Committee was scheduled to meet on November 11th to discuss a planning application for a development at the garage block at Greenway Court 1, Valentines Road, Ilford. The meeting took place, but no video was provided.

• Planning Application 0598/25: The committee was scheduled to consider planning application 0598/25 for a development at the garage block at Greenway Court 1, Valentines Road, Ilford.

The outcome of this planning application could impact local residents and the surrounding area.

Cabinet to Discuss Key Strategies and Financial Performance

The cabinet was scheduled to meet on November 13th to discuss several key strategies and the council's financial performance. The meeting took place, but no video was provided.

• Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-30: The cabinet was scheduled to discuss the council’s approach to preventing and addressing homelessness and rough sleeping in the borough for the next five years.
• Budget Strategy 2026/27: The cabinet was expected to discuss the Budget Strategy 2026/27, outlining the council’s approach to managing its finances over the medium term.
• Budgetary Control Report for Quarter 2 2025/26: The cabinet was scheduled to discuss the council’s financial performance against its budget for the first half of the financial year.
• Procurement Strategy and ESG Procurement Policy Update 2025: The cabinet was expected to discuss the council’s approach to procuring goods, works and services, and how the council will consider environmental, social and governance factors in its procurement processes.
• 2025/26 Treasury Management Mid-Year Review: The cabinet was scheduled to discuss the council’s cash flows and investments.

These discussions will shape the council's priorities and resource allocation in the coming years.

Other Matters

• A meeting of the Resources and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee was held on Wednesday 12 November, but no video was provided. Link to meeting
• Another meeting was held on Wednesday 12 November, but no information is available. Link to meeting
• Another meeting was held on Thursday 20 November, but no information is available. Link to meeting

Upcoming Meetings:

• Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee - 24 November 2025 - Discussion of the SEND and Alternative Provision Priority Action Plan, trauma-informed practices in education, and emotional school avoidance. Link to meeting
• Children and Young People's Policy Development Committee - 25 November 2025 - Link to meeting
• Health and Care Policy Development Committee - 26 November 2025 - Link to meeting
• Cabinet - 27 November 2025 - Link to meeting
• Licensing Committee - 27 November 2025 - Link to meeting
• Homes and Neighbourhoods Policy Development Committee - 17 November 2025 - Discussion of leisure, the committee's work plan, and a review of the prior meeting's minutes. Link to meeting
• Pensions Committee - 19 November 2025 - Discussion of the administration of the council's Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) function, and a quarterly update on the Pension Fund's performance. Link to meeting
• Full Council - 20 November 2025 - Link to meeting
• Governance and Assurance Committee - 17 November 2025 - Link to meeting
• Licensing Sub-Committee - 18 November 2025 - Discussion of a review of the premises licence for Swaminarayan Sports World. Link to meeting
• Health and Wellbeing Board - 17 November 2025 - Discussion of social care and health systems, the system strategy and commissioning intentions, and annual reports from the Redbridge Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Redbridge Safeguarding Adult Board. Link to meeting

This week in Redbridge:

Mamma Mia Pizza Licence Bid Sparks Crime and Nuisance Fears

A new late-night refreshment licence application for Mamma Mia Pizza & Chicken on Goodmayes Road is facing strong opposition from police and council enforcement due to concerns about potential crime, disorder, and public nuisance. The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to discuss the application on November 6th.

• Late-Night Hours: Mamma Mia Pizza & Chicken is seeking permission to open until 5:00 AM, seven days a week, serving late-night refreshments between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM.
• Police and Enforcement Objections: Both the Metropolitan Police Licensing Team and the Council's Licensing Enforcement Team lodged objections, arguing that granting the licence could negatively impact crime prevention and public order.
• Committee Options: The Licensing Sub-Committee could grant the application, grant it with added conditions, grant it in part, or reject it entirely.

The decision could have significant implications for the local community, potentially affecting residents' quality of life and the area's safety.

Read the full report pack here.

Parking Strategy Could Hit Low-Income Drivers

The Clean and Green Policy Development Committee met on November 6th to discuss recommendations for the Parking Services Strategy, including emissions-based charging for parking permits.

• Emissions-Based Permits: The committee discussed introducing emissions-based charging for resident and business parking permits, a move intended to encourage the use of cleaner vehicles.
• Mitigation for Low-Income Households: The committee considered exploring ways to mitigate the impact on lower-income households, who may not be able to afford newer, less polluting vehicles.
• Vehicle Removal Service: The committee also discussed adopting a Vehicle Removal and Car Pound service, potentially leading to more vehicle removals for various parking violations.

While the emissions-based charging aims to improve air quality, critics fear it could disproportionately affect low-income residents who rely on older, more polluting vehicles. The proposed vehicle removal service could also impact residents who depend on their cars for transportation.

Read the full report pack here.

Data Breach Causes and Response Times Under Scrutiny

Redbridge Council's Governance and Assurance Committee met on November 4th to review information governance, including data breach causes and response times to information requests.

• Data Breach Causes: The report identified the main causes of data breaches as unauthorised or accidental disclosure (38%), phishing emails (29%), and suspicious emails (22%).
• FOI and SAR Performance: The report revealed that the council's performance in responding to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and Subject Access Requests (SAR) has declined.
• Data Protection Training: While 77% of council staff have completed data protection awareness training, completion rates vary across directorates.

The data highlights the ongoing challenges in protecting residents' personal information and ensuring timely access to information. The committee's scrutiny of these issues is crucial for improving data protection practices and transparency.

Read the full report pack here.

Other Matters

• The Governance and Assurance Committee also discussed the council's strategic risk register, which identifies key risks to achieving corporate priorities. Link to meeting

Upcoming Meetings:

• Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 10 November 2025 - Discussion of the council's budgetary control report, treasury management strategy and budget strategy. Link to meeting
• Planning Committee - 11 November 2025 - Discussion of a development application for a garage block at Greenway Court. Link to meeting
• Resources and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee - 12 November 2025 - Link to meeting
• Cabinet - 13 November 2025 - Discussion of the council's budget strategy, treasury management, budgetary control, homelessness and rough sleeping strategy, and procurement strategy. Link to meeting
• Standards Sub-Committee - 13 November 2025 - Hearing regarding a complaint against Councillor X. Link to meeting
• Health and Wellbeing Board - 17 November 2025 - Discussion of social care and health systems, the system strategy and commissioning intentions, and annual reports from the Redbridge Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Redbridge Safeguarding Adult Board. Link to meeting
• Homes and Neighbourhoods Policy Development Committee - 17 November 2025 - Link to meeting
• Governance and Assurance Committee - 17 November 2025 - Link to meeting
• Licensing Sub-Committee - 18 November 2025 - Discussion of a review of the premises licence for Swaminarayan Sports World. Link to meeting
• Pensions Committee - 19 November 2025 - Link to meeting
• Full Council - 20 November 2025 - Link to meeting