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Weekly updates
Redbridge Overspend; Late Night Licence; Transport Strategy
This week in Redbridge:
Council Budget Overspend Sparks Concern
Redbridge Council's Cabinet reviewed the Budgetary Control Report for 2024/25, revealing a significant overspend of £15.317 million. Councillor Vanisha Solanki, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, presented the report, attributing the overspend to pressures in homelessness services and adult social care.
Key drivers of the overspend include:
- Homelessness: A £14.979 million overspend in Communities, largely due to the high cost of temporary accommodation. This could mean fewer resources for preventative measures and support services for vulnerable residents.
- Adult Social Care: A £22.865 million overspend in the People Directorate, driven by increased demand for care packages and the use of agency staff. This could lead to longer waits for assessments and reduced quality of care for elderly and disabled residents.
- Reduced Reserves: The overspend has significantly reduced Earmarked Reserves by £15.721 million, potentially limiting the council's ability to respond to future financial challenges.
The report also highlighted that unbudgeted pressures rolling forward into 2025/26 include £17.151m in housing and £16.333m in adult social care.
The Cabinet reviewed the report at their meeting on 19 June 2025. Read the full report here.
Late-Night Licence Sparks Resident Concerns in South Woodford
The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Lounge 71, located at 190 George Lane, South Woodford, E18 1AY. The applicant, Fidez HZ Limited, seeks to extend operating hours for live music, late-night refreshment, and alcohol sales until 2:00 AM on weekends.
The application has faced strong opposition from local residents and councillors, who fear it will exacerbate existing issues with noise, anti-social behaviour, and crime in the area.
- Anthony Bexley, a local resident, stated that the area has faced persistent issues for more than twenty years, particularly relating to the three neighbouring licensed properties within this parade, and that extending operating hours until 2:00am is likely to increase noise, anti-social behaviour, and crime.
- Councillor Beverley Brewer, Councillor for South Woodford, raised concerns from local residents about the lateness of the application, the fact that the previous occupants had no alcohol licence, and that the applicant wants to stay open later than is usually allowed by the Licensing Policy in quiet, residential areas. Councillor Beverley Brewer also noted that the application is in the name of FIDES HZ LTD, a company whose nature of business at Companies House is listed as
Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate,
and that its predecessor company Fides HN Ltd went into liquidation last August. - Councillor Joe Hehir also submitted a representation echoing the concerns raised by Councillor Beverley Brewer and local residents.
- Stephen Wright, a local resident, also objected to the application, stating that the addition of a further late night license will create a greater draw to the area as a late night spot, and that a 2am license will cause further issues until at least 2.30am for local residents.
Lounge 71 is located within the South Woodford Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ). The council's Statement of Licensing Policy states that there is a rebuttable presumption that applications for new premises licences within a CIZ will be refused, unless the applicant can demonstrate that granting the application will not add to the cumulative impact.
The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to discuss the application on 17 June 2025. Read the full report here.
Sustainable Transport Strategy Adopted to Tackle Climate Emergency
The Cabinet formally adopted the revised Sustainable Transport Strategy (STS), a 17-year plan to shape the borough's transport priorities and guide capital investment. Councillor Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, highlighted that the strategy identifies short, medium, and long-term actions to achieve sustainable transport ambitions and address the climate emergency.
The strategy focuses on four key themes:
- Active and safer travel for healthier lifestyles
- Making transport and travel accessible
- Enhancing the environment and responding to the climate emergency
- Keeping Redbridge's economy moving
The public consultation revealed that the most important challenges to tackle were congestion and limited travel options. The final strategy includes an action plan with short, medium, and long-term actions, considering the needs of vulnerable groups such as cyclists, pedestrians, disabled people, and the elderly.
The Cabinet adopted the strategy at their meeting on 19 June 2025. Read the full report here.
Other Matters
- The Health Scrutiny Sub-committee agreed on their work programme for 2025/26, including updates on health protection and relevant bodies. Read more about the meeting here.
- The Cabinet approved the Redbridge Local Plan Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) for 2023/24, highlighting under-delivery on housing targets and the resulting limitations on enforcing local plan policies. Read the full report here.
- The Standards Sub-Committee met to consider allegations of misconduct against a councillor. Read more about the meeting here.
- The Licensing Committee agreed to establish a Licensing Sub-Committee for the municipal year 2025/26 and recommended that the Full Council adopt the Licensing Policy at its meeting on 18 September 2025. Read more about the meeting here.
Upcoming Meetings:
- Council - 26 June 2025 - Motions on the LGA's Debate Not Hate campaign, e-scooter regulation, and proposed government cuts to disability benefits. Link to meeting
- Planning Committee - 23 June 2025 - Planning applications for developments in Seven Kings, Chadwell Heath, and Wanstead. Link to meeting
- Health and Wellbeing Board - 30 June 2025 - No agenda available. Link to meeting
- Licensing Sub-Committee - 1 July 2025 - Application for a new premises licence for The Cauliflower Public House. Link to meeting
- Overview Committee - 3 July 2025 - No agenda available. Link to meeting
Redbridge Council Tackles NEET Youth Support
This week, the council held three meetings. Two of these meetings did not provide transcripts or video recordings, so we cannot report on their contents. However, the third meeting, held on Monday 24 June 2024, was the Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee, and it provided significant insights into the council's efforts to support young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee: NEET Young People in Redbridge
The Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee met to discuss the number of young people in Redbridge who are NEET, and the council's plans to support them. The sub-committee approved the council's plans but requested an update on progress in six months.
A key document presented during the meeting was the Young People in Year 12 - 13 NEET and Not Known- Report Final, which revealed that 1.3% of young people in Years 12 and 13 in Redbridge were NEET, and a further 4.2% were not known. The sub-committee emphasized the legal requirement for local authorities in England to track the activity of young people up to the age of 18, as stipulated by the Education and Skills Act 2008. This Act mandates local authorities to ensure that all young people in their area participate in suitable education or training until the age of 18.
The sub-committee discussed various support mechanisms for NEET young people, notably the council's NEET Prevention Team. This team engages with young people and their families using a 'Team Around the Family' approach. The head of the NEET Prevention Team elaborated on this approach:
A meeting with the family, and any professionals working with them, to plan the right support for the young person. This can involve supporting the family to access benefits and housing advice.
The sub-committee also examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on NEET figures, noting that the pandemic disproportionately affected young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Other Meetings
- Unknown committee on Monday 24 June 2024: No transcript or video was provided.
- Unknown committee on Thursday 27 June 2024: No transcript or video was provided.
This week's focus on NEET young people highlights the council's ongoing efforts to address educational and employment challenges within the community. Future updates will continue to monitor the progress of these initiatives and other significant council activities.
Recent meetings
The Cabinet of Redbridge Council convened to discuss several key issues, including the formal adoption of the Sustainable Transport Strategy, the approval of the Authority Monitoring Report, and the budgetary control for 2024/25, which revealed a significant overspend. The Cabinet also reviewed the Forward Plan, Anti-Fraud measures, and Cyber Security strategies.
The Redbridge Council Licensing Committee convened on 18 June 2025, to discuss the establishment of a Licensing Sub-Committee and the Redbridge Statement of Licensing Policy. The committee agreed to establish the Licensing Sub-Committee and also agreed to recommend that the Full Council adopt the Licensing Policy at its meeting on 18 September 2025.
The Standards Sub-Committee met to consider allegations of misconduct against a councillor, and to determine whether the hearing should be held in public or private. The Sub-Committee was also scheduled to confirm its terms of reference.
The Redbridge Council Health Scrutiny Sub-committee met on 17 June 2025 to elect a chair and vice-chair, receive updates on health protection and other relevant bodies, and discuss the sub-committee's work programme for 2025/26. No decisions were made during the meeting, aside from agreeing the Sub-committee Work Programme for 2025/26.
The Redbridge Council Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to convene to consider an application for a new premises licence for Lounge 71, and to determine the procedure for licensing hearings. The meeting was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 17 June 2025, at 10:30 a.m. in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall, Ilford.
The Shareholder Reference Group (SRG) met to discuss the Redbridge Civic Services (RCS) work programme, performance, and director appointments. The meeting included an introduction to Lukasz Kulaga, the new RCS Managing Director, and a review of the company's annual accounts. Councillors also planned to discuss changes to the board of directors.
The Redbridge Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on 12 June 2025 to discuss social value in Redbridge, receive updates from the chairs of the Policy Development Committees, and conduct pre-decision scrutiny of executive reports concerning budget control, sustainable transport, and authority monitoring. The committee also elected a chair and vice-chair for the 2025/26 municipal year.
The Strategy and Resources Policy Development Committee was scheduled to meet to elect a chair and vice-chair for the 2025/26 municipal year. Councillors were also expected to receive an update from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. A presentation on the Redbridge Council website and web content was also scheduled, as part of an ongoing investigation into improving customer satisfaction.
The Safe Redbridge Policy Development Committee met to elect a chair and vice-chair for the 2025/26 municipal year and to discuss and agree on a theme for consideration in 2025/26. The committee was also scheduled to receive a verbal update from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.