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.

Sustainable Transport Strategy (STS)

The Cabinet formally adopted the revised Sustainable Transport Strategy (STS), following a public consultation that ran from September 2024 to January 2025. The strategy, developed with the assistance of transport consultants Steer, aims to shape the borough's transport priorities and guide capital investment over the next 17 years, addressing both transportation needs and the climate emergency. Councillor Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, presented the report, highlighting that the strategy identifies short, medium, and long-term actions to achieve sustainable transport ambitions.

The strategy is built upon 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

These themes are underpinned by nine priorities, including improving road safety and air quality, enabling healthy lifestyles and active travel, and supporting economic growth.

The public consultation involved residents, interest groups, and internal and external stakeholders. Feedback was gathered through emails, online surveys, interactive maps, and in-person engagement sessions. In total, 18 engagement sessions were held, with a total attendance of 190 people. The 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. It also considers the needs of vulnerable groups, such as cyclists, pedestrians, disabled people, and the elderly. The strategy will be refreshed every five years to ensure it remains current and aligned with borough policies.

Redbridge Local Plan Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) 2023/24

The Cabinet approved the Redbridge Local Plan Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) for 2023/24. The AMR assesses the performance and effectiveness of the council's Local Plan policies. Councillor Sahdia E Warraich, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Growth, presented the report, which highlighted both positive outcomes and ongoing challenges.

Key findings from the AMR include:

• Housing Delivery: 337 net additional dwellings were completed during 2023-2024, representing 23.91% of the housing target of 1,409.
• Development Management Performance: The council exceeded its targets for determining planning applications within statutory timeframes.
• Biodiversity: Positive steps were taken in nature conservation, with volunteer workdays, tree planting, and habitat restoration.
• Pollution Indicators: Levels of monitored air pollutants have been decreasing since 2016.

However, the report also identified key challenges, including:

• Housing Delivery: The council has consistently under-delivered on its housing targets and cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.
• Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development: Due to the lack of a five-year housing land supply, the council is subject to the presumption in favour of sustainable development, which limits its ability to enforce local plan policies.

The AMR also outlined actions being taken to improve housing delivery, such as working with developers, registered providers, and other stakeholders.

Budgetary Control Report for 2024/25

The Cabinet reviewed the Budgetary Control Report for 2024/25, which revealed an overspend of £15.317m. Councillor Vanisha Solanki, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, presented the report, highlighting the key variances and movements.

Key points from the report include:

• General Fund Outturn: An overspend of £15.317m, driven by overspends in Communities (£14.979m) and the People Directorate (£22.865m).
• Communities: The overspend in Communities was primarily due to pressures in homelessness, particularly the high cost of temporary accommodation.
• People Directorate: The overspend in the People Directorate was mainly due to increased costs in Adult Social Care, driven by demand for care packages and the use of agency staff.
• Savings: Total savings to be delivered in 2024/25 were £24.073m, with £22.364m delivered and £1.709m carried over to 2025/26.
• Capital Programme: The Capital Programme outturn was £133.181m, with slippage of £39.960m from 2024/25 to 2025/26.
• Collection Rates: The collection rate for Council Tax was 95.82%, and the collection rate for Business Rates was 92.67%.
• Reserves: The overspend has resulted in a significant reduction in Earmarked Reserves, reducing by £15.721m.

The report noted that unbudgeted pressures rolling forward into 2025/26 include £17.151m in housing and £16.333m in adult social care.

Forward Plan

The Cabinet agreed the items shown in the Forward Plan for 1 July 2025 to 31 October 2025.

Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy

The Cabinet agreed the updated Annual Counter Fraud Strategic Action Plan for 2025/26, setting out the corporate arrangements for how the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy will be delivered. They also agreed that the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy and supporting policies have been reviewed and no changes are needed before the policies next planned review date in 2027.

Cyber Security Strategy 2025-26

The Cabinet noted the changes to the IT Cyber Security Strategy for 2025-26, and agreed the Strategy revision for 2025-26.

Information Governance Strategy 2025-26

The Cabinet noted the changes to the IT Information Governance Strategy for 2025-26, and agreed the updated Strategy for 2025-26.

Contract Waiver Monitoring January 2025 - March 2025

The Cabinet received a report on Contract Waiver Monitoring from January 2025 - March 2025.