Redbridge Council was scheduled to discuss a number of issues at its meeting, including motions on councillor safety, e-scooter regulation, and disability benefits. Councillors were also scheduled to discuss changes to the council's standing orders¹ and committee appointments.

Debate Not Hate motion

Councillor Vanisha Solanki, Cabinet Member for Finance, was scheduled to move a motion to join the Local Government Association's (LGA) Debate Not Hate campaign. The motion notes that abuse and intimidation of councillors undermines democracy and weakens public trust. It also references the murders of Jo Cox MP and Sir David Amess MP, a former Redbridge councillor, highlighting the risks faced by public servants.

The council was scheduled to resolve to:

• Join the LGA's Debate Not Hate campaign.
• Uphold respectful debate and take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse.
• Write to local MPs and government ministers to support action against abuse and intimidation.
• Strengthen reporting mechanisms for harassment and review councillor support.
• Review councillor information publication and include security resources in member inductions and training.

The altered motion also included additional resolutions to:

• Explore and identify designated, well-lit taxi drop-off and collection points at Redbridge Town Hall with CCTV monitoring.
• Identify and clearly signpost safe, well-lit walking routes between the Town Hall and nearby public car parks, covered by CCTV and regularly patrolled.
• Undertake a full risk assessment of councillor access to and from council meetings, with recommendations to be implemented before the next municipal year.
• Explore the introduction of a voluntary buddy or security escort system for councillors attending late-night or contentious meetings.

Councillor Paul Canal, Leader of the Conservative Party, was scheduled to second the altered motion.

E-scooters motion

Councillor Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, was scheduled to move a motion calling for improved regulation and enforcement to address the dangerous use of illegal electric scooters and illegally adapted electric bikes in the borough.

The motion notes that while e-scooters and e-bikes can offer a sustainable transport option, illegal e-scooters and illegally adapted e-bikes are often driven at high speeds with disregard for road safety. The motion also notes that in 2022, there were over 1,400 casualties involving e-scooters across the UK, including 12 fatalities.

The council was scheduled to resolve to:

• Call on the government to regulate all e-scooters and e-bikes.
• Call on the Metropolitan Police to increase its checks and enforcement on illegal e-scooters and e-bikes in Redbridge.
• Call on companies to ensure they are clearly advising customers of the legal status of e-scooters.
• Commit to undertake awareness raising work to educate the public about the risks associated with illegal e-bikes and e-scooters.

Disability motion

Councillor Rosa Gomez was scheduled to move a motion regarding proposed cuts to disability benefits. The motion notes the government's proposals to restrict access to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), move disabled people into unsuitable work, and reduce and freeze benefit rates.

The council was scheduled to resolve to:

• Write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions expressing the council's opposition to the proposed cuts and calling for meaningful co-production with disabled people in shaping disability benefits policy.
• Work with local disability organisations to assess and publicly report on the impact these changes will have on disabled residents in the community.
• Call on all local MPs to oppose these cuts and raise concerns in Parliament about their impact on disabled constituents.
• Explore ways to support disabled residents locally, including signposting them to advice, advocacy services, and hardship funds.
• Collaborate with other councils to pass similar motions and form a collective response against these punitive measures.

Councillor Mark Santos, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, was scheduled to move an amendment to the motion. The amended motion notes that the government has announced a review of disability benefits, including proposals affecting disabled residents, and that Redbridge Council has a strong track record of proactively supporting residents facing financial pressures, including disabled residents.

The council was scheduled to resolve to:

• Write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions expressing this council's concerns and the importance of meaningful co-production with disabled people and ensuring effective safeguarding in shaping disability benefits policy, making clear that any reforms must not cause disabled residents to fall into poverty.
• Work with local disability organisations to assess and publicly report on the impact of benefit changes for disabled residents in the community.
• Engage with all local MPs to ensure they are aware of disabled residents' concerns and can raise them in Parliament and with the relevant minister.
• Explore ways to further support disabled residents locally, including signposting them to advice, advocacy services, and hardship funds.
• Re-state its commitment to inclusion, fairness and co-produced policy that benefits the most vulnerable residents.

Councillor Lloyd Jacob Duddridge, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, was scheduled to second the amendment.

Changes to Standing Orders

The council was scheduled to consider a report on the review and redrafting of the council's constitution. The report notes that the council is undertaking work to refresh and modernise the constitution, and that this work complements wider activity focused on improving internal governance at the council.

The review was scheduled to be divided into two phases:

• Phase 1: immediate changes to council standing orders, committee procedure rules, and procedure rules associated with committees of the council tasked with activity around grievance and disciplinary arrangements relating to certain senior officers.
• Phase 2: a more detailed review leading to changes expected to be brought to council midway through 2025/26.

The report includes a number of proposed changes to the council's standing orders and committee procedure rules. These changes include:

• Amendments to the rules regarding the calling of meetings, including the cancellation of meetings and the postponement of meetings.
• Amendments to the rules regarding the conduct of meetings, including the prevention of disorderly conduct and the broadcasting and recording of meetings.
• Amendments to the rules regarding the submission of motions, petitions, amendments and questions.
• Amendments to the rules regarding the granting of the Freedom of the Borough² and conferring the title of Honorary Alderman³.

Changes to Committee Appointments

The council was scheduled to agree to changes to appointments to the membership of committees and council bodies. Councillor Matthew Goddin was scheduled to replace Councillor Sheila Bain on the External Scrutiny Committee. Gita Malhotra was scheduled to be the Healthwatch Redbridge co-opted member of the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee. Doreen Daly was scheduled to replace Pauline Brown as the Scheme Member Representative on the Local Pension Board.

Questions from Members of the Public

Members of the public were scheduled to ask questions of the Leader of the Council, Councillor Kam Rai. Andy Walker was scheduled to ask if the Leader wanted to speak at a new wing for King George Meeting on Monday 7th July at 8pm.

Questions from Members

Councillors were scheduled to ask questions of the Leader of the Council, cabinet members, and committee chairs. The questions covered a range of topics, including:

• Councillor Guy Williams was scheduled to ask the Leader about his participation in the Ride Redbridge event in May (to be asked by Councillor Emma Shepherd-Mallinson).
• Councillor Mushtaq Ahmed was scheduled to ask the Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, Councillor Khayer Chowdhury, about the recent increase in the number and value of fines being issued for fly tipping and anti-social behaviour.
• Councillor Joyce Ryan was scheduled to ask the Leader about the timescale for work on RAAC⁴ at both the KMT and the South Woodford Library.
• Councillor Matthew Goddin was scheduled to ask the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Communities, Councillor Namreen Chaudhry, about the new Goodmayes Community Garden.
• Councillor Shoaib Patel was scheduled to ask the Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, Councillor Jo Blackman, to outline the scale of the £4.2m investment in resurfacing roads and pavements across Redbridge.
• Councillor Helen Mullis was scheduled to ask the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Councillor Mark Santos, about his visit to the Hainault Community Cafe for their VE Day celebrations.
• Councillor Saira Jamil was scheduled to ask the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Communities, Councillor Namreen Chaudhry, about her recent visit to the Mildmay Studio, a women-only gym in Ilford Town.
• Councillor Martin Sachs was scheduled to ask the Leader about TfL's exciting new plans for step free access at Underground stations.
• Councillor Nav Johal was scheduled to ask the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Vanisha Solanki, what she observed from the VE Day street parties, and how the council is helping communities celebrate Redbridge's history.
• Councillor Saiqa Qayum Hussain was scheduled to ask the Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, Councillor Jo Blackman, what Redbridge's young people presented at the Youth Climate event at City Hall, and how this aligns with the council's climate commitments.
• Councillor Daniel Morgan-Thomas was scheduled to ask the Leader if he would welcome the government's positive response to the consultation Enabling remote attendance and proxy voting at local authority meeting.
• Councillor Kabir Mahmud was scheduled to ask the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, Councillor Lloyd Duddridge, if the council has published strategies and service plans for children with disabilities and Autism.
• Councillor Shanell Johnson was scheduled to ask the Leader how Redbridge Council will commit to publishing regular, accessible racial equity audits across its departments and services.
• Councillor Noor Begum was scheduled to ask the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Vanisha Solanki, what measures/services/schemes/support the council will put in place to provide financial support for vulnerable people needing care and support when the Welfare Reform Bill is enacted.
• Councillor Kabir Mahmud was scheduled to ask the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, Councillor Lloyd Duddridge, for an update on the progress of building work at Wanstead High School.
• Councillor Shanell Johnson was scheduled to ask the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Communities, Councillor Namreen Chaudhry, what mechanisms Redbridge Council has in place to guarantee that all public questions are afforded equal time, consideration, and a written response, regardless of who is asking them.
• Councillor Shanell Johnson was scheduled to ask the Leader if the council can provide clear examples and evidence of how community feedback has tangibly shaped its policies, planning decisions, or public service delivery within the past two years.