The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss several executive reports before they are considered by the cabinet, including proposals for leisure and culture services, changes to recycling services, and the budget control report for the first quarter of 2025/26. The committee requested to receive the Priority Action Plan regarding the Area Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Inspection of Redbridge Local Area Partnership prior to its submission to the cabinet. The committee also noted verbal updates from the chairs of the Policy Development Committees (PDC).

Budget Control Report Quarter 1 2025/26

The committee reviewed the Budget Control Report Quarter 1 2025/26, which highlighted a forecast overspend of £42.033m for the General Fund Service Directorate Revenue Budget. The report noted that £3.046m of mitigating actions were already included in the forecast. If planned mitigations of £7.959m were fully delivered, the overspend could be reduced to £34.074m. The report also detailed budget movements and the progress of the approved savings programme, as detailed in Appendix D - Savings Quarter 1 v1.

The report also noted:

• A General Fund capital forecast outturn of £144.333m, a decrease of £30.191m since month 2.
• A Housing Revenue Account (HRA) outturn of £69.820m, a decrease of £17.153m since month 2.
• The overall Capital Programme forecast is to budget of £214.153m.
• General Fund capital slippage from 2025/26 to 2026/27 of £47.344m, in addition to the £66.340m slippage at July Cabinet.
• Approved capital virements, detailed in Appendix B Capital Q1 new.
• Collection rates for Council Tax and Business Rates.
• The outstanding debt position as of 30 June 2025, and the associated bad and doubtful debt provision, as detailed in Appendix E Outstanding Debt as at 30 June 2025 new.
• A forecast overspend of £0.162m on the HRA.
• A Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) forecast outturn is an overspend of £5.143m, on a total budget of £331.799m.

The Budget Control Report Quarter 1 2025/26 noted that the forecast level of overspend was of real concern, and was principally caused by the costs and demands seen in social care and homelessness.

Area SEND Inspection of Redbridge Local Area Partnership

The committee considered the report and appendices regarding the SEND inspection report for the Redbridge Local Area Partnership. The report recommended that the cabinet note the inspection findings and the areas for priority action for the local area partnership.

The report outlined the outcome of the Area SEND Inspection, a joint inspection of partnership arrangements between Redbridge Council and the North East London Integrated Care Board¹ (ICB), undertaken by Ofsted² and the Care Quality Commission³ (CQC) in May 2025, which focused on services for children and young people with special educational needs and / or disabilities (SEND).

The report judged that the Redbridge local area partnership had widespread and/or systemic failures, and identified five priority areas and six areas for improvement.

The committee requested to receive the Priority Action Plan prior to its submission to the cabinet.

Recycling Service Changes - Wheeled Bins for Dry Mixed Recycling

The committee considered the report on Recycling Service Enhancement Wheeled Bins. The report recommended the introduction of wheeled bins for dry mixed recycling.

The report stated that the introduction of wheeled bins for recycling was approved in principle by Cabinet in 2020 to modernise and improve the waste collection service, and that following the successful refuse wheeled bin roll out this is the next step.

The report noted that under the forthcoming East London Waste Authority (ELWA) disposal contract, due to commence in December 2027, recycling will be incentivised financially for the four East London constituent councils.

Proposal for the Delivery of Leisure and Culture Services post March 2026

The committee considered the Proposal for the Delivery of Leisure and Culture Services post March 2026 - Report. The report sought approval of an extension to the existing funding and management agreement with Vision RCL⁴ for a value of £11.122m plus indexation on its current terms, for a period of 12 months until 31 March 2027, with the option to extend for a further 12 months at the Council's sole discretion.

The report stated that since 2007 the council's leisure services have been delivered by Vision RCL, an independent charity. The scope of services delivered by Vision has been adjusted over time, with several additional functions added to their remit, including libraries, parks, Kenneth More Theatre, music and drama services, whilst youth centre provision was added and later removed from Vision's responsibilities.

Updates from Chairs of the Policy Development Committees

The committee noted verbal updates from PDC and Scrutiny Chairs. Councillor Alex Holmes (Children & Young People PDC) reported that the PDC had selected the topic of SEND Provision as its focus for this municipal year. Councillor Joe Hehir (Chair of Clean & Green PDC) reported that two workshops have been arranged on the selected theme of Parking and the Parking Strategy. Councillor Sunny Brar (Health & Care PDC) reported that the PDC is progressing its work on the selected theme of Mental Health. Councillor Matthew Goddin (External Scrutiny Committee) reported that discussions focussed on buses and the Safer Neighbourhoods Service. Councillor Judith Garfield (Strategy & Resources PDC) reported that the PDC is concluding its findings on the theme of Customer Experience.