Redbridge Council was scheduled to discuss a range of topics at its meeting, including the appointment of an Executive Director of Resources, the annual scrutiny report, and the Redbridge Statement of Licensing Policy. Councillors were also expected to answer questions from the public and from other council members.

Appointment of Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer

The council was scheduled to confirm the appointment of David Kuenssberg as the Executive Director of Resources and as the Section 151 Officer¹. The report pack notes that the previous post holder, Maria Christofi, resigned in May 2024, and that Duncan Whitfield had been serving as Interim Executive Director of Resources. The council was also expected to recognise the contribution of Duncan Whitfield.

Annual Scrutiny Report 2024/25

The council was scheduled to note the Annual Scrutiny Report for 2024/25. The report provides an overview of the work undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, its sub-committees, and the Policy Development Committees (PDCs). According to the report pack, these committees:

provide for independent examination and accountability of the Council's Executive (the Cabinet), and relevant public organisations, including health organisations, e.g. the NHS and the police.

The report also includes statements from the chairs of the committees on the work undertaken in the municipal year 2024/25. An easy-read version of the Annual Scrutiny Report 2024/25 was also included in the report pack.

Redbridge Statement of Licensing Policy 2025-2030

The council was scheduled to adopt the revised draft Statement of Licensing Policy for 2025-2030, as set out in Appendix A of the Statement of Licensing Policy - Full Council Report. The Licensing Act 2003 requires the council to review, consult on and re-publish its Statement of Licensing Policy every five years. The Statement of Licensing Policy sets out the council's approach to issuing licences for:

• the sale of alcohol
• regulated entertainment
• late-night refreshment

The report pack notes that a public consultation on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy took place between 7 February 2025 and 2 May 2025. The Public Consultation Responses were included in Appendix B.

The draft policy included area policies for Ilford Town, Seven Kings & Goodmayes, Ilford Lane, Cranbrook Road, South Woodford, Gants Hill, Wanstead & Snaresbrook, Barkingside, Woodford Bridge, Woodford, Chadwell Heath and Hainault.

The draft policy also included cumulative impact zones² for Ilford Town, South Woodford and Gants Hill.

Standards (Hearings) Sub-Committee Outcome Report

The council was scheduled to note and approve the decision of the Standards (Hearings) Sub-Committee regarding a complaint against Councillor Kabir Mahmud. The GA Committee -Standards Report Final report pack includes the Investigation report by Wilkin Chapman Rollits, a Schedule of Evidence, Written representations/further material from Councillor Mahmud, and the Decision Notice.

The Sub-Committee was requested to decide whether Councillor Kabir Mahmud had breached the Members' Code of Conduct, and to make recommendations regarding sanctions, if any.

The Sub-Committee concluded that Councillor Kabir Mahmud breached paragraphs 1.1 (Respect), 2.3 (Discrimination) and 5 (Disrepute) of the Council's Members Code of Conduct, and recommended that Councillor Kabir Mahmud be removed from committees for three months, and that the Monitoring Officer arrange appropriate training for him.

Questions from Members of the Public

Members of the public were scheduled to ask questions. Abu Taher was scheduled to ask Councillor Namreen Chaudhry, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Communities, how the council is working to make swimming facilities and programs more inclusive for all. Andy Walker was scheduled to ask Councillor Kam Rai, Leader of the Council, how the projected budget overspend of £42.033m compares with other London Boroughs.

Questions from Councillors

Councillors were scheduled to ask questions of the Cabinet. Here is a list of the questions that were scheduled to be asked:

• Councillor Lebo Phakoe to Councillor Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, about steps to improve air quality across Redbridge.
• Councillor Sunny Brar to Councillor Vanisha Solanki, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, about her visit to Oakfield Lodge.
• Councillor Syed Islam to Councillor Saima Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, for an update on work to tackle rogue landlords and improve housing standards.
• Councillor Guy Williams to Councillor Kam Rai, Leader of the Council, about changes to bus lane operating times on Woodford Avenue.
• Councillor Judith Garfield to Councillor Kam Rai, Leader of the Council, about the new Discover Redbridge book.
• Councillor Syeda Choudhury to Councillor Namreen Chaudhry, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Communities, about the renewal of Green Flag status for parks in Redbridge.
• Councillor Bert Jones to Councillor Vanisha Solanki, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, about her visit to Loxford Lane and progress at the Loxford Lane development.
• Councillor Saira Jamil to Councillor Kam Rai, Leader of the Council, about this summer's Megamix programme.
• Councillor Emma Shepherd-Mallinson to Councillor Lloyd Duddridge, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, to congratulate Redbridge students on their GCSE, A-Level, and SATs results.
• Councillor Zulfiqar Hussain to Councillor Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, about the current road resurfacing programme.
• Councillor Prabjit Gurm to Councillor Saima Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, about the £16.6m CHAPS³ funding.

Business Motions

The council was scheduled to consider the following business motions:

Supporting Equal Access for Council Services for our Roma Community

Councillor Alex Holmes, seconded by Councillor Vanisha Solanki, was scheduled to propose a motion to support equal access to council services for the Roma community. The motion notes inequalities faced by Roma people in England, and the launch of the Mishto Campaign⁴ by the Roma Rights Forum. The motion resolves to assess the merits of signing the Mishto Pledge and committing to becoming a Mishto Local Authority , and to publicly support and participate in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, International Roma Day, and Roma Genocide Remembrance Day.

Restore Nature

Councillor Jo Blackman, seconded by Councillor Helen Mullis, was scheduled to propose a motion on restoring nature. The motion notes the decline in UK wildlife, and that Redbridge has exceeded its pledge to create 160,000sqm of wild space. The motion resolves to continue expanding and improving wild space, deliver the Ilford Arrival scheme⁵ in partnership with the River Roding Trust, promote and grow the Restore Nature Pledge, and work towards the targets in the Green Urban Landscape Policy.

Regeneration

Councillor Kam Rai, seconded by Councillor Namreen Chaudhry, was scheduled to propose a motion on regeneration. The motion notes the award of £16.6m from the Council Homes Acquisition Programme (CHAP), the Ilford Arrival programme, the Ilford Western Gateway project, and previous phases of investment in Ilford's public realm. The motion resolves to commission and adopt a comprehensive Ilford Town Centre Masterplan, commit to delivering this masterplan through transparent project governance and public reporting, lead an inclusive engagement programme with residents, traders, cultural groups, faith organisations, and transport bodies, and work with public and private partners to leverage investment to secure further funding for Ilford's regeneration.

Changes to Appointments to Committees

The council was scheduled to agree the appointment of Councillor Jyotsna Islam to the Standards (Hearing) Sub-Committee. The report pack notes that this change is to fill a vacancy that has arisen as a direct consequence of changes to the Constitution as approved by Council on 26 June 2025.