The Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, 22 January 2026, was set to cover a range of important topics, including the mid-year review of treasury management, the local council tax reduction scheme for the upcoming year, and the annual report of the Governance and Assurance Committee. Additionally, members were scheduled to debate three business motions concerning small businesses, violence against women and girls, and the protection of natural assets.

Treasury Management Mid-Year Review

The meeting was scheduled to receive a mid-year review of the Council's treasury management activities for 2025/26. This report, detailed in the Treasury Management Mid-Year Review - Report, was to confirm that all borrowing and investment activities had been conducted in accordance with the approved Treasury Management Strategy and within the agreed Prudential Limits. The report indicated that risks to the Council's investments were being managed and balanced against yield. The recommendation was for the Council to note the mid-year borrowing and investment position, and that treasury activities remained unchanged for the remainder of the financial year.

Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026/27

A report was scheduled to be considered regarding the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2026/27. Councils are required to review these schemes annually. The report, Council Tax Reduction Scheme - Report, highlighted the Council's commitment to supporting residents in need as part of its wider tackling poverty initiatives, including a £1 million hardship scheme. However, it also noted that due to reduced government funding and increased service demands, the scheme needed to be reviewed for affordability and sustainability. The recommendations included retaining the 2025/26 scheme for 2026/27, applying a 3.8% increase to non-dependant deductions based on the Consumer Price Index, and continuing the £1 million Discretionary Hardship Fund.

Governance and Assurance Committee Self-Assessment and Annual Report 2024/25

The meeting was also scheduled to consider the Governance and Assurance Committee's Self-Assessment and Annual Report for 2024/25, along with its Action Plan for 2025/26. This report, Governance and Assurance Committee Annual Report 2024-25 - Report, was intended to set out the extent to which the committee had followed good practice as outlined by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The report included a self-assessment of the committee's size, structure, composition, reporting line, and the comprehensiveness of its terms of reference. The recommendations were for Full Council to review the report and determine if the committee had fulfilled its delegated roles and responsibilities.

Business Motions

Three business motions were scheduled for consideration:

• Small Businesses in Redbridge: Moved by Councillor Lloyd Duddridge and seconded by Councillor Matthew Goddin, this motion aimed to reaffirm the Council's commitment to supporting small businesses in Redbridge, advocating for a climate where they can flourish. It proposed protecting businesses' autonomy, writing a cross-party letter to the Chamber of Commerce expressing support, and agreeing that nationalising the economy would negatively impact Redbridge.

• Violence Against Women and Girls: Moved by Councillor Jo Blackman and seconded by Councillor Saima Ahmed, this motion acknowledged Redbridge Council's commitment to tackling violence against women and girls. It highlighted the Council's existing work, including the Reach Out service, the Families First for Children Pathfinder programme, staff training, and the 'This Has to Stop' campaign, which had involved street lighting improvements, school education, and a Public Space Protection Order against catcalling. The motion welcomed the government's strategy to halve violence against women and girls.

• Protect and Restore Our Natural Assets: Moved by Councillor Kam Rai, Leader of the Council, and seconded by Councillor Alex Holmes, this motion recognised the importance of a healthy natural environment for residents' wellbeing. It noted the Council's past commitments, such as planting trees and improving water quality in park lakes. In light of climate breakdown and biodiversity loss, the motion proposed declaring a nature emergency, developing a dedicated plan, incorporating ecological impact considerations into council decisions, and making nature recovery a strategic consideration in planning policies and design guidelines for new developments. An amendment to this motion, proposed by Councillor Paul Canal and seconded by Councillor Joel Herga, suggested exploring the employment of an ecologist to support nature protection and recovery.

Questions from Members of the Public and Members

The agenda also included opportunities for members of the public and councillors to ask questions. Public questions covered topics such as the establishment of a working party on emergency care, the assessment of cumulative impacts of residential developments, the process for selecting on-street EV charging point locations, commitments secured on developments, the impact of senior leadership instability, and commendations for Parkrun volunteers. Councillor questions addressed the funding settlement for Redbridge, refurbishment works due to RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete), dredging in park lakes, attendance at police operations, foster carer awards, progress on new council homes, the Council's gritting plan, the rapid response team, a visit from the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, lobbying for extra funding, and efforts to improve school performance.