The External Scrutiny Committee reviewed the Vision Annual Report, receiving updates on the organisation's activities and financial performance, and also heard an update from the Metropolitan Police on local crime trends. The committee also discussed the External Scrutiny Work Plan for the upcoming year.

Vision Annual Report

The committee received a comprehensive annual report from Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure, detailing its activities and financial performance for the year 2024-25. Key highlights included significant external funding attracted into the borough, growth in theatre audience numbers, and successful library usage despite national trends. The report also addressed challenges such as the closure of facilities due to RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) and the impact of increased National Insurance contributions.

Councillor Mushtaq Ahmed raised concerns about leisure centre capacity, noting 963,000 leisure visits and questioning occupancy rates and competitiveness. He also enquired about noise monitoring and licensing for fairs at Valentine's Park and the measures in place to address anti-social behaviour in parks, citing incidents of vandalism and fires.

In response, it was explained that while specific capacity percentages are difficult to ascertain, leisure centres are very busy during peak times. The financial position of the council necessitates the volume of events at Melbourne Fields to generate income, and regulations regarding noise are in place, with operators sometimes asked to reduce sound levels. The council funds a proactive service called Park Guard to address anti-social behaviour in parks, which works with Parks managers and attends tasking meetings with the police.

Councillor Gurdial Bhamra inquired about park cleansing policies, particularly regarding litter and dog fouling, citing an instance of 20 bags of litter being collected from Ray Lodge Park. He also asked about potential cost savings from the use of AI and its impact on lifeguard numbers, and the outcomes of the 17,000 volunteer hours logged.

It was confirmed that a team is dedicated to park cleansing, especially during summer, but acknowledged it is a difficult task with over 42 parks. Education was highlighted as crucial alongside maintenance efforts. Regarding AI, it was stated that its primary aim is to enhance, not substantially reduce, lifeguard numbers, though it may lead to modest savings in back-office processes. The volunteering programme was praised for providing skills and routes into employment.

Councillor Nareen Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture, and Communities, highlighted the success of the Royal Albert Hall event, Valentine's Mansion's Black History Month, and the Redbridge Music Service Christmas concert. She also expressed pleasure at the work commencing at South Woodford Library. She asked about the performance of park guards, the frequency of park equipment repairs, the condition of toilets in parks such as Elmhurst Gardens, and the reasons behind a reversed gender pay gap. She also enquired about insurance claims related to the RAC contract and associated losses.

It was clarified that RAC issues are not claimable on business interruption insurance, as insurers only cover flood and fire. The reversed gender pay gap was attributed to a temporary anomaly, with more women now in senior roles, and it is expected to swing back in favour of women. A capital programme is in place for park toilet refurbishments, though vandalism is an ongoing issue. Play equipment is inspected daily, with repairs undertaken where possible, and a capital programme exists for replacements. The report on park guard performance would be provided separately.

The Vision Annual Report also detailed significant achievements in arts, culture, and libraries, including the refurbishment of Fullwell Cross Library and the success of the Redbridge Outdoor Arts programme. The Death Positive Library Service was highlighted as a national initiative originating in Redbridge. The report noted a 3% increase in library visits and an nearly 8% increase in leisure centre visits.

The report also detailed the success of the Redbridge Choral Festival at the Royal Albert Hall, involving over 2,000 young people. The Serenity Ilford women's-only gym was opened, and plans for upgrades to leisure facilities, including the reopening of South Woodford Library and Gym, were mentioned. A new leisure and library management system is being implemented.

Councillor Daniel Morgan-Thomas declared an interest as a member of a community centre management committee and asked if Vision's role as managing agent for three community centres was covered by the management fee. He also enquired about the performance of the Schools' Library Service, particularly regarding engagement with schools within the borough, and sought clarification on the £1.4 million of external investment mentioned in the report.

It was explained that Vision supports three community centres – Parkside Community Centre, Hainault Forest Community Centre, and Wanstead House – with basic maintenance and compliance, funded through a general grant. The Schools' Library Service operates on a subscription basis, serving schools both in and out of borough, and there is an opportunity to engage more schools within Redbridge. The £1.4 million in external grants is directly awarded to Vision, with a total of £8 million awarded since 2020/21.

Update from the Met Police

Chief Inspector Dave Pugh provided an update on local crime trends. Anti-social behaviour was down by 7.6%, with reductions attributed to town centre patrols, CCTV taskings, and joint operations. Robbery was down by 17.8%, and theft from persons by 26%. Residential burglary had decreased by 20%, although jewellery theft, particularly within the Asian community, was noted as an increasing concern. Motor vehicle crime had seen a significant increase, largely due to the theft of electric vehicles for their batteries. Violence with injury was down by 6.2%, but weapon-enabled crime was up. Violence against women and girls remains a key strategy.

Councillor Bhamra requested a breakdown of motor vehicle crime classifications. It was confirmed that this data is available on the Met Police website and could be provided. He also questioned the effectiveness of action taken on reported motor vehicle crime, noting that many cases are screened out due to limited CCTV evidence. The recovery rate for stolen vehicles in January was 54%, although offender outcomes were only 3%.

Discussions also covered shoplifting, which is a national challenge. The Met Police are using facial recognition technology and a new system called Aurora to track organised crime groups. It was acknowledged that shoplifting figures are expected to rise as more unreported incidents are captured by Aurora, but this should lead to increased detection rates. The importance of businesses reporting shoplifting was stressed to build an intelligence picture.

Councillor Joe Hare asked about the take-up of the MetEngage platform, with an average of 200 sign-ups per month. Efforts to promote MetEngage include street-a-week initiatives and links in council publications. The police are also working to tackle youth crime through various projects and school presentations, though resourcing and funding remain limitations.

External Scrutiny Work Plan

The committee reviewed the External Scrutiny Work Plan for 2025-2026. It was noted that the police annual report and Crime Commission Partnership would be presented in April, with the potential to add a report on Transport for London (TfL) for future sessions. The committee agreed to minute that the work plan might require further consideration.

The meeting concluded with the Chair thanking everyone for their attendance.