The Cabinet met on Thursday, 23 April 2026, to discuss a range of important council matters. Key decisions included the approval of the Annual Procurement Plan for 2026/27, the adoption of a new Climate Change Strategy, and the review of the Redbridge Corporate Performance Report for Quarter 3 of 2025/26. The draft Calendar of Meetings for 2026/27 was also presented for recommendation to Full Council.

Annual Procurement Plan 2026/27

The Cabinet approved the Annual Procurement Plan (APP) for 2026/27, which outlines planned procurements for contracts exceeding specific financial thresholds. This plan is a requirement of the Council's Contract Standing Orders and aims to enhance transparency for potential suppliers, including local businesses and voluntary organisations, aligning with goals such as those of the Redbridge Fairness Commission and Disability Charter. Councillor Helen Coomb, Cabinet Member for Resources and Transformation, presented the report, highlighting that the publication of the APP supports initiatives to encourage local engagement and sustainability criteria in future tenders. The plan includes a wide range of procurements across various directorates, from IT systems and infrastructure to essential services like housing repairs and highways maintenance.

Redbridge Corporate Performance Report Quarter 3 2025/26

Councillor Kam Rai, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Growth and Regeneration, presented the Redbridge Corporate Performance Report for Quarter 3 of 2025/26. The report details progress made towards the Council's key priorities as outlined in the Redbridge Plan 2022-2026, covering achievements between October and December 2025. The report indicated that 65% of the 121 corporate scorecard measures met their set targets this quarter, an increase from the previous quarter. Notable achievements included the delivery of over 700 new council homes, exceeding the target of 500, and 98% of reported fly-tips being cleared within one business day. However, the report also highlighted areas of concern, with a forecast overspend of £31.210m for the General Fund in 2025/26, largely driven by costs in Homelessness and Social Care. Specific Red measures requiring attention included the number of households in temporary accommodation (2,861), Freedom of Information requests answered on time (68%), and the proportion of child and family assessments completed within 45 days (85.6%).

Draft Calendar of Meetings 2026/27

Councillor Kam Rai also presented the draft Calendar of Meetings for the 2026/27 municipal year. The calendar, which has been consulted upon with Group Leaders and senior officers, aims to space meetings as evenly as possible while taking into account key scheduling requirements, important events, and festivals. The report detailed considerations such as the timing of Ordinary Council meetings, Budget Council, Cabinet meetings, and the scheduling of committee meetings to avoid clashes. It also noted that Planning Committees would be scheduled as 'Provisional' due to potential legislative changes impacting application numbers. The Cabinet recommended this draft calendar to Full Council for agreement at its Annual Meeting in May 2026.

A New Climate Change Strategy for Redbridge

Councillor Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, introduced the new Climate Change Strategy for Redbridge (2026-30). This strategy outlines 138 actions across five strategic themes aimed at reducing emissions, enhancing resilience, and fostering a more sustainable borough. A key ambition within the strategy is for the Council to become a net-zero organisation by 2040. The Cabinet approved this strategy as the Council's guiding framework for decarbonisation and sustainability efforts until the end of the decade.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) Policy

Councillor Khayer M.R Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, presented the report on the Council's use and conduct of covert surveillance powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA). The Cabinet resolved to formally adopt the appended policy and procedures manual on RIPA and delegated authority to the Chief Executive to make necessary amendments to the policy regarding authorised officers.

Waiver and Contract Monitoring 2025/26 Quarter 3

Councillor Helen Coomb, Cabinet Member for Resources and Transformation, reported on contract waivers approved during the period of 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025. The Council's Contract Standing Orders require the Procurement Department to report all contract waivers to Cabinet quarterly to ensure oversight of procurement activities. The Cabinet noted the approved contract waivers and awarded contracts for the reporting period.

Housing Needs Restructure Business Case

Councillor Saima Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, presented the business case for the modernisation of the Housing Needs service. The proposed restructure aims to improve operational efficiency, customer experience, workforce development, and financial sustainability, driven by recommendations from an external review. The plan includes clearer role definitions, specialist functions, and enhanced management capacity to streamline service delivery and reduce reliance on costly temporary accommodation. The Cabinet approved the business case to commence formal consultation, implementation, and recruitment for the new structure, delegating authority to the Executive Director for Place, Communities and Enterprise to finalise the service structure following consultation.

Other Matters

The Cabinet also reviewed the Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on 26 February 2026 and 12 March 2026, and noted the comments sheet from Committees. The Forward Plan for February to April 2026 was agreed. The Cabinet also noted the Q3 forecast overspend of £31.210m for the 2025/26 General Fund Revenue Budget, with a significant portion attributed to homelessness and social care costs. The review of Housing Revenue Account Finances and the HRA Budget for 2026/27 to 2030/31 was also presented, including proposed rent increases and approval of the HRA Capital Programme. The Cabinet also approved the continued use of the London Boroughs' Legal Alliance (LBLA) Solicitors Framework Agreement and noted the participation in the Barristers Framework Agreement. Finally, the report on the Customer Experience Strategy and its delivery programme was approved, alongside the associated investment over three years. The Grant Funding Agreement with the Greater London Authority for the Connect to Work programme was also approved.