The Council of Redbridge met on Thursday, 26 March 2026, with a packed agenda covering a range of important council business. Key discussions were scheduled on the Council's Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27, a comprehensive review and redrafting of the Council's Constitution, and the implementation of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for Councillors and Co-opted Members. The meeting also included consideration of business motions on local NHS services and the borough's UNICEF Child Friendly status, alongside opportunities for public and member questions.

Pay Policy Statement 2026/27

The Council was scheduled to consider its Pay Policy Statement for the upcoming financial year. This statement, required by law under the Localism Act 2011, outlines the Council's approach to the remuneration of its chief officers and lowest-paid employees, as well as the relationship between their pay. The report detailed the Council's policies on the level and elements of remuneration for chief officers, their pay on recruitment, increases, performance-related pay, bonuses, termination payments, and transparency. It also covered the Council's policy on the remuneration of its lowest-paid employees, including the definition and reasons for adopting that definition.

Review and Re-drafting of the Council's Constitution Phase 2

A significant portion of the agenda was dedicated to the review and re-drafting of the Council's Constitution, following an initial phase agreed in June 2025. This second phase, supported by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS), aimed to modernise and improve the accessibility and navigability of the Constitution. Proposed changes included a reorganisation into seven parts, with new sections detailing the roles and rights of the public and Councillors, and updated procedure rules for Council and Cabinet meetings. The report highlighted improvements to the petition scheme, clarity on decision-making thresholds, and the consolidation of material previously spread across different parts of the Constitution.

DBS Checks for Councillors and Co-opted Members

The Council was set to consider the formal adoption of a policy for enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for all elected Members and Co-opted Members. This policy aims to enhance safeguarding measures, particularly given the roles Members and Co-opted Members may have in engaging with vulnerable individuals. The report outlined the rationale for these checks, drawing on recommendations from the Independent Review of the Disclosure and Barring Service and guidance from the Minister for Local Government. It detailed the types of DBS checks, eligibility criteria, and the process for handling any positive disclosures, emphasizing confidentiality and a risk-assessment approach. The policy proposed that checks would commence following the May 2026 local elections, with annual updates thereafter, and that authority would be delegated to the Monitoring Officer to embed this policy into the Council's Constitution and amend the Members' Code of Conduct.

Business Motions

Two business motions were scheduled for consideration. The first, proposed by Councillor Mark Santos and seconded by Councillor Daniel Morgan-Thomas, focused on Local NHS Services. This motion aimed to acknowledge improvements in local NHS performance, including waiting times for treatment and A&E performance at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) and Whipps Cross Hospital. It also sought to reaffirm the Council's commitment to collaborative working with NHS partners and requested the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care commending progress and highlighting the need for investment in Public Health, Social Care, and Primary Care.

The second business motion, to be moved by the Leader, Councillor Kam Rai, and seconded by Councillor Lloyd Duddridge, concerned the UNICEF Child Friendly Borough application. The Council noted its application to become the first borough in England to receive UNICEF Child Friendly recognition, following eight years of work to create a borough that benefits children. The motion aimed to express thanks to children, young people, and officers for their contributions and to reaffirm the commitment to continue delivering for children and young people in Redbridge. An altered version of this motion was also presented, noting that Redbridge had indeed become the first borough to receive UNICEF Child Friendly recognition on 26 March 2026.

Questions from Members and the Public

A significant portion of the agenda was allocated to hearing questions from both members of the public and elected Councillors. These questions covered a broad range of council responsibilities, including:

• Adult Social Care and Health: Questions were scheduled regarding the Council's commitment to supporting Freedom Pass entitlement and the strengthening of support for vulnerable adults and children.
• Enforcement and Community Safety: Residents sought information on the Council's work with partners to ensure Redbridge remains safe and on investment in cleaner streets and neighbourhood safety.
• Finance: A question was posed to the Leader regarding how the additional £61.5 million in government funding over three years would directly benefit residents in 2026/27.
• Environment and Sustainability: Topics included the necessity of recent maintenance works on park lakes and watercourses, and updates on efforts to improve pedestrian safety on Ilford Lane and the Council's gritting plan.
• Children, Young People and Education: A question focused on the safeguarding of children and the provision of age-appropriate Relationships and Sex Education.
• Housing and Homelessness: The Council's role in preventing homelessness was a subject of inquiry.
• Leader of the Council: Questions were raised about expanding or improving green spaces, particularly in Ilford regeneration areas, and the impact of the Council's work supporting people into employment through 'Work Redbridge'.
• Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance: Inquiries were scheduled regarding the use of the crisis and resilience fund to support families facing cost-of-living pressures.
• Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety: A question sought details on the Council's work with young people tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
• Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability: Questions were raised about the maintenance of park lakes and watercourses, and pedestrian safety on Ilford Lane.
• Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education: A question concerned the safeguarding of children and the provision of Relationships and Sex Education.
• Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness: The Council's role in preventing homelessness was to be discussed.
• Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability: Questions were scheduled regarding green spaces in Hainault and pedestrian safety on Ilford Lane.
• Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance: Inquiries were planned regarding support for families facing cost-of-living pressures and the use of the crisis and resilience fund.
• Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety: A question was scheduled regarding the Council's work with partners to ensure Redbridge remains safe and investment in cleaner streets and neighbourhood safety.

Other Business

The agenda also included items for apologies for absence, declarations of interest, correspondence, approval of minutes from previous meetings, Mayor's announcements, receipt of petitions and deputations, and statements by the Leader or Cabinet members. A motion to exclude the public was also listed for consideration if exempt information was to be discussed.