The Overview and Scrutiny Committee's meeting on Monday 15 June 2026 is scheduled to consider a range of important reports. Key discussions are expected to focus on the council's financial outturn for the 2025/26 financial year and the preparation and programme for a new Local Plan. The committee is also expected to review the council's work plan for 2026-27.

Budgetary Control Outturn 2025/26

The meeting agenda includes a review of the council's financial performance for the 2025/26 financial year. The report is expected to detail the outturn against the budget for revenue, capital programmes, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), and the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). It is anticipated to highlight a projected General Fund overspend of £26.811m for 2025/26. This overspend is expected to be attributed to various directorates, with notable pressures in Place, Communities & Enterprise (£21.443m overspend, largely due to temporary accommodation costs) and Adult Social Care (£23.283m overspend, driven by rising care purchasing costs and staffing pressures). The report is also expected to detail the performance of the capital programme, collection rates for Council Tax and Business Rates, and the outstanding debt position. Significant movements in reserves are anticipated, with Earmarked Reserves potentially reduced by £10.714m and the General Fund Balance reduced to £7.854m to help fund the overspend. The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) outturn is expected to show an overspend of £14.624m.

Preparation and Programme for a New Local Plan

The committee is scheduled to consider the preparation and programme for a new Local Plan. The report is expected to outline the importance of an up-to-date Local Plan in shaping the borough's environment, attracting investment, and delivering key council priorities such as tackling climate change, inequality, and delivering new homes. It is expected to highlight new legislation requiring local plans to be completed within 30 months and seek approval to commence the review process. An indicative timetable and budget of approximately £4.651m over four years are expected to be provided. The report is expected to detail the stages of the new plan-making process, including scoping, consultation, evidence base development, examination, and adoption, with a proposed timeline that includes pre-formal preparation before the 30-month statutory period begins in April 2027.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan 2026-27

The committee will review its work plan for the upcoming year, 2026-27. This includes a standing item for pre-decision scrutiny of items from the Forward Plan, with specific reports on the Budgetary Control Outturn 2025/26 and the preparation for the new Local Plan already selected for this meeting. Future meetings are scheduled to consider topics such as Leisure and Culture service delivery options, the Quarterly Corporate Performance Report, Treasury Management Outturn 2025/26, and the expansion of New Rush Hall Special School. The work plan is also expected to include provisions for reviewing annual reports on complaints and scrutiny, as well as any Ombudsman reports where settlements have been made following adverse findings.

The committee members attending are Councillor Alex Charlton-Holmes, Councillor Stephen Adams, Councillor Syeda Lovely Choudhury (Deputy Mayor of Redbridge), Councillor Marwan Elfallah (Leader of the Redbridge Independents Group), Councillor Milli Richards Clack (Leader of the Green Party Group), Councillor Matthew Goddin, Councillor Jyotsna Rahman Islam, Councillor Martin Sachs, and Councillor Vibhu Taneja. Councillor Alex Charlton-Holmes is listed as the Chair.