The External Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, to discuss mitigating actions on flood risk, a water update from the Metropolitan Police, and the committee's work plan. The meeting will also include regular updates and public questions.

Mitigating Actions on Flood Risk

The committee is scheduled to discuss actions to mitigate flood risk, hearing from representatives of the Environment Agency (EA) and Thames Water. The discussion will cover:

• The Environment Agency's role in Redbridge.
• Key work undertaken over the past year.
• Main monitoring messages.
• Future steps, including new national rules for storm overflows.

The Environment Agency regulates water quality in the River Roding and Seven Kings Water, and also regulates permitted storm overflows and sewage treatment works. They also assess pollution incidents, review monitoring data and work with Thames Water on performance, and support Redbridge Council on issues such as misconnections¹. The Environment Agency has completed visits to every permitted storm overflow asset in Redbridge, increased engagement with the council, Thames Water and local groups, reviewed a wide range of monitoring data, jointly attended sites where concerns were raised, and coordinated with neighbouring catchments to understand upstream and downstream pressures.

The monitoring is intended to strengthen the understanding of seasonal trends and urban pressures.

From 2026, storm overflow permits will include new legal spill limits, with stricter limits for sensitive locations. These limits will be phased in as upgrades are delivered or to protect good-performing sites.

The committee will also receive an update on the River Roding Project, which aims to reduce the risk of flooding to over 1400 residential properties in Woodford and Ilford. The project includes:

1. A new flood storage area north of the M25 to hold flood water upstream.
2. Improving a flood embankment in Woodford.

The handover of the Broadmead Baptist Church Embankment to Redbridge is scheduled for December 2025.

Water Update from the Metropolitan Police

The committee is scheduled to receive a water update from the Metropolitan Police, focusing on vehicle speed enforcement and monitoring and action taken.

External Scrutiny Work Plan

The committee is scheduled to discuss its work plan for the 2025-2026 municipal year. According to the Public reports pack 10th-Dec-2025 External Scrutiny Committee, future meetings include:

• 5 February 2026: An update from the Metropolitan Police (focus to be confirmed), and the Leisure Services Annual Report from Vision, Redbridge Council's contracted service provider. Ian Varah, CEO of Vision, Councillor Namreen Choudhury, Cabinet Member for a to-be-named Portfolio, Steve Moore, Executive Director for Communities, and Kerry Kyriacou, Head of Leisure Services, are all expected to be in attendance.
• 27 April 2026: An update from the Metropolitan Police focusing on the link to the work of the Crime Commission Partnership, and the Crime Commission Partnership Annual Report. Superintendent Clare McCarthy, Councillor Khayer, Cabinet Member for a to-be-named Portfolio, an unnamed Executive Director for Strategy, John Richards, Head of Community Safety, and Steve Moore, Executive Director for Place, Communities & Enterprise are all expected to be in attendance.

Other Business

The agenda also includes:

• Apologies for absences.
• Declarations of interests.
• Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting on 3 July 2025.
• Public question time.
• A verbal update from the Chair, following attendance at meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
• Date of the next meeting.