The Council of Redbridge met on Thursday, 22 January 2026, to discuss a range of reports and motions. Key topics included the mid-year review of treasury management, the local council tax reduction scheme for 2026/27, and the Governance and Assurance Committee's annual report. The meeting also featured several business motions addressing small businesses, violence against women and girls, and the protection of natural assets.

Treasury Management Mid-Year Review

The Council was scheduled to consider the 2025/26 Treasury Management Mid-Year Review¹. This report provides an overview of the Council's borrowing and investment activities, confirming that all actions have been conducted in accordance with the approved Treasury Management Strategy and within agreed Prudential Limits. The report notes that risks to the Council's investments are managed and balanced against yield. The recommendation was to note the mid-year borrowing and investment position and confirm that all treasury activities have been conducted in accordance with the approved strategy.

Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026/27

A report on the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2026/27 was scheduled for consideration. Councils are required to review their schemes annually. The report indicated a commitment to providing financial support to residents in need as part of wider tackling poverty initiatives, including a £1 million hardship scheme. However, it also highlighted the need for the scheme to remain affordable and sustainable within the Council's overall budget due to reduced government funding and increased service demands. The recommendations included retaining the 2025/26 scheme for 2026/27, applying a 3.8% increase to non-dependant deductions based on the Consumer Price Index, and continuing the £1 million Discretionary Hardship Fund.

Governance and Assurance Committee Self-Assessment and Annual Report 2024/25

The Council was to receive the Governance and Assurance Committee's Self-Assessment and Annual Report for 2024/25. This report outlines the committee's self-assessment against good practice guidelines from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), detailing its activities, performance, and an action plan for the upcoming year. The report aims to demonstrate how the committee has fulfilled its delegated roles and responsibilities.

Business Motions

Several business motions were scheduled for consideration:

Small Businesses in Redbridge

A motion, to be moved by Councillor Lloyd Duddridge and seconded by Councillor Matthew Goddin, focused on supporting small businesses in Redbridge. The motion highlighted the importance of small businesses to the local economy and expressed concern about potential nationalisation policies that could impact them. It called for the Council to do all it can to support small businesses, protect their ability to operate freely, write a cross-party letter to the Chamber of Commerce, and agree that nationalisation would negatively impact Redbridge.

Violence Against Women and Girls

A motion, to be moved by Councillor Jo Blackman and seconded by Councillor Saima Ahmed, addressed the Council's commitment to tackling violence against women and girls. It outlined the Council's existing work, including support services for survivors, the 'This Has to Stop' campaign, and initiatives like improved street lighting and a Public Space Protection Order against catcalling. The motion welcomed the government's strategy to halve violence against women and girls and noted its key priorities.

Protect and Restore Our Natural Assets

A motion, to be moved by Councillor Kam Rai, Leader of the Council, and seconded by Councillor Alex Holmes, focused on protecting and restoring the borough's natural assets. It acknowledged the health and wellbeing benefits of nature and highlighted the Council's past ecological commitments, such as tree planting and park improvements. The motion proposed declaring a nature emergency, developing a dedicated plan, integrating ecological impact considerations into planning policies, and encouraging biodiversity net gain. An amendment to this motion, proposed by Councillor Paul Canal and seconded by Councillor Joel Herga, suggested exploring the employment of an ecologist to support nature protection and recovery.

Questions from Members of the Public and Members

The agenda also included time for questions from members of the public and from Council members. These covered a range of topics including the state of emergency care, the cumulative impact of residential developments, the process for installing on-street EV charging points, commitments secured on new developments, senior leadership stability, community events like Parkrun, children's safety during school travel, the funding settlement for Redbridge, refurbishment of buildings affected by RAAC², park lake dredging, police operations, foster carer awards, the progress of new council homes, the Council's gritting plan, rapid response teams, a visit from the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, lobbying for extra funding, and efforts to improve school performance.