Redbridge Council launches budget consultation events
Published: 21 January 2021
Redbridge Council is inviting all local people to have a say on the 2021/2022 council budget.
All Redbridge residents are welcome to join two virtual engagement sessions on the new budget and share views on the services you love, and brainstorm ways to make savings.
The two virtual engagement sessions will take place on:
- Monday, 25 January - 7pm - 8.30pm
- Thursday, 28 January - 1pm - 2.30pm
Just like the other 343 local authorities across the UK, Redbridge Council has endured a decade of government funding cuts. Across London, there has been an average cut in funding of 63%, and we are still waiting to hear how the government will fund us for the long-term effects of covid and the recession. Nevertheless, Redbridge has continued to tackle the ongoing challenge of protecting and enhancing the services you value.
Despite unprecedented funding cuts to local government Redbridge Council has kept every local library open, been awarded green flag status for nine Redbridge parks, opened two new leisure centres in Loxford and Goodmayes, and received an 'Outstanding' rating for Children's services by Ofsted.
Plans are underway to deliver four brand new Community Hubs - large libraries with additional services including GP surgeries and children's nurseries, a new leisure centre at Wanstead High School, and an ambitious expansion project, doubling the size of Fairlop Waters.
In addition to years of funding cuts, the council has had to fight to be properly compensated by the government for services provided to protect local people during the pandemic. Spending on critical services, including food parcels, supporting the care sector, calling older and vulnerable residents, delivering medicine, and supporting the NHS to deliver COVID-19 testing and vaccinations have all increased the pressures on the council's budget.
In order to keep providing the key services that residents value, the council will need to deliver savings, efficiencies, and reprioritise planned investment to bridge a forecast funding gap of over £25m in 2021/2022.
Cllr Kam Rai, The Deputy Leader of Redbridge Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Leisure and Culture, said: "We're facing some difficult years ahead. We will need to make some tough decisions about delivering high-quality, good value services with less money to spend.
"In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we did everything possible to ensure our most vulnerable residents did not suffer and were kept as safe as possible. As part of this effort, we delivered more than 800 food parcels, supported more than 180 rough sleepers off the streets of Redbridge, and set up a Wellbeing Service, which made more than 19,000 telephone calls to our most vulnerable residents. We stepped up and did the right thing to protect our local communities across Redbridge, and despite the cost, we would do it again in a heartbeat.
"Additional unforeseen spending on top of a decade of government funding cuts has inevitably taken a significant toll, and we are forced to make savings. We want to hear from local people so your views can be taken into account as we finalise the shape of the budget for 2021/2022."
All Redbridge residents are invited to join one of Redbridge Council's online engagement events.
To get involved, please click on the link at the time the event is due to start.