Ambitious 'Redbridge Plan' will make borough cleaner, safer, and healthier
Published: 22 July 2022
Tackling poverty and the soaring costs of living whilst building a cleaner, greener, fairer, and healthier borough are key ambitions of a new four-year blueprint to improve Redbridge.
The Redbridge Plan 2022-26, which was agreed at a meeting of Full Council on 21 July, sets the direction of the council for the next four years.
The plan aims to address the borough's unique challenges whilst unleashing its untapped potential following a period of uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also considers the current economic backdrop and pressures on local people caused by the 'cost of living' crisis and sets out ideas for improvements at the council to guarantee it can operate within its budget.
Redbridge Council has an ambition to end child poverty by 2040 and ensure no ward in our borough is classified as 'deprived' by the same date. This plan will begin the journey towards achieving those key objectives.
Cllr Jas Athwal, Leader of Redbridge Council, said: "We have ambitious plans to help reduce the financial strain on local families throughout the 'cost of living' crisis and to improve wellbeing by focusing on the issues that matter most to our neighbours, and enhance the lives of everyone who lives, works or studies in Redbridge.
"We've been knocking on doors and speaking to local people from all four corners of the borough to hear about the issues that matter to them. We've listened to residents' views and incorporated them into the Redbridge Plan.
"Over the next four years, we will be focusing on delivering safer streets, better health, cleaner neighbourhoods, a greener environment, improved access to skills and jobs, more decent and affordable homes, and stronger communities.
"We also know we need to be adaptable and respond to circumstances we cannot control. For example, we know that some of our neighbours will be struggling now with increases in household bills and general economic uncertainty, and we are currently exploring what we can do, working with our partners to provide advice and support."
The Redbridge Plan describes a set of improvements under four themes, namely Safe and Healthy, Jobs and Skills, Homes and Neighbourhoods, and Clean and Green.
Claire Symonds, Chief Executive of Redbridge Council, said: "The Redbridge Plan is an ambitious blueprint to improve our borough and unleash its potential over the next four years and beyond. It sets a clear course whilst also recognising the need for agility in light of external challenges.
“We cannot deliver our ambitions alone, though. We will need to work alongside our partners, businesses, communities, residents, councillors, and colleagues to achieve our shared goals, and we'll need to make more noise so our borough gets noticed by the Government and the Mayor of London so that we get the investment and backing we need to create a better Redbridge."
An integral part of this plan will be establishing a network of 'Community Hubs' across the borough, which will concentrate on, and enhance many services and amenities in one location, bringing them closer to where people live and offering opportunities for communities to collaborate.
The council will deliver hub buildings in Seven Kings, Gants Hill, and Hainault over the next four years. At the meeting of Full Council, other key stakeholders gave speeches welcoming the new Redbridge Plan, including Ilford Bid Manager, Cyril Bekoe and Chief Supt Stuart Bell, the Met Borough Commander for Redbridge.
Read the Redbridge Plan.
