Leader's message - Friday 20 June 2025

Sunday was Father’s Day, a moment to celebrate the dads, father figures, and those who stepped up to take on that role. Like many of you, I spent the day with family. It was also a reminder of why we work so hard to build a borough that supports and values every generation, especially our children, and where everyone can feel safe, included, and at home.

This week, we welcomed the Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement to Redbridge. He met members of our Faith Forum and community organisations supported by the Community Cohesion Resilience Fund. These groups are the backbone of our borough, strengthening local ties, addressing division, and helping people take pride in where they live. We had honest and constructive conversations about how government can better support this work, and I’m grateful for the Minister’s time and engagement.

This week, we acted swiftly to close the Hainault skate park when it was deemed unsafe. We’ve known for some time that this site is nearing the end of its life, and we’ve already begun plans to replace it with a brand-new, modern facility. We’ll be working with local skaters and young people to design a space that reflects their needs. My thanks to everyone for their understanding whilst we build back this skatepark even better.

Nationally, we have today seen the release of the government consultation on the future of local government funding. As ever, we will engage with these proposals in full. I’ve made clear in recent correspondence with ministers that Redbridge cannot afford another year of underinvestment. We will present the strongest case possible for fairer funding, leveraging the strength of our services, our growing population, and the strategic role we play across London.

Looking ahead, next week’s Full Council will be an important opportunity to reflect on progress and set direction for the coming months. I’m looking forward to working with colleagues across the chamber to do exactly that.

Finally, I encourage residents to participate in the 2025 Redbridge Photography Awards, now open for submissions. This is a brilliant way to showcase the beauty, creativity and community spirit of our borough. Last year’s entries were so good that some of them made it onto my office wall! Whether you’re an amateur or a professional, I can’t wait to see your entries.

My thoughts remain with all those affected by the Ahmedabad plane crash this week. I know that families in Redbridge have been deeply impacted, so I want to reiterate our support and remind residents to get in touch with their local ward councillors if they need our help.