Leader's message - Friday 12 September 2025
Published: 12 September 2025
Last weekend, it was a pleasure to join the Singh Sabha London East Gurdwara Nagar Kirtan walk from Barking to Goodmayes. Thousands of local people took part in this vibrant celebration, filled with prayer, community spirit, and the sharing of food (langar) with everyone. Thank you to the council teams that supported and to our contractors, Kenson Highways, for managing the rolling road closure.
On Monday, Redbridge hosted its second annual Photography Awards. We received over 600 entries across five categories, and I was honoured to be on the judging panel. Choosing the winners was no easy task! You can find out who won in the next issue of Redbridge Life, which should be arriving on doormats this week. If you don’t receive your copy, please let us know.
On Wednesday, the council launched its improved website to make it easier for residents to access information and services. Built on the GOV.UK platform, it offers a familiar, user-friendly, and - most importantly - accessible experience. We’ve also introduced a trial AI assistant to help answer tricky questions at the click of a button. Give it a try, and share your feedback via the link at the top of the page.
This week, I also visited the London Borough of Merton to take part in a short peer review of their communications. It was insightful to observe how other councils utilise social media and traditional media to engage with residents. I’ll be feeding back to council officers in Redbridge what I’ve learned to strengthen our own communications with our neighbours.
Looking ahead, plenty is happening this weekend. Tomorrow, Redbridge Council, in partnership with leading design teams and community organisations, is proud to present the Ilford Design Festival - a free, community-focused celebration of creativity and the future of Ilford’s public spaces.
The event takes place at Highlands Primary School and will spotlight the Ilford Arrival Project. There are two drop-in sessions: the morning focuses on activities for children, young people, and families, while the afternoon invites the wider community to explore design concepts for new public spaces and share ideas. Booking via Eventbrite is encouraged to avoid waiting times.
Sunday brings the much-loved Wanstead Festival on Christchurch Green from 11am to 6 pm, alongside the Mayor’s Civic Service at St Mary’s Church, Woodford, starting at 10am. And throughout the weekend, the Mayor of London’s Community Weekend will see grassroots organisations delivering events across the borough, thanks to nearly £400,000 of National Lottery funding. You can find events happening in Redbridge here.
We’re also starting an important conversation about Redbridge’s future. Our borough is full of potential, but we face real challenges: homelessness, rising demand for services, and limited funding. We need your views on how we prioritise resources and where we can make the most significant impact. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and help shape Redbridge’s future by completing our budget survey online.
Finally, we always need your help to keep Redbridge safe, clean, and at its best. If you spot fly-tipping, graffiti, or other environmental issues, report them via the Love Clean Streets app or on the council website. Quick reporting enables us to act more quickly and maintain the high standards we all strive for. Thank you to everyone already using these tools: the more people involved, the stronger and more vibrant our borough will be.
As always, thank you, and I look forward to sharing more with you next week.
Cllr Kam Rai
Leader of Redbridge Council
