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Bad faith by Redbridge Labour meant the residents' voices were not heard

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 Last night, residents were blocked from speaking out against Labour cuts which will make the poor even poorer. Cllrs Canal & Johnson tried to let us speak but Labour stopped them. We had a brief chant of "shame on you" and then left the public gallery. The video below shows what happened.  An earlier blog showed our deputation was passed, but then blocked when Syed Siddiqi of the Greens. Our campaign needs to be better organised next year when more cuts are planned.  Outside the Town Hall

Deputation banned after Syed Siddiqi joins us

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 The email of 21st February  below shows an email from a Council Officer saying our deputation against the cuts is in order and asks us for details.  On Monday 24th February at 20:02pm I wrote to the Town Hall to seek permission for Syed to join us. Then on Tuesday 25th February at 10;29am the deputation was banned on spurious grounds per the email below. No mention is made of the deputation  being agreed on the 21st February I have appealed to Cllr Rai to let the deputation stand with no reply as yet. If the ban stands then I and others will speculate to as why. My view if that Syed had been in the chamber he may have repeated various allegations he has made about Jas Athwal. Jas has never denied these allegations, but if Syed were to say them on the public record in a recorded council meeting just before a by-election due to Jas standing down in Mayfield ward it would be embarrassing. This is example of some of the allegations below. Of course, Kam Rai could end th...

Report from protest outside Wes Streeting's office on 22nd February: Next protest is on 27th February 6:30pm outside Redbridge Town Hall

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 Thank you to everyone attending today This is the letter delivered. Us outside Wes's office: YouTube video at The next protest will be 6;30pm outside Redbridge Town Hall: this is when the budget will be decided  

Update on our proposed deputation for 27th February

I am having difficulty getting permission for our proposed deputation for the 27th February. This email was sent earlier today to Cllr Rai, the Leader of Redbridge Council and a senior officer.      Dear Both   It seems unnecessary to me, but I have listed all the  cuts, in the wording below: -   “This deputation notes that Redbridge Council has the option to prevent all or some of the the cuts listed below taken from Appendix N of the February Cabinet Budget papers:                                            £M External CCTV Income (0.020) Environmental Services Review (0.100)  Full year impact of 2024/25 Parking Mitigations (1.000) Street Lighting Energy Costs (0.700) Enforcement Review (0.250) Supporting vulnerable families (4.347) Use of Digital/Assistive Technology (0.232)  Review of Adult Social Care Placement Mix (0.900)  Conti...

Flyer for 22nd February protest at 1:45pm outside Wes Streeting's office

SAY NO TO THE CUTS! REDBRIDGE LABOUR PLANS TO CUT COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT FOR THE POOR ALONG WITH OTHER CUTS, INCLUDING CUTS TO CHARITIES WORKING FOR THE POOREST & MOST MARGINALISED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ASSEMBLE 1:45PM SATURDAY 22nd FEBRUARY 2025 OUTSIDE WES STREETING'S OFFICE   12a, High View Parade, Woodford Ave, Ilford IG4 5EP SPEAKERS AT 2PM BOB ARCHER – REDBRIDGE TRADES UNION COUNCIL NOOR BEGUM – ILFORD & REDBRIDGE INDEPENDENTS WE HOPE TO HAVE SPEAKERS WHO WILL SUFFER FROM THE CUTS PHOTO AT 2:10pm It is a 30 minute event because some of the frail elderly people who are being targeted by the cuts will be attending. We have chosen Wes's office because research indicates these cuts will cause these pensioners to go to A&E more frequently than if they were supported. The campaign against the cuts has supporters from local Trade Unions, Greens, Liberal Democrats,   Redbridge Gujarati Welfare Association, Redbridge and Ilford Independents & TUSC. More ...

8th February Protest and Next Protest on 22nd February outside Wes Streeting's Office at 2pm

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 Thank you to everyone attending yesterday. The video is at  This is  Jagdish Thacker, the Chairman of the Redbridge Gujarati Welfare Association (RGWA) speech Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for being here today. My name is Jagdish Thacker, and I am the Chairman of the Redbridge Gujarati Welfare Association (RGWA), a charity that has been serving the elderly and disabled community 3 days a week for over 30 years. RGWA is very efficiently run with our dedicated committee members and volunteers. Our organisation provides vital social interaction, cultural activities, and essential services, including health checks, benefits advice, yoga, swimming, and exercise in form of tradition folk dancing. We offer our members a place to come together, stay active, and avoid the loneliness and isolation that can lead to serious health problems. However, today we stand here because Redbridge Council has decided to withdraw the grant that helps fund our premises. From 1 st Feb...

Seeking Cllr Rai's permission for protest at Ilford Lane Engagement hub on Saturday 8th February

I sent this email to Councillor Rai on the 3rd February, I have had no reply as yet.   Dear Cllr Rai and Councillors Last year a group of residents who were campaigning against proposed cuts to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme were blocked from speaking at the 2024 budget council. I thank Cllr Paul Canal who spoke up for us being allowed to speak at the 2024 budget meeting.   This year, a cross party group, along with residents with no party affiliations, are campaigning against not just the cuts to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, but also to the cuts in general.   Recently you spoke in favour of civic engagement, and turned your words into deeds by allowing me to ask a question on child abuse, so overriding the chair's decision who tried to block my question. Our exchange is on my twitter account at 6 th January 2025. I ask you again to help me with civic engagement:   1) By allowing a protest against the cuts to take place outside the Council community engagemen...