Redbridge Council launches equality commission

The residents of Redbridge are being encouraged to share their views on how to make council services fairer as part of a commission into tackling poverty and inequality, with a particular focus on the impact of austerity measures.

Redbridge Council will hold the first meeting of the Redbridge Fairness Commission on February 24th at the Kenneth Moore Theatre. It is called “Healthy Lives”, and will focus on wellbeing and health issues around the area.

The Commission is made up of councillors and representatives from a variety of organisations. These include Redbridge Chamber of Commerce, Redbridge Faith Forum and Redbridge Citizens Advice Bureau and an academic advisor.

The public are encouraged to attend the series of meetings, which will run between February and September this year. Future topics will cover council services, community safety and environment, housing, young people, working and learning and getting older.

Councillor Mark Santos has been appointed as co-chair of the Commission. He said: “We’re really pleased to be a part of the Fairness Commission and pleased that the Council has commissioned us to take on this important work. It’s really important that local services and organisations are doing everything they can to tackle poverty and inequality across the Borough, particularly at a time of drastic public sector cuts.”

His fellow co-chair is Julia Slay from the New Economic Foundation, who added: “This is an opportunity for public participation and dialogue in a process that can shape how Redbridge’s resources and services tackle poverty and inequality.”

To help the whole community get involved in the discussion, residents are able to submit evidence to be considered by the Commission either online, or at a range of engagement events which will be held throughout the period when the Commission is active.
Evidence submitted will be used to inform the Commission’s discussions, and consequently the recommendations and final report that it will produce. These are set to be delivered to the council by November 2015.

Published 12th February, 2015

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