The people who make Redbridge

summer 2017 www.redbridge.gov.ukAmbitious for Redbridge

Redbridge Life

RedbridgeLive@RedbridgeLive

RedbridgeLife COUNCIL INFORMATION

ONLINE NEWS

All meetings listed are held at Redbridge Town Hall Ilford at 7.15pm unless stated otherwise

HAVE YOUR SAY AT COUNCIL MEETINGS

Redbridge Live by emailRedbridge Live is a free monthly email about local news, events and services. Subscribe at www.redbridge.gov.uk/redbridgelive We will not pass on your email address to other organisations.

Redbridge Live on FacebookVisit www.facebook.com/redbridgelive and ’like’ our page to get all the latest local news and events on your timeline. This is a great way to find out about events and community activities in the Borough.

Redbridge Council on YouTubeKeep up to date with our latest videos by subscribing to our YouTube Channel. www.youtube.com/redbridgei

Looking for something to do this Summer?Check out some of the best events taking place in the Borough on our events calendar. www.redbridge.gov.uk/events

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Sign up for the latest news

Redbridge Live on TwitterFollow us on Twitter @redbridgelive to get our latest news as it happens and updates such as changes to services, news announcements and consultations. www.twitter.com/redbridgelive

You can contact our Customer Contact Centre on 020 8554 5000

Redbridge Council InstagramFollow our Redbridge Council Instagram for the best photos from across our Borough, covering everything from our most impressive buildings to fun family events. www.instagram.com/redbridgecouncil

Council Meetings Thursday 22 June 2017

To ask a question at a Council meeting written notice of the question must be submitted to Fiona Alderman fiona.alderman@redbridge.gov.uk, by midday on the third working day prior to the meeting (ie normally midday on the Monday before a Thursday meeting). For other enquiries relating to Council meetings contact: Tony Prescod, tel: 020 8708 2204 or Antoinette Davis, tel: 020 8708 2352.

Cabinet Meetings Tuesday 13 June 2017 – 6.30pmMonday 17 July 2017Tuesday 5 September 2017 – 6.30pm

If you wish to speak at meetings of the Cabinet, you must inform the Committee Support Officer by 5pm the day before the meeting at which you wish to speak. Contact: Carole Dungate, tel: 020 8708 2209.

Overview Committee Monday 12 June 2017Thursday 13 July 2017Thursday 31 August 2017

Scrutiny Committee MeetingsStrategy & Resources Scrutiny CommitteeMonday 3 July 2017

Health Scrutiny CommitteeThursday 15 June 2017 Wednesday 5 July 2017

Place Scrutiny CommitteeMonday 10 July 2017

People Scrutiny CommitteeWednesday 12 July 2017

For further information on Scrutiny Committees and other meetings please visit our website www.redbridge.gov.uk/publicmeetings

Councillor surgeriesMany Councillors hold regular surgeries in their wards or can be contacted directly to make an appointment so residents can discuss concerns or ask for help. To contact your Councillor or find details about surgeries, go to www.redbridge.gov.uk/councillors or call 020 8554 5000.

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Produced by Redbridge Council

The editor can be contacted on 020 8708 3766 or email: redbridge.life@redbridge.gov.uk

London Borough of Redbridge, PO BOX No.2, Town Hall, 128-142 High Road, Ilford, IG1 1DD.

It is published quarterly. Redbridge Council do not accept responsibility for any goods or services offered by advertisers. Publication of an advert does not imply endorsement of any goods or services offered.

To see advertisement rates visit: www.redbridge.gov.uk/redbridgelife

Distribution problem? Contact 020 8708 2282 or email redbridge.life@redbridge.gov.uk

Next issue out in early September

RedbridgeLive

@RedbridgeLive

Pest control A day in the life of a pest control officer P10 & 11

Major drugs bust Eleven men sentenced after drug operation P12 & 13Build with us Building regulations P14 & 15

Regulars

Features

CONTENTSSummer 2017

News P4, 5, 6, 7, 17, 25 & 27Top Stories: Mayfield Leisure Centre • Properties urgently wanted • £15m Ilford transformation • Ilford Prospectus • New Mayor • Borough Plan • Discovery lab • View from the Cabinet • Property licensing • Fauja Singh 106 year old Marathon runner

Green P9Garden waste collection • Composting • Adopt-A-site

Community P19Funding for community projects

Crime & Safety P16Protecting our residents from scams

Health P21Infant feeding • Let’s get active • Keeping children safe

Local RedbridgeMeeting dates for Local Forums P25

Buildingregulations

P14 & 15

Hubcentral

P23

RedbridgeLife 3

If you are a private landlord looking to protect your investment and want to help out families in need, we have a scheme that can assist.

We can offer: • cash incentives

• rents paid in advance

• minimal void periods

• sustainment of tenants

• advice and support

• direct payments

And it’s all free of charge.

So, if you are a private landlord or letting agency we want to hear from you now.

Properties urgently wantedWe urgently need more properties to help us reduce the length of time and costs of putting families in B&Bs and nightly let accommodation.

Zafran Hussain 020 8708 4474 / 07837 447366 or email zafran.hussain@redbridge.gov.uk

Alade Sanusi 020 8708 4114 / 07507 867129 or email alade.sanusi@redbridge.gov.uk

Sebena John 020 8708 4424 / 07951 269780 or email sebena.john@redbridge.gov.uk

Work to build a brand new public pool and leisure facility at Mayfield School has begun.The exciting project will include a 25 metre, six-lane swimming pool and spectator seating, 40 station gym, foyer/reception area, multi-purpose studio, and a changing village and group changing facility. It will also see a brand new design and technology block built for the school as well as outdoor courts.

The £5.3m project, which includes £750,000 made available through Sport England, is estimated to be complete by Spring 2018 with the new technology building following in December the same year.

Plans for the project were first announced in December 2014 with official planning permission given at the tail end of last year.

Once completed residents will also have access to other sports facilities outside of school hours, including a floodlit all-weather pitch, multi-use games areas and a sports hall.

Work begins on new Mayfield Leisure Centre

For more information about swimming in Redbridge and how to sign up for the waiting list for swimming lessons visit

4 RedbridgeLife NEWS

www.vision-rcl.org.uk

Working with acclaimed urbanists Allied and Morrison Urban Practitioners, the Council has developed an ambitious regeneration Delivery Prospectus for Ilford Town Centre.Ilford is the Borough’s key focus for regeneration and growth and within the Town Centre we expect to deliver 6,000 new homes and create 2,000 new jobs. The town’s significant growth potential will be unlocked to reinvigorate and rebuild its status.

Earlier this year, the Council launched an exciting Manifesto for Ilford Town Centre which set out a number of promises aimed at reclaiming the town’s place as the heart of a modern east London.

The Prospectus provides detailed plans which take the promises within the Manifesto and sets out how they will be delivered across the Town Centre.

Key elements include: • exploring opportunities to strengthen retail, residential, leisure and community spaces within the Town Centre

• providing the right space to support Ilford’s entrepreneurial businesses with flexible business spaces and a modern business support centre

• turning the Town Centre’s highways into streets by reducing the impact of cars and stitching the Town Centre back into its surrounding neighbourhoods with new and enhanced pedestrian connections

• introducing new uses to the Town Centre including schools, health facilities and an evening economy to support a growing residential population

Ilford Prospectus to shape major Town Centre regeneration • strengthening Ilford’s cultural and civic core by developing a new cultural quarter around the Town Hall

• celebrating and enhancing the historic fabric and character that helps to make the Town Centre feel unique

• revealing the nearby River Roding by exploring opportunities to provide pedestrian routes along the riverside

Have your sayWe want your views on our Delivery Prospectus for Ilford Town Centre. Get involved by visiting www.redbridge.gov.uk/haveyoursay. The consultation will close on Tuesday 27 June.

You can also attend the following public exhibition events:

• Tuesday 13 June, 4 to 6pm, Redbridge Central Library, Ilford

• Wednesday 14 June, 2 to 4pm, City Gates Church (within the foyer), 25-29 Clements Road, Ilford

• Thursday 22 June, 10am to 12 midday, City Gates Church (within the foyer), 25-29 Clements Road, Ilford

Work begins on £15m transformation of Ilford Town CentreWork has begun on major street improvements which are set to transform Ilford Town Centre. The ambitious public realm improvements will create new high-quality, accessible public spaces, delivering on the Council’s Manifesto for Ilford Town Centre.

Alongside the arrival of the Elizabeth Line, the major improvements will help to fundamentally revitalise Ilford Town Centre. The transformation will include high quality granite paving, new trees and greenery, pocket parks and green walls, public art, informal play sites and high quality spaces for events, improved lighting and seating, and more street cycle stands.

Improvements will take place at Ilford High Road (from the crossroads with Cranbrook Road

through to the area outside Ilford Police Station) and will include the following connecting side streets: Clements Lane, Clements Road and Chadwick Road.

Street improvements Work will be carried out in phases between now and 2019. The first phase of the works have started on Chadwick Road and the area in front of the Ilford Exchange and will continue over the Summer. Street improvements for this phase include:

• new high quality granite paving

• five new trees (in total 41 new trees will be planted across the Town Centre)

• a ‘meadow’ planting scheme made up of a number of planters with colourful flowering plants

• new benches, lighting and cycle stands

• electric pop up power units with provision for music and lighting to support food stalls and small events

• one high tech ‘big belly’ bin which holds roughly eight times the amount of rubbish of a regular bin and compacts waste automatically throughout the day

It is currently anticipated that the second phase of the public realm improvements will take place around the Griggs Approach underpass and improvements will include a public art project, new trees, and a woodland planting scheme. Phase two works are expected to begin in late 2017.

Proposed new Ilford station entranceWorking with Rail for London, the Council has jointly commissioned a feasibility study to test the viability of an additional southern entrance on Ilford Hill. This would ease demand from the main Cranbrook Road entrance, and would cater for additional commuters who will use the station following housing development in the east of Ilford Town.

5RedbridgeLife NEWS

www.redbridge.gov.uk/haveyoursay

Councillor Linda Huggett was elected Mayor of Redbridge for 2017/18 at the Annual Council meeting on Thursday 11 May.She will be fundraising during her Mayoral year for the following two charities which are close to her heart: St Francis Hospice and Haven House.

Cllr Huggett said, “It is an honour and privilege to have been elected as Mayor and I will do my utmost to serve all the residents of the Borough to the best of my ability and support my charities in any way that I can.”

Cllr Huggett will be supported in her role by her husband Brian Huggett. Her Deputy Mayor is Cllr Ashley Kissin, Member for Barkingside Ward.

New Mayor for Redbridge

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Join 1000s of people in your community and play the Saint Francis Hospice Lottery today to support the work your local hospice is doing in Redbridge.

Registered Charity No. 275913

To join the lottery and check the latest winning numbers visit www.sfh.org.uk/lottery, email lottery@sfh.org.uk or call the Lottery Helpline on 01708 771417

Search Saint Francis Hospice

6 RedbridgeLife NEWS

www.redbridge.gov.uk and search for Redbridge Mayor

A brand new space for people to meet, learn, create and innovate is set to open within Redbridge Central Library this month.A small section of the ground floor of the Library is being transformed into an open plan digital makerspace and technology lending library. Local tech businesses, educators and digital artists and organisations will deliver a programme of digital activities for adults, children, young people, families and schools in the Borough.

The project will allow residents to have new experiences with technology including 3D printing, robot & electronics kits, virtual reality, Raspberry Pi devices and much more. It’s an opportunity for residents to try out equipment that they wouldn’t normally have access to and to give them the chance to learn from a variety of professionals.

The new space launches on 17 June 2017 and the associated community engagement programme will include a palette of regular activities, one off workshops, training and networking events, a Discovery Lab residency and digital arts commission as well as establishing a Technology Lending Library to support continuous learning.

Lab Central will be a place for Makers, Tinkerers and Inventors to work together, to imagine, to try new things, to learn, to create and to have fun!

The project is being made possible thanks to a £208,989 grant from Arts Council England to Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure.

Lab Central set to open this month

Redbridge 2025 – helping us to create a better future Back in March we teamed up with the Met Police, Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group and Redbridge College to ask you what you thought Redbridge could or should look like in 2025.We had over 600 responses to our three questions which were:

What do you value about living in Redbridge?

What would you like Redbridge to be like in the future?

What two things would improve Redbridge by 2025?

You told us you valued the community and green spaces in Redbridge but most of all you overwhelmingly said you wanted Redbridge to be safe, clean and a place where everyone got along. These were the things you wanted us to focus on in the future.

We have used your views to hold a number of workshops with partners from across the Council and the community and voluntary sector and will further use this information to help us shape our thinking of what the future could look like.

More work on this will be carried out in the coming weeks and we will be speaking with you again after the summer. We intend to run some public sessions to show you the work we have progressed so far and to find out what you think about the developments we are making.

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7RedbridgeLife NEWS

Keep up to date with the latest news from the Council’s Enforcement Team by subscribing to our FREE enewsletter “Taking Pride Together”

The enewsletter is sent out every two months and gives you a roundup of the Team’s work as well as other important news and events.

www.redbridge.gov.uk/report-it

Follow: @RedbridgeLive www.facebook.com/redbridgelive

Hello from the Redbridge Enforcement Team

Don’t miss outVisit www.redbridge.gov.uk/civicpride and subscribe today.

We want to ensure our bring sites are attractive and we know that there are some excellent groups in the Borough who would be keen to help with this.

Adopt-A-Site groups would be responsible for keeping sites clean and tidy, reporting fly tipping and

providing monthly feedback, all in exchange for a regular payment, free equipment, and training.

It’s all part of the Council’s efforts to keep the Borough clean and clamp down on issues such as littering and fly tipping while encouraging pride in the Borough.

Adopt-A-Site and make a real difference to your communityWe’re looking for community groups who would like to look after their local recycling bring sites and earn money in return.

Did you know that you can save money and be greener by reducing, reusing and recycling your rubbish? Composting recycles kitchen and garden waste into a valuable and nutrient rich food for your garden. It improves your soil’s condition, helps maintain moisture levels and allows your flowers to flourish.

Green waste such as grass trimmings, plant cuttings, and weeds are ideal for composting alongside waste from the home such as shredded paper, cardboard, and egg shells.

Good quality compost needs a good mixture of materials, you don’t want too much of any one thing. Aim for a 50/50 mix of ‘greens’ (vegetable peelings, old flowers, grass cuttings and spent bedding plants) and ‘browns’ (garden prunings, coffee grounds, cardboard and vacuum cleaner dust).

Don’t miss out on our new garden waste collection; make sure you sign up today.The paid-for service is now up and running and thousands of residents are enjoying the convenience of having their garden waste collected straight from outside their home.

The service costs £50 per year and those who subscribe receive 50 biodegradable sacks with the option to buy additional rolls of 10 at a cost of £10 per roll if you run out. The sacks have a capacity of a regular black bin bag and are delivered directly to your home. If you are not in, we can post them through your letter box. You’ll also receive a calendar with your collection day details and some helpful information.

Have you signed up for your garden waste collection?

Those who don’t wish to subscribe to the new service are encouraged to consider composting, and you can find out more about the benefits of composting in our article on this page. You can also dispose of garden waste at Chigwell Road Recycling Centre.

Remember, if you are planning on making a journey to the tip; why not check if any of your elderly or vulnerable neighbours need help with their waste too?

Top tips • maximise the space in your green sacks by keeping your garden cuttings small, this will also prevent your bags splitting unnecessarily

• the sacks are strong but they are designed to be biodegradable and environmentally friendly. As such you should store them somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight

• garden waste will only be collected from within the new plastic green sacks

• garden waste should not be placed in black bags with other rubbish as it will not be collected as part of your normal refuse collection

Reduce waste and get composting

RedbridgeLife GREEN 9

For more information on composting and to purchase a compost bin visit www.redbridge.gov.uk

www.redbridge.gov.uk and search in our bins, waste and recycling section

www.redbridge.gov.uk/gardenwaste

A day in the life of a pest control officer

First job of the day – Watch out for waspsFollowing reports of wasps, Dave starts his day by going to a housing estate in the Borough.

After putting on his full protective head and body gear and with powder gun at the ready, Dave injects a poisonous powder into the entrance of the wasps nest. It’s not something you would want to be in the way of. The wasps should be gone in a few hours.

Dave explains the action he’s taken to the customer before setting off to his next job.

Job two – Chasing cockroachesDave heads off to combat some pesky cockroaches who apparently are hardy insects that can tolerate a wide range of environments from Arctic temperatures to tropical heat. Unfortunately cockroaches are very versatile pets so they are quite hard to get rid of but it’s time for action.

A professional cockroach gel bait, small gel drops no bigger than a pea, are placed mainly in the kitchen. Two to three treatments are normally required to deal with these critters.

Chasing cockroaches and running after rats may not sound like fun for some people but for Dave it’s all in a day’s work.

Dave is our resident pest control professional and he has been at Redbridge Council for over 25 years. There’s not much he’s hasn’t seen or dealt with.

Job 1

Job 2

Job 3

10 RedbridgeLife FEATURE

After a day with Dave you realise just how much work pest controllers have to do, day in day out, to ensure our properties remain pest free.

If you need to get the experts in the Council’s team is on your doorstep. We offer advice to residents and businesses about how to get rid of insects, rodents or other potential health hazards.

Report a problem online at customer.cc@redbridge.gov.uk or call 020 8554 5000.

Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm (except bank holidays when we are closed).

Job three – A mouse in the houseThe afternoon sees Dave hunting down mice in the kitchen of a local house.

It’s very natural to feel uncomfortable and concerned if you have a potential mouse infestation but don’t worry Dave and his team help lots of people in this situation – so let the experts in pest control help you.

After a short hunt droppings are found. Dave says a mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a 1p piece.

Dave places mouse boxes in specific areas around the property. Little do the creatures know but the boxes contain a highly palatable tasty pasta bait poison.

Once completed, Dave heads off to his fourth job of the day.

Job four – Don’t let the bed bugs biteBed bugs are small, oval, brownish insects that live off blood – pleasant eh!

Adult bed bugs have flat bodies about the size of an apple seed. They can enter your home undetected through luggage, clothing, used beds, sofas and other items.

Bed bugs are tough and hardy and two to three visits are required to deal with them. The residents need to leave the property for a good few hours while the rooms are treated.

Job five – Rat a tat tatFor his final job of the day, Dave visits his next premises to raid some rats. Rats burrow in gardens and leave holes. They are always chewing and gnawing and can cause lots of damage to properties. Generally a baiting programme to deal with rats usually takes a few weeks.

Interesting fact, did you know rats leave behind 10 to 30 poo pellets per day depending on how much they eat?

Job 4

Job 5

11RedbridgeLife FEATURE

www.redbridge.gov.uk search for pest control

Eleven men sentencedA major drug operation supported by Redbridge Council has seen eleven men sentenced to a total of almost three decades in prison.

On 24 March they appeared at Blackfriars Crown Court and received a total of 28 years and three months in prison.

The convictions are the result of months of collaborative work between the Council, British Transport Police (BTP), and the Metropolitan Police (MPS) who worked together to tackle anti-social behaviour and drug crime around Ilford railway station.

The initiative was launched in February 2016 under the banner of Operation Parish, with the aim of ensuring Ilford Station and surrounding streets were safe for residents, passengers and staff.

In the following months the Council worked closely with the Police, taking regular action against the licensed premises, alcohol, betting and food establishments.

As well as targeting the criminals themselves the Council also focussed on making a number of environmental improvements to the area to make them safer and discourage poor behaviour.

The work culminated in a series of early morning raids by the Police and BTP on Thursday 1 September 2016. Eleven men were arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Supply Class A and Class B Controlled Drugs.

The following day more than 30 Council officers took to York Road, Balfour Road and the surrounding area to tackle anti-social behaviour and environmental issues such as untidy front gardens and fly tipping.

Officers from the Council’s Highways and Cleansing team made regular checks in the area and advised on any possible improvements. They also applied £25,000 worth of special coating to lampposts to help tackle problem fly posters who are placing stickers on street furniture advertising adult massage.

In addition, the Council removed rubbish dumped in the area and warning letters were sent to homes with untidy front gardens with checks made on properties that had already received a letter.

A Community Protection Notice was also issued to one owner of private land forcing them to tidy up the land.

Officers also visited B&Bs and hotels in the area to ensure they were operating legally, and not contributing to any anti-social behaviour or criminal activity.

If you have problems in your area that you wish to report you can do so at

12 CRIME SPECIALRedbridgeLife

www.redbridge.gov.uk/report-it

Eleven men sentenced after drug operationThe following people were found guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court on Wednesday 1 March following a three week trial:

Klevis Locaj, 20, of no fixed abode and Abdul Boota, 18, of Fairlop Road, Leytonstone were convicted.

Locaj was convicted of Conspiring to Supply Heroin, Cocaine and Cannabis. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Boota was convicted of Conspiracy to Supply Heroin and Cannabis. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

The following people pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them by British Transport Police:

Sherali Nasiri, 19, of Benton Road, Ilford, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class A (Heroin), Conspiracy to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class A (Cocaine) and Conspiracy to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class B (Cannabis). He was sentenced to four years and six months in prison.

Mohammed Haider, 25, of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class B (Cannabis). He was sentenced to 45 months’ in prison.

Sandip Singh, 29, of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class A (Heroin) and Conspiracy to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class A (Cocaine). He was sentenced to 32 months in prison.

Awalkhan Naserkhel, 27, of Park Avenue, Ilford, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class A (Cocaine) and Conspiracy to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class B (Cannabis). He was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment.

Haroon Nikai, 21, of Park Avenue, Ilford, pleaded guilty to Supplying a Controlled Drug of Class A (Cocaine) to another. He was sentenced to 24 months in prison.

Rakeem Rajput-Siddique, 23, of The Coverdales, Ilford, pleaded guilty to Supplying a Controlled Drug of Class A (Cocaine) and Conspiracy to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class B (Cannabis). He was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment.

Masood Ahmadi, 26, of Lanterns Way, Tower Hamlets pleaded guilty to Being Concerned in the Supply of a Controlled Drug of Class A (Cocaine) to another. He was sentenced to 24 months in prison.

Mohammed Darwish, 24, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to Being Concerned in the Supply of a Controlled Drug of Class A (Cocaine) to another, Offer to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class A (Cocaine) to another and Conspiracy to Supply a Controlled Drug of Class B (Cannabis). He was sentenced to 32 months in prison.

Ardit Isha, 20, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Supply. He was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment.

13RedbridgeLife CRIME SPECIAL

Build with usIf you’re planning on carrying out building work you might need to get Building Regulation consent. The Council’s Building Control team is here to help you.

14 RedbridgeLife FEATURE

With over 40 years of construction experience, ARA Homes Ltd www.arahomes.co.uk, build high quality contemporary homes. ARA Homes is a family run business with in house expertise, including architecture, interior design, construction and project management.

Robert Shaw, one of the company’s Directors said, “We absolutely recommend Redbridge Council’s Building Control service. We’ve worked with the team many times and it is always a very smooth process and very collaborative – we are able to discuss things well in advance of the building work stage, so we are all clear about what we need to do.

“The Council’s Building Control team are exceptionally punctual and trustworthy, providing excellent advice. They are very impressive.”

Building Regulations are standards for designing and constructing buildings to ensure they’re safe and healthy for people who use them. The national standards also make sure that buildings are sustainable, energy efficient and accessible.

Before you construct, alter or change the use of a building you must check if you need Building Regulation consent.

How we can help you with your building projectThe Council’s Building Control team offers a responsive, competitive and helpful service.

Using our technical knowledge and local expertise we can help make sure your building project meets Building Regulations and other standards, when you make your Building Control application through us.

Our quick, professional and trustworthy service includes:

• FREE advice early in your project – we’re happy to talk about a job long before you start

• qualified and experienced surveyors providing the best knowledge of local ground conditions, sites and history

• an initial assessment and acknowledgement of your application within three days

• full plan checking service within three weeks

• full site inspections undertaken by helpful staff with same day inspections if booked before 10am

• completion certificates issued

• competitive rates and fees as we are non-profit making

NEW online Building Control servicesAs part of a drive to make things easier for our residents, you can now submit and search for a Building Control application online. You can also make an online payment for a Building Control application.

You can carry out these tasks online anytime at www.redbridge.gov.uk/buildingcontrol

Completion CertificatesAfter your building work has been inspected and approved by a Building Control officer, we will issue you with a completion certificate. The completion certificate for your building project is very important for you to have when you come to sell your property.

Competent Person Scheme (self-certification)For some minor work your builder or contractor may be able to self-certify the work, if they are registered with the Competent Person Scheme.

Building Regulation consent for unauthorised work If you have completed building work without prior consent you must apply to us for ‘regularisation’ of that work.

We will check your application and a Building Control officer will inspect the property and let you know if any corrective work has to be carried out. To get your Regularisation Certificate your work will need to comply with Building Regulations.

You can apply for regularisation for any unauthorised building work carried out on or after 11 November 1985.

Building Regulation consent is different from planning permission and you may need both for your project.

Ignoring building regulations is dangerous and the Council will prosecute where necessary if people fail to comply.

15RedbridgeLife FEATURE

www.redbridge.gov.uk/buildingcontrol

Protecting our residents from scamsFraudsters who scammed residents out of thousands of pounds have been given prison sentences. Ali Raza Hussain and Jamshaid Butt, of The Mortgage Centre Ltd, 129 Cranbrook Road, Ilford have been handed prison sentences for fraud after a prosecution brought by Redbridge Council.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday 5 April 2017, Hussain was sentenced to two years imprisonment and disqualified from being a company director for 10 years and Butt was sentenced to a 12 months prison term, suspended for two years, with an order to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work. When tried on 27 February 2017, the jury had found Hussain to be guilty of conspiracy to defraud

and Butt, who also pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of fraudulent trading.

Redbridge Trading Standards became aware of problems following a large number of reports of crime to Citizens Advice Consumer Service and Action Fraud.

The duo made dishonest representations to potential mortgage applicants and promoted a false mortgage arrangement service by advertising on Asian TV channels and radio stations. They took advanced fees from clients for the purpose of arranging mortgages that were never provided, and the company then became uncontactable and evasive.

This sentencing sends a clear message that those in a position of trust who cheat their customers will be prosecuted and convicted. This sort of criminal behaviour will not be tolerated in our Borough.

If you believe someone is a victim of fraud or being scammed call 020 8708 5716 or email trading.standards@redbridge.gov.uk so we can investigate.

As part of our work to tackle and reduce anti-social behaviour we have introduced a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) across three wards, covering Ilford Town Centre and the surrounding areas. The order gives us new powers to deal with issues which really matter to residents and businesses including:

• street drinking

• urination and/or defecation in a public place

• anti-social busking

• anti-social fundraising

• badly organised public events

• anti-social behaviour by groups loitering in an intimidating way

• aggressive begging

Feedback from a public consultation which ran at the end of last year showed that residents were overwhelmingly supportive of the powers. The PSPO will be in place for three years and during this time it will be an offence for anyone to take part in any of the anti-social behaviour in the specified areas after being told not to by a Police or Council officer.

We want to discourage all forms of anti-social or damaging behaviour in the Borough, and make sure that Redbridge is a place everyone can be proud to call home.

Public Space Protection Order introduced to tackle anti-social behaviour

16 RedbridgeLife CRIME & SAFETY

Councillor Sheila Bain, Cabinet Member for Civic Pride

Cllr Mark Santos, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care

I’ve been working with Police and organisations in the Borough to tackle these challenging issues as a priority.

I am committed to combatting all forms of violence against women and girls; and recently obtained funding from the Mayor of London to invest in projects that focus on providing help and support to vulnerable groups who are victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

We have also recently taken a new approach to tackle prostitution in Redbridge – this focuses on the wellbeing of the women involved, providing them with support and resources necessary for them to exit this line of work rather than criminalising them. In many instances these women are victims and should be treated accordingly while those exploiting these vulnerable women should be the target of Police action.

A key feature in our community safety plan is the introduction of a Public Space Protection

Order (PSPO) for Ilford Town Centre. This means that the Police and the Council’s Enforcement Officers are able to issue on the spot fines to individuals who commit a number of crimes including spitting, urinating in public and feeding pigeons.

As part of our commitment to cut crime, we have strengthened the Redbridge Enforcement Team which now has more officers on the streets who have greater powers than ever before to deal with anti-social behaviour. In the past year, they have given out almost 3,000 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN’s) for various offences, the highest number ever issued.

Fly tipping blights our community and remains one of our major priorities. We are cracking down hard on those responsible for defacing our environment, with our Enforcement Officers issuing the maximum £400 on the spot fines for low level fly tipping offences and taking court action against others.

Everyone should be able to enjoy living, working and visiting Redbridge without experiencing crime and anti-social behaviour. In my role as Cabinet Member for Civic Pride I have responsibility for community safety, something which affects all of us.

As Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, I’ve been working hard along with my colleagues across the Council and the NHS to ensure residents enjoy good quality adult social care and community health services.

Our starting point was to work with our partner North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) to integrate adult social care with community health services creating a comprehensive and holistic single service. It means that navigating accessing services for yourselves and your loved ones has become easier. It also means that our staff have a fuller picture of an individual’s needs so that support can be better tailored and we can act before matters escalate.

We have put prevention front and centre, supported by the work of our public health team. We have a wellbeing service providing information and advice supported by our information and advice website www.mylife.redbridge.gov.uk. We also have Redbridge

First Response Service linking people up with local opportunities and support. We will be building on this to develop a fully-fledged Social Prescribing Service with our partner Redbridge Council for Voluntary Service. This is a way of linking patients in primary care with sources of support within the community.

We continue to work with and commission services from our partners in the charity sector. They play a key role in promoting the health and wellbeing of local people by helping people to live well, providing support when required, and preventing the need for health and social care services escalating.

However there are still many big challenges ahead of us. One of these is because the

Government has significantly reduced the money it gives to councils. In Redbridge we have lost 40% of our income since 2010. The second is that our population is growing and people are living longer. This means more people require our support.

This combination of reducing resources and more people with needs means that services will have to continue the journey of change if we are to meet the needs of our residents. We are committed to achieving that change through working with people who use services, their carers and key organisations and people in our community to build on the strong foundations we have created. I am confident we can continue to build a strong future.

View from the Cabinet

17RedbridgeLife NEWS

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Redbridge residents and community groups have been awarded £66,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding for local improvement projects.

Earlier this year we asked residents to put forward their ideas for local improvements or work to enhance public areas.

The following projects have now been funded: • a Borough-wide bulb planting scheme

• an employability project which will help residents to develop skills and secure jobs

• funding for a Trading Post project, which gives new start-up businesses an opportunity to test trade their products and services

• purchase of a small boat for South Park users group (Mayfield ward)

• upgrading and replacement of scout toilet facilities with new plumbing and fittings for Seven Kings Scout Group (Seven Kings ward)

• new gateposts for the front of garage stores in Elmhurst Gardens (Roding ward)

• tree planting on Twyford Road (Loxford ward)

CIL funding improving local neighbourhoods

www.redbridge.gov.uk/cil

CIL is a charge on most new types of development to offset the impact of developments in the area.

Most of this money is spent on Borough priorities such as helping to pay for schools, leisure centres, health care facilities, transport and projects to improve facilities and public areas.

Each year we allocate 15 per cent of all CIL money for local projects.

Trees for RedbridgeCIL funding has also secured a three year partnership between the Council and Trees for Cities to plant more trees and greenery across the Borough.

The partnership will work closely with local communities, improving the environment with greener views and benefits to wildlife and air quality.

Through collaborative work, it will also unlock opportunities for further grant funding to create a greener Redbridge.

RedbridgeLife COMMUNITY 19

Fostering in Redbridge Local children & young people need safe, caring foster homes. Could you help?• must have a spare room• must have time and patience to make a positive difference for children• we need people to care for sibling groups• we need people to care for young people aged

11 years and over

To find out more visit www.redbridge.gov.uk/fostering or call the Fostering Service on 020 8708 7528 or come to one of our information sessions:

Tuesday 13 June 2017 Ilford Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford, IG1 IEA

Tuesday 18 July 2017 Station Road Centre, Station Road, Barkingside, IG6 1NB

Tuesday 19 September 2017 Station Road Centre, Station Road, Barkingside, IG6 1NB

Tuesday 17 October 2017 Station Road Centre, Station Road, Barkingside, IG6 1NB

6pm – 8pm

No need to book, just drop in.

The Redbridge Infant Feeding team is now part of the 0-19 Universal Service across Redbridge. All staff in this new improved service are fully trained to support families across the Borough.

The staff will continue to work in partnership with Children’s Centres where we already have established Infant Feeding Cafes and will carry on looking after the interests of mothers and babies in the area. Individual support and face to face advice on breast feeding and formula feeding will continue and parents will also still have access to the Health Visitor service and in relation to breast feeding support and advice.

Improved infant feeding serviceWhether it’s your first baby or your fourth, it’s nice to know help and information is available about baby feeding.

Let’s get active togetherThe warmer weather has finally shown up and residents across Redbridge are being encouraged to get out and about and get more active.

The Active Together project is currently being rolled out on four housing estates in the Borough:

• Tiptree

• Orchard

• Hermitage

• Buttsbury

The project encourages residents on the estates to get active through new and exciting activities. Tips are provided on how to incorporate daily activities into everyday life like walking more, taking the stairs where possible or simply reducing the time we sit down.

The project is being supported by various community groups. Ashfaq Siddique from the Al Madina Mosque on the Buttsbury Estate said, “I would encourage all residents to take part in the Active Together programme. I am pleasantly surprised with the wide range of local activities on offer.”

Taskyin Huseyin from the PTC (Providing the Community) said, “The Active Together project is a great way to get to know your neighbours while at the same time getting fitter and healthier.”

Keeping children safeDid you know the law changed in October 2014 to help keep children with asthma safe?Schools are now allowed to hold spare emergency inhalers, usually blue reliever inhalers which give on-the-spot relief from asthma symptoms and attacks and relax the airways very quickly. These changes have come about to help schools improve care for children with health needs.

Previously it was illegal for schools to have a spare emergency inhaler to use in the event of a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.

The emergency salbutamol inhaler should only be used by children who have written parental consent to use it, those who have either been diagnosed with asthma and prescribed an inhaler, or who have been prescribed an inhaler as reliever medication. The inhaler can be used if the pupil’s prescribed inhaler is not available, for example because it is broken or empty.

Anyone needing to speak to an asthma expert nurse can call the Asthma UK helpline number 0300 222 5800.

www.asthma.org.uk

RedbridgeLife HEALTH 21

www.nelft.nhs.uk Search for ‘infant feeding service’

Find out more. Contact Mark Healy 07932 636112 email mark.healy@visionrcl.org.uk

Pest Control ServiceWhat we do

• we offer advice to residents and businesses about how to get rid of insects or rodents

• we have effective treatments for certain types of pests and can help with identifying pests and information about what to do

What pest control officers do

• we investigate the cause of infestations and recommend a treatment

• we will give you safety information, offer proofing advice and tell you roughly how long the treatment may take

Report a problem online at customer.cc@redbridge.gov.uk or contact us on 020 8554 5000 (contactable Monday to Friday 8.30am-6pm

– except bank holidays when we are closed)

Pests we treat and cost*

Rats ..............................................................£70.00

Mice .............................................................£92.00

Cockroaches ...........................................£124.00

Bedbugs ................................................... £161.00

Pharaoh Ants ..........................................£138.00

Garden Ants ..............................................£93.00

Wasps ..........................................................£60.00

Fleas ...........................................................£103.00

Commercial premises starting from (non-food premises only) ...................£165.00

*Some treatments subject to RPI increase April 2017

Redbridge Institute is the leading local provider of part-time courses for adults, including:

Please contact us for a copy of our course guide. You can join a course today.

• Arts and crafts• Bookkeeping• Business • Childcare• Community

interpreting• Counselling• English

• ESOL• Family learning• Health and wellbeing • IT • Languages• Maths• Sage• Teaching assistants

Delivering high-quality learning in the heart of the community

www.redbridge-iae.ac.uk020 8550 2398

enquiries@redbridge-iae.ac.uk

Part-time day, evening and Saturday courses

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Hub Central is an exciting new space supporting Redbridge businesses to develop and grow, helping to strengthen the local economy and create jobs. The Hub also provides tailored help for residents to find jobs and develop new skills.

Support to get back into work, training or volunteeringWork Redbridge has moved to Hub Central. We’re here to help you find employment and will create a job search action plan with you. We’ll also signpost you to the wide range of support that’s available in the Borough.

The action plan will provide help that is based on your specific needs. This may include IT support, and information about local vacancies and training courses. We can also help you to access appropriate employability workshops such as CV writing and mock interview techniques.

Register with Work Redbridge and book an appointment to see an advisor:

Get employment and business support with Hub CentralSecond Floor, Redbridge Central Library, IlfordMonday to Fridays, 9.30am to 8pm, Saturdays, 10am to 5pm

Business boostRedbridge has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and we‘re keen to continue to support new and existing businesses to start, stay and grow in Redbridge.

If you’re a local business, you should take advantage of the support that’s on offer from Hub Central. Businesses can use the Hub’s large co-working space to touch down and do business with dedicated Wi-Fi.

Key business resources are also available including the Complete Business Reference Adviser (COBRA) database, an encyclopaedia of practical information for starting, running and managing a small business.

From July, Independent Business Advisors will also be on hand to support you to start up or grow.

In addition to this, our FREE Work Redbridge for Business Service can support you to recruit new employees or take on an apprentice to grow your business.

Did you know …Hub Central is one of a number of exciting new initiatives delivering the Council’s promises within the Ilford Manifesto by providing spaces for businesses to start up, grow up and thrive.

Twitter @workredbridge

Twitter @hubcentrallibs (note this is the existing Enterprise Desk account renamed)

RedbridgeLife CAREERS 23

www.redbridge.gov.uk/workredbridge

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but the condition is responsive to treatment if detected soon enough. The most common symptoms of Prostate Cancer are:

• Having to rush to the toilet to pass urine

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• Pain on passing urine, but this is rare

• Blood in the urine or semen, but this is very rare

Please seek medical advice early if you, or somebody you know, is experiencing these symptoms.

APPLE is a locally run charity. If you would like more information about us and our monthly support group meetings, please visit our website www.appleprostate.co.uk or contact us on:

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If you are looking after someone else’s child or if your child is being looked after by someone else you might be part of a private fostering arrangement.

Private fostering is when a child or young person aged 16 or under (or 18 if they are disabled) is cared for by an adult who is not a close relative for more than 28 days.

A private foster carer may be:

a friend of the family

the parent of a friend of a child

an extended family member such as a cousin, great aunt or great uncle

someone previously unknown to the child’s family who is willing to privately foster a child

Help us to keep children safe and support families by notifying us of private fostering arrangements. If you are a parent or carer of a child who is being privately fostered you have a legal duty to inform your local council. If you don’t you might be missing out on free advice and support.

The Child Protection & Assessment Team, Lynton House, 255-259 High Road, Ilford, IG1 1NN. 020 8708 3885cpat.refferrals@Redbridge.gov.uk www.redbridge.gov.uk/privatefostering

Are you caring for somebody else’s child?

Local Voices MatterImproving our neighbourhood together Are there problems in your local area?Do you want to help change things?

Come to a Local Forum meeting. We’ll tackle issues that are important to you.

Submit your questions

Question TimeAsk questions and raise concerns with officers and Councillors on issues that affect you including litter and fly tipping, community safety, parking, planning, benefits and housing.

Submit your questions in advance on our website or ask them on the night.

www.redbridge.gov.uk/localforums

Redbridge Council introduced an additional licensing scheme to improve Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) standards and reduce anti-social behaviour associated with private rented properties.

To get and keep a good tenant, you have to be an amazing landlord. Good landlords always follow the law and are willing to go the extra mile. So we asked Mr Marko one of our licensed landlords who rents out HMOs in the Borough what he felt was required to be the best landlord you could be. Here’s what he said:

“I think to be a good landlord you need to have a desire to provide good quality housing no matter which level of the rental market you cater to. In my case, I only provide HMOs and the primary

reason I ensure they are of a high standard is because I enjoy my work and in particular I enjoy the consistent positive reaction I get from prospective tenants. This approach creates very happy housemates and very few empty properties for the landlord, so it’s a win-win situation.”

Mr Marko also shared his thoughts on the additional scheme for HMOs which came into force in Redbridge in April, saying: “My intention is to meet or exceed all HMO licensing requirements. Expanding requirements will create safer, better houses by imposing higher standards on landlords who would otherwise be reluctant. Licensing gives me valuable guidance on fire and safety standards but more generally it creates higher

benchmarks to reach within each house. It’s the driver for safer houses and an increasing standard of living.”

Redbridge Council welcomes responsible landlords like Mr Marko and we know that there are many others who provide exceptional homes which don’t cause annoyance to neighbours. We want to see more landlords like Mr Marko in our Borough but

for those landlords who do not come forward to apply for a licence we will be very firm with our enforcement action.

The key to making rented homes saferIf you consider your rental properties as a business, then your tenants are your customers and you’re providing a service that they’re paying for. In that case, wouldn’t you want to keep your best customers for as long as possible?

Apply for your licence.

Meeting dates

Wednesday 19 July 6.30pm to 8.30pmWilliam Torbitt Primary School, Eastern Avenue, Ilford IG2 7SS

Monday 11 September 6.30pm to 8.30pmLoxford Youth Centre, Loxford Lane, Ilford IG1 2UT

Tuesday 24 October 6.30pm to 8.30pmWanstead House, 10-12 Selworthy Close, London E11 2TE

25RedbridgeLife NEWS

www.redbridge.gov.uk/prslicensing

Build with us

• extensions

• loft conversions

• changing the use of a building

• removing chimney breasts or load bearing walls

The Council’s Building Control Service can help you comply with Building Regulations.

We offer professional and impartial advice to make the process as hassle free as possible for you.

If you are carrying out works to your home or business premises, such as:

For more information visitwww.redbridge.gov.uk/buildingcontrol or call 020 8708 2529

Fauja ran his first marathon in 1999 aged 89 years and finally retired from long-distance running aged 101.

He was born on 1 April 1911 in a rural village in Punjab India. As a child his legs were weak and up until the age of 15 he was unable to walk more than a mile.

Coming to RedbridgeDue to the lack of job opportunities in Punjab, Fauja had already settled most of his children abroad but he wanted to remain in India.

After the loss of his eldest daughter, wife and son in short succession, he became depressed. Family and friends were deeply concerned about his health. It was at this point that they wanted Fauja to leave India and join them in Britain.

The deaths of his family members were traumatic and it hit him hard. At this point, he decided to move to the UK to live with one of his sons.

Destined to runAfter moving to Redbridge, it was by chance that Fauja took up running. It would prove to save his life by bringing him out of depression.

Fauja met a musician called Dhillon who asked him to take part in a 20km charity marathon for Cancer Research. They began to train together and Fauja raised £700. He completed the race and gave the donations to the charity.

A fortunate mistakeFauja had run 20km but mistakenly thought he had run 20 miles. In order to complete a full marathon he would need to run more than double the distance. Realising this mistake with just three months to go until the marathon, Fauja was introduced to running coach / trainer Harmander Singh – an Ilford resident since 1962.

Fauja met Harmander and he trained Fauja every Sunday for three months.

The road to successIn 2000 Fauja completed the London Marathon in six hours and 54 minutes at the age of 89. But he didn’t stop there. He had his sights set on breaking records. And he went on to complete six more London Marathons, two Toronto Waterfront Marathons and the New York City Marathon.

London OlympicsFauja was the oldest torch bearer of the London 2012 Olympics. To mark this special occasion, the Sikh community all over the UK came together to support him. His last run before retiring was a 10km run completed in 92 minutes.

In 2015 at the age of 103, Fauja Singh was awarded the British Empire Medal for his achievements in sport.

Fauja has achieved such a lot in his life and is an inspiration to everyone who has ever watched a marathon and thought they couldn’t do it. Ph

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The remarkable story of Fauja SinghRedbridge resident Fauja Singh is 106 and is believed to be the oldest marathon runner in the world. Find out what made him take up running so late in life and share in some of the highlights of his career:

Fauja, you show us all that it really is never too late to take on new challenges!

27RedbridgeLife PEOPLE

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