About the council
Local authorities
 Local authorities are large, complex and diverse. Unlike private sector organisations, they have a multi-functional structure and have to operate within a framework of public accountability.
Policies and decisions are taken by politicians - councillors elected by you - and are implemented by paid employees.
Councillors
 Councillors are usually members of a political party, though some may choose not to belong to any party and are called independents.
Elections
Redbridge Council has 63 seats. The Conservatives hold 33 seats, the Labour Party hold 20 seats, the Liberal Democrat Party hold 9 seats, and the Independents hold 1 seat. The next election in Redbridge will be in 2006.
Once elections are completed, the councillors elect one of their number to be Mayor for a year. This person represents the Authority at all formal functions inside and outside the borough. Council Services
Many of the most important services used by residents are provided by the Council.
They include
- community care services
- leisure services
- street cleaning and refuse collection
- local schools to mention just a few.
It makes us one of the largest employers in the borough, with almost 7,500 staff including teachers.
Our achievements
We have chalked up some significant achievements:-
- In 2001 Redbridge was ranked third best local authority in England and the best in London for GCSE results.
- We have been consistently in the top six in England in the last five years
- Our Social Services were recently ranked by the Department of Health's Performance Assessment Framework as one of the best 15 in the country
- Our services to Children were recognised as the best in London
- Our team working with young offenders was also judged best in London in 2002 and in the top six per cent nationally
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