Proposals for new public forums were passed by cabinet last night.

The Labour cabinet passed proposals to establish new local forums to replace area committees scrapped in July to save around £800,000 at Redbridge town hall, in Ilford.

The proposals include one meeting a month across Redbridge with an informal ‘market place’ drop- in session, followed by a formal public meeting in which residents can put their questions to a council panel.

Unlike the area committees they are replacing, which were held 40 times a year and considered planning applications, these meetings will have no decision-making powers or budget.

However Redbridge Conservatives are fighting the proposals and have requisitioned the decision, meaning a debate will be held on the new forums at the full council meeting next Thursday.