1958: A budget investigation into two Redbridge hospitals was launched at Ilford Town Hall with a view to saving taxpayers £40,000 per year.

Director of firm Organisation and Method F J Noel Brown outlined in a public meeting what the process would be to identify where to make savings.

He would examine the work of every person to make sure it was efficient, which could eventually lead to simplifying work that required too many machines or steps for simple tasks such as washing dishes and polishing brass.

“It just meant that they were doing things as they have been done since Florence Nightingale days,” Mr Noel Brown said.

1978: A squatters’ invasion re-emerged with the return of a man who fought Redbridge housing policies 10 years ago.

Ron Bailey had helped create the Redbridge Self-Help Housing Group, which would rent houses in the borough for short-term leases and remodel them.

For the most part, Redbridge had been happy with this arrangement.

He returned to battle plans to tear down substandard houses in Queens Road.

The Self-Help Housing Group argued that the housing could be used for people on the waiting list, but the council said Mr Bailey’s refusal to acknowledge safety concerns and the ensuing fight over the demolition would do more harm than good.

1998: The Redbridge Social Services committee decided to end free travel for people with learning disabilities after a court challenge.

A man who was visually impaired claimed free services should be offered to those who are deaf or sight or speech impaired.

Instead of expanding the passes, which would have cost £233,000, the committee decided to stop the benefit.

Those who already had cards were allowed to keep them, and a few would still be granted.

“The decision, passed unanimously, provides an avenue for council officers to screen applications allowing passes to be issued in some exceptional circumstances,” Conservative Cllr Alan Hughes said.