A last-ditch attempt by the council’s opposition to shape the borough’s future over area committees and local forums has been rejected.

Two requisition amendments at last night’s full council meeting at Redbridge Town Hall, High Road, Ilford, were voted against.

They sought to gain more funding for four area committees, and essentially increase the number of local forum meetings from 12 to 21 per year.

On both occasions 32 councillors voted against the amendments, with 25 in favour.

As votes were being counted north of the border in the Scottish independence referendum, Cllr Ian Bond (Liberal Democrat, Roding) said: “We must be the only people in the country discussing the centralisation of decision making.”

Local forum meetings will now go ahead as planned next month.

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‘Local forums’ formally agreed by Redbridge Council policy committeeDecision over replacement for axed Area Committees due next week