Agenda item

To consider potential scrutiny topics for inclusion in the overview and scrutiny committee / commission work programmes for the 2026-27 municipal year, but with a view to agreeing the annual work programmes at the October meetings.  

To also note the proposed scrutiny committee/commission remits.

The committee considered potential scrutiny topics for inclusion in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and scrutiny commission work programmes for the 2026-27 municipal year.

The Chair explained that the formal work programme would be agreed at the October meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Chair said that the discussion was intended as a gathering and pooling of ideas to develop over the summer, including meetings with scrutiny chairs.

Members raised concerns about delaying the agreement of a work programme until October and suggested that the committee should agree at least a draft plan, noting that the work programme could be flexible.

The committee then discussed possible work programme topics, including:

• the council plan and pre-scrutiny of the council plan
• community councils
• fair funding review
• medium term financial strategy
• projected budget gaps
• temporary accommodation
• adult social care
• Special Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• housing revenue account and recovery plan
• refurbishment versus demolition in housing
• estate regeneration, including Aylesbury and Marie Curie
• major estate regeneration schemes, including Ledbury and Tustin
• resident voice and engagement with tenants and residents’ associations
• CIL redistribution
• SEND safety valve agreement
• government proposals for SEND
• children’s early intervention
• transition from CAMHS to adult mental health services
• drug use and vulnerable populations
• integrated neighbourhood working
• secondary school place planning and impact of primary school closures
• use of the closed primary school estates
• Cleaner Southwark pilots
• waste contract pre-scrutiny
• repairs improvement plan
• voids turnaround
• procurement and contract management
• high street regeneration, including Renew the Blue in Bermondsey

The Chair said that the suggested topics would be taken away and that further discussions would take place with groups and scrutiny commission chairs over the summer.

Officers explained that there would be a shortlisting and prioritisation process, including consideration of whether topics were strategic, timely and areas where scrutiny could add value. Officers also explained that they would consult senior officers and executive members to understand whether and when particular topics should be reviewed.

The committee then considered the proposed Overview and Scrutiny Committee and commission remits.

Members discussed whether the remits aligned with executive member responsibilities, the location of community safety within the committee structure, and how the statutory crime and disorder function should be managed.

Officers explained that the remits were based on executive portfolios and were intended as a guide to help identify which matters should sit with which commission. Officers also advised that Overview and Scrutiny Committee had a specific responsibility for crime and disorder and could either consider matters itself or delegate them to a commission.

Members discussed whether community safety should sit with the Health and Community Safety Scrutiny Commission and whether equalities considerations should be reflected.

The committee agreed the remits as set out.

A member raised the scrutiny protocol and the importance of meetings between scrutiny chairs, commission members and executive members to support pre-scrutiny and effective work planning.

Officers explained that meetings between scrutiny chairs and executive members had been piloted in the previous municipal year, with the intention of helping scrutiny chairs understand executive priorities and later providing feedback on scrutiny work. Officers stated that the intention was for meetings to take place before the end of July and that the Scrutiny Team would seek to arrange them with executive members and scrutiny chairs.

The committee agreed a recommendation welcoming those meetings and encouraging executive members to participate in line with the scrutiny protocol.