Agenda item

To agree the work programme for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Commission Work Programmes for 2026/27.

 

The committee considered the proposed work programme for 2026-27.

 

The committee heard from officers regarding the work programme development process and future arrangements for scoping scrutiny reviews. The committee discussed:

 

• Capacity of scrutiny commissions to undertake reviews.
• Prioritisation of topics.
• Opportunities for obtaining evidence through briefings, visits and informal engagement.
• The timing of future scrutiny work.

 

The committee also discussed the timing of scrutiny of the Borough Action Plan and expressed that pre-decision scrutiny should take place before consideration by Council Assembly. Members requested that a draft version of the Borough Plan be brought to the 4 November 2026 meeting of the committee.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and scrutiny commission work programme for 2026-27 as detailed below be approved.

 

 

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

 

Borough Action Plan

 

·  Pre-scrutiny of the Council Delivery Plan and council priorities

 

Council finance and budget related issues

 

·  Medium-Term Financial Strategy, budget gaps and financial risks

·  Annual Budget Scrutiny

·  Housing Revenue Account Recovery Plan

·  Review of Procurement and Contract Management

·  Financial pressures relating to Temporary Accommodation, SEND and Adult Social Care

·  SEND Safety Valve Agreement

 

Engagement with residents

 

·  Community Councils and their future development

 

 

 

 

 

Education and Local Economy

 

Education workstream

 

·  Government SEND Reform and Support for Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

·  Annual Review of the Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership

·  Ofsted follow up - progress on areas identified for improvement

 

Local Economy workstream

 

Employment and Skills

 

·  Employment Opportunities for Young People, including work experience, apprenticeships and internships for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) and those with SEND

·  Involving the Youth Parliament with regards to the borough priorities

·  Review of the Southwark Works Initiative, including support for people facing barriers to employment and young people

 

Business engagement and support

 

·  Thriving High Streets

·  Supporting Businesses in Southwark

·  East Street Market – Update

·  Elephant and Castle Town Centre Development, including support for independent businesses and community benefit

·  Tackling long-term vacant commercial units and exploring measures used elsewhere to bring premises back into use

 

Environment Scrutiny Commission

 

Waste, cleaner neighbourhoods and a circular Southwark

 

·  Pre-scrutiny Veolia / Waste contract and future arrangements

·  Waste Management – the effectiveness of Southwark’s approach to street cleansing, waste management, fly-tipping and environmental enforcement

 

 

 

 

Balcony and plug in Solar

 

·  Solar on council Buildings and Community Energy

 

Transport Safety and Infrastructure

 

·  Transport Safety and Infrastructure, with a focus on accident investigation of cycle death and serious incidents

·  Fairness and consistency in Southwark’s Resident Parking Permit Charging Model

 

Keeping Southwark Cool - Heat Resilience, Cool spaces and Places

 

·  Preparedness for Extreme Heat

 

Food Security

 

·  Food Security and a Resilient, Sustainable Food System

 

Housing Scrutiny Commission

 

Good Landlord Plan

 

·  One-year review of the Housing Regulator report and progress

·  Good Landlord Plan - Staff Resources

·  Resident Engagement and Governance

 

Repairs, maintenance and major works

 

·  Repairs, Damp and Mould Review

·  One-year Review of Plentific

·  Major Works – Update

·  Flowcrete 

 

Housing Allocations

 

·  Allocations Policy

·  Empty Properties  

 

Health, Adult Social Care and Community Safety

 

Health, Adult Social Care workstream

 

Mental Health

 

·  Transition arrangements between CAMHS/Adolescent mental health Services and adult services

 

Integrated Care

 

·  Neighbourhood Health Service – integrated neighbourhood teams

 

Sexual and reproductive health

 

·  LSLBB Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Strategy 2025 – 2030

·  Women’s Reproductive Health Services

 

Community Safety workstream

 

·  Complex Needs and Street based anti-social behaviour

·  Community Safety Partnership – overview of strategy and scrutiny of annual plan

·  Two wheeled enabled phone theft and robberies

 

2.  That officers work with scrutiny chairs and vice-chairs to refine and scope the work programme.

 

3. That a draft version of the Borough Plan should be presented to OSC on 4 November 2026, to allow adequate pre-decision scrutiny before consideration by Council Assembly.