The General Purposes Committee of Westminster Council met on Wednesday 3 June 2026 to discuss proposed amendments to the Council's Constitution, including changes to the call-in procedure and the establishment of Task Groups. The committee also considered reports on compensation payments following investigations by the Housing Ombudsman and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, as well as an amendment to the Members' Allowance Scheme for 2026-2027.

Policy and Scrutiny Constitutional Amendments

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to be dedicated to proposed amendments to the Council's Constitution, as detailed in the Policy and Scrutiny Constitutional Amendments report. These changes were prompted by a decision made by Full Council on 20 May 2026 to alter the size and structure of Policy and Scrutiny Committees.

The report outlined several key proposed amendments:

• Call-in Procedure: To ensure the call-in mechanism remains proportionate and accessible following the reduction in committee membership, it was proposed to lower the threshold required to initiate a call-in from three Members to two Members of the relevant Policy and Scrutiny Committee. Additionally, criteria for when and why a decision may be subject to call-in were to be introduced. These criteria aim to promote consistency and focus the scrutiny function on strategic oversight. A decision may only be called in if the decision-maker did not follow the principles of decision-making, which include due consultation and consistency with the council's Budget and Policy Framework, legal requirements, and other constitutional requirements.
• Task Groups: Amendments were proposed to the provisions relating to Task Groups to clarify that all Task Groups would be established under the oversight of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. This aims to foster a more coordinated and effective approach to scrutiny, avoid duplication, and ensure efficient use of resources. The potential membership of Task Groups was also to be broadened to allow any non-executive Member of the Council to participate.
• Minor Amendments: Minor amendments to Chapter 4 of the Constitution were also scheduled for consideration to ensure overall consistency and accuracy of the Council's policy and scrutiny arrangements.

The General Purposes Committee was asked to consider these proposed amendments and determine whether to recommend their approval to Full Council.

Approval of Compensation Payments

The committee was scheduled to consider two reports concerning compensation payments arising from investigations by ombudsman services.

Compensation Payment Following a Housing Ombudsman Investigation

A report detailed a compensation payment of £2,100 required to a resident following a determination by the Housing Ombudsman (case reference 202344340). The complaint concerned the Council's handling of repairs to a window at the tenant's property, including prolonged delays, poor communication, and a failure to remedy a health and safety risk within a reasonable timeframe. The Housing Ombudsman found severe maladministration in the Council's handling of the repair reports and ordered the payment of compensation, a written apology from the Chief Executive, the production of a comprehensive action plan to resolve the repairs, and the provision of a single point of contact for the resident. The report noted that the compensation payment was to be made from the Housing Revenue Account.

Compensation Payment Following a Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Investigation

Another report addressed a compensation payment of £5,650 to a complainant following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO). The complaint related to Children Services and involved service failures impacting a child with an Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The LGSCO found the Council at fault for its handling of the daughter's personal budget, the delay in finalising the EHCP, and for its complaints handling and communication. The LGSCO's recommendations included an apology to the complainant and her daughter, consideration of a reimbursement schedule for short courses, and compensation payments totalling £5,650 to reflect frustration, distress, inconvenience, and missed special educational provision. The report indicated that the first two recommendations had been completed, and a review of direct payment arrangements for personal budgets was to be completed by 31 July 2026.

Members' Allowance Scheme 2026-2027: Amendment

The committee was also scheduled to consider an amendment to the Members' Allowance Scheme for 2026-2027. This amendment was proposed to reflect changes to the Council's committee structure, which had been agreed by Full Council on 20 May 2026.

Key proposed changes included:

• The introduction of an additional Policy and Scrutiny Committee, with its Chair eligible for a Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA).
• The establishment of an additional Planning Sub-Committee, leading to two additional Members being eligible for a Planning SRA.
• A reduction in the membership of both the Discretionary Housing Payment Panel and the Ratings Panel from five to four Members, reducing the number of SRA-eligible positions on each by one.

The report indicated that these changes would result in an increase in the total cost of the Members' Allowances Scheme to £1,133,985.53. The amended Scheme was to take effect from 20 May 2026.

Additionally, the report was to note the introduction of new government arrangements enabling elected members to access the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) from May 2026. Membership of the LGPS is optional for eligible councillors.