The Cabinet of Waltham Forest Council met on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, to discuss the council's budget monitoring, housing strategy, temporary accommodation conversions, and the award of a contract for an agency procurement platform. Key decisions included noting the budget outturn position, approving the capital programme forecast, and noting progress on the Housing Strategy.

2026-27 - Month 3 Budget Monitoring

The Cabinet noted the forecast outturn position for Revenue, HRA, and DSG as at month 3. They also noted the 2026/27 forecast for the Capital Programme, which included additions and deletions, and approved the total Capital Programme forecast budget and funding of £612.520m. The Cabinet also noted the forecast for the use of reserves and the current level of debt across the Council. Several funding requests were approved, including for an additional political officer, three additional posts within the debt team, and additional budget for housing incentives. Approval was also given for temporary posts in the Communications team and for changes to savings for a temporary accommodation unit lease.

Housing Strategy Delivery Update

The Cabinet noted the progress and delivery of the Housing Strategy over 2025-26 and plans to review this strategy in consultation with residents, members, and other stakeholders. The report highlighted the ongoing housing crisis, with rising rents and limited supply impacting residents. It detailed the council's efforts to increase the supply of affordable homes, address housing affordability and security, and improve the quality and safety of council homes. Planned activities include refreshing the Resident Involvement Strategy, retendering repairs and maintenance contracts, and continuing energy efficiency upgrades.

Temporary Accommodation Conversions - Main Works Budgets

The Cabinet noted the progress made in developing four temporary accommodation conversion schemes. They approved a revised gross capital budget of up to £18,084,330 for these schemes, with a net Council funding requirement of £17,597,879 expected to be met from General Fund borrowing. The Cabinet noted that this revised budget was £2,723,330 higher than the previously approved budget, due to early-stage estimates and limited site information. The financial case for these conversions is based on replacing higher-cost external temporary accommodation, leading to an estimated annual General Fund expenditure reduction of approximately £800,000. Approval was also given for a two-package, single-stage Design and Build procurement strategy, with contract award delegated to the Strategic Director of Place, subject to tender returns remaining within approved scheme budgets, the financial appraisal being refreshed, and the resulting General Fund revenue requirement and grant compliance being confirmed before award. The two packages are: Rowan House and 130 Trumpington Road; and Cedar Wood House and 90 Crownfield Road.

Contract Award: Agency Procurement Platform

The Cabinet approved the Direct Award Call-Off contract to Matrix SCM for the provision of temporary agency workers. This contract will be utilised through the MSTAR4 (Managed Services for Temporary Agency Resources) framework agreement – London Collaboration, established by the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO). The new contract will commence on 1 December 2026 for an initial two-year term, with the option to extend for two further periods of two years each, subject to satisfactory performance and alignment with the Council's priorities. This decision follows a comprehensive assessment of procurement options, with the direct award to Matrix SCM identified as providing the strongest financial and operational benefits. The report highlighted a significant reduction in agency spend in 2025/26 compared to 2024/25, amounting to £7.678m, attributed to strengthened governance and targeted interventions. The Neutral Vendor model was favoured for its flexibility and ability to access specialist agencies, thereby mitigating the risk of off-contract spend. Matrix SCM's commitment to social value and workforce insights was also noted as a key benefit.