The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Hounslow Council was scheduled to meet on 27 November 2025 to discuss the council's financial strategy, the outcome of a housing inspection, and the work programme for the coming months. The committee was also expected to review the forward plan and receive updates from its scrutiny panels and the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Also on the agenda was a discussion of the recommendations from the Scrutiny in a Day event focused on the Lampton Group.

Updated One Hounslow Financial Strategy

The committee was scheduled to review the updated One Hounslow Financial Strategy (OHFS) for 2026/27 to 2028/29, which had been presented to the cabinet in July 2025. The OHFS outlines the council's financial position over the next three years and provides a framework for delivering key policy objectives. The report noted that the council is legally required to set a balanced budget each year, and the OHFS informs this process by bringing together business and financial planning.

The report highlighted several key factors influencing the financial strategy:

• UK Economy: Inflation had not returned to the Bank of England's target of 2% as quickly as anticipated, remaining at 3.8% in September 2025. Each 1% of inflation adds £4 million of cost pressure to the council's spending plans.
• Central Government Policy: The budget was delayed until 26 November 2025, with a three-year settlement for the local government sector expected in December. This settlement will include the outcome of the Fair Funding Review, which seeks to re-balance local government funding nationally.
• Budget Process Timetable: The Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to review the OHFS in November and savings proposals per directorate in January 2026.

The report also detailed risks associated with not following the proposed process, including the council's ability to undertake high-quality scrutiny being reduced.

The Chief Financial Officer noted that the wider economy remains volatile, with a challenging budget to be delivered towards the end of November.

Housing Inspection Outcome

The committee was scheduled to note the outcome of a housing inspection of the council's social housing landlord service by the Regulator of Social Housing. The council received a consumer grade of C2, indicating that improvement is required in some areas. The judgement reflected weaknesses in meeting the Safety and Quality Standard and the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard.

Key findings of the inspection included:

• Safety and Quality Standard: While core health and safety obligations are being met, there are weaknesses in completing overdue fire, water, and electrical remedial actions.
• Repairs Service: The repairs service is effective and timely, with performance targets largely met and previous backlogs addressed.
• Neighbourhood and Community Standard: Strong partnership working is in place with police and voluntary organisations to tackle anti-social behaviour and hate incidents.
• Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard: Performance information is not sufficiently accessible to tenants. Further support is needed to enable tenants to lead scrutiny effectively and receive feedback on its impact.

The Regulator will continue to engage with Hounslow to monitor progress on the areas identified for improvement.

Scrutiny in a Day: Lampton Group

The committee was scheduled to review and comment on the recommendations from a Scrutiny in a Day event focused on the Lampton Group¹. The Lampton Group is wholly owned by the council and consists of several companies, including Lampton Recycle, Lampton Investment, Lampton Greenspace 360 and Coalo Ltd.

The findings and recommendations arising from the session were:

1. The Committee recommends that the Lampton Group continues to reduce cost and actively monitor the delivery and compliance of its Business Plan.
2. The Committee welcomes the Lampton Groups proposed three-year plan, with the expectation that the plan sets out a realistic, viable timeline towards profitability.
3. The Committee actively encourages the Council to consider commissioning the Lampton Group to deliver services where appropriate.
4. Recognising the Lampton Groups' current focus on organic growth, the Committee encourages the Lampton Group to consider tendering for more business within and beyond Hounslow within the parameters of the growth framework as approved in February 2025 by the Council's Cabinet.

Scrutiny Panel and Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Updates

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to receive updates on the work of its scrutiny panels and the North West London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (NWL JHOSC). The scrutiny panels, covering Children and Young People, Health and Adults Care, and Housing and Environment, each focus on a single substantive topic throughout the municipal year.

• Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel: Considering the Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP).
• Health and Adults Care Scrutiny Panel: Focusing on the ongoing pressures within adult social care, with a particular emphasis on the integration of health and social care services in Hounslow.
• Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panel: Considering land ownership in the borough.

Councillor Marina Sharma is Hounslow's representative on the NWL JHOSC.

Forward Plan Review

The committee was scheduled to review the Forward Plan and consider whether work contained within it should come before the committee later in the municipal year. The Forward Plan October 2025 to January 2026 lists all decisions to be taken by the Cabinet, Cabinet Sub Groups, the Leader and Cabinet Members.

Items listed on the forward plan included:

• Service Renewal - Tier 2 CAMHS
• Hounslow's Vision 2050
• West London Waste Plan Refresh - Regulation 18 Consultation
• Housing Assistance Policy - Disabled Facilities Grant
• Final Housing Strategy 2025-2030
• Treasury Management Mid-Year Report - 2025/26
• Hounslow's Culture Strategy
• Financial Monitoring Update Quarter 2 2025/26
• Enforcement Review Outline Business Case Submission
• Hounslow Homecare Procurement
• Quarterly Performance Reporting 2025-26 (Quarter 2)
• Delivery Plan Monitoring - Q2 2025/26
• Golden Mile Strategic Case for Investment
• CCTV Maintenance Contract
• Brentford Fountains Leisure Centre Update
• Corporate Services Contracts Review - Outline Business Case
• Delivering our wider borough climate infrastructure
• Renewal of Inter-Authority Agreement with HB Public Law
• Climate Emergency Action Plan
• Buildings Cleaning Service - Coalo
• Non -Assessed Short Breaks Framework
• Contract for provision of agency workers
• Registered Provider Small Sites Programme
• Council Tax Base 2026/27

Work Programme Review

The committee was scheduled to review and agree its work programme for the year. The committee was asked to consider if there were items that could be added or removed from it.

The Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2025/26 listed the following substantive items:

• Medium Term Financial Strategy
• Regulator of Social Housing inspection report
• Recommendations from Lampton Group Scrutiny in a Day
• Budget
• NHS and Health systems
• Resilience and emergency planning
• Final reports from the Children and Young People, Health and Adult Care, and Housing and Environment Scrutiny Panels

The document also listed the following additional standing items:

• Scrutiny panels and JHOSC updates
• Forward Plan
• Work programme review
• Resident Experience – metrics, targets, progress
• Youth Scrutiny
• Work programme – suggestions for 2026/27