The Scrutiny Coordinating Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss corporate impact, the delivery of Mission Waltham Forest, and an update on the Corporate Peer Challenge. The committee, chaired by Councillor Yusuf Patel, will also review the forward plan and action tracker to ensure the council's scrutiny functions are aligned with its strategic priorities.

Corporate Impact Framework

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the council's Corporate Impact Framework (CIF) for the period ending September 2025. The CIF is designed to monitor the impact of the council's strategies, policies and interventions against its key priorities, as outlined in Mission Waltham Forest. The report pack indicates that the discussion will focus on key impact measures relating to the council's financial stability, including:

• Households in Temporary Accommodation (TA): The report pack notes a steady increase in the number of households accessing temporary accommodation, attributing this to a reduction in affordable private rented sector properties and social homes. It also mentions that the freezing of the Local Housing Allowance¹ in April 2025 has made it harder for people on low incomes to rent privately. The report pack states that:

This increased demand paired with other factors such as increased TA costs means that TA more broadly is an area of significant financial pressure for the council, contributing to a £14.4 million in-year overspend, creating unsustainable pressure for subsequent financial years.

The report pack states that the Cabinet approved a Temporary Accommodation to Settled Homes Strategy in November 2025, and that the council is also increasing affordable housing supply through developments such as the [Patchworks](https://www.google.com/maps/search/Patchworks+Forest+Road+Walthamstow/) development and [Fellowship Square](https://www.google.com/maps/search/Fellowship+Square+Walthamstow/).

• Rate of Looked After Children: The report pack suggests that while the volume of demand for services is reducing in Children's Social Care (CSC), rising costs of provision and complexity of need continue to put pressure on the council's financial position. The report pack states that the council is using Edge of Care and Functional Family Therapy services to support families and strengthen the extended family network.

The report pack also indicates that the committee will receive an update on plans to expand access to the CIF dashboard to all scrutiny members from May 2026, along with tailored training.

Mission Waltham Forest Delivery Update

The committee is scheduled to discuss a delivery update on Mission Waltham Forest, which launched in March 2024. The report pack states that Mission Waltham Forest is the council's plan for a more equal borough, bringing together the council, partners and communities to focus on the issues that most shape residents' lives. The report pack highlights progress across the six borough missions, including:

• Ensuring every family and every child are given every opportunity: The report pack notes that the council's Edge of Care Service has reunified 33 children with their families since January 2024, and that there has been a 20% reduction in the number of children in care in Waltham Forest over the last two years.
• Building an economy that works for everyone: The report pack mentions the launch of the Inclusive Growth and Economy Framework, as well as tailored employment programmes such as the Trailblazer programme and the Connect to Work Employment Support programme.
• Making Waltham Forest a great place to live and age well: The report pack highlights the launch of Waltham Forest Max, a new community-based model bringing together council services, NHS partners, and the voluntary sector in libraries.
• Tackling the housing crisis head on: The report pack states that the council has directly delivered 519 new homes since April 2024, including 285 affordable homes and a further 46 for social rent.
• Leading the way for a net-zero borough: The report pack mentions the launch of the council's own Retrofit Company, as well as the installation of over 1,500 electric vehicle charging sockets.
• Creating safe, green neighbourhoods where everyone can thrive: The report pack highlights the launch of the UK's first Citizens' Assembly on the Future of Neighbourhood Policing, as well as the Safer Routes initiative.

The report pack also sets out the council's ambition for the next phase of Mission Waltham Forest delivery, including a sharper focus on prevention, targeted support, collaboration and aligning services around missions to maximise impact.

Corporate Peer Challenge Update

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the council's Corporate Peer Challenge, which took place in June 2024. The Peer Team included local government colleagues from Brent, Cornwall, Greenwich, Southwark, and Warwickshire, as well as the Local Government Association (LGA). The report pack outlines the progress made in response to the recommendations from the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge visit in June 2024, as set out in the council's Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan published in November 2024. It also includes a summary of the Peer Challenge Return Visit, which took place on 7 April 2025, along with the Return Visit Report that marks the conclusion of the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge process. The report pack notes that the Peer Team identified a number of areas where the council has demonstrated strong progress and positive impact since the original Corporate Peer Challenge, highlighting the following key strengths:

• Strong leadership from the Leader and Chief Executive, and good alignment between SLT and Cabinet.
• A more mature and open organisational culture is being fostered.
• The strategic vision and Mission Waltham Forest is seen as a positive and valuable anchor for decision-making.
• Partnership working is improving.
• The financial position shows improvement.

The report pack also notes several areas where further work is required to fully embed change and sustain improvement, including:

• Embedding new ways of working and cultural change.
• Ensuring Mission Waltham Forest is accessible, visible, and clearly understood by all residents, staff, and partners.
• Further developing and embedding the broader partnership landscape under Mission Waltham Forest.
• Continuing to build and strengthen robust outcome and impact frameworks.

Other Items

The committee is also scheduled to review the forward plan and action tracker.