The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Haringey Council is scheduled to meet on 10 December 2025, to discuss the council's financial position, previously approved savings, and the committee's work programme. The main focus of the meeting is expected to be the finance update for the second quarter of 2025/26. Also to be discussed are the minutes of joint meetings between the Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel and the Children & Young People's Scrutiny Panel on the subject of the Council's Transitions Programme.

Finance Update - Q2 2025/26

The committee is scheduled to review the council's financial position at the end of Quarter 2 of the 2025/26 financial year. The report pack includes the report that was first published as part of the agenda papers for the Cabinet meeting on 9 December 2025.

The report indicates a forecast overspend of £23.4 million, despite improvements of £10.7 million since Quarter 1. This figure includes £37 million of budgeted spending funded from Exceptional Financial Support¹ (EFS). According to the report:

The forecast overspend is based on the latest available information and current assumptions about demand to the end of the year. Many services are impacted by external factors such as inflation and capacity within particular systems which are harder to accurately predict; housing is notably subject to this which is why the continued focus on reducing reliance on costly nightly paid emergency accommodation is critical.

The report also highlights potential risks, including inflationary pressures, unfunded costs within schools, and additional bad debt provision requirements.

The report pack also includes a number of appendices that provide further detail on the financial forecasts for each of the council's directorates:

• Children's Directorate Level Forecast
• Adults, Housing and Health Directorate Level Forecast
• Culture, Strategy and Communication Directorate Level Forecast
• Finance & Resources Directorate Level Forecast
• Corporate Directorate Level Forecast
• Environment and Residence Experience Directorate Level Forecast
• Housing Revenue Account Directorate Level Forecast
• Proposed Virements (Revenue and Capital)
• Debt Write Off
• Finance Response and Recovery Plan

The report also notes that the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) is forecast to overspend by £3.1 million, with the pressure remaining in the High Needs Block (HNB) which supports provision of delivery to children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is reporting a projected underspend of £514,000, driven by mitigating actions put in place to address the overspends reported in Quarter 1, which includes delays to recruitment.

The report also notes that Financial Response and Recovery Plans are in place and aimed at taking the necessary action to reduce the reliance on EFS and restore the Council's financial resilience and sustainability.

Previously Approved Savings

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on progress against savings that were approved in previous years but are being implemented during the forthcoming MTFS² period. The report pack notes that this report is to follow.

Minutes of Scrutiny Panel Meetings

The committee is scheduled to receive and note the minutes of joint meetings between the Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel and the Children & Young People's Scrutiny Panel on the subject of the Council's Transitions Programme. These meetings were held on 10 June 2025 and 28 May 2024.

The minutes from the meeting on 10 June 2025 include a presentation on the Council's Transitions Programme, which was introduced by Ann Graham, Corporate Director of Children's Services, Jo Baty, Director of Adult Social Services, Dionne Thomas, Director of Safeguarding and Social Care, and Sara Sutton Corporate Director of Adults, Health and Housing. Councillor Brabazon, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, and Councillor Das Neves, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, were also present.

The minutes from the meeting on 28 May 2024 include a presentation which provided an update to members on the development of a new Transitions programme in Haringey. The report and presentation were introduced by Beverley Hendricks, AD for Safeguarding & Social Care and Vicky Murphy, Service Director for Adult Social Services. Ann Graham, Director of Children's services was present for this agenda item, along with Dennis Scotland, Head of Children in Care and Placements. Councillor Brabazon, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools , and Families was also present.

Work Programme Update

The committee is scheduled to note the current 2025/26 work programme and to propose any amendments as required. The report pack includes the current draft iteration of the committee's work plan for 2025-26. The committee is expected to give consideration to the agenda items and reports required for its meetings in 2025/26. The next meeting is scheduled to be held on 19 January 2026.

The current Overview & Scrutiny Work Programme specifies that the meeting scheduled to be held on 19 January 2026 will include:

• Treasury Management Statement
• Draft recommendations from the Scrutiny Panels on the Budget for 2026/27 and the MTFS for 2026/27 – 2030/31

The report pack also includes the latest version of the council's Forward Plan, which provides notice of key decisions expected to be made by the council over the next 3 months.