The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the pressures on the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process, particularly concerning children moving into the borough, and to receive an update on Barking and Dagenham's Neighbourhood Policing. Key decisions included a commitment to investigate further data on children moving into the borough with EHCPs and to continue efforts to enhance community engagement and address crime.

The EHCP Process and Demand from New Arrivals

The committee received a detailed presentation on the challenges faced by the EHCP process, specifically focusing on the demand generated by children and young people moving into Barking and Dagenham with existing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Jane Hargreaves, Commissioning Director of Education, and Denise, Head of SEND, explained the statutory duties of the council in maintaining these plans, which can include continuing placements in independent or non-maintained special schools, even if the associated fees are significant.

A key concern raised was the impact of these in-year admissions on council resources. In 2025, 178 children and young people with EHCPs moved into the borough, with 79 (44.3%) requiring the council to secure new specialist provision or arriving with no current educational placement. A significant proportion of these, 84%, came from other London boroughs, with Redbridge and Havering being notable sources. The cost of providing for these children was estimated at over £2.2 million for named provisions and an additional quarter of a million pounds for interim tuition for those arriving without a placement.

Councillors expressed concern about the capacity of specialist provision, noting that most special schools and Additional Resource Provisions (ARPs) are already full, particularly for children with autism. The council is actively working to increase specialist places, having opened three new special schools and expanded existing ones in recent years, with plans for further expansion. However, the rate of new place creation is struggling to keep pace with demand.

The discussion also touched upon the complexities of timescales for reviewing EHCPs for new arrivals, the challenges of securing timely placements, and the potential for legal challenges if statutory duties are not met. The council reiterated its commitment to the principle of local schools for our children, aiming for mainstream or specialist provision as close to home as possible, aligning with government policy on inclusion.

Barking and Dagenham Neighbourhood Policing Update

Superintendent Biju Premnath and Acting Chief Inspector Carol Weeden provided an update on the work of Barking and Dagenham's Neighbourhood Policing teams. The structure remains the same, with ward and town centre teams operating across three clusters, and teams are currently at full strength, though vacancies are expected due to natural churn. Officers' time abstracted from their ward duties averages four to five days per month, with detailed data available online.

The committee reviewed crime data, noting some corrections to the presentation regarding the direction of arrows for certain crime types. While overall crime figures fluctuate, specific areas of focus included robbery, where a dedicated three-month rolling plan involving hotspot policing, prevention strategies, and partnership working with the local authority and other agencies is in place. This plan includes initiatives like community protection orders, referrals to gang and youth violence streams, and safeguarding meetings.

Achievements highlighted included the implementation of the New Met for London plan, focusing on performance and operational progress. Intensified enforcement activity, including robbery arrests, retail crime interventions, and the use of live facial recognition technology, was noted. The Dagenham Heathway team was commended for over 100 arrests in 2025 and securing criminal behaviour orders.

The Crime and Enforcement Task Force, funded by the local authority, has been involved in a wide range of incidents, from anti-social behaviour to firearms discharges. The report noted an increase in firearms discharges from three in the previous financial year to six in the current year to date, though no homicides have occurred.

Changes to the neighbourhood policing model were discussed, including the disbandment of the Integrated Communications and Engagement team, with its functions now absorbed by ward and town centre officers. Licensing will move to a centralised model, and joint working with Transport for London (TfL) will be restructured.

Councillors raised questions about the capacity of specialist provision, the effectiveness of abstraction data, the resourcing of Dagenham Heathway, and the use of technology like live facial recognition and drones. Concerns were also raised about the perception of the police, the reporting of hate crime, and the impact of neighbourhood model changes on public engagement. The police acknowledged these concerns and outlined ongoing efforts to improve communication, community engagement, and to secure additional resources and technology.

Work Programme

The committee was asked to note the work programme, which included upcoming discussions on the BD Group, further EHCP review sessions focusing on data gathering, and a review of the Corporate Plan's priority on housing.