The General Purposes Committee of Westminster Council was scheduled to discuss constitutional changes, including amendments to standing orders and the adoption of a new code of governance. The committee was also set to consider the Members' Allowance Scheme for 2026-2027 and approve compensation payments exceeding £2,000.

Constitutional Changes

The committee was scheduled to consider a report proposing amendments to the Council's Constitution to ensure its governance framework remains current and aligned with best practice. This included updates to the Full Council Standing Orders to refine procedural arrangements for debate, motions, and the conduct of business, aiming for fairness, transparency, and workability. Additionally, the report proposed the deletion of the existing, outdated, and overly complex Code of Governance, replacing it with a new, streamlined version. This new Code, developed with reference to best practices adopted by other local authorities and aligned with the CIPFA/SOLACE Delivering Good Governance in Local Government framework, is intended to provide a clear, modern, and accessible structure to support effective decision-making, strong accountability, and high standards of corporate governance. Minor drafting, typographical, or consequential amendments were also to be made to give effect to these decisions. The proposed changes were noted to have no direct financial implications.

Members' Allowance Scheme 2026-2027

The committee was scheduled to review and recommend the adoption of the Members' Allowances Scheme for the upcoming financial year, effective from 1 April 2026. The proposed scheme was based on the current scheme, with a recommended increase in the Basic Allowance and Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) in line with any salary increase for Council staff agreed by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services. The report indicated that the Members' Allowances budget for 2026-2027 was deemed sufficient to cover the proposed changes, with a total cost of £1,123,296.07, excluding employer National Insurance contributions. The scheme also included provisions for an ICT allowance and maintained the existing Dependants/Carers Allowance policy, with no proposed changes to travel and subsistence allowances outside the Greater London area. The Chief Whips of the Majority and largest Opposition Groups had been consulted on the proposals.

Approval of Compensation Payments Over £2,000

The committee was set to consider a report detailing compensation payments to be made to 11 service users, totalling £34,200. These payments, averaging £3,109 per person, were a result of formal complaints, primarily concerning the length of time service users spent in hotel accommodation and the limitations of this accommodation, which lacked self-contained cooking facilities. One complaint related to costs incurred during a move to a property. The report highlighted that these payments were necessary to comply with the Council's Good Practice Guide for Effective Complaint Handling and under Part F (Section 4) of Westminster City Council's Financial Regulations, as the compensation awarded to each client exceeded £2,000. The report also provided background on the significant rise in homelessness experienced by Westminster, with homelessness applications more than doubling between 2021/22 and 2024/25. This increase in demand for Temporary Accommodation (TA) had led to a marked rise in families placed in bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation across London and Westminster, considered unsuitable for children. Concern was expressed over households remaining in non-self-contained accommodation beyond the statutory six-week limit. The report detailed actions underway to address the issue, including an active programme to reduce reliance on B&B placements and improve the quality and suitability of TA provision. The compensation payments were to be funded from the TA budget of the General Fund allocation.

Constitutional Changes and London Squares Preservation Act 1931

The committee was scheduled to consider a report seeking to formalise the approval of the delegation of functions under the London Squares Preservation Act 1931¹ and Local Acts related to planning and building control, and to amend the constitution accordingly. It was noted that a review of the Council's records of delegation of local choice functions did not establish a record of the Council approving where functions under the 1931 Act or other Local Acts related to planning and building control should sit. While the Planning Committee's terms of reference clearly assigned these functions, the formal delegation was absent from the agreed Schedule in the Constitution. Additionally, the Planning Committees' Terms of Reference did not provide for statutory enforcement duties under the 1931 Act. Members were to discuss the importance of ensuring the constitution's robustness and to clarify and amend the terms of reference of the Council's Planning Committees to allow them to discharge consent and enforcement functions under the London Squares Preservation Act 1931. The recommendation was to formally delegate these functions, as non-executive functions, to the Council's Strategic and Planning Sub-Committees and to approve the amendments to the constitution.

Programme of Meetings 2026/2027

The committee was to receive a report and, following discussions, agree the proposed programme of meetings for the 2026/2027 municipal year. This included approving the dates for full Council meetings and the programme of other formal meetings.