The Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission was scheduled to discuss draft recommendations for the upcoming year, review the work programme for 2025-26, and conduct an interview with the Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business. The meeting's agenda also included the approval of minutes from a previous meeting.

Draft Scrutiny Recommendations

The commission was set to consider draft recommendations for the Cabinet concerning both education and the local economy.

In the area of education, several recommendations were outlined:

• A proposal to instruct Children's Services to develop an improved, data-driven pupil place planning model that accounts for demographic shifts, cost-of-living changes, migration, and London-wide falling roll factors impacting Year 7 applications and secondary admissions.
• A recommendation to strengthen youth services by increasing awareness of youth clubs, expanding SEND-inclusive spaces and staff training, and ensuring Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) funding supports youth-led engagement.
• A proposal to embed a need-not-diagnosis approach in all schools and enhance Family Hub early-help pathways, aiming for measurable reductions in exclusions linked to unmet SEND and annual reporting on new SEND places.
• A recommendation for SSCP partners to improve monitoring and escalation of safeguarding risks associated with damp, mould, overcrowding, and poor housing, with shared protocols and baseline reporting by December 2026.
• Recommendations for SEND home-to-school transport, including enhancing safety, reliability, and oversight, ensuring all external personnel are paid at least the London Living Wage, and factoring these into public consultations.
• A proposal to implement a consistent borough-wide framework for managing school closures, ensuring early assignment of an admissions caseworker, timely SEND transition planning, clear mapping of site ownership, and structured parental engagement.

For the local economy, the draft recommendations included:

• A plan to implement a targeted infrastructure and safety improvement programme for East Street Market, including installing public bins, establishing cleanliness standards, providing free Wi-Fi, supporting modern signage, exploring free parking to increase footfall, and working with police and traders on a security enhancement plan. It was also recommended to review these improvements for application to other markets across the borough.
• A proposal to improve commercial property management by establishing a single repairs-and-communications system, reducing overdue repairs, and improving business navigation of council processes.
• A recommendation to expand the Connect to Work programme's integrated employment-and-health model, publishing annual outcomes data, strengthening employer partnerships, and ensuring the new Peckham Hub operates as a single-front-door service.
• A proposal to ensure targeted and borough-wide promotion of the Connect to Work Programme, positioning it as a pioneering, person-centred model of employment support.

Cabinet Member Interview: Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business

The commission was scheduled to receive a report from Councillor John Batteson, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business. This interview was intended to provide a holistic overview of key strategies and projects within his portfolio. Specific areas for discussion included targets for repairs in commercial units and the council's policy for compensating businesses that experience loss of trade or income due to damage, such as leaks from properties above.

The report accompanying this item detailed the council's efforts in supporting residents into employment through programmes like Southwark Works and Connect to Work, as well as initiatives focused on skills development, apprenticeships, and paid internships. It also outlined strategies for business support, town centre regeneration, and promoting the London Living Wage. The report highlighted the council's commercial property estate, its rental income, and management practices, alongside information on rent arrears and a debt action plan.

Work Programme 2025-26

The commission was also due to consider its work programme for the 2025-26 municipal year. This included reviewing scheduled items such as pupil place planning in primary schools, discussions with traders from East Street Market, and an update on the commercial property portfolio. The work programme also listed planned interviews with cabinet members and updates on specific projects like the Connect to Work programme and the post-closure situation for pupils of Charlotte Sharman and St. Mary Magdalene schools.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The commission was scheduled to approve the minutes from its previous meeting held on 5 February 2026. These minutes detailed discussions on the home-to-school transport services for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provided by HATS, and an update on the closure of Charlotte Sharman and St. Mary Magdalene primary schools. The minutes indicated that recommendations to Cabinet were likely to include ensuring all staff on the home-to-school contract are paid at least the London Living Wage, exploring joint procurement for value for money, and incorporating learnings from HATS' experience into the travel assistance consultation. The discussion on school closures highlighted lessons learned regarding site ownership and the need for early planning for complex SEND cases.