The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee of Wokingham Council met on Tuesday 17 March 2026 to review progress on council initiatives and performance reports. The meeting was scheduled to discuss updates on the Tackling Poverty Action Plan, progress on council motions, and the Q3 2025-26 Corporate Performance Report. Other items on the agenda included proposals for the redevelopment of Seymour House, the Executive Forward Programme, and the committee's work programmes for the upcoming year.

Tackling Poverty Action Plan Update

The committee was scheduled to scrutinise the progress made on the Tackling Poverty Action Plan. This plan, supported by the Hardship Alliance, aims to assist residents experiencing or at risk of hardship. The report detailed activities aligned with three strategic objectives: supporting individuals out of poverty, strengthening community resilience to prevent poverty, and improving life opportunities for those in poverty. The plan includes direct financial support for low-income households, cost-of-living assistance, and funding for community organisations providing services such as debt advice, mental health support, and food pantries. The report also highlighted the transition from the Household Support Fund to the Crisis and Resilience Fund. The committee was expected to note the progress made and recognise the impact of this activity on residents in need and the reduction of inequalities.

Progress on Council Motions

The committee was set to scrutinise the progress made on motions previously agreed by the Council. A report was provided detailing actions taken on motions approved over the past two years, with Annex B containing the full wording of each motion. The committee was invited to examine the progress against these agreed actions and consider any arising matters. Looking ahead, an annual update report on council motions is to be submitted to the committee in future years.

Q3 2025-26 Corporate Performance Report

This report was scheduled for scrutiny to provide accountability and transparency regarding the Council's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for service areas. The Q3 2025/26 Corporate Performance Report indicated continued delivery despite significant challenges, including high demand, increasing complexity of needs, and national policy changes impacting the Council. Key highlights from the quarter included business rate collection recovering to target, stable revenue monitoring, and strong occupancy rates for the commercial property portfolio. The report also detailed performance across various directorates, noting successes such as an Outstanding Ofsted rating for Bridges Short Breaks Residential Home and improvements in customer satisfaction scores for some services. However, several KPIs were reported as Red, indicating areas missing targets, including the number of Freedom of Information requests handled within statutory timeframes, customer satisfaction with the website, early resolution of complaints, new permanent admissions to residential or nursing care homes for those aged 65+, and mothers receiving a first face-to-face antenatal contact with a health visitor. Actions to address these underperforming areas were outlined.

Redevelopment of Seymour House

The committee was scheduled to scrutinise proposals for the redevelopment of Seymour House, located at The Courtyard, Denmark Street, Wokingham. The report detailed the Council's proposal to redevelop the property to create 11 affordable specialist and general needs homes. This initiative aims to address a significant need for supported accommodation for various groups, including care leavers, individuals with learning disabilities, mental health needs, physical disabilities, and older people. The proposal included the transfer of Seymour House from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) at a value of £690,000. A capital budget of £3,600,000 was sought for the scheme, with funding proposed from S106 commuted sums, Homes England grant, and HRA borrowing. The report also outlined the implementation plan, including vacant possession, planning approvals, and procurement processes, with an anticipated completion date of summer 2027. The redevelopment is expected to provide cost avoidance for Children's Services and Adult Social Care and align with the Council's Climate Emergency Action Plan.

Executive Forward Programme

The committee was set to consider the latest Executive Forward Programme. This programme outlines items scheduled for decision by the Executive in the coming months. The agenda indicated that the Executive would be considering matters such as the Youth Offer Needs Assessment & Action Plan, Post 16 SEND Hub Financial sign off, the Consultation and Engagement Strategy, the redevelopment of Seymour House, the Risk Management Policy, the Unison Anti-Racism Charter, the Stock Condition Survey for the Council's Housing stock, and the Public Health Nursing Contract.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programmes 2026/27

The committee was scheduled to consider the draft work programmes for the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and the other Overview and Scrutiny Committees for the 2026/27 municipal year. This process involves shortlisting and prioritising issues of community concern, as well as those arising from the Council Plan and major policy changes. Suggestions for scrutiny topics were invited from committee chairs, executive members, directors, residents, community groups, and town and parish councils. The aim is to ensure a flexible programme that reflects local needs, prioritises impactful issues, involves stakeholders, and allows for responses to urgent matters.

Overview and Scrutiny Annual Reports 2025-26

The committee was due to consider the annual reports for the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and the other Overview and Scrutiny Committees for the 2025-26 municipal year. These reports summarise the key issues scrutinised throughout the year, the recommendations made to the Executive, and the impact on local communities. The reports are prepared for submission to Full Council in March 2026. The committee was asked to provide comments and feedback on these reports prior to their formal submission.

Action Tracker

Finally, the committee was scheduled to review the regular Action Tracker report. This report monitors the progress of actions arising from previous committee discussions and decisions, ensuring accountability and clarity on the implementation of agreed actions.