The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 17 March 2026 to discuss the Integrated Settlement Outcomes Framework, the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and the development of the South Yorkshire Strategy. The committee also reviewed the draft Chair's Annual Report for 2025/26.

Integrated Settlement: Update and Outcomes Framework

The committee received an update on the draft Integrated Settlement Outcomes Framework (ISOF), which outlines how the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) will deliver and report on its Integrated Settlement performance between 2026 and 2029. While most indicators and targets have been agreed with the government, a few are still under discussion. The SYMCA's readiness for the new flexibilities and responsibilities associated with the Integrated Settlement was assessed by PwC, with findings largely aligning with SYMCA's own self-assessment. The assessment identified areas of leading practice, such as financial control and workforce capability, but also highlighted the need for investment in areas like outcomes tracking and legacy systems. An improvement plan has been developed and incorporated into budget proposals. The committee noted the potential impact of global events on future funding and delivery.

Local Nature Recovery Strategy

An update was provided on the emerging South Yorkshire Consultation Draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). SYMCA is the statutory Responsible Authority for this strategy, which aims to identify locations for habitat creation and improvement to benefit nature and the environment. The strategy has been developed collaboratively with local authorities, the Peak District National Park Authority, Natural England, and other stakeholders. Key elements include identifying priorities and measures for habitat and species recovery, with a focus on ecological corridors. The draft LNRS will be published for a six-week public consultation in May/June, with final adoption expected by the end of the year. The committee noted that beavers are included as a species for reintroduction and that the strategy will help identify sites for tree planting. Concerns were raised about the non-binding nature of the strategy and its potential interaction with the planning system.

South Yorkshire Strategy Development

The committee was presented with the initial draft of the South Yorkshire Strategy, a regional framework designed to create a shared vision for the future of South Yorkshire. Developed jointly by local authorities and SYMCA, the strategy builds on existing local plans and aims to enhance collective impact through alignment, shared learning, and strategic coordination. It includes three long-term ambition statements and eight outcome areas. The next phase will involve engaging a wider range of partners from health, education, emergency services, business, and the voluntary and community sectors to refine priorities and strengthen collaborative approaches. The committee noted the ambitious nature of the strategy and discussed how its outcomes would be measured and how it would prevent SYMCA and local authorities from working in isolation.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Draft Chair's Annual Report 2025/26

The draft annual report for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2025/26 was presented. Key themes included the need for SYMCA's governance and scrutiny arrangements to evolve with increasing devolution, the intention to focus the committee's work plan on significant upcoming change programmes, and the utilisation of informal structures for deeper scrutiny. Councillor Angela Argenzio highlighted the importance of revisiting the decision regarding Doncaster Sheffield Airport due to changes in its business case, and the committee agreed to bring this item back for further scrutiny. Concerns were raised about the gap between formal committee meetings during the pre-election period, and officers confirmed their willingness to provide informal briefings. Due to the meeting no longer being quorate, the committee was unable to formally approve the recommendations within the report.