The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of West Suffolk Council met on Thursday 16 July 2026 to review a range of reports and recommendations. Key discussions were scheduled to cover community safety, transport and infrastructure, the council's annual performance, and future work programmes.

Western Suffolk Community Safety Partnership Monitoring Report

The committee was scheduled to consider the Western Suffolk Community Safety Partnership Monitoring Report for April 2025 to March 2026. This report details the partnership's activities and priorities, which included addressing criminal exploitation, violence against women and girls, modern slavery, counter-terrorism (Prevent), and anti-social behaviour. The report also highlighted work on hate crime and fraud. Specific initiatives mentioned included the Criminal Exploitation Hubs, Multi-Agency Criminal Exploitation Panels, and the Newmarket Together project, which involved the closure of vape shops selling illegal products. The report also outlined the Suffolk Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and progress on Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDRs).

Transport and Infrastructure Task and Finish Group Recommendations

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the recommendations from the Transport and Infrastructure Task and Finish Group. This group's work aimed to inform the preparation of the new West Suffolk Local Plan by understanding how the council could collaborate with Suffolk County Council, the NHS, and other partners on infrastructure planning and delivery. The report detailed the group's progress through various stages, including meetings with infrastructure providers and research into other authorities' practices. Key recommendations focused on aligning approaches with other Suffolk authorities, holding Suffolk-wide stakeholder engagement sessions, establishing Service Level Agreements, preparing Statements of Common Ground (SOCGs) with infrastructure providers, and developing Memorandums of Co-operation (MOCs). The report also highlighted the importance of a joint Suffolk-wide approach to transport infrastructure engagement and the preparation of a joint transport evidence base.

Draft West Suffolk Annual Report 2025 to 2026

The committee was also scheduled to review the draft West Suffolk Annual Report for 2025 to 2026. This report summarises the key activities and developments achieved during the financial year, aligning with the council's strategic priorities: affordable, available, and decent homes; environmental resilience; sustainable growth; and thriving communities. The report included highlights on housing delivery, homelessness reduction, environmental initiatives such as carbon emission reductions and renewable energy generation, sustainable growth through business support and town centre revitalisation, and efforts to foster thriving communities through various programmes and services. Specific case studies and progress reports on strategies like the Housing, Homelessness Reduction and Rough Sleeping Strategy were also included.

Appointments to Outside Scrutiny Bodies - Suffolk Health Scrutiny Committee

A procedural item involved the appointment of representatives to the Suffolk Health Scrutiny Committee. The committee was asked to appoint one full and one substitute member from its full membership to serve on the Suffolk Health Scrutiny Committee for the remainder of the current administration's term. This was necessary as West Suffolk Council currently had no appointed representatives on this committee. The report outlined the role and responsibilities of the Health Scrutiny Committee and noted that members appointed must not also be members of the Suffolk Health and Wellbeing Board.

Suffolk County Council Health Scrutiny Committee: Meeting of 3 March 2026

In relation to the Suffolk Health Scrutiny Committee, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was to note a paper attached as an appendix, which was the agenda pack from the Health Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 3 March 2026. This was provided to keep members informed of the discussions at that meeting, as West Suffolk Council currently had no appointed representative on the Health Scrutiny Committee. The agenda for the 3 March meeting included updates on the Essex and Suffolk Elective Orthopaedic Centre, reports from Board Observers, and consideration of the Forward Work Programme.

Suffolk County Council Suffolk Police and Crime Panel: Meeting of 20 March 2026

Similarly, the committee was to note a report attached as an appendix detailing the proceedings of the Suffolk Police and Crime Panel meeting held on 20 March 2026. The council's appointed representatives on this panel had attended the meeting. The report indicated that the panel had scrutinised Theme 2 of the Police and Crime Commissioner's (PCC) 2025-2029 Police and Crime Plan, focusing on commissioning services that support victims and reduce crime. The panel also received verbal updates from the PCC and reviewed recent PCC decisions.

Cabinet Decisions Plan: 1 July 2026 to 31 May 2027

The committee was presented with the Cabinet Decisions Plan for the period of 1 July 2026 to 31 May 2027. The purpose of this item was for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to identify any items within the plan on which they would like further information or felt might benefit from their involvement during the coming year. The plan outlines key decisions and other executive decisions intended to be taken by the Cabinet, Portfolio Holders, joint committees, or officers under delegated authority. Items scheduled included decisions on the Leisure Services Delivery Model, Haverhill High Street enhancements, Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), the Cyber Security Strategy, the Draft West Suffolk Annual Report, and the Environment and Climate Change Update.

Scrutiny Work Programme Update

Finally, the committee was to review and note the current status of its rolling work programme for 2026/2027, as detailed in an appendix. This report provided an update on items scheduled for scrutiny, including regular items such as reporting on meetings of the Suffolk County Council Health Scrutiny Committee and the Suffolk Police and Crime Panel, and the Cabinet Decisions Plan. It also noted the ongoing work of the Transport and Infrastructure Task and Finish Group and potential future items for review, such as Housing Regeneration projects.