The Children, Education and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee of West Northamptonshire Council was scheduled to meet on Monday 29 June 2026. The meeting's agenda included a review of a Cabinet decision regarding the Private Rented Sector Discharge Policy and the consideration of the Committee's work programme for the upcoming year.

Call-in of Cabinet Decision: Private Rented Sector Discharge Policy

A significant item scheduled for discussion was the call-in of a Cabinet decision made on 9 June 2026, concerning the approval of the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Discharge Policy. This policy outlines how the Council will discharge its homelessness duties through the provision of accommodation in the private rented sector. The call-in was initiated on the grounds of insufficient consultation, inadequate financial analysis, and concerns regarding the impact on equality and human rights. Specifically, the grounds for call-in highlighted that no Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the policy prior to the Cabinet decision. The policy's provisions, such as discharging duty without household consent and permitting out-of-area placements, were noted as having significant implications for vulnerable households. Concerns were also raised about the lack of detailed financial implications in the officer report and the adequacy of the equality impact assessment for a policy affecting households with protected characteristics. The call-in requested that the Cabinet defer approval of the policy pending a full scrutiny review, including a properly costed financial analysis, an enhanced equality impact assessment, defined criteria for out-of-area placements, and full disclosure of supporting policy and procedure documents.

Committee Work Programme 2026/27

The Committee was scheduled to consider and agree its work programme for the 2026/27 municipal year. The draft work programme identified several potential topics for future scrutiny. These included a review of performance reports for services within the Committee's remit, consideration of outcomes from the Inspection of Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS), and pre-decision scrutiny of a new Rent and Service Charge Setting Policy for the Council's social housing stock. Other proposed topics for scrutiny included the SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy, the development of a new strategy for children's social care, and progress on the delivery of the Family Help Strategy. The programme also flagged potential scrutiny of the effectiveness of home-to-school transport, the transition between children's and adult social care, support for children and families waiting for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), trends in school exclusions, and school place planning for secondary schools. The Committee was also to consider the ongoing oversight of the in-housing process for Northamptonshire Partnership Homes housing stock and services.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at Meeting Room G01, One Angel Square, Angel Street, Northampton NN1 1ED. The agenda and reports pack for this meeting are available to view.