The Scrutiny & Overview Committee of Croydon Council met on Tuesday 21 July 2026 to discuss resident access to council services, the significant overspend in the Dedicated Schools Grant, and to review the council's work programme for the upcoming year. The meeting also included appointments to scrutiny sub-committees.

Overview of Resident Access

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of key services responsible for resident access to the council. This included an examination of how residents engage with the council through Resident Contact, the Library Service, and the Family Hubs Service. The report pack indicated that the council's Unified Front Door programme aims to create a more joined-up approach to customer contact, providing a consistent experience for residents and expanding digital and self-service options. The library service has seen increased usage following a review in 2024 that extended opening hours at nine libraries and transitioned four former library buildings into Community Bases operated by partner organisations. Family Hubs have also seen increased engagement, with two main hubs and six outreach hubs operating across the borough. The report pack recommended that the committee note the information provided, consider its initial views on the effectiveness and accessibility of these arrangements, and identify areas for further scrutiny.

Review of the Dedicated Schools Grant Overspend, Mitigations and Impact of National SEND Reforms

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to be dedicated to reviewing the substantial overspend within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), particularly concerning Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision. The report pack highlighted that Croydon's expenditure in 2025/26 was £118.6 million against a budget of £86.7 million, an overspend of £31.9 million, which was noted as the highest reported overspend across London. The report attributed this to a national trend of increasing demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) since the Children and Families Act 2014, coupled with rising complexity of need and a lack of sufficient funding. The report indicated that the cumulative net deficit was forecast to be £58 million as at 31 March 2026, with a potential grant of £52 million from the Department for Education (DfE) if local SEND reform plans were approved. The committee was recommended to review the information on the overspend, consider its conclusions on potential risks and mitigation, and make any appropriate comments or recommendations to the Executive Mayor and Cabinet.

Appointments to Scrutiny Sub-Committees

The committee was asked to agree appointments to fill reserve vacancies on the Scrutiny Sub-Committees. These appointments were proposed by the Labour Group.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2026-27

The committee was presented with the draft Scrutiny Work Programme for 2026-27. The programme indicated a continued focus on the council's finances and the Transformation Programme, alongside residents' access to council services. The report pack noted that the work programme may be subject to change based on emerging risks and invited the committee to consider any additional items for inclusion. The provisional work programmes for the committee and its sub-committees were appended to the report.

The meeting also included standard agenda items such as apologies for absence, the minutes of the previous meeting, and the disclosure of interests. There was also provision for urgent business if any arose.