The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee of Wiltshire Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 29 July 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the council's performance and risk monitoring for the 2025/26 financial year, an update on human resources and organisational development, and progress reports from various task groups. The committee will also consider its forward work programme.

Performance and Risk Monitoring Report 2025/26 Q4

The committee is scheduled to consider the quarterly report on corporate performance and risk for the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. This report, presented to Cabinet on 15 July 2026, provides an update on performance against the priorities outlined in the council's Our Wiltshire Plan 2025-35 and details the council's strategic risks. The report indicates that of the 78 indicators on the scorecard, 60 (76.9%) were ranked as either positive or neutral. The overall level of current strategic risk is assessed as medium. The report also details updates to the descriptions of several strategic risks, including those related to carbon neutrality ambitions, climate impacts, staff capacity and wellbeing, and the impact of changes in government policy.

Human Resources & Organisational Development Annual Report

The committee will review the Human Resources & Organisational Development (HR&OD) Annual Report for 2025/26. This report summarises the team's activities over the past year and outlines priorities and challenges for the upcoming year. Key areas of focus for 2025/26 included wellbeing and inclusion, management and leadership capability, and employee experience. The report highlights efforts to strengthen inclusion through initiatives like reverse mentoring and neurodiversity training, and to improve management capability through new policies and development programmes. For 2026/27, priorities include embedding a new Hybrid Working Policy, enhancing digital capability, and continuing efforts to reduce sickness absence. The report also notes workforce challenges such as persistent recruitment and retention difficulties and increasing complexity in employee relations cases.

Task Group Updates

Updates are scheduled on the activities of several task groups. The Stone Circle Standing Task Group, chaired by Councillor Gerry Murray, continues to scrutinise the activities of the council's wholly-owned Stone Circle companies, focusing on business plans, land development decisions, financial risk management, and data quality. The group met on 16 July 2026 to discuss outstanding issues related to Stone Circle Development and to begin reviewing the Housing Company strategy.

The Area Boards Grant Funding Task Group, chaired by Councillor Alan Hagger, is reviewing the grant funding model used by Wiltshire Council's Area Boards. This group has met twice since the last committee meeting to consider the feasibility of a crowdfunding model for Area Board grants, the introduction of a central 'Wiltshire Council Community Fund', and the simplification of grant funding criteria.

Forward Work Programme

The committee will also review its Forward Work Programme, which outlines the topics scheduled for discussion in future meetings. This includes updates from the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Select Committees regarding their areas of scrutiny. The forward work programmes for the Finance & Procurement Select Committee, Environment Select Committee, Children's Select Committee, Health Select Committee, and the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee itself are all included in the papers. These programmes detail upcoming agenda items, task groups, and rapid scrutiny exercises across various council functions, including financial monitoring, environmental initiatives, children's services, health services, and corporate governance.

The meeting will also include standard agenda items such as apologies, minutes of the previous meeting, declarations of interest, and Chairman's announcements, as well as a period for public participation.