The Scrutiny & Overview Committee of Croydon Council met on Wednesday 27 May 2026 to discuss the appointments to its various sub-committees. The meeting's agenda focused on determining the membership, including chairs and vice-chairs, for the Children and Young People, Health and Social Care, Homes, and Streets and Environment Sub-Committees, ensuring political balance in line with council representation.

Appointments to Scrutiny and Overview Sub-Committees

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the appointment of members to the four Scrutiny and Overview Sub-Committees: the Children and Young People Sub-Committee, the Health and Social Care Sub-Committee, the Homes Sub-Committee, and the Streets and Environment Sub-Committee. The report pack indicated that the committee was to review and determine the arrangements for these sub-committees, confirming the representation of different political groups and allocating seats accordingly.

The report highlighted that the separation of the former Streets, Environment and Homes Sub-Committee into two distinct bodies, the Homes Sub-Committee and the Streets and Environment Sub-Committee, was agreed in May 2025 and was due for review six months after the first meeting of the Housing Assurance Board. This board, established by the Executive Mayor to provide independent assurance on the Council's Housing service, first met on 15 December 2025, meaning the review was scheduled for June/July 2026.

The report recommended that the committee agree to the proposed membership of these sub-committees, including regular co-opted and reserve members, as well as the appointment of chairs and vice-chairs, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report pack. It was also noted that the division of the Streets, Environment & Homes Sub-Committee would remain in place pending the aforementioned review.

The report outlined the legal framework governing these appointments, referencing sections 15 to 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989¹ and the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990². These provisions mandate that the political composition of committees and sub-committees should reflect that of the full Council, ensuring that seats are allocated to political groups in proportion to their membership. Following the May 2026 elections, the Council's political balance was detailed as: Labour (42.5%), Conservative (40.85%), Green (11.27%), Liberal Democrat (2.82%), and Reform UK (2.82%).

The report proposed that each sub-committee would comprise seven members, plus co-opted members where applicable. This structure would result in three seats for the Labour Group, three for the Conservative Group, and one for the Green Group on each sub-committee, reflecting the overall proportionality of the Council. The Liberal Democrat and Reform UK groups, due to their smaller size, would not be allocated seats based on proportionality. The report also noted that the committee could not waive these political balance requirements at this meeting as prior notice had not been given, although changes could be made during the municipal year.

The report pack included Appendix 1, which detailed the proposed membership for each sub-committee, listing nominated Labour Group Members, Conservative Group Members, and Green Group Members, along with reserve members and co-opted representatives for specific sub-committees. For instance, the Children and Young People Sub-Committee was scheduled to have Labour members Rym Daoud, Maddie Henson, and Ellie Sandover (Vice-Chair), alongside Conservative members Councillor Michael Neal, Andrew Price, and Councillor Mark Johnson, with Natalie Vesty representing the Green Group.