The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to consider the draft provisional Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2026-27 and to review the Council's Forward Plan. The committee also received updates on the Carbon Neutral Plan and air quality monitoring.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2026-27

The committee was scheduled to consider the draft provisional Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2026-27. This programme, developed with input from Scrutiny Panels, councillors, Cabinet Members, and senior officers, aims to align scrutiny activity with the Council's priorities and emerging issues. The proposed programme includes scrutiny of financial sustainability, corporate performance, housing, transport, climate change, community safety, digital transformation, children's services, adult social care, inclusive economic growth, and organisational effectiveness. It also incorporates a number of time-limited reviews overseen by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The work programme is provisional and will be reviewed following the adoption of the Council's new Corporate Plan in September 2026 to ensure continued alignment with strategic priorities. The committee was asked to make amendments as necessary and recommend the final programme to Full Council for approval.

Carbon Neutral Plan Update 24-25 & Air Quality Monitoring

A joint item was scheduled to provide an update on the Council's Carbon Neutral Plan and key findings from statutory air quality monitoring. The report indicated that operational carbon emissions had reduced by approximately one third since 2019, with significant reductions in transport fleet emissions. Borough-wide per capita emissions were reported to be declining, though not at the desired rate. Progress was noted on electric vehicle infrastructure, with plans for up to 2,000 EV charging points, and household waste to landfill had been reduced to 0%. The pension fund had also reduced its carbon footprint and increased investment in renewable energy.

Regarding air quality, most monitored locations were reported to meet national objectives for NO₂, PM10, and PM2.5. However, one monitoring site on Plumstead Road exceeded national guidance levels for NO₂. The borough remained above World Health Organisation guideline levels, indicating ongoing health concerns. Air quality improvements were linked to schemes such as neighbourhood management, active travel interventions, and school streets. Early findings from major infrastructure changes, including the Silvertown Tunnel, were not yet showing adverse impacts, though the assessment period was still in its early stages.

Members were expected to question whether the Council was on track to meet its 2030 carbon neutral target, with officers advising that a full trajectory analysis is complex due to external factors. A full review of the Carbon Neutral Plan, including scenario modelling, was scheduled for the following year. Discussions were also anticipated regarding the embedding of carbon considerations in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and decision-making processes, and the potential for establishing a cross-cutting governance structure to strengthen oversight of carbon reduction commitments. The effectiveness of air quality interventions, including neighbourhood management schemes and localised hotspot interventions, was also to be discussed.

Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to note the upcoming executive decisions set out in the Forward Plan for the period February 2026 – May 2026 and determine if any items required scrutiny. The Forward Plan provides notice of key and non-key decisions to be taken by Cabinet and individual Cabinet Members, as well as key decisions by Chief Officers. The plan is published monthly and is supplementary to the requirements of The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012. The committee was informed that the scheduling of business is a continuous process and changes to the Forward Plan are expected. If the committee identified any items for scrutiny, a request would need to be made to the Chief Executive in accordance with the agreed Work Programme arrangements.

Other Scheduled Items

The meeting also included standard procedural items such as receiving apologies for absence, announcing urgent business, and declarations of interest. Members were also requested to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 March 2026.