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Executive - Monday 20 July 2026 3.00 pm
July 20, 2026 at 3:00 pm Executive View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)Summary
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The Executive of Southwark Council met on Monday 20 July 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including the future of vital mental health services for young people and the continuation of support for residents living with dementia. The council also approved a new policy to enhance standards in the private rented sector and noted reports on the council's financial outturn for the previous year.
Protecting Essential Services for Young People and Vulnerable Residents
The Executive reaffirmed its commitment to protecting The Nest, a mental health service for children and young people, and announced that it would prevent the service from closing in November 2026. Referrals will reopen as soon as possible, and a Gateway 2 report is scheduled for the next Executive meeting to outline proposals for sustainable, multi-year funding. Contingency funding has been secured to ensure that young people currently accessing the service can complete their programmes, and those on the waiting list will be able to start and finish their support. The summer programme organised by The Nest will also proceed as planned.
In a similar vein, the Executive announced its intention to protect support for vulnerable residents by approving a four-year grant of £164,000 per year to the Alzheimer's Society. This funding, totalling £656,000, will recommence on 1 September 2026 and will re-establish the Dementia Advisor Service in Southwark, offering crucial support to residents living with dementia and their families and carers.
Enhancing Standards in the Private Rented Sector
The Executive agreed to adopt the revised Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy (PSHEP), which will be implemented in line with the Renters' Rights Act 2025. This new policy aims to raise standards across the private rented sector, protect tenants, and ensure landlords are held accountable for their legal obligations. The policy provides a consistent, robust, and transparent framework for enforcement activities, with increased financial penalties for landlords who breach their obligations. Income generated from these penalties will be reinvested in bolstering enforcement activity and tenant protections. The Executive also delegated authority for minor amendments and updates to the policy to the Strategic Director of Environment, Sustainability and Leisure, in consultation with relevant officers and Executive members.
Financial Outturn and Future Planning
The Executive noted the Policy and Resources: Out-turn Capital Monitoring Report 2025-26, which detailed the council's capital expenditure for the previous financial year. The report highlighted an ambitious capital programme requiring significant borrowing, with costs being prudently managed despite a volatile geopolitical environment. The Housing Investment Programme (HIP) has faced challenges, including overspending, but the council remains committed to delivering new council homes and maintaining existing stock.
The Policy and Resources: Out-turn Revenue Monitoring Report 2025-26 presented a more challenging picture, indicating revenue budgets under sustained pressure. The report noted a historically large drawdown of £25.3 million from reserves to balance the budget, largely due to pressures in temporary accommodation and adult social care. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was also highlighted as being in a precarious financial position, requiring urgent action.
The Policy and Resources: Financial Remit Report provided an update on the council's Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), outlining the significant financial challenges ahead, including a £102 million funding gap. The report emphasised the need for a rigorous and open savings process, with a commitment to finding efficiencies, eliminating waste, and protecting essential services. The council also plans to involve residents in the budget-setting process through a large-scale budget participation exercise.
Governance and Local Plan Development
The Executive approved the Governance Arrangements for the Monitoring of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 Projects. This decision aims to strengthen oversight, project management, and accountability for projects funded through CIL and Section 106 by integrating them into the council's overall capital governance framework. This will enhance strategic consistency and improve the monitoring and visibility of these projects.
The Executive also agreed the Local Plan Timetable 2026-2029, marking the formal commencement of work on the new Southwark Plan 2045. This timetable sets out a clear three-year programme, including consultative stages and engagement with the planning inspectorate, with the ultimate adoption of the Southwark Plan in 2029. This document will shape the borough's growth over the coming decades, influencing housing development, town centres, local jobs, infrastructure, and the response to the climate emergency. The council committed to meaningful engagement with residents throughout the plan-making process.
Appointments and Motions
The Executive also made a number of appointments to outside bodies and panels, boards, and forums for the 2026-27 municipal year. Additionally, motions referred from Council Assembly on topics including A borough where everyone can succeed,
Tackling antisocial behaviour on Southwark's estates,
and Protecting the Freedom Pass for Older Londoners
were noted. Reports from the Housing Scrutiny Commission and the Environment, Community Safety and Engagement Scrutiny Commission regarding play spaces were also noted, with a commitment to a response from the relevant Executive members within eight weeks.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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Policy and Resources: Out-turn capital monitoring report 2025-26
Recommendations ApprovedThe Executive of Southwark Council approved the out-turn capital monitoring report for 2025-26 on 20 July 2026. The report noted the capital out-turn position for the General Fund and the Housing Investment Programme. The approved variations and virements to the General Fund and Housing Investment Programme capital programme were included in the capital programme.
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Policy and Resources: Out-turn capital monitoring report 2025-26
Recommendations ApprovedThe Strategic Director of Environment, Sustainability and Leisure approved the procurement strategy and contract award for the East Lodge Building Restoration on 9 May 2025. This decision approved the award of the contract to Paye Stonework and Restoration Limited for shell and core works, with a client contingency of 12%. The contract will run for 40 weeks.
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Policy and Resources : Out-turn revenue monitoring report 2025-26
Recommendations ApprovedThe Executive decided to note the revenue out-turn position for 2025-26 on 20 July 2026. The decision approved the use of £25.3m of reserves to balance the 2025-26 outturn and noted interdepartmental budget and reserve movements exceeding £275k.
The Strategic Director of Children and Adult Services agreed the 2027/28 coordinated admission schemes for Primary, Junior, Secondary, and Year 10 admissions on 8 July 2026. The decision noted that these schemes had worked effectively and remained unchanged from the previous year. The schemes include mandatory elements for participating local authorities and a pan-London timetable for processing applications and outcomes.
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Policy and Resources : Out-turn revenue monitoring report 2025-26
Recommendations ApprovedThe Executive approved the revenue out-turn monitoring report for 2025-26 on 20/07/2026.
The Executive Member for Council Homes approved the payment of Getting Involved Grants (GIG) on 27/07/2026. This decision approved £32,056 for various community groups.
The Strategic Director of Children and Adult Services approved the award of refurbishment works at Ivydale Primary School to Stonegrove Limited for £2,763,367 on 28/07/2026.
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Governance arrangements for the monitoring of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 Projects
Recommendations ApprovedThe Executive of Southwark Council decided on 20 July 2026 to approve recommendations regarding governance arrangements for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 projects. Officers will implement a unified governance framework, update guidance, and align monitoring and reporting of CIL and Section 106 schemes with existing capital monitoring arrangements.
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Governance arrangements for the monitoring of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 Projects
Recommendations ApprovedThe Executive of Southwark Council approved recommendations for a unified governance framework for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 projects on 20 July 2026. Officers will implement this framework, update guidance, and align monitoring and reporting of CIL and Section 106 schemes with existing capital monitoring arrangements. The adoption of a capital project flowchart as the standard route for project identification, assessment, reporting, approval, and monitoring for CIL and Section 106 funded projects was also approved.
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Policy and Resources: Financial Remit report
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Communities, Democracy and Finance approved the payment of Christmas 2023 small grants of up to £600 to tenants and residents associations and constituted community groups. This decision was made on 15 December 2023, with a total expenditure of up to £50,000 from the Getting Involved Grants fund. The grants are intended to enable residents to organise social events and foster community cohesion.
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Policy and Resources: Out-turn capital monitoring report 2025-26
Recommendations ApprovedThe Leader of the council approved amendments to the Howland Way and Reverley Square Controlled Parking Zone 'S' on 24 June 2026. These amendments include introducing 'Permit Holders Past This Point' zones in Reveley Square, Somerford Way, and Steers Way, and changing Howland Way to a 'Permit Holders Past This Point' zone. New double yellow lines will be added in Howland Way, Steers Way, and Somerford Way to prevent parking on turns and near junctions.
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Renters' Rights Act 2025 and adoption of new Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy
Recommendations ApprovedThe Executive of Southwark Council decided to adopt the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and a new Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy on 20/07/2026. The Executive delegated authority to the Strategic Director of ESL to make minor amendments to the policy.
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Policy and Resources: Out-turn capital monitoring report 2025-26
Recommendations ApprovedThe Executive approved the out-turn capital monitoring report for 2025-26 on 20 July 2026. The report noted the capital out-turn position for the General Fund and the Housing Investment Programme. Approved variations and virements to the General Fund and HIP capital programme were also agreed.
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Renters' Rights Act 2025 and adoption of new Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy
Recommendations ApprovedThe Executive decided to approve recommendations regarding the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and the adoption of a new Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy on 20 July 2026. The Executive delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Environment, Sustainability and Leisure to make minor amendments to the policy and to implement further policies related to the Renters' Rights Act.
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Policy and Resources: Financial Remit report
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet of Southwark Council approved virements and variations to the general fund and housing investment capital programmes, and noted funding requirements and mitigating actions for the housing investment programme on 17 January 2024. The decision included approving new capital bids for various divisions, such as TDS, CFM, Leisure, Environment, and Planning & Growth.
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Policy and Resources: Financial Remit report
Recommendations ApprovedThe Executive of Southwark Council approved the Financial Remit report on 20 July 2026.
The Executive Member for Council Homes approved the payment of £32,056 in Getting Involved Grants to various resident groups on 27 July 2026.
The Executive of Southwark Council adopted the Local Plan timetable on 20 July 2026. -
Renters' Rights Act 2025 and adoption of new Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy
Recommendations ApprovedThe Executive approved the adoption of a unified governance framework for capital projects funded through Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 agreements on 20 July 2026. This framework aligns these projects with the council's existing capital governance framework while retaining current approval arrangements. The Executive also noted the reporting of capital Section 106 funded projects through the same process as other capital programmes and adopted the capital project flowchart as the standard route for project identification, assessment, reporting, approval, and monitoring.
The Leader of the Council approved a variation to the contract with Matrix SCM Ltd for the supply of agency workers on 30 June 2026. This variation extends the contract term by two one-year increments from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2028, at an estimated cost of up to £45m per annum. The decision also noted the transfer of contract spend to agencies in Matrix SCM Ltd's supply chain and the establishment of an agency worker reduction programme.
The Executive approved the adoption of the Local Plan timetable (LPT) on 20 July 2026. This timetable sets out the key milestones and consultation stages for the review of the Southwark Plan over the next three years, in line with new plan-making legislation. The Executive also agreed to delegate approval for further updates to the LPT to the Director of Planning and Growth.
The Executive Member for Council Homes approved the payment of Getting Involved Grants (GIG) on 27 July 2026. This decision approves the payment of £32,056 to Sheltered Housing Units (SHUs), Tenant Management Organisations (TMOs), Tenants and Residents associations (TRAs), and constituted community groups as listed in the report.
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