The People Overview & Scrutiny Sub-Committee met to discuss the draft Scrutiny Working Protocol and to agree items for the committee's work programme for the upcoming year. The committee also considered recommendations to achieve effective scrutiny for 2026/27 and made nominations to the Outer North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026-2029

The Sub-Committee undertook pre-decision scrutiny of the draft Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026-2029. This strategy outlines Havering Council's approach to preventing homelessness and reducing rough sleeping, with four key priorities: supporting individuals affected by trauma, family breakdown, exploitation, and begging; ending the use of nightly paid and hotel accommodation by 2030; improving the temporary accommodation experience; and providing compassionate customer care. The strategy responds to over 15,000 homelessness approaches in the last five years and aims to move from emergency responses to earlier prevention and planned supply, strengthening partnership working. The strategy is intended to support financial sustainability by reducing avoidable homelessness and reliance on costly accommodation.

Endorsement of the Draft Scrutiny Working Protocol

The Sub-Committee considered the draft Scrutiny Working Protocol, which aims to establish a practical framework for collaboration between the Cabinet and Scrutiny functions. The protocol outlines principles for constructive challenge, transparent decision-making, and effective governance, setting expectations for early engagement, information sharing, work programming, and the conduct of members and officers. It also details procedures for pre-decision scrutiny, call-in, and the tracking of recommendations. The protocol is designed to support new scrutiny members in understanding their roles and to enhance the overall effectiveness of the scrutiny process. The Sub-Committee was asked to endorse the draft protocol and support its application in future work.

Consideration of Recommendations to Achieve Effective Scrutiny for 2026/27

The committee reviewed recommendations from the Statutory Scrutiny Officer's Annual Review of Scrutiny work for 2025/26. These recommendations are intended to strengthen the effectiveness of scrutiny in the upcoming year. The Sub-Committee was asked to decide which recommendations should be referred to the Cabinet for consideration, which should be implemented operationally, and which, if any, should not be implemented. The recommendations covered areas such as the length of member tenure, the Scrutiny Working Protocol, training and support, work programming, and the tracking of recommendations.

Nominations to Outer North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Sub-Committee was asked to nominate three members to sit on the Outer North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (ONEL JHOSC). The ONEL JHOSC meets quarterly to scrutinise health issues that affect the wider Outer North East London area, facilitating effective scrutiny of cross-border health service changes. The committee comprises councillors from Havering, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, and Essex, with non-voting participation from Epping Forest.

Agreeing Items for the People Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee's Work Programme for 2026/27

The Sub-Committee discussed and agreed on priority areas for its work programme for the 2026/27 year. The aim is to create a focused programme that concentrates resources on issues of greatest importance to residents and the Council. The committee considered principles for effective work programming, including retaining ownership of the programme, selecting issues where scrutiny can add value, inviting Cabinet's views, scheduling items early enough to influence decisions, and balancing ambition with available capacity. Approaches such as pre-decision scrutiny, joint scrutiny, thematic scrutiny, and task and finish groups were discussed as methods for undertaking scrutiny. The Sub-Committee was asked to identify and prioritise topics, determine the most appropriate method of scrutiny, and set an indicative timing for each, taking into account strategic relevance, public interest, opportunities to influence decisions, and available capacity.