The Children, Education and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee of West Northamptonshire Council was scheduled to convene on Tuesday 8 September 2026. The meeting's agenda included a review of inspection outcomes for local authority children's services, consideration of the Northamptonshire Youth Justice Service Strategic Plan for 2026-2027, and a midterm report on the Northamptonshire Partnership Homes In-housing Task and Finish Panel. The committee was also scheduled to review its work programme for the upcoming year.

Inspection of Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS) Outcomes

The committee was scheduled to consider the outcomes and any related actions stemming from the Inspection of Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS) inspection of Northamptonshire. This inspection would have provided an assessment of the effectiveness and quality of the council's children's services.

Northamptonshire Youth Justice Service Strategic Plan 2026-2027

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the consideration of the Northamptonshire Youth Justice Service (NYJS) Strategic Plan for 2026-2027. The report pack outlines that the NYJS operates within the Northamptonshire Children's Trust (NCT) and aligns with its vision to help children and families stay together, live together and thrive together . The plan details the service's commitment to delivering high-quality, child-centred, and evidence-informed youth justice services. It highlights a strategic ambition to reduce youth offending through prevention, diversion, and early intervention, while also focusing on supporting victims and strengthening communities. The plan details strategic priorities for the upcoming year, including strengthening prevention and diversion, reducing reoffending, enhancing victim engagement, tackling disproportionality, and improving responses to neurodiversity and SEND. It also addresses workforce development, knife possession guidance, evidence-based practice, and service development, all within the framework of the Youth Justice Board's standards.

Northamptonshire Partnership Homes In-housing Task and Finish Midterm Report

The committee was also scheduled to consider the midterm report from the Northamptonshire Partnership Homes (NPH) In-housing Task and Finish Panel. This panel was established to monitor the council's programme to bring housing services back in-house from NPH by April 2027. The report details the panel's review activity, including meetings held to discuss the transition plan, data quality, communication plans, and progress on Phase 1 and preparations for Phase 2 of the in-housing programme. The panel's oversight has focused on staffing and workforce integration, communications and engagement, governance, the development of a Target Operating Model, business continuity, branding, data quality, and risk mitigation. The midterm conclusion indicated that the panel had maintained appropriate oversight and had no overall concerns regarding the programme at that stage.

Review of Committee Work Programme

The committee was also scheduled to review and note its work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year. This would have involved an examination of planned scrutiny activities and topics for the upcoming period.