The Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel was scheduled to consider the work of the Safer Greenwich Partnership (SGP) and to note future reports to be presented to the panel. The meeting also included a review of the minutes from a previous meeting.

Safer Greenwich Partnership

The panel was scheduled to consider a report on the Safer Greenwich Partnership (SGP) and make recommendations to the Executive if necessary. The SGP is the borough's statutory Community Safety Partnership, established under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Its statutory members include the Council, Police, National Probation Service, Fire Service, and the NHS South-East London Integrated Care Board, with additional members by invitation.

The SGP has a statutory responsibility to set up a strategic group, establish information-sharing protocols, analyse crime data to identify priorities, set and monitor a partnership plan, and facilitate the effective use of partnership resources. It also commissions Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDRs) when necessary. The report detailed the SGP's priorities for 2025-2027, which include:

• Creating and sustaining safer and secure public spaces for all.
• Ending violence and abuse against women and girls, domestic abuse, and other forms of gender-based violence.
• Preventing modern slavery, supporting its victims, and tackling exploiters.
• Preventing and reducing serious violence, including exploitation.
• Reducing the harms caused by drugs and alcohol.
• Tackling hate crime and supporting repeat and vulnerable victims.
• Driving community confidence and resilience.

The report highlighted various activities undertaken by the SGP, such as issuing Fixed Penalty Notices, serving Abatement Notices, and securing Premises Closures. It also detailed referrals made to the High Harm Panel and the Problem Premises Panel, as well as business engagement events and staff training. Operation Fawkes, an annual multi-agency Halloween and Fireworks initiative, was noted for its contribution to reductions in crime and disorder. The report also discussed the development of The Knife Crime Forum and the ongoing review of multi-agency working arrangements.

The SGP's work is linked to the Council's Our Greenwich missions, particularly those concerning safe and secure homes, safety and feeling safe, and vibrant and attractive neighbourhoods. The report outlined how community voices, especially from vulnerable groups, are reflected in partnership planning through extensive consultation exercises, feedback from community events, and engagement with various forums. It also detailed how partnership working addresses safety and security in residents' homes and neighbourhoods through shared information, coordinated action plans, enhanced support for vulnerable residents, improved neighbourhood safety, and crime prevention campaigns.

The report also provided data on anti-social behaviour (ASB) and enforcement activities for the calendar year 2025, including statistics on Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) offences and their distribution across wards. Additionally, it included information on Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDRs), detailing the process, themes, and emerging learning from these reviews.

Commissioning of Future Reports

The panel was also scheduled to note the work items planned for the meeting on 4 November 2026. These include reports on:

• Rough Sleeping: An assessment of current trends, winter preparedness, temporary accommodation pressures, support pathways, and prevention strategies.
• Building Safety & Compliance: A review of fire, asbestos, and electrical safety compliance, and adherence to the Housing Assurance Framework.
• Repairs Performance: An assessment of performance trends, resource challenges, and sustainability of improvements, with a focus on damp and mould, leaks, and major repairs.

The panel was asked to consider the scope of these forthcoming reports and specify any detailed requirements to ensure the information provided is relevant and effective for scrutiny.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The panel was also scheduled to confirm the accuracy of the minutes from the Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 1 April 2026. The report pack indicated that the meeting on 1 April 2026 was declared inquorate, and the Chair agreed to proceed informally. Discussions at that meeting included an update on responsive repairs, where improvements were noted, and challenges related to job backlogs and resident satisfaction were discussed. The meeting also covered temporary accommodation and homelessness, highlighting the impact of rising homelessness levels, the financial implications for local authorities, and strategies for prevention. The report pack noted that the Cabinet Member for Housing Management, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness commented on improvements in the repairs service and the transition from using hotels for temporary accommodation.