The Housing, Economy and Business Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 15 September 2026. The committee's agenda includes an update on the restoration of Beddington Farmlands, a review of biannual performance monitoring across various council services, and an update on the Sutton Housing Partnership Delivery Plan.

Beddington Farmlands Restoration Update

A significant portion of the meeting is scheduled to focus on the restoration of Beddington Farmlands, a site that was formerly used as a landfill. The report pack indicates that an update will be provided on the progress of this restoration, which is a condition of planning permission granted for landfill operations and the adjacent Energy Recovery Facility (ERF). The restoration aims to transform the site into a high-quality nature reserve with diverse habitats, including wet grasslands, acid grassland/lowland heath, lakes, reedbeds, and meadowlands.

The report pack notes that Valencia Waste Management (VWM), the site operators, were required to complete the restoration by the end of December 2023. While this deadline was not met, the Council has been working with VWM to ensure progress. A key development is the planning application for a revised restoration management plan, which was approved by the Planning Committee on 2 September 2026, subject to conditions and a completed Section 106 Obligation. This revised plan replaces previously planned acid grassland with species-rich meadowland, addresses water management for wetland habitats, and includes improvements to public access infrastructure. The report also mentions that a Breach of Condition Notice was issued to Valencia on 5 September 2025, which remains extant until the legal agreement for the revised application is finalised.

The report highlights operational progress made between Autumn 2025 and Summer 2026, including earthworks for landfill profiling, preparation of avian habitats, conservation grazing, control of invasive species, and the commencement of reedbed creation. It also details site resource improvements and ongoing discussions regarding perimeter security. The benefits to Sutton and its residents are expected to include enhanced opportunities for outdoor enjoyment, improved physical and mental well-being, increased biodiversity, and greater connectivity of green space within south London, contributing to the Council's Biodiversity Strategy.

Biannual Performance Monitoring

The committee is scheduled to receive a report on the biannual performance monitoring of council services and contractors. This monitoring is undertaken on a six-monthly basis with the aim of improving performance for residents. The report covers performance data for January to June 2026, with an exception for Sutton Housing Partnership, where data up to March 2026 was reviewed.

Key areas of performance to be reviewed include:

• Planning: The report is expected to detail the timeliness of planning application processing, the use of pre-application advice services, and the number of net additional homes provided.
• Revenues and Benefits: Performance indicators such as Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) collection rates, and the reduction in aged debt will be discussed.
• Regulatory Services: This section will likely cover the number of enforcement notices issued, licensing activities, Disabled Facilities Grants awarded, and food premises inspections. It will also detail complaints received by Trading Standards.
• Housing Enabling: The report will outline the number of new affordable homes delivered and the number of Right to Buy sales completed.
• Housing Advice Service: Performance metrics related to households in temporary accommodation, emergency accommodation placements, and collectable income from households in emergency accommodation are scheduled for review.
• Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP): This will include an overview of tenant satisfaction, complaint handling, void properties and lettings, rental income management, asset management, and tenancy management, including anti-social behaviour cases.

The report indicates that the Council has achieved strong performance in areas such as statutory safety compliance and food safety standards, alongside a reduction in aged debt. However, it also highlights ongoing focus on addressing National Non-Domestic Rates collection shortfalls, rising rent arrears, and property re-letting delays.

Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP) Delivery Plan 2026/27 Update

An update on the Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP) Delivery Plan for 2026/27 is scheduled for discussion. This plan outlines SHP's objectives for the next three years, aligning with the Council's 'Ambitious for Sutton' corporate plan, with a focus on quality and affordable housing.

The report will cover:

• Service Improvement Plan 2025/26 Update: Progress on the second year of the Delivery Plan.
• Service Improvement Plan 2026/27: The plan for the third and final year of the Delivery Plan, including an update on progress to date.
• Performance Plan 2026/27: Updated performance indicators and targets for the upcoming year.
• Procurement Plan 2026/27: Details of planned procurement activities for major repairs and improvements.
• Financial Plan 2026-2029: An updated financial outlook for SHP.

The report notes that SHP has achieved a C1 grading from the Regulator for Social Housing, indicating full compliance with Housing Consumer Standards. Key achievements in 2025/26 include obtaining this grading, commencing a comprehensive stock condition survey, and updating the Damp & Mould Policy. The 2026/27 Service Improvement Plan will focus on regulatory requirements, tenant safety, transformation, and community engagement. The Performance Plan includes new targets related to Awaab's Law, income management, and remedial actions for fire risk assessments, water risk assessments, and lift safety checks.

The meeting will also consider the SHP budget for 2026/27, which includes a temporary increase in the management fee to fund modernisation and strengthen customer experience, with a commitment to delivering savings over five years. The HRA Capital Programme for 2026-2029 outlines significant investment in building safety, decent homes, energy efficiency, and block and estate improvements.

The committee members attending are Councillor Jake Short (Chair), Councillor Ed Parsley (Vice-Chair), Councillors Yusuf Abd El-Razzak, Joseph Barkham, Richard Choi, Jo Elgarf, Tom Foster, Israel Owoade, Louise Phelan, Alison Long, Councillor Barry Lewis (Leader of the Council), Councillor Joseph Barkham, Councillor Yusuf Abd El-Razzak, Councillor Jo Elgarf (Vice Chair of the Licensing Committee), Councillor Louise Phelan (Chair of the Licensing Committee, Vice Chair of the Sutton Local Committee), Councillor Richard Choi, Councillor Tom Foster, Councillor Israel Owoade, and Councillor Alison Long (Leader of the Reform UK group).