The Budget, Performance and Coordinating Committee was scheduled to consider a range of important financial and strategic matters for Waltham Forest Council. Key discussions were scheduled to focus on the council's financial performance, including budget monitoring and the refresh of its Medium Term Financial Strategy, alongside updates on significant regeneration projects and safeguarding partnerships.

The Scrutiny Report

The committee was scheduled to review The Scrutiny Report Minutes of Previous Meeting.pdf, which was scheduled to include an Action Tracker, Recommendation Tracker, and a Forward Plan. The Action Tracker was scheduled to provide updates on tasks required of officers from previous meetings, while the Recommendation Tracker was to detail the committee's conclusions on how services should change or improve. The Forward Plan was scheduled to outline the committee's work programme for the remainder of the municipal year, with members able to nominate items for inclusion.

Avenue Road Regeneration Final Terms

A report on the Avenue Road Regeneration Final Terms was scheduled for consideration. This report was scheduled to detail the final terms for Phase 1 of the regeneration of the Avenue Road estate, involving an institutional investment partner. It was scheduled to set out the financial model and lease structure for approval, and delegate the mechanism by which the council would finalise its financial contribution. The Avenue Road Estate, located in Cann Hall Ward, comprises 258 homes across five blocks. The estate was identified as a high priority for intervention following a 2010 review, and a resident ballot in February 2021 was scheduled to show strong support for regeneration. However, due to adverse market conditions, the initial preferred partner, Bellway Homes Ltd, terminated the development agreement in August 2023. The revised proposals were scheduled to progress the scheme through an institutional investment model, with Phase 1 consisting of a single housing block (Block A2) providing 116 social rent units. The institutional investment partner would forward fund and deliver Phase 1, with the council transferring the site on a long lease. The council would then lease the block back for social tenancies, making set annual payments over a 50-year period. The Greater London Authority (GLA) grant allocated to the full scheme would be apportioned to Phase 1 and passed to the institutional investor. The report was scheduled to demonstrate how this approach was considered the most viable route to deliver the regeneration voted for by residents.

Safeguarding Partnerships' Children and Adults Annual Reports 2025-26

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of the activity across Waltham Forest's Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) and Safeguarding Children Partnership (SCP) during the 2025-26 period. This report was scheduled to draw on the partnerships' annual reports to summarise key achievements, challenges, and areas for continued focus, as outlined in each partnership's Strategic Plan. These annual reports and strategic plans were scheduled to serve as the statutory mechanism for safeguarding partnerships to account publicly for their effectiveness, priorities, impact, and performance. The report was scheduled to highlight progress against priorities such as homelessness and safeguarding, safer providers, executive functioning and mental capacity, safer discharge from hospital, safeguarding informal carers, and transitional safeguarding for adults. For children, priorities were scheduled to include neglect, risks outside the home, children missing education, children's mental health, child sexual abuse, and the appropriate use of restrictive practices. The report was also scheduled to detail how the partnerships were strengthening their ways of working, including data-informed safeguarding, embedding the voices of children and adults, fostering a strong learning culture, promoting professional challenge and escalation, and ensuring equitable and proportionate approaches.

Introduction to the Corporate Impact Framework

An update on the Corporate Impact Framework (CIF) was scheduled, covering the period up to July 2026. The CIF monitors the council's impact towards its priorities, focusing on key opportunities and challenges. The framework was being refreshed to align with the development of new borough plan priorities and a transformation programme. The report was scheduled to provide information on key metrics, including an increase in the number of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), a decrease in civil penalties issued by the Private Sector Housing and Licensing Service, and an increase in the average waiting time for calls to be answered by the Customer Resolution Centre. The committee was invited to review the impact information, discuss highlighted metrics, and make recommendations.

2026-27 - Month 3 Budget Monitoring

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the council's financial position for the 2026-27 financial year, as of month 3 (June 2026). This report was scheduled to provide the latest forecast outturn position for revenue expenditure in the General Fund, which was forecasting a net overspend of £19.901 million. The strategy to fund this overspend was scheduled to be confirmed as part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) refresh, but was expected to include the use of Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) and any available underspends in corporate balances. The report was also scheduled to provide the latest position for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), forecasting a net overspend of £1.193 million, and the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), with a forecast in-year deficit of £12.241 million. The Capital Programme forecast for 2026/27 was £161.438 million against a budget of £188.635 million. The report was scheduled to detail variances by directorate, including significant pressures in Adult Social Care and Temporary Accommodation.

Medium Term Financial Strategy Refresh

An update on the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) refresh was scheduled. The council had previously approved its MTFS for 2026/27 to 2028/29 and the detailed budget for 2026/27 in February 2026. This report was scheduled to provide an updated assessment of the MTFS, outlining financial pressures over the coming years, examining key drivers of expenditure growth, the current funding position, actions already taken, and options to maintain a balanced budget. The report was scheduled to highlight a significant and growing financial challenge, with a forecast budget gap of £47.709 million over the three years to 2029/30, assuming the delivery of savings agreed for 2026/27. The report was scheduled to detail the assumptions underpinning this forecast, including Council Tax increases, inflation, grant funding, and service pressures, and acknowledge that difficult decisions would be required.

The committee was also scheduled to receive minutes from the previous meeting and consider public participation.