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Cabinet - Wednesday, 23rd September, 2026 2.00 pm
September 23, 2026 at 2:00 pm Cabinet View on council website Watch video of meetingSummary
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The Cabinet of Greenwich Council met on Wednesday 23 September 2026, discussing a range of important issues including the Private Housing Enforcement Policy, the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, and the Council's financial outturn for the 2025/26 financial year. Key decisions made included the adoption of the amended Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy and the approval for the publication of Greenwich's Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. The Cabinet also noted the Council's revenue outturn position for 2025/26 and considered the draft Statement of Accounts for the same period.
Private Housing Enforcement Policy 2026 to 2029
The Cabinet agreed to adopt the amended Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy for 2026 to 2029. This policy includes a revised schedule of financial penalties. Additionally, the Cabinet agreed to adopt the proposed Private Housing & Environmental Health Standards Team – Civil Penalties Collection, Recovery and Instalments Policy. These policies aim to ensure that private rented properties meet required standards and that financial penalties are collected and managed effectively.
Approval to Publish the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
The Cabinet approved the publication of Greenwich's Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS). This strategy is a statutory requirement for Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) and outlines how local flood risk will be managed within the borough over the next six years. It addresses flood risk from surface water, groundwater, and ordinary watercourses, and sets priorities for investment and risk reduction measures. The strategy was developed following extensive data collection, consultation with stakeholders, and aligns with the Council's missions, including improving resident health, safety, and access to secure homes, as well as contributing to the Council's carbon neutral goals.
2025/26 Outturn
The Cabinet noted the Council's revenue outturn position for the 2025/26 financial year. The General Fund reported a balanced position with a £0.1m underspend. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) also showed a favourable variance with a £1.1m underspend. However, there was a significant £18.1m overspend on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), primarily driven by pressures within the High Needs Block. The report detailed departmental variances, savings slippage, and management actions being taken to address financial pressures.
Draft Statement of Accounts 2025/26
The Cabinet considered and commented upon the authority's draft Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2026, including the Pension Fund Accounts. These accounts have been submitted to the external auditor, Forvis Mazars, for audit. The report highlighted that the accounts have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the CIPFA Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting. The Cabinet was reminded of the statutory requirements for the preparation, inspection, and approval of these accounts.
2026/27 Quarter 1 Revenue Monitoring Report
The Cabinet noted the Council's forecast full-year revenue position for 2026/27, as assessed at 30 June 2026. The General Fund is forecast to be broadly in balance, with a £0.1m adverse variance. This position includes planned drawdowns from earmarked reserves and centrally held resources for demand and inflation risks. The report detailed departmental variances, savings performance, and management actions. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is forecasting a £1.2m favourable variance, while the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) is forecasting a £27.0m adverse variance, largely due to High Needs pressures.
Treasury Management and Capital Mid-Year Update
The Cabinet noted the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report for 2026/27, which detailed the Council's borrowing and investment position as at 31 July 2026. The report indicated that the Council has maintained an appropriate balance between liquidity, borrowing costs, and investment security. It also noted that the Council's external borrowing remains below both the Capital Financing Requirement (CFR) and the Liability Benchmark (LB), indicating an under-borrowing approach. The Cabinet also noted the Capital Mid-Year Report for 2026/27, which outlined the progress of the capital programme and forecast outturn positions. The report highlighted significant investment in housing, including new homes and improvements to existing stock, as well as progress on decarbonisation and building safety works. The Cabinet also noted that additional Flexible Use of Capital Receipts proposals would be submitted to Full Council.
Housing Capital Investment and Budget Virements
The Cabinet noted the delivery achieved through the Housing Capital Programme up to the end of the 2025/26 financial year. This included significant investment in component-level works such as kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, and insulation, contributing to warmer, safer, and more energy-efficient homes. The report also highlighted the increase in reported non-decency, primarily due to updated component-level data validation, and detailed the ongoing stock condition survey programme aimed at improving asset intelligence. The Cabinet agreed to budget virements to allocate budget to individual Capital Investment schemes, ensuring that available capital resources are directed towards current programme priorities, including building safety, compliance, damp response, adaptations, and estate works. The exempt appendix containing detailed budget virements was noted as containing information relating to the financial affairs of particular persons and would not be released to the public.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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2025/26 Outturn
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet agreed to the salary range for the Assistant Director, Capital Delivery & Investment post on 05/08/2026. The Chief Executive is authorised to establish Appointment Panels and appoint Members to them after notifying the Leader and Party Whips.
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Royal Greenwich Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2025-26
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet decided to note the 2025-26 Royal Greenwich Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report on 23 September 2026. The report details the effectiveness of local arrangements for safeguarding adults and actions being taken to strengthen them.
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2026/27 Quarter 1 Revenue Monitoring Report
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Transport, Climate Change, Waste and Streets agreed to update the Council's dropped kerb policy and noted internal process changes. The updated policy, Royal Borough of Greenwich Dropped Kerb Policy, 2026, includes clearer criteria and customer information.
The Cabinet Member for Transport, Climate Change, Waste and Streets approved the updated Council's dropped kerb policy and noted internal process changes. The updated policy provides clearer information on costs, timeframes, and considerations for customers.
The Cabinet Member for Transport, Climate Change, Waste and Streets approved the updated Council's dropped kerb policy and noted internal process changes. The updated policy includes a revised minimum hardstand depth of 5.8 metres in front of main doors and allows for adjacent dropped kerbs in certain circumstances after consultation with the Parking Team.
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Approval to publish the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
Recommendations ApprovedThe General Purposes Committee agreed to the salary range for the Assistant Director, Capital Delivery & Investment post. The Chief Executive is authorised to establish Appointment Panels and appoint Members to them.
The Cabinet agreed to the publication of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. This decision was made on 05 August 2026.
The Cabinet agreed to approve the publication of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy on 23 September 2026. The strategy aims to manage local flood risk, meet statutory requirements, and coordinate actions for flood risk from surface water, groundwater, and ordinary watercourses.
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Draft Statement of Accounts 2025/26
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member Transport, Climate Change, Waste and Streets noted and approved the updated Council's dropped kerb policy on 03/08/2026. The policy criteria have been updated to consider internal changes to processes and procedures resulting from an internal review.
The General Purposes Committee agreed to the salary range for the Assistant Director, Capital Delivery & Investment post on 05/08/2026. The Chief Executive is authorised to establish Appointment Panels and appoint Members to them.
The Cabinet considered and commented upon the authority's draft Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2026 on 23/09/2026. The draft accounts have been prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards in accordance with the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting.
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Private Housing Enforcement Policy 2026 to 2029
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet Member for Transport, Climate Change, Waste and Streets approved an updated Dropped Kerb Policy on 3 August 2026. The policy includes updated criteria for dropped kerb assessments and internal process changes for handling applications.
The Cabinet agreed to adopt the amended Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy and the Civil Penalties Collection, Recovery and Instalments Policy on 23 September 2026. These policies update the council's framework for investigating and enforcing private housing legislation, including revised financial penalties.
The General Purposes Committee agreed to the salary range for the Assistant Director, Capital Delivery & Investment post on 5 August 2026. The Chief Executive is authorised to establish appointment panels for this role.
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Treasury Management and Capital Mid-Year Update
Recommendations ApprovedThe General Purposes Committee agreed to the salary range for the Assistant Director, Capital Delivery & Investment post. The Chief Executive is authorised to establish Appointment Panels and appoint members to them. This decision was made on 05/08/2026.
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Housing Capital Investment and Budget Virements
Recommendations ApprovedThe Cabinet decided to note the delivery achieved through the Housing Capital Programme up to the end of the 2025/26 financial year and to agree budget virements to allocate budget to individual Capital Investment schemes on 23 September 2026. The Cabinet also agreed to treat information in Exempt Appendix A as exempt from public release.
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