The Corporate Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to consider the Council's Delivery Plan performance for the first quarter of 2026/27, receive an update on the Council's finances for the first quarter of 2025/26, and review a draft Artificial Intelligence Policy. The committee was also scheduled to examine the Homelessness Reduction Action Plan and associated targets, and discuss items for future inclusion in the committee's work programme.

Council Delivery Plan - Performance Report 2026/27 Quarter 1

The Corporate Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to review the Council Delivery Plan's performance for the first quarter of 2026/27, covering April to June 2026. This report, presented by Hannah Panter, Head of Human Resources and Organisation Development, was scheduled to detail progress against the four key priority areas of the Council Delivery Plan: A well-run Council, Clean and Green, Housing and Communities, and Planning and Regeneration. The plan, agreed by full Council on 14 November 2023, was scheduled to cover the period from 2023/24 until a year beyond the next election in May 2027. The report was scheduled to include an executive summary, highlight key progress areas, and identify areas requiring improvement and remedial actions. It was also scheduled to provide a summary of the Zero Carbon Roadmap activity for 2025/26 and an update on the transformation programme. The committee was expected to provide comments and feedback on Cabinet's response to the performance achieved, for consideration by Cabinet in their next performance report.

Finance Update - 2025/26 Quarter 1

An update on the Council's finances for the first quarter of 2025/26 was scheduled to be presented to the committee. This report, from the Head of Finance, was scheduled to cover the financial position of both the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). For the General Fund, the report was expected to outline the forecasted outturn for the year, focusing on significant variances from the approved budgets. It was also scheduled to detail approved virements from the contingency budget and provide an update on the savings programme, categorised using a Red, Amber, Green (RAG) rating system. The report was scheduled to summarise the position of earmarked reserves and other reserves held by the Council. For the Housing Revenue Account, the report was scheduled to detail the forecasted outturn position, highlighting any pressures or surpluses. The committee was scheduled to note the 2026/27 forecast position for both the General Fund and HRA, and provide any comments for consideration by Cabinet.

Artificial Intelligence Policy

The committee was scheduled to consider a draft Artificial Intelligence Standard Usage Policy, presented by Councillor Andrew Woodman, Portfolio Holder. This policy was intended to establish a consistent Council-wide framework for the responsible, effective, and lawful use of AI, complementing existing information governance, data protection, and cyber security policies. The draft policy was scheduled to outline core principles, governance and approval processes, permitted and restricted uses, and requirements for accuracy, human oversight, bias assessment, confidentiality, and vendor assurance. The committee's comments were intended to inform Cabinet's consideration and approval of the policy.

Homelessness Reduction Action Plan and Local Outcomes Framework Targets

The Corporate Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to review the proposed Homelessness Reduction Action Plan and targets aligned with the Local Outcomes Framework. This plan, developed in response to the Government's A National Plan to End Homelessness, was scheduled to outline actions and targets for reducing homelessness, including a reduction in households with children in temporary accommodation, a reduction in families in Bed and Breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks, and an increase in successful prevention and relief outcomes. The report was scheduled to detail the Council's baseline position and proposed targets for September 2026, 2027, and 2028. The committee was also scheduled to consider a draft policy for ensuring the suitability of temporary accommodation, which was to be presented to Cabinet for approval.

Items for Inclusion in the Future Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider any items proposed for inclusion in its future work programme. This would involve reviewing the plan of forthcoming Cabinet decisions and the current work programme to identify potential areas for future scrutiny.