The Council was scheduled to consider updates to its General Fund Capital Programme and a review of its Constitution. The meeting was also scheduled to address amendments to the Constitution concerning the functions of the Planning Applications Committee and to make appointments to various committees and outside bodies.

Update on the General Fund Capital Programme

The Council was scheduled to consider adopting a revised Capital Programme and approving an updated 'Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy'. The proposed changes to the Capital Programme, arising from a Spending Review, included additions of £3.0 million and the removal or reduction of uncommitted schemes totalling £77.9 million. This review aimed to reduce future borrowing commitments by £33.7 million. A significant element of the proposed programme was the confirmation of the Council's commitment to the refurbishment of Wandsworth Town Hall. This refurbishment is intended to secure the long-term future of the historic civic building and provide modern accommodation for Council services, with the intention of being self-financing through the release of surplus accommodation and the generation of capital receipts. The report also detailed proposed additions to the programme, including funding for improvements along the Putney Bridge corridor, addressing an anticipated overspend on the Springfield Village Supported Housing Scheme, and continued support for disabled residents through Disabled Facilities Grants. The report also outlined significant budget removals, including £20 million for the Net Zero Decarbonisation Strategy and £8.2 million for the Wandsworth Environment and Sustainability Strategy, with these funds to be reinvested in bringing the Council's housing stock up to a decent, energy-efficient standard.

Amendments to the Constitution regarding the Planning Applications Committee

The Council was scheduled to consider amendments to its Constitution to align with new national regulations: The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026. These regulations establish a national scheme of delegation for planning applications, which will significantly reduce the number of applications determined by the Planning Applications Committee. Under the new arrangements, most householder, minor commercial, and minor residential developments, as well as reserved matters approvals, are to be determined by officers. The Planning Applications Committee would only consider applications that raise significant planning issues or are of substantial economic, environmental, or social importance to the Borough, and only if both the Chief Planning Officer and the Chair of the Committee agree that referral is appropriate. The report recommended approving these amendments to the Constitution and delegating authority to the Chief Planning Officer, in consultation with the Chair of the Planning Applications Committee, to amend the scheme of management to ensure compliance with the new regulations.

Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies

The Council was scheduled to consider appointments to various committees and outside bodies. This is a standard procedural item for council meetings, ensuring that committees are properly constituted and that the Council is represented on external organisations.

The full details of the reports considered for this meeting can be found in the Public reports pack.