The Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to consider a range of important issues, including data on group-based child sexual exploitation in Haringey, an update on the Council's Procurement Improvement Plan, and recommendations regarding the Neighbourhood Moves Scheme. The committee was also scheduled to discuss the appointment of a new co-opted member to the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel and review its work programme.

Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation

The committee was scheduled to consider data on relevant offences for group-based child sexual abuse in Haringey. The report indicated that current police data had not identified organised group-based child sexual exploitation operating within the borough, with no identified offender networks or investigations suggesting an organised grooming gang. However, the report acknowledged that national learning demonstrates that group-based exploitation can be difficult to identify and that a comprehensive understanding requires information from across the safeguarding partnership. The Haringey Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSCP) has made child sexual abuse a strategic priority and continues to strengthen its approach to identification, data, intelligence, training, and multi-agency working. The report also referenced Baroness Casey's National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, noting its recommendations for local safeguarding arrangements.

Procurement Improvement Plan

An update on the Council's programme to improve procurement activity, including commissioning and contract management, was scheduled for discussion. The report highlighted that the Council spends £393.7 million annually on externally commissioned services and supplies, making effective procurement critical for value for money and the delivery of corporate priorities. Progress aligned with the Commissioning Modernisation Programme was to be reviewed, covering governance, commercial capability, transparency, and social value delivery. The report also intended to provide an overview of the Council's contracts pipeline, contract award activity, direct awards, approaches for VCSE and SME participation, social value delivery, and emerging commercial focus areas such as agency labour expenditure and contract compliance. The implementation of the Procurement Act 2023, with its emphasis on transparency, contract lifecycle management, supplier engagement, and public benefit, was also a key consideration.

Neighbourhood Moves Scheme Recommendations

The committee was scheduled to consider recommendations from the Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel concerning the Neighbourhood Moves Scheme (NMS). The NMS is part of the Housing Allocations Policy and aims to extend the benefits of new homes to those living near them, as well as address overcrowding by releasing larger family homes. The Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel had made several recommendations for changes to the scheme, including introducing a minimum period of five years since a household's last move before being eligible for another move under the NMS, with an exception for those willing to downsize. They also recommended amending the priority band for residents based on proximity to new schemes to reserve a portion of properties for households experiencing severe overcrowding from outside the designated area. The panel commented that the existing catchment area and the limitation of the scheme to developments of four or more homes disproportionately impacted areas with fewer new builds. Furthermore, the panel recommended introducing an additional priority band for families experiencing significant changes in circumstances, such as having a child with SEND, a disability, or significant health issues.

Appointment of Non-Voting Co-opted Member

The committee was scheduled to approve the appointment of Natasha Benn, Chair of the Haringey Joint Partnership Board, as a non-voting co-opted member to the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel for the 2026-2027 municipal year. Natasha Benn's extensive experience in representing and advocating for residents, her strong links with community organisations, the council, and health partners, and her role in establishing new ways of working within the Haringey Joint Partnership Board were highlighted as reasons for the proposed appointment. The appointment was intended to bring additional external challenge, lived experience, specialist knowledge, and community insight to the work of the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel.

Work Programme Update

An update on the work plan for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2026-27 and 2027-28 was scheduled for discussion. This included considering feedback received from the Scrutiny Survey and the Scrutiny Café consultation event, which aimed to gather input from local communities and voluntary organisations on priorities for scrutiny. The committee was also scheduled to consider the agenda items required for its remaining meetings in 2026-27 and review draft revisions to the OSC Protocol. The Scrutiny Café event had identified priorities for each of the four Scrutiny Panels: Adults and Health; Children & Young People; Culture, Community Safety & Environment; and Housing, Planning & Development. For the Culture, Community Safety & Environment Scrutiny Panel, top priorities from the survey included crime prevention and reduction, anti-social behaviour, trees, urban greening and biodiversity, fly-tipping and waste enforcement, and parks and green spaces. For the Children and Young People Panel, priorities included schools and education, services for children with disabilities and additional needs, youth services, safeguarding children, and early years and childcare. For the Housing, Planning and Development Panel, key priorities were homelessness and rough sleeping, local renewable energy and community energy, council housebuilding, housing strategy and development, and housing needs.