The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to consider the council's progress in responding to a non-statutory Best Value Notice and to review plans for disaggregating legal services and elections from OneSource. The committee will also discuss the forward plan of key decisions.

Delivering Best Value for Our Residents

The committee is scheduled to consider the Delivering Best Value for Our Residents plan, which outlines the council's progress in responding to a non-statutory Best Value Notice issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). This notice, initially issued in May 2025, was extended in July 2026 until November 2026 to provide further assurance that improvements are embedded and sustainable. The report details progress made across three core themes: Improving Services for Residents, Financial Sustainability, and Governance, Culture and Capability.

The plan highlights significant progress in areas such as strengthening leadership, governance, and financial sustainability. MHCLG has acknowledged clear progress but noted that many improvements are at an early stage and require further work to be embedded and sustained. The refreshed plan aims to demonstrate sustained delivery, measurable impact, and continued organisational grip. Key areas of focus include strengthening financial sustainability, addressing recommendations from an external assurance review, embedding the updated governance framework, and delivering sustained improvement in priority service areas like Housing and Adult Social Care. The report also details progress in improving resident responsiveness, with marked improvements in complaint handling and enquiry response times.

The committee will also review the Chief Executive's Assessment of the Council's progress since the Best Value Notice was issued, as well as feedback from the Newham Transformation and Improvement Board. The report indicates that while tangible progress has been made, challenges remain, particularly in Housing, Adult Social Care, organisational culture, and aspects of governance. The council is committed to transparency regarding risks and challenges, and to agile action to address them. The report emphasises the importance of continued external challenge and organisational learning for the next phase of improvement.

Disaggregation of Legal Services and Elections from OneSource

The committee is scheduled to review and consider the disaggregation of Legal Services and Elections from OneSource, and the creation of a sovereign Newham Legal Services. OneSource was established in 2014 as a joint arrangement between Newham Council and Havering Council to provide back-office support functions. While OneSource retains some strengths, the report suggests that both councils now require bespoke legal support.

The report proposes that Legal Services and Elections be formally removed from OneSource. Services such as Exchequer and Transactional Services, Corporate Business Systems Team, and Print Services will remain within OneSource. The disaggregation of Legal Services is considered a key decision as it exceeds the financial threshold of £500,000. The report outlines the proposed structure for a sovereign Newham Legal Services, aiming for efficiency, value for money, and a responsive service. This will involve a review of the current staffing structure, potential HR implications, and the establishment of new contractual arrangements. The intention is for Legal Services to be returned to Newham Council by April 2027, with transitional arrangements to ensure continued service delivery. The report also notes that both councils will waive their rights to compensatory payments under the existing agreement.

Forward Plan of Key Decisions

The committee is also scheduled to review the Forward Plan of Key Decisions. Members are requested to examine this document regularly and raise any issues requiring clarification with the lead officer. This process will help identify any matters that may require inclusion in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's indicative work programme. The Forward Plan can be accessed online.

The date of the next meeting is also to be agreed, currently scheduled for 25 November 2026.