Greenwich Council met and approved changes to the council constitution, noted the Audit & Risk Management Panel's annual report, and agreed to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's work program for the coming year. The meeting opened with an announcement welcoming newly-elected Labour Councillor Rosa Tester, who won the seat in Mootingham and Coldharbour ward after the death of Councillor Denise Hyland, back to the Council.

Audit & Risk Management Panel

Councillor David Gardner, the new chair of the Audit & Risk Management panel presented the panel's annual report, which covered the year 2023-24. He described it as a formulaic report , but noted the good performance of the finance team and the council's external auditors, Grant Thornton, who have now been replaced by Mazars.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Program 2024-25

Councillor Learning, the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, introduced his committee's work program for 2024-25. He explained that a key focus for the year would be to scrutinise the council's Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) which sets out the council's budget plans for the next four years.

the focus for the year going forward is obviously to monitor the savings that was set out in last year's MTFS and impact it has on our residents

Proposed changes to the Constitution

The council voted to approve changes to the council constitution. The changes were introduced to comply with changes to the law. The council is obliged to review its constitution every year to ensure it complies with best practice and current legislation. You can see the changes marked up in Appendix C of the report on the changes.

The Liberal Democrat Councillor Lloyd, representing Eltham Town and Avery Hill Ward, argued that the changes should be used as an opportunity to admit him into the Constitutional Reform Working Group, which has previously comprised only Labour and Conservative members. He argued that:

now that there are three parties represented in this council I humbly request that the Liberal Democrat myself get invited to those meetings

The leader of the council, Councillor Dan Thorpe, argued that the composition of the working group was not a matter for the council, and suggested instead that Councillor Lloyd could engage in any debates surrounding our constitution in the council chamber.

Councillor Matt Hartley, leader of the Conservative opposition, offered to consult with Councillor Lloyd informally to address his concerns.

I would be happy to liaise with Councillor Lloyd in my role as leader of the opposition to ensure that to to ensure that the Liberal Democrat group is is it is at least consulted on an informal basis

Changes to the Executive Functions Scheme of Delegation

The council noted changes to the Executive Functions Scheme of Delegation.

This document sets out which decisions can be made by officers of the council, and which decisions must be made by elected councillors. The changes, which are set out in the document, were made to comply with changes to the law.