The Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on 31 March 2025 will receive reports on a range of housing related matters. The committee will also consider its work programme for the remainder of the 2024-25 municipal year.

Governance and Oversight of Housing Services

The committee is scheduled to hear from Councillor Sarah King, Cabinet Member for Council Homes and Hakeem Osinaike, Strategic Director of Housing on the Governance and Oversight of Housing Services. Topics to be covered include managerial oversight and procedures for estates such as the Canada Water Estate and Devon Mansions, as well as procurement and supply chain management for housing services, including the council's relationship with Plentific.¹

Electrical Testing in Council Homes

Councillor Sarah King and Hakeem Osinaike are also scheduled to update the committee on the progress of electrical testing in council homes. This follows a decision by the council in July 2024 to refer itself to the Regulator of Social Housing over concerns about the number of domestic electrical inspection condition reports² it holds.

Cabinet/Senior Management Strategic Responsibility

Councillor Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council, and Althea Loderick, Chief Executive, are scheduled to speak to the committee on Cabinet/Senior Management Strategic Responsibility.

Work Programme

The committee is scheduled to note its work programme as at 31 March 2025. The work programme, which was last considered at the committee's meeting on 15 July 2024, details the topics that the committee has previously agreed to scrutinise during the 2024-25 municipal year. It includes items relating to the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, the Consort Estate Major Works, the Canada Water Estate / Devon Mansions Major Works Review, and the Regulator of Social Housing's judgement of the council's performance as a social landlord. The committee can also use this item to discuss the addition of new items or the allocation of previously identified items to specific meeting dates.

The work programme is a standing item on the overview and scrutiny committee agenda and enables the committee to consider, monitor and plan issues for consideration at each meeting.