The Housing and Regeneration Policy and Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss the re-procurement of housing term partnership contracts, and to scrutinise the consultation of the Paddington Place Plan. The committee will also review and approve the committee work programme for forthcoming meetings. Councillor Hamza Taouzzale has been nominated to be elected as Chair of the Housing and Regeneration Policy and Scrutiny Committee.

Paddington Place Plan

The committee is scheduled to discuss the Paddington Place Plan (PPP), focusing on balancing different stakeholder views to build consensus in the design development for the St Mary's Playground and Paddington Green projects.

The report pack notes that the PPP is an evolving plan for the Paddington area led by the council's Place Shaping team, aiming to deliver on the Paddington Opportunity Area and North-West Economic Development Area (NWEDA) policies as set out in the City Plan 2019-2040. A key aspect of the PPP is a public realm strategy focused on improving, managing, and enhancing public spaces.

The report pack states that the committee will consider:

• How engagement inputs are considered in design development.
• How different user needs and views can be balanced for the benefit of the scheme.
• How best to manage sensitivities when developing designs.

The report pack notes that the committee's input would be beneficial on how to best balance stakeholder views to build consensus in the development of the design for the St Mary's Playground project and Paddington Green.

The report pack also notes that there have been safety issues in the Paddington Green area, with three gang-related murders occurring there between 2019 and 2023. The council's proposals seek to improve natural surveillance, visibility and pedestrian comfort.

Re-procurement of Housing Term Partnership Contracts

The committee is scheduled to scrutinise the proposed approach to the re-procurement of key functions within the Housing Service, such as major works, and consider the impact for service delivery.

The report pack notes that the recommissioning of Term Partnering Contracts (TPC) that expire in 2027 is a vital part of implementing a new model that prioritises resident satisfaction, service quality, and value for money.

The report pack states that the committee will scrutinise the preferred commissioning model to replace the 8 Term Partnering Contracts that were last let in 2017 by City West Homes¹. This includes:

• The proposal to implement a Framework Alliance Contract (FAC-1)[^3] as a strategic framework which all new contracts will operate under
• The number of contracts to be let and the contract length proposed.
• The engagement process and other considerations prior to formal sign off

The report pack notes that the proposed Strategic Alliance Framework and contract delivery model represents a transformative approach to service delivery, placing resident experience, sustainability, and collaboration at its core.

The report pack also notes that the Housing Service has undergone significant transformation since the return of City West Homes to Westminster City Council in 2019, including the launch of the Housing Improvement Programme in 2023.

The report pack states that the end of the current Term Partnering Contracts provides a critical opportunity to redesign the service model to put residents at the centre of service delivery, with stronger resident engagement, accountability mechanisms and opportunities for residents to be involved with the governance process.

The report pack notes that a third-party appraisal was conducted in late 2024, engaging stakeholders and analysing delivery models used by other social housing landlords. The consultant provided market risk insights, future sector trends, and recommendations on contract forms and workstream allocation to guide the commissioning strategy.

The report pack also notes that the Procurement Act 2023 came into effect in February 2025 and will change the way public sector contracts are procured and managed.

Key implications include:

• A focus on supplier performance tracking, requiring greater oversight and enforcement mechanisms to ensure contractor accountability and high service standards.
• A shift towards transparency and value for money, reinforcing the need for robust contract management frameworks in the new service model.
• New social value and sustainability obligations, aligning with Westminster's broader Fairer Westminster and Carbon Neutral 2040 goals.

PS TPC Contract Replacement - FINAL.pdf

Work Programme

The committee is scheduled to discuss topics for its work programme for the next municipal year in 2025/26. The scheduled meeting dates for the 2025/2026 year are: 18 September 2025, 4 December 2025, and 5 February 2026.

The report pack notes that when drawing up the work programme, the committee considered the vision and purpose of scrutiny at Westminster.

The report pack also notes that the committee has discretion to establish Task Groups and Single Member Studies to examine key issues in more detail.