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Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 15th July, 2025 6.30 pm
July 15, 2025 View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)Summary
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss council performance, finances, and future work plans. Councillors reviewed the Corporate Performance and Council Action Plan Delivery Report, the Final Outturn Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report, and the Forward Plan and Key Decision Tracker. They also discussed and agreed to a work programme for the coming year.
Corporate Performance and Council Action Plan Delivery
The Corporate Performance and Council Action Plan Delivery Report was presented by Jo, Director of Graphic Medicine Corporate Strategy, and Amy Springer, who oversees performance reporting. The report provided an overview of the council's performance against internal measures and external indicators.
Key discussion points included:
- Carbon Zero Targets: Councillor Will Pascall raised concerns about the lack of detailed reporting on progress towards the council's carbon zero targets, particularly in relation to housing. He requested more specific targets and measurements, including the impact on fuel poverty.
- Fire Risk Assessments: Councillors raised concerns about overdue fire risk assessments, especially in properties with leaseholder doors. Councillor Sidney Yankson suggested separating data for doors under council control to provide a clearer picture of performance.
- Oracle System Implementation: With a report on the implementation of the Oracle system due in September, councillors deferred detailed questions. Councillor Yankson asked what the council was doing to ensure the system was fit for purpose, given problems experienced by other councils.
- Anti-Social Behaviour: Councillors requested more information on the decrease in anti-social behaviour statistics and the strategies for managing it in council and public spaces.
- Digital Inclusion: Councillor Joanna Gardner questioned the progress of the digital inclusion programme, particularly regarding insufficient resources to support schools and residents.
- Housing Standards: Councillors expressed concerns about the progress of kitchen and bathroom refurbishment programmes, with Councillor Yankson requesting details on the programme's progress and challenges in meeting decent home standards1.
- Data Disaggregation: Several councillors, including Councillor Preety Hudd, requested data broken down by ward to better understand inequalities across the borough.
- Resident Survey: Councillors discussed the resident survey, with Councillor Claire Simmons noting the short window for participation and offering to publicise it.
The committee made a recommendation that the Lead Member review the situation regarding Fowler's assessments and ensure sufficient risk assessment is in place.
Final Outturn 2024/25 - Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report
The Final Outturn 2024/25 - Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report was presented by Lisa Taylor, Director of Financial Management. The report detailed the final revenue and capital budget outturn position at the end of the financial year.
Key discussion points included:
- Planned Savings: Councillor Gregory Hammond questioned the achievement of only 86% of planned savings and sought more detail on the shortfall. Lisa Taylor explained that delays in procurement and contract management in the resources directorate were the main reasons.
- Capital Project Slippage: Councillors expressed concern about capital projects with slippage over £500,000, with Councillor Hammond asking why the burden wasn't on the supply line. Lisa Taylor clarified that this was budget slippage, not additional costs, and that each contract was written differently.
- Double Counting: Councillor Hammond raised concerns about potential double counting in savings targets dependent on other departments.
- Grenfell Spending: Councillors sought clarification on Grenfell-related spending, with concerns about money going into reserves and whether the government had honoured its portion of the Global Settlement Agreement.
- S106 Spending: Councillors requested details on S106 spending, with concerns about transparency and whether the money was being spent on appropriate projects.
- Budget Variances: Councillors requested more clarity on budget variances, with Councillor Pascall suggesting a table showing the variance against the original budget.
Forward Plan and Key Decision Tracker
The Committee reviewed the Forward Plan and Key Decision Tracker.
- Councillor Hudd drew attention to the Supported Housing Strategy and the contract for medium to higher housing service for vulnerable women and men with complex needs, suggesting it be discussed at the Housing and Communities Select Committee.
- Councillor Hudd also asked about the council's response to the review of the council's resilience functions.
- Councillor Gardner expressed concern about the passenger transport contract extension.
- Councillor Gardner also asked about the succession and assignment attendance policy.
- Councillor Simmons wanted to discuss an award in connection with recent recommendations on housing.
- Councillor Simmons also wanted to discuss repairs, as it has been the subject of a big item.
- Councillor Bakhtiar asked about the libraries and R5's transfer plan.
- Councillor Bakhtiar also asked about the Ley Metal Scheme.
- Councillor Simmons asked about the fire and voice alarm.
- Councillor Bakhtiar asked about the town hall car park.
- Councillor Bakhtiar asked about the future of St Cuthbert and St Mateus Church of England Primary School.
Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme
The Committee discussed its work programme for the coming year.
- The Committee agreed to take zero-based projects as well.
- The Committee agreed to rephrase the first bullet point, to how the council can ensure that it does simple things right.
- The Committee agreed to get a briefing paper of what zero-based budgeting is.
- The Committee agreed to include the future of St Cuthbert and St Mateus Church of England Primary School.
Councillor Hudd suggested moving some items from the September meeting to the lighter October meeting.
[1]: Grenfell Tower fire: What happened and why was it so serious? - BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40301882 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/decent-homes-standard-a-practical-guide
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Decent Homes Standard: A Practical Guide - GOV.UK ↩
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