Here is a summary of the scheduled discussions for the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council. The agenda included the annual complaints and compliments report, and the development of a social value policy. The panel also planned to discuss its work programme.

Annual Complaints and Compliments Report

The panel was scheduled to review the annual complaints and compliments report for 2024/25 before it was due to be published on the council's website. The report summarises compliments and complaints made by customers, and details those investigated under the council's formal corporate complaints policy. A separate report is to be taken to the Adults', Children's & Health Overview and Scrutiny, detailing the compliments and complaints investigated under the Adults Statutory, Children's Statutory and Children's Corporate complaints processes.

The report includes details of:

• complaints received
• themes of complaints
• timeliness of complaint responses
• outcomes of complaints
• learning from complaints
• number of complaints made to and decided by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO)
• numbers of compliments received

According to the report, the LGSCO received 52 complaints and enquiries about the council in 2024/25, a decrease from 55 in 2023/24.

The report recommends that the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Panel notes the report and that it is published on the council's website, and that the annual report continues to be produced and presented at future Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

Social Value Policy

The panel was asked to provide feedback on aspects to focus on in a Social Value Policy being drafted by the council for adoption as part of the recently refreshed Council Plan¹. The report pack included examples of social value policies from other authorities, including Reading Borough Council and Surrey County Council.

The five overarching themes from the Local Government Association (LGA) are:

• Jobs: promote local skills and employment
• Growth: supporting growth of responsible regional business
• Social: healthier, safer and more resilient communities
• Environment: protecting and improving our environment
• Innovation: promoting social innovation

The panel was asked to consider any priorities which they would like procurement to consider when drafting tender questions under these themes.

Work Programme

The panel was scheduled to consider its work programme. The Cabinet Forward Plan was attached to the agenda for panel members to highlight any upcoming cabinet reports which they would like to scrutinise.

The scheduled items for future meetings were:

• 12th November 2025: Work Programme
• 15th December 2025: Draft Budget 2026/27, Work Programme
• 4th February 2026: Council Plan Refresh, Work Programme
• 15th April 2026: Work Programme

The Terms of Reference for the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Panel were included in the report pack.

Other Matters

• Declarations of Interest: Councillors were asked to declare any interests. A guide to declaring interests at meetings was included in the report pack.
• Minutes: The panel was scheduled to consider and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19th May 2025.
• Advertising and Sponsorship Policy: The Chair, Councillor Chris Moriarty, Consultation Champion, requested that this item be withdrawn from the agenda due to the report being published late.