Here's a summary of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting:

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee convened to discuss the council's financial performance, review its corporate delivery plan, and consider a scrutiny report on temporary accommodation policies. The committee approved the scrutiny review and its recommendations, to be submitted to the Cabinet for a response.

Finance Update - Q1 2025/26

The committee reviewed the council's financial position at the end of Quarter 1, 2025/26, based on the Finance Update report. The report projected a £34.1 million overspend on the general fund, driven by increasing demand and costs in social care and temporary accommodation.

Key points covered:

• Exceptional Financial Support (EFS): The council is relying on £37 million of EFS from the government, but there's a risk this won't be sufficient. Each £1 million of EFS adds £62,000 to annual revenue costs for the next 20 years.
• Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG): The DSG is forecast to overspend by £3 million, with pressures in supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Housing Revenue Account (HRA): The HRA is forecasting a £600,000 overspend, mainly due to pressures in repairs, voids, and rental income recovery.
• Savings: Only 69% of planned savings are expected to be delivered.
• Workforce Savings: The council is aiming for a 5% reduction in workforce spending, but some services are struggling to meet this target.
• Fair Funding Review: The council has responded to the government's consultation on the Fair Funding Review 2.0, but the outcome is uncertain. The council's response is detailed in Appendix 11 London Borough of Haringey Funding Consultation 2.0 Final 002.pdf.
• Debt Write-offs: The council wrote off £1.661 million in debt during Quarter 1, mostly related to parking fines.

Corporate Delivery Plan Update - Q1 2025/26

The committee also discussed the council's progress against its Corporate Delivery Plan (CDP) for 2024-2026, as outlined in the Corporate Delivery Plan Update report.

Key findings:

• 68% of outcomes were rated as 'Green' and 26% as 'Amber'.
• 6% of activity lines were rated as 'Red', needing attention.
• 79% of milestones due in Quarter 1 were delivered.
• Areas needing improvement included the number of complaints upheld by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman¹, and the rate of first-time entrants into the Youth Justice System.

Councillor Carlin, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, noted the pressures on the budget due to increasing demand and costs in social care and temporary accommodation.

Scrutiny Review: Temporary Accommodation (TA) Placements Policy and Private Rented Sector (PRS) Discharge Policy

The committee considered the Scrutiny Review into TA Placements and Discharging into the PRS Final report to OSC by the Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel. The report's recommendations focused on:

• Affordability: Lobbying the government to increase TA subsidy rates and Local Housing Allowance rates.
• Equalities Monitoring: Undertaking equalities monitoring for households in temporary accommodation, including ethnicity and out-of-borough placements.
• Choice: Building in a degree of choice and agency into the placement process.
• Domestic Abuse: Updating the policy to better support domestic abuse survivors.
• Out of Borough Placements: Ensuring in-borough accommodation is prioritised and conducting risk assessments for out-of-borough placements.
• Supporting those in TA: Setting up a dedicated fund and support officer for those in TA.
• Quality and Inspection Regime: Ensuring a robust inspection regime for all TA properties and maintaining a register of reputable landlords.

The committee approved the report and its recommendations, to be submitted to the Cabinet for a response.

Work Programme Update

The committee noted the current work programme and discussed potential agenda items for future meetings. Councillor Matt White, Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee, suggested an agenda item on residents' experiences when communicating with the council. He and Councillor Pippa Connor, Chair of the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel, also requested an update on the Scrutiny Review on Violence Against Women and Girls.