The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Newham Council met on Thursday 23 October 2025 to discuss a range of important issues, including the council's work programme, the October finance review, and the annual complaints report. Key decisions made included the approval of the committee's work programme and the agreement to forward the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission's report on leisure inequalities to the Cabinet.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed and agreed its work programme for the upcoming year. Items scheduled for the next meeting include a report on council tax collection rates and an examination of Newham Council's emergency preparedness and resilience.

October Finance Review

The committee considered a comprehensive report outlining the council's budget performance as of October 2025. Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE and Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, provided context on the significant financial challenges facing the council, including rising costs in social care and temporary accommodation. They stressed the legal obligation to set a balanced budget and the need for transparency in exploring all options, including potential service reductions and tax changes. Conrad Hall, Corporate Director of Resources, highlighted an estimated budget gap of £53 million for the next year, rising to £90 million over the subsequent two years. The report detailed various options being considered for budget reductions and income generation, emphasizing that no decisions had yet been made and that extensive consultation would take place.

Annual Complaints Report

The committee reviewed the council's annual complaints report, which detailed complaints handling across all services. Councillor Charlene McLean, Cabinet Member for Resident Engagement and Resident Experience, introduced the report, noting an increase in complaint volume driven by major service changes, such as waste collection. Despite this, performance in Stage 2 complaint resolution had improved. The report highlighted that the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) had completed 40 investigations, upholding 35 complaints, with an upheld rate of 88%, which was slightly higher than the London average. However, the council's satisfactory remedy rate was significantly higher than the London average. Concerns were raised about delays in responding to complaints, which appeared to be the most common form of dissatisfaction across services. The committee discussed measures being taken to address these delays, including changes to case management systems and senior oversight.

Non-Statutory Best Value Notice

The committee received an update on the organisational actions taken in response to the Non-Statutory Best Value Notice issued in May 2025. The report detailed progress in areas such as financial sustainability, leadership stabilisation, and cultural change. While acknowledging the work undertaken, it was recognised that significant challenges remain, particularly in managing demand and costs in temporary accommodation and adult social care. The report also highlighted the disappointing response rate to the staff survey, which was being unpacked to understand underlying issues of staff engagement.

Fit for Purpose? Newham's Leisure Inequalities and the Borough's Plans to Address Them

The committee agreed to the final report of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission's review of leisure services in Newham. The report identified weaknesses in data, metrics, and a lack of overall strategy for leisure provision. Recommendations included carrying out a local survey to better understand activity levels across different demographics, developing a more nuanced system for classifying activity levels, and creating a Community Leisure Strategy. Concerns were also raised about the labour practices of the new leisure centre provider, Better (Greenwich Leisure Limited), and the need to promote low-cost activity options.

Appointments

The committee appointed Councillor Terence Paul to the Budget Scrutiny Commission and noted that Councillor Stephanie Garfield would not be sitting on this commission due to personal circumstances, with Councillor Tennis Paul stepping into her place.

Forward Plan

The committee reviewed the Forward Plan of Key Decisions, noting Cabinet business conducted on 16 September 2025 and forthcoming Cabinet business.

Scrutiny Chairs' Updates

Oral updates were received from the chairs of the Health and Adult Social Care, Education, Children and Young People, and Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Commissions, outlining their respective work programmes and areas of focus.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the committee was scheduled for 18 November 2025.