The Cabinet of Wandsworth Council is scheduled to meet on Monday 26 January 2026 to discuss a range of important issues. Key topics include an independent report into the Fox House fire, a review of social housing improvement, the Housing Improvement Plan, the Housing Revenue Account budget, and the Public Mental Health Action Plan.

Independent Report into the Fox House Fire

The Cabinet will consider an independent report by Barry Quirk CBE into the fire at Fox House, Maysoule Road, Battersea, which occurred on 10 September 2025. The fire displaced over 100 residents and caused significant property damage. The report details the events of the night and reviews the council's response, identifying areas for improvement, particularly in the initial hours of the incident. The report commends the council's overall response but makes recommendations regarding organisational leadership, operational readiness, resident support, and technical learning, including building safety. The council's actions to address these recommendations are also outlined.

Review of Social Housing Improvement

A report from the Social Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group will be presented, detailing their work in response to a C3 grading by the Regulator of Social Housing. The group's findings, comments, and recommendations are submitted for Cabinet's consideration. Key recommendations include exploring additional resources for analysing stock condition data, improving the resident repair journey with digital tracking, co-designing repairs and maintenance contract specifications with residents, and ensuring tenant and leaseholder representation in governance arrangements for monitoring housing stock improvements. The report also suggests commissioning external consultants to review the engagement strategy.

Housing Improvement Plan

The Cabinet will review the Housing Improvement and Transformation Plan (HIT Plan), developed in response to a C3 regulatory judgement from the Regulator of Social Housing. This plan addresses immediate areas for improvement and outlines longer-term transformation of housing services. Significant progress has already been made in areas such as stock condition surveys, electrical safety tests, fire remedial actions, and reducing overdue repairs. The plan also details structural and cultural changes required to create a new Resident Services directorate, aiming to put tenants and leaseholders at the heart of service delivery. The Cabinet is asked to agree the HIT Plan and support the creation of a Housing Improvement and Transformation Board.

Housing Revenue Account Budget

The Cabinet will consider the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget, including proposed rents and other charges for council dwellings for the period 2025/26 to 2028/29. The report highlights the council's strong financial position despite national pressures. Proposals include additions to the HRA capital programme totalling £241.907m, bringing the total capital programme to £758.227m. It is recommended that council housing rents be increased by a maximum of 4.8% from April 2026, with general increases in non-residential charges of 3.8% and a reduction in heating and hot water charges. The report details the financial implications, legal considerations, and equalities implications of these proposals, as well as how they support the Wandsworth Environment and Sustainability Strategy.

Public Mental Health Action Plan

The Cabinet will be asked to approve 'Healthy Minds', the Public Mental Health Action Plan for Wandsworth, for the period 2026-2030. This prevention-focused plan aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of residents by addressing social and environmental factors. It promotes collaborative working across council departments, NHS partners, and the voluntary sector, aligning with the council's Prevention Framework and the Better Services Partnership values. The plan is organised around four thematic areas: Growth and Success, Healthy Living, Community and Environment, and Foundations for Wellbeing. The report includes an Equality Impact Needs Analysis (EINA) which identifies groups at higher risk of poor mental health and outlines actions to advance equality, diversity, and inclusion. The first-year action plan for 2026/27 is also detailed.