The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Merton Council was scheduled to discuss the council's budget and business plan, with a particular focus on the rising costs of temporary accommodation. The committee was also set to review the ongoing work programme for the year.

Budget and Business Plan

The committee was scheduled to consider the council's budget and business plan. This included a review of the financial position for 2026/27 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2026-2030. The discussions were intended to allow the committee to scrutinise the council's financial planning and provide comments and recommendations to the Cabinet.

Temporary Accommodation Spend

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to examining the rising costs associated with temporary accommodation (TA). A report presented to the committee outlined a plan to reduce these costs, which had resulted in a substantial overspend for Merton Council. The plan aimed to achieve several outcomes, including fewer TA placements, more discharges from TA, reduced reliance on and cost of spot-purchased TA, and increased recovery of Housing Benefit. The report highlighted that Merton, like other councils in London and the Southeast, is facing financial pressures due to a housing crisis, increased homelessness, and rising rents in the private rented sector. The causes of the overspend were identified as both increased demand for TA and higher accommodation costs per household. The report detailed strategies to address these issues, such as increasing the supply of private and social housing, improving prevention of homelessness, and enhancing digital and technological approaches within the Housing Needs Service. The committee was asked to note the Temporary Accommodation Cost Reduction Plan.

Scrutiny of the Business Plan: Comments and Recommendations from the Panels

Following the review of the budget and business plan, the committee was scheduled to discuss comments and recommendations from various scrutiny panels. This agenda item was intended to consolidate feedback from different areas of the council's work, allowing for a collective overview and scrutiny of the Business Plan before it is presented to the Cabinet.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review its work programme for the remainder of the 2025/26 year. This would have involved discussing upcoming items, ensuring that requests for reports are focused, and planning for future scrutiny activities. The work programme also included a review of the 2025/26 programme and suggestions for the 2026/27 programme.