The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday 11 March 2026 to discuss the Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process and receive an update on housing performance. The committee noted the final report and recommendations for the EHCP review, which focused on improving communication and co-production. They also reviewed the housing update, noting progress in reducing temporary accommodation and improving tenant satisfaction, while acknowledging challenges in areas such as rough sleeping and the condition of some homes.

In-Depth Scrutiny Review: The Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Process

The committee noted the final report and recommendations from their in-depth scrutiny review of the Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process. The review highlighted significant pressures on the EHCP service due to increasing demand and complexity of needs. Key recommendations include improving communication with parents through better contactability and more face-to-face interactions, establishing a tri-borough system with Redbridge and Havering to streamline processes for families moving into the borough, and improving co-production with parents. The committee noted the report on early needs identification and will receive an updated action plan on progress in six months.

Housing Update on Priority 7 (Good Housing/Prevention of Homelessness)

The committee received an update on housing performance, which covered temporary accommodation, rough sleeping, tenant satisfaction, and the percentage of non-decent homes.

Tenant Satisfaction: A new methodology using telephone surveys, aligned with other London boroughs, showed an overall tenant satisfaction rate of 62%, identical to the London average. While satisfaction with repairs, particularly timeliness, was strong and above the London average, satisfaction with being kept informed and the council's contribution to the neighbourhood was below average. Satisfaction levels varied significantly by age, with older residents reporting higher satisfaction. Residents in high-rise flats also reported lower satisfaction.

Homelessness Prevention: The target for homelessness prevention was met, with 259 households prevented from becoming homeless by the end of January, just one short of the annual target of 260. This, combined with the delivery of new homes, has contributed to relatively low numbers in temporary accommodation compared to national trends and other London boroughs.

Temporary Accommodation and Bed and Breakfast (B&B) Placements: While overall numbers in temporary accommodation have been maintained on a downward path, there was a spike in Bed and Breakfast (B&B) placements in October 2025, with 100 households accommodated. However, a range of actions, including enhanced payments for Private Sector Leased (PSL) properties and the use of self-contained nightly paid accommodation, have led to a significant reduction in B&B numbers, with only 3 family connection households remaining in B&B for over six weeks by the end of February.

Rough Sleeping: The monthly snapshot figures for rough sleepers showed an upward trend throughout the year, with 19 recorded in January 2026. This is a marked increase from the previous December's statutory count of 4. Approximately 60% of those identified were known to the service as having no recourse to public funds, making them harder to accommodate. The new Housing Strategy includes a commitment to reducing rough sleeping to zero by 2031, partly through establishing a Housing First model in partnership with the YMCA.

Non-Decent Homes: The figure for homes failing to meet the Decent Homes standard was 9.2% in January 2026, which is stable but disappointing against the 100% target. The Assets team is developing a planned works programme to address this, including replacement windows and roofs.

Private Rented Sector: The council operates three licensing schemes for the private rented sector: mandatory HMO licensing, additional licensing for smaller HMOs, and selective licensing for self-contained privately rented accommodation. The licensing team has received 7,870 selective licence applications and has licensed 1,024 properties. The service has been enhanced to meet the expectations of residents and address issues such as overcrowding and anti-social behaviour, with new Tenancy Relations Officer posts created in anticipation of the Renters Rights Act 2025.

Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) Project 3: The committee received an update on the implementation of the Controlled Parking Strategy. Progress has been made in extending CPZs across the borough, with approximately 75% coverage achieved. The report detailed proposed areas for consultation for CPZ Project 3 and recommended refinements to the decision-making criteria. Members raised concerns about the length and complexity of consultation letters, the challenges of managing air quality, and the socio-economic impacts of CPZs. Officers explained that measures were being taken to address these issues, including exploring options for electric vehicle charging and reviewing charges for households with multiple vehicles. The committee noted the progress made and provided feedback to Cabinet on the proposals.

BD Group Update: A report on the BD Group was expected but was not forthcoming within the statutory timeframe for the meeting. The Chair recommended that the BD Group be considered as an early item on the new work programme for the incoming committee post-May.

Work Programme: The committee noted its work programme.