The Organisation and Communities Scrutiny Panel met on Thursday, 12 March 2026, to discuss the Council's Digital Strategy, community engagement efforts, and Freedom of Information monitoring. The Panel also received an update from the Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Social Value and discussed the work programme for the upcoming year.

Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Social Value Update

Councillor Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Social Value, provided an update on the portfolio's progress. The report highlighted that most objectives are on track, with low risk to delivery. Key areas of focus include the Medium Term Financial Strategy, which faces significant funding gaps, and efforts to optimise the use of revenue and capital resources. Performance indicators show that six out of nine key performance indicators have improved or been maintained. However, there has been a slight decrease in payments made to suppliers within 30 days, a dip in the council tax collection rate, and a marginal decrease in the business rates collection rate. The report also detailed the outcomes of the Fair Funding Review, noting that lobbying efforts had resulted in a better-than-anticipated settlement for the Royal Borough of Greenwich, though significant financial challenges remain.

Digital Strategy and Use of Artificial Intelligence in Council Services

The Panel considered the Council's Digital Strategy, which has seen significant progress over the past year, alongside challenges related to funding and the increasing external spend on digital services. The strategy is being integrated into a wider organisational review of transformation capacity. Key achievements include trials of artificial intelligence (AI) for social care case notes, internal meeting minutes, and redaction/deduplication for information requests. The Council is also exploring AI Co-pilot for personal productivity and has updated guidance on the ethical use of AI. Progress has been made on the Council website, with further content migration and improved search functions. The Digital Health and Care Technology service has exceeded expectations and is on track to achieve its savings target. The report also detailed work on strength-based social care, digital inclusion initiatives, and improvements to SEND services. The Repairs Transformation Programme continues to deliver improvements in resident experience and efficiency, while the Temporary Accommodation Cost Reduction Programme has significantly reduced the use of hotels and shared facilities. The Online Transactions Platform is being developed to provide a more efficient channel for services, and the Housing IT system has been upgraded. The Finance System Replacement project is underway, with anticipated staff efficiency savings.

Community Engagement

The report on Community Engagement detailed the Council's efforts to listen to and involve residents in decision-making processes. A new Director of Communications and Community Engagement has been appointed, and a permanent structure for the team is being developed. The Council has adopted a Community Engagement Pledge and Handbook, outlining values and promises for high-quality engagement. The team has supported 30 individual community engagement schemes and launched a new online portal, Community Conversations Greenwich, which features automatic translation and aims to increase resident participation. Progress has been made in building trust, sharing knowledge, and developing diverse communication methods. The Council is working to promote the voice of residents in decision-making through scrutiny processes and a continuous engagement cycle. Efforts are underway to extend engagement opportunities, curate activity for local representation, and highlight the voices of lesser-heard groups. The Council is also focused on building an engagement-ready culture through staff training and fostering collaboration with community partners.

Freedom of Information Monitoring

The Panel reviewed the Freedom of Information (FOI) Monitoring report, which highlighted a significant increase in FOI and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) requests received by the Council between 2024 and 2025. While most directorates performed well, pressures were most evident in Communities, Environment & Central, and Housing & Safer Communities. The report noted a rise in Internal Reviews and ICO complaints, particularly concerning non-compliance with statutory deadlines. The Council has implemented measures to address these concerns and is in liaison with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The report also discussed challenges related to the increasing volume and complexity of requests, including those generated by AI tools, Freemen on the Land arguments, and persistent complainants. The Council is exploring pre-emptive measures, such as improving the Publication Scheme and Disclosure Log, and is developing guidance for staff on managing these challenges.

Work Programme Discussion 2026-2027

The Panel engaged in a discussion regarding potential items for the Organisation and Communities Scrutiny work programme for the 2026-2027 period.

The meeting was attended by Councillor Joshua Ayodele (Chair of Organisation and Communities Scrutiny Panel), Councillor Peter Baker, Councillor Jo van den Broek, Councillor Cathy Dowse, Councillor Asli Mohammed, Councillor Raja Zeeshan, Councillor Matt Hartley (Leader of the Opposition), Councillor Lakshan Saldin, Councillor Denise Hyland (Cabinet Member Finance, Resources and Social Value), and Nwanne Uma.