Hounslow's Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel is set to delve into key children's services, launching a deep dive
investigation into a specific area of council activity. The panel met on 19 June 2025 to lay the groundwork for the review, focusing on selecting a topic, developing terms of reference, and agreeing on co-optees for the panel.
The scrutiny panel, comprised of Councillor Aqsa Ahmed, Councillor Rasheed Bhatti, Councillor Ghazala Butt, Councillor Bishnu Bahadur Gurung, Councillor Allan Joseph, Councillor Alan Mitchell, Councillor Farhaan Rehman, Councillor Daanish Saeed and Councillor Emma Siddhu, also addressed procedural matters, including the election of a vice chair. The agenda for the meeting outlined the key discussion points.
A deep dive
is an in-depth review designed to provide a detailed understanding of complex issues, gather evidence, and develop recommendations for improvement. Terms of reference, which define the scope and objectives of the investigation, will ensure the panel remains focused. Co-optees, individuals with expertise in relevant areas, will be invited to contribute to the scrutiny process.
At the meeting, councillors were reminded of the need to declare any interests, as outlined in the Members' Code of Conduct. The guidance note from Benita Edwards Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer, provided further clarification on declaring interests, including disclosable pecuniary interests, other registerable interests, and considerations for predetermination and bias.
The panel also noted the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2025, which included a review of the 2024/25 deep dive findings and a presentation from Graeme Baker, Head of Access to Education, and Jodi Timbou, Family Hubs Service Delivery Manager. The next meeting is scheduled for 23 September 2025.
