Lewisham Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee has established the priorities for its select committees for the 2026-27 municipal year, with a broad remit covering health services, community safety, children and young people's welfare, sustainable development, public accounts, and housing.
Healthier Communities
The Healthier Communities Select Committee will delve into a range of critical health service issues. Their scrutiny will encompass community mental health pilots and the utilisation of Palantir within the NHS Trust. Safeguarding, adult social care, and the impact of winter programmes on residents' health are also key areas of focus. Furthermore, the committee will review the performance of the Lewisham and Greenwich Trust, with a specific emphasis on PFI planning, and will address health inequalities and public health interventions. See page 25 of the Public reports pack 16th-Jul-2026 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee.pdf
Safer Stronger Communities
Community safety will be examined by the Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee. Their work will include reviewing the violence against women and girls strategy, updated for 2027, and assessing integrated enforcement, CCTV, and licensing and gambling policies. See page 27 of the Public reports pack 16th-Jul-2026 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee.pdf
Children and Young People
The Children and Young People Select Committee will concentrate on SEND reforms, family help and care, and the implementation of EHRC guidance concerning trans youth. They will also investigate race inequalities in educational attainment and data collection related to exclusions. See page 30 of the Public reports pack 16th-Jul-2026 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee.pdf
Sustainable Development
In the realm of sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Select Committee will scrutinise the council's climate emergency response. This includes its climate action plan, renewable energy rollout, social housing decarbonisation, and associated funding and implementation barriers. The committee will also explore participatory budgeting for climate and nature services, performance on clean streets, waste management, and the circular economy. Further areas of investigation include biodiversity recovery, street trees, equitable access to green space, climate resilience and adaptation (addressing overheating and flood risk), green transport, air quality, and sustainable approaches to tackling the housing crisis. See pages 33-35 of the Public reports pack 16th-Jul-2026 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee.pdf
Public Accounts
The Public Accounts Select Committee will examine the council's budget and performance cycle. This will involve scrutiny of financial outturns, budget savings proposals, and a review of social value in commissioning and procurement. Income generation, inward investment, and potential scrutiny of a green bond proposal are also on the agenda. See page 37 of the Public reports pack 16th-Jul-2026 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee.pdf
Housing
Pressing housing issues will be addressed by the Housing Select Committee. Their focus will be on housing provision and maintenance, with particular attention to the Renters' Rights Act, damp and mould issues, landlord performance, asset management, and strategies for temporary accommodation and homelessness. See page 39 of the Public reports pack 16th-Jul-2026 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee.pdf
Budget Proposals and Risk Registers
In addition to these specific committee priorities, Councillor James Rathbone recommended that all committees examine the administration's budget proposals in November. The Safer Stronger Communities, Public Accounts, and Housing select committees are all scheduled to scrutinise budget proposals during this period. The Public Accounts Committee will specifically review savings and cost options, aiming to understand proposed savings and how frontline services can be protected. See page 27, 37, and 39 of the Public reports pack 16th-Jul-2026 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee.pdf
Councillor Rathbone also emphasised the importance of reviewing directorate-level risk registers. He suggested that each committee allocate time, even if just for an information item, to examine these registers, describing them as a key piece of information highlighting major challenges and vulnerabilities in the council systems.
While risk registers are reviewed at an organisational level by EMT and Audition Risk quarterly, directorate-level registers are considered vital for the work of overview and scrutiny select committees.
