Lewisham Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday, 16 July 2026, to review the work programmes of the council's select committees for the municipal year. The overarching goal of this scrutiny is to ensure a coordinated and deliverable scrutiny program, with select committees aiming to examine key areas within their remits and identify cross-cutting issues. The committee also received an update on the Corporate Enquiries Transformation Project, which aims to create a modern, joined-up, and resident-focused corporate enquiries capability.
The Children and Young People Select Committee, chaired by Councillor Eleonora Aiello, will focus on SEND reforms and the implementation of guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) concerning trans youth. Regarding SEND reforms, the committee will examine the second stage of implementation, with a further update planned for their January meeting. They will also address reflections from the first scrutiny meeting on the involvement of marginalized communities in the strategy's development and implementation.
Concerning the EHRC guidance for trans youth, the committee will investigate what measures the council has put in place to ensure the protection of trans children and young people in and out of educational environments, and whether this guidance is being effectively implemented.
Furthermore, the committee plans to delve into race inequalities in educational attainment. In their March meeting, they will review a specific report on this issue, with a particular focus on the collection of data surrounding children and young people's inclusion in educational settings. This includes a close examination of data related to both permanent and internal exclusions.
The work programmes for the select committees were agreed in principle during the meeting. Specific timelines for each committee's work are detailed within their respective programmes, with meetings scheduled from September through to March. The full details of the committee's discussions and decisions can be found in the public reports pack for the meeting.
Public reports pack 16th-Jul-2026 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee
