Organisation

London Borough of Wandsworth

11 stories · discussed at 1 council meeting · 2 councils

Wandsworth Council is addressing significant budget overspends, housing service challenges, and changes in leadership.

Wandsworth Council is currently addressing significant financial pressures, with a £9.8 million budget overspend for 2025/26, driven by adult social care and homelessness costs, as reviewed by the Cabinet in July 2026. The Cabinet also discussed a 130% increase in housing complaints for 2025-26, with temporary accommodation costs reaching £40 million annually. In September 2026, the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed diagnostic waiting times at St George's Trust due to staff shortages.

In July 2026, Councillor Robert Morritt was elected Leader of Wandsworth Council, and Ms Anna Popovici was appointed shared Chief Executive for Wandsworth and Richmond councils. The General Purposes Committee decided in July 2026 to increase the size of Overview and Scrutiny Committees and reinstate petition hand-ins at the start of meetings, as part of constitutional reforms approved by the Council.

Key facts

  1. St George's Trust faces diagnostic waiting time challenges due to staff shortages, discussed by Wandsworth Council's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee in September 2026. Source
  2. Wandsworth Council's housing complaints increased by 130% in 2025-26, with temporary accommodation costs reaching £40 million annually. Source
  3. Wandsworth Council reported a £9.8 million budget overspend for the 2025/26 financial year, primarily due to adult social care and homelessness services. Source
  4. Councillor Robert Morritt was elected Leader of Wandsworth Council in July 2026. Source
  5. Ms Anna Popovici was appointed shared Chief Executive for Wandsworth and Richmond councils in July 2026. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Latest stories

  1. St George's Trust faces diagnostic waiting times challenge due to staff shortages St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is grappling with significant challenges in diagnostic waiting times, particularly for non-obstetric ultrasound scans. This... Wandsworth 22 September 2026
  2. Tributes Paid to Former Councillor Colin Doar at Wandsworth Council Meeting Tributes have been paid to former Councillor Colin Doar at an extraordinary meeting of Wandsworth Council, held on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, where his passing was announced. Wandsworth 16 September 2026
  3. Wandsworth Housing Complaints Skyrocket 130%, Temporary Accommodation Costs Soar to £40 Million Annually Wandsworth Council has experienced a dramatic surge in housing complaints, with figures for the 2025-26 period showing a 130% increase compared to the previous year. The... Wandsworth 30 July 2026
  4. Wandsworth Council Reports £9.8m Budget Overspend Driven by Social Care and Homelessness Costs Wandsworth Council has reported a significant budget overspend of £9.8 million for the 2025/26 financial year, a deficit primarily driven by increased demand and costs in adult... Wandsworth 30 July 2026
  5. Lambeth Council has not used surveillance powers since 2017 Lambeth Council has not authorised any surveillance activities under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) since 2017, a trend mirrored by many other local... Lambeth 25 July 2026
  6. Putney Pool Retention Petition Presented to Wandsworth Council A petition calling for the retention of Putney's 33-metre swimming pool has been presented to Wandsworth Council. Wandsworth 24 July 2026
  7. Wandsworth Council Scraps Estate Regeneration Plans Amid Budget Deficit Wandsworth Council has officially scrapped controversial estate regeneration plans as part of a wider spending review aimed at addressing a significant budget deficit. The... Wandsworth 24 July 2026
  8. Robert Morritt Elected Leader of Wandsworth Council Councillor Robert Morritt has been elected as the new Leader of Wandsworth Council, securing victory over Councillor Simon Hogg by a vote of 30 to 26 at a council meeting held... Wandsworth 24 July 2026