The Scrutiny & Overview Committee of Croydon Council met on Tuesday, 19 November 2024, to discuss the Equality Annual Report 2023/2024, the review of the London Borough of Croydon Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005, the Annual Complaints Report 2023-24, and the 2024-25 Period 5 Financial Monitoring Report. The committee made several recommendations to the Cabinet regarding these reports.

Equality Annual Report 2023/2024

The committee reviewed the draft Equality Annual Report for 2023-24, which detailed progress on the Equalities Strategy agreed in October 2023. Councillor Andy Stranack, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, and Helen Reeves, Head of Strategy & Policy, introduced the report. It was noted that 23 objectives had been completed, 48 were on target, and one was being delivered differently. A resident survey indicated that 82% of respondents believed Croydon was a place where people from different backgrounds got on well together.

The committee commended the collaborative approach to producing the report and the work invested by officers. They also praised the approach taken during the Borough of Culture initiative, which saw the Council facilitate greater control for the local voluntary sector.

The committee made the following recommendations to the Cabinet:

• For next year's Equality Report, consideration should be given to including a summary of how the Council has engaged with underrepresented communities in the report's development.
• For next year's Equalities Report, consideration should be given to illustrating the tangible outcomes of the Equalities Strategy, for instance, with the inclusion of case studies.
• A mechanism should be explored to allow Members to be kept informed of the work of the Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Workforce Board.

The Gambling Act 2005 - Review of London Borough of Croydon Statement of Principles

The committee considered a report on the review of the London Borough of Croydon Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005. Nick Hibberd, Corporate Director for Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery, and Michael Goddard, Head of Environmental Health, Trading Standards & Licensing, were in attendance. The review confirmed that much of the statement's content is governed by legislation and statutory guidance from the Gambling Commission, and the Council does not have licensing control over online gaming.

The committee noted that gambling establishments tend to be concentrated in district retail centres with higher footfall. It was clarified that there is no provision for cumulative impact in either the Gambling Act or statutory guidance. The report highlighted a national decline in betting shops due to factors including the rise of online gambling, regulation of fixed odds betting terminals, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regarding safeguarding young people, it was explained that each case is treated on its merits, and officers cannot arbitrarily attach conditions to a license. Representations relating to a specific premises would trigger a review by the Licensing Sub-Committee. The Council cannot include a wider principle within the Statement to prohibit gambling establishments on school routes, as the general principle is to permit licenses. Operators are responsible for enforcing the law that prohibits individuals under 18 from entering gambling establishments, with operators risking their license if this is not enforced.

The committee recommended that a mechanism be explored to monitor that gambling establishments are regularly carrying out their own third-party checks in line with Social Responsibility Codes.

Annual Complaints Report 2023-24

The committee reviewed the Annual Complaints Report for 2023-24. Marie Snelling, Interim Assistant Chief Executive, Nick Hibberd, Corporate Director for Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery, and Susmita Sen, Corporate Director for Housing, were among those in attendance.

It was noted that 52% of Stage One complaints were responded to on time, a decrease from 64% in the previous year. Benchmarking against other London boroughs was difficult due to limited published data. The committee suggested that the report could be improved by providing additional context for changes in complaint levels for specific services.

A surge in complaints related to housing repairs was attributed to a change in contractors, leading to increased demand. The Council is now managing the repairs contact centre in-house, increasing transparency. The report indicated that 25% of Stage Two complaints were replied to within the 20-day deadline, and a plan is in place to improve this, including escalation processes and meetings with Heads of Service and Directors.

The committee concluded that positive progress had been made in reducing complaints escalated to the Local Government Ombudsman, and commended the Council's transparency in publishing its complaints summary. They welcomed improvements to the complaints process and the system's dynamism.

The committee made the following recommendations to the Cabinet:

• Given the high number of complaints relating to the Housing Service, explore whether housing complaints should be categorised separately in the Annual Complaints Report until the housing improvement journey is complete.
• For future Annual Complaints Reports, explore the possibility of including additional context to explain variations in complaint levels, and providing a summary of key service improvements delivered in response to complaints.
• Explore a mechanism for capturing how complaints are resolved on a corporate-wide basis.

2024-25 Period 5 Financial Monitoring Report

The committee reviewed the Period 5 Financial Performance report, covering August 2024, which provided an overview of the latest budget position for 2024-25. Councillor Jason Cummings, Cabinet Member for Finance, Jane West, Corporate Director for Resources and Section 151 Officer, and Nick Hibberd, Corporate Director for Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery, were in attendance.

A small improvement in the forecasted overspend position was noted, but a significant shortfall remains. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) General Fund forecasted overspend had increased from £2m to £8m due to addressing backlogs in housing repairs, damp, and mould work, and fire safety. There was also £19m of slippage in the Capital budget, attributed to work being delivered in the next financial year.

Demand-led pressures were identified as a major contributor to the Council's overspend. The committee noted that while the Autumn Budget included various announcements, they were not expected to improve the in-year position. Initiatives to boost foster carer recruitment are underway.

The committee noted the increase in debt between Period 4 and Period 5, resulting from some Council loans coming out of their standing period. They also acknowledged that the overspend within the HRA General Fund was due to addressing the repairs backlog, which was viewed as positive news. The committee noted the lack of detailed information on the potential budgetary implications of the Government's Autumn Statement, despite the impact of increased employer National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage.

The committee decided that a briefing should be arranged for them on the Council's debt as part of the budget scrutiny process.

Scrutiny Recommendations

The committee considered a report presenting the Mayor's response to previous recommendations from the Scrutiny & Overview Committee and its Sub-Committees. The committee resolved to approve the recommendations made by its Sub-Committees for submission to the Executive Mayor and to note the Mayor's response to recommendations made by the Scrutiny & Overview Committee.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2024-25

The committee noted the most recent version of the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2024-25 and considered whether any other items should be provisionally added to the work programme as a result of the discussions held during the meeting.

The meeting concluded with the exclusion of the press and public not being required.