The Overview & Scrutiny Committee of Southwark Council met on Saturday 17 May 2025 to discuss scrutiny arrangements for the 2025-26 municipal year. The meeting was scheduled to take place at Southwark Cathedral, and was open to all members of the council.

Scrutiny Arrangements for 2025-26

The main item scheduled for discussion was the agreement of scrutiny arrangements for the 2025-26 municipal year.

The report pack included a number of recommendations for the Overview and Scrutiny committee (OSC) to consider:

• Noting the size and composition of the OSC, which was due to be agreed by the annual council assembly. The annual council assembly meeting was expected to appoint an OSC with 11 places (9 Labour, 2 Liberal Democrat).
• Appointing scrutiny commissions and agreeing their titles, size and remits, including which scrutiny body has responsibility for crime and disorder, and health matters.
• Appointing chairs and vice-chairs for the commissions.

In 2024/25, four commissions were appointed: ‘Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission, Environment Scrutiny Commission, Health and Social Care Scrutiny Commission, and Housing, Community Safety, and Community Engagement Scrutiny Commission’.

The report pack also noted the allocation of co-opted member places in 2024/25:

a. Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Education matters only):

Education matters - voting co-opted members, Church of England and Catholic diocesan representatives, two elected parent governor representatives.

b. Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission:

Education matters - voting co-opted members, Church of England and Catholic diocesan representatives, two elected parent governor representatives

c. Environment Scrutiny Commission

Environment – two non-voting co-opted members were appointed by the commission

d. Health and Social Care Scrutiny Commission

None.

e. Housing, Community Safety and Community Engagement Scrutiny Commission

Housing matters - one non-voting co-opted member from Tenants Forum, Homeowners Forum and Southwark Tenant Management Organisations Committee.

The report pack referenced the Southwark Resident Participation Framework considered by the Cabinet on 4 February 2020, which recommended that the housing scrutiny commission have nominated places for the Tenants Forum, Homeowners Forum and Southwark Tenant Management Organisations Committee, with the representatives able to nominate an item onto the scrutiny commission agenda.

Other Business

The agenda also included items for:

• Apologies for absence.
• Notification of any urgent items of business.
• Disclosure of interests and dispensations.
• Discussion of any other open items as notified at the start of the meeting.