The Royal Borough of Greenwich's cabinet met on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, to discuss several key issues, including safeguarding adults, treasury management, revenue outturn, and housing assistance. The cabinet noted the Royal Greenwich Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024-25, the Treasury Management and Capital Outturn 2024-25, and the council's revenue position as of March 2025. They also agreed to a new Housing Assistance Policy.

Royal Greenwich Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024-25

The cabinet reviewed the Royal Greenwich Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024-25, which details the work of the board in safeguarding adults at risk within the borough. Professor Michael Preston-Shoot, the Chair of the Safeguarding Adults Board, addressed the cabinet, thanking Councillor Oliver, Cabinet Member Health, Adult Social Care and Borough of Sanctuary, for her support and challenge, and Helen Bonnerwell, the Board Business Manager, for her work.

Professor Preston-Shoot highlighted several key issues:

• Domestic Abuse: He noted the Health and Wellbeing Board's conversation on domestic abuse and committed to providing better data and recommendations.
• Mental Health: He expressed concern over resource constraints in mental health services and suggested a summit on mental health.
• All-Age Approach: He emphasised the need for a strengthened all-age approach to safeguarding, particularly for issues like mental health, domestic abuse, and support for asylum seekers.
• Integrated Care Boards (ICBs): He acknowledged potential threats due to operational reductions faced by ICBs nationally, while noting that South East London is in a better position than other ICBs.
• Healthwatch: He expressed concern over the winding up of Healthwatch nationally and its impact on raising awareness among global majority communities in Greenwich.
• Care Quality Commission (CQC) Assurance: He mentioned the upcoming CQC inspection of Adult Social Care departments and the opportunity for Greenwich to showcase its positive work.

Councillor Denise Hyland thanked Professor Preston-Shoot for his report. Councillor Anthony Okereke thanked him for attending the meeting.

Treasury Management and Capital Outturn 2024-25

The cabinet reviewed the Treasury Management and Capital Outturn reports for 2024/25. The capital programme for 2025/26 amounts to £362 million, including £2.4 million of capital bids.

Key points from the report:

• Borrowing remains affordable and enables the council to deliver on its corporate missions.
• There has been no increase in the risk profile or appetite of the council.
• The council maintains a prudent investment strategy.
• Recent economic events are likely to pose significant challenges for the council's borrowing strategy.
• The Director of Resources confirmed that the authority complied with the prudential indicators¹ in the current year and does not foresee any financial difficulties in future years.

Councillor Hyland asked for more information on the capital programme, particularly regarding additional Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) needs. An officer responded that the largest component would be the all-through school for SEND pupils, which is much needed in the borough and will allow many children in out-of-borough placements to return.

4/25 Revenue Outturn

The cabinet reviewed the council's revenue position as of the end of March 2025. The outturn for 2024-25 showed a marked improvement from the figure reported in November.

Key points from the report:

• The departmental overspend was £10.7 million, compared to £14.5 million in November.
• The corporate position also improved, with a reduction in the overspend by £17.7 million, leaving a £200,000 gap.
• The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) position improved from a £3.1 million overspend to £1.6 million overspend.
• The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) position worsened, with the overspend rising from £5.4 million to £8.9 million.

Councillor Hyland asked about the challenges driving overspends in adult social care. An officer responded that the rise in inflation and the increasing acuity of need were key drivers.

New Housing Assistance Policy

The cabinet agreed to a new Housing Assistance Policy, aimed at supporting residents to stay in their homes. Councillor Pat Slattery introduced the report, highlighting that the policy updates the size of grants available to reconfigure people's homes and the size of interest-free loans to reflect higher costs.

Key elements of the policy:

• Supporting residents to stay in their homes rather than go into more expensive accommodation.
• Keeping older people in their homes for longer and ensuring they can be discharged from hospitals sooner.
• A new clean and clear grant to prepare patients' homes for discharge, addressing self-neglect and hoarding.
• Support for children with disabilities to enable them to live in the family home.
• Exclusion of all military pensions from consideration in means testing for loans, following lobbying from the Royal British Legion.

Councillor Oliver welcomed the report, noting the importance of additional support for adaptations and the support for end-of-life care.