The Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to discuss the council's medium-term budget, complaints handling, and the use of investigatory powers. Councillors were also expected to review and note the committee's work programme for the coming year.

Delivering a Sustainable Medium-Term Budget

The committee was scheduled to discuss the approach and timescales for setting the 2026-2027 budget and medium-term plans to 2030. A report on Delivering a Sustainable Medium-Term Budget, PAS/WS/25/015, noted that the 2025-2029 Strategic Direction for West Suffolk Council is key to the budget's development, as the budget underpins the delivery of the council's priorities.

The report outlined challenges to the budget, including increasing demand on services, the council's role in supporting communities in a challenging economic environment, and the need to deliver more housing growth in West Suffolk. It also noted national and global pressures beyond the council's control.

The report stated that the 2026-2027 budget and medium-term plans were being prepared in the context of uncertainty, as the government establishes the detail of its policy in terms of:

• The outcomes of the Fair Funding 2.0 consultation and the impact on the multi-year Local Government Finance settlement.
• The replacement of the current business rates system and accompanying business rates revaluation.
• Decisions on the Local Government Reorganisation proposals.
• Establishment of the Mayoral Strategic Authority and election of a Mayor.
• The update of the National Policy Planning Network.
• Major reforms with Simpler Recycling, Health, as well as Social Care reforms.

The report also included a table showing potential ranges presented to the council in February 2025, as a best and worst case set of scenarios depending on whether the current level of grants and business rate retention scheme growth continue across the longer term.

The report stated that work continues on developing annual saving, income and initiative plans of £1 million per annum from April 2026 across the medium term.

The report set out key work pillars for the 2026 to 2030 Budget plans following the council's Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) themes:

• Aligning resources and transforming service delivery and customer access.
• Behaving more commercially.
• Future of local delivery and funding models.
• Local Government Finance.
• Managing the council's workforce.

The report recommended that members consider and agree the approach and timescales for the 2026 to 2027 budget setting process and medium-term plans to 2030.

Complaints and Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Report

The committee was scheduled to note the Complaints and Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Report 2024-2025, PAS/WS/25/016. The report included information on complaints managed as part of the council's internal Corporate Complaints Policy, as well as findings of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO).

The report noted that the council is required to report on the findings of the LGSCO each year, and that this report has been extended to include information on the complaints that have been managed as part of the council's internal Corporate Complaints Policy at Step 1 and Step 2. The aim of this section of the report is to provide an overview of the areas where residents and customers felt a need to complain and the action the council has taken to remedy these complaints.

The report included tables showing the total number of complaints received for 2024-2025, and whether or not they were upheld after consideration at Step 1 of the complaints process, as well as the number of Step one complaints received across the council over the last three years.

The report also provided an overview of Step two complaints, and detailed the outcomes of these Step two complaints, as well as outlining the number of Step two complaints investigated across the council over the last three years.

The report noted that the council also encourages services to record compliments received from customers, and included a table showing the number of compliments received by each directorate.

The report included information on complaints submitted to the LGSCO in 2024-2025, and noted that the LGSCO has reported that between 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, they received 19 complaints. Of these 19 complaints, 5 were referred back to the council for local resolution, 11 were closed after initial enquiries and 3 were investigated and upheld.

The report also detailed the outcome of complaints considered by the LGSCO, and noted that in those instances where the complaints were upheld, a variety of actions have been taken by the council to prevent the issue arising again.

The report also noted changes to the LGSCO guidance, and that West Suffolk Council will be reviewing its Complaints Policy to ensure that it appropriately aligns with the Code before the implementation date of 1 April 2026.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

The committee was scheduled to note the update on the use of RIPA and other associated matters, as detailed in report PAS/WS/25/017. The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) provides a framework to ensure investigatory techniques are used in a way that is compatible with the Article 8 right to respect for private and family life enchained in the European Convention on Human Rights¹. The report stated that the Covert Surveillance and Property Interference Code of Practice provides guidance on the use by public authorities of Part II of RIPA, and that RIPA and the Code of Practice require councillors to have regular oversight of activities authorised under RIPA, and to review the council's RIPA Guidance at least once a year.

The report noted that the overwhelming majority of surveillance undertaken by the council will be done overtly, and that the council's RIPA guidance makes sure that when covert techniques are used, they are used in compliance with RIPA.

The report stated that officers will only carry out covert surveillance where such action is justified and proportionate, and that the council has a small pool of senior officers who are trained to authorise such applications, which must then be granted by a Magistrate.

The report noted that no RIPA authorisations have been requested in the preceding year.

The report stated that the RIPA guidance has recently been amended to update the Senior Responsible Officer and Authorising Officers arising from staff changes, and that the Monitoring Officer is currently working with the Learning and Development team to secure online training for the Authorising Officers which may be undertaken on an annual basis.

Performance and Audit Scrutiny Work Programme 2025/2026

The committee was scheduled to note the current status of its work programme for 2025 to 2026, as detailed in report PAS/WS/25/018.

The work programme included the following items:

• Statement of Accounts
• Annual Governance Statement
• Ernst and Young – Auditors Results Report 2024 to 2025
• Internal Audit Mid-Year Progress Report 2025 to 2026
• 2025 to 2026 Performance Report (Quarter Two)
• Delivering a Sustainable Medium-Term Budget (2026 to 2027)
• Treasury Management Report (September 2025)
• Work Programme Update (2026)
• EY Audit Results Report (ARR) for 2024/25
• 2025 to 2026 Performance Report (Quarter Three)
• Treasury Management Report (December 2025)
• Annual Financial Resilience Management and Investment Strategy Statements 2026 to 2027
• Delivering a Sustainable West Suffolk Council Budget (2026 to 2027)
• Work Programme Update (2026 to 2027)
• EY Audit Plan and Fees report for 2025 to 2026
• Internal Audit Annual Report (2025 to 2026)
• Outline Internal Audit Plan (2026 to 2027) and Internal Audit Strategy
• 2025-2026 Performance Report (Quarter Four)
• Annual Health and Safety Report
• Annual Re-Appointments to the Financial Resilience Sub-Committee (2026 to 2027)
• Work Programme Update (2026 to 2027)

The work programme also included a potential future work programme item: English Devolution White Paper.