The Corporate and Resources Committee convened to discuss key performance areas for the council. Councillors approved recommendations relating to a Corporate Peer Challenge, the annual handling of complaints, and the awarding of contracts for security. The committee also noted the revenue and capital budget monitoring reports, and approved a number of changes to capital budgets.

Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring

The committee reviewed the Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report as at Month 4, which provided a forecast of the financial position for 2025/26. Councillors noted the forecast outturn position for the general fund, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), the schools budget, and the capital programme.

The forecast for the General Fund revenue outturn position at Month 4 (31 July 2025) was an overspend of £3.26m against a budget of £192.48m. This was attributed to pressures in adult social care, corporate services, place, residents and communities, and children's services. Savings plans for 2025/26 were being monitored, with £5.81m of savings forecast to be delivered.

The General Fund capital Programme had forecast an in-year underspend of £38.22m at month 4, and the committee approved the rephasing of budgets following reviews of project timelines.

The schools budget was forecasting an overspend of £10.46m, which would lead to an increased accumulated deficit on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Adjustment Account of £18.73m, compared to £8.27m at March 2025. The HRA was forecasting a breakeven position, but variances within this position were under further investigation. The reprofiling of the capital programme was under review and was currently forecasting an in-year underspend of £16.32m, to be rephased into future years. The general fund balance was forecast to remain at £19.63m.

The committee approved a number of changes to capital budgets:

• £0.7m for the Local Implementation Plan
• £0.54m for Highways and Transportation
• £20.54m to support the acquisition of 55 properties from Cambridge Road Estate LLP, subject to GLA grant funding approval
• £0.78m to initiate the Small Sites Phase 2 development programme
• £1.01m increase for the Disabled Facilities Programme
• £1.35m increase for the Hook Flood alleviation scheme
• £2.28m increase for HRA Voids Works
• £0.66m increase for the Community Parks Programme
• £1.16m increase for the NEC Housing system implementation

The committee also approved the re-profiling of a number of capital budgets, which had the effect of decreasing capital budgets by £54.55m in 2025-26 and increasing capital expenditure budgets by £45.27m over the three-year period 2026/27-2028/29, noting an overall underspend of £9.28m.

Corporate Peer Challenge Report and Action Plan

The committee reviewed the findings of the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge 2025, which assessed the council's performance against five themes: local priorities and outcomes, organisational and place leadership, governance and culture, financial planning and management, and capacity for improvement.

The LGA team visited Kingston Council in June 2025, and spoke to 149 stakeholders including councillors, staff, partners and residents.

The report recognised Kingston as a high-performing local authority, delivering strong outcomes for residents. It highlighted the alignment of the council's priorities with its financial strategy and transformation plan, the effective leadership across the council, and the improved partnership working with statutory, commercial, and voluntary sector partners. The report also noted the forward-looking and evidence-based nature of Kingston's Economic Development Strategy, with its focus on inclusive growth.

The report recommended that the council focus on prioritisation, collaboration, shared services, process and practice, engagement, partnership, climate change, and housing.

The committee endorsed the Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan, which sets out strategic actions to respond to each recommendation. The action plan includes a series of actions and timescales for each action, and a return visit from the CPC team is scheduled for April 2026 to assess progress.

Annual Corporate Complaints Report

The committee approved the Annual Corporate Complaints and Compliments Report 2024/25, which provided an overview of complaints and compliments received by the council between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. The report showed that the total number of accepted corporate complaints reduced by 26%, falling from 2,418 in 2023/24 to 1,795 in 2024/25. Performance against response times improved by 15% to 77%, up from 61% in 2023/24. The council achieved 100% compliance with Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) recommendations in 2024/25.

The committee also approved the annual Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Code self-assessment 2025/2026, which assessed the council's processes against LGSCO standards.

The committee noted the content of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Letter, and the updated complaint handling policy.

The Annual Corporate Complaints Report 2024/25 noted that the highest volume of complaints were associated with Community Housing services, which includes homelessness applications, temporary accommodation and the housing register. The report stated that this was due to unprecedented and sustained levels of demand for housing, which has far outstripped local supply. ¹

The report also noted that waste services continued to receive the second highest volume of stage 1 complaints, but that improvements to the service had led to a 48% reduction in waste-related complaints.

Approval to award contract(s) for security guarding and CCTV monitoring

The committee delegated authority to the Executive Director of Place to endorse the award of contracts for security guarding and CCTV monitoring. The contract for the provision of these services ends on 30 November 2025, and a procurement process has been undertaken to secure appropriately skilled and experienced providers to ensure the continuity of service delivery.

The procurement strategy sought to split the security guarding and CCTV monitoring services into two lots, with bidders having the opportunity to submit a bid for one or both lots. Following the tender submission deadline, five compliant tenders were received for Lot A (security guarding) and three compliant tenders were received for Lot B (CCTV monitoring). The tenders were evaluated based on quality (60%) and price (40%).

The committee delegated authority to the Executive Director of Place to endorse the award of the Security/Manguarding Services Contract to the named bidder in Exempt Annex 1 for a contract period of 3 years with a possible extension of a further 2 years, for a maximum contract value of £1,836,802 ex. VAT, £2,204,162 inc. VAT.

The committee delegated authority to the Executive Director of Place to endorse the award of the CCTV Monitoring Services to the named bidder in Exempt Annex 1 for a contract period of 3 years with a possible extension of a further 2 years, for a maximum contract value of £1,886,119 ex. VAT, £2,263,343 inc. VAT.

Urgent Decision Taken under Procedure Rule 30 - Manned Guarding and CCTV Monitoring Contract Procurement Strategy

The committee received a report for information regarding an urgent decision taken under Procedure Rule 30 in relation to the Manned Guarding and CCTV Monitoring Contract Procurement Strategy. The Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Executive Director of Corporate Services and S151 Officer and the Co-Chairs of Corporate and Resources Committee, approved the Gateway One Procurement Strategy for the contract, to be commenced from 1 December 2025 for 5 years, including a potential 2-year extension. The Procurement Strategy will be offered as two lots to the market with the ability for one service provider to be awarded both lots.