The Scrutiny Commission of Charnwood Council is scheduled to meet on 6 October 2025 to discuss a new vulnerability policy for the landlord service, updates from scrutiny panels, and the commission's work programme. The commission will also note the Cabinet's response to previous pre-decision scrutiny items. Additionally, the group will review forthcoming executive key decisions to determine if any should be scheduled for pre-decision scrutiny.

Vulnerability Policy

The Scrutiny Commission is scheduled to discuss a report from the Director of Housing and Wellbeing, regarding a new vulnerability policy for the landlord service. The Cabinet is being asked to approve the new policy, which is included as an appendix to the Public Reports Pack.

According to the report, the policy aims to:

• Establish an agreed definition of vulnerability
• Ensure that staff understand the needs of vulnerable tenants and housing register applicants
• Identify vulnerable tenants and applicants early
• Comply with legislative, regulatory and council-agreed duties
• Support vulnerable tenants to sustain their tenancies
• Refer vulnerable tenants to partner agencies for specialist support
• Help vulnerable tenants to maintain their independence

The report states that the council has a duty under the Equality Act 2010¹ to advance equality of opportunity. The council has agreed that people who are defined as 'vulnerable' are treated, as far as access to services is concerned, as if 'vulnerability' were a protected characteristic.

The policy defines a vulnerable tenant as:

'Someone who has a particular characteristic and/or who has experienced an exceptional life event and who are unable, either temporarily or permanently to cope with managing their tenancy without additional support or service adjustment.'

The policy outlines how the council will identify vulnerable residents, record vulnerabilities, assess support needs, and address safeguarding concerns. It also details the support services available, including the tenancy support service and the resident liaison team. The policy also recognises the importance of partnership working with other agencies, such as the police, Department for Work and Pensions, and social care.

An equality impact assessment has been carried out on the policy, and is attached to the report as an appendix. The assessment states that there is no adverse impact or discrimination identified in this assessment arising from the policy itself.

Scrutiny Panels

The Scrutiny Commission will consider a report from the Head of Democracy, regarding updates on the work of scrutiny panels.

The report notes that at the last meeting of the Scrutiny Commission, members were informed that the HMOs Scrutiny Panel was in the scoping stage. A scoping document would be submitted to the Scrutiny Commission once complete.

The Budget Scrutiny Panel is due to meet for the first time on 4 November 2025.

The report includes a table summarising the current scrutiny panels, including their topic, scope, and timing.

The table includes the following panels:

• HMOs, chaired by Councillor Rhys Cory-Lowsley
• Budget Scrutiny, chaired by Councillor Mark Charles
• Climate Change and Net Zero
• Devolution

The report also includes a document outlining the procedures for scrutiny panels.

Scrutiny Work Programme

The Scrutiny Commission will review and agree the Scrutiny Work Programme, based on a report from the Head of Democracy. This includes reviewing changes made by the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee and adding items to their work programme.

The Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee met on 16 September 2025, and is scheduled to meet again on 25 November 2025.

The report includes a table summarising the Finance & Performance Scrutiny Committee Work Programme, including the issue, scope, reason for scrutiny, invitees/officers, and progress/notes/action requested.

Issues listed in the work programme include:

• Leisure Centres – Update
• Performance Monitoring
• Revenue Monitoring (General Fund and HRA)
• Capital Monitoring
• Climate Change Strategy Action Plan
• 2024/25 Infrastructure Funding Statement (S106 Agreement Monitoring Report)
• Scrutiny Commission – Scrutiny Feedback
• Community Safety Partnership

Cabinet Response to Pre-Decision Scrutiny

The Scrutiny Commission will note the Cabinet's responses to recommendations made by the commission on pre-decision scrutiny items, based on a report from the Cabinet.

The report notes that there were no items for pre-decision scrutiny at the last meeting of the Scrutiny Commission. Since the meeting of the Commission on 9 September 2025, the Cabinet considered the following items on which the Commission undertook pre-decision scrutiny:

• Charnwood Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order 2026
• Exempt – Business Rates Write Off

The report states that Councillor Mark Charles, Chair of the Scrutiny Commission, attended the Cabinet's meeting on 11 September 2025 to present the Commission's reports to the Cabinet.

The Cabinet adopted the officer recommendations as set out in the report for both items, which the Commission supported.

Scrutiny Commission Work Programme

The Scrutiny Commission will review its own work programme, including considering the list of forthcoming Executive Key Decisions, in order to schedule items for pre-decision scrutiny. This is based on a report from the Head of Democracy.

At their last meeting, the Scrutiny Commission added the following items to their work programme:

• Pre-decision scrutiny – Vulnerability Policy (October 2025)
• Local Government Review (Extraordinary meeting – 27th October 2025)

The report includes a table summarising the Scrutiny Commission Work Programme, including the responsible body, meeting date, issue, scope, reason for scrutiny, and invitees/officers.

Issues listed in the work programme include:

• Pre-decision scrutiny of any specific financial matters to be considered by Cabinet
• Cabinet items for pre-decision scrutiny
• Pre-decision scrutiny – Cabinet Response
• Scrutiny Panels
• Scrutiny Work Programme
• Selective and Additional Licensing Schemes Update
• Flooding Scrutiny Panel Recommendations - Update
• Budget Scrutiny Panel Report
• Housing Needs Scrutiny Panel Recommendations Update
• Car Parks Strategy Update
• Update on Void Properties
• Pre-Decision Scrutiny – HRA Business Plan Update
• Waste Management Scrutiny Panel Update
• Pre-Decision Scrutiny – Interim Charnwood Transport Strategy
• Web Contract Procurement

The report also includes a list of forthcoming Executive Key Decisions, including:

• Charnwood Borough Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order 2026
• Business Rates Write off
• Vulnerability Policy
• Charnwood Community Infrastructure Levy – Draft Charging Schedule
• Final proposals for local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland
• Draft General Fund and HRA 2026-27 Budgets
• Capital Plan Amendment Report
• Car Parking Strategy 2025-2028
• Charnwood Grants – Strategic Partners (2026/27-2027/28)
• Charnwood Grants
• Loughborough Town Centre Masterplan
• Medium-Term Financial Outlook 2026-29 and Capital Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy and Annual Investment Strategy 2026-27
• 2026-27 General Fund and HRA Revenue Budgets and Council Tax
• New Capital Plan (2026-27 to 2028-29)
• Local Development Scheme
• Housing Capital Programme
• Corporate Delivery Plan 2026/27
• General Fund and HRA Revenue Outturn Report (2025/26) and Carry Forward of Budgets
• Capital Plan Outturn 2025/26