The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the findings of a corporate peer challenge, and plans to modernise the council. Councillors agreed to send a recommendation to the cabinet that members should be involved in training and working groups related to the modernisation programme. The committee also received updates from the chairs of the Policy Development Committees (PDCs).

Corporate Peer Challenge

The committee reviewed the Corporate Peer Challenge Feedback Report, which summarised the findings of a peer review challenge that took place in July. The review, conducted by the Local Government Association (LGA), 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 report found that Redbridge is ambitious and delivers strong outcomes, but faces challenges including financial pressures and limited capacity. It made several recommendations, including that the council should develop a clear vision, rebuild its borough partnership, prioritise its activities, improve financial sustainability, develop an inward investment strategy, ensure its modernisation programme has clear objectives, strengthen its approach to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), improve HR service provision, improve member development, and improve communications.

The committee also reviewed a Draft Action Plan in response to the feedback report.

Councillor Kumud Joshi felt the plan used a lot of future tense, and gave the impression that the council had not yet started to address the issues raised in the report. She suggested that the plan should be reworded to reflect the work that the council is already doing.

Councillor Martin Sachs noted that paragraph 311 of the report referred to the council having three years' worth of disclaimed accounts¹. He clarified that this was a national problem caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and not a problem specific to Redbridge.

Councillor Mushtaq Ahmed asked what key performance indicators (KPIs) would be used to measure the success of the action plan. An officer, Julian, responded that the council was now measuring 124 items, compared to 22 items three or four years ago, and that these measures were both externally and internally facing.

Councillor Mohamed Javid, who was substituting at the meeting, asked about the findings of the last peer review, and whether the current review was measuring itself against the previous one. Julian responded that the current review was independent of the previous one, which took place about 10 years ago, but that he would research the effectiveness of the previous review.

Councillor Hare asked how the peer review came about, and whether the council had instigated it. Councillor William Rye responded that the council was asked if it wanted to have one, and that it was not forced to have it at all. He added that the review was timed to coincide with the appointment of a permanent chief executive, Claire Hamilton.

Councillor Hare also asked about the Community Voice Forum, which is mentioned in the report. Councillor Rye responded that the council was doing another session with the forum next week, and that it was a valuable way of engaging with residents.

Councillor Josh Young-Zachs asked about the council commissioning review, and whether the council had a robust list of vendors and frameworks that it works with. An officer, Councillor Koo, responded that the council does have a list of contracts, but that the commissioning review is looking at all procurement and commissioning at all levels.

Councillor Joshi said that the recommendations talked about finding alternative sources for procuring social and health care, and asked whether this included social prescribing². Julian responded that this was picked up under the modernisation programme.

Modernising Redbridge Programme

The committee then considered a report on the Modernising Redbridge Programme, which aims to fundamentally reinvent the way the authority operates.

Councillor Helen Coombe introduced the report, explaining that it set out a structured, whole-council response to the challenges that the council faces. She added that the programme would have financial efficiencies towards the budgetary challenge that the council faces, and that it would look at the short, medium and long-term changes that are needed.

Councillor Joshi commented on the target operating model, suggesting that the triangle should be turned upside down to make more sense. She also suggested that the project scope and demand management should be ordered differently, with customer first, then organisational, and then workforce.

Councillor Sachs said he was disappointed that the leader had not stayed for this section of the agenda, as it was as much about the future of Redbridge as the previous section. He added that he thought the council was anaemic in its approach to training for members, and that training should focus on strategic thinking.

Councillor Jarrett said that member involvement was not as good as it should be, and that members should be involved in building the organisation. She asked who was going to drive the change, and whether the council was going to use a consultant.

Councillor Ahmed asked whether the council had identified the first 10 or 20 things it was going to look at, with timescales, and whether it had a high-level plan.

Councillor Javid proposed that the committee make a recommendation to the cabinet that members be involved in training and working groups related to the modernisation programme. This was seconded and approved unanimously.

Policy Development Committees Updates

The committee received updates from the chairs of the Policy Development Committees (PDCs):

• Councillor Holmes reported that the Children and Young People PDC had a detailed discussion on special educational needs in Redbridge.
• Councillor Herr reported that the Clean and Green PDC had a workshop on blue badge fraud prevention and parking policy, and had a meeting lined up with One Place East to get feedback from disabled people.
• Councillor Brough reported that the Health and Care PDC was looking at mental health, and wanted to look at user data to understand how people found accessing mental health services in Redbridge.
• Councillor Joshi reported that the Homes and Neighbourhoods PDC had finished its first theme for the year, and was going to have a meeting to decide on its next direction.
• Councillor Ahmed reported that the Safe Redbridge PDC would be having a workshop for public space protection orders.
• Councillor Goddin reported that the External Scrutiny Committee had not met since the last meeting of the committee.
• Councillor Anne Sachs reported that the Education Scrutiny Subcommittee would be meeting in November.

Other Business

The committee noted that the next meeting was scheduled for Monday 10 November, but that this was subject to change.