The Overview & Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss community safety, major works on the Chilton Grove Estate, and responses to recommendations arising from scrutiny of major works on the Consort Estate. They were also scheduled to discuss and agree annual work programmes for the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and its commissions for the 2025/26 municipal year.

Southwark Community Safety Partnership

Councillor Natasha Enin, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhoods, was scheduled to give a presentation on the Southwark Community Safety Partnership (CSP). The presentation was to cover the statutory shared leadership of the CSP, which includes the local authority, police, health services, probation services and the London Fire Brigade.

The presentation notes that crime has fallen over the long term, but that Southwark has seen small increases in the past two years, broadly in line with London-wide trends, but significantly less sharp than some other London boroughs. It notes that Southwark has rising crime driven by theft, concentrated in central/northwest wards, alongside increases in hate crime, radicalisation referrals, and serious violence (knife and gun crime).

However, a supplementary agenda note states that the references to hate crime and serious violence should be disregarded, as a new police recording and reporting system called CONNECT replaced CRIS in February 2024, leading to issues with data quality and content affecting the ability to conduct in-depth analysis.

The presentation also covers drug-related harm and anti-social behaviour (ASB), noting that Southwark reported a higher rate of drug misuse deaths between 2021-23, 5.5 per 100,000 population, aligning with the national average but higher than inner London (5.2). It notes that despite the overall decrease in ASB, reports of drug-related ASB rose to 19.9%, while alcohol-related ASB remained steady at 4.4%.

The presentation also covers violence against women and girls (VAWG) and domestic violence, noting a decrease in VAWG offences mostly due to violence against the person, which decreased by 17% (2,765 reported). It notes that 44.1% of VAWG was flagged as relating to domestic abuse (1,893 offences).

The presentation also covers serious violence, victim or suspect under 25 years, noting that personal robbery follows the same pattern as all crime with emerging hotspots in Newington and Peckham Rye.

The presentation also covers community voice, noting that community safety is one of the most emotive and visible issues for residents, and that bridging the gap between data and public confidence is a key goal of the work of the partnership and the council.

The presentation lists the priorities for the CSP as:

• VAWG and promoting women's safety
• Reducing violence and vulnerability
• Reduce drug related harm
• Increasing trust and confidence in policing
• Creating safe and sociable neighbourhoods

Chilton Grove Estate

The committee were scheduled to receive a report from Hakeem Osiniake, Strategic Director for Housing, and Ryan Collymore, Director of Repairs and Maintenance, on an internal review of the Chilton Grove Estate rooftop homes and 2018-19 QHIP major works project.

The report notes that the Chilton Grove Estate was part of the 2018/19 Quality Homes Investment Programme (QHIP). This works package was designed to provide for the refurbishment of 68 homes. It was subsequently decided that the QHIP project would be extended to include the construction of a two-storey rooftop extension and a corner extension on each of the two blocks, to provide 44 new homes for affordable, social rent.

The report notes that works commenced on this project on 24 June 2019 and, with an expected contract duration of 78 working weeks, was due to complete by 20 December 2020, but that the project has suffered from protracted delays, changes in the scope of the works, changes in policy, contractual difficulties and disputes and escalating costs.

The internal review concluded that the project did not go well, resulting in a very difficult, sometimes unpleasant, and unfortunate experience for residents affected by the works.

The internal review identified several factors that contributed to the poor performance of this project including:

• suitability of the council's existing partnering contract for use in a project of this type
• complexity of the project
• challenges of combining a QHIP project with a new-build (rooftop homes) project
• performance of the main contractor
• lack of timely internal decision-making
• poor communications

The report notes that several of the contributing factors to the poor performance of this project identified by the internal review have already been recognised and addressed by the council. For example, the partnering contracts previously used for the Housing Major Works projects have now expired and, the remaining QHIP works at Chilton Grove will be subject to a new robust procurement process.

The report also notes that the council has recognised the impact that this project has had on residents in the two blocks of flats at Chilton Grove and has agreed to pay compensation to all households (leasehold and tenant) for delay and distress. The level of compensation due equates to £4,600 per household.

The report provides updates on refunds to leaseholders, lift installations, the condition of the site, and compensation payments.

Consort Estate

The committee were scheduled to note the Cabinet response to Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommendations arising from scrutiny of Consort Estate major works, charges to leaseholders.

Councillor Sarah King, Cabinet Member for Council Homes, states in the foreword to the report that the scope and provisional costs for the major works project at Consort Estate have been substantially reviewed in partnership with residents, and the projected costs substantially reduced.

The report details the committee's recommendations to cabinet and the cabinet's responses to those recommendations. The recommendations and responses are summarised below:

1. Strengthen the council's in-house Quantity Surveyor function and skills to scrutinise estimates provided by contractors. The cabinet accepted this recommendation, noting that a dedicated internal Quantity Surveyor has been assigned in the Planned Maintenance Team and will scrutinise all estimates and conduct sample audit checks on valuations submitted by contractors on future projects.
2. Change the way the admin fee is calculated on contracts in order to remove the possible incentivisation of large contracts. The cabinet did not accept the recommendation in relation to the Homeownership administration fee, noting that the administration fee is defined within the lease for the management of the service charge accounts, and that the council cannot opt to charge either a fixed cost, or the actual cost of administration, without varying every lease and transfer agreement. However, the cabinet accepted the recommendation in relation to the Consultant fee charged to the contract, noting that in the new contracts tendered, consultants will face the penalty of not being awarded further contracts if there is excessive scope creep.
3. Review and strengthen communications and cross-department working to improve the services provided by the Homeownership Team and to fulfil a 'whole council approach' to housing. The cabinet partially accepted this recommendation. While the cabinet noted that it would not be possible to tailor individual letters with explanations of the variations between estimated and actual service charges for each leaseholder, it noted that a cover sheet is now being included with the billing pack, providing some general information. The cabinet also noted that Planned Maintenance will now ensure that the draft specification and budget is consulted on prior to the Section 20 notices[^1] of proposal being served, and that Homeownership Services are working with Technology and Digital Services to develop an option for homeowners to access the itemised breakdown for their actual service charge through their MySouthwark Housing On-Line account or by another on-line route. The cabinet also noted that Homeownership Services will update the FAQ section of the section 20 notices to include details of external advice agencies. [^1]: A Section 20 notice is a legal notice that local authorities must serve on leaseholders when they plan to carry out major works to a building.
4. Introduce an automatic option of being able to pay over six months where the difference between estimates and actuals is above a certain percentage of the estimated service charge. The cabinet partially accepted this recommendation, noting that while the lease requires any actual debit to be paid within one calendar month of notification, all leaseholders can apply to spread payment of any actual debit over the remaining six months of the financial year. The cabinet noted that a briefing will be drafted for the cabinet member for housing who will consider the creation of a policy for the implementation of the recommendation.
5. Pilot working with solicitors and estate agents to provide far greater clarity on the realities of leaseholder responsibilities and future costs. The cabinet did not accept this recommendation, noting that the Pre-assignment team works closely with solicitors in providing a detailed management pack, which is paid for by homeowners selling their property, and that it is the responsibility of the conveyancing solicitors to advise their clients on their rights and obligations under either a lease or a transfer agreement. The cabinet noted that a recommendation may be for the council to lobby government to improve the quality of conveyancing generally and the information required to be provided by Estate Agents.
6. Strengthen the whistleblowing system within the council. The cabinet partially accepted this recommendation, noting that the whistleblowing policy is reviewed as standard on a four yearly cycle, and that a new draft policy is currently going through the governance process.
7. Introduce fully itemised billing in final service charge invoices to leaseholders. The cabinet partially accepted this recommendation, noting that automatically issuing the itemised breakdowns with all actualised service charges is unfeasible due to the scale required, but that the council is working towards publishing itemised breakdowns on line, through homeowners Housing-on-Line accounts via the MySouthwark portal.

Work Programme

The committee were scheduled to consider and agree annual work programmes for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and its commissions for the 2025/26 municipal year.

The report includes the proposed remits of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and its commissions based on the cabinet portfolio responsibilities set out in the council constitution and the Southwark 2030 Goals.

The report lists the agenda items scheduled for discussion at future meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, including:

• Council Delivery Plan Performance
• Cost of Living - Southwark 2030 goals including economies, discounts and subsidies
• Annual Workforce report
• Budget Local govt settlement
• Budget introduction and scene setting
• Annual budget Scrutiny
• Budget Scrutiny – Formulation of OSC recommendations to cabinet
• Southwark 2030 Goal – Well Run Council
• The Council's Transformation Agenda

The report also lists agenda items to be scheduled, including:

• Refugees / Borough of Sanctuary (Task and Finish Group)
• Southwark Equality Framework (pre decision scrutiny)
• Cemeteries and crematorium services
• Community Review Panels – Land commission work - regeneration Old Kent Road
• Development of social purpose of land framework
• Local Community Infrastructure Levy Framework
• Canada Water
• Southwark Housing delivery - affordable housing and social rent delivery
• Rail Infrastructure - CIL investment at train/tube stations
• Cabinet Member Interviews