The Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to discuss flood risk management and receive an update from Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust (ESTH). The committee will also be asked to approve the minutes of their previous meeting.

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust Update

The Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to receive an update from Alex Shaw, Interim Managing Director of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust (ESTH). The report pack includes information on performance, finances, winter preparations, historical pay and pension issues, the estate, and the birthing centre at St George's Hospital.

Key points that may be raised include:

• Performance: In September, the Emergency Department (ED) saw approximately 13,513 patients, averaging over 450 daily, compared to 428 a day in September 2024. 74% of patients were seen within the 4-hour ED standard, an increase from 65.4% in June. In August, 1.8% of the total waiting list, or 1,089 patients, had been waiting for 52 weeks. Diagnostic waiting times have increased, with 1,901 patients waiting more than 6 weeks for tests or procedures in August, compared to 1,689 in June. Cancer standard improvements are below target, particularly in dermatology, with 81.8% of patients seen within the 62-day referral for treatment standard in August, against a national target of 85%. 62.3% of urgent cancer referrals were seen within 28 days, a decrease from 77.5% in July and below the 75% national standard, predominantly due to dermatology. Cancer performance for 31-day from decision to treatment continues to exceed the national target of 96%.
• Finances: The Trust has submitted a deficit financial plan of £5.7m for 2025/26, which relies on a £67.7m Cost Improvement Programme and £41.6m in deficit support funding. According to the report pack, achieving this plan will be very challenging . The report pack mentions that the trust is committed to involving staff, patients and communities in proposals around the services it provides.
• Winter Preparations: The report pack states that the trust is preparing for a busy winter by working with local hospitals, local authorities and voluntary organisations to ensure joined-up care. Communications campaigns are planned to direct people to the appropriate services, such as NHS 111, GP hubs and pharmacies, while reserving 999 and Emergency Departments for life-threatening conditions. The trust also intends to promote flu and Covid-19 vaccinations and offer advice on staying well in cold weather.
• Historical Pay and Pensions Issue: According to the report pack, when some staff were brought in-house, they received improved pay and conditions, including the London Living Wage¹, increased annual leave and access to the national workplace pension scheme (NEST)². The report pack states that staff are now being given the choice to join the NHS pension scheme, and that a full review of pay and conditions is underway.
• Estate: The government has pledged £12 million to invest in the estate at Epsom and St Helier hospitals. The focus is on urgent remedial works related to fire and water systems, structural repairs and lift upgrades. The remaining funds will be used to upgrade ventilation plants and the generator facility at St Helier. The approximate split across the sites is £7.6m to St Helier Hospital and £4.5m to Epsom Hospital. The report pack notes that the current maintenance backlog is running at £150m and is estimated to rise to £180m over the next five years. The report pack states that the trust will continue to invest in its hospitals and plan how to keep these running for the next decade while awaiting the next phase of the New Hospital Programme³.
• St George's Carmen Birthing Centre: Birth rates at the centre have dropped by over 50% in the last five years, and birth choices at booking have also declined, meaning the centre is underused. The report pack states that other options are being reviewed, and no decisions have been made. The report pack also states that it is a separate service to the St George's Delivery Suite, where 97% of women give birth, and that there is space and capacity in the delivery suite to provide a dedicated room for midwifery led care.

Flood Risk Management Update

The Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to discuss a report on flood risk management in Sutton. The report provides an update on the council's role as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA)⁴ and its work with partner organisations to manage flood risk. The report pack highlights the following:

• Council Functions: The council is designated as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010⁵. The report pack states that five bodies across the Borough have flood risk management powers and responsibilities each with their own governance structures, which can make it difficult to confirm which is the relevant body when a problem occurs .
• Multi-agency Flood Plan: Sutton's Multi-agency Flood Plan 2022 outlines the plans of all organisations with emergency planning roles under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004⁶ for preventing emergencies and reducing, controlling and mitigating the effects of emergencies in both the response and recovery phases.
• National Strategy: The Sutton Local Flood Risk Management Strategy is aligned with the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy.
• Proposals for 'approving bodies' for drainage systems: The government had been pursuing an expansion of councils' role and powers around the sustainable drainage of new developments, which would place an additional burden on council resources. The report pack states that in 2024 DEFRA announced that the implementation is being reviewed, and the council has been advised that implementation is not considered to align with the current focus on growth and is on hold.
• National standards for the implementation of sustainable drainage: New national standards for sustainable drainage systems were published by DEFRA on 30 July 2025.
• London Surface Water Management Strategy: A London Surface Water Management Strategy was published on 14 May 2025.
• Local Flood Risk Management Strategy: The report pack states that 1866 properties are at high risk of flooding in the London Borough of Sutton as estimated by the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.
• Flood event, 23rd September 2024: The London Borough of Sutton experienced a flood event on 23 September 2024. The worst affected area was alongside the River Wandle in the Hackbridge ward where nine properties were confirmed to have flooded internally during the early hours. Sutton as the Lead Local Flood Authority conducted a statutory flood investigation (section 19 report) to confirm which risk management authorities have relevant flood risk management functions, and what they did or are proposing to do in response to the flood.
• Gully cleaning: Routine and reactive gully cleaning from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027 has been included within the existing highway term service contract with FM Conway.

The report pack also details the strategic objectives in the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, which are:

• Improve the council's knowledge and understanding of the different risks of flooding in Sutton.
• Proactively encourage sustainable solutions for the management of local flood risks which take account of climate change.
• Use planning powers to appropriately mitigate flood risk to or caused by developments across Sutton.
• Educate, encourage, and empower local residents, businesses and landowners to take action on reducing flooding.
• Nurture collaborative partnerships with key organisations and Risk Management Authorities, including for funding and resources.

The report pack provides updates on flood alleviation projects, including the Cuddington Recreation Ground Worcester Park Flood Alleviation Scheme, the Beddington Area, the SuDS in Sutton Schools (SiSS) programme, and Additional Flood Measures.