Havering Council’s Cabinet has agreed a package of changes to strengthen how Council decisions and services are examined, challenged and improved.
At its meeting on 11 November, Cabinet approved recommendations in a report from the Overview and Scrutiny Board aimed at making scrutiny more effective, improving accountability and providing clearer evidence of the difference it makes for residents.
Overview and scrutiny gives councillors the opportunity to examine decisions, review services and recommend improvements.
It also allows proposals to be challenged before decisions are made, helping the Council consider the evidence and potential impact on residents.
The report follows the Council’s 2025/26 annual review of scrutiny.
While recognising existing good practice, including councillor training and scrutiny of the Council’s finances and improvement work, the review identified opportunities for earlier engagement, greater continuity of leadership and more consistent follow-up of recommendations.
Cabinet agreed three measures:
- A shared framework for Cabinet and scrutiny: a new protocol will support constructive challenge, timely access to information and scrutiny early enough to influence decisions. Its operation will be reviewed annually.
- Greater continuity of scrutiny leadership: an expectation that Chairs and Vice-Chairs will continue in their roles over a two-year period, where constitutionally and politically practicable. Appointments will remain subject to annual decisions and existing constitutional arrangements, with any necessary changes considered through the appropriate governance process.
- A consistent system for responding to and tracking recommendations: a central record will show whether recommendations are agreed, partly agreed or not agreed, explain the reasons, and identify responsibilities and deadlines for agreed actions. Regular reviews will check progress and highlight delays.
Together, the changes aim to focus scrutiny on issues that matter most to residents, strengthen evidence-based decision-making and ensure recommendations lead to action where agreed.
The new tracking arrangements will help councillors assess whether changes have been delivered and whether they have improved services.
Leader of Havering Council, Cllr Keith Prince AM, said:
“Residents should be able to see not just that decisions are being challenged, but what difference that challenge makes.
“These changes will help councillors examine proposals earlier, ask informed questions and follow through on agreed improvements.
"Clear responses, named responsibilities and regular progress checks will help ensure scrutiny leads to meaningful action and better outcomes for the people who use our services.
“This is all about ensuring decisions help us to deliver on our 2040 Vision – Creating London’s Super Suburb - to make Havering the best place in London to Live, Learn and Earn and for businesses to Invest, Grow and Thrive.”
The protocol takes effect immediately, with the standard response template and central tracker to be introduced within 20 working days of approval.
Progress will be reviewed quarterly, with an initial progress report after six months and the first annual effectiveness review during 2027/28.
The measures are expected to be delivered within existing resources, with no additional budget requested.