In a move that has sparked complaints by opposition councillors and transparency advocates, Wandsworth Council’s executive has cemented its control over decision-making by weakening scrutiny powers and limiting oversight mechanisms.
Under sweeping constitutional changes approved this month, the council has restructured its scrutiny system, making it harder for opposition councillors to challenge key decisions.
A Centralised Scrutiny System
One of the most notable changes is the replacement of multiple thematic scrutiny committees with a single General Overview and Scrutiny Committee (GOSC). Previously, Wandsworth had separate committees overseeing key policy areas such as housing, transport, education, and the environment. These allowed councillors with expertise in specific areas to conduct in-depth scrutiny.
However, under the new system, all scrutiny functions have been consolidated into GOSC, a move that critics argue will dilute specialised oversight. Opposition influence has also been reduced, with just two opposition councillors now sitting on the committee.
The changes have come in response to a review of the Council’s scrutiny process by the independent Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) which observed that while the council’s committees were active and engaged, they often lacked the ability to influence outcomes.
One Labour councillor noted the poor quality and frequently childish interactions between councillors of both parties when she described the council as akin to a “sixth form debating society.”
The changes however give more power to an executive that has been repeatedly accused of being less than transparent about its finances – borrowing £1.9 billion and digging into council reserves to fund its activities without disclosing its assumptions, spending over £1m on the leader’s office without accounting for where the money went, and pushing through numerous housing developments against unanimous local resident opposition.
Those concerns were reflected by the opposition speaker for finance, Councillor Peter Graham (Con), who pointed out that the CfGS had said that any changes to the council’s constitution should go through a working group and then to a formal committee before being submitted to the council for final approved.
However, he noted:
“Most of the changes before us tonight went straight to the Executive, which is not a formal council committee and excludes the opposition. At Monday’s meeting, there were no comments or questions, and the changes were nodded through in under two minutes. The final approval tonight is our first sight of these changes and the only debate.”
In other words, while making fundamental changes to the way the council spends billions of pounds of Wandsworth taxpayers’ money, the council’s executive displayed the very behaviour that other councillors are most concerned about: a lack of integrity, honesty and accountability.
Reduced Powers to Challenge Executive Decisions
Key procedural changes have also affected the ability of scrutiny committees to challenge executive decisions.
- The “call-in” process, which previously allowed any five councillors to delay and review an executive decision, has been restricted. Some decisions—particularly those deemed within the budget and policy framework—are now exempt from review.
- The “reference-up” mechanism, which enabled scrutiny committees to escalate concerns to full Council, has also been altered. The Executive now has greater discretion to prevent certain decisions from being referred up.
- Executive control over meeting scheduling has increased, giving the administration more power to delay or limit discussions on contentious matters.
Concerns Over Transparency and Accountability
These changes have sparked concerns among opposition councillors and transparency advocates. Critics argue that by limiting the number of scrutiny committees and reducing opposition influence, the council’s leadership—currently Labour-controlled—has made it more difficult to challenge and scrutinise key decisions.
Instead of more in-depth oversight by councillors, some with expertise in housing, transport, or education, there will now be a single committee trying to cover everything.
However, the council’s leadership has defended the changes, arguing that a more streamlined scrutiny system will improve efficiency, reduce bureaucracy and speed up decision-making.
| Change | Before (Dec 2024) | Now (Mar 2025) | Effect |
| Scrutiny Structure | Multiple thematic scrutiny committees | Single General Overview and Scrutiny Committee (GOSC) | Less detailed policy scrutiny |
| Call-in Process | 5 councillors could call in a decision | More councillors needed, some decisions exempt | Harder to challenge decisions |
| Opposition Influence | Opposition councillors spread across multiple committees | Only 2 opposition members in GOSC | Weaker checks and balances |
| Meeting Control | Scrutiny committees had some scheduling independence | Executive has more influence over scheduling | Harder to scrutinize contentious issues |
What’s Next?
As these changes take effect, many will be watching closely to see how the new scrutiny system impacts local governance. Will the General Overview and Scrutiny Committee be able to effectively hold the executive to account? Or will this restructuring lead to a weaker opposition and less transparency in Wandsworth’s decision-making processes?
It is worth reflecting on the fact that even before these changes, Wandsworth Council had stuck with an outdated and less democratic form of governance – that of a Leader and Cabinet – over a service committee approach.
The call-in process and standards committee approach, which has now been dismantled, was itself a weak governance approach and stands in stark contrast to neighbouring Richmond Council which holds open meetings, publishes its decisions and both encourages and incorporates public participation.
You can see the papers concerning the Council’s new constitution here.
