Environment Scrutiny Commission
Welcome to the Environment Scrutiny Commission page - the Commission is a sub-committee of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and reviews and monitors Council and partner agency services in areas covering the environment and climate change.
Meeting dates, agendas and membership
The Council uses a dedicated microsite to organise committee membership and meeting information – please visit the Environment Scrutiny Commission on ModernGov.
Recordings of meetings
Meetings are streamed live and archived on Southwark Council’s YouTube channel.
Latest News
An informal meeting was held on 22 July 2026 on the emerging work programme. The commission identified Climate Adaptation and Environmental Resilience as a strong potential topic for detailed scrutiny. Members discussed issues including heatwave preparedness, flood risk, nature-based solutions, food resilience, and adapting council buildings and neighbourhoods to better protect residents from the impacts of climate change.
Members also considered a range of other possible workplan topics, including solar energy and balcony solar panels, plant-based diets and local food growing, leisure centre performance and retrofit , waste management and fly-tipping, sustainable freight, transport safety, parking policies, building retrofit and decarbonisation, the extent the council has made the most of improvements to The Thames amenity and biodiversity following the opening of Tideway, outdoor leisure and active travel opportunities, the environmental impact of Heathrow expansion, and links between climate adaptation and community safety through environmental design. These topics will be considered further as the Commission develops and prioritises its work programme.
Current Scrutiny Priorities (2026-)
Following the recent elections, priorities will be reported here once established.
Historic Scrutiny Priorities
During the year (2025-26), the Environment, Community Safety and Engagement Scrutiny Commission (as its remit was) focused on:
- Playgrounds – a review with a focus on inclusive design for both children and young people.
- Customer Experience Plan
- Community Safety Review
- Police Oversight Board
- Streets for People Zoning – public realm strategy, active travel considerations and resident engagement.
Scrutiny Reports and Executive Responses (formerly Cabinet)
Reports below derive from the former Environment Scrutiny Commission:
2025/2026
- Exploring the Physical and Mental Health and Wellbeing Impacts of Active Travel and Access to Nature Scrutiny Review [Link] > Cabinet Response [Link]
2024/2025
- Biodiversity Scrutiny Review [Link] > Cabinet Response [Link] The report presented on biodiversity strategies, including front garden protection, de-paving schemes, going pesticide-free, sustainable drainage (SUDS), and “More, Bigger, Better, Joined Up” green spaces.
- Sustainable Freight [Link] > Cabinet Response [Link]
2023/2024
- Climate Finance – Financing Southwark’s Green Transition Scrutiny Review [Link] > Cabinet Response [Link]
2022/2023