Sadiq Khan’s plan for London came under fire as a report into Bexley Council was approved by the authority’s top team.

Earlier this year council bosses from across the country inspected how Bexley was being run, from how it criticises itself through scrutiny to how it plans on delivering its ambitious growth strategy.

The council was praised for its leadership, finance management and “tremendous ambition”.

But according to the report, some staff were having concerns about the council’s growth agenda – tipped to bring 30,000 homes and 17,000 jobs by 2050.

Speaking at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, cabinet member for growth Cllr Louie French said: “The biggest challenge we face is translating our ambitions in the growth strategy into reality.

“There are benefits to growth, but it is about improving supporting not radicalising the borough as some would have.

“The report picked up concerns about the draft London plan. We have to keep fighting against that – what is recommended will fundamentally change the character of this borough.

“We will keep working extremely hard to deliver growth that benefits all.”

Sadiq Khan’s draft London Plan would increase the borough’s housing targets four-fold to 2,145 a year, introduce the presumption that smaller developments be approved and encourage small sites around town centres be developed.

The council agreed its own major strategy last year, focussing on developing the north of the borough.

Inspectors said it was an incredible achievement that “absolutely everybody” they met with supported the plans for growth, but there was “emerging anxiety” over infrastructure.

The council was praised for having committed staff, and an increasingly positive reputation and relationship with other partners.

Opposition councillor Stefano Borella quizzed the cabinet on how it can improve scrutiny after inspectors said it was ineffective.

“One of the things recognised by the report is overview and scrutiny, and not one cabinet member mentioned that”, the Slade Green councillor said.

“That’s to me is one of the key things as to how we can get better. Some staff say it impacts on their morale.

“At the end of the day, the cabinet is here and they are the ones who need to take it on the chin when making decisions, they shouldn’t be scared of defending decisions in public.”

Councillor David Leaf said scrutiny is a 24-hour process, and shouldn’t be confined to meetings.

The council has established smaller scrutiny meetings to improve how decisions are made.