Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Alev Cazimoglu.

The Leader welcomed new Cabinet Members and Associate Cabinet Members to their first formal Cabinet meeting and thanked them for taking up the roles.

Members of the Cabinet are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non pecuniary interests relevant to items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To note, that no requests for deputations have been received for presentation to this Cabinet meeting.

NOTED that no requests for deputations had been received for presentation to this Cabinet meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the previous Cabinet meeting held on 9 March 2022.

AGREED that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 March 2022 be confirmed as a correct record.

A report from the Executive Director Place is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5269)

Councillor Nesil Caliskan (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Executive Director Place seeking approval to agree the modifications put forward by the Inspector in his report and to refer the North London Waste Plan (NLWP) to full Council.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed  

1.    The modifications put forward by the Inspector in his report (Appendix B); and

2.    To refer the NLWP (Appendix C) to the Council meeting on 13 July 2022 for adoption to become part of the statutory Development Plan for the borough.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision.

(Key decision – reference number 5269)

A report from the Executive Director Place is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5457)

Councillor Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director Place setting out potential options available to the Council and the next steps required to develop a full business case, and seeking endorsement of the concept, approach and identified next steps. Councillor Leaver advised members of the committee that a full business case would be developed, and a proposal brought to Cabinet.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed

1.    To note and endorse the report, including a budget of up to £100k, to enable the engagement of specialists in this field to undertake a feasibility study and due diligence, focused on carbon offsetting within the borough, the formal (verified) and informal (unverified) carbon offset market and local customer demand, ahead of the development of a full business case.

2.    As detailed in paragraph 33 of the report, a provisional timeline assumes a feasibility study will be concluded in October 2022, and subject to the outcome of that study a full business case will be developed and approved by January 2023.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision.

(Key decision – reference number 5457)

A report from the Executive Director People is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5448)

Councillor Nesil Caliskan (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Executive Director People providing an update on the Health and Social Care reform requirements of the government’s Health and Care Act 2022. Councillor Caliskan explained that the delegated authority sought would allow officers to begin to implement changes necessary to respond to and deliver the reforms to come.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to

1.    Note the legislative requirements of government on the Local Authority and associated financial risk as a consequence of the Health and Social Care reforms outlined in this report and summarised in section 6 b) to f) of the report.

2.    Delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care in consultation with the statutory Director for Health and Adult Social Care as set out at section 5 a) of the report to deploy government funding for these purposes with any such funds required for drawdown before receipt of government grant or any shortfall in funding from government grant to be met from Health & Adult Social Care reserves already in place.

3.    Note that the meeting of any such requirements with regards to the Fair Cost of Care exercise and the introduction of the Care Cap in financial year 2023/24 which exceeds the government allocation of funding (as yet unknown) will be declared as part of the Council’s annual Medium Term Financial Planning process.

4.    Receive a further update report on progress made on implementing the reforms and the financial impact on the Council in early 2023.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision. 

(Key decision – reference number 5448)

A report from the Executive Director Resources is attached. (Non key)

Councillor Ergin Erbil (Deputy Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Executive Director Resources showing the Quarter 4 performance for 2021/22 (January 2022 – March 2022) and comparing it to the Council’s performance across the previous four quarters for a series of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The report is part of the Quarterly timetable for Cabinet to review performance. The actions taken and progress made were highlighted, particularly in respect of Temporary Accommodation and of Waste and Recycling.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to note, for information only, the progress being made towards delivering the key priority indicators for Enfield.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision. 

(Non-Key)

A report from the Executive Director Resources is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5464)

Councillor Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director Resources detailing the financial expenditure for the prior year at the end of the financial year and requesting budget adjustments for the 2022/23 budget. Attention was drawn to Table 12 of the report which gave details of investment for local communities.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to recommend to Council for approval:

1.  Increase the 2022/23 General Fund and HRA capital budget by £26.6m (rolling forward unutilised 2021/22 budgets). This is the net position of:

a. a total of £41.43m 2022/23 budgets increasing due to programmes being delayed

b. a total of £14.79m 2022/23 budgets being reduced to recognise where budgets have been spent early (in 2021/22), as detailed in Table 5 in the report.

2.  £13.74m additions to the approved programme, as a result of recognising additional grant funding, as detailed in Table 3.

3.  Transfer £2.48m usable capital receipts from General Fund to HRA to rectify capital financing for the construction of Alma Youth Centre, a General Fund asset, as required by accounting standards.

4.  Reprofiling £79.74m Meridian Water budgets (within the same total budget) using ‘budgets with both levels of approval’ before ‘budgets requiring secondary level of approval’.

Cabinet agreed to note:

5. Total expenditure on the Capital Programme for 2021/22 was £198.6m, against the revised outturn forecast of £225.3m.

6. The total reprofiling of £26.6m comprises of £15.5m General Fund (excl. companies), Companies £10.1m and £1.1m on HRA programmes.

7. Funding of the Council’s capital expenditure for 2021/22, the largest elements of which were £98.8m borrowing and £51m grants, as detailed in Table 6.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision. 

(Key decision – reference number 5464)

A report from the Executive Director Resources is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5465)

Councillor Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director Resources setting out how the Council’s actual expenditure compared to the original budgeted position for 2021/22. The year end position, and the funding sources and departmental outturn variances in Table 1 were highlighted.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to

1.  Note for 2021/22 financial year the General Fund revenue outturn position of £2.504m underspend, and the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) revenue overspend of £4.570m.

2.  Note the balanced position and reserves position as at outturn. The £3m contingency is no longer required to achieve the General Fund forecast outturn and the planned drawdown from reserves of £1.927m will no longer be required, and £5.504m will be added to the Council’s reserves.

3.  Note the Covid-19 impact on the General Fund of £42.356m which is expected to be funded by Government grants.

4.  Note the progress made on the journey to setting a robust and resilient budget.

5.  Request Executive Directors continue to work with Cabinet Members to robustly manage the underlying budget position and implement savings, whilst managing, mitigating and minimising the Covid-19 financial impact.

6.  That Cabinet Members note the forecast level of reserves and implications for 2021/22 and challenging financial position over the life of the MTFP.

7.  Note the emerging financial risks associated with the unprecedented inflationary pressures now facing all Councils for 2022/23.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision. 

(Key decision – reference number 5465)

A report from the Executive Director Resources is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5466)

Councillor Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director Resources reporting on the activities of the Council’s Treasury Management function during the 2021/22 financial year.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to

1.  Note the contents of the report; and

2.  Forward the 2021/22 Treasury Management Outturn report on to Council.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision. 

(Key decision – reference number 5466)

A report from the Executive Director Resources is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5467)

Councillor George Savva (Cabinet Member for Social Housing) introduced the report of the Executive Director Resources reporting the ring-fenced Housing Revenue Account income and expenditure in the financial year 2021/22 and comparing it to the planned budget for the year. Councillor Savva commented that the expected revenue income had been impacted particularly by the Covid-19 pandemic. He also highlighted investments in existing Council housing, particularly in maintenance and lift replacements, and in developing new Council homes.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to note the report.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision. 

(Key decision – reference number 5467)

Attached for information is a provisional list of items scheduled for future Cabinet meetings.

NOTED, for information, the provisional list of items scheduled for future Cabinet meetings.

To note that the next meeting of the Cabinet is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 14 September 2022 at 7.00pm.

NOTED the next meeting of the Cabinet was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 14 September 2022 at 7:00pm.

A report from the Executive Director People is attached.  (Key decision – reference number 5411)

(This item will contain exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person – including the authority holding that information) of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.)

Councillor Nesil Caliskan (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Executive Director People seeking approval for award of two contracts. Councillor Caliskan advised the meeting that there was a limited market to meet the specific care needs in the Greek, Greek/Cypriot, Turkish and Turkish/Cypriot community who were unable to live independently and officers provided assurance to Members in respect of the approach taken in this case, in the provisions of the contracts, quality checking of the care, value for money, and safeguarding. Officers confirmed that both Anastasia and Autumn Gardens had received a rating of ‘Good’ from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and that there had been due diligence and market testing in respect of the contract award.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed 

1. To award two contracts via direct award under regulation 32 (2)(b) (ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, namely:

(i)  a contract for Residential Care Services to Ourris Residential Homes Limited at Anastasia and

(ii) a contract for Residential & Nursing Care Services to Ourris Properties Limited at Autumn Gardens.

2. That the contract period for the two contracts detailed above shall be for 3+2 years commencing on 1^st September 2022 for an initial term of 3 years ending on 31^st August 2025 (with the option to extend for 2 years to 31^st August 2027. The award will provide vulnerable residents with continued access to vital care services at a good value price per bed as detailed in the Confidential Appendix to the report.

3. That Cabinet delegate the formal approval of the 2-year extension period of the contracts, subject to satisfactory performance, to the statutory Director of Health & Adult Social Care in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care.

4. That Cabinet delegate authority to the Director of Adult Social Care (ASC) in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance to negotiate price, finalise and agree the contract terms and to enter into the two contracts, one contract with Ourris Residential Homes Limited and one contract with Ourris Properties Limited.

The report sets out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision. 

(Key decision – reference number 5411)