Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Wednesday, 13th November, 2024 7.00 pm

Venue: Conference Room, Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield, EN1 3XA

Contact: Email: Democracy@enfield.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ergin Erbil, Ayten Guzel, and Rick Jewell and from Associate Cabinet Member Councillor Destiny Karakus.

 

In the absence of the Leader of the Council, Councillor Tim Leaver, Deputy Leader, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

Jo Moore had taken up her appointment as Executive Director – Resources this week and was welcomed to her first Cabinet meeting.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

DEPUTATIONS

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

Minutes:

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

4.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 80 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous Cabinet meeting held on 16 October 2024.

Minutes:

AGREED that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 16 October 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

5.

CIVIC CENTRE LIFTS REFURBISHMENT PROJECT pdf icon PDF 171 KB

A report from the Executive Director – Environment & Communities is attached.  (Key decision – reference number 5815)

Minutes:

Cllr Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Environment and Communities, seeking approval for the Civic Lifts Refurbishment Project to be funded from the capital Pipeline Programme. The need to ensure well maintained lifts for staff, tenants and visitors was highlighted. This proposal would also avoid the costs of unplanned responsive repairs.

 

In response to Members’ queries, officers provided assurance in respect of ensuring best value for money in the procurement process.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

 

I. Approve the transfer of £460k borrowing funded budget from the capital Pipeline Programme into the main capital programme for the Civic Lifts Refurbishment project, including £40k contingency.

 

II. Note that £40k contingency will only be accessed with the advance approval of the Executive Director for Environment & Communities in consultation with the s151 Officer.

 

III. Delegate to the Head of CMFM the authority to:

o Approve the procurement strategy set out in the report;

o Procure consultants and contractors in accordance with Contract Procedure Rules and relevant procurement legislation;

o award contracts provided each contract falls within the budget envelope approved in Recommendation I; and

o to finalise contract documents.

 

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

6.

2024/25 QUARTER 2 (Q2) CAPITAL BUDGET MONITORING REPORT pdf icon PDF 262 KB

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

Minutes:

Cllr Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Resources, providing an update on capital programme spend at Quarter 2. The change to the previous forecast outturn projection was highlighted. Unspent budget was proposed to be rolled forward into the 2025/26 capital programme. Details of the variances were set out in the report. Attention was drawn to investments in projects including expansion of nursery and early years provision, A106 Green Lanes carriageways, Winchmore School 6th Form building, and Broomfield Park boating lake refurbishment.

 

In response to Members’ queries regarding funding sources, further detail was provided in respect of s106 funding in particular and stronger performance in collecting the funds, and that it was good to see the monies being used in projects in the borough.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to note:

 

I. Q2 full year forecast spend of £306.1m, funded from £140.0m capital grants, £4.3m S106 contributions and CIL, £31.4m capital receipts (including HRA Right to Buy receipts), £28.3m earmarked reserves and £102.1m borrowing.

 

II. Q2 full year forecast spend includes £135.3m on Priority Projects in 24/25. Priority Projects are 44% of Q2 forecast of £306.1m.

 

III. Estimated reduction in 25/26 MRP and interest costs of £0.8m from reduced Q2 forecast full year spend has already been included in 25/26 revenue budget assumptions.

 

IV. Actual spend to Q2 of £86.8m – this is 28.4% of Q2 full year forecast and 24.3% of approved budget.

 

V. Management of key strategic capital & treasury risks by the Capital Finance Review Panel (CFRP), Meridian Water Executive Board and Executive Management Team Budget (EMTB).

 

VI. Final forecast spend for the year (and indicative ten-year strategy) will be presented to Cabinet in January 2025, based on Period 8 (30 November) position.

 

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

7.

2024/25 QUARTER 2 (Q2) REVENUE FORECAST UPDATE pdf icon PDF 478 KB

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

Minutes:

Cllr Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Resources, setting out the Council’s revenue forecast position compared to the budget for 2024/25, based on the position at Quarter 2. The major pressures in respect of temporary accommodation costs, children’s external care placement cost, and the Housing Benefit Subsidy loss were highlighted. There had been an improvement in forecast overspend on the Quarter 1 position, and measures would continue to drive the cost pressures down through the rest of 2024/25.

 

In response to Members’ queries, assurance was given of the Council’s commitment to concessionary travel charges; and further details were provided in respect of provisions for continuing flexible use of capital receipts.

 

Officers and the S151 Officer advised Cabinet that it is important the Council continues to seek actions to drive the projected overspend down to protect the Council’s usable reserves.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to note:

 

I. An adverse net variance of £9.4m is reported in respect of financial year 2024/25, after the application of the specific earmarked reserve for Temporary Accommodation and the flexible use of capital receipts.

 

II. Progress on savings set in the original 2024/25 budget and those deferred from 2023/24 as laid out in Appendices B and C of the report, with a projected shortfall in delivery in-year of £1.4m.

 

III. The impact of the forecast on the reserves balances as set out in paragraphs 109–117 and Tables 5 and 6 of the report and the consequences this has for longer-term financial resilience.

 

IV. The forecast in-year overspend on the Dedicated Schools Grant of £2.5m, leading to a projected cumulative deficit of £17.252m.

 

V. The latest forecasts for projects funded by the flexible use of capital receipts in 2024/25 as set out in Appendix E of the report.

 

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

8.

HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA) QUARTER 2 (Q2) MONITORING REPORT pdf icon PDF 218 KB

A report from the Executive Director – Resources / Strategic Director of Housing & Regeneration is attached.  (Non Key)

Minutes:

On behalf of Cllr Ayten Guzel (Cabinet Member for Housing), the Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration introduced the report, providing an update of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) forecast outturn position for 2024/25 as at Quarter 2. The continued investment in services and homes for Council Housing tenants and leaseholders was highlighted, together with money from grants to maximise the regeneration programme.

 

In response to Members’ queries, further details were provided on the essential works to maintain homes, including replacement/installation of boilers, storage heaters, kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows, roofs and chimneys. It was also advised that, subject to consultation, it was proposed to roll out the roving security patrol service currently being piloted on estates.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed:

 

I. To note the Quarter 2 (end of September) forecast outturn position for 2024/25 for both revenue and capital and the enhancements that have been delivered including investment in existing homes, provision of new council homes and enhancements to services based on resident feedback.

 

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

9.

TREASURY MANAGEMENT MID YEAR UPDATE 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 515 KB

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

Minutes:

Cllr Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Resources, setting out activities of the Council’s Treasury Management function over the six months to 30th September and providing estimates for financial year 2024/25. The report set out the net cost of debt for 2024/25: it was confirmed this was within the affordability level set by the Council and that the level of debt remained in compliance with the key Prudential Indicators. Details of investment, borrowing and interest rates were set out in the report. Congratulations were expressed to Olga Bennet and the team for their consistent high performance.

 

In response to Members’ queries, further details were provided on affordability of debt. Members’ attention was also drawn to the update on the Operational Boundary indicator set out in paragraph 6 of the report. Officers highlighted to Cabinet that the operational boundary is anticipated to be breached by the end of the year. This means that the external borrowing is anticipated to be higher than estimated at budget setting, but within Council's overall affordability limits.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed:

 

I. To note the borrowing and investments position and estimates as at 30th September 2024 prior submission to Council to approve on 22nd January 2025.

 

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

10.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To note that the next meeting of the Cabinet is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 11 December 2024 at 7:00pm.

Minutes:

NOTED the next meeting of the Cabinet was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 11 December 2024 at 7:00pm.