Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 21st June, 2017, 8.15 pm

Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Jacqui Hurst Tel: 0208 379 4096. E-mail:  jacqui.hurst@enfield.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Achilleas Georgiou (Deputy Leader), Ayfer Orhan (Cabinet Member for Education, Children’s Services and Protection), and Bambos Charalambous (Associate Cabinet Member – Enfield West).

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 in respect of any item listed on the agenda.

3.

URGENT ITEMS

3.1     The Chair will consider the admission of any reports (listed on the agenda but circulated late) which have not been circulated in accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution and the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information and Meetings) (England) Regulations 2012.

Note: The above requirements state that agendas and reports should be circulated at least 5 clear working days in advance of meetings.

 

3.2     Decision Taken by the Leader of the Council under the Cabinet Urgent Action Procedure – Assurance Letter from the Council, as Sole Shareholder, to Enfield Innovations Limited

 

          To note that a decision was taken by the Leader of the Council, on behalf of the Cabinet, on 15 May 2017, under the Cabinet Urgent Action Procedure (as set out in the Council’s Constitution, Chapter 4.3 – Section 12 – Rules of Procedure). The decision recommended that Council approve the issuing of a letter of assurance from the Council to its wholly owned company Enfield Innovations Limited.

 

          Urgent approval was sought for implementation of this decision as Enfield Innovations Limited (EIL) was being audited. EIL’s auditors required a demonstration of the Council’s commitment to the company in order for them to conclude the company accounts. EIL’s draft accounts had to be submitted to the Council’s Corporate Finance Department by 19 May 2017 in order for the group accounts to be consolidated. Therefore, the letter of assurance was required to be signed as a matter of urgency as it would assist in demonstrating to the auditors the Council’s continued commitment to EIL, alongside the usual letter issued by the Council to the auditors and EIL’s business plan. Due to the required deadline, it had not been possible for the matter to be included on the agenda of this Cabinet meeting and it had not been possible to consider the matter at the previous Cabinet meeting on 9 May 2017.

 

          The Leader of the Council, on behalf of Cabinet, under the Cabinet’s Urgent Action procedure, therefore approved the issuing of a letter of assurance to Enfield Innovations Limited to enable it to submit its audited accounts to the Council by 19 May 2017.

Minutes:

3.1     NOTED, that the reports listed on the agenda had been circulated in accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution and the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information and Meetings) (England) Regulations 2012 with the exception of Report Nos. 10 and 11 – Acquisition of Long Leasehold Interest – Jeffreys Road, Brimsdown, EN3 7UZ (Minute Nos. 9 and 18 below refer). These requirements state that agendas and reports should be circulated at least 5 clear working days in advance of meetings.

 

AGREED, that the above reports be considered at this meeting.

 

3.2     Decision Taken by the Leader of the Council under the Cabinet Urgent Action Procedure – Assurance Letter from the Council, as Sole Shareholder, to Enfield Innovations Limited

 

          NOTED, that a decision had been taken by the Leader of the Council, on behalf of the Cabinet, on 15 May 2017, under the Cabinet Urgent Action Procedure (as set out in the Council’s Constitution, Chapter 4.3 – Section 12 – Rules of Procedure). The decision had recommended that the Council approve the issuing of a letter of assurance from the Council to its wholly owned company Enfield Innovations Limited.

 

          Urgent approval had been sought for implementation of this decision as Enfield Innovations Limited (EIL) was being audited. EIL’s auditors required a demonstration of the Council’s commitment to the company in order for them to conclude the company accounts. EIL’s draft accounts had to be submitted to the Council’s Corporate Finance Department by 19 May 2017 in order for the group accounts to be consolidated. Therefore, the letter of assurance had been required to be signed as a matter of urgency as it would assist in demonstrating to the auditors the Council’s continued commitment to EIL, alongside the usual letter issued by the Council to the auditors and EIL’s business plan. Due to the required deadline, it had not been possible for the matter to be included on the agenda for this Cabinet meeting and it had not been possible to consider the matter at the previous Cabinet meeting on 9 May 2017.

 

          The Leader of the Council, on behalf of Cabinet, under the Cabinet’s Urgent Action procedure, had therefore approved the issuing of a letter of assurance to Enfield Innovations Limited to enable it to submit its audited accounts to the Council by 19 May 2017.

4.

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.

5.

ITEMS TO BE REFERRED TO THE COUNCIL

To note, that there are no reports to be referred to full Council.

 

Minutes:

NOTED, that there were no reports to be referred to full Council.

6.

STATEMENT BY COUNCILLOR AHMET OYKENER (CABINET MEMBER FOR HOUSING AND HOUSING REGENERATION)

Minutes:

At this point in the meeting, Councillor Doug Taylor (Leader of the Council) invited Councillor Ahmet Oykener (Cabinet Member for Housing and Housing Regeneration) to update the Cabinet on events following the recent terrible fire at Grenfell Towers. The following statement was made:

 

“The terrible fire at Grenfell Towers has shocked us all, and since last week I have been working closely with the leader, chief executive and other council officers to both assist Kensington and Chelsea Council and provide assurance to ourselves and our residents that they are safe in their homes.

 

Enfield owns 54 blocks of 6 or more storeys, which provide homes to almost 2,500 families.  Each block has a fire risk assessment undertaken each year, and where these result in recommendations to improve safety they are implemented with a high priority.  Fire doors have been fitted to all high rise homes since 2010 and any changes to doors are picked up via the monitoring process.  The majority of our homes have smoke alarms, and we are prioritising identifying the gaps and getting hard wired alarms fitted where there are none.

 

Caretakers inspect our tower blocks every day as part of their cleaning rota, remove any items from communal areas, check fire doors are safe and closed and report if repairs are required.

 

Following the tragic events last Tuesday night we arranged a top to bottom inspection and audit of our tower blocks as an additional precaution, this was completed by last Friday and focused particularly on identifying and removing items left in communal areas which could restrict escape in the event of a fire.  Further risk assessments will be carried out.

 

None of our blocks have the same cladding as Grenfell Tower. 

 

Five blocks have cladding made of a high-pressure laminate.  The only aluminium within the cladding is the vertical rail which holds the panel. The insulation is mineral fibre which will not burn. There are horizontal fire barriers between the floors and vertical fire barriers between flats, to prevent fire spreading.  None the less, we have laboratory tested the cladding and will have final results back by the end of the week. 

 

15 blocks are rendered – this render uses non-combustible insulation material and meets all fire and safety legislation.   The remaining 34 blocks have not been fitted with any kind of external wall insulation cladding – and so have no additional external materials which could affect the spread of fire on the outside of the building.

 

Letters were sent to residents last week to reassure them about the steps we are taking and to enlist their support in keeping the stairwells etc. clear.  A further set of letters is being prepared to go out later this week.

 

As well as making sure our residents are safe we are also supporting the affected residents in Kensington.  We have offered any help needed and have to date provided LALOs (local authority liaison officers), social workers and housing assessment officers.  We will continue to offer any support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

QUARTERLY CORPORATE PERFORMANCE REPORT pdf icon PDF 221 KB

A report from the Chief Executive is attached. (Key decision – reference number 4518)

(Report No.8)

(8.20 – 8.25 pm)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Doug Taylor (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Chief Executive (No.8) showing the end of year performance for 2016/17 and comparing it to the Council’s performance for the end of 2015/16.

 

NOTED for information only, the progress being made towards achieving the identified key priorities for Enfield.

 

Alternative Options Considered: Not to report regularly on the Council’s performance. This would make it difficult to assess progress made on achieving the Council’s main priorities and to demonstrate the value for money being provided by Council services.

 

Reason: To update Cabinet on the progress made against all key priority performance indicators for the Council.

8.

PARKS AND OPEN SPACES EVENTS STRATEGY REVIEW pdf icon PDF 192 KB

A report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment and Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services is attached. (Key decision – reference number 4456)

(Report No.9)

(8.25 – 8.30 pm)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Daniel Anderson (Cabinet Member for Environment) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Regeneration and Environment and Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services (No.9).

 

NOTED

 

1.               An amendment to paragraph 6.2.3 of the report with the deletion of the words “the Street Works Enforcement and Prosecution Policy” and insertion of “the Parks and Open Spaces Events Strategy”.

 

2.               That four Cabinet Members had been involved in various aspects of the Strategy, as detailed in the report.

 

3.               Councillor Anderson highlighted the main aspects of the review that had been undertaken and the recommended way forward. The Strategy covered a breadth of issues and aimed to strike a balance with all aspects of the events strategy going forward. The increasing demand for events of various sizes, the commercial aspects and the needs of local residents and park users had all been taken into consideration. A detailed consultation exercise had been undertaken, as outlined in the report. A range of consultation methods had been followed with various stakeholders. The review had been comprehensive and a number of concerns previously raised had been mitigated. The need for events to be well-managed was recognised. Income generation was important to support the Borough’s parks and open spaces; this was balanced against any concerns expressed by local stakeholders and residents. The Strategy set out clear structures and processes to be followed and provided clear guidance on moving forward. The creation of the Strategy with majority support; would now provide the foundations to deliver events that provide community, social and economic value to the council but balance the impact they might have on stakeholders and residents.

 

4.               Councillor Taylor (Leader of the Council) advised Members that he had received two written representations today from representatives of the Trent Park Conservation Committee (TPCC) and the Chalk Lane Area Residents Association (CLARA). Copies of the representations were provided to Cabinet Members at the meeting for their consideration in advance of reaching their decision on the adoption of the Strategy. In addition, Councillor Robert Hayward also wished to address the Cabinet; he had received further written representations from the Friends of Trent Country Park, copies of which were also provided to the Cabinet.

 

5.               Members discussed in detail the issues raised within the three written representations and Nicky Fiedler (Assistant Director – Regeneration and Environment) responded to the points outlined for Members’ consideration. Members were reminded of the licensing conditions that were applied to events and the processes that had to be followed and adhered to. The Events Strategy was a policy that covered the delivery of all events across 124 parks. It was the Council’s responsibility to determine which events were suitable for which parks within the borough, but work was undertaken with stakeholders to determine the measures and controls to be put in place to limit the impact of events on local residents. It was felt that the new Strategy was a significant step forward.

 

6.               Councillor Robert Hayward was invited to address the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

ACQUISITION OF LONG LEASEHOLD INTEREST - JEFFREYS ROAD, BRIMSDOWN, EN3 7UZ pdf icon PDF 268 KB

A report from the Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment will be circulated as soon as possible. (Report No.11, agenda part two also refers) (Key decision – reference number 4525/U201)

(Report No.10)

(8.30 – 8.35 pm)

TO FOLLOW

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Alan Sitkin (Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Business Development) introduced the report of the Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment (No.10).

 

NOTED

 

1.               That Report No.11 also referred as detailed in Minute No.18 below.

 

2.               Councillor Sitkin outlined the justification for, and potential benefits arising from the acquisition as set out in detail in the report.

 

3.               That recommendation 2.1 of the report was being amended in response to Members’ discussion of the proposals. The amendment was reflected in decision 1 below.

 

Alternative Options Considered: NOTED,

 

1.              Not acquiring the property was considered a lost opportunity, and, more importantly, the relocation potential this site offers to realise the Council’s wider economic and social regeneration initiatives.

2.              It represented “good asset management” and a timely opportunity where the Council could realise the reversionary interest now at a consideration that would be less than what the full unencumbered freehold could offer the Council in terms of flexibility and added value within the industrial portfolio.

3.              The Council would still need to consider alternative relocation sites for its regeneration purposes. As described in the “Economic Outlook” section of the report, these sites were likely to be increasingly difficult and costly to acquire in years to come. There was further commentary on alternative option in the part two report (Report No.11, Minute No.17 below referred).

 

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed

 

1.               To approve the acquisition of the leasehold interest(s) at Jeffreys Road by negotiation and, delegate authority to the Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Finance and Efficiency and Economic Regeneration and Business Development to agree draft Heads of Terms, subject to appropriate legal, finance, environmental and property due diligence being undertaken; and to delegate final approval to the Cabinet Members for Finance and Efficiency, and Economic Regeneration and Business Development to complete the transaction if the Council’s offer is accepted by the vendor.

 

2.               The funding arrangements of the purchase as detailed in the part two report (Report No.11, Minute No.18 below referred).

 

Reason: A well located site of this size represented an important opportunity in the Enfield property market. There were several reasons that justify the Council acquiring the property, as outlined in the part two report (Report No.11, Minute No.18 below referred).

(Key decision – reference number 4525/U201)

10.

CABINET SUB-COMMITTEES FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2017/18

Cabinet is asked to establish the Cabinet Sub-Committees required for the new municipal year 2017/18 and, to agree the membership of those Sub-Committees.

(8.35 – 8.40 pm)

Minutes:

AGREED, that the following Cabinet Sub-Committees be established for the new municipal year 2017/18:

 

Local Plan Cabinet Sub-Committee

 

Councillors: Alan Sitkin, Daniel Anderson, Ayfer Orhan, Ahmet Oykener

 

Enfield Community Support Fund Cabinet Sub-Committee

 

Councillors: Yasemin Brett, Achilleas Georgiou, Krystle Fonyonga

 

Syrian Refugee Resettlement Programme Cabinet Sub-Committee

 

Councillors: Yasemin Brett, Ayfer Orhan, Ahmet Oykener, Dino Lemonides

 

Independence and Well-Being Enfield Ltd. Cabinet Sub-Committee

 

Councillors: Dino Lemonides, Daniel Anderson

11.

ISSUES ARISING FROM THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

To note that there are no items to be considered at this meeting.

Minutes:

Councillor Derek Levy (Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee) reported that a joint meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Crime Scrutiny Panel was being scheduled to take place on 11 July 2017 to consider “knife crime”. The meeting would be open to all Councillors.

 

In addition, Cabinet were advised that the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee scheduled to take place on 12 October 2017 would be considering the Meridian Water development.  

12.

CABINET AGENDA PLANNING - FUTURE ITEMS pdf icon PDF 77 KB

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

Minutes:

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

13.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 183 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 May 2017.

Minutes:

AGREED, that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 May 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

14.

MINUTES OF LOCAL PLAN CABINET SUB-COMMITTEE - 3 MAY 2017 pdf icon PDF 170 KB

To note, for information, the minutes of the Local Plan Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 May 2017.

Minutes:

NOTED,

 

1.               For information, the minutes of a meeting of the Local Plan Cabinet Sub-Committee held on 3 May 2017.

2.               That the public consultation on the Enfield Town Draft Master Plan could now take place. The start of the consultation had been delayed due to the purdah restrictions of the recent General Election.

15.

ENFIELD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP UPDATE

To note that there are no written updates to be received.

Minutes:

NOTED, that there were no written updates to be received at this meeting.

16.

DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS

To note that the next meeting of the Cabinet is scheduled to take place on Thursday 13 July 2017 at 8.15pm.

Minutes:

NOTED that

 

1.               The next meeting of the Cabinet was scheduled to take place on Thursday 13 July 2017 at 8.15pm.

 

2.               An additional meeting of the Cabinet had been scheduled to take place on Wednesday 26 July 2017 at 7.00pm.

17.

EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the press and public from the meeting for the items of business listed on part 2 of the agenda on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in those paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006)

(Members are asked to refer to the part 2 agenda)

Minutes:

RESOLVED, in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the item listed on part 2 of the agenda on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of 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 Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

18.

ACQUISITION OF LONG LEASEHOLD INTEREST - JEFFREYS ROAD, BRIMSDOWN, EN3 7UZ

A report from the Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment will be circulated as soon as possible. This report should be read in conjunction with Report No.10, agenda part one refers. (Key decision 4525/U201)

 

(This document contains 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)

(Report No.11)

TO FOLLOW

 

Minutes:

Councillor Dino Lemonides (Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency) introduced the report of the Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment (No.11).

 

NOTED

 

1.               That Report No.10 also referred as detailed in Minute No. 9 above.

 

2.               The opportunities that the proposed acquisition would provide to the Council and the potential benefits. The financial implications, as set out in the report were outlined for Members’ consideration.

 

3.               The proposed uses of the site in question and the alternative options as set out in the report.

 

4.               Subject to the further due diligence to be undertaken, as outlined in Minute No.9 above, Members supported the recommendations set out in the decisions below.

 

Alternative Options Considered: NOTED, the full and detailed alternative options considered as set out in section 5 of the report.

 

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed

 

1.               To approve the virement and release of the sum detailed in recommendation 2.1 of the report, from the approved Montagu406 Land Acquisition/Assembly Budget (KD 4357) to allow the acquisition of the leasehold interest of the Jeffreys Road site and all associated transactional costs.

 

2.               That the Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services, in consultation with the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment in conjunction with the Cabinet Members for Finance and Efficiency and Economic Regeneration and Business Development be granted authority to make the necessary arrangement to acquire the property at a price not exceeding the sum detailed in recommendation 2.2 of the report (including SDLT and transactional fees), and to agree Terms, and all related negotiations, and to exchange contracts.

 

Reason: NOTED, the full and detailed reasons for the recommendations as set out in section 6 of the report.

(Key decision – reference number 4525/U201)