Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 9th December, 2020, 7.15 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual Meeting/Remote - Please use the links on the agenda front sheet to join the virtual meeting

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 Councillor Rick Jewell (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services), Councillor Katherine Chibah (Associate Cabinet Member – Enfield West), Doug Wilkinson (Director of Environment and Operational Services) and, Mark Bradbury (Director of Property and Economy).

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 213 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous Cabinet meeting held on 11 November 2020 as a correct record.

 

 

Minutes:

AGREED, that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 11 November 2020 be confirmed as a correct record.

5.

Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2021/22 to 2025/26 December Update and Savings pdf icon PDF 1 MB

A report from the Executive Director – Resources is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5224)

 

 

Minutes:

Councillor Mary Maguire (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Resources.

 

NOTED

 

1.            That the report included four key elements: a further review of the assumptions in the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP): an initial assessment of the Chancellor’s Spending review announcement on 25 November and its potential impact on the Council’s 2021/22 Budget; further savings to address the funding gap; and, to bring forward the Council’s Fees and Charges for 2021/22.

 

2.            That a balanced budget would be presented to the February Cabinet meeting, as set out in the report. This had been a financially challenging year which had followed ten years of Government austerity with significant cuts to the core funding of local government and extensive savings having already been made. The significant financial challenge being faced by the Council was emphasised.

 

3.            That the report set out the funding gap, with and without the impact of Covid-19. Including the impact of Covid-19, and after identification of £11.395m of savings, there remained a gap of £17.325m.

 

4.            That Appendix A of the report set out the second tranche of savings for 2021/22.

 

5.            That Officers would be fully assessing the impact of the Spending Review and the details of the Local Government Finance Settlement which would be reflected in the report to the February Cabinet meeting.

 

6.            That one of the key drivers for the Collection Fund deficit forecast was the increased take up of Council Tax Support, as set out in the report, including the number of working age residents in the Borough who were now unemployed or furloughed.

 

7.            The key points arising from the Spending Review 2021 as set out in the report. Core spending power increase of 4.5% in the funding settlement assumed a 2% increase in core council tax and 3% in adult social care precept. A full analysis of the detail of the Government funding settlement is now underway to assess the full impact. Officers were also working through the specific grants arising from Covid-19 as detailed in the report.

 

8.            That further work had been undertaken to close the budget gap and savings of £1.050m were set out in Appendix A of the report. There were a further £0.280m of further savings under development which would come forward in a future report.

 

9.            The review of Fees and Charges and the principles that had been applied to the review as set out in detail in the report and in Appendix B of the report. A robust review had been carried out and discussed with the Cabinet Members responsible. Benchmarking exercises had been undertaken as part of the review and there had been a focus on strengthening income streams. The detail contained within the report was discussed with Cabinet Members highlighting and explaining the impact on the fees and charges within their own areas of responsibility.

 

10.         That there had been little progress on other developments which had the potential to be financially beneficial for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Working with Registered Providers pdf icon PDF 254 KB

A report from the Executive Director – Place is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5191)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Gina Needs (Cabinet Member for Social Housing) and Councillor Nesil Caliskan (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Place seeking to establish a new way of working with Affordable Housing Providers.

 

NOTED

 

1.            Members expressed their thanks to the officers involved for a detailed and thorough report. The report sought to establish a new way of working with Affordable Housing Providers to maximise contributors towards the delivery of the Council’s Good Growth Housing Strategy and delivery of 12,460 homes over the Local Plan period.

 

2.            That the Charter would set out clear expectations, as detailed in the report, to ensure quality of affordable housing provision across the Borough and speed of delivery of new homes. There would be an annual review process reported to the Cabinet in future reports.

 

3.            The reasons for the proposed partnership working with registered providers as explained in the report including effective housing delivery and financial implications of the approach being recommended.

 

4.            That this would enable a strategic approach to housing delivery to be adopted utilising the expertise of registered providers and fulfilling the Council’s housing and regeneration ambitions.

 

5.            The benefits of the proposed approach including speed of housing delivery and procurement processes. High quality registered providers would be selected with the required skills and expertise. The developments would be under the Council’s control. The establishment of a clear Charter would enable the Council to attract high quality registered providers to work with them in partnership.

 

6.            In response to any potential impact on the procurement processes resulting from the Brexit arrangements, Members were advised that the same OJEU processes would apply in the short-term. The Council had a Brexit Panel, Chaired by Councillor Barnes, that had a comprehensive and thorough risk register that was regularly reviewed and reported on, which included procurement implications. The reporting process was set out, and assurances provided to Members that the risk register was kept under constant review.

 

7.            Members discussed the benefits to residents living in housing association accommodation which currently represented approximately 8,000 homes in the Borough. The importance of all residents receiving a high standard of service was highlighted. The Charter would clearly set out the standards expected by the Council and would enable current arrangements to be built on through effective collaborative working with registered providers, as set out in the report.

 

8.            That the proposals were in line with the Council Plan and Housing and Growth Strategy.

 

9.            That there would be an opportunity for smaller registered providers to work with larger providers. The Charter would enable future collaboration to take place. Members noted that smaller providers could offer niche services for example, housing for young people or specific ethnic minorities.

 

10.         That the report clearly set out the Council’s future approach to working in partnership with Registered Providers.

 

Alternative Options Considered: NOTED, the detailed options that had been considered as set out in paragraphs 83 to 95 of the report including: creating a framework; single  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

CABINET AGENDA PLANNING - FUTURE ITEMS pdf icon PDF 142 KB

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

Minutes:

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

8.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To note that the next Cabinet meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 3 February 2021.

 

(Note: There is no part two agenda).

Minutes:

NOTED, that the next Cabinet meeting was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 3 February 2021.

 

Councillor Caliskan (Leader of the Council) took this opportunity to thank everyone for their hard work during a very challenging year. The valuable work of public sector workers continuing to deliver services above and beyond normal expectations to keep residents safe and respond to the pandemic, was acknowledged with gratitude.

 

Thanks were also expressed to the Cabinet Members and Associate Cabinet Members for their hard work and commitment during the year.