Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 14th September, 2022, 7.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Email: Democracy@enfield.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

MINUTE'S SILENCE

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council noted the sadness of all at the loss of our late Sovereign, the Queen Elizabeth II, who was held in such great affection by the people of this borough. There would be an opportunity to pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth and to send good wishes to our new King, King Charles III, at the forthcoming Council meeting on 21 September. It was therefore proposed to simply hold a minute’s silence before commencing the business of this evening’s meeting.

2.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

3.

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.

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.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 156 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous Cabinet meeting held on 6 July 2022.

Minutes:

AGREED that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 6 July 2022 be confirmed as a correct record.

6.

CABINET AGENDA PLANNING - FUTURE ITEMS pdf icon PDF 157 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.

7.

Quarterly Revenue Monitoring 2022/23 Quarter 1 pdf icon PDF 689 KB

A report from the Executive Director of Resources is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5481)

 

 

Minutes:

Councillor Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director Resources explaining how the Council’s income and expenditure compared to the original budgeted position for 2022/23 based on forecasts as at the end of June 2022. The report also provided the forecasted outturn for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). Councillor Leaver advised that at the moment, no additional government funding was anticipated. Officers were thanked for the transparent report, and for their work to maintain financial resilience.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to note:

 

1.  The 2022/23 financial year the General Fund revenue forecast outturn position of £12.6m adverse variance, arising in the main from demographic and cost pressures exceeding the £22m budgeted growth and unanticipated inflationary increases across pay and energy.

2.  Financial resilience remains a key priority for the Council and an in-year budget savings and cost control strategy is needed to protect the Council’s reserve levels.

3.  The potential drawdown on reserves and the impact this has on the forecast level of reserves. The £3m contingency will be required to achieve the General Fund forecast outturn and the planned drawdown from reserves of £1.99m will also be required.

4.  The Covid-19 impact on the General Fund of £8.0m which will be funded from the Council specific Covid-19 earmarked reserve.

5.  The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) revenue overspend of £1.077m, which is reflected in the balance sheet.

 

Cabinet agreed to:

6.  Require Executive Directors continue to work with Cabinet Members to robustly manage the underlying budget position, implement in year savings and further cost control measures deemed appropriate to the challenge faced, whilst managing, mitigating, and minimising the Covid-19 financial impact.

 

Cabinet agreed that:

7.  Cabinet Members to note the potential forecast level of reserves and implications for 2022/23 and challenging financial position over the life of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

 

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

 

(Key decision – reference number 5481)

8.

Quarterly Capital Monitoring 2022/23 Quarter 1 pdf icon PDF 752 KB

A report from the Executive Director of Resources is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5494)

 

Minutes:

Councillor Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director Resources providing an update on the forecast capital spend for the year 2022/23 of the Council’s 10 Year Capital Programme 2022/23 to 2031/32, considering the latest information available to all capital schemes including funding. He stressed the importance of achieving value for money and appropriate prioritisation of projects so as to deliver on those that added the most value. Officers were thanked for their ongoing work.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to note the 2022/23 forecast of £332m against a budget of £486m, equivalent to 68%. The largest element of this is related to Meridian Water. Excluding Meridian Water, it is forecast that 74% of the capital budget will be spent in 2022/23.

 

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

 

(Key decision – reference number 5494)

9.

Quarterly HRA Monitoring 2022/23 Quarter 1 pdf icon PDF 372 KB

A report from the Executive Director of Resources is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5495)

 

 

Minutes:

Councillor George Savva (Cabinet Member for Social Housing) introduced the report of the Executive Director Place providing an update on the current forecast position of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), covering both revenue and capital expenditure associated with delivering the Council’s Housing service. Actions being taken to support tenants were highlighted.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to note the Quarter 1 HRA forecast outturn position for 2022/23 for both revenue and capital.

 

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

 

(Key decision – reference number 5495)

10.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Partnership Strategy pdf icon PDF 263 KB

A report from the Executive Director of People is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5515)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Abdul Abdullahi (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services) introduced the report of the Executive Director People seeking agreement by Cabinet to recommend the SEND Partnership Strategy to Full Council on 12 October 2022 for approval and adoption. The commitment to growing the local provision for the borough’s children and young people with SEND was welcomed. Thanks was recorded to officers and stakeholders for their contributions in development of the strategy.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed that the new SEND Partnership Strategy be recommended to Full Council for approval and adoption.

 

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

 

(Key decision – reference number 5515)

11.

Scrutiny Annual Work Programmes 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 273 KB

A report from the Director of Law and Governance is attached. (Non-Key)

Minutes:

Terry Osborne (Director of Law and Governance) was invited to introduce the report setting out the draft work programmes for Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the seven standing Scrutiny panels for 2022/23. Comments were invited from the Cabinet. The Leader asked the Director of Law and Governance to pass on a message to the chairs of the overview and scrutiny panels that the Cabinet is very supportive of the scrutiny process and that it appreciates the collegiate and collaborative approach being taken at the meetings of the panels. The Leader commented on the important role that the panels play. The Leader asked the director to convey to the panel chairs her commitment to support the scrutiny process together with her Cabinet colleagues.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Scrutiny panels’ proposed work programmes, prior to approval by Council.

 

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

 

(Non Key)

12.

Homelessness in Enfield pdf icon PDF 836 KB

A report from the Executive Director of Place is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5511)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor George Savva (Cabinet Member for Social Housing) introduced the report of the Executive Director Place updating Cabinet on progress with the Council’s Homelessness Prevention Strategy and seeking approval to introduce new measures to continue to deliver the Council’s vision of making homelessness something that is rare, brief, and non-recurring. An amendment was reported to the recommendation to ‘set rents for temporary accommodation at Local Housing Allowance levels for the size of property and location effective from Monday 7 November 2022’ to add ‘or as soon as it is operationally practical’.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

 

1. Increase the number of homes available for residents to rent, by approving the Council’s application to the Secretary of State to enable vacant properties on Council Housing estates awaiting regeneration to be leased to Housing Gateway Ltd on short term tenancies.

2. Increase the number of homes available for residents to rent, by approving the increased management fee paid to Housing Gateway for Enfield Let properties under the Offer to Agents.

3. Highlight the significant pressures that Enfield is facing in the current environment as part of the consultation on the future allocation of the Homelessness Prevention Grant.

4. Given the forecast pressures and costs to the council outlined in this report, set rents for temporary accommodation at Local Housing Allowance levels for the size of property and location effective from Monday 7 November 2022, or as soon as it is operationally practical, with the exception of shared accommodation, which will remain at its current rate.

5. Highlight the significant pressures that Enfield is facing on the spend of its Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) grant allocation from Government, and to prevent homelessness, allocate £1.2m council funding for DHPs from the welfare reform reserve for the remainder of 2022/23.

 

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

 

(Key decision – reference number 5511)

13.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To note that the next meeting of the Cabinet is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 12 October 2022 at 7.00pm.

Minutes:

NOTED the next meeting of the Cabinet was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 12 October 2022, with a start time of 4:00pm on that date to accommodate the additional meeting of Council that evening.