Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ergin Erbil, Rick Jewell and Mustafa Cetinkaya.

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 8 February  2023.

AGREED that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 February 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

A report from the Executive Director of People is attached.  (Key decision – reference number 5525)

(This item 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).

Cllr Abdul Abdullahi (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services) introduced the report of the Executive Director People, setting out the strategic plan for delivering works and services to deliver the Schools Capital Programme and outlining additional opportunities for further capital investment outside of capital grant income to deliver the strategic objectives.

It was confirmed that provision of more Special Educational Needs (SEN) pupil places within the borough was included in the objectives.

Members confirmed they had taken into account the exempt information set out in the Part 2 (Confidential) report also found on the agenda.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

I.  Grant the approval to spend the 2023/24 and 2024/25 Capital Grant Budget of £24.75m and £10.23m respectively as set out in paragraph 44 of the report and for its inclusion in the Councils future Capital Programme.

II.  Give approval to the strategic objectives as set out in the report and delegate authority to the Lead Member for Children’s Services to agree a more detailed programme in May 2023 (Delivery Plan).

III.  Give approval to commence the delivery of projects identified in the Delivery Plan to allow tenders to be pursued in compliance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.

IV.  Delegate authority to the Lead Member for Children’s Services to approve the procurement and award of works and services contracts for the specific SEN projects including professional and technical expenses as detailed in restricted appendix ‘A’ given their strategic importance for delivering SEN places to address increasing demand.

V.  Delegate authority to Executive Director of People to:

a.  Approve the award of works contracts up to the value of £5 million for all condition related and decarbonisation projects to be included in the Delivery Plan.

b.  Manage the Programme’s individual project budgets within approved resources. Ongoing fluctuations in construction related materials and associated costs and variations between estimates and tender return costs require constant review. Our ability to expedite the approval process will reduce the time taken to award the works contracts within the limited tender acceptance periods.

c.  Allocate a contingency provision (up to £350,000 including professional and technical fees) for urgent works and/or schemes identified as priority but not yet programmed.

VI.  Delegate authority to Executive Director of Place or the Executive Director of People to accept any future funding rounds from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) and to add this to the Schools Capital Programme.

VII.  Note and authorise applications to the Department for Education (DfE) for Secretary of State consent in respect of any disposal or repurposing of the vacant caretakers / site managers properties.

VIII.  Note Cabinet’s previous approval (KD 5373) of the approach in relation to the disposal or repurposing of the vacant caretaker properties, allocating income generated to support the delivery of SEN provision as a strategic priority.

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

(Key decision – reference number 5525)

A report from the Executive Director of People is attached.  (Key decision – reference number 5568)

(This item 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).

Cllr Abdul Abdullahi (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services) introduced the report of the Executive Director People, seeking approval for capital funding to include the appropriation of two properties currently in the Education portfolio to create two new children’s homes for six residential placements.

The benefits of more local provision were highlighted.

Members were advised of the regulation and safeguarding that would be in place.

Members confirmed they had taken into account the exempt information set out in the Part 2 (Confidential) report also found on the agenda.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

I.  Note and authorise applications to the Department for Education (DfE) for Secretary of State consent to approve the release of two residential properties on the Carterhatch and Raglan school sites from the Education portfolio for the purpose of creating two residential, 3-bed children’s homes.

II.  Delegate authority to the Executive Director People to submit a planning application for change of use for both properties and subject to receiving necessary consent from the Secretary of State and budget approval, to attend to appropriation formalities for their change of use.

III.  Approve the capital funding of up to £1.5m subject to approval of the new outline budget by Full Council in the next capital budget update, to include the appropriation of the properties and carry out all necessary improvements, extensions and refurbishments required to ensure that both homes are safe, secure, and fit for purpose.

IV.  Delegate authority to the Executive Director People to approve individual project spend within the proposed £1.5m and to procure consultants and other resources, in accordance with Council Governance and Contract Procedure Rules as necessary to deliver the project.

V.  Approve projected expenditure for the care services contracts.

VI.  Delegate authority to the Executive Director People to approve procurement and subsequent award of care services contracts.

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

(Key decision – reference number 5568)

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

Cllr Nesil Caliskan (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Chief Executive providing the quarterly overview of performance in delivering on the Council priorities.

In response to Members’ concerns regarding leisure centre attendance and poor performance of Fusion, it was confirmed the leisure provider was being held to account, an action plan had been drawn up, and issues were being addressed by officers.

In response to Members’ queries in respect of homelessness and housing pressures, it was confirmed that privately rented accommodation was in short supply and the Council was assisting with schemes to help with relocation, finding accommodation, and mediation with landlords. Councils were also collectively lobbying government for increased grant.

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed to note the progress being made against 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 of Place is attached.  (Key decision – reference number 5463)

(This item 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).

Cllr Nesil Caliskan (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Executive Director Place, providing an update on the progress of Meridian Water and seeking approval of the revised financial model and approval of delegations to proceed with marketing four parcels this year.

Cllr Caliskan commented that this was an exciting stage of the project, with a move from planning to homes being built and a lot happening on site, including creation of jobs in construction and the meanwhile activities. The choice had been made to continue with the momentum of the project and the improvement of the area, while getting value for money. Members were reassured that the aims and objectives of the project remained as proposed, and that local people were to be the principal beneficiaries. The Executive Director Resources confirmed that the financial model had been reviewed and had responded to the economic situation.

Members confirmed they had taken into account the exempt information set out in the Part 2 (Confidential) report also found on the agenda.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

I.  Note the scheme progress to date, the concluding activities for Stage One of Meridian Water, and the actions taken by the Council to manage expenditure over the past year.

II.  Approve the 2023 financial model as the primary financial viability tool for the Meridian Water project.

III.  Note the allocation of historical costs in the model and to note the key assumptions and outputs that are included in the financial model baseline.

IV.  Note the financial metrics are a point in time.

V.  Delegate to the Director of Development (Meridian Water) to appoint advisors to work up a detailed delivery strategy for Meridian Four (M4), Teardrop (M13) and Meridian Seven (M7) to optimise the financial position of each parcel.

VI.  Delegate to the Portfolio Holder for Meridian Water approval to commence the marketing and procurement of the M13, M4 and M7 to seek development partners following detailed due diligence and soft market testing. The Portfolio holder report will contain development, financial and placemaking hurdles.

VII.  Agree a flexible marketing approach to the use, tenure, selected development partner and parcel packaging of Meridian Three.

VIII.  Approve the two-year capital expenditure budget as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, subject to approval of the new outline budget by Full Council in the next capital budget update.

IX.  Note the budget includes £4.4m for land purchase which will require further approval to spend.

X.  Delegate to the Executive Director of Place and Director of Finance Capital and Commercial approval of the £4.4m land purchase.

XI.  Note that, as a prudent measure, the Council will seek to increase its voluntary annual provision to repay Meridian Water debt from General Fund revenue (see para 143-145 of the report).

XII.  Note officers will bring a stage two development strategy report to Cabinet in Autumn 2023.

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

(Key decision – reference  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

A report from the Executive Director of Place is attached.  (Key decision – reference number 5602)

Cllr George Savva (Cabinet Member for Social Housing) introduced the report of the Executive Director Place, setting out the preferred option on the future of Cheshire and Shropshire Houses.

The report detailed how the Council would work to secure moves to suitable accommodation for the residents of both blocks without delay, and also set out longer term options on the blocks. The options appraisal for the site would also be undertaken in consultation with neighbouring residents.

It was confirmed that the residents wanted to move, that value for money was firmly borne in mind, and that giving certainty to residents about rehousing was important.

The Cabinet Member for Social Housing, ward councillors, and the Director of Housing and Regeneration and team of officers were thanked for their hard work at a difficult time and for the intensive engagement and consultation with the residents.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

I.  In the light of resident engagement and the options appraisal, agree to the decommissioning of Shropshire and Cheshire Houses, subject to the safe rehousing of all residents.

II.  Agree the expenditure outlined in the report to enable full decant of the Shropshire and Cheshire blocks and recommend to Council approval of the budget for the acquisition of leaseholder interests.

III.  Approve the proposed Residents Offer set out in the report and shown in Appendix A of the report.

IV.  Note the investment required for the safe maintenance and repair of the buildings whilst residents remain in situ which will be funded from the approved capital programme.

V.  Agree to delegate the development options for the future of the blocks and estate and to consult all residents on the estate (inc under S105), to the Director of Housing and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Housing and the Leader.

VI.  Agree to Secure tenants being awarded decant status enabling them to bid for alternative homes through the Choice Based Lettings system.

VII.  Agree to issue an ‘Initial Demolition Notice’ to prevent any future Right to Buy requests dealing with all related steps and documentation including any steps needed to obtain vacant possession.

VIII.  Agree to use CPO powers in principle across the two blocks with CPOs for the blocks to be brought back to Cabinet at a later date with supporting justification.

IX.  Authorise officers to carry out all preparatory work for the proposed CPO and any other powers (such as G10).

X.  Note the results of the resident consultation to understand accommodation needs and lifestyle considerations which will be factored into the re-housing programme and support for residents affected.

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

(Key decision – reference number 5602)

To note the dates of the future meetings will be confirmed following Annual Council on Wednesday 10 May 2023.

NOTED this was the last meeting of the Cabinet in the 2022/23 municipal year. The dates of the future meetings would be confirmed following Annual Council on Wednesday 10 May 2023.

A resolution was passed 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 they involve 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 were asked to refer to the part 2 agenda but there were no other questions or comments.