Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ergin Erbil, Gina Needs, and Abdul Abdullahi.

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 7 June 2023.

AGREED that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 7 June 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report from the Executive Director – People.  (Key decision – reference number 5581)

Cllr Alev Cazimoglu (Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care) introduced the report of the Executive Director – People, seeking approval of the publication and roll out of Supporting Independence: A Local Prevention Strategy 2023-2027. The involvement of service users in the production of the strategy was highlighted.

Officers confirmed the feedback received during the development of the strategy which directly shaped the final draft and would continue to drive action planning. There had also been learning from the Covid-19 pandemic.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

I.  Note work undertaken to inform and develop Supporting Independence: A Local Prevention Strategy 2023-2027.

II.  Note content of the draft Supporting Independence: A Local Prevention Strategy 2023-2027 including headline priorities for supporting independence, choice and control for young people in transition to adulthood, adults and older people with support and care needs.

III.  Approve the publication and roll out of Supporting Independence: A Local Prevention Strategy 2023-2027.

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

(Key decision – reference number 5581)

Report from the Executive Director – Housing, Regeneration & Development.  (Key decision – reference number 5247)

Cllr George Savva (Cabinet Member for Social Housing) introduced the report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration, seeking approval for a Council Housing Asset Management Strategy (AMS) to cover the period 2023 to 2028. This was the Council’s plan to deliver decent homes for every Council tenant and leaseholder in Enfield and in the next two years £100m would be invested as previously agreed.

Officers confirmed the engagement with residents and the annual satisfaction surveys. In response to members’ queries, further details were provided in respect of the management of voids.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

I.  Approve the Council Housing Asset Management Strategy 2023-2028 attached at Appendix 1 of the report.

II.  Delegate to the Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration authority to agree, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Housing, an annual programme of investment works to Council Housing in accordance with the approved strategy.

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

(Key decision – reference number 5247)

Report from the Executive Director – Housing, Regeneration & Development.  (Key decision – reference number 5640)

Cllr George Savva (Cabinet Member for Social Housing) introduced the report of the Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration, seeking approval of the delivery strategy for meeting the Council’s statutory homelessness responsibilities over the next five years. The context of the current housing and homelessness situation in the borough was set out.

Officers provided information in respect of modular housing, and its use in other London boroughs, and on repurposing of assets.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

I.  Agree the delivery strategy for meeting the Council’s statutory homelessness responsibilities over the next 5-years as set out in the report.

II.  Note that requests from Housing Gateway for an additional equity contribution from Enfield Council in order to facilitate the acquisition or lease of properties for use as temporary accommodation and private rented accommodation for the purpose of discharging the Council’s homelessness duty are to be anticipated and that any such requests will be referred to Cabinet for approval or to Council if it falls outside the Council approved budget.

III.  Note that a review of the HRA Business Plan is underway, which will identify capacity within the capital programme to enable the delivery of Modular Housing.

IV.  Agree £330k HRA revenue spend related to feasibility studies of modular housing.

V.  Delegate to the Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration, in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources and the Director of Law and Governance, authority to dispose of, appropriate, lease or otherwise acquire any land, building or property in furtherance of the agreed delivery strategy, subject to compliance with the General Disposal Consent (England) 2003 and any other consents or requirements but not including the disposal or appropriation of any Open Space.

VI.  Delegate to the Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration, in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources and the Director of Law and Governance, authority to procure any works or services necessary to support delivery of the strategy up to a maximum cost of £3m per contract.

VII.  Delegate to the Executive Director of Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to release General Fund assets to the HRA, Housing Gateway Limited (HGL) or other parties for the purposes of increasing the supply of accommodation for homeless and at-risk households subject to compliance with the General Disposal Consent (England) 2003 and any other consents or requirements.

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

(Key decision – reference number 5640)

Report from the Chief Executive.  (Non Key)

Cllr Nesil Caliskan (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Chief Executive, providing the quarterly report on the Corporate Performance Scorecard, reflecting performance in delivering on the Council priorities as outlined in the Council Plan.

Officers advised on actions in respect of customer service, and the homelessness service and housing advice service.

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 recommendations and the decision.

(Non Key)

Report from the Executive Director – Housing, Regeneration & Development.  (Key decision – reference number 5631)

Cllr Nesil Caliskan (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Housing, Regeneration and Development, seeking approval of the Traveller Local Plan (TLP) Issues and Options document for consultation (along with the associated evidence), in accordance with Regulation 18 of the Town & Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended. The Council was required to assess the accommodation needs of Travellers and develop a strategy to address unmet needs, and it was right it should do this.

Officers confirmed that Enfield had chosen to separate the TLP from the Local Plan. The plans would be run in parallel and the TLP would support the Local Plan.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

I.  Approve the TLP Issues and Options document and associated evidence base for public consultation.

II.  Delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Growth to agree the timing of the public consultation and to make any necessary and appropriate minor editorial amendments to the TLP in consultation with the Executive Director of HRD and Cabinet Member for Planning prior to it going out to statutory public consultation.

III.  To note that, following this initial regulation 18 statutory public consultation, it is intended that the TLP be brought back to both Cabinet and Full Council for approval, to publish the Draft Plan (an additional Regulation 18 consultation), for consideration.

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

(Key decision – reference number 5631)

AGREED that the order of the agenda be amended to consider the remaining items in the most appropriate order. The minutes reflect the order of the meeting.

Report from the Executive Director – Resources.  (Non Key)

Cllr Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Resources, setting out the final financial position and variances to the revenue budget of the Council as at the year ended 31 March 2023, and Quarter 1 2023/24 revenue forecast update. Details of the variances to the revenue budget were set out within the report.

Cllr Leaver advised that the background context to all the financial reports on the agenda was the same and drew attention to the challenging financial position for councils in the medium term. The outturn reports all related to the period ended 31/3/23 and the financial accounts provided for that financial year.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to note the following:

a.  The outturn position, which was an overspend of £21.186m against budget, reported in respect of the year ended 31 March 2023

b.  The forecast adverse variance (overspend) of £25.819m reported in respect of financial year 2023/24, after additional in-year savings and mitigations have been found of £6.094m

c.  Progress on savings approved in the original 2023/24 budget as set out in Appendices B and C, with a projected shortfall in delivery in[1]year of £2.871m

d.  The impact of the forecast on the reserves balances as set out in paragraphs 150-156/Table 6 and the consequences this has for longer-term financial resilience

e.  The forecast in-year overspend on the Dedicated Schools Grant of £2.623m, leading to a projected cumulative deficit of £17.859m.

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

(Non Key)

Report from the Executive Director – Resources.  (Key decision – reference number 5653)

Cllr Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Resources, providing an update on 2022/23 General Fund capital expenditure, and a brief overview of the 2023/24 capital programme and development of the Council’s 2024/25 Capital Strategy. Details were provided in respect of the capital spend for 2022/23 that was less than budget, and reflected the Council’s prudent approach.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

I.  Recommend that Council approves

a.  The carry forward of £10.2m unspent budgets from 2022/23 to future years, including 2023/24 (Appendix B), of which £2.2m is to be funded by borrowing.

II.  Cabinet agreed to note:

a.  Total 2022/23 capital expenditure of £213.3m, against original budget of £486.4m and Period 8 (November) forecast of £262.7m.

b.  Less than half of the 2022/23 capital expenditure was funded by borrowing (£102.5m borrowing out of £213.3m capital expenditure), as detailed in Table 2

c.  An overall net budget reduction of £78.3m in 2022/23 (Appendix D and E)

d.  A reduction of £0.7m in the 2023/24 budgets, due to accelerated spend in the 2022/23 (Appendix B).

e.  The 2023/24 capital programme position at Period 3, as detailed in paragraphs 79-87.

f.  The overall capital programme is being reviewed as part of the development of the 2024/25 Capital Strategy. This will be presented to October Cabinet.

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

(Key decision – reference number 5653)

Report from the Executive Director – Resources / Executive Director – Housing, Regeneration & Development.  (Key decision – reference number 5654)

Cllr George Savva (Cabinet Member for Social Housing) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Resources, providing the final outturn position for 2022-23 and an update on the Period 3 forecast outturn for 2023-24 of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). The investment in council housing despite the budget pressures was highlighted.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to note:

I.  The HRA outturn position for 2022/23 for both revenue and capital.

II.  The Period 3 forecast outturn position for 2023/24 for both revenue and capital.

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

(Key decision – reference number 5654)

Report from the Executive Director – Resources.  (Key decision – reference number 5655)

Cllr Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Resources, reporting the activities of the Council’s Treasury Management function during the 2022/23 financial year. The low interest rates secured by the Council were highlighted and were a testament to its overall strategy.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to note the report prior to submission to Council on 27^th September 2023.

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

(Key decision – reference number 5655)

Report from the Executive Director – Resources.  (Key decision – reference number 5641)

Cllr Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Resources, providing the first update of the funding and spending assumptions in the Medium Term Financial Plan. This was a forecast. The Council would be looking to address budget gaps.

Responses were provided to Members’ queries in respect of fair funding and on the impact of inflationary pressures.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:

I.  Note the forecast preliminary budget gaps of:

 - £39.4m in 2024/25, prior to any increase in Council Tax, revision to the Council Tax Support scheme, savings and any additional Government funding.

 - £118.6m gap across the medium term to 2028/29, and the reasons driving the gap, notably high inflation, demography, unprecedented increase in Temporary Accommodation costs, arising from a lack of available property and increasing capital financing costs as interest rates continue to rise.

 - These forecasts are subject to a significant number of variables and estimates and are highly likely to change, but nevertheless represent our best estimates at this time.

II.  Note the scale of the challenge and the need for the organisation to consider different ways of operating in order to remain financially sustainable in the long-term.

III.  Note that in addition to the 2024/25 budget gap, there is a forecast £25.8m overspend for 2023/24 and Executive Directors and officers are implementing mitigating actions to reduce the in-year overspend.

IV.  Note the risk associated with managing the Temporary Accommodation pressure. Reducing the forecast overspend is a Council priority and growth is built into the estimated gap assuming the mitigating actions are successful.

V.  Note the continued prioritisation of increased budget requirement in Adult Social Care and Children’s Services of £12m to meet inflation, demand and demographic pressures.

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

(Key decision – reference number 5641)

Report from the Executive Director – Resources.  (Key decision – reference number 5642)

Cllr Tim Leaver (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Resources, seeking approval to start the 12-week public consultation on the proposal to amend Enfield’s 2024/25 Council Tax Support scheme. Projected costs for the current scheme were not sustainable or affordable for the authority. It was noted that Enfield would remain one of the most generous councils in London in its Council Tax support scheme. There would also be an increased discretionary Council hardship fund.

Responses were provided to Members in respect of the proposed consultation and engagement, and provision of debt and welfare advice.

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to:  consult on the proposal to amend Enfield’s 2024/25 Council Tax Support scheme by:

 · Restricting council tax support to a maximum Band C council tax liability

 · Introducing a minimum non-dependant deduction for most households with other adults living in the property and increasing the current deductions by 20%

 · Standardising the minimum payment for most working age claimants at 50% (excluding war widows and single people under 25 including care leavers)

 · Providing an additional £1m funding for the hardship scheme to target support the most vulnerable

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

(Non Key)

To note that the next meeting of the Cabinet is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18 October 2023 at 7.00pm.

NOTED the next meeting of the Cabinet was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18 October 2023 at 7:00pm.