Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Don McGowan (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care), Ayfer Orhan (Cabinet Member for Education, Children’s Services and Protection) and Andrew Stafford (Cabinet Member for Finance).

An apology for lateness was received from Councillor Yasemin Brett (Cabinet Member for Community Organisations).

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 in respect of any item on the agenda. 

The Chairman 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.

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 following exception:

Report Nos. 104 and 105 – Enfield 2017 – Savings Proposals (Minute Nos. 5 and 8 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 Cabinet meeting.

To agree any items which need to be referred to full Council.

AGREED that the following reports be referred to full Council:

1.     Report Nos. 104 and 104 – Enfield 2017 – Savings Proposals (for the addition to the Council’s capital programme only)

A report from the Chief Executive and Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services will be circulated as soon as possible. This should be read in conjunction with Report No.105, agenda part two refers. (Key decision – reference number 3979)

(Report No.104)

TO FOLLOW

Councillor Doug Taylor (Leader of the Council) invited Mark Stone (Assistant Director for Transformation and IT) to present the report of the Chief Executive and Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services (No.104) to the Cabinet.

NOTED

1.               That Report No.105 also referred as detailed in Minute No.8 below.

2.               That the report detailed the funding required and set out the programme for the next three years. Enfield 2017 aimed to improve the customer journey and service delivery whilst also resulting in financial savings for the Council. The Council had been developing the proposed way forward for some time with the pace of delivery now being accelerated. The appendices to the report set out the Operating Principles (as previously agreed by Cabinet) and examples of some of the high level future operating elements, including the Customer contact and assessment hub where the council would aim to fully resolve as many contacts as possible.

3.               Enfield 2017 would establish technology platforms for customer self-service access, including the delivery of services, as far as possible at the initial point of contact. However, the Council would continue to offer face-to-face assistance for customers as required, using the same technology processes.

4.               Members’ attention was drawn to Appendix B of the report setting out the customer contact and, assessment hub, which aims to directly resolve customer needs and the key principles listed. Front-line staff had been involved in developing the proposed models.

5.               That in conjunction with the trade unions, a set of “people principles” had been developed as set out in section 12 of the report. There had been significant input from staff through the “Ideas Exchange”.

6.               That Counsel opinion had been sought on the proposed contracting and commercial model as referred to in section 6.2 of the report.

7.               The funding model as detailed in the report highlights that; payment to third party contractors relating to Information Technology would be based on results.

8.               In response, Councillor Taylor highlighted a number of issues for Members’ consideration. Enfield 2017 represented the Council’s single transformation programme. There would be no digital exclusion in meeting the needs of customers and access routes would be provided to services to continue to meet the needs of all of the Council’s customers. There would be an improvement to service delivery which would also result in required savings and he highlighted the inclusion of Enfield Homes which would be formally reintegrated with the Council on 1 April 2015 following the expiry of the existing management agreement (section 3.3 of the report referred) within the Enfield 2017 programme. There had been significant engagement with staff to design the new systems, with over 500 staff involved so far. Identified key risks would be robustly managed, as detailed in section 7.3 of the report. The importance of the “people principles”, agreed with the trade unions, was highlighted. 

9.               Councillor Taylor invited questions from the Opposition Members present at the meeting. Issues raised included the following:

·       A discussion took place on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To note that the next meeting of the Cabinet is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 12 November 2014 at 8.15pm.

NOTED that the next meeting of the Cabinet was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 12 November 2014 at 8.15pm.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the press and public from the meeting for any 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 are asked to refer to the part 2 agenda)

RESOLVED in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the item of business listed on part 2 of the agenda on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of confidential 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).

A report from the Chief Executive and Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services will be circulated as soon as possible. This should be read in conjunction with Report No.104, agenda part one refers. (Key decision – reference number 3979)

(Report No.105)

TO FOLLOW

Councillor Doug Taylor (Leader of the Council) introduced the report of the Chief Executive and Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services (No.105)

NOTED

1.               That Report No.104 also referred as detailed in Minute No.5 above.

2.               In response to questions raised it was noted that until the Council had completed the governance process and decisions made by Members, only limited discussions could take place.

3.               The processes that would be followed in developing and designing the service delivery systems. Staff, residents and customers would be involved in the design processes. Once the systems had been agreed the implications for staff would become clearer. The options available to staff would be clearly communicated. The Council had a robust redeployment system and staff would be managed appropriately at all times. The trade unions would continue to be involved. The impact of staff reductions on the anticipated level of total savings was discussed.

4.               That the report set out the anticipated costs and benefits together with the proposed partnership models.

5.               The legal implications set out in sections 6.2 and 6.3 of the report.

Alternative Options Considered: As detailed in Report No.104, Minute No.5 above refers.

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed that external partners would be contracted as detailed in recommendation 2.1 of the report.

Reason: As detailed in Report No.104, Minute No.5 above refers.

(Key decision – reference number 3979)