Agenda and minutes

Not required. 

The Mayor’s Chaplain, Reverend Tina Kelsey from the St Peter with St Martin Church, Edmonton, gave the blessing. 

The Mayor welcomed councillors and members of the public to the first Council meeting of 2018, took the opportunity of wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and trusted that they all had an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas.

1.       Past Engagements

The Mayor said that she and the deputy mayor, Councillor Doris Jiagge, had attended many mayoral events since the last Council meeting.  Enfield’s festive celebrations had been musical and vibrant. 

The Mayor had enjoyed the carol services and performances by the children at various schools and local Enfield choirs. 

Her favourite event had been the outstanding London New Year’s Day parade in Central London where Enfield’s St Monica’s players had performed on the float, and won a place in the competition.  This had also resulted in a £2,000 donation to the Mayor’s charity. 

December 2017, had been the 100th anniversary of the awarding of the Victoria Cross to two First World War soldiers from Enfield. To commemorate their valiant and courageous acts of pure selflessness, for the good of their Country, a stone was laid in the road where they were born, allowing their memory to live on forever.

This month the Mayor had opened the Nutrition Station at Enfield Chase Station. 

Two weeks ago, at the Enfield Town Football Club, as part of the focus on healthy eating in schools and workplaces, the Mayor had attended and launched the “Sugar Smart” campaign, part of the national Sugar Smart UK and Enfield Councils Healthy Enfield Campaign.  The aim of which was to encourage local organisations to promote healthier, lower sugar alternatives and help make the borough healthier.  The Mayor thanked Councillor Fonyonga for launching this and supporting the fantastic work of the public health team. 

The Mayor had been working with the “All People, All Places Charity” at All Saints Church Edmonton, one of their seven homeless shelters in Enfield (a shelter providing 12 beds, as well as food and support, and help to get homeless people into work and to find a permanent home). She had spent a Sunday night at the shelter and been touched by the great work of the organisation, which had also been named as one of her charity recipients.

On Thursday 25th January 2018, it had been her great pleasure to receive the Deputy Mayor of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. She had been honoured to receive a dignitary from such a long way away and thanked Councillor Abdullahi for arranging this visit from his home town.

2.       The Mayor’s Charity

The Mayor said that they would be busy with her charity work this year with many events planned. She was very grateful to Hayes Rees, Macmillan charity volunteer, who worked tirelessly for the Enfield Cares/Care in the Community Charity.  This week he was organising a World Cancer Day cake sale in the Mayors Parlour, this Friday 2nd February 2018 at 10am to 4pm.  The Mayor asked as many members as possible to come and support the event to help raise money for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To receive and agree the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2017. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2017 were confirmed as a correct record. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ali Bakir, Bambos Charalambous, Jason Charalambous, Robert Hayward, Ertan Hurer, Jansev Jemal, Eric Jukes, Michael Lavender, Andy Milne, Andrew Stafford and Jim Steven.  

Members of the Council are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non pecuniary interests relating to items on the agenda. 

Before inviting members to declare any interests, the Mayor asked Jeremy Chambers (Monitoring Officer) to make a short statement regarding a mayoral dispensation and the declaration of interests requirements, in relation to Item 8 (Council Tax Support Scheme and Tax Base).

The Monitoring Officer reported that, in accordance with guidance from the Secretary of State, there was no requirement for members to declare disclosable pecuniary interests in Item 8 on the agenda, even though they may pay council tax within the borough, or may be in receipt of council tax support. 

She advised that there was, however, a legal requirement for any member who was two months or more in arrears on their Council Tax to declare that fact and not vote on any issue that could affect the calculation of the budget or council tax more specifically.  No declarations were made in this respect. 

The following interests were declared at the meeting: 

Councillor Alessandro Georgiou declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 13.8 Motion in the name of Councillor Laban on the extension of the Mayor of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone as he worked for a company which had a client who was involved in the industry. 

Councillor Vince moved and Councillor Laban seconded a proposal under paragraph 2.2(B) of the Council procedure rules to change the order of items on the agenda to take the following motions in the following order:

Motion 10.7 in the name of Councillor Laban to be taken as the first motion under item 10 Motions

The change in the order was agreed without a vote. 

The minutes reflect the order of the meeting. 

An issues paper prepared by the Opposition Group is attached for consideration of Council.

The Council rules relating to Opposition Business are also attached for information.   

Councillor Smith introduced the issues paper, prepared by the Opposition Group.

1.              Issues highlighted by Councillor Smith were as follows: 

·         Despite being non-partisan and agreeing with the objectives of projects such as Meridian Water, developing the small housing sites and the desire to create more affordable housing, he felt that the current management of housing projects in the borough was inadequate with cost overruns, poor procurement, shortage of staff and lack of expertise. 

·         Concern about what he saw as serious failures in the management of the major works contract where some replacements were taking more than 87 weeks.

·         Anxiety about issues with the provision of Strategic Industrial Land (SIL) including timescales, since approval of the Edmonton Leeside Area Action Plan was still some way off. 

·         Concern about the impact the proposed increase in the number of affordable homes, from 35% to 50%, on the Meridian Water project and the dependence on house price rises.  These uncertainties he felt would impact on the attraction of the project to major development partners.

·         Concern about the relocation of the Angel Road Station which could end up being an expensive white elephant, for the Council, who might be unable to recoup the costs already expended. 

·         Concern that there had been no proper appraisal of the options or demonstration that the Meridian Water project would not make a loss.

·         The view that the leadership should get a proper grip on their regeneration projects for the benefit of Enfield residents, failure of which could undermine the Council’s whole position. 

2.              Councillor Oykener, Cabinet Member for Housing and Housing Regeneration, responded on behalf of the Majority Group highlighting:

·         That the Opposition failed to understand that the Council’s award winning housing development programme was progressing well.

·         The Opposition, during their 8 years in power, had not built any new Council homes.

·         The Labour administration was building: 118 new homes in Fore Street including shops and a community centre; they were balloting residents on the Snells and Joyce estates about creating thousands of new homes; at Meridian Water 10,000 new homes were planned; at the award winning Dujardin Mews development in Ponders End, 39 new homes had been completed, providing new houses for some of the borough’s poorest residents; Countryside properties were building 300 homes as part of phase one of the Alma Estate re-development and demolishing one tower block;  even more were planned for Phase two. 

·         The Council was building, not just homes, but communities.  The work on the Alma Estate had been recognised as best practice for involving people in the plans by the GLA.  New houses were also being built in the Electric Quarter, Ponders End, powered by Energetik, the Council’s renewable energy supplier.

·         In the west of the borough, at Enfield Town, Parsonage Lane and St Georges the percentage of affordable homes had increased from 40% to 55%.  More homes were included in the Enfield Master Plan.  At Oakwood, on the New Avenue Estate, 410 new homes were planned and 40  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To receive a report from the Executive Director of Finance, Resources & Customer Services reviewing and seeking approval to changes in the local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2018/19, which the Council is required to produce under section 13A(1)(a) and meeting 1A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

The report also recommends the 2018/19 council tax and business rate bases.                                                                                (Report No.137)

(Key Decision – Reference Number: 4588)

The NNDR 1 DCLG Business Rate Base Return (Appendix E) has been marked as “To Follow”.

Please note that this report is to be considered by Cabinet on Wednesday 24 January 2018.  The Cabinet decision will be reported to Council on the update sheet tabled at the meeting. 

Councillor Lemonides proposed and Councillor Taylor seconded the report of the Executive Director Finance, Resources and Customer Services reviewing and seeking approval to changes in the local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2018/19 and recommending the 2018/19 council tax and business rate bases (Report No:  137)

NOTED

1.               The report had been considered and agreed for recommendation on to Council by Cabinet at their meeting on 24 January 2018.

2.               The report was mainly technical.  There were no significant increases over 17/18 proposed.  The Council intended to keep the minimum contribution and protect the existing groups, adding an additional category to cover care leavers under 25 and introducing an income threshold for those on universal credit.  On the whole it would be a simpler scheme.    

3.               Since 2017/18 the estimated Council tax income for 2018/19 had increased by a sum equivalent to 962 band D properties - £1.4m, a higher than average increase in income. This included the Mayor of London precepts. 

4.               The introduction of the London business rate pool would give a share to the Council of 64% of the estimated business rate income for 2018/19.  This is an increase on the current figure of 30%. 

5.               This report also recommended amendments to Enfield’s discretionary rate relief policy to ensure that the Government funded reductions for small businesses, pubs and those businesses facing the steepest increases in their business rates bills are maximised.  During 2017/18 this relief was worth over £1m. 

6.               Councillor Laban felt that receiving only 45 responses to the consultation on the scheme was not enough.  More should be done. 

Following the debate the recommendations in the report were put to the vote and agreed:   

AGREED

1.               The Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2018/19 to provide financial support for households on low incomes in paying their Council Tax taking into account the consultation responses (Appendix C) and the Equality Impact Assessment (Appendix B).

For the 2018/19 scheme:                                                                                   

·       The minimum contribution for working age households not in a protected group will be maintained  at 26.5%.

·       The maximum earned income for Universal Credit claimants to receive council tax support will be £1264.99 net per month for 2018/19 (This taper was decided as no one is currently entitled to Council Tax Support where their income is more than £1264.99 per month)

·       Care leavers up to the age of 25 will be added to the existing protected groups

·       Administrative changes set out in paragraph 6.3 be incorporated into the scheme to improve service delivery

2.               Pursuant to this report (see Appendix D for full detail) and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of the Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by the London Borough of Enfield as its Council Tax Base for 2018/19 shall be 96,005 Band D equivalents.

3.               To approve the Department for Communities and Local Government NNDR1 Business Rate base return for 2018/19 (Appendix E). 

4.               To approve the amendment to the discretionary rate relief scheme as set out at 2.2 of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive the Enfield Safeguarding Children’s Board Annual Report for 2016/17.  (Report No:  112)

Council is asked to note the progress being made to safeguard children and young people as set out in the report. 

The report has also been noted by Cabinet (20 December 2017) and the Health and Wellbeing Board (5 December 2017). 

Councillor Orhan proposed and Councillor Vince seconded the report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services containing the Enfield Safeguarding Children’s Board Annual Report for 2016/17. (Report No: 112)

NOTED

1.               That the report had been considered and noted by Cabinet (20 December 2017) and the Health and Wellbeing Board (5 December 2018).

2.               That the report was the final report not a draft as stated in the recommendation on page 65 of the report. 

3.               Councillor Orhan expressed her thanks to the Chair of the Children’s Safeguarding Board, Geraldine Gavin, sitting in the gallery, for her commitment to safeguarding and praised the strong collaborative ethos of the board working as a single agency. 

4.               The Annual Report sets out the work of the Board 2016/17.

5.               An important development has been the establishment of the Vulnerable Young People Sub Committee replacing the trafficking, Sexual Exploitation and Missing team. 

6.               The Board has continued to monitor and support the activity relating to violence against young women and girls.

7.               There have been changes to the Enfield Children’s Safeguarding Board which has been re-structured in response to national changes.

8.               Councillor Orhan was pleased with the progress being made in safeguarding young people.  Over 800 professionals across the borough are now working more closely together to safeguard young people.

9.               Councillor Orhan was proud of the Council’s commitment to scrutinise, monitor and quality assure these services and expressed her gratitude to officers who worked hard in difficult circumstances and to everyone involved for their unrelenting focus on these issues. 

10.           Councillor Vince thanked Councillor Orhan, Geraldine Gavin, an excellent chair and Grant Landon, the officer who had provided support to Enfield Safeguarding Children’s Board, but who had recently left the Council.

AGREED to note the progress being made to safeguard children and young people and specifically note this report and the Enfield Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report which is attached as a background paper to this document. 

10.1       Motion in the name of Councillor Laban

“The Mayor of London is currently conducting the second round of consultation on his proposals to extend the Ultra-Low Emission Zone to the North and South Circulars. These proposals whilst well intentioned are not the solution that Enfield requires to improve air quality. Enfield Council agrees to seek alternative measures to improve air quality and that the leaders of both political groups write jointly to the Mayor as part of the response to the consultation to express our concerns regarding what is proposed for our borough.”

10.2       Motion in the name of Councillor Taylor

“Enfield Council notes the collapse of Carillion and actions taken to date by the Government.  A particular concern is the impact on schools as Enfield has some schools with Carillion as a provider.

Enfield will be seeking clarification from Government and the appointed receiver (PWC) on how it will act and what the Government support is planned for public sector contracts.  We are committed to press for urgent commitment from the Government for additional funding to be released into the system for which the Council to support those schools affected by this terrible situation which unfolded through no fault of their own.”

10.3       Motion in the name of Councillor Lappage

“This Council agrees to encourage women of all cultures to exercise the right to vote, to register to vote as soon as possible and to come out and vote this May. This hard won right, whose centenary we celebrate this year, is one which women are encouraged to act on throughout their lives.”

10.4    Motion in the name of Councillor Achilleas Georgiou

“This Council welcomes the saving of £2.5m to the Council budget by the purchase of properties through Housing Gateway since it was established in 2014.

Given this is a net contribution, it is hard to see how any councillor could consider it anything other than good economics.”

10.5    Motion in the name of Councillor Sitkin

“Currently the Council has a policy on protecting community facilities in planning but this does not afford public houses the protection we would like to achieve.

We are entering a Local Plan process which should be completed by 2019, in tandem with the London Plan.

Council believes that including specific public house protection in the plan would be an objective Enfield should bring forward.

In advance of this, Council recognises that public houses are valued facilities for a vibrant community.”

10.6       Motion in the name of Councillor Rye

“Enfield Council needs to take urgent action to support Enfield Town as a major shopping centre in the borough and will: undertake enforcement action on vacant shops with untidy frontages; seek funding to provide hanging baskets and Christmas lights; review the lengthy timelines for action set out in the Enfield Town Centre Draft Framework Master Plan to deliver positive outcomes sooner rather than later.”

10.7       Motion in the name of Councillor Laban

“Enfield Council is proud to follow the great British values of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

Motion 10.6

Councillor Laban moved and Councillor Alessandro Georgiou seconded the following motion: 

“Enfield Council is proud to follow the great British values of tolerance and respect. This month we will be commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day and as a sign of our commitment to those British values this chamber condemns any anti-Semitism.”

Following the debate the motion was put to the vote and agreed unanimously. 

Motion 13.10 (22 November 2018)

At the last Council meeting the following motion was moved by Councillor Neville and seconded by Councillor Alessandro Georgiou.  During the debate, as the time allocated for this section of the meeting had run out, Councillor Taylor moved and Councillor Stewart seconded a proposal to adjourn the debate, under paragraph 14.11 (a) (iv) of the Council procedure rules.  It was agreed that the debate would be continued at this meeting. 

“Following the recent sentencing of cyclist Charlie Alliston who was convicted of “wanton and furious driving” following the death of Mrs Kim Briggs in Old Street in London, and the more recent conviction of a second cyclist of “causing injury by wilful misconduct”, both ancient offences used by prosecutors to deal with these cases because of a lack of modern cycling law, the Council  calls on the government to thoroughly review the laws relating  to  cycling  to bring them into line with those applicable to motorists, so that the public are properly protected against  both the irresponsible and dangerous acts of a minority of cyclists, and from accidental damage injury when it occurs. Council instructs the Director of Law and Governance to forward this motion to the Secretary of State for Transport.”

Councillor Anderson moved an amendment to the motion, seconded by Councillor Stewart to change the motion to read: 

"Following the recent sentencing of cyclist Charlie Allison who was convicted of "wanton and furious driving" following the death of Mrs Kim Briggs in Old Street in London, and the more recent conviction of a second cyclist of "causing injury by wilful misconduct", both ancient offences used by prosecutors to deal with these cases because of a lack of modern cycling law. This Council therefore calls on the Government to thoroughly review the law so that pedestrians are properly protected against all irresponsible and dangerous road users and from accidental injury when it occurs. Council instructs the Director of Law and Governance to forward this motion to the Secretary of State for Transport."

Following the debate the amendment to the motion was put to the vote and agreed with the following result:

For:  31

Against:  14

Abstentions: 0

The amended motion was then put to the vote and agreed unanimously. 

Change in the order of Business

Councillor Stewart moved and Councillor Ekechi seconded a proposal under paragraph 2.2(B) of the Council procedure rules to change the order of items on the agenda to take the following motions in the following order as the next items of business.  This was agreed without a vote. 

Motions 10.3, 10.9, 10.4. 

The minutes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

11.1    Urgent Questions (Part 4 - Paragraph 9.2.(b) of Constitution – Page 4-9)

With the permission of the Mayor, questions on urgent issues may be tabled with the proviso of a subsequent written response if the issue requires research or is considered by the Mayor to be minor.

Please note that the Mayor will decide whether a question is urgent or not.

The definition of an urgent question is “An issue which could not reasonably have been foreseen or anticipated prior to the deadline for the submission of questions and which needs to be considered before the next meeting of the Council.”

Submission of urgent questions to Council requires the Member when submitting the question to specify why the issue could not have been reasonably foreseen prior to the deadline and why it has to be considered before the next meeting. 

11.2    Councillors’ Questions (Part 4 – Paragraph 9.2(a) of Constitution – Page 4 - 8)

Please note that the list of questions and their written responses will be published on Tuesday 30 January 2018. 

1.               Urgent Questions

There were no urgent questions. 

2.               Questions by Councillors

NOTED

1.               The forty questions on the Council agenda and the written responses provided by the relevant Cabinet Members.

2.               The following supplementary questions and responses received for the questions listed below:

Question 1 (Autumn Budget and Public Sector Pay Cap) from Councillor Levy to Councillor Taylor, Leader of the Council

Would you agree that the Government does not value public sector workers? 

Reply from Councillor Taylor 

Yes. However this administration will continue to ensure that we recognise the vital contributions of public sector workers while also ensuring that services are affordable to taxpayers.  Public sector workers will be valued. 

Question 3 (Cuts to Children’s Services) from Councillor Abdullahi to Councillor Taylor, Leader of the Council

What is the scale of the challenge? 

Reply from Councillor Taylor

Councillor Taylor responded by saying that politics was a choice.  The government chose to spend money on cuts to the bank levy, while children’s services had a £2 billion funding gap and there were 70,000 young people in care under child protection plans.  This was not a good start for children, and cutting banking costs would not be something I would support. 

Question 4 (£12.50 Charge for older vehicles when accessing services at North Middlesex Hospital) from Councillor Laban to Councillor Taylor, Leader of the Council

When were we likely to see the Council’s response to the consultation on the proposed ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) expansion to the North and South Circular roads?  

Reply from Councillor Taylor 

A response is being prepared and will be available in the near future. 

Question 6 (Reduction in Local Implementation Plan funding) from Councillor Laban to Councillor Taylor, Leader of the Council

Council Laban thanked Councillor Taylor for his response, but asked do you agree with the Cabinet Member for Environment that this is a kick in the teeth for the borough and will be a problem going forward. 

Reply from Councillor Taylor:

Councillor Taylor replied that this was not language that he would use and he could not agree.  He suggested that Councillor Laban ask Councillor Anderson direct. 

Question 7 (Local Government Finance Settlement) from Councillor Simon to Councillor Lemonides, Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency

Would the Cabinet Member agree that although Enfield staff were doing a fantastic job with less and less resources, this was becoming increasingly difficult, and services needed more funding? 

Reply from Councillor Lemonides

Councillor Lemonides replied that yes he would agree.  Enfield had lost 40% of the staff since 2010.  He thought that it was ridiculous to think that the Government could continue cutting, (this administration had found efficiencies and innovative ways of working) but still think that Councils could find more money through efficiencies and by raising the Council Tax.  The Council could not continue to cut services.  It has made over £200m worth of savings with a further £35m to come.  Eventually there would be no money left, nothing to spend on things such as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To confirm the following changes to Committee memberships:

·       Audit and Risk Management Committee – Peter Nwosu to be appointed as the independent member of the committee.   

Please note that any further changes received once the agenda has been published will be tabled on the Council update sheet at the meeting. 

AGREED to confirm the following changes to committee memberships

·       Audit and Risk Management Committee – Peter Nwosu to be appointed as the independent member of the committee.    

To confirm the following changes to the nominations to outside bodies. 

·       Red Lion Homes – Councillor Oykener be nominated as the Council’s second representative. 

Please note that any further changes notified after the agenda has been published will be reported to Council on the update sheet tabled at the meeting. 

Council agreed to confirm the following changes to the nominations on outside bodies:

·       Red Lion Homes – Councillor Oykener was appointed as the Council’s second representative. 

None received. 

None received. 

To note the date agreed for the next Council meeting:

·       Wednesday 21 February 2018 at 7pm at Enfield Civic Centre. 

NOTED that the next ordinary Council meeting would take place on Wednesday 21 February 2018 at 7pm.