Agenda and minutes

Dogan Erdo?an, Zakir (Alevi spiritual guide) of London Alevi Cultural Centre and Cemevi gave a blessing.

There was no business transacted under this item.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Chinelo Anyanwu, Esin Gunes, Stephanos Ioannou, Mohammad Islam, Ruby Sampson and Edward Smith.

The Mayor welcomed everyone to the Chamber.

The Mayor thanked the Deputy Mayor for chairing the last meeting, whilst she attended her son’s graduation. Since then, she had continued with her mayoral duties.

In January she attended the Holocaust Memorial Service where those who lost their lives in conflict and war were remembered. As part of the service, councillors were invited to sign a Pledge Against Genocide, and members would also be able to add their names to the pledge tonight.

She was fortunate to be invited as a special guest to the Enfield Youth Elections Announcement Event where new elected members of the UK Youth Council and Enfield Youth Council were announced, alongside the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Abdul Abdullahi. She was proud to see the young people of Enfield getting involved and looked forward to seeing them succeed in this field.

Members were reminded that the Mayor’s Gala Dinner takes place on the 28^th February, and all were welcome to join her and enjoy a wonderful evening of food, drink, and entertainment. Please contact Koulla Panaretou in line with emails previously sent.

A sad announcement was made that a long serving officer, Erhan Hassan, passed away on Wednesday 1^st February 2023. Erhan worked for Enfield Council for 27 years, firstly in Payroll Services and over more recent years in the Meridian Water Team. During his employment, he knew many officers, both as a friend and colleague and will be hugely missed. Condolences were expressed to Erhan’s family, friends, and colleagues at this very sad time.

The Mayor was also saddened to hear of the loss of life and devastation as a result of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. She offered her heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who have been killed, and her deep sympathies to all those whose lives have been affected.

The 24^th February also marked the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the loss of hundreds of lives and the displacement of millions of people. Her thoughts and prayers went to those who continued to be affected.

Members were invited to say a few words.

Cllr Nesil Caliskan highlighted the solidarity between Enfield residents and people in the regions hit by the recent earthquakes: how there had been generosity and a coming together to help, and the response from the diversity of Londoners in this global capital. Cllr Alessandro Georgiou on behalf of the Opposition, expressed condolences to all those affected by the earthquakes and was proud of the efforts of councillors and officers and people from all backgrounds working together to help those in need. Cllr Ergin Erbil’s family came from the affected region, and he was pleased to note the quick response from communities, London Councils, and the Foreign Secretary. Cllr Dyson paid particular tribute to British firefighters who provided help.

Members and all attendees were invited to join in a minute’s silence to commemorate recent lives lost recently.

To receive and agree the minutes of the previous meeting of Council held on Wednesday 25 January 20223 as a correct record.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 25 January 2023 were received and, subject to the corrections set out in the supplementary agenda pack, were AGREED as a correct record.

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

The Director of Law and Governance read out a statement on the declaration of interests requirements in relation to agenda item 6 – Budget Report 2023/24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2023/24 to 2027/28.

The director advised that members had been given an advice note on this issue and that there was no requirement for members to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest in relation to item 6, the exception to this being any councillor who is two or more months in arrears of their Council Tax, in which case they should declare this and not take part in the vote. The director advised that according to the Council’s records there were no members with any such outstanding arrears, but that the onus was on members to make the declaration, if necessary.

The director also clarified that no councillors would be affected in relation to item 7 – Council Tax Support Scheme for 2023/24.

In relation to some ‘Frequently Asked Questions,’ the director advised that if members were appointed directors to Council-owned companies mentioned in reports, they should declare the interest, but it was not a pecuniary interest, and they would not be prevented from taking part in the vote. If members or their relatives worked for the NHS, it was unlikely there would be a sufficient personal interest to require a declaration in respect of agenda items this evening, but it was for members personally to consider their interests.

The following Councillors declared non-pecuniary interests in the following items:

Items 8, 10, and 12 – Cllr Sabri Ozaydin declared an interest as a director of Housing Gateway Limited.

Items 8, 10 and 12 – Cllr Doug Taylor declared an interest as a director of Energetik.

Item 11 – Cllr Joanne Laban declared an interest as a member of the National Joint Council (NJC) on the employer side.

Council is asked to agree the budget for 2023/24 and the Medium-Term Financial Plan.

Cllr Leaver moved, and Cllr Caliskan seconded, the report.

Cllr Leaver introduced the report and noted that this was the first budget of the new Administration and reflected its priorities and manifesto. The background challenges were highlighted, including reduced government funding, Covid-19 impacts, and inflationary and demographic pressures. Consultation in relation to setting the budget, including presentation to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, was also noted. The comments of the Chief Finance Officer in respect of the robustness of the budget were included in the report and noted. The Council would be setting a balanced budget. It was prudent, well thought through, and resilient.

The Opposition expressed their concerns in respect of high borrowing by the Administration commenting that interest charges would need to be paid back and cuts would be made to frontline services. Despite a 20% core grant increase and other grants, the Administration proposed an increase in Council Tax, precept, fees and charges, and rents. Money was being spent on external consultants and solicitors, and on Civic Centre refurbishments, but there was no cost-of-living assistance for residents.

During the debate, Cllr Leaver moved, and Cllr Georgiou seconded, a procedural motion under paragraph 13.20 (ii) of the Council’s Procedure Rules that an amendment be made to the recommendations at paragraph 8 of the report so that the proposals in respect of a 2.99% general Council Tax increase, and of a 2.00% Adult Social Care Precept be separate recommendations and be voted on separately. This amendment to the report recommendations was AGREED.

The time for the end of the meeting having been reached, a procedural motion moved by Cllr Ozaydin and seconded by Cllr Ergin Erbil under paragraph 13.20 (viii) of the Council’s Procedure Rules to extend the debate for 10 minutes was AGREED.

The amended recommendation 8.ii: to set a 2.00% Adult Social Care Precept, was agreed following a recorded vote (as required by law) detailed below:

For:

Cllr Abdul Abdullahi

Cllr Josh Abey

Cllr Nicki Adeleke

Cllr Gunes Akbulut

Cllr Mahmut Aksanoglu

Cllr Maria Alexandrou

Cllr Nawshad Ali

Cllr Kate Anolue

Cllr Mahym Bedekova

Cllr Sinan Boztas

Cllr Nesil Caliskan

Cllr Alev Cazimoglu

Cllr Mustafa Cetinkaya

Cllr Lee Chamberlain

Cllr Hivran Dalkaya

Cllr Chris Dey

Cllr Guney Dogan

Cllr Hannah Dyson

Cllr Elif Erbil

Cllr Ergin Erbil

Cllr Susan Erbil

Cllr Peter Fallart

Cllr Thomas Fawns

Cllr Reece Fox

Cllr Alessandro Georgiou

Cllr Margaret Greer

Cllr Pat Gregory

Cllr Adrian Grumi

Cllr Ayten Guzel

Cllr Nelly Gyosheva

Cllr Ahmet Hasan

Cllr James Hockney

Cllr Suna Hurman

Cllr Chris James

Cllr Rick Jewell

Cllr Chris Joannides

Cllr Joanne Laban

Cllr Tim Leaver

Cllr Andy Milne

Cllr Elisa Morreale

Cllr Gina Needs

Cllr Tom O’Halloran

Cllr Ahmet Oykener

Cllr Sabri Ozaydin

Cllr Bektas Ozer

Cllr Paul Pratt

Cllr Michael Rye

Cllr Julian Sampson

Cllr George Savva

Cllr David Skelton

Cllr Jim Steven

Cllr Nia Stevens

Cllr Emma Supple

Cllr Doug Taylor

Cllr Andrew Thorp

Cllr Eylem Yuruk

The amended recommendation 8.iii: to set a 2.99% general Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Council is asked to agree the local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2023/24.

Cllr Leaver moved and Cllr Caliskan seconded the report of the Executive Director Resources on the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2023/24.

Cllr Leaver introduced the report. It was a manifesto commitment to support the most vulnerable in society, and the Administration had chosen to have a comprehensive Council Tax support scheme which would be equitable and would cover around a third of the borough’s residents. The scheme included the introduction of an earned income banded scheme for households in receipt of Universal Credit. There had been extensive consultation on the scheme, which had also been reviewed by the GLA and Citizens Advice Bureau with a positive response. There would also be a Council Tax hardship fund for the most extreme cases.

The Opposition expressed their concerns that the scheme was not fair or equitable and that it represented a cut to 6,500 households who could least afford it, mostly in the East of the borough. Some residents would be pushed into poverty and the hardship fund was not sufficient.

Following officer advice on the possibility of amending the recommendation by separating various part of it, the Mayor confirmed that this would not be possible.

A recorded vote was requested by Cllr Georgiou, and another 11 members of the Council having stood in support of the request, the report was then agreed following a recorded vote detailed below:

For:

Cllr Abdul Abdullahi

Cllr Josh Abey

Cllr Nicki Adeleke

Cllr Gunes Akbulut

Cllr Mahmut Aksanoglu

Cllr Nawshad Ali

Cllr Kate Anolue

Cllr Mahym Bedekova

Cllr Sinan Boztas

Cllr Nesil Caliskan

Cllr Alev Cazimoglu

Cllr Mustafa Cetinkaya

Cllr Hivran Dalkaya

Cllr Guney Dogan

Cllr Elif Erbil

Cllr Ergin Erbil

Cllr Susan Erbil

Cllr Thomas Fawns

Cllr Margaret Greer

Cllr Ayten Guzel

Cllr Nelly Gyosheva

Cllr Ahmet Hasan

Cllr Suna Hurman

Cllr Chris James

Cllr Rick Jewell

Cllr Tim Leaver

Cllr Gina Needs

Cllr Ahmet Oykener

Cllr Sabri Ozaydin

Cllr Bektas Ozer

Cllr George Savva

Cllr Nia Stevens

Cllr Doug Taylor

Cllr Eylem Yuruk

Against:

Cllr Maria Alexandrou

Cllr Lee Chamberlain

Cllr Chris Dey

Cllr Hannah Dyson

Cllr Peter Fallart

Cllr Reece Fox

Cllr Alessandro Georgiou

Cllr Pat Gregory

Cllr Adrian Grumi

Cllr James Hockney

Cllr Chris Joannides

Cllr Joanne Laban

Cllr Andy Milne

Cllr Elisa Morreale

Cllr Tom O’Halloran

Cllr Paul Pratt

Cllr Michael Rye

Cllr Julian Sampson

Cllr David Skelton

Cllr Jim Steven

Cllr Emma Supple

Cllr Andrew Thorp

AGREED the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2023/24 as summarised in Appendix A of the report to provide financial support for households on low incomes in paying their Council Tax.

Council is asked to agree the Council Plan 2023-26.

This item was deferred to a future meeting of the Council in June 2023.

Council is asked to agree the HRA business plan, the revenue budget and HRA rents.

The recommendations in this report were put to the meeting under the guillotine arrangements and were AGREED.

The Opposition advised that they would have voted against the recommendation.

Council is asked to agree the Ten-Year Capital Strategy and Capital Programme for 2023/24 to 2032/33.

The recommendations in this report were put to the meeting under the guillotine arrangements and were AGREED.

The Opposition advised that they would have voted against the recommendation.

The Council is asked to agree the pay policy statement.

The recommendations in this report were put to the meeting under the guillotine arrangements and were AGREED.

The Opposition advised that they would have voted for the recommendation.

Council is asked to agree the Treasury Management Strategy for 2023/24.

The recommendations in this report were put to the meeting under the guillotine arrangements and were AGREED.

The Opposition advised that they would have voted against the recommendation.

The list of questions and their written responses will be published prior to the meeting.

In accordance with the guillotine arrangements, answers to questions were taken as printed in the supplementary agenda.

To confirm any changes to committee memberships.

Any further changes received once the agenda has been published will be included in the Supplementary Agenda to be circulated at the meeting.

There were no changes to committee memberships.

Councillor Stephanos Ioannou to replace Councillor Maria Alexandrou on the Enfield Music Hub Advisory Board.

Any further changes received once the agenda has been published will be included in the Supplementary Agenda to be circulated at the meeting.

The following changes to nominations on outside bodies were noted under the guillotine arrangements:

Cllr Stephanos Ioannou to replace Cllr Maria Alexandrou on the Enfield Music Hub Advisory Board.

To note the agreed date of the next Council meeting as Wednesday 10 May 2023 at 7pm.

The date of the next meeting was NOTED as 10 May 2023, which will be the Annual Council meeting.