Agenda and minutes

The Mayor’s Chaplain to give a blessing. 

The Reverend Martin Legg gave the blessing. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ali Bakir, Jason Charalambous, Turgut Esendagli, and Andy Milne. 

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

No interests were declared by members at the meeting. 

To elect the Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield for the Municipal Year 2017/18. 

Councillor Taylor moved and Councillor Laban seconded the nomination of Councillor Christine Hamilton as Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield for the 2017/18 Municipal Year. 

Councillor Taylor, in nominating Councillor Hamilton, said that he thought that she must be the first Mayor of Enfield to support Wigan Football Club and that as she lived in the same road as a previous Mayor he thought they might have to change the name of the street to Mayor Street.  He was sure that she would be a fantastic mayor, a good ambassador both inside and outside the borough, who would deal with all members fairly and equally.  He had no reservation in nominating her. 

Councillor Laban, on behalf of the Conservative Group, endorsed the comments of Councillor Taylor and said that she had great respect for Councillor Hamilton.  She had worked with her when Councillor Hamilton was Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health and had joined her in supporting White Ribbon and International Women’s days.  She felt she was an excellent candidate, wished her the best of luck and hoped that she had a fantastic year as Mayor. 

AGREED that Councillor Christine Hamilton be elected as Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

The motion was agreed unanimously (without a vote).  Councillor Hamilton then made and signed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office and was invested with the badge of office by the retiring Mayor, Councillor Lappage.

The Mayor gave her acceptance speech. 

1.               Welcome and Thanks

The Mayor began by welcoming her distinguished guests, family, friends, colleagues and fellow councillors to the Civic Centre and thanking them for being there that evening. 

The Mayor said that she was proud and honoured to stand as elected Mayor of Enfield and first citizen of the borough.  She pledged to represent with great pride, conviction and dedication the great, vibrant and diverse borough of Enfield.  She felt that her fellow councillors had bestowed a great privilege and responsibility upon her and she expressed her sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone for placing their trust in her. 

The Mayor said that she took the responsibility and trust shown in her very seriously.  She was committed to serving the people of the borough of Enfield to the best of her abilities with enthusiasm, compassion and devotion to the community.  She thanked everyone individually and collectively for enabling her to take the Mayoral Office for a year. 

The Mayor thanked her entire family, her good/kind husband Ian, her children David and Joanne and her grandchildren who were there on the night, Isla, Tom and John.  She sent good wishes to her grandson Laurie who was sitting his first GCSE on the following day at the age of 15 and congratulated him for achieving a black belt in Karate a few weeks ago.  If he ever should decide to enter public life, these nimble skills, with their focus on self-defence, would undoubtedly be of great use to him.

The Mayor thanked her other friends and family members for their tireless support and understanding over the last 7 years, in her political role as a councillor, a cabinet member for 3 years and as deputy mayor last year.  She thanked her close friend Joan Ryan and her number two son Adrian who had been most helpful.  She was also delighted to welcome daughter number two, Zoe, and her mother Helen. 

The Mayor said that she had appointed her hard working husband Ian as her consort, together with her lovely daughter Jo, who worked for Capel Manor and was the mother of three in Enfield. 

The Mayor thanked Asmat Hussain, Assistant Director of Legal and Governance Services, and wished her every success in her new role in Tower Hamlets.  She said that she would miss her and wished her good luck in her future role.  She welcomed and thanked Jayne Middleton-Albooye and the officers Kathy Constantinou, Koulla Panaretou and Nicola Lowther, in the Mayor’s Office, and Democratic Services for their invaluable help and support during her year as deputy mayor and said a big thank you also to Shaun Rogan (Head of Strategy, Partnerships, Engagement and Consultation) for his help on Enfield Cares. 

2.               History

The Mayor said that as a young girl born in Wigan, she had been a rugby league fan and had regularly attended games in the stadium, in the middle of the town with famous players.  The team had won cups  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

5.1       Appointment of Mayor’s Consort

The Mayor to announce the appointment of her consort for the Municipal Year 2017/2018.

5.2   Appointment of Deputy Mayor

To receive the Mayor’s written notice of the appointment of a Councillor of the London Borough of Enfield to be Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017/2018 and record the appointment.

5.3   Appointment of Deputy Mayor’s Consort

The Deputy Mayor to announce the appointment of her consort for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

5.4   Appointment of Deputy Leader and Cabinet

To note the appointment by the Leader of the Council of the Deputy Leader and the Cabinet, as detailed under item 11.1 on the agenda.

5.1     Appointment of Mayor’s Consorts

The Mayor announced the appointment of Ian and Joanne Hamilton as her Consorts for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.  She then invested them with the badge of office.

5.2     Appointment of Deputy Mayor

The Mayor confirmed the appointment of Councillor Doris Jiagge as Deputy Mayor for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.  The Deputy Mayor then made and signed a Declaration of Acceptance of Office and was invested by the Mayor with her badge of office.

Councillor Jiagge thanked the Mayor for her appointment.  She congratulated Christine Hamilton on being the new Mayor and said that she was honoured and privileged to be appointed to the Office of Deputy Mayor of the beautiful and diverse borough of Enfield which she accepted whole heartedly and said that she was really humbled to accept. 

She thanked everyone who had seen the potential in her and believed that she spoke for both herself and the Mayor when she said that they would work together in a supportive and cohesive way to reflect the attributes of Enfieldians.

5.3     Appointment of Deputy Mayor’s Consorts

The Deputy Mayor announced the appointment of Jeramiah Jiagge-Takyi and Jessica Jiagge-Takyi as her Consort for the 2017/18 Municipal Year, and invested them with the badges of office. 

5.4     Appointment of Deputy Leader and Cabinet

Councillor Taylor confirmed the appointments as set out below and detailed on the yellow list tabled under agenda item 12.1:

Deputy Leader – Councillor Achilleas Georgiou

Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care - Councillor Alev Cazimoglu

Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration & Business Development – Councillor Alan Sitkin

Cabinet Member for Education, Children’s Services and Protection – Councillor Ayfer Orhan

Cabinet Member for Community Arts and Culture – Councillor Yasemin Brett

Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health – Councillor Krystle Fonyonga

Cabinet Member for Environment – Councillor Daniel Anderson

Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency – Councillor Dino Lemonides

Cabinet Member for Housing & Housing Regeneration – Councillor Ahmet Oykener. 

On behalf of the Council, the Mayor will present past Mayor’s and past Mayor’s consort badges to Councillor Bernadette Lappage, Andrew Lappage and Edward Lappage. 

The Mayor presented past Mayor’s and Mayors Consort badges and certificates recording the Council’s appreciation to the retiring Mayor, Councillor Bernadette Lappage and her Consorts Edward and Andrew Lappage.

The Mayor, on behalf of the Council, thanked them for the work they had undertaken during the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

The Leaders of both Groups were also presented with a token of appreciation for their support over the year and the past mayor with a bouquet of flowers.

The Mayor made an announcement about the Enfield Night Hike which was being held on Friday 12 May 2017, starting at the Civic Centre.  Further details were available from the Mayor’s Office.

Councillor Taylor payed tribute to Rob Leak, retiring Chief Executive, as one of the longest serving chief executives in London, outliving three prime ministers. 

Councillor Taylor said that Rob had the highest levels of integrity, commitment and sense of fairness, a can do attitude.  Councillor Taylor thanked him for the work he had done at Enfield working with both Labour and Conservative administrations.  Being Chief Executive was difficult, a cross between a permanent secretary in the civil service, a commercial managing director and a social worker.  Each role was needed and it was a measure of Rob’s success that he had managed all of them well.

He had bought valuable experience from Lambeth Council and before that from the private sector, being both entrepreneurial and caring.

He had spent over 300 hours in Council meetings, for which Councillor Taylor thought that he deserved a special medal.  For the future he had a series of projects in mind, planned for the rest of the year and then he might look back with nostalgia on his years at Enfield. 

Councillor Taylor thanked Rob Leak personally for his major contribution to the borough, for dealing well with the difficult issues he had had to grapple with.  A Leader of the Council needed to be able to trust his chief executive and it was the highest testimony that he could give, that he trusted Rob. 

Councillor Rye endorsed everything that Councillor Taylor had said.  He felt that Rob Leak had been an exemplary chief executive, acting as a father to other chief executives across London.  He was held in high regard.  He was proactive, committed and driven, focussed on the residents and outcomes.  He was accountable for the work he had done and for the work of the officers, impartial, open handed. 

When Councillor Rye had been leader, he had had a regular meeting on a Friday evening, between 4-7.  It had been a dangerous slot for officers, but they had had fun as well.  Rob was also dangerous company when driving, but a committed family man, father and grandfather.  

Public service was losing a great servant.  Rob Leak had done a great job which was much appreciated. 

To approve as a correct record, the minutes of the Council meeting held on Thursday 6 April 2017. 

AGREED that theminutes of the meeting held on Thursday 6 April 2017 be confirmed and signed as a correct record. 

The Members’ Allowances Scheme forms Part 6 of the Constitution.  Paragraph 6.3 (c) states that “Annual Increases in allowances will be linked to average earnings, for the period ending the previous March of each year.  New rates will be effective from the new Municipal year.”

When considering the Scheme for the 2015/2016 financial year, Council resolved:  “That the current Members Allowances Scheme is re-approved and that the automatic increase in allowances by the average earnings as at March not be implemented for the 2015/16 financial year.”

There is a need to consider the level of allowances payable under the scheme for 2017/18, with Council asked to consider the following recommendation.

Recommendation: 

Council is invited to confirm that the automatic increase in allowances by the average earnings as at March is again not implemented and to re-approve the current Members’ Allowances Scheme for the 2017/2018 financial year, as set out in Part 6 of the Constitution, on that basis.

Councillor Taylor moved and Councillor Laban seconded a proposal on Members Allowances.

NOTED

1.               The Members Allowances Scheme forms Part 6 of the Constitution. Paragraph 6.3 (c) states that “Annual Increases in Allowances will be linked to average earnings, for the period ending the previous March of each year.  New rates will be effective from the new municipal year.”

2.               When considering the Scheme for the 2015/16 financial year, Council resolved “That the current Members Allowances Scheme is reapproved and that the automatic increase in allowances by the average earnings as at March not be implemented for the 2015/16 municipal year.”

3.               Council were asked to consider the level of allowances payable under the scheme for 2017/18.   

AGREED to confirm that the automatic increase in allowances by the average earnings as at March is again not implemented and to re-approve the current Members Allowances Scheme for the 2017/18 financial year, as set out in Part 6 of the Constitution on that basis. 

To receive a report from the Assistant Director Human Resources setting out

the recommendation from the Council's Appointment Panel (30 March and 20 April 2017) for the appointment of the new Chief Executive. (Report No: 2)

Council is asked to agree to the appointment of Ian Davis as the Council’s Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service with effect from 1 June 2017.

Councillor Taylor moved and Councillor Laban seconded a report of the Assistant Director Human Resources on the appointment of a new chief executive for the Council.  (Report No: 2)

NOTED

1.               Councillor Taylor thanked all members of the appointment panel for their collective work during the appropriately long approach to the appointment, though the various processes and stages, before agreement on the new appointment.

2.               He was certain that this would be a good appointment and that Ian Davis would perform his role brilliantly.  He looked forward to a long relationship.  Ian knew the authority well and also the issues in the short to medium term that will have to be faced: including the difficulties around funding but also the new opportunities.  He was confident that Ian would be a “can do” chief executive and would deliver the Council’s objectives.

3.               On behalf of all the Council, Councillor Taylor, recommended the appointment for all to endorse and wished Ian good luck. 

4.               Councillor Laban endorsed all that Councillor Taylor had said.  The appointment process had been thorough and she knew that Ian Davis was the best candidate. She had known his work for a number of years and trusted him. 

AGREED that

1.               Ian Davis be appointed as the Council’s Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service (CE) with effect from 1 June 2017.

2.               The appointment be made under the terms and conditions agreed by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Chief Executives of Local Authorities, as supplemented by the Council’s own terms.  The salary on appointment would be £185,000 per year. 

To receive the report of the Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services asking the Council to determine the consultation and political balance of the committees, joint committees and panels that have been set up for discharge of the Council’s functions.  (Report No:1)

Councillor Stewart moved and Councillor Vince seconded the report of the Executive Director of Finance, Resources & Customer Services (No.1) seeking Council approval to determine the constitution and political balance of the committees, joint committees and panels that had been set up for discharge of the Council’s functions.

AGREED

1.              That the seats allocated to each political party on the committees and boards to which Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 apply, be approved as set out in Appendix A of the report.

2.              That in accordance with paragraph 3.3 of the report, the Council resolves (without dissent) that the rules of political proportionality should not apply to those bodies marked with an * in Appendix A of the report.

12.1    To establish the Council bodies for the coming Municipal Year and to appoint memberships to these (see list on yellow).

12.2    To confirm the Terms of Reference of those bodies set out in Part 2 of the constitution.   

Link to Part 2 of the Constitution

1.1   Appointment of Council Bodies 2017/18: Committee Membership list

Councillor Stewart moved and Councillor Vince seconded the list of Council bodies to be established and membership appointments for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

AGREED to the establishment of the Council bodies for the 2017/18 Municipal Year and appointment of their memberships, as set out on the yellow list tabled at the meeting.

1.2   Appointment of Council Bodies 2017/18: Terms of Reference

AGREED to confirm the terms of reference of those bodies as set out in Part 2 of the Council’s Constitution. 

To consider the Council’s representation on other bodies and organisations as required (see list on green).

Councillor Stewart moved and Councillor Vince seconded the list of nominations for appointments to outside bodies for the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

AGREED the Council’s representation on outside bodies, as detailed on the green list tabled at the meeting.

The Council is asked to agree the authority’s Scheme of Delegation as set out in Part 3 (pages 3.2 - 3.13) of the Constitution. 

Link to Part 3 of the Constitution

Councillor Stewart moved and Councillor Vince seconded the authority’s scheme of delegation. 

AGREED the authority’s Scheme of Delegation, as set out in Part 3 (pages 3-2 to 3-13) of the Constitution.

15.1    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.  A supplementary question is not permitted.

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

None

1.1           Urgent Questions

None received.

1.2           Questions by Councillors

None received. 

None

None received. 

16.1    To approve the calendar of Council meetings, including the proposed date for the next Council meeting on Wednesday 14 June 2017 at 7.00pm at the Civic Centre.  The calendar has been subject of consultation with officers and both political groups. 

16.2    The Council is asked to approve the calendar, subject to any further changes/additions being delegated to the Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services, in consultation with both party groups. 

NOTED the calendar of meetings included indicative dates for future meetings of the Council up until May 2018.

AGREED

1.               The calendar of meetings of the Council, including the next Council meeting, which had been scheduled for Wednesday 14 June 2017.

2.               That approval of any further amendments to the calendar be delegated to the Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services, in consultation with both party groups.

None received. 

None received

Members are asked to note that subject to Item 16 above, the next meeting of the Council will be held on Wednesday 14 June 2017 at 7.00pm in the Civic Centre. 

NOTED that the next meeting of the Council would be held at 7pm on Wednesday 14 June 2017 at the Civic Centre.