Agenda for Council on Wednesday, 20th November, 2019, 7.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber

Contact: Penelope Williams  Email: penelope.williams@enfield.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

The Mayor's Chaplain to give a Blessing

Minutes:

Father Emmanuel Ogunnaike from St Edmund’s Church, Edmonton gave the blessing. 

2.

Purdah Announcement

Minutes:

Jeremy Chambers, Monitoring Officer, advised the Council that they were in an election purdah period where special rules applied.  This was a heightened period of sensitivity when it was important to ensure that Council resources were not used for political purposes.  Members should not make political statements and be mindful that what they say should not be party political. 

 

3.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 September 2019 pdf icon PDF 245 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2019 as a correct record. 

Minutes:

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 18 September 2019 were received and agreed as a correct record. 

4.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Anderson, Aramaz, Barry, Bond, Brett, Brown, Gunawardena, Hamilton, Ioannou, Jewell, Lappage, Lemonides, Oykener and Taylor and for lateness from Councillors Aydin, David-Sanders, Dey, Alessandro Georgiou, Laban, Rawlings, Stewart and Achilleas Georgiou. 

5.

Declaration of Interests

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest. 

6.

Amendment to Licensing Policy and No Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing Resolution pdf icon PDF 124 KB

To receive a report with a recommendation from the Licensing Committee on an amendment to the Council’s Licensing Policy and on the No Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing Resolution.  (Report No: 143)

 

Council is asked to agree the changes to the policy and to adopt the No Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing Resolution. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Savva moved and Councillor Aksagnolu seconded the report of the Licensing Committee proposing approval of Enfield’s Licensing Act 2003 Policy and no Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing Resolution.  (Report No:  143)

 

NOTED

 

1.            The report proposes minor changes to the Council’s policy which had been subject to public consultation as well as consultation with the police and health representatives.

2.            The changes had been approved and recommended to Council by the cross party Licensing Committee at the meeting held on 16 October 2019.

3.            The Council’s licensing objectives were the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm. 

4.            There had been no applications for sexual entertainment venues and it was proposed to extend the resolution to continue not to allow any. 

5.            Some concern from the opposition members that the consultation had been unsatisfactory, as so few responses had been received.  Concern about the licenses granted recently to large scale music festivals and the lack of reference to this in the policy.

6.            The view that Licensing was a permissive regime and the presumption had to be that licenses would be granted. It was not possible to pre-determine or prejudice an outcome.  Every application was looked at carefully and constraints and conditions applied, where necessary. 

7.            The changes to the current policy had been agreed cross party by the Licensing Committee and were non-contentious. 

8.            The Council were trying to build the night time economy and this would always be regulated through licensing conditions. 

9.            Support for the policy to limit the number of sexual entertainment licences to nil which had been developed in the 1980’s in Westminster.

10.         Support for the proposals from a public health perspective, preventing substance abuse and protecting children from harm. 

11.         Clarification from the Monitoring Officer that recommendations could be voted on separately. 

 

Following the debate the recommendations in the report were agreed unanimously without a vote. 

 

AGREED

 

1.            To approve the minor changes in the 6th edition of the licensing policy Licensing Act 2003.

2.            To continue to resolve not to adopt the sexual entertainment venues licensing in Enfield, as per Annex 7 of the Licensing Policy. 

7.

Quarterly Capital Monitoring 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 303 KB

To receive a report from the Executive Director Resources proposing changes to the Council’s Capital Programme.  (Report No:  126) KD: 5015

 

Cabinet is due to consider this report at its meeting on 13 November 2019 and to recommend the changes to Council. 

 

The Cabinet decision will be reported at the Council meeting. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Maguire proposed and Councillor Caliskan seconded the report of the Executive Director Resources proposing changes to the Council’s Capital Programme.  (Report No:  126)

 

NOTED

 

1.            Cabinet considered this report at their meeting on 13 November 2019 and agreed to recommend that Council approve the changes to the capital programme. 

2.            The addendum to the report showing an updated table 6 – HRA Capital Programme provided as a “to follow” document.

3.            The report informed members about the position up to the end of September 2019 regarding the Council’s Capital programme (2019/20 to 2022/23).  It showed where the Council was investing and the overall expenditure on approved programmes: £111m for the general fund, £96m for the HRA and £17m for the companies. 

4.            It also includes estimates of capital spending plans and proposed arrangements for funding within current budgets.  The Council aims to make maximum use of external funding sources. 

5.            Changes include an additional investment of £30m for Energetik, budget reprofiling, newly approved schemes, the removal of the Bury Street West Depot to the HRA and major and minor works relating to the Housing Revenue Account as set out in table 6 to the report.

6.            The concerns of the Opposition: 

·         About committing the Council to further borrowing when it was felt that they were already borrowing too much.

·         On the administration’s past record on project delivery including the small housing sites programme

·         About the reprofiling which was a large amount of money and could in their view also be termed slippage.

·         About the lack of detail in the report.  It had been in response to a request of the Opposition Leader that the addendum on table 6 had been provided. 

·         That the Council had yet to build any homes in Meridian Water, the Energetik agreement with North London Waste was yet to be signed.

·         The lack of transparency in the reports. 

·         That the projections were over optimistic, the proposals over ambitious and could drain funds from front line services. 

7.            The views of the majority group that: 

·      Reprofiling was a recognised term for updating a programme in dynamic and changing circumstances.

·      The administration was committed to borrowing to enable investment in the borough and the local community to improve the lives of local residents.

·      The investments proposed would enable the Council to continue to attack fuel poverty through Energetik, make significant improvements to Council housing, through estate renewal and major works, so that all residents had somewhere decent to live, also work on developing the green economy and to tackle the problem of the 1 in 3 children living in poverty. 

·      The Council had been able to secure large amounts of grant funding because of their trusted partner status.

·      Strong leadership and excellent officers were helping to ensure that no-one was left behind.

·      The Council were also re-developing 91 units of extra care housing at Reardon Court, investing in public health and wellbeing, reducing social isolation and loneliness, improving mental wellbeing, creating a centre for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Joyce Avenue and Snells Park Estate Redevelopment pdf icon PDF 2 MB

To receive a report from the Executive Director Place (Report No: 134A) requesting additional funding for the redevelopment of the Joyce Avenue and Snells Park Estate.  Key Decision Number:  KD: 4590

 

This report was considered by Cabinet on 6 November 2019 and recommended on to Council. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Caliskan moved and Councillor Needs seconded the report of the Executive Director Place on additional funding for the redevelopment of the Joyce Avenue and Snells Park Estate.  (Report No:  134A)

 

NOTED

 

1.            The recommendations in the report had been considered and agreed for recommendation to Council at a Cabinet meeting held on 6 November 2019.

2.            The view of the Leader that this signalled an innovative development proposal that would improve the life chances and opportunities for Edmonton residents. 

3.            Acknowledgement of the hard work of officers and many conversations with local residents over the past 2 years which had enabled the administration to bring the proposals to this crucial stage. 

4.            Awareness that residents in the area had suffered greatly from crime and anti-social behaviour, including drug dealing and daylight prostitution, thought to be linked to serious youth violence. These residents felt abandoned and wanted significant investment and improvement.

5.            The principles that underpinned this new “Enfield Model” of estate renewal included: that every regeneration scheme should benefit its residents.  The Council would lead and control the project which would be phased in over 15 years, allowing residents to move directly from their old to their new homes, with no need for decanting or to move out of the area.  Every resident, including private renters, would be offered a home on the new estate. 

6.            The Council would retain ownership of nearly all the homes.  It would provide hundreds of new council homes as well as homes for rent with long term tenancies and a local lettings scheme which won’t be eligible for right to buy.  They would be really affordable and not cost more than one third of household income. 

7.            The build to rent model would also improve standards in the private rented sector which was currently failing to provide good housing.

8.            The project made provision for key public sector workers including those working in the nearby North Middlesex Hospital.

9.            The improvements would extend to designing new neighbourhoods to help create stronger communities, addressing local problems and building the local economy.  The Council was also putting in a good growth fund bid from the GLA to improve the high street at the Angel Edmonton, Fore Street.  

10.         Acknowledgement that the scheme would be expensive but it would create over 2000 new affordable homes. High level financial modelling showed the scheme’s viability with repayment over 50 years. 

11.         This report was requesting agreement to the financing to enable the project to be bought to the ballot and final planning stage. 

12.         Whilst acknowledging the significant problems on these estates, being keen to see them addressed and approving the principles behind the redevelopment, the Opposition had the following concerns relating to: 

 

·         The financing of the whole scheme and its affordability. 

·         The £4m cost of bringing the report to ballot and the length of time leading up to the ballot. 

·         The view that the scheme should have been designed and surveyed before this point and expenditure capped  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Extension of the Time Allowed for Debate

Minutes:

Councillor Ergin Erbil moved and Councillor Savva seconded a motion that the time allowed to debate reports be extended by 15 minutes.  This was agreed without a vote. 

10.

Meridian Water: Financial Model and 10 Year Budget pdf icon PDF 288 KB

To receive a report from the Executive Director Place requesting authorisation of the expenditure of the detailed Meridian Water Programme Budget. 

       (Report No: 104A)

     Key Decision No: KD:4469

 

Council is asked to approve the changes to the Capital Programme. 

 

Cabinet agreed to recommend this report to Council at their meeting on 16 October 2019. 

 

Please see also report number 105A on the part 2 agenda. 

 

Minutes:

 

Councillor Caliskan proposed and Councillor Maguire seconded the report of the Executive Director Place recommending a detailed capital budget for the Meridian Water regeneration programme for the remainder of 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 financial years.  (Report No: 104A)

 

NOTED

 

1.            Cabinet agreed to recommend the report and recommendations to Council following their meeting on 16 October 2019. 

2.            The Council has made great progress on the Meridian Water scheme over the past 18 months and the report sets out how the Council will build on this success and plan for the future. 

3.            The Council’s award of £156m from the Housing Infrastructure Fund, one of the biggest single external funding agreements ever secured will enable the Council to build the infrastructure to unlock the huge potential of the scheme. 

4.            The new train station is now in place and services have increased.  The first development partner has been recruited and Meridian One delivering 700 new homes should be ready by late 2021.  Progress has also been made towards Meridian Two to deliver 250 affordable homes.

5.            Meanwhile use plans have been successful and are helping to generate income. 

6.            A planning application for 2,300 homes, a primary school and essential community facilities for the next stage has been submitted. 

7.            The financial modelling is robust.  With the Council acting as the master developer Meridian Water is a viable project. It will be a sustainable, mixed community of benefit to local residents with a good mix of tenures and employment opportunities.

8.            The Council will have to be able to pay off borrowing and have enough capacity in the Housing Revenue Account and Capital stocks to improve other housing services. 

9.            The report sets out and recommends a detailed capital budget for Meridian Water for the next 2 and a half years to 2021-22. It also sets out a 10 year indicative capital budget to 2029 for the programme.

10.         About 40% of the costs set out in this report for 2021-22 will be provided from grant funding reducing the council borrowing requirements. 

11.         The scheme projects that the Council will be a net recipient of £193m over the 30 year period.  Money which will be used to invest in the Council housing stock. 

12.         The concern of the Opposition whilst supporting the meanwhile uses:

·         About the affordability of the scheme and the amount of debt being built up.

·         The lack of scrutiny of this decision.

·         That costs could be covered by property sales if a different model other than the social value model was used. 

·         The lack of information about the proposed budget of £286m and the forecast income which it was felt should have been included in the part one report. 

·         The long delays to the project and the lack of homes built after 10 years.

·         That the Housing Infrastructure Fund whilst welcome would only cover a small amount of the costs. 

13.         The response of the majority group that: 

·         The Council was borrowing to invest and had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Extension of the Time Allowed for Debate

Minutes:

Councillor Ergin Erbil moved and Councillor Maguire seconded a motion that the time allowed to debate reports be extended by 15 minutes.  This was agreed after a vote with the following result: 

 

For:  20

Against: 11

Abstentions: 0   

 

12.

Committee Membership

To confirm any changes to Committee memberships:

 

No changes have been notified to date. 

 

Any changes received once the agenda has been published with be tabled on the Council update sheet at the meeting. 

Minutes:

AGREED to confirm the following changes to Committee memberships: 

 

·         Audit and Risk Management Committee:  Councillor Yasemin Brett to replace Councillor Huseyin Akpinar. 

·         Licensing Committee:  Councillors Mayhym Bedekova and Mahmut Aksonoglu to be appointed Vice Chairs. 

13.

Nominations to Outside Bodies

To confirm any changes to the nominations on outside bodies: 

 

No changes notified at present. 

 

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

Minutes:

There were changes to the nominations to outside bodies.

14.

Date of Next Meeting

To note the date agreed for the next Council meeting:

 

·         Wednesday 29 January 2020 at 7pm at Enfield Civic Centre. 

Minutes:

NOTED that the next ordinary Council meeting will take place on Wednesday 29 January 2020 at 7pm. 

15.

Exclusion of Press and Public

To pass 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 moved to part 2 on the grounds that it involves 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) as listed on the agenda. 

Minutes:

Councillor Ergin Erbil moved and Councillor Ian Barnes seconded a motion to pass 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 moved to part 2 on the grounds that it involves 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) as listed on the agenda. 

 

This was agreed after a vote as follows:

 

For:  22

Against: 11

Abstentions:  0

 

16.

Meridian Water Financial Review and 10 Year Budget

To receive the part 2 report from the Executive Director Place on the Meridian Water Financial Review and 10 year budget.  (Report No:  105A)

Key Decision No:  KD 4469

 

Council is asked to approve changes to the Capital Programme. 

 

This report was recommended to Council by Cabinet on 16 October 2019

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Caliskan proposed and Councillor Maguire seconded the part 2 report of the Executive Director Place on Meridian Water:  Financial Model and 10 year budget.  (Report No:  105A)

 

NOTED

 

1.            The report was recommended to Council by Cabinet at its meeting on 16 October 2019.

2.            The proposals for Meridian Water are detailed and will deliver 10,000 new homes and 6,000 jobs.  By keeping control and taking on the role of master developer the Council will be able to ensure that the plans are coherent and benefit the people of Enfield. 

3.            The comments of the Opposition that they were genuinely concerned about the escalating costs of the proposals, especially within the first three years.  It was risk that if it went wrong would fall to residents and council taxpayers of Enfield.  The opposition members had a fundamental disagreement with the way the project was being developed and felt it should be reconsidered.

4.            The comments of the majority group that the financial models were sound and had been tested land receipts would be used to reduce the debt. Over a 30 year period the council would benefit by £193m. 

5.            That in the past members had decided on the night to discuss reports in part 1 which officers had placed in part 2. 

6.            The Leader summed up by saying that the project was ambitious but the financial costs had been responsibly worked out. Over the last 18 months the council had begun to deliver homes in Meridian Water, a significant number of extra affordable housing for local residents that could not be sold to overseas buyers. This money will be well spent  providing homes and jobs but will also provide a return over the longer term. 

 

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

 

For:  23

Against:  11

Abstentions:  0

 

The following councillors asked for their names to be recorded as voting against: 

 

Councillor Maria Alexandrou

Councillor Clare De Silva

Councillor Elaine Hayward

Councillor James Hockney

Councillor Joanne Laban

Councillor Terry Neville

Councillor Lindsay Rawlings

Councillor Michael Rye

Councillor Edward Smith

Councillor Jim Steven

Councillor Glynis Vince

 

AGREED to note the contents of the report.