Agenda and minutes

Councillor Kate Anolue, in her last action as Mayor, began the meeting by asking for a minute silence in memory of all the people who have been lost in Enfield and across the world as a consequence of the Coronavirus.

Members observed a minute silence. 

The Mayor’s chaplains gave four separate blessings, representing four of Enfield’s religious communities:

Rabbi Daniel Epstein - Cockfosters & North Southgate Synagogue

Father John Hookway – St Demetrious Greek Church, Edmonton

Kazim Yildirim – Alevi Cultural Centre

Mehmet Arslan from Mosque (in Arabic) and translated into English by Ismail Sik

Councillor Kate Anolue thanked the chaplains for their blessings and expressed pleasure for her time as Mayor of Enfield.  She also thanked everyone in Democratic Services for their support over the past year. 

Members of the Council 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. 

To elect the Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield for the municipal year 2020/21.    

Councillor Caliskan moved and Councillor Laban seconded the nomination of Councillor Sabri Ozaydin as Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield for the 2020/21 municipal year. 

Councillor Caliskan thanked Councillor Kate Anolue, known affectionately as Auntie Kate, for her work over the past year.  She had made Enfield proud, raising a large amount of money at local events for local charities.  A standout moment was the poignant speech she had given, in March 2020, about her life and achievements, to the Council’s Women’s Network. Staff had been genuinely inspired by what she had achieved.  Councillor Caliskan also praised Councillor Anolue for the successful introduction of the role of young mayor and deputy mayor and for her supportive and calm leadership, especially in this time of crisis. 

In nominating Councillor Ozaydin, Councillor Caliskan said that she was sure he would work well with local communities to promote the borough and was looking forward to working with him in the year ahead. 

Councillor Laban in seconding the nomination of Councillor Ozaydin endorsed all the Leader had said about Councillor Anolue adding that she had particularly valued the way she had included the Opposition in debate. 

Councillor Laban supported the nomination of Councillor Ozaydin, who had shown such commitment to the borough, even offering to change his company over to the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to provide for local health and social care services. 

Councillor Barry, in her role as leader of the new independent and non-aligned councillor group, Community First, thanked Councillor Anolue for her year as Mayor and welcomed Councillor Ozaydin as the new Mayor. 

AGREED that Councillor Sabri Ozaydin be elected Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield, for the 2020/21 municipal year.

Councillor Ozaydin then made and signed a declaration of acceptance of office and was invested with the badge of office. 

The Mayor made an acceptance speech as follows: 

“Honoured and distinguished guests, friends, colleagues and fellow 

councillors, I would like to welcome you and thank you for your interest and support in joining us today. It would have been much more pleasant if this ceremony was done as previously, but our borough is keen to remain protective and prudent of our safety during the pandemic.

I am deeply humbled to stand here as the elected Mayor of Enfield. Your hope and trust in me reflect the diversity and unity of our great Borough. I take the responsibility and trust you have shown me very seriously, as I commit to serving the people of our borough to the best of my ability with enthusiasm, compassion and devotion. 

I would like to thank my family and friends for their abundant support and understanding over my political role as I prepared to become a councillor, and now the Mayor of Enfield.

I was born in Turkey in 1968 in a small village in Afsin, Maras. My family moved to Istanbul when I was 6 years old, where I attended primary school, secondary school and high school. I came to England to go to a University. When I came I did not even speak a word of English. I was the first person in my family to attend University, graduating from Glasgow Caledonian University, where I spent a year in the U.S for work experience. 

After graduating in 1992, I entered the clothing industry, and have been in manufacturing since.

As the father of 2 Enfield-born children, I vow to serve our borough to my full capacity and promise to support and encourage all the agencies and voluntary sector units that work tirelessly. I am hoping to work closely with those involved with the community safety in our borough, and the Police. I am dedicated to support or local NHS workers who are doing a wonderful job during the pandemic, as well as the schools in our borough in their plight to 

provide an invaluable service despite limited resources.

Furthermore, I am hoping to gain the utmost support through my charity, by working diligently with as many voluntary sector groups, ensuring that those who are “hard to reach” are reached and supported.

I give my thanks to Jeremy Chambers, Director of Law & Governance and the officers in Democratic Services and the Mayor’s Office for their invaluable guidance in the run-up to tonight’s ceremony.  I sincerely thank you again for your valued support.  I hope you all enjoy the rest of your evening.”

To elect the deputy Mayor of the Council for the municipal year 2020/21. 

Councillor Nesil Caliskan proposed and Councillor Dinah Barry seconded the nomination of Councillor Christine Hamilton as the new deputy mayor.

Councillor Nesil Caliskan was pleased to nominate Councillor Christine Hamilton, a councillor who had served the people of Enfield for many years, had a strong track record and was a good friend.   

Councillor Joanne Laban stated that she could not nominate Christine Hamilton as she felt that she had too recently been Mayor and that someone else should have had the opportunity.

Councillor Barry added that, although she shared some of Councillor Laban’s reservations, she was happy to second the nomination, as she felt that Christine Hamilton would make an excellent Deputy Mayor. 

AGREED that Councillor Christine Hamilton be elected as the Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield, for the 2020/21 municipal year.

The nomination was agreed, after a vote, with the following result:

For:  45

Against:  0

Abstentions:  17

5.1       Appointment of Mayor’s Consort

The Mayor to announce the appointment of the Mayor’s Consort for the Municipal Year 2020/21.

5.2       Appointment of Deputy Mayor’s Consort

The Mayor to announce the appointment of the Deputy Mayor’s Consort for the Municipal Year 2020/21. 

1.            Appointment of Mayor’s Consorts

The Mayor thanked members for nominating him and announced the appointment of Ozlem Ozaydin and Emre Ozaydin as his consorts for the 2020/21 Municipal Year. 

2.            Appointment of Deputy Mayor’s Consorts

The Deputy Mayor announced the appointment of Ian Hamilton and Joanne Hamilton as her consorts for the 2020/21 Municipal year.  

The Mayor will announce the appointment of the Young Mayor and Deputy Young Mayor for 2020/21. 

The Mayor said that it gave him great pleasure to be able to introduce Kayhan Ali as Enfield’s new Young Mayor, and Nevaeh West-Lawson as the Young Deputy Mayor. 

The Young Mayor, Kayhan Ali,gave a brief speech introducting himself as a 16 year old, attending Kingsmead School, who had lived his whole life in Enfield.  He said that he was aware of the many problems young people in Enfield face and that he welcomed the opportunity to work with the councillors to address some of these problems. 

The Young Mayor felt that everyone, wherever they lived in the borough, should have access to the same opportunities. He felt that young people should have greater access to apprenticeships.  He was particularly concerned about the recent government decision to suspend the free Under 18 Oyster cards and was keen to work with others to reverse this decision. Improving the environment was also a key issue. 

The Young Mayor said that he had a passion for politics and hoped that this would be his first step on a journey to becoming Prime Minister.  He was proud to represent the young people of Enfield and to be their Young Mayor. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Chris Bond.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Council meeting held on Wednesday 26 February 2020. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2020 were agreed as a correct record. 

The Mayor announced that he would be informing members about his preferred charities at the next meeting. 

To note the appointments to Cabinet made by the Leader of the Council as detailed under 14.1 on the agenda. 

Councillor Nesil Caliskan asked members to note the Cabinet appointments as set out below and as detailed on the list circulated before the meeting. 

1.            Cabinet Members

Deputy Leader:  Councillor Ian Barnes

Cabinet Member for Children’s Services:  Councillor Rick Jewell

Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability:  Councillor Guney Dogan

Cabinet Member for Finance & Procurement:  Councillor Mary Maguire

Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care: Councillor Alev Cazimoglu

Cabinet Member for Licensing and Regulatory Services:  Councillor George Savva

Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Cohesion:  Councillor Nneka Keazor

Cabinet Member for Public Health:  Councillor Mahtab Uddin

Cabinet Member for Social Housing:  Councillor Gina Needs

2.            Associate Cabinet Members

Enfield North:  Councillor Ahmet Hasan 

Enfield South East:  Councillor Mustapha Cetinkaya

Enfield West:  Councillor Katherine Chibah

Non Geographical:  Councillor Ergin Erbil

To receive a report from the Chief Executive presenting, for agreement and adoption by Council, the new Council Plan: A Lifetime of Opportunities 2020 – 2022. 

Councillor Caliskan moved and Councillor Barnes seconded the report of the Chief Executive presenting the new Council Plan 2020/22: A Lifetime of Opportunities in Enfield, for agreement and adoption.    

NOTED

1.            The Leader, Councillor Caliskan’s presentation of the updated plan highlighting that:

·         During the last two years the Labour administration had pushed ahead with bold and ambitious plans for the borough.

·         Their considerable achievements were detailed in the plan.  Now was a good time to reflect. 

·         The new agenda of improvements and investments would be pursued with energy and determination

·         The plan acknowledged the state of continued uncertainty and reiterated the need to support the vulnerable.

·         It contains clear and transparent information about the current financial situation.

·         It was hoped that the Government would honour its commitment to cover Covid 19 related expenditure.

·         Local government had responded to the pandemic needs in a way above and beyond the normal, working with partners to ensure needs were met and that those who were shielding and needed extra support received it.  She praised the efforts of the officers and members involved.   

·         The Council was ambitious for the borough.  It was determined to provide housing for those in need and would intervene in the markets when necessary.

·         The administration was looking to create a new leadership role for the Council to facilitate the necessary changes to cope with new demands.

·         The Council would be standing up for those that the Government would not. 

2.            Councillor Laban, Leader of the Opposition, endorsed the Leader’s words which related to the officers who had done outstanding work to ensure those in need received support, but could not endorse the plan itself.  She felt that it needed clear measurable targets and that the Council should listen and learn from residents and work with them. 

3.            Councillor Barry thanked officer for the excellent work carried out as part of the pandemic response.

4.            The comments from the majority group

·         There was focus in the plan was on providing good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods and on the money to be invested in the housing stock, improving the quality of homes and the lives of residents. 

·         The plan would help the Council meet the goals to address climate change issues. 

5.            The comments from the Opposition Group: 

·         Concern that the plan was too much about aspiration and not enough about when and how things would be achieved. 

·         The view that it would not be a success.

·         That Council tax was rising at a time when services were being reduced. 

·         That the Government had provided large amounts of funding to support the extra costs of Covid 19 and to pay the wages of furloughed staff.

·         That the Opposition shared the desire to improve housing in the borough but felt that the administration was not doing enough.  Only 551 homes had been built last year, half the amount required and not enough of these were affordable.  The key issue was a lack of delivery - shown by the delays to work on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To receive a report from the Director of Law and Governance setting out changes to the Council constitution. 

This report is due to be considered by the Member and Democratic Services Group at a meeting to be held on 30 June 2020.  

Councillor Nesil Caliskan moved and Councillor Tim Leaver seconded the report of the Director of Law and Governance setting out proposals for a revised streamlined committee structure and for an enhancement of the Council’s scrutiny function.  

NOTED

1.            The report had been considered and agreed for recommendation to Council by the Member and Democratic Services Group at their meeting on 30 June 2020. 

2.            The Leader, Councillor Nesil Caliskan, presented the report highlighting the following: 

·         A review of the Council’s committee structure had been carried out and a revised streamlined structure proposed.

·         The Centre for Public Scrutiny had reviewed the scrutiny function and its findings were noted as part of the report.

·         Following the review, this was a proposal to enhance the Committee and Scrutiny Structure. The changes would enable councillors to dedicate more time and efforts to new and emerging priority areas, including Environment and Climate Change, Young People, Equalities and Economic Development, as well as vulnerable children as part of the work of the Fostering Panel.

·         The Environment Forum will include membership from local community environment groups.

·         The changes brought about are in response to calls to bolster and improve scrutiny and extra accountability and transparency in additional formal Committees of the Council. Enfield Council believes that the level of responsibility, work and scrutiny of these new key priorities are as important as the existing roles that have a Special Responsibility Allowance attached.

·         Councillors can only claim one Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) and no Councillor has ever been forced to take either their basic allowance or their Special Responsibility Allowance that they are entitled to. It was down to individual Councillors to make a judgement on their own personal circumstances about whether they need to draw down their allowance. The report also proposed that there should be an additional associate cabinet member with a focus on young people. 

3.            Councillor Laban, the Leader of the Opposition, said that the Opposition although in favour of creating standing scrutiny panels, would not be supporting this report as they had concerns about the creation of a General Purposes Committee subsuming the work of the audit and electoral services, the proposal to merge the transport, green belt and conservation advisory committees into an Environment Forum and the creating of an additional Associate Cabinet Member post.  Many of the various stakeholders in these groups also had concerns about the propsosals. 

4.            The comments of Councillor Levy as a member of the Community First group who while not objecting to the proposed changes to the scrutiny structure, felt that the real problem was the culture of the organisation and the scrutiny function’s lack of integrity and independence.  This had caused reputational damage.  He was looking for assurances that the function was independent and impartial. 

5.            The comments from majority group members:

·         Welcome for the new structure and the view that it would help councillors play a greater role in shaping policy in areas such as housing. 

·         Support from the Chair of the Overview and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

To receive a report from the Director of Law and Governance on the Members Allowances Scheme.

Council is asked to approve the allowances for 2020/21. 

Councillor Caliskan moved and Councillor Maguire seconded the report of the Director of Law and Governance on the Members Allowances Scheme.

NOTED

1.           The report recommended that the basic allowance should not be raised to take account of inflation but that there should be an increase in the number of special responsibility allowances.  This was the tenth year in a row that the allowance had been frozen.  Enfield Council has one of the lowest councillor allowances in London.

2.           The view of the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Joanne Laban, that there should be no increase in either of the basic allowance or the special responsibility allowances.  She felt that in a time of increasing unemployment and uncertainty, it was not appropriate for the Council to increase members’ allowances. 

3.           The view of the Leader of the Community First Group that as the Council’s finances were not in a good state, it was not appropriate to raise special responsibility allowances. She felt that the allowances could have been redistributed without increasing costs. Increasing allowances, in the gift of the Leader, could be seen as undemocratic patronage.

4.           The comments from the majority group: 

·         It was not unreasonable that members taking on additional work such as the new Environment Forum should receive extra recompense in the form of a Special Responsibility Allowance. 

·         It would not be fair to give allowances to some but not all of the members who had taken on extra responsibilities.  Some of the roles such as that on the fostering panel were dealing with difficult and complex issues involving vulnerable people and should be valued and recompensed. 

·         The amount of money involved was a relatively small amount and was being taken from previous underspends.

5.            The comments from the main opposition group:

·         The view that it was unacceptable to raise Council taxes and pay councillors more.

·         That an allowance for sitting on the fostering panel was unnecessary.

·         That those who are being paid to chair scrutiny panels should have excellent chairing skills.

·         That there was a case to look at the basic allowance which had been frozen for ten years, but not to increase the responsibility allowances. 

·         The concern that the creation of extra allowances for the members of the majority administration was being used to create a payroll vote. 

·         The view that giving additional allowances at a time when many families were struggling gave the wrong message. 

6.            The summing up by the Leader, Councillor Nesil Caliskan, rejecting the arguments of the Opposition.  It was only fair that everyone who took on a responsibility should receive an allowance reflective of their responsibilities.  No-one was forced to claim an allowance.  They could be returned.  £36,000 was a maximum estimate of the total cost.  It could be less and no-one would be able to claim more than one allowance

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

For:  41

Against:  18

Abstentions:  2

AGREED

1.            That the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

To receive a report of the Director of Law and Governance asking the Council to determine the constitution and political balance of the committees, joint committees and panels that have been set up for discharge of the Council’s functions.

Councillor Nesil Caliskan moved and Councillor Claire Stewart seconded the report of the Director of Law and Governance seeking Council approval to determine the constitution and political balance of the committees, joint committees and panels that had been set up for the discharge of the Council’s functions. 

NOTED

1.            The request that in future this report and the following on committee memberships and other bodies be published more promptly. 

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 to 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. 

14.1    To establish Council bodies for the coming Municipal Year and to appoint memberships to these.

14.2    To confirm the terms of reference of those bodies. 

1.            Appointment of Council Bodies 2020/21:  Committee Membership List

Councillor Nesil Caliskan moved and Councillor Claire Stewart seconded the list of Council bodies to be established and membership appointments for the 2020/21 municipal year. 

NOTED the following changes to the list circulated at the meeting:

·         Councillor Ergin Erbil would not sit on the Environment Forum or the Planning Committee.  These positions would be vacant until new nominations were received.

·         Councillor Maria Alexandrou would not sit on the Environment Forum or the Licensing Committee.  These positions would be vacant until new nominations were received. 

AGREED to the establishment of the Council bodies for the 2020/21 Municipal Year and the appointment of their memberships as set out on the list circulated during the meeting with the amendments set out above. 

This was agreed unanimously. 

2.            Appointment of Council Bodies 2020/21 Terms of Reference

Councillor Nesil Caliskan moved and Councillor Claire Stewart seconded the motion to approve the terms of reference as set out in Part 2 of the Council’s Constitution. 

AGREED to confirm the terms of reference of those bodies as agreed in the report on changes to the committee structure above and as set out in Part 2 of the Council’s Constitution. 

This was agreed unanimously. 

To consider the Council’s representation on outside bodies and organisations as required.

Councillor Nesil Caliskan moved and Councillor Claire Stewart seconded the list of nominations to outside bodies for the 2020/21 Municipal Year as circulated during the meeting. 

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

This was agreed unanimously. 

The Council is asked to agree the authority’s Scheme of Delegation as set out in Part 3 of the Constitution. 

Constitution - Part 3

Councillor Nesil Caliskan moved and Councillor Michael Rye seconded the authority’s scheme of delegation.

AGREED the authority’s scheme of delegation, as set out in Part 3 (pages 3-3 to 3-5) of the Constitution. 

This was agreed unanimously. 

To receive a report from the Executive Director Place seeking Council agreement to the delegation of enforcement powers within the Place Department.

Council is asked to approve the delegations in the report.

Councillor George Savva moved and Councillor Guney Dogan seconded the report of the Executive Director Place setting out the delegated authority arrangements for approval within the Place and other directorates.

NOTED

1.            The report updates the delegation powers in line with recent legislation to enable officers to effectively and legally take enforcement actions required.  They were last updated 6 years ago. 

2.            The report covers a wide range of activities from abandoned vehicles to zoo licences. 

3.            The support of the Opposition for the report including a brief account of the interesting history behind the various licences. 

AGREED:

1.            To approve the delegated authorities outlined in this report and set out in detail in appendices A-J. 

2.            To note that these appendices will be updated and managed by the Director of Law and Governance as required following any relevant legislative change that each respective service area will need to enforce. 

19.1    To approve the calendars of Council meetings, including the proposed date for the next Council meeting on Wednesday 30 September 2020 at 7.00pm. 

19.2    The Council is asked to approve the calendars for 2020/21 and 2021/22, subject to any further changes/additions being delegated to the Director of Law and Governance in consultation with both party groups. 

Please note that two versions of each calendar have been provided.  One for the current committee structure and one for the new committee structure which is due to be considered as part of item 12 above. 

AGREED

1.            The calendar of meetings of the Council for 2020/21 and 2021/22, including the next Council meeting which was scheduled for Wednesday 30 September 2020.

2.            That approval of any further amendments to the calendar be delegated to the Director of Law and Governance in consultation with all groups. 

Members are asked to note that subject to Item 19.1 above, the next meeting of the Council will be held on Wednesday 30 September 2020 at 7.00pm. 

NOTED that the next meeting of the Council will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 30 September 2020.