Agenda for Council on Wednesday, 22nd September, 2021, 7.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield, EN1 3XA. View directions

Contact: Email: clare.bryant@enfield.gov.uk  Email: clare.bryant@enfield.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

THE MAYOR'S CHAPLAIN TO GIVE A BLESSING

Minutes:

Reverand Mark Meatcher from the United Reform Church performed a blessing.

2.

MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ORDINARY BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL

Minutes:

The Mayor welcomed Councillors back to the Chamber for the first time since the pandemic began. The Mayor spoke of the upcoming Mayors Charity Fun Run and wished everyone well.

3.

APOLOGIES

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Andreson, Aramaz, De Silva, Dey, Alessandro Georgiou, Gunawardena, Karakus, Rawlings and Rye.

 

 

4.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING pdf icon PDF 112 KB

To receive and agree the minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2021.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting on the 14 July 2021 were agreed.

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:

Councilllor Thorp disclosed an interest in Motion 12.6 as a Scouts employer.

 

Councillor Laban and Councillor Aksanglou declared an interest as they live, or have family members, living in properties with cladding.

6.

Opposition Business - Street Scene and General Environment pdf icon PDF 2 MB

45 minutes

 

An issues paper prepared by the Opposition Group is attached for information.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Laban introduced the paper and made the following key points based on the paper:

·         Over the last four years there has been a decline in street scene in the borough;

·         Fly tipping has increased and there has been an increase in overflowing bins;

·         Shrubbery and greenery in the borough is overgrown resulting in people being unable to walk on pavements;

·         Fly tipping hot spots are largely ignored. Fly tipping is removed but the issue remains;

·         She was pleased to see that bulky waste collections are now free as this should help ease the issue;

·         Barrowell Green remains under a booking system despite Covid-19 restrictions easing;

·         Many estates in the borough are unclean, and have looked this way for a number of years. During the pandemic bin capacity was not increased in these areas to deal with the additional waste produced by residents being at home more.

 

The majority party made the following points in response:

·         Residents and councillors care deeply about the environment;

·         Central Governments funding has made street scene and the general environment and this is an issue nationally. A national solution is required. Ministers have been written to ask for better funding;

·         The Strategy for improving street scene and reducing fly tipping has been to Scrutiny and received a positive response;

·         The borough has been affected by the shortage of drivers for bin collections. Thirty additional street cleaners have been hired and there are two more enforcement officers focused on estates who issue fixed penalty notices to those who fly tip;

·         During the pandemic, extra bin bags were collected.

·         Residents are able to book up to six collections for bulky waste;

·         It was the previous Conservative administration who closed the Caterhatch Road recycling centre;

·         Officers who worked tirelessly during the pandemic to keep the borough clean were thanked;

·         Reporting fly tipping can be done through the council website. Councillors were encouraged to do this so issues can be resolved as soon as possible by the correct team;

·         Enfield Council has planted street trees, plant boxes and improved drainage systems to make the borough a better place.

 

The majority opposition also made the following points in support of the paper:

·         Many residents have emailed concerns regarding street scene;

·         Overgrown bushes by schools have forced residents to walk in the road and caused damage to cars;

·         It is a basic service residents of the borough can expect for street scene to be maintained which has not been achieved;

·         Residents want parks and green spaces grass cut and kept clean to reduce rubbish, pests and dog fowling in these areas;

·         Concerns were raised about the skate park in Enfield which has not been cleaned recently.

 

The minority opposition made the following points:

·         The recycling centre in Winchmore Hill being open for longer hours has meant an increase in noise pollution, fly tipping and ques outside resident’s homes in the area;

·         Environmental challenges require a fresh approach;

·         Concerned that the paper mainly focuses on bins and does not comment enough on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Scrutiny Annual Work programmes 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 245 KB

To agree the Scrutiny Annual Work Programmes 2021/22

Minutes:

Councillor Susan Erbil introduced the report and stated that the standing panels allow for better scrutiny. Overview and Scrutiny Committee will focus on the wider issues affecting the borough with panels focusing on the relevant areas.

 

Councillor David-Sanders spoke of his support for the report and the work the Chair of the Scrutiny Panels have contributed to ensure scrutiny is robust.

 

Councillor Levy stated he was proud to be on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as the work undertaken is important.

 

Councillor Aksanoglu was grateful to sit on Overview and Scrutiny Committee and chair a panel, and is looking forward to the upcoming years work.

 

AGREED to approve the annual scrutiny work programmes for 2021/22 for the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Standing Panels.

8.

Treasury Management Outturn Report 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 520 KB

To receive a report from the Executive Director of Resources presenting the Council’s Annual Treasury Management Report for 2020/21 in accordance with Treasury Management Practices.

 

It is a regulatory requirement for Council to receive this report by 30 September each year.

Minutes:

Councillor Mary Maguire, Cabinet Member for Finance, presented the Treasury Management Outturn Report for 2020/21. Whilst speaking to the report Councillor Maguire made the following points:

·         That the key points were set out in paragraph 1 and the conclusion of the report;

·         The impact of Covid-19 has resulted in some slippage in the Capital Programme

·         Surplus cash balances have allowed the Council’s borrowing to be reduced;

·         Net borrowing costs have been reduced as financing has been paid off;

·         The average cost of borrowing has reduced as expensive loans have been replaced;

·         There is no debt rescheduling expected for this year.

 

The administration made the following points in support of the report:

·         The Council has increased borrowing to be able to build affordable homes in the borough;

·         By providing better housing, economies and communities will benefit;

·         £147,000 had been made on interest in the last year by the Council;

·         Risks associated with increases in interest rates are considered in the report and the Council’s budget.

·         Treasury advice has been sought around borrowing and this is factored into the Medium Term Financial Plan.

 

The majority opposition group made the following points in response:

·         Borrowing has escalated cuts in frontline services and this will continue to increase;

·         Bank of England rates are expected to shift and this will affect borrowing;

·         Concerns were raised about future generations paying for the Council’s debts;

·         It was felt the poorest people in the borough would suffer most from the level of borrowing;

·         Concerns were raised that 75% of the current loans will mature in 20 to 40 years’ time.

 

The minority opposition group made the following points in response:

·         The borrowing should be used to build affordable homes for Enfield residents;

·         The level of debt affects the services the Council can provide which directly affects residents.

 

AGREED to note and approve the 2020/21 Treasury Management Outturn Report.

9.

Capital Strategy 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 167 KB

To receive a report from the Executive Director of Resources on the Capital Strategy 2022/23.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Mary Maguire, Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources, introduced the report, and made the following key points:

·         The Strategy supports the delivery of the Council’s Capital Programme;

·         The Capital Strategy is presented in advance of the Council’s ten-year programme and will aid the long term financial plan whilst providing clarity on the Council’s borrowing;

·         A standardised approach to the appraisals of programmes and this is set out in detail in the report;

·         A borrowing cap has been self-imposed;

·         The Housing Gateway will be used to reduce the costs of housing residents in temporary accommodation;

·         The Strategy provides good governance and a detailed risk assessment.

 

The administration provided the following points in support of the Capital Strategy 2022/23:

·         Investment is being made into Council homes which in turn improves the quality of life for the borough’s residents;

·         Replacement fire doors have been put into 8,000 homes;

·         Central Government is being called upon to provide more funding;

·         Both the climate plan and the housing plan are well thought out;

·         The Strategy considers expenditure and safeguards public services;

·         The Meridian Water development will create 10,000 new homes in the borough;

·         In the last 10 years, Enfield has experienced £7million worth of cuts;

 

The majority opposition made the following key points:

·         They do not support the Capital Strategy as it increases debt

·         Concerns were raised that pre-Covid the administration did not want to increase borrowing although this had since changed;

·         Many projects continue to be rolled over to the next year as they are incomplete. Clarification was sought on how it can be ensured that projects are completed;

·         Low Traffic Neighbourhoods were not supported by residents;

·         The Council has already received money from Central Government to support the homeless;

·         Residents already feel they are unable to contact the Council through phone and email;

 

The minority opposition made the following points:

·         Concerns were raised that the types of homes being built are not necessarily what people in the borough need;

·         Temporary accommodation in the borough is not currently suitable for disabled residents;

·         It was felt that an incinerator in the borough is not a suitable project

 

AGREED to approve the 2022/23 Capital Strategy attached in Appendix 1 of the report.

10.

Councillor Conduct Committee Annual Report pdf icon PDF 222 KB

To receive the report of the Executive Director of Law and Governance on the Councillor Conduct Committee Annual Report.

Minutes:

It was agreed this item would be heard after Motions as a result the item was agreed under the guillotine arrangements.

11.

COUNCILLOR QUESTION TIME pdf icon PDF 751 KB

Members are asked to note the questions submitted for written response. Responses to the questions will be published the day before the meeting

Minutes:

Noted the Councillor Questions as set out in the Council agenda pack.

12.

MOTIONS pdf icon PDF 257 KB

Members are asked to agree the motions which will be circulated as to follow papers.

Minutes:

Motion 10 in the name of Councillor Christine Hamilton:

 

“Wealth Tax

 

The Government's plan to fix the social care crisis’ is yet more evidence that the current proposal was not the promise made in 2019. The proposal put forward by the Government is opposed across the country, even cabinet members are raising concerns about hitting low paid workers. The NHS/Care workers and lowest paid workers are the hardest hit of all through these changes.

 

This motion is to raise concerns from across the country to call on this Government to fund a new deal for social care, asking those with the broadest shoulders to pay the most. We are asking for the Government's plan to be changed as it is also doing nothing for disabled working age people with a cap on care costs benefiting on just a fraction of those who use social care.

 

Please support this motion.”

 

Following discussion the above motion was agreed. The remainder of Motions lapsed under the guillotine.

13.

Committee Memberships

To confirm changes to Committee memberships agreed since the last meeting.

 

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

Minutes:

AGREED:

1.    Councillor Aramaz to become Vice Chair of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel.

14.

NOMINATIONS TO OUTSIDE BODIES

To confirm any changes to the nominations on outside bodies agreed since the last meeting.

 

Any changes notified after the agenda has been published will be reported to Council on the update sheet tabled at the meeting.

Minutes:

Councillor Aramaz appointed as the Vice Chair of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

15.

DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

To note the date agreed for the next Council meeting:

·         17 November 2021

Minutes:

The date of the next meeting was noted as 17 November 2021.