Agenda and minutes

Reverend Rupert Weekes from the Miller Memorial Methodist Church gave  a blessing.

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 interests.

To elect the Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield for the municipal year 2022/23.

Councillor Caliskan moved and Councillor Georgiou seconded the nomination of Councillor Jiagge as Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield for the 2022/23 municipal year.

AGREED that Councillor Jiagge be elected Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield, for the 2022/23 municipal year.

Councillor Jiagge then made and signed a declaration of acceptance of office and was invested with the badge of office by Councillor Ozaydin, the retiring Mayor.

 Following her appointment, the Mayor acknowledged the honour and privilege she felt to be elected as Mayor of such a diverse borough making her the first Ghanaian Mayor of Enfield. The Mayor thanked members of the Council for their support in appointing her, and gave thanks to the previous Mayor for all his hard work and dedication.  The Mayor thanked her children and family for their support and understanding and spoke warmly of her late grand aunt Justice Annie Jiagge who was the first female High Court Judge in Ghana and the inspiration she had been. The Mayor thanked officers for their support in the lead up to the Mayor Making Ceremony.

The Mayor announced that the theme of her term as Mayor will be “Strong Minds” and will focus on helping as many people as possible to find the strength within them to change their lives and improve wellbeing.

To elect the Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield for the municipal year 2022/23.

Councillor Caliskan moved and Councillor Georgiou seconded the nomination of Councillor Suna Hurman as Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield for the 2022/23 municipal year.

AGREED that Councillor Suna Hurman be elected Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield, for the 2022/23 municipal year.

Councillor Suna Hurman then made and signed a declaration of acceptance of office and was invested with the badge of office by Councillor Jiagge, the Mayor.

Following her appointment, the Deputy Mayor thanked councillors for supporting her appointment and stated that she looked forward to supporting the Mayor in the year ahead.

Appointment of Mayor’s Consort

The Mayor to announce the appointment of the Mayor’s Consort for the Municipal Year 2022/23.

Appointment of Deputy Mayor’s Consort

The Deputy Mayor to announce the appointment of the Deputy Mayor’s Consort for the Municipal Year 2022/23.

Appointment of Mayor’s Consorts

The Mayor announced the appointment of Jannaya and Jessica Jiagge-Takyi as her consorts for the 2022/23 Municipal Year. She then invested them with their badges of office.

Appointment of Deputy Mayor’s Consorts

The Deputy Mayor announced the appointment of Savas Hurman as her consort for the 2022/23 Municipal year investing him with his badge of office.

On behalf of the Council, the Mayor will present the past Mayor’s and past Mayor’s Consort badges.

The Mayor presented the past Mayor’s and Mayor’s Consort badges recording the Council’s appreciation to the retiring Mayor, Councillor Sabri Ozaydin, and his consorts Mrs Ozlem Ozaydin and Mr Emre Ozaydin.

The Mayor, on behalf of the Council, thanked them for the work they had undertaken over the last two years. The Mayor noted what a challenging period Councillor Ozaydin had been Mayor for and congratulated him on the success of his charity.

The Mayor also presented the former past Mayor’s and Mayor’s Consort badges recording the Council’s appreciation to the retiring Mayor for 2019/20, Councillor Kate Anolue, and her consorts Mrs Chinelo Anyanwu and Mr Amaechi Anolue. Councillor Anolue was unable to receive her badges at the last Annual Meeting due to the pandemic.

The Mayor, on behalf of the Council, thanked them for the work they had undertaken during the 2019/20 municipal year.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received for Councillor Susan Erbil.

To approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting of Council on 24 February 2022.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 24^th February 2022 were agreed subject to the below amendments to the minutes being made:

·           Councillor Dey was not a retiring member and Councillor Rawlings should be removed from the list of Councillors who spoke to the Council to offer their thanks during their term as elected members; and

·         It be noted that Councillor Ioannou was present at the meeting and voted against Item 6: Budget Report 2022/23 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2022/23 to 2026/27.

The Mayor informed the Council that Bill Cornish, the Mayor’s Attendant and Chauffeur, was retiring and today would be his last working day. She thanked Bill for his work and wished him the best for the future.

To elect the Leader of the Council for a four year term.

Councillor Ergin Erbil moved and Councillor Savva seconded the nomination of Councillor Nesil Caliskan to the position of Leader of the Council.  No other nominations were received. 

Councillor Caliskan thanked the Labour Group councillors for endorsing her as Leader for another term and said that she has been honoured to serve as Leader in the borough she calls home. Councillor Caliskan used the opportunity to welcome all councillors to Chamber.

Councillor Georgiou congratulated both sides of the Chamber for their successes at the recent election and sent his congratulations to the Leader. He explained that the Conservative Group would abstain from the vote on this item but vowed to be a constructive and effective opposition. 

AGREED that Councillor Nesil Caliskan be appointed Leader of the Council for a four-year term of office to expire at the Annual Council Meeting in 2026. 

To note the appointment by the Leader of the Council of the Deputy Leader and the Cabinet as detailed under Agenda Item 13.

Councillor Nesil Caliskan confirmed the appointments to Cabinet as set out below:

Deputy Leader: Councillor Ergin Erbil

Cabinet Member for Children’s Services: Councillor Abdul Abdullahi

Cabinet Member for Finance & Procurement: Councillor Tim Leaver

Cabinet Member for Social Housing: Councillor George Savva

Cabinet Member for Licensing, Planning & Regulatory Services: Councillor Susan Erbil

Cabinet Member for Environment: Councillor Rick Jewell

Cabinet Member for Public Spaces, Culture & Local Economy: Councillor Chinelo Anyawu

Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care: Councillor Alev Cazimoglu

Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Cohesion: Councillor Gina Needs

To receive a report of the Interim 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 Ozaydin moved and Councillor Dey seconded the report of the Interim Director of Law and Governance asking the Council to approve the determination of the political balance of the committees, joint committees and panels that have been set up to discharge the Council’s functions. 

AGREED:

       I.        The allocation of seats across the Ordinary Committees as set out in Table 3 to the report;

     II.        The allocation of seats on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Scrutiny Panels as set out in Table 4 to the report;

    III.        The allocation of seats to the other committees as set out in the Appendix to the report;

   IV.        Without dissent that the rules on proportionality shall not apply to the Councillor Conduct Committee and that the allocation of seats to that committee shall be 2:2 as set out in the Constitution;

     V.        Note that appointments to the Council’s committees, sub-committees and panels and other bodies to which appointments are made would be dealt with under items 13 and 14 of the agenda.

To establish Council bodies for the coming Municipal Year and to appoint memberships to these. (List on yellow sheet to follow)

Councillor Ozaydin moved and Councillor Dey seconded the list of Council bodies and memberships for the 2022/23 municipal year.

AGREED:

1.    To establish the Council bodies for the 2022/23 municipal year and the appointment of their memberships as set out in the yellow list tabled at the meeting.

2.      That Councillor Esin Gunes be the Chair of Licensing Committee and Councillor Taylor be the Vice Chair.

To consider the Council’s representation on outside bodies and organisations as required. (List on green sheet to follow).

Councillor Ozaydin moved and Councillor Dey seconded the list of nominations to outside bodies for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

Councillor Rye queried whether former Councillor Hass Yusuf could continue to serve on the Old Enfield Charitable Trust as he was appointed for a four-year term. It was agreed this would be considered by officers.

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 of the Constitution.

Councillor Ozaydin moved and Councillor Dey seconded the proposal to agree the Council’s Scheme of Delegation as set out in Part 3 of the Constitution.

AGREED the Council’s Scheme of Delegation as set out in Part 3 of the Constitution.

To receive a report from the Interim Director of Law & Governance on Member’s Allowance Scheme for 2022/23.

Councillor Caliskan moved and Councillor Erbil seconded the report, subject to an amendment not to accept the increase to allowances based on average earnings as provided for in the Constitution.

Councillor Caliskan felt that as a report on the Independent Panel on Remuneration for councillors across London would shortly be taken to General Purposes Committee it would be better to review allowances after that discussion. She highlighted the importance of councillors receiving an allowance to allow everyone to stand for office and to encourage democratic representation.

Councillor Georgiou said that he would be voting against any increase in allowances at this stage but welcomed the independent review of London councillors allowances. He also spoke of the importance of councillors receiving allowances to support those who wish to represent their communities.

AGREED:

1.    That the Members Allowances Scheme is approved as set out in Part 6 of the Constitution.

2.    That the automatic increase in allowances based on average earnings as at March 2022 is not applied.

The Council is asked to approve the calendar for the 2022/23 municipal year, subject to any further changes/additions, being delegated to the Interim Director of Law & Governance in consultation with all party groups.

AGREED the calendar for the 2022/23 municipal year, subject to any further changes/additions, being delegated to the Interim Director of Law & Governance in consultation with both party groups.

To note that subject to agreement of Agenda Item 17 the date of the next Council meeting will be 13 July 2022.

NOTED that the next meeting of the Council will be held at 7pm on 13^th July 2022.