Agenda for Council on Thursday, 23rd February, 2023, 7.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber

Contact: Email: Nicola.Lowther@enfield.gov.uk  Email: Nicola.Lowther@enfield.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Chinelo Anyanwu, Esin Gunes, Stephanos Ioannou, Mohammad Islam, Ruby Sampson and Edward Smith.

2.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests relating to items on the agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

Motion in the name of Councillor Lee Chamberlain

This Council notes with concern the poor management of its housing stock and the shocking complaints received by councillors. We believe all our residents are entitled to live in safe, well maintained, decent homes. The standard of Enfield's Council Housing falls well below the London average and our expectations. It notes with particular shame the recent events that occurred at the Shires Estate. 

  

It therefore resolves: 

1.    To take these further actions in the Shires Estate to begin to restore confidence and assist residents:

1.1. That a detailed apology is sent within a week from the Cabinet Member to all affected residents living on the Shires Estate confirming his resignation and apologising for:

1.1.1.   The decision to leave gas services running, rather than terminating them in buildings with a risk of structural collapse and rusting gas pipes.

1.1.2.   Leaving many residents without integral heating and hot water. 

1.1.3.   Not completing the installation of gas safety sensors meant to reduce risk.

1.1.4.   Not treating the gas replacement as an emergency and making the risks clear to residents.

1.1.5.   The Administration’s decisions only becoming public because of the gas supplier’s actions to safeguard residents.

1.1.6.   It is taking Conservative opposition pressure and press coverage to force a change in the Administration's approach.

1.2. That full support is given to those Shires residents now having to pay for an expensive stop gap electrical services forced on them by an Administration embarrassed into action.  Given the poor insulation of the blocks any imposition of such solutions should be fully subsidized as compared to gas. 

2.    To start to establish better, safer, more resident focused management of LBE’s housing stock with the following actions:

2.1 That Cabinet Member Cllr George Savva resign his position as a result of the poor management of the Shires estate gas risk for which he is ultimately responsible.  

2.2 That any possible structural collapse gas risk in LBE blocks is treated as an emergency and addressed immediately forthwith.

2.3 That a strategic evaluation of the Council's property portfolio is urgently set out, particularly with specific focus on non-traditional build properties which are likely to have limited lifespans and considerable pre-existing maintenance issues. The Administration cannot keep wasting money and kicking the can down the road.

2.4 That the Council should offer local residents in existing properties falling below standard or requiring replacement the option of moving to new properties within Enfield as they are being built.

2.5 That all council buildings should have a standard publicly available report providing key structural and maintenance information regarding those blocks. What those reports contain should be developed in discussion with residents and delivered by January 2024. 

2.6 That the lessons learned from these events are captured by a special Scrutiny Committee, with members from both sides, established to conduct a thorough review of the decision-making process leading up to current events. 

Minutes:

Councillor Lee Chamberlain moved the below motion:

 

“This Council notes with concern the poor management of its housing stock and the shocking complaints received by councillors. We believe all our residents are entitled to live in safe, well maintained, decent homes. The standard of Enfield's Council Housing falls well below the London average and our expectations. It notes with particular shame the recent events that occurred at the Shires Estate. 

  

It therefore resolves: 

1.    To take these further actions in the Shires Estate to begin to restore confidence and assist residents:

1.1. That a detailed apology is sent within a week from the Cabinet Member to all affected residents living on the Shires Estate confirming his resignation and apologising for:

1.1.1.   The decision to leave gas services running, rather than terminating them in buildings with a risk of structural collapse and rusting gas pipes.

1.1.2.   Leaving many residents without integral heating and hot water. 

1.1.3.   Not completing the installation of gas safety sensors meant to reduce risk.

1.1.4.   Not treating the gas replacement as an emergency and making the risks clear to residents.

1.1.5.   The Administration’s decisions only becoming public because of the gas supplier’s actions to safeguard residents.

1.1.6.   It is taking Conservative opposition pressure and press coverage to force a change in the Administration's approach.

1.2. That full support is given to those Shires residents now having to pay for an expensive stop gap electrical services forced on them by an Administration embarrassed into action. Given the poor insulation of the blocks any imposition of such solutions should be fully subsidized as compared to gas. 

 

2.    To start to establish better, safer, more resident focused management of LBE’s housing stock with the following actions:

2.1 That Cabinet Member Cllr George Savva resign his position as a result of the poor management of the Shires estate gas risk for which he is ultimately responsible.

2.2 That any possible structural collapse gas risk in LBE blocks is treated as an emergency and addressed immediately forthwith.

2.3 That a strategic evaluation of the Council's property portfolio is urgently set out, particularly with specific focus on non-traditional build properties which are likely to have limited lifespans and considerable pre-existing maintenance issues. The Administration cannot keep wasting money and kicking the can down the road.

2.4 That the Council should offer local residents in existing properties falling below standard or requiring replacement the option of moving to new properties within Enfield as they are being built.

2.5 That all council buildings should have a standard publicly available report providing key structural and maintenance information regarding those blocks. What those reports contain should be developed in discussion with residents and delivered by January 2024. 

2.6 That the lessons learned from these events are captured by a special Scrutiny Committee, with members from both sides, established to conduct a thorough review of the decision-making process leading up to current events.”

 

Following the debate, this Motion was NOT AGREED.

 

4.

Motion in the name of Councillor Ergin Erbil

Austerity has meant councils have lost 60p in every £1 of central government grant that the previous government was spending on local government.

 

Inflation caused by government mismanagement of the economy has cost the Council £21m this year alone.

 

On top of that, central government has slashed council housing budgets. Enforced rent reductions and a rent cap this year – set without reimbursing councils – has set Enfield Council back by £300m over the next 30 years.

 

These measures by central government are short-term sticking plasters resulting in long-term pain for social housing tenants, with less funding to make sure every council tenant lives in a high-quality home.

 

The result is an under-investment in council homes which is impacting councils across London. Greater London Authority figures show 1 in 5 council homes need funding to improve their condition.

 

At the same time, following the tragic Grenfell fire, central government have broken their pledge — failing to give councils funding for vital fire safety works.

 

Despite funding cuts, Enfield Council are investing in our council homes and estates, including £47m for building safety and £163m for major works over the next five years.

 

But government cuts and mismanagement of the economy has meant that councils are having to do more with less, with council tenants paying the price.

 

Cheshire House in Edmonton Green, for example, has suffered from structural issues because of long-term underinvestment.

 

This Council believes:

·         Central government support for council housing budgets has not been adequate since 2010

·         Every Enfield Council tenant deserves to live in quality council homes, on well-maintained estates

·         Without adequate and increased central government funding, major works our residents need will be impacted or delayed

·         The Government need to invest in a green decent homes programme — investing and retrofitting social housing across the country

This Council resolves to:

·         Call on the Local Government Association to make further representations to central government to provide funding for major works projects to deliver decent homes.

·         Write to the Chancellor and Secretary of State to call for:

o   an end to attacks on council housing budgets;

o   a programme of investment into specific council housing in Enfield to support and accelerate major works improvements and regeneration.

·         Continue with its plan to introduce a resident-led Building Safety Group to better inform residents and produce an Asset Management Strategy.

Minutes:

Councillor Ergin Erbil moved the below motion:

 

“Austerity has meant councils have lost 60p in every £1 of central government grant that the previous government was spending on local government.

 

Inflation caused by government mismanagement of the economy has cost the Council £21m this year alone.

 

On top of that, central government has slashed council housing budgets. Enforced rent reductions and a rent cap this year – set without reimbursing councils – has set Enfield Council back by £300m over the next 30 years.

 

These measures by central government are short-term sticking plasters resulting in long-term pain for social housing tenants, with less funding to make sure every council tenant lives in a high-quality home.

 

The result is an under-investment in council homes which is impacting councils across London. Greater London Authority figures show 1 in 5 council homes need funding to improve their condition.

 

At the same time, following the tragic Grenfell fire, central government have broken their pledge — failing to give councils funding for vital fire safety works.

 

Despite funding cuts, Enfield Council are investing in our council homes and estates, including £47m for building safety and £163m for major works over the next five years.

 

But government cuts and mismanagement of the economy has meant that councils are having to do more with less, with council tenants paying the price.

 

Cheshire House in Edmonton Green, for example, has suffered from structural issues because of long-term underinvestment.

 

This Council believes:

  • Central government support for council housing budgets has not been adequate since 2010
  • Every Enfield Council tenant deserves to live in quality council homes, on well-maintained estates
  • Without adequate and increased central government funding, major works our residents need will be impacted or delayed
  • The Government need to invest in a green decent homes programme — investing and retrofitting social housing across the country

This Council resolves to:

  • Call on the Local Government Association to make further representations to central government to provide funding for major works projects to deliver decent homes.
  • Write to the Chancellor and Secretary of State to call for:
    • an end to attacks on council housing budgets;
    • a programme of investment into specific council housing in Enfield to support and accelerate major works improvements and regeneration.
  • Continue with its plan to introduce a resident-led Building Safety Group to better inform residents and produce an Asset Management Strategy.”

 

 

The time for the end of the meeting having been reached, two procedural motions moved by Cllr Ozaydin and seconded by Cllr Ergin Erbil under paragraph 13.20 (viii) of the Council’s Procedure Rules to extend the debate for 10 minutes were each AGREED.

 

A recorded vote was requested by Cllr Ozaydin, and another 11 members of the Council having stood in support of the request, the motion was then agreed following a recorded vote detailed below:

 

For:

Cllr Abdul Abdullahi

Cllr Josh Abey

Cllr Nicki Adeleke

Cllr Gunes Akbulut

Cllr Mahmut Aksanoglu

Cllr Nawshad Ali

Cllr Kate Anolue

Cllr Mahym Bedekova

Cllr Sinan Boztas

Cllr  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.