Agenda and minutes

Nick Chanda of the Enfield Revival Church gave a blessing.

There was no business transacted under this item.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Nesil Caliskan, Sinan Boztas, Mohammad Islam, Destiny Karakus, Gina Needs, Bektas Ozer, Nia Stevens, Adrian Grumi and Thomas Fawns.

The Mayor welcomed everyone to the Chamber.

The Mayor on behalf of all councillors, expressed best wishes to King Charles III following the recent announcement of his cancer diagnosis. Also, as Cllr Gina Needs continues with her treatment, to also extend our best wishes to her during her recovery. As members knew, cancer is one of the themes of the Mayor’s charity this year and she hoped and prayed that a cure was found soon for this disease which affects so many.

The Mayor continued to support the residents of Enfield by attending the Citizenship ceremonies that take place most weeks. She was honoured to stand before the new citizens of Enfield. They stand proud to be part of our borough and she was delighted to receive them. The Mayor also continued to attend local events and was humbled by the kindness bestowed to her from the residents of Enfield.

The Mayor noted that LGBT+ History Month was formally celebrated across the UK in February to claim its past, celebrate its present and create its future. The Mayor sent her best wishes to all our Enfield residents during this time.

The Mayor this morning welcomed the High Commissioner of St Lucia to the Civic Centre to celebrate 45 years of their nation’s independence. It gave us time to reflect on the individuals who came to Britain on the Windrush and helped rebuild Britain to be great again after the war.

The Mayoral Gala had been booked for 25^th April and the Mayor hoped all would join her to raise much needed funds for her chosen charities: cancer and autism, two very important themes. Raising funds for charities was becoming more and more difficult in the current economic climate and she hoped members could support her.

A sad announcement was made of the sad loss of former Councillor and Past Mayor, Christiana During. She was a dedicated public servant for Enfield for many years, being first elected in 2002 in Ponders End Ward, later Upper Edmonton from 2006-14 and Edmonton Green Ward from 2014 to 2018. She was Mayor of Enfield in 2011-12, being the first female black African Mayor of the borough. She served as a midwife with the NHS from 1962 and later became the Assistant Director of Nursing at North Middlesex Hospital.

Councillors were invited to say a few words in commemoration of the late Christiana During. Cllr Doug Taylor praised her humility, cheerfulness, warmth, and caring approach to residents and the issues they raised. Condolences were sent to her husband and family. Cllr Michael Rye concurred with Cllr Taylor’s comments, and that Members would support an initiative to mark her legacy in Enfield. Cllr Joanne Laban also remembered Christiana During’s positivity, compassion and care. Cllr Kate Anolue spoke of her long and close friendship with Christiana, a special person with whom she had done everything together. All Members were invited to attend the funeral service on 8^th March and pay their respect.

The Mayor had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To receive and agree the minutes of the previous meeting of Council held on Wednesday 24 January 2024 as a correct record.

A correction to the minutes of the previous Council meeting held on 24^th January had been raised and appropriate amendment made: for item 9 Conservative councillors voted to abstain, not against the decision. The revised minutes were included in the second supplementary agenda pack and circulated to all members.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 24 January 2024 were received and, subject to the correction set out in the supplementary agenda pack, AGREED as a correct record.

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

The Mayor asked the Director of Law and Governance to provide advice further to the advice note provided to all members on the declaration of interests requirements at the Council Budget meeting. In relation to agenda item 6 – Budget Report 2024/25 and Medium-Term Financial Plan, any councillor who is two or more months in arrears on their Council Tax should declare this and not take part in the vote. The Director of Law and Governance advised that according to the Council’s records there were no members with such outstanding arrears, but that the onus was on members to make the declaration if necessary.

The following councillors declared non-pecuniary interests in the following items:

Items 6 & 11 – Cllr Ayten Guzel who is employed by Unison.

Items 6 & 11 – Cllr Margaret Greer who is employed by Unison.

Items 6 and 11 – Cllr Joanne Laban who served on the National Joint Council (NJC) on the employer side.

Item 7 – Cllr Pat Gregory in relation to Council Tax Support Scheme.

Item 8 – Cllr Guney Dogan who was a commercial unit tenant.

Items 9, and 10 – Cllr Sabri Ozaydin who is a director of Housing Gateway Limited.

Items 9 and 10 – Cllr Doug Taylor who is a director of Energetik.

Council is asked to agree the budget for 2024/25 and the Medium Term Financial Plan.

Cllr Leaver moved, and Cllr Ergin Erbil seconded, the report.

Cllr Leaver introduced the report and highlighted the background context and challenges, including government under-funding and economic pressures. The pressures in the MTFP were set out in Appendix 6 of the report. Consultation in relation to setting the budget, including consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, was also noted. The comments of the Chief Finance Officer in respect of the robustness of the budget were included in the report at Appendix 1a and noted. Officers and Cabinet colleagues were thanked for supporting the process. The Council would be setting a balanced budget which was prudent and responsible. Cabinet Members provided detail of pressures affecting service areas, investment in the borough, and protection of services for the most vulnerable residents.

The Opposition expressed their concerns in respect of raising of taxes, fees and charges and proposed cuts to services for residents. Money continued to be spent on external consultants and solicitors, and on Civic Centre refurbishments. The Administration’s manifesto commitments were not being kept. Warnings in respect of borrowing and debt servicing had not been heeded. There were concerns regarding the level of reserves. Residents had made their top issues known during the consultation but had been ignored. The balanced budget was dependent on in-year savings, which were known to be rarely achieved, and only 3.5% wage increases.

During the debate, a procedural motion 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 30 minutes was AGREED.

A further procedural motion 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 a further 10 minutes was AGREED.

Before members’ summing up, a procedural motion moved by Cllr Ozaydin and seconded by Cllr Ergin Erbil under paragraph 13.20 (viii) of the Council’s Procedure Rules to extend the time for debate of reports for 60 minutes was AGREED.

The report recommendations were agreed following a recorded vote (as required by law) 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 Chinelo Anyanwu

Cllr Mahym Bedekova

Cllr Alev Cazimoglu

Cllr Mustafa Cetinkaya

Cllr Hivran Dalkaya

Cllr Guney Dogan

Cllr Elif Erbil

Cllr Ergin Erbil

Cllr Susan Erbil

Cllr Margaret Greer

Cllr Ayten Guzel

Cllr Nelly Gyosheva

Cllr Ahmet Hasan

Cllr Chris James

Cllr Rick Jewell

Cllr Doris Jiagge

Cllr Tim Leaver

Cllr Ahmet Oykener

Cllr Sabri Ozaydin

Cllr George Savva

Cllr Doug Taylor

Cllr Eylem Yuruk

Against:

Cllr Maria Alexandrou

Cllr Lee Chamberlain

Cllr Chris Dey

Cllr Hannah Dyson

Cllr Peter Fallart

Cllr Reece Fox

Cllr Alessandro Georgiou

Cllr Pat Gregory

Cllr James Hockney

Cllr Stephanos Ioannou

Cllr Chris Joannides

Cllr Joanne Laban

Cllr Andy Milne

Cllr Elisa Morreale

Cllr Tom O’Halloran

Cllr Paul Pratt

Cllr Michael Rye

Cllr Julian Sampson

Cllr Ruby  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Council is asked to agree the local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2024/25.

TO FOLLOW

Cllr Leaver moved, and Cllr Ergin Erbil seconded the report of the Executive Director - Resources on the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2024/25. This report was in the supplementary agenda.

Cllr Leaver introduced the report. The context to the proposed decisions was highlighted. Enfield had consistently maintained a Council Tax Support Scheme which was one of the highest in London but projected future costs had necessitated the proposed revisions. An extensive consultation process had been run, details and results of which were set out in the report. The proposal to increase the Discretionary Hardship fund was highlighted, and the Greater London Authority (GLA) had now confirmed £550k funding for the Council Tax Hardship Scheme, which will now be jointly funded by the GLA and the Council in this first year and would remain at £1.5m. Members expressed that this was a difficult decision to take but would assist with necessary savings. One third of households in the borough would still receive some form of support, and a consistent approach would be taken in a fair and transparent system.

The Opposition expressed sorrow and anger that the Administration proposed to cut the support to around 31,000 households. Those negatively impacted were mainly residents who could least afford it, in the East of the borough in Labour-held wards, and groups including disabled people and single parents. Residents had raised their concerns in the consultation process that they would face poverty and stress, and they would prefer no change in the scheme. There was concern that no transitional arrangements had been proposed. Cllr Gregory raised discussions at Enfield Learning Disabilities Partnership Board and asked for an officer to be allocated as contact for advice and help to those with special needs, and their carers. This request was welcomed by Cllr Leaver and would be actioned.

A recorded vote was requested by Cllr Georgiou, and another 11 members of the Council having stood in support of the request, the report 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 Chinelo Anyanwu

Cllr Mahym Bedekova

Cllr Alev Cazimoglu

Cllr Mustafa Cetinkaya

Cllr Hivran Dalkaya

Cllr Guney Dogan

Cllr Elif Erbil

Cllr Ergin Erbil

Cllr Susan Erbil

Cllr Margaret Greer

Cllr Ayten Guzel

Cllr Nelly Gyosheva

Cllr Ahmet Hasan

Cllr Chris James

Cllr Rick Jewell

Cllr Doris Jiagge

Cllr Tim Leaver

Cllr Ahmet Oykener

Cllr Sabri Ozaydin

Cllr George Savva

Cllr Doug Taylor

Cllr Eylem Yuruk

Against:

Cllr Maria Alexandrou

Cllr Lee Chamberlain

Cllr Chris Dey

Cllr Hannah Dyson

Cllr Peter Fallart

Cllr Reece Fox

Cllr Alessandro Georgiou

Cllr Pat Gregory

Cllr James Hockney

Cllr Stephanos Ioannou

Cllr Chris Joannides

Cllr Joanne Laban

Cllr Andy Milne

Cllr Elisa Morreale

Cllr Tom O’Halloran

Cllr Paul Pratt

Cllr Michael Rye

Cllr Julian Sampson

Cllr Ruby Sampson

Cllr David Skelton

Cllr Edward Smith

Cllr Jim Steven

Cllr Emma Supple

Cllr Andrew Thorp

AGREED:

I. Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Council is asked to agree the HRA revenue budget and HRA rents.

Cllr Savva moved and Cllr Aksanoglu seconded the report of the Executive Director – Resources and Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration. Details of the HRA Revenue Budget for 2024/25 and the annual rent increase for Council tenants and leaseholder charges were confirmed. There was a need to cover the cost of delivering the service. Efficiency savings would also be made. Investment in stock would prioritise building safety and compliance.

The Opposition expressed concern at more raised charges to be faced by low income households. They also highlighted ongoing issues with delivery of new homes, unsafe tower blocks on the Shires Estate, and non decent housing.

Council was asked, further to Cabinet recommendation, to approve:

I. The detailed HRA Revenue Budget of £81.1m for 2024/25 as shown in paragraph 53 of the report.

II. The 10-year HRA Capital Programme of £900m and borrowing requirements to deliver 3,500 council led homes.

III. A rent increase of 7.7% in line with Government guidelines noting the social, affordable and shared ownership rent levels for the HRA properties in 2024/25.

IV. The level of service charges for 2024/25 for those tenants and leaseholders receiving eligible services at an average increase of 11%. These include enhanced services in response to resident feedback that will be implemented from April 2024 and new services that will be subject to resident consultation, as set out from paragraph 24 of the report.

V. The charges for garages, parking bay and community halls rents as set out from paragraph 41 of the report.

To Note:

VI. The heating charges for 2024/25 for those properties on communal heating systems (both electric and gas) as set out in paragraph 36 of the report.

The recommendations were put to the vote and AGREED.

Council is asked to agree the Ten-Year Capital Strategy and Capital Programme for 2024/25 to 2033/34.

The recommendations in this report were put to the meeting under the guillotine arrangements and were AGREED.

The Opposition advised that they would have voted against the recommendation.

The Council agreed

I. To approve the:

a. General Fund 2024/25 capital programme budget of £213.1m and notes the 2024/25-2033/34 ten-year capital programme (as detailed in Appendix A)

b. 2023/24 £36.5m budget carry forwards requested at Period 8 (November) (as detailed in Appendix B)

c. Delegation of authority, to the Executive Director of Resources, to transfer unspent borrowing of up to £500k between projects in the capital programme, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Finance and Procurement.

d. Delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Social Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement to agree capital investment into temporary accommodation solutions up to £30m (moving budget from Pipeline to the main capital programme). This is to enable the council to move quickly in bringing solutions to fruition. Any investment approved under this delegation must be self-financing i.e., capable of servicing interest and repaying debt over the useful economic life of the asset.

e. The delegation to Cabinet approval of projects up to £10m from the Pipeline Programme, provided the programme continues to fit within the affordability metrics.

II. To note:

a. The Pipeline projects (as detailed in Appendix E). These are indicative project budget estimates that are subject to a full business case review (where relevant) and separate approval, prior to be being added to the approved programme.

Council is asked to agree the Treasury Management Strategy for 2024/25.

The recommendations in this report were put to the meeting under the guillotine arrangements and were AGREED.

The Opposition advised that they would have voted against the recommendation.

The Council agreed

I. To review and note the Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25 (Appendix 1 of the report).

II. To approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25.

III. That Quarterly Treasury monitoring, from 2024/25, of the Council’s Treasury position including Prudential Indicators is delegated to Cabinet as part of the quarterly monitoring cycle with the exception of the Mid-year update and Outturn positions which will be submitted to Council.

The Council is asked to agree the pay policy statement.

The recommendations in this report were put to the meeting under the guillotine arrangements and were AGREED.

The Opposition advised that they would have voted for the recommendation.

The list of questions and their written responses will be published prior to the meeting.

This item was noted under the guillotine arrangements. Answers to questions were provided in the supplementary agenda.

Council is asked to approve a dispensation which will remain in place until further notice, for Councillor Gina Needs from the requirements of Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Under the provisions of Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, a councillor must have approval by the authority if they are unable to attend a meeting of the authority for a period of six consecutive months. The dispensation must be granted prior to the expiry of that period. This request complies.

Under the provisions of Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, a councillor must have approval by the authority if they are unable to attend a meeting of the authority for a period of six consecutive months. The dispensation must be granted prior to the expiry of that period. This request complies.

The recommendations in this report were put to the meeting under the guillotine arrangements and were AGREED.

The Opposition advised that they would have voted for the recommendation.

The Council approved a dispensation which will remain in place until further notice, for Councillor Gina Needs from the requirements of Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.

To confirm any changes to committee memberships.

Any further changes received once the agenda has been published will be included in the Supplementary Agenda to be circulated at the meeting.

There were no changes to committee memberships.

To confirm any changes to outside bodies memberships.

Any further changes received once the agenda has been published will be included in the Supplementary Agenda to be circulated at the meeting.

There were no changes to outside bodies memberships.

To note the agreed date of the next Council meeting:

Wednesday 6 March 2024 at 7pm

The date of the next meeting was NOTED as 6 March 2024, (note this meeting subsequently took place on 19 March 2024).