Agenda for Overview & Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, 25th May, 2017, 7.30 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Dugdale Centre - Rooms 2 & 3, , 39 London Road, Enfield, EN2 6DS. View directions

Contact: Stacey Gilmour 

Items
No. Item

11.

WELCOME & APOLOGIES

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed attendees to the meeting. Councillors Michael Rye and Guney Dogan were welcomed as new members of Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  Apologies for absence had been received from Tony Murphy and Ian Davis.

It was noted that Councillor Ertan Hurer was substituting for Councillor Edward Smith at the meeting. 

12.

ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR

To elect the Vice Chair of the Committee.

Minutes:

Councillor Nneka Keazor was elected as Vice Chair for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year.

13.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were put forward.  It was noted that Councillor Achilleas Georgiou attended the meeting for agenda item 5 only.

14.

CALL-IN OF REPORT: MERIDIAN WATER: LAND ACQUISITION pdf icon PDF 142 KB

To receive a report from the Executive Director of Finance, Resources & Customer Services outlining a Call-In received for consideration by Overview & Scrutiny on the following reason: (Report No:6)

 

Cabinet Decision included on Publication of Decision List No:1/17-18 Key Decision 4442 (List Ref: 1/1/17-18) issued on 11 May 2017.

 

It is proposed that consideration of the Call-In be structured as follows:

·         Brief outline of reasons for the Call-In by representative (s) of the Members who have called in the decision.

·         Response to the reasons provided for the Call-In by the Cabinet member responsible for taking the decision.

·         Debate by Overview & Scrutiny Committee and agreement on action to be taken.

 

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair moved this item for discussion under Part 2.

 

Councillor Levy referred to the ‘rather late’ receipt of papers from the Regeneration Team.  Councillor Rye said it was reasonable that members be sent papers at least 48 hours before a meeting to enable them to digest the content and if necessary speak to colleagues about any issues that may be apparent.  He stated that he would not be prepared to consider a call-in, in future, if papers were not provided a minimum of 48 hours prior to a meeting.

Councillor Levy agreed that it was important that papers were received by members in good time. He referred to the procedural aspects of the call-in which meant members would be looking at the decision taken by Cabinet on the 9 May 2017. The additional briefing paper provided by the Regeneration team gave details on further aspects of the land acquisition.  However, he said this additional briefing paper is for information only.

 

Councillor Smith outlined the reasons for call-in, which were included in the Part 1 agenda.  He welcomed the additional information that had been provided in relation to the proposed purchase of the two industrial sites in Meridian Water:  A 10 hectare site known as Stonehill Estate (Stonehill) and a 3 hectare site known as Hastingwood Estate (Hastingwood).  He confirmed that the information provided was useful, however he mentioned that a technical question regarding the issue of VAT was still to be answered. This point was later discussed with Councillor Hurer and Ann Freeman (Finance Manager, Capital & Projects) who mentioned that any VAT costs arising from any potential ‘change of use’ would be covered by the Master Developer.

 

Responses were provided by Councillor Sitkin and Councillor Oykener (as relevant Cabinet members and also by officers.  They outlined details of the decision to approve the purchase of the two sites (Stonehill and Hastingwood) in the east of the Meridian Water Regeneration Area.  This decision is subject to the demonstration of overall viability of the Meridian Water scheme, a decision that has been delegated to the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Business Development and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency. 

 

Discussions focused on:

·         The annual income arising from the existing and proposed temporary (meanwhile) uses arising from the purchase of the two sites and whether this would cover the annual financing costs of borrowing needed to purchase the two sites.  

·         The financial viability of the proposed development of the two sites including the on-going review of SIL (Strategic Industrial Land) by the GLA and the implications of this on the Meridian Water Development.

·          Different scenarios were put forward giving the possible outcomes following the re-designation, or not, of SIL land at this location. It also presented the implications for not acquiring the sites. It was confirmed that even using the worst case scenario i.e. that SIL land is not released then a reduced scheme could be delivered which would still make it viable.

·         The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

WORK PROGRAMME & WORK STREAMS 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 218 KB

The Deputy Leader, Cllr Georgiou, to outline the Cabinet’s priorities for 2017/18.

 

The Committee to discuss Work Programme items and select the new workstreams for 2017/18.

Minutes:

The Chair invited Councillor Georgiou, Deputy Leader, to outline the Cabinet’s priorities for 2017/18 and discussion took place on possible scrutiny topics.

 

Councillor Georgiou referred to financial pressures on Enfield including the funding for our health and police services which, he said, is not what it should be.  The ‘Fair Funding’ campaign aims to tackle this.  Cabinet would be looking at issues for the borough resulting from population growth, and the increased demands from people who are on low incomes, who need to access our services including their need for affordable housing.

 

The following issues for consideration were discussed -

  • Loneliness and Social Isolation. Research shows physical effects of isolation are bad for health. Health interventions - Councillor Georgiou referred to an increase in sports centre usage but mentioned that data showed that there was a need to encourage more women to become active in sport in the borough
  • Human Trafficking - this includes prostitution issues in the borough.  It was thought that as this area was closely connected with ‘Gangs’ and ‘Drugs problems, it was suggested that this should be looked at as a linked topic.
  • Knife Crime/ Policing/ Safer Communities -Police numbers is an issue often raised by the public. In light of recent events in the borough, knife crime is one that should be included as a linked topic. An issue to consider is whether there would be the same level of knife crime if there were more police allocated to the borough.  It is also necessary to look at the implications of joining together Enfield and Haringey policing, and what this may mean for Enfield.
  • Mental Health    It was noted that there had been a workstream last year on CAMHS (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service).  Councillor Abdullahi, as Chair of the Health Scrutiny Standing workstream, referred to the JHOSC   the Joint Mental Health committee which he attends and which covers the three boroughs – Haringey, Barnet and Enfield.
  • NHS Community & Primary Care.
  • Housing – There are limited options for some people and there is a high demand for new homes in the borough.  The new housing allocations policy for Enfield should be sent out for consultation in the near future.
  • Contracts Compliance / Housing Repairs – a workstream had looked at problems in respect of some of our housing contracts/contractors for last year. This could be reviewed as part of the general topic for scrutiny on Contacts Compliance.
  • Cycle Enfield/ Streetscene changes and High Street retailers – A linked topic which could look at how it may be possible to boost our local economies and support local retailers. It was commented that there may be a place for re-designating some shops for housing purposes, which would increase footfall. It was noted that the use of CPO’s may be appropriate.
  • Scrutiny of Enfield Trading Companies -  There is a need for scrutiny to be undertaken of these companies especially as it is likely to be an expanding area in future.  It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 27 APRIL 2017 pdf icon PDF 104 KB

To agree the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2017.

Minutes:

AGREED the minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2017.

17.

DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS

To note the dates of future meetings as follows:

 

Provisional Call-Ins

 

Tuesday 20 June 2017

Thursday 10 August 2017

Tuesday 14 September 2017

Thursday 12 October 2017

Thursday 9 November 2017

Thursday 7 December 2017

Thursday 21 December 2017

 

Please note, the next business meetings of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee will be held on

 

Thursday 15 June 2017

Wednesday 12 July 2017

Wednesday 6 September 2017

Wednesday 8 November 2017

 

The Overview & Scrutiny Budget Meeting will be held on

 

Thursday 18 January 2018

Minutes:

Noted the dates of future meetings and provisional call-in dates.

18.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS & PUBLIC

To consider, if necessary, passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the press and public from the meeting for the item of business listed in Part 2 of the agenda on the grounds that it will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in those paragraphs of Part 1 Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006), as are listed on the agenda (Members are asked to refer to the Part 2 agenda)

 

19.

Part 2 Agenda Call in Re: Meridian Water Land Acquisition

Attached for consideration as part of the call-in on this item, is the Part 2 Cabinet report considered as part of the decision made by Cabinet on 9 May 2017.

 

The report should be read in conjunction with the Cabinet report attached at Appendix 1 to the Call-In report on the Part 1 agenda.

 

(This document contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)) of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended).

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

See item 4

 

Councillor Levy thanked everyone for attending this meeting.