Agenda and minutes

Councillor Levy welcomed all attendees to the meeting.  It was noted that Councillor Glynis Vince was substituting for Councillor Edward Smith. Apologies for absence had been received from Co-optees -Simon Goulden and Tony Murphy.

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 interest.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Law and Governance outlining details of a call-in received on the Cabinet Decision taken on Genotin Road Car Park, Enfield Town (Report No. 56)

The decision that has been called in was a Cabinet Decision taken on 25 July 2018 and included on the Publication of Decision List No: 11/18-19 (List Ref: 6/11/18-19) issued on 27 July 2018.

It is proposed that consideration of the call-in be structured as follows:

·         Brief outline of the 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 a Cabinet Member responsible for taking the decision

·         Debate by Overview and Scrutiny Committee and agreement of action to be taken

Please also see the Part 2 agenda

The Committee received a report from the Chief Executive outlining details of a call-in received on the Cabinet decision taken on Genotin Road Car Park, Enfield Town.

NOTED that this report was considered in conjunction with the information in the part 2 agenda.

The Chair invited Councillor Laban to outline the reasons for call-in.

It was noted that this discussion was held in public under Part 1 section of the meeting.  Further discussion took place under the Part 2 section of the meeting.

Councillor Laban outlined the reasons for call-in:

• That the report agreed by Cabinet at its meeting on 25 July 2018 to enter into a development agreement with Metaswitch Networks Ltd set out risks involved in carrying out the proposed office development.  Although some of the points were covered in the response from officers, Councillor Laban felt that some issues still needed to be ‘ironed out’.  She agreed that it was important for Metaswitch to remain in Enfield, however she would like reassurance that agreements would clearly set out who would be liable for any risks involved. This included any risks should Metaswitch  leave following the end of the 15 year lease period.
• The report did not give details of any alternative locations considered for the development other than the Genotin Road car park site.
• As Genotin Road is the most popular of the town car parks there needed to be consideration of how the public could be persuaded to make use of other car parks in the town. Councillor Laban suggested whether using the Portcullis car park had been considered and said it was important there are sufficient spaces around the Christmas period. She said there does not appear to be a clear parking vision for the town.
• The report does not make reference to the Enfield Town Centre, Framework Master Plan’s proposals around Enfield Town station i.e. the possibility of the station frontage being repositioned in the future.
• Reassurance was needed that financial details including the rental figures referred to in the report were sound.

The Chair stated that this issue had been the subject of pre-decision scrutiny by this committee and he noted that many of the points raised by OSC had been given consideration in the Cabinet report.  It was confirmed that mention had previously been made that the Genotin Road car park was the most popular car park used in the town. 

The Chair invited Councillor Oykener as Cabinet Member for Property and Assets, Place to respond to the points raised by Councillor Laban:

Councillor Oykener said the report to Cabinet had reflected comments made by OSC during pre-decision scrutiny.  He felt that most of the points raised by Councillor Laban had been covered in the report and for reasons of transparency they have been included in the Part 1 report. He said it was important that Metaswitch remains in Enfield and that the scheme has the potential to help revive the town centre. 

Sarah Cary referred to ongoing negotiations and discussions concerning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 699.

To receive and consider a report from the Director of Law and Governance outlining details of a call-in received on the Cabinet Decision taken on Reardon Court Extra Care Housing (Report No. 57)

The decision that has been called in was a Cabinet Decision taken on 25 July 2018 and included on the Publication of Decision List No: 11/18-19 (List Ref: 7/11/18-19) issued on 27 July 2018.

It is proposed that consideration of the call-in be structured as follows:

·         Brief outline of the 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 a Cabinet Member responsible for taking the decision (under the Part 2 agenda)

·         Debate by Overview and Scrutiny Committee and agreement of action to be taken

Please also see the Part 2 agenda

The Committee received a report from the Chief Executive outlining details of a call in received on the Cabinet decision taken on Reardon Court Extra Care Housing.

NOTED that this report was considered in conjunction with the information in the part 2 agenda

All the discussion on this item took place in the part 2 section of the meeting.

To agree the Minutes of the meetings held on the 12 July 2018 and 26 July 2018.

AGREED the minutes of the meetings held on 12 July 2018 and 26 July 2018.

To note the dates of future meetings as follows:

Provisional Call-Ins

Thursday 13 September, 2018

Thursday 11 October, 2018

Thursday 8 November, 2018

Thursday 6 December, 2018

Thursday 20 December, 2018

Thursday 7 February 2019

Tuesday 12 March 2019

Tuesday 26 March, 2019

Thursday 11 April, 2019

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

Wednesday 5 September, 2018

Wednesday 7 November, 2018

Tuesday 12 February, 2019

Wednesday 3 April, 2019

The Overview & Scrutiny Budget Meeting will be held on:

Tuesday 15 January, 2019

Noted the dates as follows

Provisional Call-Ins

Thursday 13 September, 2018

Thursday 11 October, 2018

Thursday 8 November, 2018

Thursday 6 December, 2018

Thursday 20 December, 2018

Thursday 7 February 2019

Tuesday 12 March 2019

Tuesday 26 March, 2019

Thursday 11 April, 2019

The business meetings of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee will

be held on:

Wednesday 5 September, 2018

Wednesday 7 November, 2018

Tuesday 12 February, 2019

Wednesday 3 April, 2019

The Overview & Scrutiny Budget Meeting will be held on:

Tuesday 15 January, 2019

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 (Please note there is a Part 2 agenda).

Resolved in accordance with the principles of Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of the Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

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 25 July 2018.

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).

Please see the Part 1 agenda.

The Committee received the information provided on the call in report:

Genotin Road Car Park which had been included in the Part 2 section of the agenda. 

Following discussions the Overview & Scrutiny Committee considered the reasons provided for the call-in and response provided by Councillor Oykener (as relevant Cabinet member). 

Councillor Oykener confirmed that should negotiations between the Council and Metaswitch not progress as intended and as discussed with this Committee, a further report to Cabinet would be provided, detailing any final agreement.

With this commitment noted, the Committee and Councillor Laban agreed to allow the original Cabinet decision to be confirmed without the need to vote.

“2.1 To delegate authority to the Executive Director Place in consultation with Executive Director Resources to agree Heads of Terms and enter into a contract on those term for an agreement for lease, including arrangement for lease, including arrangements for the funding of the development of an office on land known as Genotin Road Car Park. On completion of the development, Metaswitch will enter into a business lease for a minimum of 15 years . The Council will retain the freehold of the property. The car park will be made available for public use at the weekend and evenings.

2.2 The contract (whether it be a development agreement, lease or contract for sale) to be in a form approved by the Director of Law and Governance. “

AGREED

The Committee and Councillor Laban agreed there was no requirement to record a vote and theoriginal decision by Cabinet was therefore agreed.  

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 25 July 2018.

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).

Response to the reasons for Call-In

Please see the Part 1 agenda.

The Committee received the information provided on the call in report: Reardon Court Extra Care Housing which had been included in the Part 2 section of the agenda. The Chair stated that it was a matter of regret that no Cabinet member was available to respond to the issues raised.  Officers provided answers to the points raised by Councillor Laban. 

Overview & Scrutiny Committee considered the reasons provided for the call-in and responses provided   Having considered the information provided the Committee agreed to confirm the original Cabinet decision:

“2.1   

·         approve removal of the Reardon Court site from the Council’s current disposals list

·         approve a Council led demolition, design and redevelopment of the Reardon Court site for the provision of modern, accessible, self-contained Extra Care Housing Provision

·         approve the appointment of design expertise to develop architectural plans and support an application to the Local Planning Authority

·         grant permission for officers to tender for a building contractor to develop the scheme

·         approve indicative borrowing requirements for development capital, subject to securing a capital contribution from the Greater London Authority

·         delegate to the Executive Director Place, in consultation with Adult Social Care, Legal and Procurement Services, the appointment of a design team

·         receive a further report to:

-          appoint a building contractor to develop the scheme

-          tender and appoint a provider of support and care services (as required)”

AGREED

The Committee and Councillor Laban agreed that there was no requirement to record a vote and theoriginal Cabinet decision was therefore agreed.

Councillor Levy thanked everyone for attending the meeting.