Agenda and minutes

Councillor Margaret Greer (Chair) welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Elif Erbil and Michael Rye.

Councillor Hannah Dyson substituted for Councillor Michael Rye.

The Chair explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the decision of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement taken on 13 September 2022 regarding Key Decision 5271 - the Proposed Acquisition of Land and Buildings on Park Avenue, Potters Bar, EN6 5EWas a result of the matter having been called-in.

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

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

To review the decision of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement taken on 13 September 2022 as a result of the matter having been called-in.

(This item will contain 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.)

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the report of Officers which detailed the call-in submitted in relation to the decision taken by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement regarding Key Decision 5271 - the Proposed Acquisition of Land and Buildings on Park Avenue, Potters Bar, EN6 5EW 2022).

Details of the decision taken and issued on 13 September 2022, had been included on Publication of Decision List No.17/22-23. The report also set out officer responses to the reasons for call-in.

The decision had been called-in for review by seven members of the Council: Councillors Lee Chamberlain (Lead), Alessandro Georgiou, Adrian Grumi, Paul Pratt, Ruby Sampson, Edward Smith and Andrew Thorp.

As the item contained 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) there would be further, confidential discussion when the meeting moved into the private part of the meeting.

The reasons for the call-in were presented by Councillor Lee Chamberlain as the Lead Member for the call-in.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement, responding to the reasons for call-in, stated that the rationale for the proposed acquisition was to protect and secure access to the Council’s asset for a modest amount of money, which in light of the current economic climate and increasing interest rates was considered to be good value and prudent. The proposed purchase had been fully costed and risk assessed. Building development in the Borough of Enfield should be contained in its Local Plan and not be achieved by speculative developments.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement explained that the proposal was not to build on the green belt but to provide access to the Council’s land to mitigate any risks should the land be included in Hertsmere Local Plan. Hertsmere Borough Council, with whom Enfield Council was working with, had called out for potential plots to be included in Hertsmere’s Local Plan. The proposal would be considered by Full Council.

Enfield Council was focused on delivering homes to residents for their benefit and to meet the government targets to build the required number of homes every year.

Officers, in response to questions from Members, clarified that an out of date Local Plan would allow for more speculative development within the borough.  This applied to all Local Authorities. Without a Local Plan, green belt sites were vulnerable to such speculative development which would contribute towards the government housing targets, which otherwise would not be met. Enfield Council was currently in discussion with Hertsmere Borough Council regarding both Local Plans and had a duty to cooperate.

In response to further questions from Members, Officers reiterated that there were insufficient brownfield sites both within the Borough and beyond, including Hertsmere Borough Council.

Officers went on to clarify that the decision was for the purchase of one single residential property, which, due to the width of the plot, would allow access to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To note that the date of the next business meeting is on 10 November 2022.

NOTED that the next business meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to take place at 7pm on 10 November 2022 in the Civic Centre, Enfield.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the press and the public from the meeting for the items listed as part 2 on the agenda on the ground that they involve disclosure of exempt information as defined in those paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

The representative of the Press left the room when the Committee AGREED that the meeting be moved into Part Two at this point to facilitate discussion.

RESOLVED that under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the items listed as part 2 on the agenda on the ground that they involve disclosure of exempt information as defined in those paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

Item 3 above refers.

Following the Part Two discussion the confidential report and responses were NOTED.

The meeting moved into the public part of the meeting, where the representative of the Press returned to hear the summary of debate and the vote.

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