Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 16th June, 2021, 7.15 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield, EN1 3XA. View directions

Contact: Email: Democracy@enfield.gov.uk 

Note: The meeting will also be broadcast live. Please use following link to view/hear the meeting: https://bit.ly/3pvW4Zq 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Katherine Chibah (Associate Cabinet Member – Enfield West) and Councillor Ahmet Hasan (Associate Cabinet Member – Enfield North).

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

DEPUTATIONS

To note, that no requests for deputations have been received for presentation to this Cabinet meeting.

Minutes:

NOTED that no requests for deputations had been received for presentation to this Cabinet meeting.

4.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 183 KB

To confirm the minutes of the previous Cabinet meeting held on 21 April 2021.

Minutes:

AGREED that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 21 April 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

5.

Enfield Healthy Streets Framework pdf icon PDF 559 KB

A report from the Executive Director – Place is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5246)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Ian Barnes (Deputy Leader) introduced the report of the Executive Director Place setting out the framework for developing and delivering Healthy Streets projects.

 

NOTED

 

1.    The framework incorporated the Healthy Streets approach adopted by Transport for London in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, and identified activities to deliver on local, London, and national policy objectives.

2.    The Council would have a clear rationale for delivering Healthy Streets projects in Enfield, which in turn would strengthen how it worked with the community to develop projects.

3.    This would help the Council to continue to access external funding sources and ensure projects were delivered within a clearly defined and approved framework.

4.    Enfield Healthy Streets would act as the Council’s primary vehicle for encouraging and enabling increased levels of walking and cycling trips in the borough, while supporting other sustainable modes to reduce the reliance and dependence on private motor vehicles. It would directly support Enfield’s local economy, and would contribute towards community health and wellbeing, and support the target of making the authority carbon neutral by 2030 or sooner.

5.    In response to Members’ questions, the need for the framework was confirmed, and the equalities approach was clarified.

6.    Cabinet expressed thanks to the officers involved in this work.

 

Alternative Options Considered:  An alternative option is to not adopt a framework for the delivery of Enfield Healthy Streets. This option is not recommended as the Council would therefore lack the additional clarity that this framework offers. In addition, this could jeopardise the ability of the Council to continue to access external funding sources that help deliver a range of benefits for the community.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to support the continued delivery of Healthy Streets in Enfield, as set out in the report and in particular the implementation of the six key activities, which are:

a. Activity 1 – creating a high-quality walking and cycling network.

b. Activity 2 – making streets safer, reducing road danger and the number of people killed or seriously injured on Enfield’s roads.

c. Activity 3 – improving accessibility and inclusivity of active travel in Enfield.

d. Activity 4 – enabling community participation in the development of Healthy Streets projects.

e. Activity 5 – creating high quality public realm and places.

f. Activity 6 – Informing and inspiring people around the issues associated with sustainable travel

 

Reason:  NOTED the reasons for the proposals as listed below:

1.    The Council’s Healthy Streets programme has evolved since its inception in 2014, delivering projects funded largely by external sources e.g. TfL’s Mini-Holland and Liveable Neighbourhoods programmes. Approval of this Healthy Streets framework will help the council to continue to access external funding sources and ensure projects are delivered within a clearly defined and approved framework.

2.    The Council has adopted a Local Implementation Plan (LIP) which sets out how it will deliver the aims and objectives of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy (MTS) locally. While fully consistent with the LIP, this paper sets out a more specific activity framework that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Bowes Primary Area Quieter Neighbourhood pdf icon PDF 237 KB

A report from the Executive Director – Place is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5196)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Ian Barnes (Deputy Leader) introduced the report of the Executive Director Place providing a summary of the Bowes Primary Area Quieter Neighbourhood project to date.

 

NOTED

 

1.    The report set out in detail an interim update on the monitoring of the project.

2.    It was clear that there had been a serious impact from the lockdowns which affected travel patterns. It was therefore recommended to continue the existing trial.

3.    The report provided data which gave insights relating to residents’ perceived concerns.

4.    Assessment would be ongoing and would be further informed by additional collection of data.

5.    Further engagement and consultation on a potential alternative design that considered the wider area spanning both Enfield and Haringey would take place.

6.    Members highlighted the analysis of crime in the project area. It was noted that officers would be patrolling more proactively within the vicinity where vehicles had been reported stolen. Police had been asked to give more advice on suitable bicycle locks and storage.

7.    In response to Members’ questions, the collection of further community feedback, and of more traffic data, was confirmed. This would enable a further decision report to follow on the project, anticipated in the Autumn/Winter of 2021.

8.    Thanks was expressed to the officers on behalf of Cabinet for their commitment and ongoing hard work on the project.

 

Alternative Options Considered:  NOTED the alternative options which had been considered as set out in paragraph 41 of the report:

· Ending the trial in a direct response to feedback received – This was considered to be a premature decision at this stage of the project, when there is a pathway to collecting further data that can better inform the impacts of the trial.

· Amending the trial in some way under the existing ETO in response to feedback received – Given the complexity of this project and its interaction with adjacent roads in Haringey, it is not considered appropriate to make changes to the trial before we have explored potential options alongside Haringey, as this may influence any amendments to the existing trial.

· Recommending making the scheme permanent now – This was considered to be a premature decision at this stage of the project, when there is a pathway to collecting further data that can better inform the impacts of the trial.

· Not bringing this decision to Cabinet (and instead bringing a decision on the permanence of the trial at a later date) – We consider there to be sufficient public and political interest for Cabinet to make interim decisions on the continuation of this trial.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed that:

1.    The Bowes Primary Quieter Neighbourhood trial continues, enabling the opportunity to collect traffic data that is more representative of ‘normal’ conditions. A pathway to this return is identified by the Government’s published roadmap to easing lockdown restrictions.

2.    Following collaborative working with Haringey and full assessment of community feedback received to date, further engagement takes place on any alternative design that is developed. This engagement will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT STRATEGY IN COUNCIL HOUSING pdf icon PDF 635 KB

A report from the Executive Director – Place is attached. (Key decision – reference number 5321)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Gina Needs (Cabinet Member for Social Housing) introduced the report of the Executive Director Place seeking approval of a draft Resident Involvement Strategy and Involvement Framework for Enfield Council Housing 2021-24.

 

NOTED

 

1.    Learning from the Grenfell disaster had been considered in the development of the strategy.

2.    It would be ensured that the voice of residents was at the centre of service delivery, and that there were flexible and accessible opportunities for involvement.

3.    Approaches would be strengthened to support continuous improvement.

4.    In response to Members’ questions it was advised that resident engagement had already benefitted the service and that customer satisfaction levels had risen, and that the revised resident involvement structure had been shaped by residents through existing involvement groups and wider input.

5.    Thanks were expressed to the Director of Housing and Regeneration and the team for their work.

 

Alternative Options Considered: 

· The alternative option of continuing with existing approach was considered but rejected as the voice of the customer and other stakeholders have consistently called for a need for change and it is recognised as an essential component of delivering the Better Council Homes Vision.

· Defer making changes within the current approach until the regulatory changes arising from the Social Housing White Paper are enacted. This has been rejected as most of the principles and findings are consistent and Enfield want to be an early adopter. The framework and strategy provide a flexible framework to enable it to be updated and amended as it progresses.

 

DECISION:  The Cabinet agreed to

1.  Approve the Council Housing Resident Involvement Strategy 2021-24 and proposed action plan (Appendix 1) for formal consultation with residents for a six-week period.

2.  Approve the Framework of Involvement including the introduction of the Council Housing Excellence Panel to review performance across Council Housing and making evidence-based recommendations for improvement.

3.  Delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Regeneration in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Social Housing to make any minor amendments arising from the wider resident and stakeholder consultation.

4.  Delegate to the Director of Housing and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Housing further operational arrangements to support the delivery of strategy and action plan.

 

Reason:  NOTED the reasons for the proposals:

1.    The strategy sets out how the Council will strengthen relationships and the voice of tenants and leaseholders over the next 3 years, responding to:

· Feedback from residents and community groups

· Feedback from Council Housing officers

· Review of existing involvement mechanisms in Enfield

· Current best practice in involvement from social housing

· Lessons learnt from the Grenfell Disaster and to respond to the changing legal framework arising from the Building Safety Bill

· Current and future regulatory requirements as they effect Council Housing.

2.    The strategy recognises the hard work and commitment of existing involved residents and highlights the need to strengthen the voice of underrepresented groups and extend our reach through a programme of accessible and flexible involvement opportunities that are tied together through the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

CABINET AGENDA PLANNING - FUTURE ITEMS pdf icon PDF 156 KB

Attached for information is a provisional list of items scheduled for future Cabinet meetings.

Minutes:

NOTED, for information, the provisional list of items scheduled for future Cabinet meetings.

9.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To note that the next meeting of the Cabinet is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 7 July 2021 at 7.15pm.

Minutes:

NOTED that the next meeting of the Cabinet is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 7 July 2021 at 7:15pm.

10.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS - SELECTIVE LICENSING SCHEME ANNOUNCEMENT

Minutes:

NOTED Councillor George Savva (Cabinet Member for Licensing and Regulatory Services) advised that the Selective Licensing Scheme had been fully approved by the Secretary of State. Licensing would drive up housing standards in a growing private rented sector and help both tenants and landlord manage rented properties to a higher standard and would benefit all concerned. Landlords would be able to apply for a licence for the scheme from 1 September 2021, and he urged every landlord to subscribe.