Reverend Dr Valentin Dedji gave a blessing.

There was no business under this item.

The Mayor welcomed everyone to the Chamber.

The Mayor offered her condolences to the family of the late Geoffrey Mills who sadly passed away. Birthday wishes were sent to Mr Reginal Kendall who turned 103.

The Mayor spoke of Her Majesty the Queens vast achievements and the festivities of the Jubilee.

The Mayor wished everyone and their families the very best for the summer months.

The Young Mayor Mustafa Berk Ak spoke to the Council on some of the events he had visited in his role as Young Mayor. He informed the Council that his focus for his year as Mayor will be cultural awareness.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Akbulut, Aksanoglu, Cazimoglu, Gyosheva and Yuruk.

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 following Councillors declared interests in the following items:

·         Item 7 – Councillor Tim Leaver, Sabri Ozaydin, Ergin Erbil and Doug Taylor; and

·         Item 9 – Councillor Kate Anolue.

To receive and agree the minutes of the previous meeting of Council held on Wednesday 25 May 2022.

The minutes of the meeting on 25 May 2022 were AGREED.

To receive a report from the Executive Director Resources on the year end Capital Programme position, and requesting budget adjustments for the 2022/23 budget.

Councillor Leaver moved, and Councillor Caliskan seconded, the report.

Councillor Leaver introduced the report and noted which sets out the expenditure ending the 31^st March 2022. It contains an overview of the outputs of the Capital Programme in 2021/22 and how much was spent on the individual capital programmes, across the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and lent to the Council’s subsidiary companies. This will provide investments to residents as part of the Council’s 10-year Capital Programme. It requests budget amendments for the 2022/23 budget where there have been delays.

The Opposition made the following points in response:

Councillor Leaver was welcomed into his new Cabinet role.

Concerns were raised about the debt borrowing of the Council, rollover debts, and the sustainability of spending tax payers money in this way.

It was requested a strategy on inflation and the issues this may cause the Council.

The Council’s accounts show that the Council has lost money in the 2021/22 financial year near ten-fold in two years. It was felt that this money would be better spent on front line services as it has been brought by tax payers money.

The money not spent “gross slippage” will be spent later at a higher cost.

Concerns were raised around Metaswitch and the report highlighting a “budget error”. It was questioned whether tax payers are subsidising this error.

It was felt it was essential that a review and prioritisation takes place of the Capital Programme.

The Administration made the following points in response:

The report was welcomed.

Money had been spent on furniture in the Civic Centre as it is home to the Council’s staff.

The budget has considered the possibility of the increase in inflation and includes adequate head room for possible inflation.

The risks to the Council have been recognised and considered and are set out in the report.

Energetik’s performance is doing better than predicted in its business plan.

Money had been spent on floor alleviations and street scene which improve the borough.

Following the debate, the Report was put to a vote and AGREED.

AGREED:

1.         Increase the 2022/23 General Fund and HRA capital budget by £26.6m (rolling forward unutilised 2021/22 budgets). This is the net position of:

a.    a total of £41.43m 2022/23 budgets increasing due to programmes being delayed

b.    a total of £14.79m 2022/23 budgets being reduced to recognise where budgets have been spent early (in 2021/22), as detailed in Table 5 of the report.

2.         £13.74m additions to the approved programme, as a result of recognising additional grant funding, as detailed in Table 3.

3.         Transfer £2.48m usable capital receipts from General Fund to HRA to rectify capital financing for the construction of Alma Youth Centre, a General Fund asset, as required by accounting standards.

4.         Reprofiling £79.74m Meridian Water budgets (within the same total budget) using ‘budgets with both levels of approval’ before ‘budgets requiring secondary level of approval’.

NOTED:

5.         Total expenditure on the Capital Programme for 2021/22 was £198.6m, against  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To receive a report from the Executive Director Resources presenting the Council’s Annual Treasury Management Report for 2021/22 in accordance with Treasury Management Practices.

Councillor Leaver moved the report, and Councillor Caliskan seconded the report.

Councillor Leaver introduced the report highlighting that the report sets out the treasury management from 2021 to 2022 ending in March 2022. As of 31^st March 202 there was £1,015 million borrowing outstanding. Details of these loans were referenced in table 3 of the report. The Treasury Management Outturn Report complies with the relevant code of practise.

The Administration made the following points:

Cuts to the Council have been imposed by Central Government which has led to the cost of living crisis.

The administration aims to protect residents by improving homes and skills in the borough.

The ten year treasury management strategy will come to Council for debate and agreement.

The Opposition made the following points in response:

The level of debt continues to climb and is already higher than other boroughs who have declared bankruptcy such as Slough and are on course to pass Croydon.

Concerns were raised about the risks to tax payers and the sustainability for the borrowing.

The Treasury Management graph showed no borrowing past 2027. However, the Capital Report the Council agreed in an earlier item agreed specific borrowing that would take the Council past its debt cap.

As the Labour manifesto was not costed the Administration will have to either reach the £2billion debt cap or stop the projects they are running.

The Council’s debt will be £40million which will result in cuts to front line services. Concerns were raised about the there being a lack of a back-up plan for those circumstances.

The report was NOTED.

To receive the report of the Executive Director Place, seeking agreement to adopt  the North London Waste Plan.

Councillor Caliskan moved, and Councillor Ebril seconded, the report.

Councillor Caliskan introduced the report highlighting that the planning policy document had been created in consultation with the seven neighbouring borough and the document will go to each of their Council’s for agreement. The document removes sites which could be used in the future for waste sites. It is hoped that there would be cross party agreement on the proposed plan. Officers were thanked for their contribution to the Plan.

The Administration made the following comments:

It was felt it was important to protect green and industrial space within the borough.

Enfield does not need any additional waste facilities within the borough.

The Opposition for their cross-party support.

The Opposition responded to the report with the following comments:

The report was welcomed and thanked officers for their contribution.

The comments set out by the inspector were welcomed as all of North London’s waste should not come to Enfield.

Concerns were raised that the Green Belt can be used as an emergency waste designation site and Enfield being regarded as the “bin of North London”.

In North London 62% of waste facilities are in Enfield, after that Barnet have 14% and Haringey have 12%.

AGREED to adopt the North London Waste Plan (NLWP) shown at Appendix C of the report to become part of the statutory Development Plan for the borough.

To receive the Annual Report of the General Purposes Committee 2021/22.

Councillor Bedekova moved, and Councillor Leaver seconded, the report.

Councillor Bedekova introduced the report stating it contains details of the work conducted by the Committee in the 2021/22 report.

The Administration highlighted the following:

Officers and the independent person who sits on the Committee for their work were thanked.

Concerns were raised about BDO and their inability to sign off the Council’s accounts.

The Opposition responded to the report with the following comments:

The General Purposes Committee is one of the Council’s most important Committees as it covers so many important issues.

Officers were thanked for their attendance.

Concerns were raised about BDO not being held to account on not finalising the 2019/20 accounts

It was felt that the polling district review and member development may need to move elsewhere as the Redman Review states General Purpose Committee should focus on Audit and Risk.

AGREED to note the General Purposes Committee Annual Report.

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

This item was noted under the guillotine arrangements.

Motion in the name of Councillor Maria Alexandrou

Cervical screening is a way for women to protect themselves from cancer. The sad reality is that fewer women are now having cervical screening. Last year 1.3m women didn’t attend NHS screenings. There are 3,200 new cases of cervical cancer every year and of those 870 women die from it.

According to CANCER RESEARCH UK 99.8% of cases are preventable. When Jade Goody fought her cancer battle, nearly 80% of women went for smear tests.10 years later, only 72% of women go. If this rate falls any lower, the rise in deaths will shoot up. In the case of Jade Goody, she ignored letters about her abnormal cells. She needed to go to hospital for surgery to remove those abnormal cells, surgery which most probably would have saved her life.

Many young women in their 20s and 30s are dying from cervical cancer and the tragedy is they are leaving behind their partners and young children.  We need to encourage everyone to look after their health and have regular check-ups. Enfield Council therefore agrees to work together with other agencies for a local campaign on cervical cancer awareness and encourage women to attend that important screening test. It only takes 5 minutes at the doctor’s surgery and this test can save your life.

Motion in the name of Councillor Chris Joannides

This Council will sign up to the Miscarriage Association's Pregnancy Loss Pledge to tackle the stigma associated with miscarriage and supports the campaign which wants to introduce paid leave for families who experience a miscarriage.

Miscarriage is the most common kind of pregnancy loss, affecting around one in four pregnancies in the UK.

The Council recognises the emotional trauma and loss suffered by parents as a result of stillbirths and miscarriages. As such, Enfield Council aims to improve support for parents by encouraging work environments where employers show empathy and understanding so employees who have been impacted do not have to use sick or annual holiday leave.

Motion in the name of Councillor Chris Dey

Enfield Council congratulates Her Majesty The Queen on her Platinum Jubilee. On her 21st Birthday Her Majesty made a speech to the entire Commonwealth that she would devote her life of service to her people. She has truly lived up to this ever since and we celebrate with her and thank her for her life of service to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the entire Commonwealth.

Motion in the name of Councillor Adrian Grumi

Following the speeches by the Mayor and Deputy Leader regarding their support for serving personnel, veterans and cadets in the borough at this years Armed Forces Day Event, Enfield as a borough join many other councils and organisations across the UK in renewing our Armed Forces Covenant that was first signed in 2012.

Motion in the name of Councillor Joanne Laban

This chamber calls on the Deputy Mayor for Policing to resign after the Metropolitan Police Service  ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

The below motions were agreed following discussion:

Urgent motion in the name of Councillor Nesil Caliskan

On Thursday 7th July, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson announced his intention to resign, but that he would remain in post until the new Leader of the Conservative Party was elected. The 1922 Committee has since announced the new Leader of the Conservative Party will be announced on the 5th September 2022. Boris Johnson has proved time and time again that he lacks the moral integrity and honesty required to hold the office of Prime Minister. Conservative MPs and the British public have lost confidence in Boris Johnson. Enfield Council calls on Boris Johnson to immediately resign as Prime Minister.

Motion in the name of Councillor Maria Alexandrou

Cervical screening is a way for women to protect themselves from cancer. The sad reality is that fewer women are now having cervical screening. Last year 1.3m women didn’t attend NHS screenings. There are 3,200 new cases of cervical cancer every year and of those 870 women die from it. According to CANCER RESEARCH UK 99.8% of cases are preventable. When Jade Goody fought her cancer battle, nearly 80% of women went for smear tests.10 years later, only 72% of women go. If this rate falls any lower, the rise in deaths will shoot up. In the case of Jade Goody, she ignored letters about her abnormal cells. She needed to go to hospital for surgery to remove those abnormal cells, surgery which most probably would have saved her life. Many young women in their 20s and 30s are dying from cervical cancer and the tragedy is they are leaving behind their partners and young children. We need to encourage everyone to look after their health and have regular check-ups. Enfield Council therefore agrees to work together with other agencies for a local campaign on cervical cancer awareness and encourage women to attend that important screening test. It only takes 5 minutes at the doctor’s surgery and this test can save your life.

The remainder of motions lapsed under the guillotine arrangements.

To confirm any changes to committee memberships.

 Any changes received once the agenda has been published will be tabled on the Council update sheet at the meeting.

The membership of the Licensing Committee is confirmed as:

Esin Gunes (Chair)

Doug Taylor (Vice Chair)

Sabri Ozaydin

George Savva

Eylem Yuruk

Mahym Bedekova

Sinan Boztas

Guney Dogan

Chris James

Maria Alexandrou

Jim Steven

Edward Smith

Chris Dey

Mike Rye

Paul Pratt

Councillor Nelly Gyosheva to replace Councillor Doris Jiagge on Equalities Board.

To confirm any changes to the nominations on outside bodies.

Any changes received once the agenda has been published will be tabled on the Council update sheet at the meeting.

Former Councillor Hass Yusuf to replace Councillor Gina Needs on the Old Enfield Charitable Trust.

To note the agreed date of the next Council meeting as Wednesday 21 September 2022.

The date of the next meeting was NOTED as 21^st September 2022.