13.1 In the name of Councillor Ahmet Oykener
“Homelessness is an issue that all councillors and MP’s should fight to eradicate. Helping those less fortunate is a pillar of civic service that is of the utmost importance. The Council recognises that:
Homelessness comes in many forms from rough sleeping and street homelessness through to sofa surfing and those languishing in temporary accommodation.
Homelessness is predominantly a London problem, yet the government funding to support Councils in tackling this serious issue is based on a Communities and Local Government funding model that is 15 years old. Enfield has the fifth worst homelessness problem nationally yet only received £550K from central government while other boroughs receive sums up to £8m per annum.
The Council therefore agrees to:
1. Publish on its website and through other means the details of all homeless shelters and charities that can assist those that are homeless, in particular those that offer services during the winter months.
2. Lobby the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to fund London Borough of Enfield fairly so to prevent homelessness”.
13.2 In the name of Councillor Joanne Laban:
The Council notes the poor response to enquiries that many residents are experiencing when trying to contact the Council, in particular:
• Typical waiting times to the Council Call Centre taking between 10 and 20 minutes with many missed calls as a consequence.
• Failures in the Council’s website preventing residents readily accessing the service required.
• Lack of response to emails sent to specific Council officers.
• Failures to respond to members enquiries within 10 days.
These failings are unacceptable, and the Council resolves to refer them to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to receive a report addressing: waiting times, staffing issues and missed calls at the Call Centre; statistics on usage of the Council website and incomplete transactions: a breakdown by directorate of how emails are dealt with and the timeliness of responses; statistics for members’ enquiries based upon the timing of the initial enquiry and promising a response within 10 days), instructing the committee to consider all available evidence, and make recommendations to Council about how these failings in customer services can be rectified.
13.3 In the name of Councillor Joanne Laban:
“The Council notes the need for a last minute report to the Cabinet on 18 May 2016 seeking authority and substantial finance to purchase land at Meridian Water which the current owner had threatened to sell to a third party, and condemns the dilatory and potentially costly approach to assembling for this “flagship development” shown by the administration over the past six years.”
13.4 In the name of Councillor Alessandro Georgiou:
“This Council recognises that the Union Flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a symbol of Freedom and represents all that is great about the United Kingdom.
The Council will therefore have the Union Flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland present in all full Council meetings. The flag will have a prominent place either hanging behind the Mayor of Enfield’s chair or on a flagpole to the right of the Mayor.”
13.5 In the name of Councillor Ayfer Orhan
“It is a grave concern of this Council that the Government has established Regional Schools Commissions to be responsible for making critical decisions and to take action in underperformance schools and yet they have no staff and no funding.
For example, the Regional Schools Commissioner for North-West London and South-Central is responsible for making decisions for 27 Local Authorities. Traditionally each Local Authority was responsible for school improvements. But this Council is gravely concerned that the current proposed RSC' would be woefully lacking in the essential staff, localised expertise and funding to effectively support schools at a time they might need it the most.
We are fearful that the implications of this are that schools
will be allowed to fail and so be exposed to a take-over by a large
Academy chain.
This Council believes that this is a cross party concern and asks the Lead members of both party to write to the Government to change its mind on its proposal to centralise School Improvements by 2017 and to continue to fund Local Authorities, who are best placed, to continue to carry out this important and critical role.”
13.6 In the name of Councillor Doug Taylor:
“The Land Registry allows wide access to its data at cost reflective prices enabling access for local residents and businesses. This public service is being privatised by the Government and this will, in the long term, cost the public purse.
Enfield Council agrees to write to the Secretary of State to oppose the intention to privatise the service.”
13.7 In the name of Councillor Alan Sitkin
“Since 2010, Enfield's local economy has gone from a position of under-performing and below the London borough average, to one of out-performing other London boroughs. This is the result of the Administration's proactive, pro-enterprise interventions in the construction of an entrepreneurial state in Enfield. This Council resolves to continue with its successful policies and role to grow Enfield's economy further.”
13.8 In the name of Councillor Doug Taylor:
“Enfield Council congratulates Sadiq Kahn on his election as Mayor of London and we look forward to a close and productive relationship on the key areas of service delivery where our roles connect.”
Minutes:
The following motions listed on the agenda lapsed due to lack of time:
13.1 In the name of Councillor Ahmet Oykener
“Homelessness is an issue that all councillors and MP’s should fight to eradicate. Helping those less fortunate is a pillar of civic service that is of the utmost importance. The Council recognises that:
Homelessness comes in many forms from rough sleeping and street homelessness through to sofa surfing and those languishing in temporary accommodation.
Homelessness is predominantly a London problem, yet the government funding to support Councils in tackling this serious issue is based on a Communities and Local Government funding model that is 15 years old. Enfield has the fifth worst homelessness problem nationally yet only received £550K from central government while other boroughs receive sums up to £8m per annum.
The Council therefore agrees to:
1. Publish on its website and through other means the details of all homeless shelters and charities that can assist those that are homeless, in particular those that offer services during the winter months.
2. Lobby the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to fund London Borough of Enfield fairly so to prevent homelessness”.
13.2 In the name of Councillor Joanne Laban:
The Council notes the poor response to enquiries that many residents are experiencing when trying to contact the Council, in particular:
• Typical waiting times to the Council Call Centre taking between 10 and 20 minutes with many missed calls as a consequence.
• Failures in the Council’s website preventing residents readily accessing the service required.
• Lack of response to emails sent to specific Council officers.
• Failures to respond to members enquiries within 10 days.
These failings are unacceptable, and the Council resolves to refer them to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to receive a report addressing: waiting times, staffing issues and missed calls at the Call Centre; statistics on usage of the Council website and incomplete transactions: a breakdown by directorate of how emails are dealt with and the timeliness of responses; statistics for members’ enquiries based upon the timing of the initial enquiry and promising a response within 10 days), instructing the committee to consider all available evidence, and make recommendations to Council about how these failings in customer services can be rectified.
13.3 In the name of Councillor Joanne Laban:
“The Council notes the need for a last minute report to the Cabinet on 18 May 2016 seeking authority and substantial finance to purchase land at Meridian Water which the current owner had threatened to sell to a third party, and condemns the dilatory and potentially costly approach to assembling for this “flagship development” shown by the administration over the past six years.”
13.4 In the name of Councillor Alessandro Georgiou:
“This Council recognises that the Union Flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a symbol of Freedom and represents all that is great about the United Kingdom.
The Council will therefore have the Union Flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland present in all full Council meetings. The flag will have a prominent place either hanging behind the Mayor of Enfield’s chair or on a flagpole to the right of the Mayor.”
13.5 In the name of Councillor Ayfer Orhan
“It is a grave concern of this Council that the Government has established Regional Schools Commissions to be responsible for making critical decisions and to take action in underperformance schools and yet they have no staff and no funding.
For example, the Regional Schools Commissioner for North-West London and South-Central is responsible for making decisions for 27 Local Authorities. Traditionally each Local Authority was responsible for school improvements. But this Council is gravely concerned that the current proposed RSC' would be woefully lacking in the essential staff, localised expertise and funding to effectively support schools at a time they might need it the most.
We are fearful that the implications of this are that schools will be allowed to fail and so be exposed to a take-over by a large Academy chain.
This Council believes that this is a cross party concern and asks the Lead members of both party to write to the Government to change its mind on its proposal to centralise School Improvements by 2017 and to continue to fund Local Authorities, who are best placed, to continue to carry out this important and critical role.”
13.6 In the name of Councillor Doug Taylor:
“The Land Registry allows wide access to its data at cost reflective prices enabling access for local residents and businesses. This public service is being privatised by the Government and this will, in the long term, cost the public purse.
Enfield Council agrees to write to the Secretary of State to oppose the intention to privatise the service.”
13.7 In the name of Councillor Alan Sitkin
“Since 2010, Enfield's local economy has gone from a position of under-performing and below the London borough average, to one of out-performing other London boroughs. This is the result of the Administration's proactive, pro-enterprise interventions in the construction of an entrepreneurial state in Enfield. This Council resolves to continue with its successful policies and role to grow Enfield's economy further.”