Agenda item

 

10       

11       

11.1      MOTION TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR AKSANOGLU

Cladding

Enfield Council Supports the End Our Cladding Scandal campaign and calls for the government to provide active remedies to resolve the cladding scandal in the country which is affecting leaseholders and residents in Enfield.

 

The Council notes:

• The Government has made it a requirement to remove all cladding that presents a fire risk and remediation of unsafe wall systems on the walls of existing residential buildings of any height after the Grenfell disaster. This is affecting not only buildings with the ACM Cladding used on Greenfell, but many other buildings incorporating materials which could be flammable – including balconies and wooden panels.

 

• The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the UK Council of Mortgage Lenders agreed an industry-standard External Wall System fire review process, which takes place through a EWS1 form.

 

• An EWS1 form shows that the building is “safe”. Lenders often value properties at £0. Many leaseholders are unable to secure a mortgage over their properties. leaseholders are trapped in their ‘unsafe’ homes unless they are able to pay the huge sums of money often required to address the fire safety issues highlighted in the EWS1 form. Many people face bankruptcy by this even before remediation bills can be passed on.

 

• It is estimated that at the current rate it will take over 150 years to complete the remediation work required to the number of known unsafe properties over 18 metres.

 

• Whilst the Government has provided some funding to support the remediation of unsafe cladding, this only covers a bare minimum number of buildings requiring remediation works.

 

• For buildings under 18 meters tall, the Government has provided no funding at all as a result of this funding shortfall the costs of remediation works are being passed on to leaseholders, who are blameless for this situation and bought their properties in good faith.

 

 

 

 

 

• There are many Enfield residents affected by this issue including Prowse Court in Edmonton and many leaseholders are facing high bills to rectify the issue.

 

Council also notes:

 

That giving leaseholders loans to pay for the repairs, whatever the terms, is not an acceptable solution, as this is placing the long-term financial burden on them.

 

Council calls for:

 

• The council supports the end our Cladding Scandal Campaign, which makes the following 10 demands:

1)    The government must lead an urgent national effort to remove all dangerous cladding from buildings by June 2022.

2)    The Building Safety Fund must cover all buildings, regardless of height, and a range of internal and external fire safety defects, not just cladding.

3)    The government should provide the money up front and then seek to recover it from any responsible parties or via a temporary levy on development.

4)    Social housing providers must have full and equal access to the fund.

5)    The government must compel building owners or managers to be honest with residents about fire safety defects.

6)    The government should cover the cost of interim safety measures.

7)    The government should act as an insurer of last resort and underwrite insurance where premiums have soared.

8)    A fairer, faster process is needed to replace the EWS form and funding is necessary to ensure all buildings requiring a form are surveyed within 12 months.

9)    Mental health support must be offered to affected residents.

10) Protecting residents from historic and future costs must be a key commitment of new building safety legislation.

 

The Council calls for the Government to impose adequate funding to cover the costs of safety measures.

 

11.2      MOTION TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR MAGUIRE

Sewage Discharges

 

Enfield Council is appalled that the Government has refused to take seriously the threat to the environment and to public health by the discharge of untreated sewage into our rivers and seas. 

 

The Government must match its pious rhetoric about protecting the planet with firm action to force the privatised water companies to act responsibly in the public interest.

 

11.3      MOTION TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR YUSUF

Members of Parliament (the cross-party Health and Social Care Committee and the Science and Technology Committee) published a report in October 2021 which revealed that the government’s failings of handling of the covid-19 pandemic. The government’s dithering and delaying resulted in the spread of coronavirus and may have caused many thousands of unnecessary deaths.

Specific criticism of the government included:

• That it was too slow to implement a lockdown.
• The pursuit of ‘herd immunity’.
• Stopping community testing in March 2020.
• An inadequate test-and-trace system.
• Patients being sent from hospitals to care homes resulting in thousands of unnecessary deaths.

 

The Government continues to refuse to bring forward a public enquiry and has stated it will begin sometime in 2022.

 

Enfield Council calls on the Government to urgently bring forward the inquiry so that lessons can be urgent learned.

 

Enfield Council also resolves to prepare its own response to a future Covid inquiry.

 

11.4      MOTION TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR BARNES

 

Climate Change

 

Recently the Government hosted COP26 in Glasgow but in the preceding week the Chancellor presented a budget where he did not use the word ‘climate’ once. Instead he reduced air passenger duty, which will lead to over 400,000 extra passenger journeys a year, and he axed a planned fuel duty rise making it cheaper to drive at a time when we need to encourage people out of their cars if they are able.

 

We are also close to seeing the government approve a new oil and gas project in the North Sea, which will help deepen the climate crisis for decades to come, while the Prime Minister refuses to intervene to stop a planned coal mine in Cumbria which will produce one of the dirtiest fossil fuels currently driving up global temperatures.

 

The recent Net Zero Strategy holds promise, and we welcome the government funding measures such as low traffic neighbourhoods and cycle lanes across the UK, but it is nowhere near enough at this critical juncture as we continue to see the large financial figures needed for significant climate action delayed year after year.

 

Therefore, Enfield Council calls on the Government to tackle climate change as an absolute priority by immediately releasing all necessary funds to local authorities so they can become the vanguard of an effective and permanent programme fighting climate change across the UK and beyond.

 

11.5      MOTION TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR MAGUIRE

 

This Council is shocked, disgusted and saddened at the blatant attempt by the Government to destroy the system of standards in public life.  By whipping Conservative MPs in the Owen Paterson case to set aside the findings of the Committee on Standards report, the Government has shown complete contempt for Parliamentary democracy and decency.  

 

This is the latest, and most cynical, act of this Government to trample all over the rules that govern Parliamentary accountability to ensure one of its own MPs would get away with breaking the rules.  It was a clear act of corruption.  It sets an appalling example to young people and to the country and inflicts huge damage on our reputation worldwide.  

 

This Council condemns the actions of this Government and calls on the Oppositions to support our call to all MPs of all political parties to resist attempts to undermine Parliamentary standards.

 

11.6       MOTION TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR MARIA ALEXANDROU

 

 Cervical Cancer Screening

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.

 

11.7       MOTION TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR JOANNE LABAN

 

This Council mourns the loss of Sir David Amess MP, who was killed performing his constituency duties on 15 October 2021.

 

This Council recalls the tragic loss of Jo Cox MP in 2016 and the attack on Stephen Timms MP in 2010. The death of Sir David represents the third such attack on a British parliamentarian in a little over a decade.

 

This Council restates the power of democratic politics to make a positive difference to people’s lives and recognises that politicians of all parties are overwhelmingly dedicated, decent people discharging their democratic duties as best they can.

 

This Council asks that the Group Leaders collectively convey our condolences on the loss of Sir David and write to the Leaders of all political parties in Westminster to support measures that would see politicians at tiers of government kept safe and secure so that they continue working hard on behalf of their constituents.

 

11.8      MOTION TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR EDWARD SMITH

 

This Council supports the findings in the recent letter to all councillors from Andrew Boff, AM, Chair of the London Assembly's Planning and Regeneration Committee dated 2 September, which sets out the many disadvantages of residential high-rise buildings such as life-time costs, excessive density, impact on family lives, quality of design and post Covid 19 issues."

 

11.9      MOTION TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR ANDREW THORP

 

Recently the Scouts announced the launch of a new age group – Squirrels. This is Scouts for 4-5year olds, and it is particularly targeting wards disproportionately affected by the pandemic to help ensure all children have access to the same opportunities. Will the Council join me in welcoming the launch of Squirrels and help to promote uniformed youth organisations across the Borough so that they can reach the children and volunteers that need it most?

 

11.10   MOTION TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR MARIA ALEXANDROU

 

Low street lighting

Residents have raised concerns that the street lighting does
not produce a safe and even level of illumination across the public highways
and footpaths. The streetlights have been replaced with LED fixtures that are not being operated by the council at full capacity. In Bowes Ward the roads from Bounds Green to York Road have dark areas due to the dimmed lighting, creating a threatening situation, especially for women given the recent attacks highlighted in the news, with the potential for other criminal activity. Low level lighting results in an unsafe environment, residents fear venturing out for walks and daily routines therefore  dark streets are inhibiting active travel which compromises the climate change agenda. Natural surveillance is greatly reduced as there is less footfall and no passing cars since the introduction of the LTNs. This worsens the personal safety aspect.

 

This Chamber agrees to: 
· Listen to residents’ concerns
· Review the effectiveness of the street lighting across the borough and Bowes Ward in particular
· Make improvements to any deficiencies highlighted by the review
· Consider lighting fixtures with wider light dispersal
· Risk assessment on equality, active travel and crime impact

 

11.11  MOTION TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NAME OF COUNCILLOR MICHEAL RYE

 

This Council resolves:

· to require all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people

· to actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks

· to encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display.

Councillor Rawlings moved, and Councillor Laban seconded the below urgent  motion:

 

The reason why it is being submitted as an emergency motion is because the

statement made by José Manuel Entrecanales at COP26 happened on the

Monday after the Friday deadline for motions.

 

This Council resolves:

 

On (8 November 2021), Acciona’s CEO, José Manuel Entrecanales, during a COP26 panel event stated:

 

“The massive oversizing of the [Edmonton] plant is something that is beyond our control. It’s a specific issue of the plant. About the waste-to-energy concept, you would probably agree with me that it’s a transition mechanism — maybe not innLondon, that is a debatable argument.”

 

Acciona is the only remaining bidder left in the procurement process to win the

contract to redevelop the energy from waste (EfW) plant.

 

In response to Mr Entrecanales’ statement - we call on the Administration to carry out the following:

·         Call on the North London Waste Authority to pause the scheme; and

·         Call on the North London Waste Authority to review the project taking into account the most recent projections of waste arising, treatment capacity and the finances of the scheme which have doubled from £650 million to £1.2 billion.

 

Councillor Nesil Caliskan moved an amendment to the above motion:

 

This Council resolves:

 

On (8 November 2021), Acciona’s CEO, Jose? Manuel Entrecanales, during a COP26 panel event stated:

 

“The massive oversizing of the [Edmonton] plant is something that is beyond our control. It’s a specific issue of the plant. About the waste-to-energy concept, you would probably agree with me that it’s a transition mechanism — maybe not in London, that is a debatable argument.”

 

Acciona is the only remaining bidder left in the procurement process to win the contract to redevelop the energy from waste (EfW) plant.
 

In response to Mr Entrecanales’ statement – Enfield Council:

 

§ Calls on the North London Waste Authority to consider Mr Entrecanales’ comments in its 16^th December 2021 Authority meeting, and to offer reassurance to residents concerning the size of the proposed Energy Recovery Facility.

§ Will write to the Chair of the North London Waste Authority asking for their response to calls made for a ‘pause and review’ concerning the proposed Energy Recovery Facility.

§ Notes that a root and branch cost review was carried out for the project in 2019, in line with best practice on major infrastructure projects; and calls on the NLWA to continue to scrutinise costs and rigorously monitor expenditure to ensure value for money.

§ Urges the North London Waste Authority to redouble its efforts to educate residents on the benefits of recycling and its positive effect on fighting climate change.

 

Following discussion the amended motion was AGREED.