Agenda and minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. 

By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Chair referred to the filming at meetings notice and attendees noted this information.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were apologies for absence from Cllr das Neves and apologies for lateness from Cllr Gordon.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Business. (Late items of Urgent Business will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items of Urgent Business will be dealt with under Item 17 below. New items of exempt business will be dealt with at Item 21 below).

There were no items of urgent business.

A Member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:

(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and

(ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.

A Member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Cllr Arkell declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item 9 and would recuse herself from the meeting for this item.

Cllr Hakata and Cllr Chandwani declared personal interests in item 9, and stated for the record that they did not own or have access to a motor vehicle and therefore were not eligible for application to receive permits through the estate management scheme.

On occasions part of the Cabinet meeting will be held in private and will not be open to the public if an item is being considered that is likely to lead to the disclosure of exempt or confidential information. In accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 (the “Regulations”), members of the public can make representations about why that part of the meeting should be open to the public.

This agenda contains exempt items as set out at Item 18: Exclusion of the Press and Public. No representations with regard to these have been received.

This is the formal five clear day notice under the Regulations to confirm that this Cabinet meeting will be partly held in private for the reasons set out in this Agenda.

None received

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2023 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 5^th of December 2023 as a correct record of the meeting.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

There were no deputations received.

For Cabinet to note (if any).

No items received.

Report of the Director of Placemaking and Housing. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters, and Planning.

To deliver an improved and co-produced in-house parking enforcement and permit service to circa 150 estates across the borough.

(Cllr Arkell left the room for this item)

The Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters and Planning introduced the report which sought approval to amendments to the Estate Parking Management Scheme (EPMS), as approved at Cabinet on 8 December 2020 following the insourcing of the former Homes for Haringey into Haringey Council. This report also sought approval for funding of the scheme as set out in section 11 of the attached report.

(Cllr Gordon entered the meeting at 6.39pm)

The following information was outlined by the Cabinet Member:

-       The proposed scheme would make estate parking fairer by guaranteeing every household have access to one parking permit, providing dedicated disabled parking bays to those who need them, ensuring the swift removal of abandoned cars, and preventing trespassing. 

-       The new scheme would be introduced using traffic management orders and enforced by our Parking Services’ civil enforcement officers.

-       An insourced service would monitor estate parking more frequently and more effectively.

-       A limit of one permit per household was proposed to reduce parking pressure on estates and discourage excessive car use in line with Council climate and air quality commitments.

-       To allow social care staff, NHS health professionals, charity, or not-for-profit employees to provide care to residents, the existing Care at Home parking permit would allow parking both on streets and on estates. The parking process would be more straightforward by bringing estate parking in line with parking across the borough, meaning there would no longer be a need for two separate permits. 

-       Permits would be available for less than 14 pence a day. The permit charge was in place solely to cover to cost of the scheme.

-       There was a commitment to review the parking schemes annually.

In response to questions from Cllr Hakata and Cllr da Costa, the following information was provided.

-       With regards to meeting residents needs for bike parking and making provision for future increased need, this would be picked up in the engagement process. There would need to be consideration that each housing estate would have differing needs, and this will be explored more fully in the planned engagement.

-       Furthermore, in line with the delegation provided to the Cabinet Member to manage consultation and engagement with estate residents, she would ensure that provision of cycling parking was considered as part of the consultation.

-       If there were circumstances where residents wanted an extra permit, they could purchase CPZ permits to park. This would be through the same Council system used for CPZ permits and visitor permits.

-       Haringey housing fleet vehicles would not need a permit to park on the estates, but private contractors would need a visitor permit.

RESOLVED

1. To note that, before a final decision to implement the proposals may be taken, any representations submitted to the Council following consultation under s105 Housing Act 1985 must be considered; and delegates authority to the Director of Placemaking and Housing, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing Services,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

Report of the Director of Placemaking and Housing. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters, and Planning.

This is the annual report that the Housing Ombudsman obliges the Council to produce. It reviews the performance of the Council's Housing service in line with the tenancy standards set out by the Ombudsman and includes tenant satisfaction and financial data.  The Council were given extra time to produce the report for 2022/23 by the Ombudsman because of the service being brought in house.

(Cllr Arkell returned to the room at 6.46pm)

The Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters and Planning, introduced the Housing Annual report 2022- 23 which the Council were obliged to produce by the Housing Regulator.

The Cabinet Member outlined that the Annual Report for 2022-23 provided a retrospective view of performance since the Council brought housing services back in house, and progress against commitments to improve it. It described progress in respect of compliance with fire and electrical safety standards; the support the Council had provided to tenants through the cost-of-living crisis; and involvement of residents in the key decisions along with the improvement journey.

The Cabinet Member expressed that there were still significant challenges, and it was important that the Council were open and transparent about these. There was more to do to tackle the repairs backlog; damp and mould issues and boost tenant satisfaction and the Council were determined to improve in these areas in the coming year.

In response to questions from Cllr da Costa, the following was noted.

-       The Cabinet Member was aware of the incoming new statutory requirements for emergency repairs in 24 hours, 7 days for other repairs and damp and mould inspections in 14 days and the Council would respond to the government requirements The Assistant Director for Operational Housing and Buildings added that the Council were already working to these timescales and already working to complete emergency repairs within 24 hours . Also within the Housing Improvement Plan there was a particular action to launch a new category to do repairs in five days rather than the seven days as stipulated by the government. With regards to damp and mould, the Cabinet had already agreed a policy which required inspection of reports of damp and mould in properties within 14 days.

-       On addressing tenant dissatisfaction with the repairs service, this was a retrospective report and there were measures to improve tenant satisfaction. There was confidence that this would improve as the new tenant boards and engagement activities continued.

-       Page 11 of the annual report indicated that resident involvement over the last year had generated over £2million in social value and the Assistant Director for Operational Housing would provide Cllr da Costa with a written response on how this had been calculated.

-       The service had implemented a number of changes to improve the culture, with new management within the service, increasing visibility of housing officers, introducing new performance matrix and having a new governance in place as well.

RESOLVED

To note and approve the Housing Annual Report 2022-23 attached as Appendix 1 so that it can be made available to tenants and leaseholders on the Council’s website.

Reasons for decision

It is essential that the Council is transparent about the landlord services it

provides to tenants and leaseholders; explains the work it is doing to improve its services; and how it is spending the money it receives from tenants’ rents.

Alternative options considered

As a social landlord, we  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

Report of the Director of Environment and Resident Experience. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Local Investment.

Determining the additional Council Tax payable on second homes in accordance with the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. This decision will further progress to Full Council for adoption.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Local Investment introduced the report which set out a proposed increase in Council Tax charge for dwellings which are substantially furnished and have no resident (which are colloquially known as “second homes”). It was proposed that a 100% premium should apply in such circumstances.

In response to questions from Cllr Hakata and Cllr da Costa, the following information was provided:

-       In relation to the threshold for assessing if a second home, this did not have to be a year and could be a lower period where there were reasons to understand that the properties were being let or the properties were left open for periods of time without anybody living in them. This proposal only came into effect in the next year and would provide some time to acquire the required market information in the course of this year.

-       For properties that were between lets and whether these would be liable for the 100% extra just for the period they were vacant, this policy would not affect a property where there was nobody living there. Also, if it was not furnished it would be dealt with in the empty dwellings policy also on the agenda.

-       The Director for Finance clarified that the Council were expecting £900k income and that additional income was not hypothecated.

RESOLVED

To recommends to Full Council that it determines that –

1.          For any dwelling within the area of the Council if, on any day, there is no

resident of that dwelling and it is substantially furnished, the following shall

apply:

i. the discount in s11(2)(a) of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992

(LGFA) shall not apply to that dwelling; and

ii. the amount of council tax payable in respect of that dwelling and that day

shall be increased by 100 percent.

Reasons for decision

Council Tax legislation changed allowing councils to charge a premium of up to 100% on dwellings where there is no resident, and it is substantially furnished.

Applying the 100% premium has the potential to bring additional income which would help lessen the councils funding pressures in 2025.

An increased premium may encourage those using properties in the borough as second homes to relinquish them thus becoming available to those who live in the borough on a permanent basis.

 Due consideration has been given to circumstances where the reason a

dwelling is empty and furnished is because it is between lets. However, the

new legislation does not provide for any interim period (e.g., a two-week grace

period) before the premium is applied and instead, it applies with immediate effect. Charging the premium in this type of scenario would likely incentivise the properties to be brought back into use as soon as practicable.

The Council will continue to have the means to reduce or remove Council Tax liability under section 13A (1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (e.g., cases where there is exceptional hardship).

Alternative options considered

Not applying the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

Report of the Director of Environment and Resident Experience. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Local Investment.

Reducing the period before the premium on empty property is applied from two years to one year in accordance with the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. This decision will further progress to Full Council for adoption.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Local Investment introduced the report which set out the proposed reduction in time that a property can remain empty before the premium on Council Tax is charged on long-term empty dwellings.

The additional 100% council tax charge on properties that have been empty for more than one year was designed to encourage owners to act with urgency and ensure that empty buildings are brought into use in a timely manner. 

In response to questions from Cllr Arkell and Cllr Hakata, the following was noted:

-      This was one of the policies and powers that the Council was using to bring empty homes back into use. Where properties were empty for a considerable period of time, there was legal intervention undertaken to take possession of those properties. This was more of a complicated process but still taken forward, in line with the Council commitment to bring as much housing into use for families as possible.

-      It was estimated that in London there were about 34,000 long term empty dwellings, and in Haringey probably more than 1000. The proposed new policy reduced the timescale from two years empty dwelling to one-year empty dwelling and would enable more properties to fall into this category, meaning more ability to take action.

-      The Council Tax team were developing a mechanism so that residents can report empty properties through the website and officers would work with communications team on publicity to make sure people are aware of that.

RESOLVED

To recommend to Full Council that –

1. With effect from 1 April 2024, that a determination be made that a premium shall be applied to long term empty dwellings as defined in s11B(8) of Local Government Finance Act (LGFA) 1992 (as amended from time to time), and that the amount of council tax payable in respect of that dwelling and that day shall be increased by 100 percent.

2. That a determination be made that, if on any day a dwelling is a long-term

empty dwelling, the discount in s11(2)(a) of LGFA shall not apply to that

dwelling.

3. Notes that until 1 April 2024, the decision made by Full Council in January

2019 in relation to the premium payable in respect of long-term empty

dwellings, shall continue in full force and effect.

4. Notes that the premium shall not apply to dwellings that are exempt under

Regulations 9 and 10 of the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings)

(England) Regulations 2003.

Reasons for decision

In January 2019 full council agreed to increase the premium charged on longterm empty dwellings from 50% to 100% from 1 April 2019.

At that point, a dwelling was defined as a “long-term empty dwelling” if for a continuous period of at least 2 years ending with that day it had been

unoccupied, and substantially unfurnished.

With effect from 1 April 2024, the definition of long-term empty dwelling in

s.11B(8) LGFA has been amended by section 79 of the Levelling-up and

Regeneration Act 2023 to substitute “1  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

Report of the Director of Environment and Resident Experience. To be introduced by  the Cabinet Member for Resident Services &Tackling Inequality.

Outcome of the statutory consultation on the introduction of a number of changes to the Essential Service Permit (ESP) scheme, which supports local authority services, NHS health professionals, charities, faith groups, and organisations who provide healthcare, counselling or social care to Haringey residents.

The Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Resident Services & Tackling Inequality introduced the report which sought approval to implement changes to the Essential Service Permit scheme following the outcome of statutory consultation.

The Cabinet Member explained that the report and proposed decision acknowledges that there were services that operate in the borough that require vehicle access such social workers who do home visits or community-based services such as religious leaders who visit residents to give last rights.

The Council had conducted a review on the ESP's both in line with transport policies, but also to tighten up a very manual process.

The Cabinet Member highlighted the positive changes including new charges, for diesel surcharge to bring this permit in line with all other parking charges. Also, introducing Essential Service Permits to foster carers for the first time, following extensive co production work with children’s social services.

The Council were also introducing team permits with staff, so that staff did not have an individual annual permit for a specific car but received visitors permits instead.

In response to a question from Cllr da Costa regarding which services retain vehicle specific permits and the provision that will be made for this in the revised operational policy, it was noted that the aim was not to have a rigid policy that becomes unworkable in the future, and, at the moment, there was not a specific team in question. However, this could apply to teams that need that vehicle access every day such as civil enforcement officers.

RESOLVED

1. To consider all feedback including objections to the proposed order, given during the 2023 consultation, as set out in Appendix 4 of this report.
2.  that the Council shall exercise its discretion to not cause a public inquiry to be called.
3. That an allocation of 20 parking permits be issued to schools annually at a flat fee of £200 each, with an additional 10 available subject to a surcharge of £100 each.

4.   That Essential Service Permits issued to Council staff being transferable (‘Team’) permits, with provision retained for vehicle specific permits on a needs basis.

5.   That access for regulated foster carers with children up to the age of 15 years to the subsidised ESP scheme.

6.   To agree the change to charges as proposed in Appendix 1.

7.   To agree the delegation of authority to the Head of Highways and Parking to take all consequent steps necessary to implement the proposed measures in recommendations 3 to 6 above.

Reasons for decision.

This scheme allows those delivering essential services to residents to park in controlled parking zones (CPZs). Schools can also access the scheme which is required to support recruitment and retention as well as the efficient operation of the school. The scheme is reviewed periodically to ensure that it remains aligned with the Councils wider transport policies.

This review sought to address residents’ concerns about the impact of ESP holders parking on busy roads, without compromising the benefit of the scheme to users. The recommendations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

Report of the Director of Culture, Strategy, and Engagement. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Culture, Communities & Leisure.

Request to award the contract to preferred provider for the Capacity Building Partner for the Voluntary and Community Sector.

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Communities & Leisure introduced the report which detailed the outcome of an open tender process and sought approval to award the contract to the successful tenderer for the Provision of Capacity Building Partner for the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Haringey in accordance with Contract Standing Order (CSO) 9.07.1 (d).

The Cabinet Member highlighted the following:

-      The voluntary and charitable sector in Haringey played a vital role across the borough, supporting residents and providing services to different communities and the Council were committed to supporting the sector and to support a provider to provide advice and support.

-      The Council had redesigned the service specification to better meet the needs of the sector, and this had been informed through engagement with that sector.

-      The contract focused more strongly on capacity building and set out clear and transparent accountability to both the Council and the wider sector, ensuring equitable access to support and external funding opportunities.

-      The Council had carried out a robust and thorough open tender process toward a new contract to a provider who submitted a strong bid outlining their experience, expertise and commitment to providing services required and the outcomes specified in the tender documents.

-      Delivery against the contract will be regularly monitored, monitored on a quarterly basis to ensure key performance indicators were met and service outcomes were delivered.

-      Agreement was being sought to award this contract for three years starting on the 1st of April 2024.

In response to questions from Cllr da Costa, the following information was provided.

-      The Council were looking for a provider in a niche market as there were few organisations that are able to meet the contract specification. However, out of the organisations that did tender for this bid, they had set out some really strong outcomes that the Council want to deliver and to support the voluntary sector across Haringey in the future.

-      Regarding making contract monitoring performance publicly available, the Council would be working with the provider to develop a clear suite of public reporting indicators. The Council wanted the successful winning bidder partner to work with the voluntary sector to agree what the sector feels are the important outcomes that really mattered to them and then to agree what the mechanism of reporting and transparency would be. Therefore, the intention was to develop the performance indicators with the sector and with the  partner once appointed.

.

Further to considering exempt information at item 19,

RESOLVED

1. To approve the award of a contract to the successful tenderer, for the Provision of Capacity Building Partner for the Voluntary and Community Sector, in accordance with Contract Standing Order (CSO) 9.07.1(d). The successful bidder is identified under Appendix 1 - Part B (exempt information) of this report).

2. To approve the contract award for a period of three (3) years, commencing 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2027, with option to extend for further periods of up to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

To note the minutes of the following:

Cabinet Member Signing

30 November 2023 10am

30^th November 2023 1.30pm

4 December 2023

5 December 2023

7 December 2023 2pm

7 December 2023 3.30pm

12 December 1.30pm

RESOLVED

To note the following minutes:

Cabinet Member Signing

30 November 2023 10am

30^th November 2023 1.30pm

4 December 2023

5 December 2023

7 December 2023 2pm

7 December 2023 3.30pm

12 December 1.30pm

To note the delegated decisions taken by Directors.

To note the significant and delegated actions taken forward by Directors.

As per item 3.

None

Note from the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager

Items 19 and 20 allow for consideration of exempt information in relation to items 14 and 6.

TO RESOLVE

That the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as items 16 to 17 contain exempt information as defined under paragraphs 3 and 5, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as items 16 to 17 contain exempt information as defined under paragraphs 3 and 5, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings

As per item 14.

The exempt information was considered and recommendations approved as set out above.

To confirm and sign the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 5^th of December 2023 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

To approve the exempt minutes of the meeting held on the 5^th of December 2023.

As per item 3.

None