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.

RESOLVED:

To note the filming procedure

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were apologies received from Cllr Chandwani.

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 19 below. New items of exempt business will be dealt with at Item 22 below).

There was none.

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 Hakata declared a prejudicial interest as a former governor of Tiverton Primary School and recused himself for item 16.

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 20: 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.

There were none.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2025 as a correct record.

The minutes of the previous meeting, dated 21 January 2025, were discussed

RESOLVED:

The minutes of the previous meeting, dated 21 January 2025, were approved as a true and accurate record of proceedings.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

There were none.

Matters arising from Housing, Planning & Development Scrutiny Panel – Undertaking a review of the Housing Register  - To be introduced by the Scrutiny Panel Chair for Housing, Planning and Development.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader)  to respond to the recommendation.

The Scrutiny Budget Recommendations will be considered as part of Item 9.

The Scrutiny Panel Chair for Housing, Planning and Development introduced the report of the Housing, Planning & Development Scrutiny Panel – Undertaking a review of the Housing Register.

It was explained that the Panel had resolved to submit a formal recommendation to Cabinet, that the Council should undertake a review of the housing register and that the Council should write to everyone on the housing register and ask them to provide an updated return on their current housing status. It was felt that the most appropriate time to do this was as part of the consultation process for the updated housing allocations policy.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader) outlined the response to the recommendations, explaining that, as part of the implementation process of a revised Housing Allocation Policy, the Council would need to reassess all existing applications against any changes to assessment criteria. It was explained that this would include ensuring that the Council had up to date information for all existing applicants on which to base an accurate assessment against the new policy. It was explained that, as part of this process, applicants would be invited confirm or otherwise update their current circumstances. It was additionally explained that. following implementation of the new the new policy, the Council would ask for applications to be renewed and conduct reviews of applications at regular intervals. It was explained that the approach would be set out in the draft policy that will go out to consultation.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

• Agreed with the scrutiny recommendation to contact everyone on the housing register and take forward a review of the register, in order to ascertain the extent to which the information held by the Council was up to date and whether, in light of the length of time some people spend on the register, their housing needs had changed.

Report of the Director of Finance. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Finance Corporate Services.

details of the proposed General Fund (GF) Budget for 2025/26; the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2025/30, as well as the capital programme. It also includes the proposed dedicated school's budgets for 2025/26.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services introduced the report. It was explained that Haringey was a borough rich in diversity, creativity and talent. It was also noted that it was a borough where life expectancy dropped eight years from west to east and where levels of deprivation were amongst the highest in the country. It was explained that the Council’s driving ambition was to create a fairer and greener borough, where everyone could belong and thrive.

It was explained that it was within those parameters that the Council budget was set, noting that, after successive changes to the funding formulae from 2010, Haringey lost circa £143m to our budget. It was additionally explained that Haringey was also still considered an outer London borough for funding purposes (although an inner London borough for statistical ones) and receives less funding than our inner London neighbours. In the current financial year, like other boroughs, Haringey had seen significant increases in the demand for and cost of local services. It was particularly noted that there had been increases in adult social care and temporary accommodation and that the cost of temporary accommodation increased by 68% in London last year.

It was noted that, while significant savings were proposed, the Council had worked very hard to protect the local services that residents rely on and need.

It was explained that, in 2025/26, the Council would invest almost £1bn to deliver local public services. It was explained that the Council would build hundreds of new council homes, help hundreds of people into work, fix hundreds of roads and pavements, plant hundreds of street trees, among many other key actions to make this borough fairer and greener. It was explained that this was being undertaken, not only because it is the right thing to do, in a borough such as Haringey, but because many of local services were preventative. It was noted that further cuts to frontline services could result in increased costs to statutory services, with residents and the Council less resilient in the face of increased need.

It was explained that the Council applied to the government for a maximum of £37m in Exceptional Financial Support (EFS). It was explained that this was required in order for us to set a balanced budget. For the future, it was explained that the Council would continue to work to reduce costs and to make every penny count and minimise use of EFS as much as possible. It was noted that, in the longer term, the Council need fair funding reform from the government. The government is reviewing funding allocations to local government and is due to have proposals for 2026/27. The Council was pressing for change to make sure that funding is driven by local need.

The Cabinet Member explained that they were grateful for the funding allocated to the Council by the new government from the Recovery Grant, which was based on levels of deprivation and Haringey’s relatively low Council Tax base.

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 132.

Report of the Director of Finance. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, and Deputy Leader of the Council.

This report is for the Council to set a business plan for its Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 2025/26 & its Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2025/26-29/30

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, and Deputy Leader of the Council introduced the report. It was explained that Haringey was committed to fairer housing, explaining that means making sure residents had safe, stable, warm and comfortable homes. It was noted that the Council invested the HRA (Housing Revenue Account) into repairing and renovating existing Council homes and into building new homes for people on the waiting list. It was explained that the Council wanted both existing Council tenants and new Council tenants to live in high quality homes and that more families and individuals in the borough who needed the security of social housing to be able to set down roots and thrive. It was explained that key investments made in existing council homes included: improving kitchens and bathrooms; keeping estates safer, and; keeping homes warm and dry – and making homes cheaper to heat.

It was explained that investment in new Council homes and renovation work to existing council homes would help reduce the need for future expenditure on repairs.

The Cabinet Member explained that, as well as capital investment, the HRA delivered important services to tenants and leaseholders, including tenancy services, income services (including the financial inclusion service), estates and neighbourhood services. It was noted that that residents that need support would be able to live well in their homes and communities utilising these services.

It was stressed that setting a sustainable HRA had become significantly more challenging in recent years. It was noted that higher interest rates and inflation were driving up costs across the board and that construction costs had been rising for some years, increasing the cost of repairs and important building safety works. It was explained that, at times, Council rent rises were kept below inflation, either by national government or by local councils, with a series of 1% rent cuts between 2016 and 2020 and a sub-inflation rise in 2023-24. The Council were able to continue to provide services to tenants and leaseholders, to invest in their homes and to build thousands of new council homes over time, a major programme that is delivering genuinely affordable homes that local people need.

In response to comments and questions from Cllr Cawley-Harrison, the following information was shared:

·         That new builds go through a value engineering process to ensure that development contracts offer the best value for money at the time.

·         That Long-Term Voids, those that required major structural works, had work nearly completed, and that the Voids team has been exceeding targets. It was noted that there was an impetus to continue and expand this work.

·         Officers explained that the business plan had reduced the cost of the housing delivery programme by 14% through good procurement and forward planning.

·         Officers explained that they had increased the budget in the Housing Revenue Account to support target of delivery of additional homelessness discharge acquisitions and that the Council had also applied to the Greater London Authority (GLA) for additional funding for acquisition of Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 133.

Report of the Director of Children’s Services. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families.

The report requests Cabinet determine the proposed admission arrangements for the school year 2026/27.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families introduced the report. It was explained that, as a result of a very full consideration of all the available evidence, that the Cabinet Member recommended that Cabinet agree to determine the Council’s admission arrangements for the academic year 2026/27 and that the proposal to reduce the published admission number (PAN) for the primary and secondary schools be agreed.

In response to comments and questions from Cllrs Hakata and Cawley-Harrison, the following information was shared:

·         The Cabinet Member stressed that birth rates across London had decreased significantly, which had led to a substantial decrease in pupil numbers. Officers explained that they had undertaken strategic decisions to plan for future pupil numbers and helped schools to additionally plan for these numbers, including working with school Governing Bodies to potentially redeploy and restructure staff dependant on school pupil numbers.

·         The Cabinet Member explained that work had been undertaken to understand the contributing factors to the reduction of pupil numbers in the borough. It was explained that there were many different factors, including the impact of the housing market on decisions to start a family. It was explained that the Council was undertaking work, wherever possible, to build family homes to help alleviate these limiting factors. Officers explained that officers within the Planning team work closely with Children’s Services Directorate to ensure that school place planning was undertaken effectively and that family housing policies were strengthened wherever possible.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1. Considered and took into account the feedback from the consultation undertaken.
   
   
2. Considered and took into account the equalities impact assessment of the proposals on protected groups.
   
   
3. Agreed to proceed with the proposal to reduce the published admission number (PAN) for the primary and secondary schools from September 2026.
   
   
4. Agreed the Council’s admission arrangements for the academic year 2026/27.
   
   
5. Agreed Haringey’s fair access protocol to come into force from 1 March 2025.
   
   
6. Agreed that the determined arrangements for all maintained primary and secondary schools in the borough should be published on the Council’s website by 15 March 2025, with an explanation of the right of any person or body, under the School Admissions (Admission Arrangements and Co-ordination of Admission Arrangements) Regulations 2012, to object to the Schools Adjudicator in specified circumstances . 

Reasons for decision

In common with many London authorities, Haringey had been experiencing a decrease in demand for reception school places for several years. The reasons for Haringey’s declining numbers were multifaceted, but included a combination of falling birth rates, changes to welfare benefits, the housing crisis, increases in the cost of living, the withdrawal of the right of entry and freedom of movement from EU nationals (Brexit) and families leaving London during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of these factors remained outside the Council’s control and are at no fault of the schools or their current leadership.

A report on Managing falling school rolls in London published by London Councils in January 2024 provided some wider context and independent analysis of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134.

Report of the Director of Environment & Resident Experience. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport.

The report seeks to propose a strategy to allocate carbon offset contributions.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport introduced the report. The Cabinet Member explained the proposed strategy for allocating £2.23 million from our Carbon Offset Fund over the next four years to deliver carbon reduction projects across Haringey. It was explained that it was not always possible for developments to achieve net zero carbon. In these instances, the London Plan allowed developers to offset residual emissions through cash-in-lieu contributions. These would feed into Haringey's Carbon Offset Fund, providing a source of funding to deliver strategic carbon reduction projects in the borough.

It was explained that the proposed projects would form a core part of delivering on the Climate Change Action Plan and achieving the target for Haringey to be net zero carbon by 2041. The projects proposed were based on ideas from and with support across the Council and the community. The seven projects span initiatives to decarbonise our corporate estate, support community action, tackle fuel poverty, increase urban tree planting, and drive behaviour change. 

It was explained that the allocation included provision for the next four years of the Haringey Community Carbon Fund. This fund empowers residents and community groups to deliver grassroots carbon reduction projects, and is a shining example of the Haringey Deal principles of co-production and community collaboration in action.

It was stressed that the Community Carbon Fund was a key tool in our arsenal as we rise to the challenge of the Climate Emergency and build a greener, cleaner and more sustainable Haringey.

In response to comments and questions from Cllr Ovat and Cawley-Harrison, the following information was shared:

·         It was explained that the last round of Community Carbon Fund applications had been completed and there had been a number of submissions. It was noted that there were a broad range of applications to the fund and that this was a positive for the borough.

·         That there was a need to ensure the Council uses its leverage to get best results and that they were working to finalise work on a number of carbon efficient projects across the borough, including eco-schools.

·         That the criteria for the Community Carbon Fund was developed collaboratively and that they were: the effectiveness of reducing carbon, Value for Money, community engagement, and whether there any other permissions/consents that were required. It was explained that the service would work with other portfolio leads to measure and ensure effectiveness of these criteria across completed projects.

·         That schemes were selected by aligning with projects that were currently within the current Capital Programme and ensure that they projects aligned with carbon offset requirements.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1. Approved the use of £2.23 million of carbon offset monies collected from Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for the seven carbon reduction programmes and their administration, with the aspiration to use this funding to leverage in match funding to support the delivery of these projects and to maximise impact:
   1. £0.64 million to the extension of the Haringey Community Carbon Fund  ...  view the full minutes text for item 135.

Report of the Director of Adults, Health and Communities. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing.

This report seeks approval to award the new contract for the North Central London (NCL) - Integrated Sexual Health Service to Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL)

The Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing introduced the report. It was explained that sexual and reproductive health was an area of commissioning that benefited from the transfer of Public Health Services into the local authority.  Faced with escalating costs and poor outcomes, the Council had, over the past 10 years, implemented a broad range of new sexual health services which improved the offer locally, sub-regionally and London wide. Where it’s better for residents, the Council maintained services locally. It was explained that young people prefer a choice of in- borough services, and so the Council implemented two dedicated young people’s clinics. Women also want to access Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) locally, and so they can either access our Haringey based clinic or go to one of 17 Haringey General Practices. It was stressed that equity remained a priority and Haringey was proud of its sexual health outreach service aimed at our ethnically diverse population and our 25 Healthy Living pharmacies offering a range of sexual health provision to residents of all age groups. It was noted that, more recently, many residents have shifted their regular testing to using the Sexual Health London (SHL) pan-London online testing service, which Haringey is part of commissioning.

It was explained that residents with complex sexual and reproductive needs would require access to a Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) and Contraception and Sexual Health (CaSH) clinic service. These types of clinics were open access, meaning residents can choose to use any clinic in England. Most Haringey residents access a service in North Central London (NCL) because these clinics had good transport links, extended opening hours and long-established reputations. It was noted that there continued to be benefits to Haringey residents in the commissioning of these services as an NCL sub-regional partnership in terms of ensuring high quality provision and stimulating innovation and the efficient use of limited NHS resources.

In response to comments and questions from Cllr Cawley-Harrison, the following information was shared:

·         That the Council would take a balanced and strategic approach to service provision and that there was a diverse programme to deliver required services to residents effectively.

·         Officers explained, following questions about the higher rates of HIV within Haringey than the national average, that they had undertaken work across communities most at risk of HIV and taken preventative measures and helped increase access to medicines with those groups.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.               Agreed to approve the award of contract for the provision of the (NCL) Integrated Sexual Health (ISH) service to Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL)via a Direct Award (process C) under the Provider Select Regime (PSR).

2.               Agreed that the contract shall be for a period of three years commencing 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028 plus two extensions of one-year each. For the avoidance of doubt, the maximum contract length will be five years, inclusive of extension period.

3.               Agreed that the estimated contract value for Haringey was £2,139,743  ...  view the full minutes text for item 136.

Report of Director of Placemaking & Housing. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Local Economy

This report asks to approve the policies that are one of the action plans of the Corporate Property Model (CPM). The Facilities Management Policy and the Premises Responsible Persons Policy seeks to ensure clarity about roles and responsibilities in managing operational buildings by putting in place a clearer set of governing documents for the service.

The Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Local Economy introduced the report. It was explained that the Council’s operational buildings had an important role to play in the life of the borough. It was stressed that Council buildings were the setting of innumerable interactions between Council services, voluntary and community services, and the residents of the borough, where people come seeking to access services, to get support at difficult times in their life, and to engage in the cultural and civic life of the borough. It was additionally stressed that they were also a physical manifestation of the civic pride as part of Haringey.

The Cabinet Member explained that there was an importance of strengthening how we manage property, through the development of the Strategic Asset Management and Property Improvement Plan (SAMPIP).  It was explained that proposals laid down foundations of a clear and stronger facilities management offer, recasts the relationship between the central facilities team and Council services, and committed to high standards in how all of the council’s buildings would be managed.

In response to comments and questions from Cllr Cawley-Harrison, the following information was shared:

·         The Cabinet Member explained that an annual report to monitor progress against the Strategic Asset Management and Property Improvement Plan objectives which would be returned to Cabinet in order to monitor progress.

·         Officers explained that the Council had a thorough knowledge of the condition of local buildings and undertake frequent compliance checks to assess need of repairs and maintenance. It was explained that any assessment which determined a need for investment to ensure adequate condition would be included within the Capital Programme. 

·         The Cabinet Member explained the investment plan and noted that all buildings were assessed through a clear process to determine purpose, requirement and potential future investment or disposal opportunities.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approved the Facilities Management and Premises Responsible Persons Policies that will support implementation of the Corporate Property Model.

Reasons for decision

Facilities Management (FM) services ensure Council buildings were compliant, safe and well maintained. The FM Policy and Premises Responsible Persons (PRP) Policy were essential elements of the Corporate Property Model (CPM) that clearly define the following:

• The FM Policy set out overall objectives for the FM service and defined the service provision to the various building types outlined in the policy.
• The PRP Policy clearly defined the split in responsibilities between the FM team (as corporate landlord) and service ‘tenants’, and how we would identify/confirm who takes day-to-control of each building.

These policies would ensure greater efficiency and clarity in FM service provision  which will ultimately benefit residents, community organisations and council staff.

Alternative options considered

Do Nothing – without these policies there would be a lack of clarity and control over the services that could potentially lead to wasted resources and a negative impact on overall delivery of the CPM.

Report of the Director of Placemaking & Housing. To be presented by the Cabinet Member Housing and Planning, and Deputy Leader of the Council

This report is to provide an overview of the Housing service’s performance between 2023 and 2024.

The Cabinet Member Housing and Planning, and Deputy Leader of the Council introduced the report. It was explained that, as a Council landlord, the Council was obliged by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) to be accountable, accessible and transparent in the way we deliver services. The Housing Annual Report supported that obligation by providing residents and stakeholders with a review of what the Council had done to maintain good quality and safe homes; to support neighbourhoods and communities; and manage our tenancy services well. It also provided tenant satisfaction data, complaints figures and a breakdown of budget allocation and how the Council had spent the income received.

It was explained that the report for 2023-24 described ongoing priorities and next steps to continue the transformation process set out in the Housing Improvement Plan. It sets out the progress made in respect of:

·         compliance with fire and electrical safety standards

·         making more homes decent

·         delivering major works schemes

·         tackling repairs issues

·         improving tenancy management and continued support for tenants with the cost-of-living crisis and migration to Universal Credit

·         involving residents in shaping services through resident engagement framework.

It was explained that the report also reflected a positive shift in around half of our tenant satisfaction measures. The Cabinet Member noted that the Council was meeting regularly the Housing Regulator and Housing Ombudsman while rolling out the Improvement Plan and had positive feedback from them in 2024, confirming that the service is moving in the right direction. It was stressed that the service needed to keep up this momentum in the coming year, particularly around improving the repairs service, resolving and damp and mould issues and learning from complaints, where performance remains below average.

In response to comments and questions from Cllr Cawley-Harrison, the following information was shared:

• Officers explained that the Council was exceeding the 95% target of leasehold charges collection.
  
  
• Complaints handling, and whether there will be a change in approach to handle complaints. The Cabinet Member explained that there had been an Increased numbers of complaints which had increased the number of complaints which had not been resolved, however, it was stressed that the number of complaints that had been resolved had also increased. However, it was explained that, in order to increase satisfaction, the Council would need to increase capacity.
  
  
• Officers explained that the costs on supervision on management included supervision and tenancy management and supported living services, which were people management services received by tenants.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Noted and approved the Housing Annual Report 2023-24, so that it can be made available to tenants, leaseholders and other stakeholders on the council’s website.

Reasons for decision

The Council had committed to improve its housing services. It was essential that it was transparent about what it delivers: the landlord services it provided to tenants and leaseholders; the work it was doing to maintain and improve homes; the ways it supported the communities it manages; how it was spending the money it receives from rents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 138.

Report of the Director of Children’s Services. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families.

This paper seeks to report on the outcome of the six week pre-publication consultation on the options for the future of Tiverton Primary School and seek agreement to move to the next stage of the process, the publication of a statutory proposal to close the school.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families introduced the report. It was explained that there was a need to ensure that every child and young person, wherever they live in the borough, deserved an excellent education and that the Council were committed to supporting our schools to continue to deliver high-quality teaching, learning and support across Haringey. In recent years, as widely reported, Haringey, like many other London local authority (LA) areas, had been experiencing a significant decrease in pupil numbers, which caused some schools to face serious and irreversible financial and sustainability pressures. It was stressed that the critical London wide factors of lower birth rates; the cap on rent benefits; families leaving the capital as a result of the housing crisis; Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a reduction in demand for primary school places in the borough which was no fault of the Council or our schools. It was noted that school leaders and the Council were working to mitigate the risks from falling rolls where schools fall into financial deficit. Haringey officers were working with schools locally to progress a number of approaches, with a focus on preventing the escalation of risk to those in scope for potential closure or amalgamation. The approaches used included measures to reduce costs; such as restructuring school staffing levels, reducing the amount of available support staff, limiting extracurricular activity such as school trips, ‘vertical grouping’ by combining different year groups in some schools, formally reducing and capping reception and in-year classes, and for some schools the need to agree financial deficit recovery plans with the local authority.

It was explained that the Council had a statutory duty to ensure there were sufficient high quality school places for our children, and that places were planned effectively. This financial pressure had a significant impact on schools and threatens the stability and quality of our education system. It was stressed that the Council must continue to ensure that every single child had access to an excellent education that allowed them to fulfil their potential and achieve their ambitions.

The Cabinet Member explained that significant concerns were raised about the school’s long-term sustainability, risks to the school’s financial viability and its ability to attract to new pupils. The latter is, in large part, due to a declining birth rate and the recent inspection outcome. It was explained that, having undertaken a full pre-publication consultation to identify a best solution, the Cabinet Member recommended to Cabinet that the Council now proceeds to publishing the relevant statutory notice on the proposal to close Tiverton Primary School. It was explained that, if the final decision was to progress with closure, that the Council would ensure that all families of displaced pupils were well-supported via the in-year admissions process to transition to an alternative school. It was explained that there were children on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) register attending Tiverton Primary that would need to be well supported, including 12 pupils with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 139.

Report under General Exception

Report of the Director of Children’s Services. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families introduced the report. It was explained that there was a need to ensure that every child and young person, wherever they live in the borough, deserved an excellent education and that the Council were committed to supporting our schools to continue to deliver high-quality teaching, learning and support across Haringey. In recent years, as widely reported, Haringey, like many other London local authority (LA) areas, had been experiencing a significant decrease in pupil numbers, which caused some schools to face serious and irreversible financial and sustainability pressures. It was stressed that the critical London wide factors of lower birth rates; the cap on rent benefits; families leaving the capital as a result of the housing crisis; Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a reduction in demand for primary school places in the borough which was no fault of the Council or our schools. It was noted that school leaders and the Council were working to mitigate the risks from falling rolls where schools fall into financial deficit. Haringey officers were working with schools locally to progress a number of approaches, with a focus on preventing the escalation of risk to those in scope for potential closure or amalgamation. The approaches used included measures to reduce costs; such as restructuring school staffing levels, reducing the amount of available support staff, limiting extracurricular activity such as school trips, ‘vertical grouping’ by combining different year groups in some schools, formally reducing and capping reception and in-year classes, and for some schools the need to agree financial deficit recovery plans with the local authority.

It was explained by the Cabinet Member that data since 2012 showed an acute decline in demand for Catholic primary schools compared to non-faith schools in the borough. In 2012 the number of first place preferences for Catholic primary schools was 437. This dropped to 182 by 2024, thus 2024 demand for Catholic primary school places represented 42% of what it was in 2012. By contrast demand for non-Faith schools in Haringey in 2012 and 2024 was 2,313 and 2,142 respectively, 93% of the demand in 2012.

It was explained that the Council had a statutory duty to ensure there were sufficient high quality school places for our children, and that places were planned effectively. This financial pressure had a significant impact on schools and threatens the stability and quality of our education system. It was stressed that the Council must continue to ensure that every single child had access to an excellent education that allowed them to fulfil their potential and achieve their ambitions.

The Cabinet Member explained that there were significant concerns about the long-term sustainability in terms of the risks to the school’s financial viability and its ability to attract pupils to the school. The latter is as a result of a declining birth rate and sharp falls in demand for Faith places across Haringey. The Cabinet Member explained that they would recommend to Cabinet that the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 140.

To note the minutes of the following:

Cabinet Member Signing

21 January 2025 – 14.00

21 January 2025 – 18.00

30 January 2025 – 14.00

Corporate Parenting Advisory Panel

17 October 2024

The minutes of other bodies were discussed.

RESOLVED:

1. The minutes of other bodies were noted

As per item 3.

There were no items of urgent business.

Note from the Committees Manager

Items 21 to 22 allow for consideration of exempt information in relation to items 13.

TO RESOLVE

That the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as items 22- 23 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.

That the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as item 21 contains 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.

To consider exempt information pertaining to item 13.

Exempt Report by virtue of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 under the category (3) information in relation to financial or the business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information

The exempt information relating to the item on the Contract award for the North Central London (NCL)- Integrated Sexual Health Service to Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) was discussed.

RESOLVED:

To discuss exempt information

There was none.