An opportunity for the Committee to question Councillor Adje on his Cabinet portfolio.
Minutes:
Councillor Adje, Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Regeneration, responded to questions from the Committee:
a. The Cabinet Member noted that his main concerns were to ensure there was adequate funding for services to be provided for the people of the Borough, to ensure the Borough was secure, and that there was a balanced budget.
b. In terms of the Council’s finances, the Cabinet Member noted that everything was being done to ensure the Council had a balanced budget. Regarding the expected position of the Council’s finances in 2022, the Cabinet Member foresaw the Council’s finances being in a balanced position.
c. Regarding possible virements to high road works, the Cabinet Member explained that if the fund was ring-fenced then it would be difficult to vire the funds; however, if a case was made where there was a grant that was not ring-fenced, then it would be looked at whether that could be used to assist.
d. In terms of whether the budget was aligned with the manifesto, the Cabinet Member acknowledged that the two were aligned and were reflected in the Council’s Borough Plan.
e. Regarding a query on funding for a nursery, the Cabinet Member advised that normally the school would have a maintenance budget, and if the maintenance had not been dealt with or there were insufficient funds, then the teacher or the finance subgroup of the governing body needed to raise the issues to the Governors, and also appeal to the Director and Cabinet Member on how the service could assist. In terms of the repairs for the nursery, it was advised that an analysis of the repairs needed to be made and a business case prepared. The Chair suggested that the issues with the nursery could be picked up and discussed at the Children’s and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel, especially around budgeting. (Action: Cllr Dogan).
f. In terms of making Council Tax fairer, the Cabinet Member referred to the CTRS, which was part of the Borough Plan. Regarding raising funds, the Cabinet Member explained that the Council had to collect funds from small business through business rates, however, to assist small businesses, the Council provided a three-month discount or rent-free period when businesses started. The Cabinet Member understood that Council Tax payment was difficult for some people and highlighted that everything was being done to apply discounts for residents who were unable to meet their needs, for instance there were single persons discounts to assist those that lived alone. He noted that Council Tax was a statutory payment, and therefore, the Council had a responsibility to collect the money, and in some cases, bailiffs were used as enforcement.
g. Regarding a query on invest to save proposals in other portfolios, the Cabinet Member clarified that the term ‘invest to save’ should not be used loosely. Although there would be an input into the service, there would also be revenue costs, therefore consideration need to be made of whether there would be a yield on the return. The Cabinet Member mentioned that he had regular monthly meetings with officers within Adults and Social Care, and had held conversations with officers around invest to save proposals.
h. In terms of encouraging new businesses to invest in the Borough, the Cabinet Member noted that for instance, the Council encouraged businesses to use their shop as a meanwhile traded opportunity rather than be left vacant; and there were also three-month rent free periods and conversations around discounts on business rates for new business. The Cabinet Member positively highlighted the Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) on Wood Green High Road. Regarding Tottenham High Road, the Cabinet Member noted that there was a Tottenham High Road Strategy, which started from the Tottenham Spurs Stadium to Seven Sisters. The Cabinet Member offered to provide Cllr Dogan a copy of the Tottenham High Road Strategy. (Action: Cllr Adje).
i. The Committee raised concerns regarding funding issues faced by voluntary sector nurseries. In response the Cabinet Member reiterated that those matters should be referred to the relevant Director and Cabinet Member as there were possibly funds available in the service. The Cabinet Member suggested that if there were no funds available, then a conversation with the Director of Finance would be required, and possibly a political discussion would be required on the matter.
j. The Committee suggested that it would be useful to assist struggling businesses in the Borough by having finance for Town Centre managers. In response, the Cabinet Member noted that he was pleased Cllr Connor was due to meet Cllr Gideon Bull, the Cabinet Member for Local Investment and Economic Growth, and he trusted that Cllr Bull would address the matter.
k. Regarding the query around the St Ann’s site, the Cabinet Member noted that the site did not belong to the Council. In terms of the amount of social housing that could be asked for the site, the Cabinet Member clarified that it was a planning matter. The Cabinet Member mentioned that when he had a conversation with Mr James Murray, GLA Deputy Mayor of Housing and Residential Development, he understood that 50% affordable housing was wanted because it was a GLA site. The Cabinet Member noted that the Council could use its influence to have conversations with the GLA regarding social or keyworker housing on that site; however, it was something that would arise during the Planning Permission process. The Chair suggested that this discussion could be picked up at the Housing and Regeneration Panel (Action: Cllr Moyeed).
l. Regarding the Council developing the capacity to build its own homes, the Cabinet Member noted that recruitment of key specialist officers was underway and that Homes for Haringey were involved in this process.
The Cabinet Member thanked the Committee for inviting him and commended the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s involvement in the proposed Invest to Save programme in Children’s Services. The Cabinet Member suggested that in future the Overview and Scrutiny Committee should also look at underperforming contracts. The Chair noted that this would be picked up as part of a separate conversation (Action: Chair & Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Regeneration).