Agenda item

[Report of the Director for Customers, Transformation and Resources. To be introduced by the Leader of the Council]

This report sets out what will be delivered in the second year of the Council’s four-year Borough Plan (2019-23), including resource and budget considerations. It also looks back at what has been delivered in the first year of the plan.

The Leader introduced this report which set out what would be delivered in the second year of the Council’s four-year Borough Plan (2019-23), including resource and budget considerations. It also looked back at what had been delivered in the first year of the plan.

The Leader highlighted that the report focussed on what the Council had achieved so far, and what the Council needed to focus on in the year to come. There was a lot to be proud of. For example:

• On housing, the Council have restarted Council house building in Haringey and hired the people to deliver this ambitious programme; As of May, 350, of the first 1,000 planned Council homes will have started on site.
• From April this year, more care workers across Haringey would be paid the London Living Wage of £10.75 an hour – giving them the pay they deserve and further boosting spending power in our local economy.
• The real strides made to bring Council services in-house again.

The Leader noted there was still more to do, and that the Council was ambitious and optimistic about what can be achieved .The report demonstrated that real change was possible, that the Council was making real progress.

In response to questions from Councillors Hare, das Neves and Palmer, the following information was provided:

• Regarding recording base line satisfaction levels for park improvement, the Leader confirmed that the Council would continue to improve on that level, year on year.

• Regarding improving cycling infrastructure in the borough, the Leader noted this was the intention of the Council, however, consultation with residents was necessary on any proposed routes and that took time to complete. It was the aspiration of the borough to improve environmentally friendly transport options, such as improving cycling infrastructure. The Borough Plan outlined the steps the Council would take to becoming a healthier, active and greener place. Wherever possible, the Council would consult with residents to ensure that their views were considered in any proposals.

• Acknowledging the delay between the Fairness Commission’s consultation events and its reports publication date, the Leader noted there was a set process that needed to be adhered to in the production of the Fairness Commission’s report. That process included ensuring that those who participated in the consultation were satisfied with the report’s outcomes. The Leader assured that residents would be consulted in the future on the Fairness Commission’s progress as their views were integral.

• Regarding 1.6 – ‘Ensuring an appropriate mix of new supply in terms of family sized homes and supported/specialist housing’ Officers apologised for the apparently missing information and would explore locating and providing this information.[ It has since been clarified that the information against points 1.4 and 1.5 also applied to point 1.6 and that this was a presentational issue with the pagination of the report pack]

• Regarding the High Road West Scheme, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Regeneration noted the Council were in ongoing discussions with the Mayor of London to include more social homes. The Council had also been working with the local residents and businesses on the Scheme. The Cabinet Member noted there was a scrutiny review of the Scheme but that it was business as usual and the Scheme would continue to be worked on whilst that review took place. There had been a delay in the progress of the Scheme due in part to the recent Deputy Mayor of London (who the Council had been liaising with as this Scheme was part of the GLA’s Affordable Housing Programme) having become an MP. A new Deputy Mayor had been appointed but had yet to assume their role and duties.

• The Leader noted that the Council had been developing a High Street Strategy which would look at improving all high streets within the Borough. The production of the Strategy would involve local businesses and Councillors and would be available soon.

• Regarding tree planting, the Leader confirmed that it was the intention of the Council to plant as many trees as it could in any one year. Officers noted that the Council had been seeking external funding to assist in tree planting, such as from the GLA and recent success with that.

• The Director for Environment and Neighbourhoods would provide further information to Cllr das Neves on tree canopy targets. Cabinet Member informed that, as a result of the music band 1975 playing at Finsbury Park, 1,975 trees were to be planted in Haringey Hackney and Islington.

• The Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Sustainability assured that despite there being no direct budget for the Air Quality Action Plan, this would largely be delivered through other budgets. For example, the School Streets programme would be delivering better air quality.

RESOLVED

To approve the Year 2 Delivery Plans for each of the five Borough Plan priorities, set out in appendices 1 to 5 of the attached report.

Reasons for decision

To agree the delivery priorities for 2020-21, the second year of the four-year Borough Plan. This provides context for related decisions including on budget setting, engagement with residents and management of staff.

Alternative options considered

The alternative option would be not to set out delivery plans for each year of the Borough Plan. However, Cabinet agreed in July 2019, when it agreed the Borough Plan Year 1 Delivery Plans, that prioritisation of delivery on a yearly basis was important to help the Council understand where to focus its efforts and resources.