The Haringey Council cabinet convened to discuss and make decisions on a range of important issues, including housing, education, social care, and financial planning. The cabinet approved tendering processes for building new council homes at Kings Road Car Park and Tiverton Estate, and agreed to consult on proposed school admission arrangements for 2027/28. They also approved the Adult Carers Strategy 2025-2028 and a draft Homelessness Strategy for consultation, alongside addressing fire safety with new fire door contracts.

Housing Development

The cabinet approved initiating a tender process for a JCT Design and Build Contract for the Kings Road Car Park site, N17, for the development of nine new council homes. This decision was made because the council's Contract Standing Order requires cabinet approval to commence a procurement exercise for proposed contracts valued at £500,000 or above. The proposed development aims to deliver much-needed affordable homes, particularly larger four-bedroom homes, on council-owned land, and to address anti-social behaviour through improved site layout and security.

The cabinet also approved the commencement of a procurement exercise for the selection of a contractor to deliver a new build development of 17 council homes at the Tiverton Estate, and that the procurement of the contract would be via the London Construction Programme (LCP) – Housing Framework. The Tiverton Estate site was approved by cabinet in January 2020 to be included in the council’s Housing Delivery programme. The 17 homes will include two M4(3) wheelchair homes¹ and family homes, with associated refuse stores, cycle stores, service space, amenity space and landscaping.

School Admission Arrangements

The cabinet agreed to consult on proposed admission arrangements for schools for the academic year 2027/28, including co-ordinated schemes for admission of children to schools, and the proposed fair access protocol which, if agreed at cabinet in February 2026, would come into force from 1 March 2026. They also agreed to consult with stakeholders on the proposal to reduce the Published Admission Numbers (PANs) at selected primary and secondary schools across the borough.

Haringey has been experiencing a decrease in demand for reception school places for several years, due to a combination of falling birth rates, changes to welfare benefits, the housing crisis, increases in the cost of living, Brexit and families leaving London during the Covid-19 pandemic.

From 2026, Year 7 capacity will reduce to 2,544 places, reflecting permanent reductions at Heartlands High School (from 240 to 210 in 2025), and planned reductions at Hornsey School for Girls and Park View School in 2026, to 135 and 189 places respectively.

Several secondary schools are adjusting their Published Admission Numbers (PAN) to reflect changes in class size models, reducing PANs to move from 27 to 30 pupils per class. This adjustment supports schools in achieving greater operational and financial efficiency through more flexible staffing and improved resource deployment.

Adult Social Care

The cabinet approved the Haringey Adult Carers Strategy 2025 - 2028 and endorsed the proposed first-phase delivery plan. The council has a responsibility under Section 2 of the Care Act 2014 to prevent, reduce or delay carers coming into need of further services, or delaying deterioration wherever possible. The strategy frames supporting carers’ resilience, health and wellbeing as a borough responsibility, beyond just health and social care boundaries.

The cabinet also approved a draft Homelessness Strategy for consultation. The Homelessness Act 2002 requires local authorities to carry out a homelessness review and formulate and publish a homelessness strategy informed by that review at least once every five years.

Fire Safety

The cabinet approved the award to Bidder B of a contract for the provision and replacement of fire rated flat entrance doors, communal doors and riser/service cupboard doors and passive fire safety & decoration works, within the council’s residential housing stock. The decision was made to comply with fire safety legislation, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022, and to meet Building Regulations requirements which sets out the minimum standards for fire rated doors in specific areas of residential properties, which ensures compliance with British Standards for fire resistance for door sets.

Other Matters

• Haringey Civic Centre: The cabinet approved the commencement of procurement exercises for the acquisition of Fixtures, Fittings and Equipment (FF&E) for the Haringey Civic Centre, and a framework to procure catering operators from which the council can select a café operator concession for the Civic Centre and other council owned assets when opportunities arise for a period of 4 years.
• Wards Corner: The cabinet noted that the Compulsory Purchase Order granted in March 2020 would expire through effluxion of time on 12 December 2025, and agreed that the Director of Capital Projects and Property in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources and the Director of Placemaking and Community Development prepares the Wards Corner Property Strategy, having regard to the council’s strategic ambitions for the South Tottenham area, and the Wards Corner Asset Management Plan.
• Adult Social Care Improvement Plan: The cabinet noted the findings in the CQC Assessment report, approved the Improvement Plan, and noted the establishment of the cross-party, Adult Social Care (ASC) improvement Board (AIB) that serves as the central governance mechanism for overseeing delivery of the ASC Improvement Plan.
• Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman Public Report: The cabinet noted the findings of the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman’s public report, approved the council’s response and endorse the action plan, and authorised the Director of Adult Social Care to provide evidence to the Ombudsman of the council’s compliance with the recommendations by 19 November 2025.
• Draft 2026-27 Budget and 2026-2031 Medium Term Financial Strategy Report: The cabinet noted the council’s current financial position, the proposed new savings, pressures and capital programme changes for 2026/27 – 2030/31, the current estimated budget gap for 2026/27 and the remaining period of the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), the new risks and uncertainties, and approved the launch of consultation on the revenue budget proposals and proposed changes to the capital programme as set out in this report.
• Matters Referred to Cabinet by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee: The cabinet noted the recommendations of the Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel Review as agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and agreed with the responses to these recommendations as set out in the table attached at Appendix 2 of the cabinet report.
• Housing Annual Compliance Assurance Statement: The cabinet noted the report and the continued improvements being made to provide further assurance in future.