The Overview & Scrutiny Committee met on Monday 26 January 2026 to consider a call-in of a Cabinet decision regarding the disposal of surplus property. The committee ultimately voted to confirm the original Cabinet decision.

Call-In of Cabinet Decision: Surplus Property Disposal – Land at New Cottage Farm

The main item of business was the consideration of a call-in regarding the Cabinet's decision on 14 January 2026 to approve the disposal of Green Belt land at New Cottage Farm, Junction 24, M25, The Ridgeway, Enfield. The call-in was initiated by eight councillors, led by Councillor Edward Smith, who raised concerns about the timing of the sale and value for money.

Councillor Smith argued that the decision to sell the land was premature, given that its planning status was undecided pending the outcome of the Local Plan Examination. He stated, The decision by the Council to sell the land is therefore premature given its planning status is undecided. The call-in also highlighted concerns that the sale might not represent the best value for money in the long term.

Officers responded by explaining that land ownership and disposal decisions are separate from planning policy and development management functions. They clarified that any changes to planning policy or land use would be determined through the Local Plan process, and any future development would require planning permission. The proposed disposal was also subject to statutory consents from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the Duchy of Lancaster, which provided further safeguards.

During the meeting, the committee heard arguments for and against referring the decision back to the decision-making body. Councillors Nicki Adeleke, Nawshad Ali, Kate Anolue, Hivran Dalkaya, and Eylem Yuruk voted in favour of confirming the original decision. Conversely, Councillors Maria Alexandrou, Lee Chamberlain, James Hockney, and Michael Rye OBE voted to refer the decision back for reconsideration. Ultimately, the majority voted to confirm the Cabinet's decision.

The land in question spans the border between the London Borough of Enfield and Hertsmere Borough Council and is designated as Green Belt. Part of the site is allocated for employment floorspace in Enfield's emerging draft Local Plan. The sale was proposed to generate a capital receipt for the Council, which is part of its capital strategy to offset borrowing and fund transformation programmes.

Dates of Future Meetings

The committee noted the dates for future meetings, including provisional call-in dates and business meetings scheduled for February and March 2026.