The Cabinet of Enfield Council met on Wednesday 9 September 2026 to discuss a range of significant issues, including the adoption of the new Council Plan 2026-30, the financial monitoring report for the first quarter of 2026/27, and strategies for tackling serious violence and homelessness. The meeting also covered proposals for parking charges, the future of Walbrook House, and the Tenancy Strategy and Policy.

Council Plan 2026-30

A key item on the agenda was the proposed Council Plan 2026-30, titled Delivering for Enfield. This plan replaces the previous Council Plan, Investing in Enfield, which expired in 2026. The new plan was developed following a review of the administration's manifesto pledges from the May 2026 elections, analysis of local socio-economic and performance data, and benchmarking with other local authorities. The report outlined seven overarching priority outcomes: A Cleaner Enfield, A Greener Enfield, A Safer Enfield, A Thriving Enfield, A Stronger Enfield, An Affordable Enfield, and A Connected Enfield. For each priority outcome, strategic actions were detailed. The plan aims to embed the Council's vision and priorities across the workforce and will be communicated to residents biennially. Progress will be tracked through new performance scorecards and reported quarterly to Cabinet. The plan is closely aligned with the Fairer Enfield: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy, and an Equality Impact Assessment indicated no expected adverse impacts on any group sharing a protected characteristic.¹

Financial Monitoring Reports

The Cabinet received updates on the Council's financial performance for the first quarter of the financial year 2026/27. The 2026/27 Q1 Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report² detailed the latest forecasts for both day-to-day spending (revenue) and investment in long-term projects (capital). The report highlighted significant demand and increased cost pressures, primarily driven by sustained demand in adult social care, Special Educational Needs transport, and homelessness services. Recommendations included the realignment of £7.3 million from corporate underspends to Adult Social Care, Housing General Fund, Environment & Communities, and Education. The report also noted a forecast cumulative deficit of £36.1 million in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

The 2026/27 Q1 Treasury Monitoring report³ provided an update on the Council's cash management, borrowing, and investment activities. It indicated that borrowing levels remained within approved limits and aligned with national prudential standards. The report detailed the estimated cost of debt to the Council's General Fund for 2026/27, which was forecast to be £29.3 million, an underspend compared to the budget. Investment income was forecast to be £4.5 million for the financial year.

Safer Stronger Communities Board Serious Violence Strategy 2026-35

The Cabinet was presented with the draft Serious Violence Strategy 2026-35, developed by the Safer Stronger Communities Board (SSCB). This 10-year strategy aims to prevent and reduce serious violence in Enfield, aligning with the statutory duties introduced by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The strategy adopts a public health approach, focusing on prevention, responding to immediate risks, and providing long-term support. Its strategic ambition is to Prevent and tackle serious violence and causes in Enfield, creating a safer borough for all. The agreed local priorities include tackling serious violence affecting young people under 25, violence connected to organised criminality, weapon-enabled violence, domestic abuse, and sexual violence. The strategy is underpinned by four key principles: recognising and challenging inequalities, adopting a risk-outside-of-the-home safeguarding approach, responding to the most prevalent serious violence issues, and utilising tools and powers effectively.⁴

Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026-2031

The draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026-2031 was presented for Cabinet approval to proceed to consultation. This strategy outlines the Council's approach to preventing homelessness, reducing rough sleeping, and improving outcomes for residents experiencing homelessness. It acknowledges the challenging external environment, including rising homelessness, increasing temporary accommodation costs, and affordability issues in the private rented sector. The strategy sets out five priorities: preventing homelessness through early intervention, targeting support for high-risk residents, preventing crisis and ensuring homelessness is brief, improving temporary accommodation experiences, and providing recovery support to reduce repeat homelessness. The Council also called on the Government to address structural issues affecting homelessness, such as uprating Local Housing Allowance and increasing investment in affordable housing.⁵

Walbrook House – Next Steps

The Cabinet considered the future of Walbrook House, a 23-storey residential tower block in Lower Edmonton. Following extensive reviews and technical studies, it was concluded that refurbishment was no longer a viable option due to structural limitations, increasing costs, and ongoing Building Safety Act obligations. The report recommended proceeding with the demolition of Walbrook House and seeking authority to progress a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) if necessary to acquire the remaining interests. The site is intended for future redevelopment to provide new housing, aiming for a qualitative housing gain.⁶

Tenancy Strategy and Policy 2026-2031

The updated Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy 2026-2031 were presented for approval. The Tenancy Strategy provides a borough-wide framework for managing tenancies to meet housing need, make best use of social housing, support tenancy sustainment, and prevent homelessness. The Tenancy Policy details the Council's approach as a landlord, including tenancy types, reviews, succession, domestic abuse support, and reasonable adjustments. Key aspects include reaffirming lifetime tenancies as the preferred approach, introducing 10-year fixed-term tenancies for larger homes (three bedrooms or more) and adapted properties, strengthening tenancy reviews, and reinforcing support for victims of domestic abuse.⁷

Review of On and Off-Street Parking Charges for Stays Under One Hour

The Cabinet was asked to approve statutory consultation on proposed changes to parking tariffs for stays under one hour. This includes the introduction of one free 30-minute parking session per vehicle per day across eligible on-street and off-street locations. The existing 15-minute and 30-minute tariffs for on-street parking would be removed, with the next chargeable tariff starting at one hour. For off-street car parks, the existing 45-minute free parking bays would be removed, replaced by the free 30-minute session. The aim is to improve economic activity, increase town centre footfall, and enhance the attractiveness of Enfield's high streets.⁸

Enfield Chase Landscape Recovery Scheme – Property Disposals with Part Surrender

The Cabinet was asked to approve the sale of part of land leased under the Agricultural Holdings Act and the surrender of the remaining land back to the Council. This land, located south of The Ridgeway and north of Hadley Road, is essential for the Enfield Chase Landscape Recovery Scheme (ECLRS). The ECLRS is a nationally significant environmental programme funded by DEFRA, aiming to deliver substantial public benefits including climate resilience, biodiversity recovery, and natural flood management. The disposal is considered necessary to facilitate the scheme's delivery and generate a capital receipt.⁹