The Cabinet of Haringey Council is scheduled to convene on Tuesday 15 September 2026 to discuss a range of important matters. Key topics include the council's financial performance for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, responses to scrutiny reviews on the prevention of violence against women and girls, and services for children under one year old. The meeting will also address proposals for enhanced environmental enforcement, a contract variation for online sexual health services, and the continuation of a substance misuse peer-led service.

Finance Update and Savings Delivery

The Cabinet will receive an update on the council's financial position at the end of the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. The report indicates a challenging financial outlook, with a forecast General Fund revenue outturn of £374.8 million, exceeding the budgeted £353.02 million by £21.7 million. This overspend is attributed to both increased demand for services, particularly in children's social care and temporary accommodation, and a significant shortfall in the delivery of agreed savings. The council's external auditors have raised concerns about the persistent failure to meet savings targets, highlighting a risk to financial sustainability.

The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) is forecasting an £8.4 million overspend, primarily due to pressures within the High Needs Block related to supporting children with special educational needs. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is also projecting a £3.478 million deficit by year-end, largely due to an anticipated higher-than-budgeted level of void properties.

In response to these financial pressures, the council is implementing a three-year Financial Resilience Plan, which includes enhanced spending controls and stringent processes for the capital programme and commissioning. Reporting against this plan will commence from Quarter 2.

The report also details the progress of savings delivery for 2026/27. While directorate-specific savings are largely on track, there is a significant shortfall in the delivery of cross-cutting savings. The council is undertaking work to address these savings targets, with further updates expected in Quarter 2.

Scrutiny Review Responses

The Cabinet will consider responses to recommendations from two recent scrutiny reviews.

Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

The Cabinet will review the council's response to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's review on the prevention of violence against women and girls. The report outlines proposed responses to the committee's recommendations, which cover areas such as mandatory domestic abuse awareness training for council staff, making this training available to the wider community and voluntary sector, and assembling end-of-project reports for short-term government-funded projects. Recommendations also address improved support for those bereaved by VAWG-related homicide or suicide, linking the local VAWG strategy to the suicide prevention strategy, and expanding educational programmes like Protect Our Women (POW) in secondary schools. Further recommendations focus on developing a whole-school approach to VAWG, ensuring Family Hub Navigators are fully VAWG trained, and establishing long-term co-design structures involving children and young people in the development of VAWG policies. The council's response indicates agreement or partial agreement with most recommendations, with specific actions planned for training, strategy development, and partnership working.

Provision of Services for Children Under One Year Old

The Cabinet will also receive an update on progress made against recommendations from the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Panel's interim report on the provision of services for children under one year old. The report indicates that two of the four recommendations have been met, with two partially met. The recommendations focus on lobbying the government to expand childcare funding entitlements, developing a comprehensive online directory of early years activities, exploring dedicated stay-and-play provision for childminders and nannies, and maintaining free perinatal peer-support groups for parents on low incomes. The council's response details progress on these areas, noting the completion of the online directory and ongoing work to expand provision for childminders and maintain peer-support groups.

Environmental Enforcement Contract

Approval is sought to commence a procurement exercise for an enhanced environmental enforcement contract. The current contract with Kingdom Services Group Limited expires in February 2027. The report highlights significant resident support for stricter measures against fly-tipping, dog fouling, and littering. The proposed contract aims to focus on serious and wilful offences, with a commitment to an ethical approach that guards against enforcement being used as a revenue-raising tool. The procurement will be designed to ensure fairness and clarity regarding rules and penalties, with a robust representation process for challenging fines. The new contract will also aim to tackle fly-tipping more effectively, supported by improved digital systems.

Online Sexual Health Service Contract Variation

The Cabinet will consider a contract variation and extension for the pan-London Online Sexual Health Service. The existing Inter-Authority Agreement (IAA) with the City of London, which provides access to this service, is due to expire on 14th August 2026. Due to delays in a new procurement process, an extension of the existing contract for a minimum of 12 months, with an option for a further 12 months, is proposed. This extension is necessary to ensure continuity of service delivery, allowing residents to continue accessing vital sexual health support, including discreet home testing and contraception. The report highlights the service's effectiveness in reaching priority populations and reducing health inequalities.

Substance Misuse Peer-Led Service

Approval is sought to undertake a procurement exercise for a single, consolidated service integrating existing substance misuse peer-led, harm reduction, and outreach services. The current arrangements are due to expire on 30th September 2026. It is proposed to award a new contract to Bringing Unity Back Into the Community (BUBIC) for three years, with an option to extend for a further 12 months. BUBIC is a Black-led organisation with extensive experience in providing culturally grounded support and has demonstrated success in engaging individuals who may not access traditional services. The report emphasizes the service's role in harm reduction, preventing overdose deaths, and supporting residents into treatment and recovery, aligning with national and local strategies to combat substance misuse and reduce health inequalities.

Other Matters

The Cabinet will also note minutes from various Cabinet Member Signings and other bodies, including decisions on the Interim 2026/27 Crisis and Resilience Fund Policy, Selby Urban Village works, Heartlands bus proposals, Haringey Culture Collective governance, NEC Housing re-procurement, the acquisition of new Council homes, a correction to a company name for dockless bike services, and the Broadwater Farm Estate Major Works Programme. Delegated decisions taken by Corporate Directors will also be noted.

Finally, the meeting will move into private session to discuss exempt information related to minutes of previous meetings and potentially other confidential matters.