The Cabinet of Haringey Council met on Tuesday 20 January 2026, approving the acquisition of 12 new council homes, an updated policy on single-use plastics, a new library strategy, and an updated damp and mould policy. The meeting also saw the approval of various other reports and policies related to council operations and resident services.

Acquisition of 12 Council Homes at 67 Lawrence Road, London N15 4GL

The Cabinet approved the acquisition of the long leasehold interest in 12 flats at 67 Lawrence Road, London N15 4GL, for housing purposes. This acquisition is part of the council's pledge to acquire and build 3,000 council homes by 2031. The homes are expected to be of a good standard and align with the Greater London Authority's (GLA) design standards. The decision was made to secure these new council homes, purchase them at a commercially advantageous price, and maintain momentum in providing affordable housing. The alternative of not acquiring the homes was rejected as it would have been a missed opportunity. The acquisition will result in 12 additional new council homes, with five of the flats being two-bedroom family homes and four being wheelchair accessible. Funding for the acquisition will be part-funded by the GLA, with an option to use additional funding from the General Fund or Right to Buy (RTB) receipts if GLA funding is not available.

Adopting an Updated Damp and Mould Policy

The Cabinet approved an updated Damp and Mould Policy, which sets out the council's approach to tenancy management for council tenants and their households. This policy aims to help the council meet the Social Housing Regulator's consumer standards, specifically the Tenancy Standard and the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard. The decision was made to ensure the council has a clear policy in place for dealing with damp and mould issues, as expected by government and residents. The alternative of treating all damp and mould cases via the existing repairs process without a dedicated policy was rejected. The updated policy comes into effect from 3 February 2026 and reflects the introduction of Awaab's Law and new timescales for addressing damp and mould hazards.

Approval of Haringey Library Strategy 2026-30

The Cabinet approved the draft Haringey Library Strategy 2026–30, which sets out a vision for the future of Haringey's libraries as centres of learning and vibrant community and cultural hubs. The strategy was developed through extensive engagement and consultation with residents, staff, partners, and stakeholders. It commits to championing inclusion and equity, inspiring learning and creativity, strengthening community wellbeing, harnessing digital innovation, and embedding sustainability. The decision to approve the strategy was made to ensure the library service has an underpinning strategic direction and to fulfil the council's statutory duty under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to provide a 'comprehensive and efficient' library service. The alternative of not adopting a strategy was rejected as it would leave the service without strategic direction.

Single Use Plastics Policy and Action Plan

The Cabinet approved the Single Use Plastics (SUPs) Policy 2026 and the accompanying Action Plan, which outlines how the council will reduce SUPs within its operations and across the borough. This decision supports the council's commitment to responding to the climate emergency and improving sustainability. Reducing SUP consumption is expected to save money, reduce waste, improve the environment, and decrease harmful plastics in oceans and landfill. The policy updates previous initiatives and aligns with national and regional movements, including the One World Living Single-Use Plastics Pledge. The alternative of doing nothing was rejected as it would leave the council with an outdated policy, and focusing solely on council operations was rejected as it would miss opportunities for wider borough-wide impact.

Minutes of Other Bodies and Significant and Delegated Actions

The minutes of other bodies and the list of significant and delegated actions were noted by the Cabinet.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The press and public were excluded from the remainder of the meeting for specific items containing exempt information, as defined under the Local Government Act 1972. This included discussions related to the acquisition of council homes and the minutes of previous meetings.

Exempt Items

Several exempt items were discussed and their recommendations agreed and noted. These included the acquisition of 12 council homes at 67 Lawrence Road, the minutes of previous meetings, and details related to contract variations and awards for various council services, including fire safety works, construction contracts, and asbestos services. These discussions involved information deemed exempt under the Local Government Act 1972, relating to financial or business affairs, or legal professional privilege.

Minutes of Other Bodies

The minutes of other bodies were noted by the Cabinet.

Significant and Delegated Actions

The list of significant and delegated decisions was noted by the Cabinet.

New Items of Urgent Business

There were no new items of urgent business.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The press and public were excluded from the remainder of the meeting for specific items containing exempt information, as defined under the Local Government Act 1972. This included discussions related to the acquisition of council homes and the minutes of previous meetings.

Exempt - Acquisition of 12 Council Homes at 67 Lawrence Road, London N15 4GL

The exempt report regarding the acquisition of 12 council homes was discussed, and the recommendations were agreed and noted.

Exempt - Minutes

The exempt minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2025 were discussed and agreed as a true and accurate record of proceedings.

New Items of Exempt Urgent Business

There were no new items of exempt urgent business.

Acquisition of 12 Council Homes at 67 Lawrence Road, London N15 4GL

The Cabinet approved the acquisition of 12 flats at 67 Lawrence Road, London N15 4GL, for housing purposes. This decision is part of the council's commitment to acquiring and building 3,000 council homes by 2031. The homes are expected to be of good standard and meet GLA design standards. The acquisition was deemed a positive step towards increasing affordable housing in the borough. The alternative of not acquiring the homes was rejected as it would represent a missed opportunity. The report detailed that five of the flats are two-bedroom family homes, and four are wheelchair accessible, with each flat featuring a private balcony or terrace and a shared communal garden.

Adopting an Updated Damp and Mould Policy

The Cabinet approved an updated Damp and Mould Policy, which outlines the council's approach to managing damp and mould in its housing stock. This policy is crucial for meeting the Social Housing Regulator's consumer standards and reflects the requirements of Awaab's Law, which mandates specific timescales for addressing damp and mould hazards. The decision was made to ensure residents have dry, warm, and healthy homes, and to move away from a reactive approach to a zero-tolerance stance on damp and mould. The alternative of not having a dedicated policy was rejected due to government and resident expectations.

Approval of Haringey Library Strategy 2026-30

The Cabinet approved the Haringey Library Strategy 2026–30, a plan developed through extensive consultation with residents and stakeholders. The strategy aims to ensure libraries remain accessible, inclusive, and vital community hubs. It sets out priorities for equity, access, collaboration, growth, lifelong learning, and representation. The decision was made to fulfil the council's statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. The alternative of not adopting a strategy was rejected as it would leave the service without strategic direction.

Single Use Plastics Policy and Action Plan

The Cabinet approved the Single Use Plastics Policy 2026 and its accompanying Action Plan. This policy aims to reduce the use of single-use plastics (SUPs) within the council's operations and across the borough. The decision supports the council's commitment to tackling the climate emergency and improving sustainability. Reducing SUPs is expected to lead to cost savings, reduced waste, and environmental benefits. The policy updates previous initiatives and aligns with regional and national efforts to combat plastic pollution. The alternative of not updating the policy was rejected as it would not support the council's climate and corporate delivery plans.

Minutes of Other Bodies

The minutes of other bodies were noted by the Cabinet.

Significant and Delegated Actions

The list of significant and delegated actions was noted by the Cabinet.

New Items of Urgent Business

There were no new items of urgent business.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The press and public were excluded from the remainder of the meeting for specific items containing exempt information, as defined under the Local Government Act 1972.

Exempt - Acquisition of 12 Council Homes at 67 Lawrence Road, London N15 4GL

The exempt report concerning the acquisition of 12 council homes was discussed, and the recommendations were agreed and noted.

Exempt - Minutes

The exempt minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2025 were discussed and agreed as a true and accurate record of proceedings.

New Items of Exempt Urgent Business

There were no new items of exempt urgent business.

Acquisition of 12 Council Homes at 67 Lawrence Road, London N15 4GL

The Cabinet approved the acquisition of 12 flats at 67 Lawrence Road, London N15 4GL, for housing purposes. This decision is part of the council's commitment to acquiring and building 3,000 council homes by 2031. The homes are expected to be of good standard and meet GLA design standards. The acquisition was deemed a positive step towards increasing affordable housing in the borough. The alternative of not acquiring the homes was rejected as it would represent a missed opportunity. The report detailed that five of the flats are two-bedroom family homes, and four are wheelchair accessible, with each flat featuring a private balcony or terrace and a shared communal garden.

Adopting an Updated Damp and Mould Policy

The Cabinet approved an updated Damp and Mould Policy, which outlines the council's approach to managing damp and mould in its housing stock. This policy is crucial for meeting the Social Housing Regulator's consumer standards and reflects the requirements of Awaab's Law, which mandates specific timescales for addressing damp and mould hazards. The decision was made to ensure residents have dry, warm, and healthy homes, and to move away from a reactive approach to a zero-tolerance stance on damp and mould. The alternative of not having a dedicated policy was rejected due to government and resident expectations.

Approval of Haringey Library Strategy 2026-30

The Cabinet approved the Haringey Library Strategy 2026–30, a plan developed through extensive consultation with residents and stakeholders. The strategy aims to ensure libraries remain accessible, inclusive, and vital community hubs. It sets out priorities for equity, access, collaboration, growth, lifelong learning, and representation. The decision was made to fulfil the council's statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. The alternative of not adopting a strategy was rejected as it would leave the service without strategic direction.

Single Use Plastics Policy and Action Plan

The Cabinet approved the Single Use Plastics Policy 2026 and its accompanying Action Plan. This policy aims to reduce the use of single-use plastics (SUPs) within the council's operations and across the borough. The decision supports the council's commitment to tackling the climate emergency and improving sustainability. Reducing SUPs is expected to lead to cost savings, reduced waste, and environmental benefits. The policy updates previous initiatives and aligns with regional and national efforts to combat plastic pollution. The alternative of not updating the policy was rejected as it would not support the council's climate and corporate delivery plans.

Minutes of Other Bodies

The minutes of other bodies were noted by the Cabinet.

Significant and Delegated Actions

The list of significant and delegated actions was noted by the Cabinet.

New Items of Urgent Business

There were no new items of urgent business.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The press and public were excluded from the remainder of the meeting for specific items containing exempt information, as defined under the Local Government Act 1972.

Exempt - Acquisition of 12 Council Homes at 67 Lawrence Road, London N15 4GL

The exempt report concerning the acquisition of 12 council homes was discussed, and the recommendations were agreed and noted.

Exempt - Minutes

The exempt minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2025 were discussed and agreed as a true and accurate record of proceedings.

New Items of Exempt Urgent Business

There were no new items of exempt urgent business.