The Cabinet of Enfield Council met on Wednesday 14 January 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including a significant environmental project, the disposal of council property, and the council's performance. The meeting agenda included a review of the Quarter 2 2025/26 performance report, the Enfield Chase Landscape Recovery Project, and the disposal of surplus property at New Cottage Farm.

Enfield Chase Landscape Recovery Project

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to be dedicated to the Enfield Chase Landscape Recovery Project (ECLR). This ambitious initiative aims to restore nature across approximately 1,500 hectares of farmland and parkland in the north-west of Enfield, making it the largest rewilding project in London. The project is designed to attract substantial government and private investment for habitat improvements, which are expected to yield multiple benefits for the borough. These include increased climate resilience, improved public access to nature for amenity and recreation, and the provision of vital habitats for wildlife.

The report outlined a proposal for the Council to enter into a long-term funding agreement, a minimum of 20 years, with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and other partners to deliver and manage the project. It was proposed that Enfield Council would act as the Single Legal Entity (SLE) for the project, responsible for its delivery, management, and monitoring. This approach is intended to maintain public ownership of land and assets, ensuring long-term stewardship in line with the Council's climate, biodiversity, and access to nature objectives. The project is expected to align with several key Council plans and strategies, including the Council Plan 2023-26, Enfield's Climate Action Plan, the Blue and Green Strategy (2021), and the emerging Local Plan.

The financial implications of the ECLR project were detailed, with a proposed Ambition Case costing £39.7 million over 20 years, funded through a blend of Defra grants, private investment, carbon and biodiversity markets, and public grant funding. The report also highlighted potential financial risks and proposed mitigations, such as delays in Defra payments and long-term financial commitments. Legal implications were also considered, including the Council's duties under various Acts and the potential for creating a Community Interest Company (CIC) as an alternative delivery vehicle. An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) was included, outlining the anticipated positive impacts on various protected characteristics, particularly in terms of increased access to green space.

Surplus Property Disposal – Land at New Cottage Farm

The Cabinet was also scheduled to consider the disposal of surplus Green Belt land located south of the M25 motorway, north of The Ridgeway, and adjacent to Junction 24 of the M25. This site, totalling 27.6 acres, spans both the London Borough of Enfield and Hertsmere Borough Council. The land was declared surplus to operational requirements and is currently undeveloped agricultural land. The report indicated that the Council had received an unsolicited offer from a buyer, which exceeded the existing use market value.

The disposal is conditional on the Council obtaining consent from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the Duchy of Lancaster to release the land from restrictive covenants concerning its use, as imposed by Deeds of Declaration from 1937 and 1941. The Council would need to apply to DLUHC for consent to the sale and for an order releasing these covenants, which would involve a statutory advertisement period and consideration of any objections. The report recommended agreeing to the sale, subject to obtaining the necessary consents, and authorising the Director of Property to finalise the Heads of Terms and negotiate any necessary agreements. The financial implications included a capital receipt for the Council, contributing towards its capital strategy targets, and a note that the sale would relinquish potential future capital appreciation. A Stage 1 EqIA was attached, indicating no significant equality impacts were identified for this proposal.

Quarter 2 2025/26 Performance Report

The Cabinet was also scheduled to receive and review the Quarter 2 2025/26 Performance Report. This report provides an update on the Corporate Performance Scorecard, reflecting the Council's progress in delivering its priorities as set out in the Council Plan 2023-26. The report details performance across a series of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), comparing current performance with previous periods and highlighting key achievements and areas requiring attention. The report covers various priority areas, including Clean and green places, Strong, healthy and safe communities, Thriving children and young people, More and better homes, An economy that works for everyone, and Accessible and responsive services, as well as Financial resilience. Key achievements noted in the report included national recognition for service improvement, increased housing approvals, environmental improvements, strong community safety figures, high standards in education and children's services, and strengthened financial resilience. The report also detailed performance against specific targets, such as fly-tip clearance, recycling rates, crime statistics, school attainment, planning application determination times, and council tax collection rates.

The meeting also included standard agenda items such as apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and noting the date of the next meeting. A resolution was also to be considered for the exclusion of the press and public for Part 2 of the agenda, which contained exempt information.