By Simon Allin @SimonAllin3 Local Democracy Reporter, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey
The council is proposing building on green belt sites (Image: Pixabay/Canva) Thousands of homes could be built on the green belt as a result of changes to local planning policy put forward by Enfield Council. Two green belt sites, at Chase Park and Crews Hill in the north-west of the borough, could be released for development to provide around 6,000 new homes. They are included in the council’s draft local plan, which is designed to provide 1,246 homes per year up to 2039 – an annual target set out in the newly adopted London Plan.
By Simon Allin @SimonAllin3 Local Democracy Reporter, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey
Cllr Nesil Caliskan (top left) held on to power but Cllr Ayfer Orhan (bottom left) quit Labour Enfield Council leader Cllr Nesil Caliskan saw off a bid by opposition groups to bring down her administration – as yet another councillor quit Labour. The Tories failed to win the Labour votes they needed for their no-confidence motion to succeed after a fiery 45-minute debate during an extraordinary council meeting on Thursday. Held after local elections that cut Labour’s majority on the council further following a string of defections, the debate saw heated exchanges on issues such as low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), fly-tipping and council debt levels.
By Simon Allin @SimonAllin3 Local Democracy Reporter, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey
Cllr Joanne Laban (left) tabled a no-confidence motion against the administration, led by Cllr Nesil Caliskan A bid to bring down Enfield’s Labour administration could go ahead this week after being postponed following a row over scheduling. The no-confidence motion in the administration tabled by the Conservatives is on the agenda for an extraordinary council meeting set to take place on Thursday. It is one of two key meetings this week, with the annual council – set to see the election of the mayor and cabinet – scheduled for Wednesday evening.
By Simon Allin @SimonAllin3 Local Democracy Reporter, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey
Andrew Thorp won Chase ward for the Tories A by-election win for the Conservatives has boosted their standing on Enfield Council and put a further dent in Labour’s majority. The Tories took a seat in Chase ward from Labour following a campaign that focused on protecting Whitewebbs Golf Course, which the council wants to lease out to a commercial partner. Conservative candidate Andrew Thorp was elected with a 7.5 per cent majority and vowed to “work hard to save Whitewebbs”. Labour held Southbury and Jubilee, where they won large majorities in 2018, but there were swings towards the Conservatives and other parties in both wards.