Decision day for Enfield's councillors as new civic centre administration set to be voted into office

No single party won overall control at this month’s local election but councillors will now vote on who should lead the council, reports James Cracknell

Enfield’s 63 councillors will vote tonight (Wednesday 27th) on the formation of a new council administration following this month’s inconclusive local election result.

The election on Thursday, 7th May, resulted in Enfield Conservatives falling one seat short of a majority that would have allowed them to take immediate control of the civic centre.

Enfield Labour finished in second place, with 27 seats, while five Green candidates won election for the first time.

Since the election nearly three weeks ago, official talks have taken place between the leaders of the three political groups with a view to forming a new administration at Enfield Civic Centre.

While no announcements have been made prior to tonight’s annual council meeting – at which a leader, cabinet and civic mayor must all be chosen – the Dispatch understands that a minority Conservative administration remains likeliest outcome.

The Greens would not need to vote with the Tories for this to happen, as simply abstaining from all of the key votes would enable the 31 Conservative councillors to defeat Labour’s 27 members.

It means Tory group leader Alessandro Georgiou would become the new council leader, replacing Labour’s Ergin Erbil, who has led the civic centre since September 2024.

The Conservatives have not led the council since 2010, when Labour first won majority control.

Should the Tories now take power, without a formal coalition deal with Enfield Greens, they would need to negotiate the passage of key policies with Green councillors moving forward.

However, there remains significant common ground for the two parties to work with, including their shared determination to protect Enfield’s Green Belt from development and to prevent Tottenham Hotspur from building a new women’s training centre on Whitewebbs Park.

Other key policies likely to win support from the Greens include the reintroduction of weekly bin collections.

Regarding the Green Belt, a minority Conservative administration would immediately inform the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government that it was withdrawing its support for the government-led ‘new town’ development of 21,000 homes at Crews Hill and ‘Chase Park’.

Regarding Whitewebbs, a Tory-led council would also tell Tottenham Hotspur that the lease for Whitewebbs Park won’t now be signed, despite planning permission for the development having previously been granted.

Tonight’s meeting starts at 7pm at Enfield Civic Centre and is also set to be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. For more information:
Visit governance.enfield.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=108&MId=15194

To watch the council livestream:
Visit https://bit.ly/4dA6SPw

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