The new civic centre boss has vowed to “protect the most vulnerable” while balancing the books as the council faces serious financial challenges, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Enfield Civic Centre and (inset) Ergin Erbil

Ergin Erbil has been officially appointed as the new leader of Enfield Council following a vote by councillors.

Cllr Erbil, who has represented Edmonton Green ward since 2018 and had previously been the deputy leader since 2022, said it will be the “greatest honour” to serve the borough.

He takes over from Nesil Caliskan, who announced she would be stepping down after six years in the role to focus on her new job as the Labour MP for Barking, following July’s general election.

As leader, Cllr Erbil has promised to continue tackling the council’s ongoing financial challenges, invest in the borough’s town centres, deliver its green agenda and create a “fairer Enfield”, having chaired the borough’s first-ever equalities board in 2020.

However, the new leader will face a difficult task balancing the civic centre’s books as council reports published earlier this month warned “urgent” action was needed “to safeguard the financial sustainability of the council”.

Cllr Erbil said: “In Enfield we have always risen to the challenge of protecting the vital services local people rely on and innovating to deliver more with less.

“I am confident we can tackle the ongoing financial challenges head on. We may have to make some difficult decisions, but our number one priority is to protect those that are most vulnerable and in greatest need.

“As council leader, I will ensure we continue to deliver good quality services and care to our residents, accelerate the provision of decent homes and affordable housing, and lay the foundations for young people to grow up in a borough with opportunities for their future development.”

New projects set to be completed across the borough in upcoming months include Reardon Court, an extra-care housing scheme, which will be completed “in the coming weeks” along with the delivery of the first phase of improvements in Enfield Town which due to be completed “soon”.

Work is also due to start on the first of more than 2,000 new homes as part of the regeneration of the Joyce and Snells Park estates in Angel Edmonton.

Cllr Erbil said: “We have an incredible opportunity ahead of us. We already know Enfield is a great place to live, work, and visit, but there is work to be done to make sure every single one of our neighbours can build a good life right here in the borough.”

He added: “I will lead our borough with a spirit of progress, proudly anti-racist, inclusive, welcoming, kind, and open. A place where you can be who you are. A place for us all.”

However, opposition leader Alessandro Georgiou told the full council meeting last night (Wednesday 18th) that the new council leader faced “serious challenges” with finances, housing, and the environment.

Congratulating both the new and outgoing leaders, Cllr Georgiou said: “I will always champion when a kid from Enfield does well, and to be fair to them, they’ve both done well.

“We’ll have our political disagreements in the future but for now congratulations to you both.”

Cllr Caliskan said: “I want to take the opportunity to speak in the chamber, for my final full council meeting, after almost a decade of being a councillor in the London borough of Enfield for Jubilee ward and more than six years as leader.

“I resigned as leader this summer and I want to thank those of you who have sent me very kind messages following my election as a member of parliament, from officers and colleagues on both sides.

“It’s been an absolute honour to lead the borough I was born in and grew up in and I want to thank first and foremost the residents who gave me the opportunity.”

Tim Leaver, who seconded Cllr Erbil’s nomination as leader, was himself promoted to the role of deputy leader, while Sabri Ozaydin was appointed as the new cabinet member for climate action and placemaking.

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