New four-year council plan approved after heated civic centre debate

Insults were hurled across the council chamber towards the end of a lengthy debate over the council’s priorities between now and 2030, reports James Cracknell

Alessandro Georgiou addresses the council chamber during Wednesday's heated debate (credit Enfield Council) — Alessandro Georgiou addresses the council chamber during Wednesday’s heated debate (credit Enfield Council)

Councillors have voted to adopt a new four-year plan that sets out Enfield Council’s priorities under the new minority Conservative administration.

Cleaner streets, safer neighbourhoods and more affordable homes are among the listed aims in the council plan for 2026-30, titled Delivering for Enfield.

It was debated at a full council meeting on Wednesday (16th) which, by the end, erupted into a slanging match with insults hurled across the chamber.

Before that, council leader Alessandro Georgiou began the debate and said: “This is not a document destined to sit on the shelf gathering dust. It is the defining guiding document for this council both politically, in honouring the democratic mandate and promises we made to the people who elected us, and operationally for dedicated officers for our administration.

“It sets the political direction and our non-negotiable standard of accountability and transparency for our officers and directorates.”

He continued: “We cannot shy away from the challenges – we are the seventh most deprived borough in London. More than 400 households turn to us facing homelessness every month and the average home costs nearly eleven times the average salary.

“Our residents do not want warm words, they deserve a council that works as hard for them as they work, for their own families.”

Cllr Georgiou listed the seven priorities of the council plan, which are a “cleaner Enfield, greener Enfield, safer Enfield, thriving Enfield, stronger Enfield, an affordable Enfield and a connected Enfield”.

More specific commitments relate to tackling fly tipping, improving waste and recycling services, protecting green spaces, investing in council housing and prioritising brownfield regeneration, working with partners to tackle crime, improving roads, supporting employment and helping residents through cost-of-living pressures.

During the debate, Labour councillor Tim Lever said the plan “doesn’t look great” and described it as a “thin document” before implying that he wanted use it as toilet paper.

More measured criticism came from Labour’s former cabinet member for housing, Ayten Guzel, who said she “welcomed” commitments on affordable housing but also called for “a lot more detail”.

“Ultimately, it’s the homes we deliver and how those homes shape lives that will determine whether this plan has truly delivered for Enfield,” Cllr Guzel added.

Further criticism came from the Greens. New Southgate councillor Madeline Church, a trustee of Solace Women’s Aid, said she was “really disappointed” the council plan didn’t include “a single mention of what is an extremely good council strategy to counter violence against women and girls”.

Green group leader Sarah Jons noted the plan included “a watering down of climate targets” and “this phrase ‘driver freedom’ which sits rather awkwardly alongside commitments to road safety, clean air and sustainable transport”.

However, Cllr Jons said there was “plenty here that we can welcome” including promises on “restoring nature”, “tackling poverty” and “stronger engagement with communities”.

Labour councillor Alex Diner, giving his maiden speech, said the council plan was “just a list of nice things” and “not a plan, not even a strategy”. He called for progress to be “properly recorded and monitored through performance metrics”.

Senior Tory councillor Chris Dey responded: “Colleagues opposite have rightly asked about performance metrics – these will be reported on quarterly.”

Concluding the debate, Cllr Georgiou brought up what he claimed was the poor record of former council leader Nesil Caliskan – now a Labour MP in Barking – and said he would “take no lectures from the commies on that side”.

At this point, shouting from the Labour side prompted the mayor, Emma Supple, to call for them to “stop”. One councillor, Bektas Ozer, was even accused of using the word “fascist” to describe Cllr Georgiou in response to his “commie” jibe, which Cllr Supple said was “uncalled for”.

After the disruption eventually died down, councillors voted to support the new council plan, with the Conservatives voting in favour and all Green and Labour members abstaining.

Watch the full debate:
Visit youtube.com/live

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