The budget meeting on Wednesday, February 25 spent considerable time discussing the alarming increase in the number of families in temporary accommodation in the borough, currently standing at 2,600 households. The cost of housing these families is estimated to cost £7.7million in 2015/16 – the largest single cost pressure facing the council.

Enfield is also facing a huge influx of homeless families from other parts of London, placed mainly by Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest councils. In 2014/15, Enfield will receive approximately 1,600 such families, who compete for the private rented accommodation available and drive rent levels ever upwards. This also places severe pressure on our schools and health service.

Radical steps need to be taken by the council to move homeless families out of expensive bed and breakfast accommodation in Enfield, which is costing the council tax payer a small fortune, to cheaper more permanent rented accommodation outside the M25. Last year, Southwark, a Labour council, moved around 1,800 families out of their borough. Enfield moved precisely none. This has to change. Councillor Ahmet Oykener says that the council will only move households who want to leave. This will not do and the council needs to take a more hard-headed and realistic approach to this problem.

Cllr Edward Smith

Con/Southgate ward Shadow cabinet member for housing

Enfield Borough Council