Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2015 be approved.

All Members were present.

There was none.

Public Comments were received by Jonathan Supran, Helen Michael and John Gillett.

The Environment Committee noted the report which contained details of a petition containing 2,104 signatures which requested an hour’s free parking.  The lead petitioner Mr Nicholas Jones introduced the report and addressed the Committee for 5 minutes.

The Chairman moved the following resolution which was seconded by Councillor Graham Old which the Committee agreed:

·         That the Environment Committee note the petition

·         That the Committee note that the Chairman will work closely with Officers and Mr Jones to consider his concerns

Having been put to the vote the Committee voted:

In Favour: 6

Against: 5

This was therefore carried.

The Environment Committee noted the report which contained details of an e-petition containing 2,896 signatures which requested 30 minutes free parking.  The lead petitioner Ms Anna Slater introduced the report and addressed the Committee for 5 minutes.

Councillor Alan Schneiderman moved the following motion which was seconded by Claire Farrier.

That the Environment Committee accept the e-petition and agree in principle to implement 30 minutes free parking in the Borough and request that officers submit a report to the Committee at a future meeting.

Having been put to the vote the Committee voted:

In Favour: 5

Against: 6

The motion was therefore lost.

The Chairman moved the following motion which was seconded by Councillor Brian Salinger:

·         That the Environment Committee note the petition

·         That the Council will continue to work with residents and traders and where possible make improvements in line with the Council’s policy. 

Having been put to the vote the Committee voted:

In Favour: 6

Against: 5

The motion was therefore carried

The Committee considered a Members’ Item submitted by Councillor Dean Cohen which requested Members of the Committee to consider the Borough’s Street trading policy and the impact this has on road traffic management. 

The Interim Director for Environment informed the Committee that the Licensing Committee is to consider a Street Trading Policy on 19 March 2015.  He added that the review of the policy seeks to regulate the framework that governs street trading. 

Having considered the Member’s Item and oral representation form Councillor Dean Cohen the Committee:

Resolved:

·         That the report be noted

·         That the Committee agreed that subject to the determination of the Street Trading Strategy item which is to be considered by the Licensing Committee on 19 March 2015, Officers be instructed to work with the Edgware Town Team in consultation with Ward Members in order to implement any traffic orders where relevant on a trial basics that supports the Counil’s Street trading policy.  

·         That the Committee agreed that subject to the determination of the Street Trading Strategy item which is to be considered by the Licensing Committee on 19 March 2015, Officers consider developing traffic orders where possible in other locations in the Borough to support the Council’s Street Trading Policy.

The Committee considered a Members’ Item submitted by Councillor Dr Devra Kay which requested Members of the Committee to consider the Borough’s roads and pavements.  Councillor Kay expressed her concerns of the quality of Highways which included the repair work that is conducted.

The Interim Director for Environment provided an oral response noting that inspections are carried out which is done on priority.   The Customer and Commercial Director noted that the Performance and contact Monitoring Committee and Audit Committee reviews the Councils performance indictors which include elements of the Borough’s Highways and therefore confirmed that the Members are overseeing the delivery of the any such contracts that requires maintenance of the highway. 

Having considered the Member’s Item and oral representation form Councillor Dr Devra Kay the Committee:

Resolved

·         That the report be noted

Prior to determining 1.2 of the report the Chairman moved the following resolution which was seconded by Councillor Salinger:

·         That the Committee note 1.2 of the report and that the significant investment authority has agreed over the next 5 years.   The Committee further noted that not all pavements within the Borough are in a dangerous state of disrepair.

Having been put to the vote the Committee voted:

In Favour: 6

Against: 4

Abstain: 1

This was therefore carried.

The Committee considered 1.3 of the report.  Having been put to the vote the Committee voted:

In Favour: 4

Against: 4

Abstain: 1

This was therefore lost.

Councillor Dr Kay moved a motion which was seconded by Councillor Schneiderman which requested a report be submitted to the next meeting which inspects the Borough’s Highways while identifying how performance is monitored.

Having been put to the vote the Committee voted:

In Favour: 4

Against: 6

Abstain: 1

This was therefore lost.

The Committee considered a Members’ Item submitted by Councillor Claire Farrier which requested Members of the Committee to consider the Borough’s street lighting and the impact this has on residents.

Councillor Farrier requested that:

·         a full consultation be carried out on the affect of dimmed lights

·         that the Committee instruct Officers to complete a full assessment of the use of light emitting diode (LED)  lighting

The Chairman put Councillor Farrier’s request to vote and determined:

·         That the Committee agreed not to carry out a full consultation.

The vote was recorded as follows:

In Favour: 5

Against: 5

The Chairman used his casting vote and the request was lost. 

·         That the Committee agreed not to instruct Officers to complete a full assessment of the use of light emitting diode (LED)  lighting

The vote was recorded as follows:

In Favour: 5

Against: 6

Resolved

·         That the Report be noted.

N.B Councillor John Hart left the meeting room during a period of this item. 

The Committee considered a Members’ Item submitted by Councillor Alan Schneiderman which requested Members of the Committee to consider parking enforcement.

Following discussion and consideration of the item the Committee:

Resolved:

·         That the report be noted

·         That the Committee noted that the Council’s Enforcement Plan will be circulated to Members.

·         The Committee noted that the Chairman supported Mr Eric Pickle’s bill which provided a 10 minute grace period for motorists who parkin permitted parking bays.  The Committee further noted that Councillor Schneiderman stated that Councils should be able to determine such action.

The Interim Commissioning Director for Environment introduced the report which set out the Hendon Area Committees decision to approve funding in order to provide free parking in Banns Lane car park on a Saturday.

Following discussion and consideration of the item the Committee:

Resolved:

·           That the Environment Committee approved a pilot scheme to support the local traders of Mill Hill as intended by the Hendon Area Committee by amending the existing tariff structure and introducing a free period of up to 3 hours on a Saturday.

·           That the Environment Committee agreed that the pilot scheme shall be reviewed within 6 months of implementation to ensure it is achieving its intended aims and remains a financially sustainable option.

·           That the Environment Committee agreed how the implementation of the scheme will be funded for the period of the pilot.

·           That the Environment Committee request that the above resolution be implemented before the next meeting of the Committee which is due to take place on 28 April 2015.

The Interim Commissioner for Environment presented the report.

Following discussion and consideration of the item the Committee;

RESOLVED –

·         That the Environment Committee approved the updated Commissioning Plan as set out at Appendix A and give consideration to the consultation responses highlighted in Appendix C.

Having been put to the vote the Committee voted:

In Favour: 6

Against: 5

The Interim Commissioner for Environment presented the report.

Following discussion and consideration of the item the Committee;

RESOLVED –

·         That the Environment Committee approved the proposed plan in relation to the implementation of the first phase of footway parking works in order to meet this element of the new Parking Policy and agreed the allocation of funds as determined in paragraph 5.2.1 from the capital funding allocated for investment in roads and pavements over the next 5 years and protect the 50.35m which has been agreed. 

·         That the Environment Committee agreed a further allocation of £1m per annum for on-going requests for footway parking from capital funding already allocated for investment in roads and pavements from 2016/17 to 2019/20.

·         That the Environment Committee agreed the action plan and timescale for implementation of the first phase of works.

Having been put to the vote the Committee voted:

In Favour: 6

Against: 0

Abstained: 5

The Interim Commissioner for Environment presented the report.

Following discussion and consideration of the item the Committee;

RESOLVED –

1. That the Environment Committee approved the Full Business Case and therefore commissioning Brent to deliver a shared public mortuary service which will be provided to Barnet, Harrow and Brent Councils.

2. That the Environment Committee approved delegation to the Street Scene Director to agree the Inter-Authority Agreement for the provision of the shared mortuary service for an initial term of 10 years with an option to extend by 5 years if the parties agree and any additional documentation required to give effect to the shared service.

3. That the Environment Committee agreed to decommission the mortuary site and return to the Council’s property asset base as surplus to requirements.

4. That the Environment Committee give approval (if necessary) the use of the Council’s reserves to fund the balance after use of Streetscene revenue budget required as a contribution to works at the Northwick Park Hospital.

Resolved:

The Committee noted the report.

The Chairman introduced an urgent item in relation to the London Borough of Barnet’s quietways programme phase two.  The Chairman noted that approval was required by the Committee in order for funding to be made available. 

RESOLVED –

·         That the Committee approve that Officers work with TFL in order to deliver phase two of the quiteways programme. 

·         The Committee noted that a report will be submitted to a future meeting for consideration

Having been put to the vote the Committee voted:

In Favour: 6

Against: 0

Abstain; 5