Agenda and minutes

The Environment Committee agreed an amendment to the minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2016.   Councillor Schneiderman moved that within the second resolution of item 6 in relation to the Member’s Item in his name ‘Blind and Partially Sighted Bowling Club’ that the Committee actually agreed that the instruction to Officers was that an equities impact assessment would be conducted at the appropriate time.  

Having considered the above which was unanimously supported the Environment Committee approved the minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2016 which were duly signed.

An apology of absence was received from Councillor Devra Kay.

A non-pecuniary interest was made by Councillor Alon Or-bach who stated that he lives on Church Path.  Councillor Or-bach took part in the consideration and decision making process.

A non-pecuniary interest was made by Councillor Adam Langleben.  He outlined that he was a trustee of West Hendon Trust and confirmed that Barratt Homes was also a trustee.  Councillor Langleben took part in the consideration and decision making process.

None.

The Environment Committee noted the details of public questions that had been submitted by residents who were given the opportunity of asking a supplementary question.  Mr Josh King and Mrs Mary O’Connor asked supplementary questions and these were verbally responded to.

Mrs Mary O’Connor addressed the Committee and made a public comment in relation to agenda Item 14.  Following her comments Members of the Committee were given the opportunity to ask questions to Mrs O’Connor.

Alon Or-bach - Bus Services Bill – Clause 21

Councillor Alon Or-bachintroduced the item and requested that the Committee support the intentions of his Member’s Item.

Having considered  the Member’s Item the Environment Committee: 

Councillor Alon Or-bach moved support for his Members Items and stated that that the Chairman should write to the Secretary of state, this was seconded by Cllr Alan Schneiderman.   This was put to the vote and recorded as follows:

For 3

Against 7

Having given consideration to the Member’s Item the Committee:

Resolved

·       The Environment Committee noted the report and Member’s Item.

Alan Schneiderman – Footway Treatments

Councillor Alan Schneiderman introduced the item and requested that the Committee support the intentions of his Member’s Item.  He outlined the three points within his item and requested that the Committee consider this.

The Committee heard from East Finchley Ward Member Councillor Arjun Mitta.  He outlined his concerns of footway treatments within the Borough and highlighted the effects of this within Beresford Road and Granville Road.

Councillor Zinkin outlined that Members had been consulted fully which Member discussed and therefore the Committee considered the request within the Member’s Item.

The Governance Officer in attendance communicated that the Committee were not able to make a decision in respect this item as the Committee did not have adequate information to make a decision.  It  was further noted that the Committee had recently agreed the Footway Treatment Policy when it met on  Thursday 14th July.  Therefore the Commissioning Director for Environment suggested that a report be submitted to the Committee at a future meeting.    

Having given consideration to the Member’s Item the Committee:

Resolved

The Member’s item be noted

That the Commissioning Director for Environment provided report be submitted to the Committee at a future meeting.  

The vote was recorded as follows:

7 in favour

3 abstained

Adam Langleben - Orbital rail in Barnet

The Council’s Constitution, meeting procedural rules, section 17 outlines that no business at any meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee shall be transacted after 10 pm and any business transacted after that time shall be null and void.   Therefore the Committee agreed to defer this item until and it shall be consider in the event that the Member wishes to resubmit the item.

The Committee considered this report which contained two matters that were referred from the Finchley and Golders Green Area Committee when it met on 26 October 2016.   

North Finchley Controlled Parking Zone

The Environment Committee considered the Proposed Parking Review of the North Finchley CPZ.  Councillor Peter Zinkin provided the background to this item which Members considered and discussed. 

Councillor Alan Schneiderman spoke in favour of the North Finchley CPZ.

Councillor Salinger moved that a small consultation takes place however this was not seconded and this motion was therefore lost.

The Chairman moved the vote in favour of the Officers recommendation and also in respect to recommendation 2 that the consultation not take place.   The vote was recorded as follows:

For – 4

Against 4

Abstain – 2

The vote was therefore tied and advice was provided by the attending Governance Officer and therefore a second vote was taken.  The vote was recorded as follows:

For – 4

Against – 5

Abstain – 1

Following the consideration of the item the Environment Committee 

Resolved

·       That the Area Committee noted the content of the report in relation to a review of parking in North Finchley CPZ.

·       That the Area Committee resolved not to conduct a parking review of the North Finchley CPZ.

Petition for the Committee’s Consideration – Granville Road

Mrs Lis Maimaris had the opportunity to present her petition and therefore she spoke in support on the petition found within appendix B of the report.     Members asked questions of Ms Maimaris in relation to this item.   The Committee considered the reason for the referral which were contained within the report.

Councillor Peter Zinkin moved that delegation be provided to the Commissioning Director for Environment to undertake consultation with Ward Members and residents to review the types of surfacing within the road.   This was seconded by the Chairman Councillor Dean Cohen.   This received unanimous support from the Committee and therefore:

Resolved

·       That delegation be provided to the Commissioning Director for Environment to undertake consultation with Ward Members and residents to review the types of surfacing within the road.  

·       That the communications associated with the implementation of the current policy that were raised within the petition be agreed.

The Chairman, Cllr Dean Cohen invited the Chief Executive of the Barnet Group, Troy Henshall to make a representation.  He provided a verbal update in regards to the management of the street scene service. 

The Chairman thanked Mr Troy Henshall for providing the update.  The Committee having heard the verbal update resolved:

·       That the Committee noted the update provided by Chief Executive of the Barnet Group, Troy Henshall

The Chairman, Councillor Dean Cohen invited Mr John Barry from Transport for London who provided an update on the Barnet Network Development.  Mr Barry gave an overview of the services within Barnet.  Members of the Committee were given opportunity to ask questions and the following points were noted:

• Finchley Memorial Hospital
• The frequency of service
• East/West Links
• North/South Links
• The 13 and 82 bus service

Mr Barry confirmed that the points raised by Members would be responded to via Officers of the Council.

That the Committee noted the update provided by Mr Barry and requested that he attends a future meeting.   

The Commissioning Director for Environment introduced the item and the intentions of the report.  

Following the consideration of the item the Committee:

Resolved

That the Environment Committee approved the refreshed revenue saving programme in Appendix A and noted that the report would be referred to Policy and Resources Committee for consideration.

The vote was recorded as follows

For – 6

Against 4

The Commissioning Director for Environment introduced the item and the intentions of the report.  

Following the consideration of the item the Committee unanimously resolved:

·       That the Environment Committee noted the Streetscene enforcement update in Appendix 1

·       That the Environment Committee approved to increase the new Fly Tipping FPN to £400 or £300 if paid within 10 days, in line with the recommendation by London Councils

The Commissioning Director for Environment introduced the item and the intentions of the report.  

The Committee considered the report and in particular the charge for burials within Barnet and the fee for residents.  Members noted that consideration be given to the calcification of this.

The Commissioning Director noted that he would consider the impact of 7 seater vehicles.   In addition to this he noted that consideration would be given to C1- C4 and therefore a report will be presented to the Committee at a future meeting for this to be determined.

Following the consideration of the item the committee:

C1-4 is considered again by the Committee at a future meeting.   (Jamie – I recommend that you do this via Chairman’s urgent item – this will mean that you don’t have to write another report and the outcome will be the same)

·       P4 will be considered by the Commissioning Director for Environment  accommodate larger vehicles 

The vote was recorded as follows

For – 6

Abstained – 4

The Commissioning Director for Environment introduced the item and the intentions of the report.  

Following the consideration of the item the Committee unanimously resolved:

·       That the Environment Committee noted the list of carriageway and footway planned maintenance schemes completed in the second quarter of the financial year as shown in Appendix A.

·       That the Environment Committee noted the list of Section 106 schemes completed in the second quarter of the financial year as shown in Appendix B

·       That the Environment Committee noted the list of Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funded schemes completed in the second quarter of the financial year, shown in Appendix C, and approved the amendments to the programme as set out in Section 1.4.

The Highways Director for Re introduced the item and outlined the policy for the collection of commuted maintenance payment. 

Following the consideration of the item the Committee unanimously resolved:

·       That the Environment Committee approved to replace the 2006 policy with the best practice guidance documents “Commuted sums for maintaining infrastructure assets” (County Surveyors Society (now known as ADEPT), 2009) and “Commuted Sums for the relief of maintenance and reconstruction of bridges” by ADEPT January 2016 as revised or amended from time to time.

The Highways director introduced the item and outlined the progress with the implementation of the Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Strategy.

Following the consideration of the item the committee unanimously agreed:

·       That the Environment Committee supported and endorsed the proposed capital investment programme to support the delivery of the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy and recommended it to Policy and Resources Committee for inclusion within the Council’s capital programme, as explained in paragraph 5.2.5 of the report.

·       That the Environment Committee recognised and supported the priority for investment/improvement assigned to the categories of sites at paragraph 1.3 to this report.

·       That the Environment Committee noted that work has commenced on the development of a Natural Capital Account for Barnet which will be reported to a future meeting of the Committee.

·       That the Environment Committee noteed that work has commenced on the development of a Playing Pitch Strategy which will be reported to the 10 January 2017 meeting of the Committee.

The Highways Director for Re introduced the item and outlined the parking activity which had taken place during the financial year.  He added that the report also provided the Committee with information on blue badges, designated disabled bays, taxi cards and freedom passes.

The Committee requested further information in respect to Parking Sensors Technology.

Following the consideration of the item the committee unanimously agreed and resolved:

·       That the Environment Committee approved the 2015/16 Annual Parking report

·       That the  Environment Committee noted that once the 2015/16 Annual Parking report has been designed it will be published on the Council’s website

·        That a report will be submitted at a future meeting to outline the Parking sensors Technology

The vote was recorded at

6 - for

4 - against

Having considered the report the Environment Committee:

Resolved:

That the Environment Committee noted the work programme

There were no urgent matters.