Agenda and minutes

Venue: Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BQ

Contact: Paul Frost 020 8359 2205 Email: paul.frost@barnet.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 94 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Environment Committee held on 13 September 2018 be approved.

2.

Absence of Members

Minutes:

An apology for lateness was submitted for Councillor Geoff Cooke for lateness.

 

3.

Declarations of Members' Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Minutes:

Councillor Dean Cohen

Item 6 – Members Item

Saracens CPZ event day signage

 

 

Councillor Dean Cohen Declared a Pecuniary interest, he stated that he had a Personal Connection with Saracens.  Councillor Cohen withdrew from the meeting during the consideration of the item. 

 

4.

Report of the Monitoring Officer (if any)

Minutes:

None.

5.

Public Questions and Comments (if any) pdf icon PDF 104 KB

Minutes:

Mr Levy was the only member of the public in attendance that had submitted public questions.  He therefore had the opportunity to ask supplemental questions.   

6.

Members' Items pdf icon PDF 228 KB

Minutes:

 

 

Cllr Alan Schneiderman – New bin collection arrangements

 

Councillor Alan Schneiderman introduced his Members item and gave an account of the recent refuse collection activity and the problems that he had experienced.    He requested support for his Members Item and requested that a full review be completed.  He stated that he had reports of black and blue bins were collected together in one vehicle and he noted that a number of residents across the Borough had not had their bins collected.

 

The Chairman Councillor Dean Cohen thanked Councillor Schneiderman for his comments and also gave his views on new bin collection arrangements.  He also thanked all Council Officers for their work to rectify the position which was supported by Council Schneiderman.   

 

The Strategic Director for Environment gave a lengthy verbal response which outlined the Council’s response to improve the collection service.  He informed the Committee that a review was in motion and the service provision was very closely monitored.    He also stated that Council staff were fully consulted before the services undertook a restructure and implemented the change to the collection service.   The Strategic Director for Environment said that the aim was to have a normal service resumed as soon as possible.  He noted that missed collections were now in isolated areas and that there had been 3500 bins not collected each week out of a total of 350,000.  

 

Members noted that residents had experienced problems reporting issues to the Council as there had been a problem with the Council’s phone lines and online forms. 

 

Members questioned if the agreed savings had contributed to the decline in performance of the refuse collection service and executed poorly.  The Chairman reminded Members that the Committee had agreed the 1 Million reduction in the budget and transition difficulties as the service was changed is not unexpected.  He added that the Officers were continuing to work hard and therefore there was an ongoing review.   He said he wanted to get this right and therefore he suggested that all Members of the Council should receive an update on the collection service before Christmas and a further update at the next meeting that included findings. 

 

Having considered the report the Committee:

 

Resolved:

-          That the Members Item be noted

-          That an update be provided before 21 December 2018 to all Members of the Council.

-          That a second update be provided at the next Committee meeting with findings

-          That all relevant staff be consulted for their feedback

 

Cllr Geof Cook – Saracens CPZ event day signage

 

Prior to the consideration of the item Councillor Dean Cohen withdrew from the meeting as he had earlier made a Pecuniary declaration.  In his place Vice Chairman Peter Zinkin took the Chair for that item only. 

 

 

Councillor Geoff Cooke introduced his Members item and requested that the Committee supported his item.

 

Councillor Zinkin noted that the signage was of importance to the local community.  He informed the Committee that the cost of the signage was (approximately) £28k and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Business Planning-Committee Report pdf icon PDF 233 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Strategic Director of Environment introduced the report and drew the Committee’s

attention to Corporate Plan and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to cover the next five years (2019-2024).   He requested that members consider the reports and it’s recommendations.

 

The Chairman stated to all members that if any the Committee’s membership had any suggestions to make savings to it’s budget, income generation or any other efficiencies then he would welcome their thoughts.

 

Having considered the report the Committee where requested to vote on the report’s recommendations and therefore:

 

Resolved:

 

·       That the Environment Committee considered and noted the report including appendix A and B and  referred the report to Policy and Resources Committee for consideration.

·       That the Committee approved the additional Committee priorities as set out in Appendix B.

·       That the Environment Committee considered and noted the MTFS proposals that related to the Committee as set out in Appendix C

·       That the Environment Committee considered the savings proposals for the financial year 2019/20 as set out in Appendix C, subject to the initial equalities impacts, and referred them to Policy and Resources Committee for consultation.  The Committee further noted that their eventual decision would be taken by Full Council.

The vote was recorded was:

6 - for

4 - against

 

Councillor Alan Schneiderman moved that (insert wording) re – seconded by Councillor Cooper. 

 

The vote was recorded was:

4 - For

6 - against

 

 

The Chairman, Councillor Dean Cohen moved to amend recommendation 5 as highlighted below to be included:

 

·       That the public consultation be sent to friends of the parks groups, allotment groups and other interestedgroups. 

This was seconded by Councillor Laithe Jajeh.  

 

The vote recorded was:

6 - for

4 - against

 

The substantive resolution became:

 

·       That the Environment Committee approved the launch of a public consultation regarding the introduction of charging for the collection of domestic garden waste. That the public consultation be sent to friends of the parks groups, allotment groups and other interested groups. 

 

The vote recorded was:

6 - for

4 - against

 

8.

Fees and Charges 2019.20 pdf icon PDF 281 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Strategic Director of Environment introduced the report and provided an overview of the report.

 

Having considered the report the Committee where requested to vote on the report’s recommendations and therefore:

 

Resolved:

1.    That the Environment Committee considered and approved the proposed fees and charges for 2019/20 as set out in Appendix A.

The vote recorded was:

 

6 – for

3 – against

1 – abstention

 

 

2.    That the Environment Committee unanimouslyagree the Electric Vehicle Charging Point Pilot Scheme and delegate power to the Strategic Director of Environment to set the fees and charges during the period of 12 months

 

9.

Quarter 2 201819 Environment Performance Report pdf icon PDF 382 KB

Minutes:

The Strategic Director of Environment introduced the report and provided an update on the priorities in the Corporate Plan 2018/19 Addendum for Quarter 2 (Q2) 2018/19. 

 

 

That the Committee requested that the Financial Performance and Contracts Committee consider the following level of high risk:

 

OP014 - Insufficient staff in Highways (residual risk score 16 – increased from 12).

This risk has increased in the last quarter due to the level of vacancies within the Highways service and difficulties retaining experienced and qualified Highways staff, which could impact on the delivery of the service. Re are working to resolve this and have a timetable for recruiting to the vacant posts. The situation is being monitored monthly as part of the Highways contract management meetings to ensure operational oversight of resource levels. Progress is being monitored via the monthly Highways Contract Management forum.

 

Having considered the report the Committee

 

Resolved:

-          That’s the Committee noted the financial, performance and risk information for Q2 2018/19 and make any referrals to Policy and Resources Committee or Financial Performance and Contracts Committee in accordance with the terms of reference of these Committees.

 

10.

Victoria Park, Finchley – Master Plan pdf icon PDF 295 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Strategic Director of Environment introduced the report and provided an update to the Committee.  He requested that the Committee consider the report and its recommendations.  He added that he needed to add a third recommendation (see below).   The attending Governance Officer verbally gave the recommendation and requested that the Committee consider it.

 

 

Having considered the report and the new Officers recommendation (3) the Committeeunanimously:

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the Environment Committee noted the outcomes of the public consultation and agreed the Master Plan set out at Appendix B.

 

2.    That the Environment Committee noted the report including the outcomes of the public consultation and agreed the priority order for the work as set out at Appendix B.

 

3.    That the Environment Committee agreed to delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Environment to procure external design consultants and construction contractors for the works as set out at Appendix B, in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.

 

11.

Implementation of the Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Strategy pdf icon PDF 297 KB

Minutes:

The Strategic Director of Environment introduced the report.  He provided the Committee with an update on the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy (POSS). 

 

Having considered the report the Committee where requested to vote on the report’s recommendations and therefore:

 

Prior to the voting process the Chairman, Councillor Dean Cohen moved to amend the second recommendation as illustrated below.  This was seconded by Councillor Peter Zinkin.

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the Environment Committee noted the progress made in 2017/2018 on the delivery of the Parks & Open Spaces Strategy.

 

2.    That the Committee agreed the implementation of charging for the use of car parks in Greenspaces sites as proposed in paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3 of this report and requested that the Strategic Director for Environment develop and bring back to the committee proposals setting out on an individual site basis prior to any implementation and present the proposals to a future meeting of the Committee.

 

The vote recorded was:

6 - for

4 - against

 

Having given consideration Councillor Alan Schneiderman moved that the report to the Committee sets out a  list of parks that are impacting on in respect to the locking of parks.

 

This was seconded Councillor Cooper which wasunanimously agreed by the Committee.

 

12.

Public Realm Forum and Heritage pdf icon PDF 287 KB

Minutes:

The Strategic Director of Environment introduced the report.

 

Having considered the report the Committeeunanimously :

 

Resolved:

 

-          That the Environment Committee noted the progress made by the Public Realm Forum and the implementation of heritage and memorial initiatives.

-          That Environment Committee nominated Councillor Tim Roberts and Councillor Rohit Grover as new Members of the Council to attend the Public Realm Forum as required

13.

Local Flood Management Strategy pdf icon PDF 286 KB

Minutes:

The Strategic Director of Environment introduced the report.  He requested that Members consider the report and it’s recommendations.

 

Having considered the report the Committee unanimously :

 

Resolved:

That the Environment Committee agrees to adopt the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

 

14.

Responding to Fly Tipping and Littering in Barnet pdf icon PDF 381 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Strategic Director of Environment introduced the report.  He requested that Members consider the report and it’s recommendations.

 

Having considered the report the Committee unanimously:

 

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the Environment Committee noted the commercial and contractual issues highlighted in section 1.12 of this report in relation to the introduction of a lower rate of FPN for first time offences and agree to the officer recommendations set out in 1.13 of this report that this option be reviewed as part of the annual contract review with the provider and the other two boroughs who have jointly commissioned this contract (Ealing and Harrow).

2.    That the Environment Committee noted the changes to the recycling and waste collection rounds set out in section 1.21 of this report and the new approach to the tasking of enforcement.

3.    That the Environment Committee noted that the member complaints process for FPNs will continue and agreed that members can raise complaints of FPNs through member enquiries for FPNs that have been issued in the preceding 30 working days.

 

15.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Minutes:

The Strategic Director for Environment highlighted the work programme, he stated that two motions had been reported to the Full Council meeting on  30 October 2018. He therefore drew Members attention this as contained in the work programme.    He added that the following two reports will be reported to future meetings:

 

NRP

Copthall Master Plan

 

The Strategic Director for Environment also noted that the next two meetings of the municipal year would be paper light.   

 

Resolved

-          that the Work Programme be agree 

-          that the next two meetings of the Environment Committee be paper light

16.

Any Other Items that the Chairman Decides are Urgent

Minutes:

None