Agenda and minutes

Before the minutes were signed Councillor Peter Zinkin who was acting as the Chairman paid tribute to the attending Governance Officer, Mr Paul Frost as this was his last meeting as the Governance lead for the Environment Committee.   Councillor Peter Zinkin thanked the Officer for his hard work, support and guidance to the Committee and noted that he’d be greatly missed.

The chairman noted that within the minutes there were a number of actions that had been captured, therefore he requested an update on these matters. 

Item 6 - The Barnet Allotments

-        The Executive Director for Environment said that Officers had spoken with the Barnet Allotment Federation and as a result a report will be submitted to a future meeting. 

Item 7 – Air Quality Report

-        The Executive Director for Environment said that Officers had provided feedback to TFL and the Mayor of London.    Members also noted a verbal update on the anti-idling enforcement scheme that had taken place in Camden.  

Apologies for absence had been received from the chairman, Councillor Dean Cohen who was unable to attend the meeting.   As a result, Vice Chairman Councillor Peter Zinkin chaired the meeting. 

An apology for lateness was received from Councillor Laithe Jajeh.

Councillor Peter Zinkin declared that he was a Director for London Energy and Member of the North London Waste Authority for which he has received a dispensation from the Council’s Monitoring Officer.   

None.

None received.

Councillor Alan Schneiderman – TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE IN BARNET

Councillor Alan Schneiderman was invited by the Chairman to introduce the item. Councillor Schneiderman gave a summary of the issue and requested that the Committee give support to this item.

The Executive Director for Environment said that any interested parties in this subject are invited to take part in the sustainability strategy in due course.  He noted that this was expected to be reported to the Committee at a future meeting.  

The Committee had the opportunity to consider the matter.

Resolved

That the item be noted.

Councillor Geof Cooke – IMPROVE SAFETY AND FACILITIES IN STONEYFIELDS PARK

Councillor Geof Cooke was invited by the Chairman to introduce the item. Councillor Cooke gave a summary of the issue and requested that the Committee give support to this item.  Councillor Cooke informed the Committee that Members of the public were in attendance and wanted to speak to the Committee.    The Governance Officer in attendance provided constitutional guidance in respect to this point and therefore noted that no requests had been made before the deadline to make a public representation.      Members of the Committee considered this request and the governing arrangements that supported this subject.  As Mayor, Councillor Alison Cornelius and member of the committee requested to the Chairman that the resident be given the opportunity to make a verbal representation, the Chairman duly allowed this request. 

The Committee had the opportunity to consider the matter and noted with thanks the verbal representation form the Member of the public.

Resolved

That the item be noted

That Ward Member Councillor Simberg left the meeting to discussed the matter with the resident(s)

Councillor Claire Farrier – SUPPORT THE HARD WORKING FRIENDS OF BARNET'S PARKS

Councillor Claire Farrier was invited by the Chairman to introduce the item. Councillor  Farrier gave a summary of the issue and requested that the Committee give support to this item. 

The Chairman said that he and the Committee completely support the item.    The Committee noted that when the Committee receive a report on parks it includes a section on ‘friends of parks groups’.

Resolved

That the item be noted, supported and agreed. 

Councillor Lurie Williams   –  SUMMERS LANE RECYCLING AND REUSE CENTRE

Councillor Lurie Williams was invited by the Chairman to introduce the item. Councillor Williams gave a summary of the issue and requested that the Committee give support to this item. 

The Street Scene Director was in attendance, he gave a verbal update on the matter and offered his support to Councillor Williams.

The Committee had the opportunity to consider the matter.

Resolved

That the item be noted.

The Chairman invited the Executive Director for Environment, Mr Geoff Mee to present the report, he requested that the Committee consider the report and it’s recommendations.

During the debate Members raised concerns that some of the hardware for benches was high in value and therefore Officers committed to look into this matter.  The Committee requested that members be updated on the progress of installing and maintaining benches. 

Before the vote Councillor Geof Cooke left the room and did not take part in the voting process

Having considered the report the Committee:

Resolved  

1. That Committee approved the revenue savings programme listed in Appendix A after having considered the initial equalities impacts and recommend it to Policy and Resources Committee on 09 December 2021.
2.  That Committee approved the proposed fees and charges for 2022/23, as set out in Appendix B and recommend it to Policy and Resources Committee on 09 December 2021

Vote – for 6

Against – 4

The Chairman introduce the report and noted 1.8 of the report. The Chairman invited the Executive Director for Environment, Mr Geoff Mee to present the report.    Mr Mee provided a full overview of the report and requested that Members give consideration.

Having considered the report the Committee unanimously:

Resolved  

1. That the Committee agreed to the project classifications detailed in paragraph 1.8 of this report.

2. That the committee noted the alignment of the Year 1 programme with the Highway Network Recovery Programme 2022/23 as approved at the Environment Committee meeting of 6 October 2021.

3. That the Committee agreed to receive a future report setting out the Year 1 programme aligned to the Network Recovery Programme 2022/23 in January.

The street Scene Director, Mr Craig Miller introduced the report.   He provided Members will a full outline of the report that acted as an update for Members.  In doing so he noted that the service was operating very well and members received supporting data to this affect.

Members had the opportunity to raise questions and comments.   Councillor Claire Farrier requested some further information on this agenda item and as a result Mr Miller committed to contacted Councillor Farrier to take the matter further. 

Having considered the report the Committee unanimously:

Resolved  

·       The Environment Committee noted the contents of this report.

The Chairman invited the Executive Director for Environment, Mr Geoff.

Having considered the report the Committee unanimously:

Resolved

·       That the Environment Committee noted the revisions to the Re Highways KPI suite

·       That the Committee noted that the performance of TarmacKier will be shared with this Committee and will in the future be included as context in the Highways element of the Re report to the Financial Performance and Contracts Committee

The Chairman invited the Executive Director for Environment, Mr Geoff Mee to present the report. The Executive Director provided a full overview of the report and requested that Members give consideration.     Mr Mee noted that the service specialist was in attendance to answer any questions that the Committee may have.   Councillor Alan Schneiderman therefore raised a number of  questions relating to the process of a Public Rights of Way Public Path Orders Policy.

Members noted the consultation process and therefore Members of the Council will be consulted in the event an order is made.  In that case members noted that anyone could object to the order within the remit of legislation.

The Chairman thanked the attending Officer for his attendance and contribution.

Having considered the report the Committee unanimously:

Resolved  

1. That the Committee noted the progress with the development of the Public Rights of Way service and associated policy framework.

2. That the Committee approved the draft Public Path Order policy set out in Appendix 2 for consultation.

3. That the Committee delegated authority to the Executive Director for Environment to amend (if necessary) the draft Public Path Order Policy to incorporate any changes necessitated by the result of the public consultation and to implement the policy.

4. That the Committee noted the introduction of fees and charges aligned to the Public Path Order policy which is the subject of a separate report to the Committee.

 The Committee noted that the parks report as referenced in item 6 be reported to the March meeting.

That the Work Programme be noted.

There were no urgent items.

Before the meeting closed, Councillor Alan Schneiderman noted his thanks to the attending Governance Officer, Mr Frost.   He said that his support had been invaluable to him and the committee over the years.   A round of applause followed.