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 108 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the Environment Committee agreed to amend section one of the minutes from the meeting that took place on 11 January 2016 meeting and therefore inserted the following additional bullet point:

 

·       Seeks an assurance that all necessary remedial work will be completed as soon as possible

 

Having agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2016 the Environment Committee approved the minutes as amended.

 

 

2.

Absence of Members

Minutes:

None.

3.

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

Minutes:

In relation to item 11, Commercial Waste Transformation, Councillor Brian Salinger declared a non-pecuniary interest as he is a private sector landlord.  Councillor Salinger remained in the room for the consideration of the item and took part in the decision making process. 

 

In relation to item 6F, Car Club Facilities, Councillor Brian Salinger declared a non-pecuniary interest as he owns an electric car.  Councillor Salinger remained in the room for the consideration of the item and took part in the decision making process.

 

4.

Report of the Monitoring Officer (if any)

Minutes:

None. 

5.

Public Questions and Comments (if any)

Minutes:

Dr Rosemary Alexander made a public comment in relation to item 6e, Dangerous Pavements.

 

6.

Members Item

6a

6a. Cllr Adam Langleben - Railway services in Barnet pdf icon PDF 242 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Adam Langleben introduced his Member’s item.  He noted that the railway service was poor and he tabled additional information in support of the item.    He requested that the Committee consider additional points and therefore he invited the view of the Chairman and the Committee in order to support his Members Item.

 

The Chairman noted that Members Items facilitate the opportunity for a Committee to consider and discuss the intentions of a Members Item which should be in line with the Terms of Reference of the relevant Committee.   The Governance Officer noted that the Environment Committee did not have any substantive information available in order for the Committee to take a particular course of action in respect to Councillor Langleben’s request.  The Governance Officer also stated that the tabled information presented had not been viewed by Officer’s of the council prior to the meeting nor had the document be made publicly available or circulated to Members of the Committee.  The Committee were advised that the additional information submitted by Councillor Adam Langleben should not be considered.

 

Councillor Adam Langleben moved a motion which was seconded by Alan Schneiderman to agree to the points below.

 

·        Requested the Committee to write to the train operator, Govia Thameslink Railway, to demand improvements and to invite a representative to attend an Environment Committee meeting.

 

·        Requested the Committee to write to the Department of Transport urging them to speed up the planned transfer of London’s suburban rail services to Transport for London.

 

·        Requested the committee to resolve that the London Borough of Barnet are against all ticket office closures or reductions in operating hours of those services, and that the Chair of this committee and Leader of the Council will make these representations to Govia Thameslink Railway on behalf of the authority.

 

·        Requested the Committee to write to the Department for Transport, TfL and Govia Thameslink Railway to state this authority’s view that Cricklewood and Hendon Thameslink stations be upgraded at the earliest possible opportunity to allow for 12 car trains to stop and alight at the stations to secure their long term viability and to ensure the best possible service for the residents of our borough.

 

·        Requested the Committee to back the local campaign for Step Free Access at Mill Hill Broadway station by writing to the Secretary of State for Transport calling for Mill Hill Broadway to be added to the next list of works for step free access and also refer this to the planning department to secure any financial contributions for such access from the dozens of developers building in the borough who are currently being left off the hook by this borough.

 

·        Requested the Committee to write to Govia Thameslink Railway, copying in the Secretary of State for Transport and the Mayor of London stating that this committee believes that it is completely unacceptable for four car trains to be running and servicing stations in Barnet during peak hours of operation. Such operations reduce the productivity of London and does  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6a

6b

6b. Cllr Agnes Slocombe - Potholes pdf icon PDF 242 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Angus Slocombe introduced the item, she said that she was concerned in relation to road surfaces and requested the Committee consider the Members Item.  Ward Member Councillor Arjun Mittra spoke in relation to this item and noted that there were potholes throughout East Finchley.  

 

The Environment Committee supported that a future report be submitted to the Committee which outlines details of The historic condition of roads, insurance claims and costs associated with maintenance of the highway

 

Having considered the report the Committee:

 

Resolved:

·       That the Environment Committee supported the request outlined in Councillor Angus Slocombe Member’s Item

That the Environment Committee requested that the Commissioning Director for Environment present a report to the July meeting which addresses the issues raised under the members item.

6c

6c. Cllr Alan Schneiderman - Free Christmas Parking pdf icon PDF 249 KB

Minutes:

 

Councillor Alan Schniderman introduced the item, he outlined that residents should be encouraged to shop within Barnet’s High Streets.  He said that it was important for the Council to allow free parking during Christmas to boost trade.  He added that parking refunds should be completed and requested that his comment was minuted.    The Commissioning Director for Environment stated that all repayments are to be made.     The Committee noted that if parking payments are to be suspended is must be clear for motorists. 

 

Having considered the report the Committee:

 

Resolved:

·       That the Environment Committee requested that the Commissioning Director for Environment provide Members of the Committee with an update in relation to parking refunds

·       That that the Commissioning Director for Environment be requested write to Members of the Committee with a revised plan to ensure that the free Christmas parking proposal is widely advertised and that officers investigate how best to ensure that payments cannot be taken

 

 

 

6d

6d. Cllr Claire Farrier - Burnt Oak Car Park pdf icon PDF 241 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Claire Farrier introduced the item and noted the pressure on parking in Burnt Oak.  She requested that the Environment Committee considered the Members Item and agreed to remove car park charges that would have an improvement on the quality of life for all the residents within the area.

 

The Commissioning Director for Environment outlined that if the intention of the Member’s Item is to have a free car park then it is likely that it will be used by commuters and local businesses, he added that if the Committee wanted to reduce commuter car parking then to support the item might not actually see a positive effect to local residents.

 

Having considered the report the Committee:

 

Resolved:

·       That the Environment Committee noted the Members Item

·       That the Environment Committee requested that the Commissioning Director for Environment submit a report to a future Committee meeting to outline the potential changes that would be available to improve residential parking in Burnt Oak

 

6e

6e. Cllr Devra Kay - Dangerous pavements pdf icon PDF 241 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Devra Kay introduced the item.  She stated that the Council’s pavements are in poor condition and therefore requested the Environment Committee consider her Members Item.

 

The Committee heard a public comment from Dr Rosemary Alexander who spoke in relation to the Members Item.  She outlined the serious condition of the pavement in Woolmead Avenue.  Dr Alexandra stated that she fell and believed that this was because of the state of the pavement.  

 

Councillor Kay moved a motion which requested the establishment of a Pothole and Pavement Panel which was seconded by Councillor Alan Schneiderman. 

 

Having been put to the vote the motion was lost.

 

The vote was recorded as follows:

 

For – 5

Against 6

Having considered the report the Committee:

 

Resolved:

-        That the Environment Committee noted the Members Item

-        That the Commissioning Director for Environment be requested to investigate the pavement in Woolmead Avenue

-        That the Commissioning Director for Environment be requested to produce a report at a future meeting to outline the condition of the Councils Pavements

 

6f

6f. Cllr Brian Salinger - Car Club Facilities pdf icon PDF 242 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Brian Salinger introduced the item and requested that the Committee support a report to outline the opportunities, benefits and options for the adoption of car club facilities 

 

Having considered the report the Committee:

 

Resolved:

·       That the Environment Committee noted the Members Item be noted

·       That the Commissioning Director for Environment be requested to produce a report to a future meeting. 

 

7.

Referred Item From the Chipping Barnet Area Committee pdf icon PDF 241 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Commissioning Director for Environment introduced the report and outlined that a petition was submitted to the Chipping Barnet Area Committee on 13 January 2016 which was subsequently referred to the Environment Committee for consideration.

 

Having considered the report the Committee:

 

Resolved:

·       That the Environment Committee supported Noted the report

·       That the Environment Committee noted that once the list of 71 road be approved Members contact the Commissioning Director for Environment in order for consideration to be given to any additional roads

 

8.

Environment Commissioning Plan 201617 addendum pdf icon PDF 292 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Commissioning Director for Environment introduced the item and the intentions of the report.   He noted an error within appendix A in relation to a 30 million investment found on page six of the report, bullet point three.   The Committee noted that the deletion of this paragraph.   

 

Having considered the report the Committee:

 

Resolved

 

·       That the Committee approved the addendum to Environment Committee Commissioning Plan for 2016/17 as set out in Appendix A.

9.

Streetscene Enforcement pdf icon PDF 296 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Commissioning Director for Environment introduced the item. He outlined the proposed Streetscene Enforcement Policy is to align with the corporate enforcement policy and therefore he requested that the Committee consider recommendations as outlined within the report.  

 

The Committee discussed if options would be considered to keep an in house service and if a benchmark exercise had taken place with neighbouring Boroughs.   The Committee also made comments to financial information to be made available.  

 

The Committee considered a request form Councillor Adam Langleben for consideration to be given to a shared service approach and for discussions to be conducted with the London Borough of Enfield

 

Having considered the report the Environment Committee:

 

Resolved:

·       Supported and approved  the Streetscene enforcement policy and procedure as outlined in Appendix 1

·       Approve that authority be delegated to the Commissioning Director - Environment to make minor amendments to the Street scene Enforcement Policy to ensure it remains fit for purpose

·       Approved the trial of Streetscene enforcement through a third party specialist supplier

·       Agreed that the full implementation should not take place until the analysis of the trail has taken place. 

·       Agreed that no final decision be made until a full annalist of the trial is completed and reported to the Committee to determine 

 

 

10.

Draft Street Cleansing Framework 2016 to 2025 pdf icon PDF 284 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council’s Constitution outlines in the Meeting Procedural Rules that no business of the Environment Committee shall be transacted after 10 pm and any business transacted after that time shall be null and void.

 

Therefore the Committee noted and considered that there was insufficient time to give proper consideration to this item and agreed that the item be deferred to a future meeting of the Environment Committee.  

11.

Commercial Waste Transformation pdf icon PDF 329 KB

Minutes:

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

 

Having considered the report the Committee:

 

Resolved

 

·       That the Environment Committee approves the vision for the Commercial Waste Service in section 1.6

·       That the Environment Committee approves the introduction of policy 1 in section 1.14 to Maximise Recycling

·       That the Environment Committee approves the introduction of time banded collections and the introduction of policy 2 in section 1.14 related to time banded commercial and household waste and recycling collections, for those residents and businesses which fall in time banded high-street collection Zones. This also includes the option to specify the colours of the container/sacks used by the Council and other waste collectors

·       That the Environment Committee approves the introduction of policy 3 in section 1.14 to prevent bins from cluttering the Streetscene in high-street collection Zones

·       That the Environment Committee approves the introduction of policy 4 from 1 April 2016 in section 1.14 to enable commercial waste manger to be commercially flexible with customer charges and offers

 

12.

Air Quality Action Plan pdf icon PDF 294 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Commissioning Director for Environment introduced.  The Committee noted in relation to the 32 actions that in some circumstances more information would be useful.   Committee Members were requested to provide Officers of the Council with feedback in order for more information to be provided.   

 

Councillor Alan Schneiderman stated that an aim of the Committee should be to improve the quality of in the Borough and therefore he suggested that further action should be considered. 

 

Having considered the report the Committee:

 

Resolved:

 

·       That the Environment Committee noted the proposed measures to improve air quality to be included in the updated Air Quality Action Plan.

·       That the Environment Committee noted Appendix 1 of the report

·       That the Environment Committee approved delegated to the Commissioning Director for Environment to submit the finalised Air Quality Action Plan to DEFRA in April 2016.

 

That the Environment Committee agreed to submit comments relating to the 32 actions to the Commissioning Director for Environment Committee.

13.

Committee Forward Work Programme pdf icon PDF 226 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced the Committee’s Work Programme, as set out in the report.

 

RESOLVED

That the Environment Committee noted the Work Programme.

 

14.

Any Other Items that the Chairman Decides are Urgent

Minutes:

The Chairman requested that Chief Executive of The Barnet Group, Troy Henshaw provide an update to the committee to outline the Management provision of Street Scene service.   

 

The Commission Director for Environment outlined that an Audit of the Street Scene Operations review which was reported to the Audit Committee on 28 January 2016.  He added that had the London Borough of Barnet’s Chief Executive Office took a decision amend the operational management of the service and therefore noted that the Steetscene Operations was now managed by the Barnet Group.   Mr Henshaw stated that Barnet Homes are providing the management structure to deliver the service and noted that this was an interim arrangement for a six month period. 

 

 

Having considered the Chairman’s urgent item the Committee:

 

Resolved

-        That the Environment Committee noted the update

-        That the Environment Committee requested that Mr Troy Henshaw be invited back to a future meeting of the Environment Committee to provide an further update