Agenda item

Councillor Alan Schneiderman – Green recovery 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 support his item.  He requested that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee to consider this matter in great depth.

During the debate the Interim Director for Environment, Mr Mee stated that he supported the submission of a report.   Councillor Zinkin suggested that this matter be included in the Social Distancing and Public Realm report that is due to be reported at the next meeting on 09 September 2020.  This was unanimously agreed by the Committee and therefore:

Resolved:

-          That the Environment Committee noted the Members Item

-          That the Environment Committee agreed that the matter be included in the Social Distancing and Public Realm report at the next meeting.

Councillor Jo Cooper – Supporting our high streets and town centres

Councillor Cooper was invited by the Chairman to introduce the item and therefore she gave a summary of the issue and requested that the Committee support the item.  In doing so she mentioned the difficulties that businesses had encounter during Covid-19.

The Interim Director for Environment Mr Mee provided the committee with a verbal update and in doing so outlined information in regards to licensing fees.  He said that licence fees would be reduced to help local business. 

Resolved:

-          That the Environment Committee noted the Members Item

-          That the Environment Committee agreed that the licence fees be reduced and noted that an update be provided to the Committee when possible.

Geoff Cooke - 20mph Zones

Councillor Cooke was invited by the Chairman to introduce the item and therefore he gave a summary of the issue and requested that the Committee support the item.    He also requested that a report be submitted to a future meeting. 

The chairman said that the current policy was reviewed on a site by site basis and noted that that there was no current plan to amend the policy.

During the debate Councillor Zinkin stated that 20mph zone are tricky to enforce.  He noted that the Environment Committee was due to receive the Traffic, Parking and CPZ strategic policy review report that there suggested that the Interim Director for Environment., Mr Mee include a section on 20 mph zones, include what has been achieved, the impact and how this matter could be taken forward.       

Councillor Alan Schneiderman said that he supported Councillor Cooke’s items and requested that there should be a change in the policy to make it easier for 20mph zones to be implemented.   Councillor Cooper noted a scheme in Cromer Road and requested an update.    Mr Mee said that he would arrange for an update to be provided directly to Councillor Cooper. 

Councillor Byers noted that there was a Government review on the data around 20 mph zones in 2018 and therefore he suggested that any future report should include a reference  to this report.  Mr Mee noted that that the review would be comprehensive and therefore include any Government review(s).  

Having consider the report the Committee:

Resolved:

-          That the Environment Committee noted the Members Item

-          That the Environment Committee agreed to request that the Interim Director of Environment include a review of 20mph zones in the in Traffic, Parking and CPZ strategic policy review report at the 09 September meeting.   

Laurie Williams – Thank our frontline Streetscene

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

Having considered the report the committee:

Resolved:

-          That the Environment Committee fully supported the item

-          That the Committee agreed that a letter be drafted from the Committee to Street Scene Officers to thank them for all their work