Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2016 be approved.

Apologies for absence was received from Councillor Adam Lengleben and also from substitute member Councillor Laurie Williams who was unable to attend the meeting as he attend the Planning Committee meeting.

In relation to item 10, Car Club Expansion in Barnet, 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.

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.  Both Mr Levy 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 12, 14 and 18.a.   Following her comments Members of the Committee were given the opportunity to ask questions to Mrs O’Connor.

The Chairman amended the order of business and therefore moved Member’s Items to the end of the agenda.  

The Council’s Constitution, Meeting Procedural Rules section 17 status 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.   

At 21:58 the Environment Committee agreed that there was insufficient time for the Member’s Items to be considered and determined.

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 Troy Henshall

-        That the Committee requested thatMr Troy Henshallreturn in November for further update

The Commissioning Director for Environment introduced the item and the intentions of the report.  He outlined the implications of the street cleansing framework which the committee considered.  

Councillor Alan Schneiderman moved an additional motion to include an additional recommendation as follows:

That the committee approved to maintain the frequency of street cleansing within increased focus on residential streets.

This motion was seconded by Councillor Dr Kay

The vote was recorded as follows: 

For 4

Against 6

The motion was therefore lost.

Having considered the report the Committee:

Resolved to:

·       That the Environment Committee approved the adoption of the Street Cleansing Framework

·       That the Environment Committee approved the adoption of the associated Action Plan.

·       That the Environment Committee approved the most intense level of town centre cleaning be focused on the seven main town centres, agreed in the Entrepreneurial Barnet Strategy

The vote was recorded:

For 6

Against 0

Abstained 4

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

Following the consideration of the item the Committee:

Resolved to:

·       That the Environment Committee instruct the Commissioning Director for Environment to develop an overarching long term Transport Strategy for the London Borough of Barnet.

·       That the Environment Committee agreed the period of the strategy to 2035.

·       That the Environment Committee noted the scope of the strategy which was outlined within the report

·       That the Environment Committee approved the formation the project board and an Elected Members cross party group.

The recommendations were unanimously agreed

Councillor Salinger spoke in relation to this item following the submission of his Members Item on 8 March 2016.  He welcomed the report and outlined his support.

Having considered the report the Committee:

Resolved to:

·       That the Environment Committee approved the expansion of electric vehicle car clubs within Barnet on a “mixed economy basis” so that the Borough can benefit from different variants of electric car club from multiple providers.

·       That the Environment Committee approved that the installation of electric vehicle car club infrastructure will be carefully considered by the Commissioning Director for Environment and therefore consultation will be conducted with Ward Members in making decisions related to the locations identified for the infrastructure.

The recommendations were unanimously agreed

This item was withdrawn from the agenda and not considered.

The Director for Highways (Re) introduced the report.  The Committee considered the impact of the report and the types of footway treatments   The Committee noted the cost of footway treatments types.

Having considered the report the Committee:

Resolved to:

·       That the Environment Committee noted the report including the appendix 1 and 2

·       That the Environment Committee agreed that type 1 ASP paving should be used mainly in town centres and conservation areas

·       That the Environment Committee agreed types 2, 3 and 4 as recommended treatment types as documented in the report.  The Committee agreed to delegate authority to the Commissioning Director for Environment to implement the treatment types in consultation with Ward Members, following the notification to the local residents of the proposed works. The notification will include the before and after pictures. The Committee noted that in non-conservation areas residential road type one is a recommended approach, however the committee further noted that this would be only considered in exceptional circumstances following consultation with the  Ward Members

·       That the Environment Committee agreed that this would be implemented for a trial period of 12 months

·       That the Environment Committee agreed the tree pits types of treatments as outlined in the report which includes using porous paving as a standard treatment with the option to use Breedon Gravel in conservation areas and town centres

·       That the Environment Committee agreed that all tactile paving inside conservation areas should be grey except for when they are required to be red when associated with controlled crossing

Vote

6 for

4 abstain

Following the consideration and voting of the above resolutions Councillor Alan Schneiderman moved to amend the recommendations.  However the Committee had prior to that resolved to agree the recommendations above and therefore he was unable to request that the recommendations of the report be amended.

The Chairman, Councillor Dean Cohen invited Ward Member Councillor Claire Farrier to speak on the item.  She welcomed the report and outlined the impact of the report.

Following the consideration of the report the Committee:

Resolved to:

·       That the Environment Committee approved the formulation of detailed proposals, as indicated in this report, which will benefit local residents via increased management of the high parking demand in the Burnt Oak Town Centre area.

·       That the Environment Committee approved a recommendation that the Commissioning Director for Environment be given the authority to formulate and finalise options to manage the parking in the roads local to the Burnt Oak Town Centre and encourages the use of the Watling Car Park. That Committee also provides officers with the authority to commence two linked informal consultations, one with local residents and the second with local traders and businesses. 

·       That the Environment Committee delegated informal consultation to Commissioning Director for Environment, in consultation with Ward Members.  The Committee agreed that in the event that a Committee decision is required then a report be submitted to the relevant Area Committee for consideration. 

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

Having considered the report:

That Committee Resolved to:

·       That the Environment Committee deferred the item and requested that further consultation be carried out with all Members of the Council.

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 noted the current approach to Traffic Calming Measures as set out in this report.

·       That the Environment Committee approved the following Policy Wording: ‘Generally this Council opposes the use of vertical traffic other calming measures, but acknowledges that calming measures can sometimes be appropriate.  Officers should not, though, propose these apart from in exceptional circumstances and with all such decisions reserved for Members.

·       That the Environment Committee approved the process for the Consideration of Planned Maintenance schemes set out in paragraph 2.4 and that Members be consulted with from the earliest opportunity, if required. 

The recommendations were unanimously agreed.

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 noted the contents of the report to the Hendon Area Committee on 30 March and therefore noted the detail of the feasibility study as outlined in this report in relation to Abercorn Road and its junctions with Frith Lane and Dollis Road, NW7

·       That the Environment Committee noted the above resolution instruct approve funding the scheme from an agreed budget prior to progress of the scheme to detailed design, public, consultation and implementation.

The recommendations were unanimously agreed

The Commissioning Director for Environment introduced the item and the intentions of the report and gave an update on surface dressing.

Having considering the report the Committee:

Resolved to:

That the Environment Committee noted the contents and progress on the Environment Committee Commissioning Plan as outlined in the report and within appendix A.

The Chairman noted that a report titles ‘The Vale’ was referred to the Environment Committee form the Finchley and Golders Green Area Committee.  He stated that this item be added to the Work Programme for September consideration.  The Committee requested that the Commissioning Director for Environment engages with the Environmental Health Team to carry out monitoring of the site in terms of dust, odour and local air quality

Resolved:

That the Work Programme be noted.

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The Chairman, Councillor Dean Cohen introduced the report which had been published and circulated accordingly.  He outlined the report and informed the Committee that the item had been referred from the Chipping Barnet Area Committee, this was noted.

Having considered the report the Committee:

·       That the Environment Committee requested that this item be reported back to the Chipping Barnet Area Committee.

·       That the Environment Committee requested that Ward Members be consulted including West Finchley Ward Members. 

·       That the Environment Committee further requested that the Commissioning Director consider the impact to the North London Hospice.  

·       The Environment Committee noted that Ward Members are able to consult with residents to understand how residents feel.