Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from the following: Councillor Sara Beynon, Councillor Sheila Rainger, Councillor Neil Williams

The Chair welcomed those present to the meeting and gave an overview of the items that would be discussed.

She advised that the Police and Councillors from all four Wards were present if residents had any questions during the break. There was also an item on the agenda where Cabinet Members would take questions from residents.

It was noted that grants had now been awarded from the ‘Making the Difference’ Programme. Details about projects in the area were displayed for people to view.

It was noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had raised the level of alert to global pandemic status on 11 June.

Following this the Government altered the focus of its strategy to tackle the virus from containment to treatment. In practical terms this meant that the virus would be diagnosed clinically rather than testing patients and waiting for results to be obtained from laboratories.  

In addition antiviral medication would now be issued to people showing symptoms rather than anyone who had been in contact with the virus.

The council and NHS Haringey would continue to monitor the situation and NHS Haringey would establish collection points for antiviral drugs if this became necessary.

Key symptoms of the virus included:

• high temperature
• cough
• runny nose
• sore throat
• headache
• joint pain
• diarrhoea
• vomiting

In order to limit the spread of the virus general good respiratory hygiene was recommended. It was also recommended that people plan ahead and to establish ‘flu friends’ who could help if an individual fell ill. In addition it was also recommended that people keep a supply of the usual cough and cold remedies.  

It was noted that the Council and NHS Haringey were working closely to ensure that the necessary support was in place for vulnerable residents and to ensure that the relevant community groups received the necessary information.

The meeting received an update from the Council’s Road Safety Engineer on transport issues in the area.

It was noted that there were three key issues to report on:

HGV Ban

This would extend from the Palace Gate area to Dukes Avenue and the plans for this would be available by Friday 7 August. The publication of these plans would form the beginning of the twenty-one day statutory consultation period that the Council was obliged to undertake.

The ban would apply to lorries weighing over seven and a half tons. New signage would be installed throughout the area making people aware of the ban.

In terms of enforcement the local Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) would stop any banned vehicles that they became aware of travelling through the area. 

A406 Changes

The meeting was advised that Transport for London (TfL) was currently finalising the construction contract for this work. The work was due to commence in January 2010 and would be completed by June 2012.

The scheme finally agreed had not been amended to meet all of the concerns raised by the three Local Authorities affected by the work. However there had been agreement that the footprint of the area of landneeded for the intermediate scheme would be retained.

Work to improve traffic flow, the coordination of the traffic lights on Green Lanes was included within the scheme.

The meeting was advised that many of the responses to the consultation exercise, with respect to the Palace Gates scheme, had not been received due to a problem with Royal Mail. However, a Focus Group had been established to look at this issue. A further update would be brought to the Area Assembly in the Autumn.

In response to a question the meeting was advised that the Local Authority was required to carry out statutory consultation in relation to any new traffic management scheme. Any objections received would be taken into consideration and reflected in the report made by officers and considered by the Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport.  

The meeting was advised that any Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) that could demonstrate a need to be in the area would not be subject to any penalty.

In response to a query with respect to the widening of the Bounds Green junction the meeting was advised that the bottom of Durnsford Road was being widened and a lay-by was being added so that deliveries could be made without causing congestion.

A no-left turn would not be added as TfL had raised strong objects on the grounds that this would result in a large increase in the number of vehicles using this as an alternative route through to the A406.

Concern was raised that many people would be on holiday during the consultation period and this would mean that the views obtained would not be representative. 

Officers advised that the views obtained during consultation exercises were generally polarised and that people wishing to register their objections were more likely to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Chair noted that officers had been unable to attend the meeting but a brief overview had been provided of the work that had recently been undertaken.

• A Green Flag Award had been achieved
• A local Ornithology Group had received a ‘Making the Difference’ grant to survey the range of species in the park
• Grove Workshop –the Trustees of Alexandra Palace had awarded the lease on following the consideration of tenders

In response to a query, as to why there had been no consultation with local residents as to who the Grove Workshop should let to, Councillor Bob Hare (a Trustee) advised that twenty-four bids had been received from various community groups and the most appropriate had been selected.

Councillor Hare advised that the Council’s Conservation Officer would be consulted with respect to any work that was carried out.

It was contended that the project that had been given the lease on the Grove Workshop was inappropriate as it had originally been intended that it should be preserved as Metropolitan Open Land.

In response to a query as to how much it cost the Council to maintain and upkeep Alexandra Palace and how this compared with the amounts spent by other Local Authorities on historic buildings, the Chair requested that an update on this be made at the next meeting.

The meeting was given an overview of improvement made to Alexandra Palace and Muswell Hill Libraries.

Alexandra Palace Library

The initial phase of work had been completed which included new toilet facilities and refurbishment of parts of the interior. 

More refurbishment work would take place later in the year and there was also a planned phase of work to the exterior of the building that was due to commence on 3 August. This was due to be completed by the 1 September, subject to weather conditions and during this time there would be less room available in the car park.

The meeting was advised that a new coffee machine was due to be installed shortly.

In response to concerns raised regarding the positioning of recycling bins at the library the meeting the Assistant Director, Libraries, Culture and Learning, advised that she follow this up. 

Muswell Hill Library

The Council’s Property Services Team would be undertaking a programme of work, including redecoration of the first floor, stairwell and toilets, during September. Restorative work would also be carried out to the Lantern.

It was hoped that there would be funding available for further work later in the year.

In response to a query the meeting was advised that as the library was a Listed Building there were restrictions on the type of materials that could be used. This impacted on the work that was being carried out to repair the roof and flexibility to install air conditioning units.

The Chair noted that there were accessibly issues with respect to the first floor toilets and Children’s Library, officers advised that options for the installation of a lift were being worked up at present. However, there were planning issues attached to this as well as financial restrictions that may not be overcome until the new financial year.

Information was given that set out how the Council was responding to the recession.

The meeting was advised that the Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) would be published in September following approval by the Children’s Trust. 

As part of this Young Advisors had been appointed by the Council to assist in the production of the CYPP and to act as representatives for children and young people in the Borough.

A presentation was given Ghouchi Dobson and Daniel Edwards who are both Young Advisors.

The presentation gave an overview of the work the Young Advisors had been doing with respect to the CYPP and it was noted that that would be compiled into one document that would be considered by the Children’s Trust. 

Councillor Lorna Reith, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and Councillor Bob Harris, Cabinet Member for Resources, took questions from the audience.

In response to a complaint that Council officers had failed to respond to correspondence from a local resident in relation to a complaint they had made, Councillor Reith advised that any such complaint would receive a response.  The residents name and details were taken and Councillor Reith agreed to follow this up with officers.

A question was raised with respect to the recent increase in parking charges in Crouch End and Muswell Hill and the negative impact this had had upon small businesses Councillor Harris advised that these had been increased in order regularise charges across the Borough.

Councillor Reith noted that an increase in charges might mean that more people were able to use local amenities as spaces were occupied for shorter lengths of time.  She also noted that the Council had a responsibility to discourage people from using their cars for short journeys and to promote the use of public transport.

A query was raised regarding the future of the allotments at Fortis Green and the possibility of using a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to purchase the land. Councillor Reith advised that the site was protected to an extent under Planning law and noted that the Council also supported residents and the use of allotments.

In response to a query as to whether young people were being sought to sit on Safer Neighbourhood Panels and how young people could be engaged with, one of the Young Advisors present suggested that members of the Safer Neighbourhood Panel should approach a young person they knew directly.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 8^th December 2009 in Highgate Ward (venue to be confirmed).