Agenda and draft minutes

In respect of the following items Members of the Public attending are encouraged to ask questions and raise any concerns

(i)                 Planning Enforcement(6.40pm)

Briefing to follow

(ii)        Neighbourhood Action Teams(7.10pm)

(iii)       Planning and the Localism Act (particularly Highgate and cross-boundary issues)(7.20pm)

Briefing to follow

(iv)      Involving residents in street and highway improvements (7.50pm)

(v)       Area Plan – update and sign off(8.20pm)

·        Claire Kowalska – Frontline Services – will be in attendance to talk about the final draft Area Plan in order for the Area Committee to agree and sign off.

ITEM TO FOLLOW

There will be a 5 minute break before the Area Committee commences.

AREA COMMITTEE AGENDA

see MH41 below

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Bloch.

NOTED

Nil Items

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgment of the public interest and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/or if it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, licence, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations.

NOTED

Nil

To consider the Minutes of the Area Committee held on 12 January 2012 and any matters arising.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2012 be approved and signed by the Chair as an accurate record of the proceedings.

Matters arising

The Chair advised that:

i.                    In respect of Minute Item MH23 – as a result of the content of the minute a letter had been sent to the Planning Service and that Mr Dorfman had been in attendance this evening to address the issues in relation to the Localism Act and Cross-boundary issues and a range of other planning related issues including enforcement and Local Implementation Plans.

ii.                  Minute MH27. – the Chair advised that as yet she had not received any response from Councillor Canver to her letter sent after the meeting on 12 January in relation to a number of issues pertaining to the Fortnightly non-recyclable refuse collection.  Members expressed their concerns at the lack of response from the Cabinet member and felt that this was unacceptable. The Committee unanimously expressed its dismay at the lack response and asked that this be recorded.  The Chair had already written to the Chief Executive to raise this matter, but undertook to write to him again expressing the Committee’s unanimous dismay and concerns at the lack of response.

NOTED

ACTION – Cllr Engert

iii.                Minute MH27 – the Chair advised that full responses to points had been received from Joan Hancox – Head of Area Management – which had been circulated to the Committee in advance of the meeting.

iv.                 Minute MH31 – Councillor Newton referred to the protocol allowing the Committee to put forward ideas for by-laws and in this respect suggested that the Committee consider the matter of ‘Crossovers’ as there seemed to be considerable abuse of the use of these.  One of the main issues of concern was the practice of cars reversing out of a front garden parking area and across the pedestrian footway and the danger of motorists being unaware of pedestrians’ particularly small children who could be hidden from view.

Following advice from Joan Hancox – Head of Neighbourhood Services in relation to the guidance issued to residents on completion of a crossover the Committee welcomed the proposal that vehicles should have to exit forwards from the parking area to cross the footway. They also commented on the actual space allowed for crossovers in the front of houses and whether this was actually being flouted by the car size, and the subsequent overhang of the vehicle onto the pavement.

Members also commented that the safest method was the vehicle entering a crossover in reverse. There were some concerns expressed at the seemingly significant lack of enforcement over unpermitted crossovers, particularly in conservation areas.

Ms Hancox advised that crossovers were monitored by the Neighbourhood Action Teams and also by planning enforcement across the Borough and there were very clear regulations as to the depth of the parking space (4.8 metres) as well the siting of crossovers in conservation areas and what was permitted in terms of garden walls  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability – to report to the Committee on the final draft Area Plan and to approve its contents for sign off and implementation.

The report is circulated under Item 1(v) on the agenda

The Chair advised that as there had not been any comments expressed during the Forum part of the proceedings the Plan as circulated was agreed.

The Chair asked that the plan now be placed on the web, and in response to comments from Councillor Solomon advised that the plan had been given considerable exposure in the area and had been the subject of a number of focus meetings/consultations since late summer 2011 to now. It was also requested that a simple plain English front sheet listing the headlines of the plan be drafted by officers to be included on the web once agreed.

In terms of progress and monitoring of the plan the Chair felt that it would be appropriate for it to be updated and added to after each meeting, and that it should not remain as a static document but an ongoing process.

RESOLVED

i.                    That the final draft area plan be endorsed;

ii.                  That a simple plain English front sheet be drafted by officers;

iii.                Once the front sheet has been agreed, that the plan be placed on the Web, and that the plan be updated/progressed in the coming months following consideration and comment at each future meeting.

ACTION :      DIRECTORATE OF PALCE AND SUSTAINABILITY – NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES – C KOWALSKA / Z SWANSON

i.                    Enforcement

In noting the comments and update given in the Forum part of the meeting the Committee commented that whilst there was a perspective that enforcement was improving the processes adopted by the Council to tackle enforcement issues were not perhaps as high a priority as they should be.

NOTED

ii.                  Planning & Localism

Councillor Williams expressed concerns, shared by the Committee that the matter of the Localism Act and its far reaching effects on planning and other related issues such as cross-boundary Neighbourhood Forum development was not being facilitated by the Council, borne out by the lack of concern and support at the Full Council meeting on 26 March 2012. 

The Committee expressed its appreciation to officers in addressing the issues during the forum part of the proceedings and work being progressed.

Following a brief discussion Councillor Williams MOVED, and it was seconded by Councillor Jenks and it was:

RESOLVED

That this Committee regrets the impression given at the Council of 26 March 2012 that the Council was not supportive of residents’ attempts to use the new powers in the Localism Act to establish Neighbourhood Forums in Haringey and calls upon the Council to engage positively with residents to facilitate these plans and aspirations.

iii.                Local Implementation Plans (LIPs)

The Committee, in welcoming the update in the Forum part of the meeting in respect of LIPs, commented on the need to have some level of co-ordination in terms of ideas for improvements in Wards.

The Chair asked that Ward Councillors liaise with residents/groups as to effective suggestions for improvements within each ward area and that further discussion takes place in this respect.

NOTED   

i.                    Fortnightly Refuse Collection

The Committee collectively expressed concerns at the roll out of the fortnightly refuse collection, in particular:

·        Lack of cohesive information forthcoming from Veolia in terms of collection and generally difficulties in making complaints through the call-centre and lack of action despite reassurances that complaints would be followed through and responded to.

·        Concerns at HMOs collections with considerable bin overflow (an example given was at Queens Avenue having around 15 bins lined up and overflowing)

·        Misinformation regarding continuing or ceasing of use of green recycling boxes and inconsistency of approach across the Area in terms of some collectors emptying whereas other refusing to.

·        Numerous concerns regarding bin sizes and subsequent requests for smaller bins not being supplied.

The Chair asked, and Councillor Jenks agreed to co-ordinate complaints received from residents to Members and that they be compiled into a list, to be submitted following the Easter period to officers.

RESOLVED 

That all complaints received from residents in respect of the fortnightly refuse collection be forwarded to Councillor Jenks to compile a composite list to be submitted to officers, during the week commencing 9 April 2012.

ACTION Chair/Cllr Jenks