Agenda item

Briefing and answers to questions – Councillor Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods.

RECEIVED the briefing from the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Councillor Nilgun Canver, and the questions and answers submitted in advance of the meeting.  The Cabinet Member highlighted that the Government had allocated £214,000.71 to Haringey for pothole repairs and expressed concerns that the Localism Bill introduced a power to recover from local and public authorities European Union infraction fines for non compliance with EU law.  The Cabinet Member would circulate a briefing about and a letter responding to the Localism Bill (Action No. 216.1). 

The Committee noted the new waste contract and that, in the first year of the contract there would be a comprehensive education and engagement programme and whilst recyclables would continue to be collected on a weekly basis, starting from January 2012 residual waste for street properties would move to fortnightly collections; starting in the Muswell Hill area and rolling out across the Borough.  The Cabinet Member would email the colour brochure from Veolia, the new waste service provider (Action No. 216.2).

NOTED the following in response to supplementary questions:

Q3 – Area Committees – The Cabinet Member reported that the details of how the Area Committees will serve will be agreed as part of the Council’s governance review.  A key role for engagement and enablement officers will be to identify priorities in each area which will then be agreed by each Neighbourhood Committee to enable local communities to action.

Q5 – Fortnightly Refuse Collections – In response to a concern about the lack of a pilot scheme and consultation with residents the Cabinet Member explained that the waste contractor, Veolia, will carry out extensive consultation with the community in the first year of the programme including education about recycling.  The Committee questioned the proposals put forward in the new waste contract and noted that the aims were to increase recycling rates and reduce carbon emissions as well as provide a high quality service.  A new trade waste contract partnership would provide an attractive incentive to encourage pubs and clubs to recycle more.

Q12 & Q13 – Engagement & Enablement Teams and Neighbourhood Management Service -  A Committee Member expressed concerns about gaps in service and how the new teams would deal with existing workloads.  It was reported that the Council’s Governance review would clarify how the teams would work although many neighbourhood management services functions had ceased.   Officers will work with residents to encourage communities to be more involved in neighbourhoods.

Q18 – Parking Charges – A Committee Member sought assurance that help would be provided to businesses if they were affected by the increased parking charges.  The Cabinet Member assured the Committee that concerns about the impact of the parking charges had been taken seriously and surveys on the potential impact had been conducted.  99% of people surveyed had raised issues mainly about parking signs rather than pricing.  The Cabinet Member stated that she would discuss with officers the possibility of a review of the arrangements, which would not be implemented until May 2011, before the scheduled 1 year review if businesses are shown to be suffering as a result.

Q22 – Cranford Way Recycling Site – The Committee asked for a briefing note (to be copied to Hornsey Ward Councillors) providing history and plans for the site including clarity about the Council paying business rates for the site (Action No. 216.3).

Q28 -  Street Cleansing – It was noted that the issue of enforcing responsible dog ownership and fixed penalty notices will be issued for dog fouling. During recent patrols dog-walkers who were challenged had mostly been prepared with bags to clear-up their dog mess and the few that were not had been given warnings.  It was highlighted that there had been a Keep Britain Tidy campaign relating to dog fouling.

The Cabinet Member would circulate to all Council Members proposals by Transport for London (TfL) to reduce the number of bus stops in the Borough so that their feedback can be reported at the next quarterly meeting with TfL (Action No. 216.4).

The Cabinet Member would circulate the date of the quarterly transport Liaison meetings to enable all Council Members to raise issues involving all transport providers and bus stops.

RESOLVED to note the report.