Agenda item

a.         Veolia Waste Services

 

RECEIVED a presentation from Ayer Ozinel, Veolia Waste Services Outreach Team Leader, giving an overview of waste collections and how the outreach team was educating the community to improve refuse and recycling.

 

Issues of concern could be reported to: enquiries.haringey@veolia.com

 

NOTED that residents raised the following concerns:

 

a1.       Wheelie bins left on footpaths after collections, particularly in Woodstock Road and Lynton Road; gates not being closed causing security risks; lack of sweeping up after collections.  Mr Ozinel recognised the concerns and explained that they were being monitored and would be addressed in a scheduled meeting between Veolia and Haringey’s Neighbourhood Action Teams (NAT). 

Action: Ayer Ozinel

 

a2.       Regular dumping of rubbish bags by the bin at the bottom of Wolseley Road and the suggestion that the bin be moved. 

Action: Ayer Ozinel

 

a3.       Residents could apply for smaller wheelie bins and to receive green recycling sacks if they did not have wheelie bins. Mr Ozinel offered to conduct site visits to residents who had concerns about their provision of waste and recycling facilities

           

a4.       In response to a concern that wheelie bins were letting in water it was acknowledged that they were probably damaged and should be replaced.

 

a5.       In response to the suggestion that the Council provide a joint skip service with neighbouring boroughs Mr Ozinel explained that Veolia offered a bulky waste service and residents were invited to contact Veolia to arrange collections.

 

b.         Safer Neighbourhoods Teams (SNT)

 

RECEVED apologies for absence from the Crouch End, Hornsey and Stroud Green Neighbourhood Teams, who were either on duty or on scheduled rest-days.

 

NOTED the tabled written briefing (which has been added to the online agenda pack) from the Hornsey Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) and the following points from a post-meeting update from the Crouch End SNT.

 

 

Crouch End SNT Activity Update

 

b1.       Crime prevention advice to businesses in the local area further to commercial burglaries in Park Road, Tottenham Lane and into the Broadway. 

 

b2.       'Promises' agreed at the last Ward Panel Meeting included: to maintain and work closely with Neighbourhood Watches (NHW), forge links with vulnerable groups and to identify and notify owners of motor vehicles if valuables had been left on display. Good progress was being made with each of these. 

           

b3.       'Local street patrols' with NHW Co-coordinators to identify areas of concern in the locality, highlighting security issues to residents and vehicle owners and raising awareness of the benefits of NHWs. 

 

            b4.       Work with particularly vulnerable members of the community. 

 

            b5.       Street briefings to discuss the problem of motor vehicle crime. 

 

            Community Safety Partnership

           

Claire Kowalska, LBH Community Safety Strategic Manager, introduced the Community Safety Partnership (CSP), which was a network including Council services, the probation service, victim support among others to tackle community safety issues.

 

NOTED that meetings with traders would be taking place to discuss crime prevention as well as monthly partnership tasking to analyse partnership data and deploy resources into crime hotspot areas.

 

NOTED in response to questions:

 

b6.       Ms Kowalska would contact the Hot Pepper Cafe to ensure a recent break-in was reported.

Action: Claire Kowalska

 

b7.       The CSP would work with Veolia to tackle rubbish dumping.

 

b8.       A new model for street policing would be part of future planning.

 

b9.       Ms Kowalska would investigate a dangerous poster pole on Hornsey High Street that had been reported via the Council’s online reporting service, where a Council response had been sent stating that the issue had been rectified although it had not. 

Action: Ms Kowalska

 

b10.    Priory Park was in need of improved lighting and other security measures. 

Action: Ms Kowalska

 

b11.    A sign in Lynton Road had been uprooted as a result of a hole being made on the pavement and residents were invited to send details to Natalie.layton@haringey.gov.uk so that enforcement action and health and safety measures could be put in place.

 

c.         Hornsey Town Hall

 

RECEIVED the briefing on Hornsey Town Hall, included in the agenda pack, and NOTED that public consultation about future plans would take place on Monday 16 March 2015 at Hornsey Town Hall.

 

NOTED the following:

 

c1.       In response to a question about hiring Hornsey Town Hall as an event venue Cllr Arthur, Cabinet Member for Resources and Culture, explained that the Town Hall could not be used for single political party meetings but organisers would consider applications for use for other events.

 

c2.       Residents expressed concern that the future of the Town Hall had been uncertain for many years and assurances were sought that the building would be maintained for public use.  Councillor Arthur acknowledged concerns and highlighted the Council’s commitment to resolving the future of the Town Hall by 2016.  Final plans would ensure a minimum provision of space for community use, including the front area.  The plan’s would include ensuring the Town Hall was financially sustainable independently from the Council.  

 

c3.       In response to questions it was confirmed that planning  permission had been obtained for the site to be used for residential purposes, in additional to the commitment to community access, and this would generate income.                      

 

d.         Community Buildings Review

 

RECEIVED the briefing, included in the agenda pack, updating on the Community Buildings Review.

 

NOTED the concerns expressed by Hornsey Vale Community Centre representatives about the process of engagement with the Community Centre and other voluntary sector groups including the lack of information shared by the Council and, the length of time the review of community buildings had been going on for with concerns about the cost.

 

Councillor Arthur recognised the frustration of local groups and that, where there was no information for the Council to report, these groups could be suspicious of the silence.   He agreed that a process of dialogue with community groups was important and the Council was committed to improving engagement with stakeholders. Future use of community buildings and allocation of funds would link in with the Council’s 2015-18 Corporate Plan which had been agreed by the Council in 23 February 2015 as part of budget setting.  A report on community buildings would be considered by the Cabinet in the summer 2015.  Councillor Arthur acknowledged the valuable services provided by Hornsey Vale Community Centre and that the Council wished to support those services.

 

AGREED that a request be made to Council officers to provide a summary of the briefing in plain English without the use of managerial language, to be circulated to the Crouch End, Hornsey and Stroud Green residents and councillors.

Action: Clerk

 

e.         Cabinet Member for Children and Families Question Time

 

Councillor Waters, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, introduced her portfolio covering Early Years, Children’s Services and Schools.

 

NOTED in response to questions:

 

e1.       The Council was, due to legislation, unable to build new schools, therefore the only option was to enlarge existing schools to provide places in order to meet demand.

 

e2.       The Council was in discussion with leaders of Weston Park Primary School about the School’s request to build a new School, rather than repair its leaking roof.

 

e3.       In response to the suggestion that the Council lobby organisations to invest in academies or free schools in the borough it was noted both that such an approach was not Council policy  and that in any case there were not many locations where a new school could  be built.

 

e4.       In response to questioning about how the Council would offer a new model of social workers and attract professionals to the Borough rather than maintain its use of interims and consultants, the Cabinet Member explained that early intervention initiatives and better support to build strong families was expected to reduce the number of families requiring social services. The Council’s staff included 25% of interims; the London average was 40% and was working towards reducing this and creating a stable workforce once a new social work model was established. 

 

 

 

f.          School Place Planning

 

RECEIVED the briefing, included in the agenda pack, updating on the Community Buildings Review.

 

NOTED that consultation on the proposed expansions of St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, Hornsey and Bounds Green Infant and Junior Schools were soon to be concluded.

 

g.         Parish Pump

 

            g1.       Lynton Road Industrial Estate

 

A resident expressed concern at the possibility of development on the Lynton Road Industrial Estate site, the concerns were supported by other residents in attendance.  Councillors clarified that there were no firm proposals for this but that the Council’s Site Allocations Development Policy Document (DPD) identified the area as a possible site for future development. 

 

Residents were reminded that a presentation highlighting DPD was provided at the last meeting, held on 15 January 2015.

 

Residents could take part in consultation on the DPD:

http://www.haringey.gov.uk/housing-and-planning/planning/planning-policy/local-development-framework-ldf/local-plan-site-allocations-development-plan-document-dpd

 

AGREED that Planning Officers be requested to consult directly with residents in the surrounding area of Lynton road Industrial Estate.

Action: Clerk and Planning Officers

 

            g2.       Haringey’s Infill Housing Scheme

 

RECEIVED, the tabled briefing, which has been added to the agenda pack, on the Council’s Infill Housing Scheme, further to a resident highlighting it as an advance issue prior to the meeting.

 

NOTED that a resident had requested a meeting with Council officers to discuss the Lynton Road and Topsfield Road area prior to any planning application being considered but had not received a response. 

 

AGREED that planning officers be requested to respond to the resident.

Action: Clerk

 

 

            g.3.      Smart Homes Grants

 

Residents were provided with leaflets highlighting the opportunity to apply for grants to assist with making their homes more energy efficient. 

           

g4.       Rowan Site

 

NOTED that a planning application had yet to be submitted for the Rowan Bowling Alley site.  Residents were reminded to check the Council’s website for updates.