Verbal Update.
Minutes:
The Panel received a verbal update from Simon Farrow, Highways, Parking, Parks & Open Spaces Manager around parks and street tree maintenance. The following was noted in discussion of this agenda item:
a. In response to concerns raised by the Chair prior to the meeting, the Highways, Parking, Parks & Open Spaces Manager advised that parks security was dealt with by controlling access through using different gates and access points at different time of the year. The Panel noted that the Parks team were working with Community Safety to put in place more robust gates and locks to parks and open spaces and to remove some of the access points that were no longer required. Officers elaborated that they were also exploring a new type of digital lock used by the Fire Brigade which only allowed one person to have the key at any time.
b. In response to a recent incidences, officers advise that the travellers who used Haringey’s parks tended to do so seasonally and tended not to be using them for commercial activities. As a result, the level of dumping and rubbish was limited. The Panel was advised that the families that tended to use Haringey parks tended towards relatively short stays. Officers worked proactively worked with them to collect rubbish and install temporary toilets were necessary, as well arrange visits by social workers if required.
c. The Chair suggested that he had received some complaints from residents that there were some commercial activities taking place in Priory Park. Officers requested that any evidence of this be forwarded on to them and that they would investigate and take the necessary actions. (Members to note).
d. The Panel was advised that in general, the police had more powers than the Council to remove travellers. If there was more than 6 vehicles, police colleagues could move them on in 24 hours. However, if there were less than 6 vehicles, the Council had to secure a Court Order, which invariably took a bit of time.
e. The Panel commented that there had been a previous Scrutiny Review undertaken by the Panel around this issue and one of the recommendations raised was around securing borough-wide Court Orders, which had been used by other boroughs including Enfield. The Panel sought clarification as to whether any progress had been made on this issue since it was first identified some time ago. The Clerk to chase the AD for Stronger Communities for an update. (Action: Clerk).
f. The Panel was advised that although there was a budget for the maintenance of street trees, the reality was that the level of resources available was not sufficient to undertake the entire planned schedule for this year. Instead, officers were prioritising cases of dying or damaged trees or where an insurance claim had been made. Officers advised that they were in the process of putting in a bid for additional funding.
g. In response to a question about staffing levels, the Panel were advised the team would, as of the following week, be up to its full complement of four permanent staff members, following a period of using some agency cover.
h. The Panel requested a briefing around the tree maintenance programme which included further details of the growth bid. The briefing to also include a ward level breakdown of scheduled tree plantings. (Action: Simon Farrow).
i. In response to a question, officers advised that there was no capital provision for street tree planting, however the Council was on target to meet its target of 250 trees planted this year. In addition, officers advised that the Council had made a bid to the government to fund an additional 250 trees and a similar bid to the GLA. This would increase the number of trees planted to 750 a year.
j. The Panel noted with concern that nine wards in the Borough had less than 20% street tree coverage and eight of those wards were in the east of the Borough.
RESOLVED
The verbal update was noted.