Agenda and minutes

The Chair announced that the following two Deputations would be heard at the meeting in respect of agenda items 10 and 11, Transportation Schemes – Review of Development and Implementation Procedure and Parking and Street Spaces Programme Update 2020/21:

-               Deputation from Healthy Streets for Harrow;

-               Deputation from a shopkeeper in respect of the removal of barrier at Honeypot Lane.

He added that, as a result, agenda items 10 and 11 would be brought forward and taken after agenda item 8, Deputations, and agenda item 9, Information Report on Petitions, would be taken thereafter.

The Panel was in effect thereby Suspending Executive Procedure Rule 48.9 and receiving the Deputation in relation to Honeypot Lane which had appeared before the Panel at its special meeting on 10 August 2020.

The Panel noted that Councillor Marikar was reserving for Councillor Perry.

A Member of the Panel sought the Suspension of a Procedure Rule 49, Public Questions, to allow  some additional questions and a Deputation submitted after the deadlines for questions and deputation to be asked/received.  The Chair shared the discussions he had had with a late questioner/deputee.  The Panel was advised that a number of questions, including requests for deputations, had been received after the deadlines.  A vote was taken on a motion to suspend the Procedure Rule and to allow additional questions to be asked.  This was duly seconded and voted on but was lost.

The Chair explained that officers would contact those that had submitted late questions.

[Note:  Councillors Assad, Lee, Marikar and Miles voted against the motion. Councillors Hinkley, Jogia and Patel voted for the motion.]

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)            to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)          where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)         the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)         if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Members:-

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)          all Members of the Panel;

(b)          all other Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that 

(1)          the Declarations of Interests published in advance of the meeting on the Council’s website were taken as read and the following further declaration made at the meeting by a Councillor under this item in relation to agenda item 7 – Petitions, be also noted:

Councillor Kairul Kareema Marikar: (Non-Pecuniary Interest) – A Ward Councillor in respect of the petition submitted by a local resident titled ‘Road Closure’ which related to Headstone South Road (Minute 88 also refers)

(2)          Members and Advisers who had declared interests remained in the virtual meeting whilst the matters were considered and voted upon.

To consider the appointment of a Vice-Chair to the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel for the Municipal Year 2020/21.

The Panel received two nominations for the position of Vice-Chair.  Both nominations were both duly seconded and, following a vote, it was

RESOLVED:  To appoint Councillor David Perry as Vice-Chair of the Panel for the 2020/2021 Municipal Year.

That the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 5 February 2020 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2020, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

That the minutes of the special meeting held on 10 August 2020 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That, subject to the following amendment, the minutes of the special meeting held on 10 August 2020, be taken as read and signed as a correct record:

Minute 80, Page 21 of the agenda (or page 56 of the minutes), first paragraph to be amended to read:

‘the School Streets Grimsdyke Primary School Scheme SS-01 was poor and would increase traffic flows and congestion and did not interact with other schemes in the area.  The consultation was poor and a 20mph zone was required in Hillview Road and a section of Grimsdyke Road plus marking out car parking spaces in Shaftesbury Playing Fields car park if the scheme were to proceed.  An officer replied that funding was only available for SS-01 but that he would ascertain if a 20mph could be incorporated but he was not certain that the car parking issue in Shaftesbury Playing Fields car park could be funded from SS-01’.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 49 (Part 4D of the Constitution).

Questions will be asked in the order in which they were received.  There will be a time limit of 15 minutes for the asking and answering of public questions.

[The deadline for receipt of public questions if 3.00 pm, 8 October 2020.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

Public and Councillor questions taken were responded to and any recording placed on the Council’s website.  Public questioners 3, 5 and 6 be sent written responses.  The time limit of 15 minutes was extended to allow all questions to be taken.

In respect of the answers given to public questioner 4 to the written question and the supplemental question, it was also suggested that the issue of drainage be referred to the Council’s infrastructure team with the local Ward Councillors being involved in this process.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Executive Procedure Rule 47 (Part 4D of the Constitution).

A local resident submitted a petition which had been conducted during the consultation period of the Headstone South road closures.  The petition requested the Panel to cancel the proposed closures and look at different suggestions.  The petition was signed by a number of residents who would be affected by the road closures.  The resident read out the terms of reference of the petition as follows:

“The following persons are requesting TARSAP to cancel the proposed closures between Pinner View and Kingsfield Avenue and the closure between Beresford Avenue and Cunningham Park.  We suggest you look in to creating a one-way system and implement the 20mph zone.”

The Chair responded accordingly and allowed the resident an opportunity to speak on the terms of the petition, details of which are set out in the recording published on the website.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and referred to the Corporate Director of Community for consideration.

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Executive Procedure Rule 48 (Part 4D of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  That, in accordance with Executive Procedure Rules48.3, the suspension of Procedure Rule 48.8 in accordance with Procedure Rule 32.1, the following deputations be received in respect of agenda items 10 and 11:

10 - Transportation schemes - review of development and implementation procedure;

11 - Information Report - Parking and Street Space Programme update - 2020/21.

1.             

2.             

Full details in relation to the deputations, including questions asked and answers given, are referenced, in brief, at Minute 91and at Appendix 1 to these minutes.  The recording of this item/minute can be found by following the link below:

https://www.harrow.gov.uk/virtualmeeting

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance.

The Panel received a report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services, which set out nominations for Advisers to the Panel for the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

The Chair advised that nominations had been received from the Harrow Public Transport Users’ Association (Mr Anthony Wood), Harrow Cyclists (Dr Anoop Shah), Harrow Association for Disabled People (Mr Nigel Long) and London Living Streets (Mr Jeremy Leach).

The Panel agreed that, pending the decision of the Portfolio Holder, the advisers present be allowed to participate in the meeting that evening.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to the Portfolio Holder for Environment)

That the nominations for Advisers to the Panel, as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report, be agreed for the Municipal Year 2020/21.

Reason:  To assist in the work of the Panel.

Report of the Corporate Director of Community.

Prior to the consideration of the report of the Corporate Director of Community, the Panel received two Deputations (Minute 89 also refers), full details of which were available by following the link at Minute 89 and listening to the audio recording.  The scripts prepared by the Deputees is appended to these minutes but it should be noted that that they might have deviated somewhat from their respective script when presenting.

In summary, the three representatives of Deputation 1, Health Streets for Harrow, explained why Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) were necessary, the need for greater investments in cycling and walking which would impact positively on mental health, the issues faced by cyclists and the main barriers to cycling which Harrow needed to address.  They responded to questions from two Members  in relation to the involvement of the Portfolio Holder of Environment and the need for a strategic plan for cycling and walking and agreed that agreed that cycling lessons ought to be provided for in schools, explained how junctions could be made safer for cyclists and thanked the relevant Members for their support and enthusiasm for cycling.

In summary, a representative of Deputation 2, appealed to Members to remove the barriers at the top end of Honeypot Lane which had had an adverse impact on businesses there.  He could not see the reasons for the barriers as the pavement was 8.5 feet wide and did not meet the criterion for a narrow pavement.  There certainly had been no increase in pedestrian numbers there and the footfall had fallen dramatically for which evidence was available.  An adviser stated that the Honeypot cycle lane was useful and used by cyclists and that the service road was used by motorists to bypass traffic.  Walking and cycling facilities needed to be expanded in the area.

The Deputee responded to questions from Members as follows:

-               that no parking was available in the vicinity of the shops and that it could not be argued that the measures provided health and safety benefits.  No barriers had been installed in Stanmore where the footfall was greater that at Honeypot Lane;

-               that there was a need to reverse the flow in the area to stop traffic bye passing the traffic lights at the junction.

A couple of the Members were of the view that there had been lack of cohesion, that the Panel had made a recommendation for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

Report of the Corporate Director of Community.

The Panel received an information report of the Corporate Director of Community, which  set out details of the petitions that had been received since the last meeting of the Panel and provided details of the Council’s investigations and findings where these had been undertaken.

Prior to the consideration of the report, the Panel received representations from a back-benching Member who, in brief, spoke about the petition relating to Dennis Lane, Stanmore, which had requested the restriction of the traffic flow there.  She stated that:

-               officers had misunderstood the terms of the petition and explained that residents of Dennis Lane did not want the road to be closed off;

-               residents wanted a point of no entry and an experimental scheme ought to be trialled there.

An officer agreed to speak with a resident of Dennis Lane and to explore the funding position with colleagues within the Community Directorate.

The officer introduced the report in full and made reference to Petition 9 – Honeypot Lane, service road, removal of pedestrian barriers.  He reminded the Panel of the Deputation they had received earlier in the meeting in respect of this matter.  A Member moved the following motion that the barriers at Honeypot Lane be removed.  The motion was duly seconded and, following a vote, it was carried.  The Chair expressed his disappointment in light of the fact that the scheme implemented was expected to be reviewed shortly.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to the Portfolio Holder for Environment)

That the pedestrian barriers at Honeypot Lane service road be removed.

Reason:  To help businesses.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Reason:  To be availed of the outcomes in relation to the petitions received previously.

[Note:  Councillors Assad, Lee, Hinkley, Jogia, Patel and Marikar voted in favour of the motion.  Councillor Miles voted against the motion.]

Report of the Corporate Director of Community.

Prior to the consideration of the report of the Corporate Director of Community, the Panel received two Deputations (Minutes 89 and 91 also refer), full details of which were available by following the link at Minute 89 and listening to the audio recording.  The scripts prepared by the Deputees is appended to these minutes but it should be noted that that they might have deviated somewhat from their respective script when presenting.

The Panel received an information report of the Corporate Director of Community, which provided an update on progress with the 2020/21 traffic and parking management programme of works.  An officer introduced the report and updated Members on the current programme of transport schemes and initiatives funded in the 2020/21 programme, details of which were set out in the appendices to his report.

The officer responded to question from Members and undertook to look at the representations received in relation to cycle lanes across South Harrow.  He added that officers were looking to link District Centres via cycle lanes and that Ward Councillors would be involved in the process.  He provided tentative timescales.

An adviser praised the Council for its Street Spaces Programme but felt that it had omitted a pedestrian improvement scheme.  High quality walking routes that ensured that pedestrians were not intimidated were required.  Additionally, a borough wide 20mph zone was required.

A Member enquired how concerns were going to be addressed in respect of the LTNs schemes already implemented.  He added that the School Street Space programme had been a good idea but it had been implemented without any enforcement measures being put in place.

The officer replied that officers were listening to all concerns and briefing the Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director of Community to allow them to take informed decisions.  He explained that officers had been under immense pressure to implement the schemes whilst engaging with Ward Councillors.  Officers were also closely working with the parking enforcement team.

Another Member stated that whilst she understood the recent increase in Covid-19 cases, she was firmly of the view that the barrier at Honeypot Lane ought to be removed as it was having a detrimental impact on businesses and it was considered to be unnecessary.  She was of the same view in relation to the barrier on Kenton Lane.  Additionally, officers needed to give consideration to the demography of the borough when implementing road closures.  The Chair stated officers were looking to review parking in Honeypot Lane.  Another Member highlighted the need for the consultation process to be thorough.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Reason:  To avail the Panel of the progress made on the Programme.

2 March 2021 at 6.30pm

To note that the next meeting of the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel was scheduled to be held virtually on 2 March 2021 at 6.30 pm.

The audio recording of this meeting can be found at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ4DjrSv9SA&feature=youtu.be