Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Harrow Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2XY. View directions

Contact: Manize Talukdar, Democratic & Electoral Services Officer  Tel: 020 8424 1323 E-mail:  manize.talukdar@harrow.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

117.

Attendance by Reserve Members

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.

Minutes:

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

 

Ordinary Member

 

Reserve Member

 

Councillor Jeff Anderson

Councillor Nitin Parekh

 

118.

Declarations of Interest

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.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

 

Agenda Item 6 – Deputations &  Agenda Item 11 – Information Report: Wealdstone Transport Issues

 

Councillor Susan Hall declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she owned a business in Wealdstone and was on the Board of the London Fire Brigade.  She would remain in the room whilst the matters were considered and voted upon.

 

Agenda Item 9: Information Report: Transport Local Implementation Plan Programme of Investment 2017/18-2019/2020 & Agenda Item 12: Information Report: Traffic & Parking Schemes Programme Update

 

Councillor Ameet Jogia declared a pecuniary interest in that he owned a property in Headstone Lane and a non-pecuniary interest in that he was Ward Councillor for Edgware.  He would remain in the room whilst the matters were considered and voted upon.

 

Agenda Item 12 – Information Report: Traffic & Parking Schemes Programme Update

 

Councillor Barry Kendler declared a non-pecuniary interest in that h e was Ward Councillor for Edgware.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

 

Agenda Item 5 – Petitions

 

Councillor Nitin Parekh declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he lived in the vicinity of Dukes’ Avenue.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

 

Agenda Item 11 – Information Report: Wealdstone Transport issues & Agenda Item 12 – Information Report: Traffic & Parking Schemes Programme Update

 

Nigel Long declared an interest in that he was Chief Executive of the Harrow Association of Disabled People (HAD) which was located in the Wealdstone Centre and in that HAD would be in receipt of targeted travel training aimed at those with learning difficulties.  He would remain in the room whilst the matters were considered and voted upon.

119.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 74 KB

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2016 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2016 be taken as read and signed as a correct record, subject to the following amendment:

 

Paragraph 1 on page 6 to read, ‘Councillor Mrs Vina Mithani declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she was a Member of the Health & Social Care Scrutiny Sub-Committee and that she lived in Brampton Grove, which was located in the vicinity of Elmgrove School.  She would remain in the room whilst the matters were considered and voted upon.’

120.

Public Questions pdf icon PDF 72 KB

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 notice of them was received and there be a time limit of 15 minutes.

 

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm,

Friday 18 November  2016.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk  

No person may submit more than one question].

Additional documents:

Minutes:

To note that 5 public questions had been received and responded to and in line with the statement made by the Chairman, the recording had been placed on the website.

 

Officers undertook to request the Council’s Travel Planner to contact the Manager of the Honeypot Pre-School to offer support and guidance.

 

The Chair requested that officers look into the possibility of introducing a borough-wide ban on overnight parking for lorries over 4.5 tons in weight.

121.

Petitions

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).

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note the receipt of the following petitions which were referred to the Corporate Director of Community for consideration:

 

1.            Petition containing 8 signatures, presented on behalf of residents of Dukes Avenue, Edgware by Councillor Ameet Jogia, with the following terms of reference:

 

‘We, the undersigned, urge and request Harrow Council to apply a Controlled Parking zone for a 1-hour period, Monday to Friday, to Dukes Avenue (HA8), Edgware, to deter and discourage the unsafe and unsightly long-term parking and /or dumping of untaxed vehicles, abandoned vehicles, wrecked vehicles, large commercial vehicles and camper vans (with people living in them) in the Canons Park Estate Conservation Area.’

 

2.            Petition containing 10 signatures, presented on behalf of residents of Stanmore, by Councillor Ameet Jogia, with the following terms of reference:

 

‘We the undersigned are concerned about congestion in Stanmore has reached breaking point.  Parking for residents has become a significant issue, especially because of Wembley Stadium events and ongoing construction to the Stone Grove Development.  This petition aims to reduce some of this strain by having double-yellow lines pained on both sides of the slip road between 2 London Road-10 London Road.’

122.

Deputations

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That, in accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 48 (Part 4D of the Constitution), the following deputation be received:

 

‘We the undersigned who are residents of Herga Road request restricted parking in Herga Road from 7am until 12 Midnight seven days a week to commence as soon as possible.’

 

The Deputees made the following points:

 

·                       the timings of the parking restrictions on Herga Road Wealdstone should be extended to 7.00 am to 12 midnight to alleviate pressure on residential parking on the street;

 

·                       Herga Road was subject to commuter parking, parking by town centre shoppers, users of the temple on Mason’s Avenue as well as commercial vehicles from the local car wash and local garages.  This included parking in disabled bays;

 

·                       the regeneration plans for Wealdstone would further exacerbate an already difficult parking situation;

 

·                       incidences of double parking was causing friction amongst neighbours and causing a nuisance;

 

·                       Herga Road was isolated and other nearby roads had parking controls.  There were a large number of shift workers on the road who could not find parking near their homes on returning home late in the evenings;

 

·                       most of the residents of Herga Road were not high earners and large number of them had English as a second Language;

 

·                       a petition had recently been submitted to the council regarding the above issues and residents had attended the Stakeholder meeting organised by officers on 18 October 2016.

 

The Chair stated that the deputation was an indication of the strength of feeling among residents regarding the parking problems on their road.  Nevertheless, Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) required the agreement of the majority of residents in the proposed zone before they could be implemented.  It was therefore imperative that the deputees and the local Residents’ Association take responsibility for encouraging and supporting residents to engage with the informal and statutory consultation by completing the questionnaires that would be sent out in January 2017. 

 

A Member stated that in his view, car ownership in the are had risen and he wondered whether the introduction of parking controls lead to a reduction in parking available for residents.

 

The MP for Harrow West requested that the possibility of residents of Herga Road being permitted to park at the Leisure Centre Car Park be looked into.

 

An officer advised that a parking review of Wealdstone had been included in the 2016-17 Traffic and Parking Management Programme of Works which would consider a possible extension to the existing CPZ (CA). A public consultation would be launched early in 2017.

 

Officers undertook to inform the local MP and the Secretary of the Residents’ Association of the date when the consultation documents would be sent.

RECOMMENDED ITEMS

123.

Hatch End Area Parking Review - Results of Statutory Consultation pdf icon PDF 227 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel received a report of the Corporate Director, Community, which set out details of the legal notification (statutory consultation) carried out in 2016 regarding proposed changes to the existing hours of control within the Hatch End Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ).

 

A Member back-benching stated that she was very grateful that officers had taken on board comments from the Church and local residents and would implement minor changes in the permit bay layout outside St Anselms Church.  She asked if the possibility of extending this concession to Saturday afternoons had been considered.  An officer advised that this had been considered, however, this was potentially difficult and complicated to introduce.

 

A Member advised that the granting of the concession was an informal arrangement and it would not be possible for the Council to put this in writing to the Church.  However, the Enforcement Team were aware of the parking issues in the vicinity of the Church and would be lenient with regard to parking during funerals, weddings etc.

 

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety)

 

That

 

(1)          the objections received regarding the proposed changes to the hours of control of the existing CPZ be upheld and that no further action be taken with regard to a reduction of the hours of control of the existing controlled parking zone in Westfield Park, and the objectors be informed of the decision;

 

(2)          minor changes be made to the permit bay layout outside St Anselms Church adjacent to the western wall of the church in Westfield Park to reduce it in size and replace with a single yellow line.  (This will facilitate wedding or funeral vehicles at the church more easily.  Guests will still be required to find alternative parking in the surrounding roads or local car parks);

 

(3)          the objection to the proposed extension of the double yellow lines on the north side of Cedar Drive be set aside, to afford additional protection for residential access and loading/unloading and to provide more space for vehicle manoeuvres at the junction with The Avenue and the objector be informed of the decision;

 

(4)          all residents in the consultation area be informed of the decision.

 

Reason for Decision:  Objections received during the legal notification identified that residents do not support the proposed changes to the hours of control of the existing CPZ.

RESOLVED ITEMS

124.

Information Report - Petitions pdf icon PDF 251 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

Minutes:

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

 

A Member thanked the Chair and officers for looking into the petition from residents in Jesmond Way and for taking their views on board.

 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

125.

Information Report: Transport Local Implementation Plan Programme of Investment 2017/18 - 2019/2020 pdf icon PDF 195 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel received a report of the Corporate Director, Community, which  provided an update on the proposed transport programme of investment in the Local Implementation Plan for the three year period from 2017/18 until 2019/20.

 

Members and advisers made the following comments:

 

·                     it was important to deal with traffic and parking congestion and air pollution issues by encouraging a modal shift among residents.  However, it was important to recognise that Harrow had an ageing population, many of whom would not be able to cycle;

 

·                     all traffic and parking schemes should as a matter of course include cycling considerations.  This would require a high quality cycling infrastructure and implementation of the borough cycling strategy, educating the public and providing them with alternatives to car-ownership, for example, the introduction of higher parking charges may act as a deterrent to car-ownership/driving;

 

·                     any infrastructure investment should include financial savings and travel training schemes.

 

An officer advised that traffic and parking congestion in the borough had been worsening over the last 20 years as a consequence of the increasing level of car ownership and usage.  The increase in population placed significant demands on the transport network and national, regional and local policy in recent years has focussed on developing a more sustainable and integrated network with greater use of sustainable modes such as walking, cycling and public transport.  Going forward it would be necessary to place a greater emphasis on encouraging modal shift as the available network capacity could not be increased in proportion with the increase in private vehicles.  With regards to cycling, the borough was limited by available funding and needs to make best use of the resources that it had.  For example, the cost of implementing a mini-Holland style cycle scheme was in the region of £20-£30 million, whereas Harrow only received £2m per annum for the whole LIP programme.  Officers were therefore working with TfL and Harrow Cyclists to make use of available funds in the best possible way.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

126.

Information Report: Ultra Low Emission Zone - Neighbourhood of the Future (NoF) pdf icon PDF 161 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report of the Corporate Director, Community, which provided an update on progress with the Ultra Low Emission Zone funded by Transport for London (TfL) and the proposed Neighbourhood of the Future scheme for Harrow.

 

Panel Members made the following comments:

 

·                    it was important to note that electric cars were expensive and therefore not a viable option for all drivers;

 

·                     there were safety issues for vulnerable pedestrians related to the quietness of electric cars;

 

·                     car clubs were a positive measure, however, finding suitable parking spaces for these vehicles remained an issue;

 

·                     TfL had recently introduced 77 new Hybrid buses in Harrow;

 

·                     the strategy set out in the report was ambitious and comprehensive.

 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

127.

Information Report - Wealdstone transport issues pdf icon PDF 228 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel received a report of the Corporate Director, Community, which provided an update on transport issues in Wealdstone in relation to the Council’s Regeneration Programme.

 

In response to questions and comments from Members of the Panel, an officer advised that:

 

·                     the right hand turn from North Harrow at the Goodwill to All Junction into Harrow View and the right hand turn from Wealdstone into Harrow View would remain;

 

·                     there were no plans to widen the carriageway in Wealdstone High Street.

 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

128.

Information Report - Traffic and Parking Schemes Programme update pdf icon PDF 428 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report of the Corporate Director, Community, which provided an update on progress with the 2016 /17 traffic and parking management programme of works. This included schemes funded by Transport for London (TfL) and schemes included in Harrow’s Capital Programme.

 

Following questions and comments from Members of the Panel, an officer advised that:

 

·                     officers were in the process of collating all requests received for additional parking controls in the borough.  These would be scored and ranked in order of priority and would be discussed further with the Chair of the Panel before a final list was submitted to the Panel at its February 2017 meeting;

 

·                     the Council’s Travel Planners had regular contact with schools in the vicinity of Colliers Drive and Camrose Avenue to discuss traffic issues.  Any parking related concerns would be passed on to the Parking Operations Team.

 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

129.

Termination of Meeting

Minutes:

In accordance with the provisions of Executive Procedure Rule 24.2 (Part 4D) of the Constitution:

 

RESOLVED:  At 9.50 pm to continue until 10.15 pm.