Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Frankie Belloli, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Tel: 020 8424 1263 E-mail:  frankie.belloli@harrow.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

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 that no Reserve Members had been nominated to attend the meeting.

2.

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 Items 6 & 9: Presentation of Petitions and Information Report – Petitions

 

Councillor Nitin Parekh declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he is an Edgware ward councillor and petitions related to the ward were involved in these items.  He would remain in the room whilst the matters were considered and voted upon.

 

Agenda Item 7: Deputation concerning White House Drive

 

CouncillorAmeet Jogia declared a pecuniary interest in that he owns a property in White House Drive.  He would leave the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.  He also declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was a ward councillor for one of the areas subject to submission of a petition.  He would remain in the room whilst this matter was considered and voted upon.

 

Agenda Item 9: Information Report – Petitions

 

Councillor Sarah Butterworth declared a non-pecuniary interest in that one of the petitions in the report mentions the school at which she teaches.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

 

Agenda Item 9: Information Report – Petitions

 

CouncillorKanti Rabadia declared a non-pecuniary interest in that one of the petitions in the report in that he is a ward councillor for the area.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

3.

Appointment of Vice-Chair

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

Minutes:

Nominations were proposed, seconded and put to the vote, following which it was

 

RESOLVED:  That Councillor David Perry be appointed as Vice-Chair for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

4.

Suspension of Procedure Rule

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That Executive Procedure Rule 35.4 be suspended to allow the Advisers to the Panel to take part in the meeting, subject to their appointment being agreed by the Portfolio Holder for Environment.

5.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 144 KB

That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2018 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2018 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

6.

Public Questions MP3 4 MB

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, 21 June 2018.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

7.

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.            A Petition presented by Councillor Nitin Parekh and containing 14 signatures with the following terms of reference:

 

We, the undersigned, are concerned about parking congestion and indiscriminate parking by parents of Stag Lane School.  Parents park their cars anywhere on the road and regularly block residents’ driveways.  Quite often they are abusive when told to move their car.  It has reached breaking point.  Parking for residents has become a significant issue.  It is not appropriate or safe for school children as quite often, cars are also parked on double yellow lines and zig-zag lines near the school gates.  We request Harrow Council to address this issue and take appropriate actions.

 

2.            Petitions presented by Councillor Ameet Jogia on behalf of residents of Merrion Avenue and Du Cros Drive, with the following terms of reference:

 

a)            We, the undersigned, request Harrow Council to implement double yellow lines opposite the construction site on Merrion Avenue between the junction of London Road to Sandymount Avenue to restrict parking at all times.  This is to prevent bottlenecks, particularly on event days and on other days when the development is complete.

 

b)            We, the undersigned, request Harrow Council to implement double yellow lines from 141 Merrion Avenue to the junction of Du Cros Drive to reduce bottlenecks at the junction.

 

c)            We, the undersigned, request Harrow Council to implement road safety bumps to reduce excessive speeding along Merrion Avenue.

 

d)            We, the undersigned, request Harrow Council to change the timings of the existing parking restrictions on Merrion Avenue to restrict parking in the morning from 8 am to 9 am.

 

e)            We, the undersigned, request Harrow Council to change the timings of the existing parking restrictions on Du Cros Drive between the bridge and Howberry Road, to restrict parking in the morning from 8 am to 9 am to prevent bottlenecks.

 

3.            A Petition presented by Councillor Nitin Parekh and containing 30 signatures with the following terms of reference:

 

We, the undersigned, residents of Methuen Close, Edgware, HA8, seriously object to the very stringent parking restrictions imposed by yourselves.  We do not believe the majority of residents were consulted properly, did not understand the plan, or responded either way.  Whilst we agree congestion is not a good thing, we would prefer to have these times changed.  8.30 pm is too late and Saturday is very anti-social indeed.

 

4.            A Petition presented by Councillor Nitin Parekh and containing some 300 signatures with the following terms of reference:

 

We, the undersigned, are concerned about the lack of a pedestrian crossing at the junction of Camrose Avenue with Edgware Road.  Crossing this junction is very dangerous and risky, as there is no pedestrian crossing and vehicles come from all directions.  Traffic lights are designed to allow vehicles from different directions into and out of Camrose Avenue.  This leaves no space or time for pedestrians to cross the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Deputations

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

 

A deputation has been received in respect of White House Drive, Stanmore: “To outline the severe parking issues on White House Drive which are having a detrimental impact of the safety and wellbeing of local residents”.  

Minutes:

At 7.52 pm, in advance of consideration of this item, Councillor Ameet Jogia, left the Council Chamber and took no part in the discussion or decision on this item. 

 

RESOLVED:  That, in accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4B of the Constitution), the following deputation be received:

 

To outline the severe issues on White House Drive which are having a detrimental impact on the safety and wellbeing of local residents.  We were very disappointed with the outcome of the February TARSAP meeting whereby White House Drive was not selected as a priority for the Panel.  We would therefore like to put forward our case to the TARSAP Panel for their consideration.

 

Two members of the deputation, Mr Shah and Mr Busse, both Directors of the White House Drive Residents Association, addressed the meeting, explaining the parking problems faced by residents.  They tabled photographs and a plan outlining a proposed solution through the changes to the times of controlled parking, addition of a new residents parking bay, alterations to yellow line restrictions and improved signage.  The Residents Association had sought such improvements over a long period and were of the view that they were easy to implement and cost-effective. 

 

A council officer advised that it would not be possible to vary the agreed programme of works in 2018-19 at this stage.  The proposal would be revisited as part of the assessment of schemes for future funding.  In the interim, officers could examine whether the changes to yellow line restrictions could be introduced to ensure adequate access, particularly for emergency vehicles. 

 

A Member asked questions to clarify the operation of the changes sought by the residents; he supported the examination of extended yellow line restrictions to secure better access. 

 

The Chair thanked the members of the deputation for attending the meeting to explain the position. 

 

At 8.06 pm, following conclusion of this item, Councillor Ameet Jogia returned to the Council Chamber. 

9.

Appointment of Advisers pdf icon PDF 175 KB

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services

Minutes:

The Panel received a report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services, which set out nominations for Advisers to the Panel for the 2018/19 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) and the Harrow Association for Disabled People (Mr Nigel Long).

 

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

 

That the nominations for Advisers to the Panel as set out at Appendix 1 of the officer report, be agreed.

RESOLVED ITEMS

10.

INFORMATION REPORT - Petitions pdf icon PDF 287 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 expressed surprise that the proposal for a pedestrian crossing in Eastcote Road (Petition 1) had not met the “threshold score” for implementation in the assessment undertaken by officers; he pointed out that there were schools nearby.  Mr Wood suggested that the large hedge at a property on the junction nearby could be cut back to improve sightlines and safety.  A council officer agreed to check when the consultants’ report on the scheme would be available. 

 

Another Member referred to the fact that the introduction of yellow lines on the outside of the bend at Kenton Park Avenue (Petition 5) had not met the threshold score.  He underlined the strength of feeling among residents about the safety risks as a result of cars parking here, including those parked briefly to visit nearby shops.  A council officer advised that the introduction of yellow lines on the inside of the bend had already improved safety significantly; in terms of fair and consistent treatment of all such bids, it had been considered unnecessary to extend the restrictions to the inside of the bend as well, partly because the Council did not wish to over-restrict parking.  The Member disagreed with this assessment, indicating that he did not believe much parking space would be lost.

 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted. 

11.

INFORMATION REPORT - Traffic and Parking Schemes 2018 /19: Programme Update pdf icon PDF 321 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Community

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel received a report of the Corporate Director, Community, which set out progress with schemes in the approved 2018-19 programme.

 

Mr Wood wished to congratulate the Council and its officers on the 99% compliance with bus accessibility standards for bus stops.

 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted. 

12.

INFORMATION REPORT - Harrow View / Headstone Drive Junction Improvement (Goodwill to All Junction) - Progress Update pdf icon PDF 161 KB

Report of Corporate Director, Community

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel received a report of the Corporate Director, Community, which provided an update on improvements to the “Goodwill to All” junction at Harrow View, Headstone Road and Headstone Drive. 

 

A council officer introduced the report, describing the assessment of different traffic flow options and explaining the balance which would need to be struck between, for example, the use of right-turn bans and maintaining the flow of traffic through the area, particularly at peak times.  There were always compromises to be made when the road space could not be increased to any degree.  He underlined that there would be extensive public consultation on the options before decisions were taken. 

 

 A Member suggested that right-turn bans elsewhere had not worked in avoiding congestion.  It was explained that there were sometimes different grounds for their use, eg. safety rather than dealing with congestion. 

 

Another Member asked whether consideration had been given to the creation of a roundabout and road to allow for traffic to Wealdstone to go through the Kodak site.  Bus lanes could also be created with land from the site to improve the flow for the H10 and H14 buses.  The council officer explained that the pub on the corner had been developed separately from the regeneration programme site.  He also pointed to the priority for housing within the regeneration strategy and this would obviously impact on the land which could be taken for transport purposes.  The Council’s Planning Committee would consider the traffic implications of proposed development and this would include the reports of the applicants’ transport and traffic consultants. 

 

In response to Mr Wood’s question, the council officer advised that signage in respect of banned U-turns would be reviewed as part of the overall scheme.

 

A local ward Member addressed the meeting expressing concerns over southbound traffic through the junction facing no-right turns.  He was not convinced by the consultants’ reference to alternative routes for motorists and he argued that data should be obtained about the number of cars turning in this area.  In particular, he considered that data from 2016, before the Victor Road closure, could not be relied upon.  The Member also referred to problems with the current phasing of traffic lights through the junction and concerns about rat-running in the area.  He suggested that more information be provided so that the public consultation would be more meaningful. 

 

The council officer reassured the Member that a considerable amount of data was available to inform assessment of different options and, in respect of traffic light phasing, TfL’s modelling of traffic flows was rigorous and would avoid any effect of current phasing issues.  He underlined that the current report to this meeting was an overview rather than offering detail on issues, and that information would be provided in readiness for the public consultation. 

 

Another Member suggested that the reference to the “all red pedestrian phase” in the report did not reflect the actual wording of the Section 106 agreement with the developer and other options could be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Any Other Urgent Business

Which cannot otherwise be dealt with.

Minutes:

With the agreement of the Panel, a member of the public asked whether the Council would consider allowing free parking in Methuen Road for a charity event to be held on 7 July 2018.  The matter would be raised with the Council’s Network Management Team.