Agenda and minutes

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

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no Reserve Members in attendance.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that the no declaration of interests, were made at the meeting.

To consider the appointment of a Vice-Chair to the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

RESOLVED:  To appoint Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar as Vice-Chair of the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel (TARSAP) for the 2023/2024 Municipal Year.

Report of the Interim Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That the following nominees be appointed as Advisers to the Panel for the 2023/24 Municipal Year:

·                 Anthony Wood (Harrow Public Transport Users Advisory Association)

·                 Veronica Chamberlain (Harrow Cyclists)

·                 John Hinkley (Harrow Resident Motorist)

·                 Stefan Voloseniuc (Sf Stefan Civil Engineering & Utility Contractors Ltd).

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2023 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2023 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive any public questions received.

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, Thursday, 6 July 2023.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  To note that nine public questions had been received and that written responses would be provided.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors.

Four petitions were referred by cabinet to TARSAP and were included in the information report on petitions.

One petition was submitted directly to TARSAP by local residents.  The resident read out the terms of reference of the petition as follows:

“The restrictive parking zones (J & CA) and times are affecting the ability to meet the needs of our congregation.  The restrictions run 7 days a week from 7am to midnight.  Worshippers are often fined for unauthorised parking.  We appeal to you to allow on street parking for the times detailed in the petition and 30 minutes before and after service to give our worshippers a specific dispensation for these times”

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

To receive deputations (if any).

RESOLVED:  That, in accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 48 the following deputation be received in respect of agenda item 10 – 2023/24 Traffic and Parking Schemes Programme Update:

Full details in relation to the deputations, including questions asked and answers given, are referenced, in brief, at Minute 44 of these minutes.

Report of the Director of Environmental Services.

Prior to the consideration of the report of the Director of Environment, the Panel received one Deputation form Harrow Cyclists (Minute 42 also refers).

In summary, the reason for the deputation was that Harrow council should adopt evidence-based transport policies that improve road safety and enable active travel, which will have widespread benefits because many people were being put off cycling because of the danger on the roads.

He advocated that the council should adopt a whole-borough principled “safety first” approach, not just focus on locations where collisions have already happened.  He proposed a four-fold approach: Safer Speeds, Safer Routes, Safer Drivers and Safer Vehicles.  The council should prioritise safety for all road users over convenience.  If the council would provide safety for the borough’s youngest and most vulnerable road users, such as children going to school, then the streets would be safer for everyone.  It was the campaign aim of Harrow Cyclists that all children in Harrow should be able to cycle to school safely.

The Chair thanked the Representative from Harrow Cyclists for the Deputation and Members asked the following questions:

·                 A Member asked about the Deputee’s comment (that the discontinued Streetspace LTN trials programme was not kept long enough to gain public acceptance) whether he thought people were not well informed about them at the time.

·                 The Deputee responded that implementation strategy would be better thought out. Perhaps lesson should have been learnt from boroughs where it had been successfully implemented.  The Chair clarified that the removal of the Streetspace LTN Trials programme was one of the most heavily lobbied requests by residents.  An adviser commented that the implementation of the cycling training programme needed to be well-thought out to be successful.

·                 Another Member suggested that if in addition to infrastructural changes perhaps there were things that could be done through education  to ensure success.

·                 Regarding the Cycle Network, an Adviser asked about the aim of the and target of the scheme and how would success be measured.  An officer explained that there was no specific target, and the aim of the programme was to try to get as many people as possible cycling and every property is within 400 metres of a good cycle route.

·                 Another officer explained that the cycle routes were primarily intended to be commuter routes and the council was working towards the mayor's transport strategy of seeking 8 Percent modal shift toward showing active travel such as cycling and walking by 2041.  The Adviser suggested that the target could be broken down to every five years. In response to further questions regarding priority of routes, the officer confirmed that Harrow Cyclists would be consulted and have the opportunity to comment on the schemes.

·                 The Adviser asked how many more children were expected to cycle to school as a result of the cycle Training Scheme.  The officer explained that the aim of the programme was to increase awareness and encourage new children to cycle with the hope that they would grow and choose  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

Report of the Director of Environmental Services.

The Panel received the report of the Director of Environment.  The report provided Members with an update on the traffic related incidents resulting in fatalities on borough roads in the past 18 months.  The officer gave the following updates:

Pinner Road/Station Road Junction (North Harrow)

The incident was an HGV on cyclist collision which occurred on Saturday 21 August 2021 at 15:18hrs at the Pinner Road/Station Road junction.

·                 Update - March 2023

The Police report confirmed that no highway factors were identified in relation to this incident however, it was suggested that cyclists could share footway space on all approaches to the junction, in particular the south-eastern arm.

·                 Update July 2023

Improvements for walking and cycling at this junction were being looked at as part of a review of three major junctions in North Harrow along with a cycling scheme and speed reduction scheme.  Feasibility, design and consultation and partial implementation would be completed this financial year.

Mollison Way

The incident was a car-on-car collision which occurred on Sunday, 20 March 2022 at 08:30hrs.

·                 Update March 2023

A review of the borough was currently underway which would prioritise locations for 20mph zones and limits.

·                 Update July 2023

The initial assessment of locations in the borough resulted in Mollison Way scoring the highest of all roads in the prioritisation process.  It was agreed to proceed with design work immediately.  Design, consultation and implementation would be carried out this financial year.

Uxbridge Road/Waxwell Lane Junction (Pinner)

The incident occurred on Sunday, 31 July 2022 at 18:23hrs involving a car and an elderly male pedestrian. 

·                 Update March 2023

The Police report recommended repositioning the central islands, particularly the one to the east of the junction and improvements to pedestrian crossing facilities.

Options to improve pedestrian crossing at this location were being investigated and would be reviewed by the Leader of the Council.

·                 Update July 2023

Investigation work was on-going.  Design and consultation would be completed this financial year, implementation would be subject to the availability of sufficient TfL funding this financial year.

Culver Grove (near junction with St Andrew’s Close) (Centenary)

The incident occurred on Sunday, 7 August 2022 at 00:15hrs involving a car and a 62-year-old man who passed away at the location.

·                 Update March 

The Police report did not identify any highway factors and recommended clearing back any foliage from street lighting.  This took place during the site visit.

George V Avenue

The incident occurred at 10:55am on Friday 14 April 2023 involving a 65-year-old man and a car.  The pedestrian was initially seriously injured but sadly passed away.

Officers met with the Police on 14 June 2023.  The full police investigation had not been concluded at the time of writing the committee report.

At this stage, it had not been confirmed that speed was a factor however, automatic.

Update on the Police Recommendations:

·                 That the wild grass and flowers be trimmed/removed by LB Harrow as soon as practicable to improve the vision for pedestrians and vehicles at the location. –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.