Agenda and minutes

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 personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee, Sub Committee, Panel or Forum;

(b)               all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

To agree requests to speak from Councillors who are not Members of the Committee, in accordance with Committee Procedure 4.1.

RESOLVED:  That, in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 4.1, the following Councillor, who was not a Member of the Committee, be allowed to speak on the agenda item indicated:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2009 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2009 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were received.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To receive and note the receipt of the following petition:

A petition presented by Councillor Graham Henson, containing 54 signatures from residents requesting an investigation to find a solution to speeding, congestion and pedestrian safety along Eastcote Lane, South Harrow.

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no deputations were received.

Report of the Corporate Director of Community and Environment.

An officer presented a report on the petitions received, addressing each in turn.

Stuart Avenue, Stiven Cresent and Primose Close

An officer explained that the complaint focused on two issues:

·                     The condition of the road surfaces

·                     The issue of “rat running”. 

The officer reported that the issue of the road surfaces had been passed onto highway maintenance engineers and a traffic survey regarding the “rat running” would soon be completed.  The officer also explained that a significant cause of the low quality road surfaces was that the underlying road structures were in a state of disrepair, resulting in any tarmac placed above it disintegrating quickly. 

During the discussion on this item, members raised a number of issues which included:

·                     a suggestion that the Safer Neighbourhood team could be asked to set up a speed compliance check;   

·                     a suggestion that placing a flashing light sign displaying driver’s speed could have a positive effect in reducing car speeds; 

·                     a potential problem with the Safer Neighbourhoods team was that they were usually unavailable late in the evening and at night, when vehicle speeds are generally higher.

A Member of the Panel, in her capacity as Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Safety replied that:

·                     the Council faced an estimated £150 million backlog in maintenance;

·                     the only viable way to invest in the roads would be through a Private Finance Initiative (PFI);

·                     the current maintenance scheme was seen as the best method to pursue, with reference being made to the expected cuts in public sector financing;

·                     some damage to roads was due to replacement work when gas pipes and other utilities were laid;

·                     the current formula used to select areas of road for resurfacing considered aspects such as the levels of footfall whereas previously a rigid engineering approach had been adopted;

·                     there had been discussion with the Planning Department regarding Section 106 funding to provide contributions to offset negative impacts caused by construction and developmentin Harrow.

Tithe Farm Avenue and Barn Mews

·                     A member stated that cars parking on corners and the current traffic signal phasing regime had exacerbated the congestion problems on Tithe Farm Avenue;

·                     in response to the suggestions put forward, an officer stated that he would be willing to conduct a site visit with members, to discuss the scheme further.

Belmont Circle

A Member relayed observations on this issue which included:

·                     the Car Park behind the shops at Belmont Circle should be kept as it was; 

·                     for other parking, a 2 hour free parking system was suggested;

·                     a pay and display system should be implemented at the Car Park for the Kenton Community Hall and the end of Kenmore Avenue joining Belmont Circle.

During the discussion on this issue, members of the Panel raised a number of issues which included:

·                     support for pay and display parking bays outside the shops.  However, it was suggested that a concession might have to be given to users of the Kenton Community Hall, due to the number of events that occur there;

·                     the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 177.

Report of the Corporate Director of Community and Environment.

An Officer presented a report on the funding arrangements for Transport for London (TfL) and explained that:

·                     there was a new formula initiated by TfL, which meant that a more holistic approach was being applied to the allocation of funds; 

·                     Harrow Council was permitted to bid for up to 20% of its allocation as additional funding if other boroughs had not used their full allocation of funds;   

·                     when setting aside the funding allocations for Petts Hill the funding arrangements for 2010/2011 were similar to the allocations of previous years;

·                     a report would be presented to the Panel on the traffic issues and problems with bus lanes on Petts Hill on the Ealing side of the bridge;

·                     there was a separate budget and officer for cycling issues in Traffic and Highway Network Management Department;

·                     the reduced funding for cycling corridors reflected the fact that most of the work had now been completed and that work on Petts Hill had distorted the funding figures by approximately £250,000;

·                     the Traffic and Highway Network department was currently advertising for an assistant Road Safety Officer.

During the discussion on this item, members of the Panel raised a number of issues which included:

·                     that the construction of a lay-by on The Ridgeway, North Harrow would help alleviate traffic congestion and improve sight lines, improving road safety;

·                     when considering designs for new shopping areas, areas for leaving bikes were always considered.  An officer also stated that there was a separate budget and officer for cycling issues in the Traffic and Networking Departments racks and areas.

In response to a question  an officer stated that they would confirm whether The Heights, Northolt, was a part of any proposed highway improvement scheme.

An adviser to the Panel stated that a significant number of pedestrians in Harrow would benefit from training on road safety, suggesting the possibility of a code of conduct and the production and distribution of road safety literature. 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Corporate Director of Community and Environment.

After explaining that the report presented to the panel contained information on the traffic and parking schemes currently being progressed, an officer responded to questions, stating that:

·                     the focus of the scheme on Honeypot Lane was on safety issues between Queensbury Circle and Marsh Lane;

·                     there were plans for a reduced speed limit on the south bound approach to the Queensbury roundabout;

·                     rather than shorten the bus lane to begin just after the B&Q premises, as suggested by a member, consideration was being given to adjusting the centre line which would then be monitored for its effectiveness;

·                     officers would report back to the panel on whether there were plans to reduce the internal diameter of the Honeypot Lane/Streatfield Road roundabout;

·                     the council was required to consider speed limits around schools and therefore 20mph zones were considered near schools where appropriate;

·                     there would be double yellow lines placed on corners and single yellow lines placed elsewhere, in plans for Kings Road;

·                     that the LCN+ (London Cycle Network) Harrow was currently approximately 80% completed.  £360,000 had been allocated for this year and £180,000 for next year.  This would bring the network to approximately 90% completion;

·                     due to the exceptional amount of work needed to deal with the proposed West Harrow Controlled Parking Zone, the Stakeholders meeting for the Rayners Lane review would be delayed until the autumn 2009;

·                     responding to questions on the progress of junction improvements near to the Goodwill To All public house, the officer stated that because of planning applications close to the site the traffic data was currently being verified for the modelling of the junction.

Following discussion on the proposals to implement two-way working for buses in Station Road Harrow an officer confirmed that:

·                     all road users had been considered in relation to the improvements in the area;

·                     there were plans to place 50mm raised platforms on the road to assist pedestrians crossing the road and make the area a 20mph zone although this was subject to further review.

In response to a question on the proposed 324 bus route, a member stated that the matter was progressing with TfL and that they would report back to the Panel at a later date.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Panel is due to be held on Wednesday 25 November 2009 at 7.30pm.

RESOLVED:  To note that the date of the next meeting of the Panel would be held on Wednesday 25 November 2009 at 7.30 pm.