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)             after notifying the Chair at the start of the meeting.

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 all Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made by Members in relation to the business transacted at this meeting.

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

RESOLVED:  That all items be considered with the press and public present.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2004, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2004, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents/organisations under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 8.

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put at the meeting under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 8.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 9.

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions were received at the meeting under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 9.

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10.

RESOLVED:  To note that no deputations were received at the meeting under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10.

Report of the Director of Organisational Performance.

The meeting considered and agreed the draft Chair’s report on the work of the Sub-Committee in 2004/05.

RESOLVED:  That the draft Chair’s report on the Sub-Committee’s work over the past year be approved for inclusion in the scrutiny annual report for 2004/05.

Report of the Director Organisational Performance.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Transport attended the meeting to outline expected key areas for 2005/06.

‘Tourism’ and ‘Parks and Garden Maintenance’, were identified as two potential areas for in?depth reviews, as extensive work would be undertaken to improve the parks in the Borough, and tourism would increasingly be promoted through initiatives such as cycling and walking networks.

The Sub-Committee considered the suggested items for a work programme and made the following observations.

·         Highways maintenance – It was agreed not to undertake a review of this at present.

·         Waste Management – It was agreed to continue to monitor this area.

·         Community Safety – It was agreed that the Sub-Committee encourage and support an in-depth review of this area undertaken by the Strengthening Communities Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

·         Parks and Gardens maintenance – Members agreed to conduct an in-depth review in this area and identified several issues of concern such as safety and vandalism.

·         Traffic Volume – It was agreed not to undertake a review of this at present.

·         Green Belt Management – The meeting agreed to receive a report on this issue before taking a decision on whether to carry out an in-depth review.

·         Improved Public Housing – It was agreed to continue to monitor this issue.

·         Area Based Management – It was suggested that this was an area for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider.

·         Your Home Your Needs  - Best Value Review – It was agreed to monitor this area to ensure that the recommendations arising from the Best Value review were implemented.

·         Food Safety Audit – It was agreed to receive an update report on this issue.

·         Regeneration Work in Harrow – It was noted that there were already several different committees involved in this area and it was therefore agreed not to include this in the work programme.

·         Next Generation Local Public Service Agreements – It was suggested that this issue could be subject to a future review.

·         Disruption of Train Services – It was felt that there was limited opportunity to influence matters in this area and the issue was therefore not included in the work programme.

·         Review of Public Realm – It was suggested that this might not fall within the remit of the Sub-Committee, and it was therefore agreed that the Scrutiny Unit investigate further and report back to the next meeting.

·         Small Business Assistance – It was agreed not to include this issue in the work programme.

·         Liquor Licensing Act 2003 – The Sub-Committee agreed to continue to monitor this issue.

·         Tourism in Harrow – The meeting agreed to conduct an in-depth review of this area.

·         Planning Enforcement – It was agreed that a report be submitted to a future meeting to update the Sub-Committee on the current situation.

·         Parking and Enforcement Policy – The Portfolio Holder reminded the meeting that an inspection had been carried out in this area some years ago. It was agreed that the Sub-Committee receive a report on whether the recommendation of the inspection had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 144.

Having considered the report of the Sub-Committee’s review of Waste Management, the meeting

RESOLVED:  That (1) the report of the review of Household Waste Management be endorsed;

(2)  the report and its recommendations be referred to Cabinet in April for consideration; and

(3)  the Chair attend the Cabinet meeting to present the report.

Report of the Director of Strategy, Urban Living.

Further to the Sub-Committee’s request, at its meeting on 30 November 2004, for a report on this matter, Members received a report of the Director of Strategy (Urban Living).  The draft minutes from the meeting of the Tenants’ and Leaseholders’ Consultative Forum on 3 March were also tabled, and it was noted that the Forum had made a reference regarding the management of trees on estates to the Development Control Committee.

It was noted that a work programme had been put in place on the Cottesmore Estate.  It was also acknowledged that tree management on estates was a lengthy and complicated process, as it would take a year to determine whether a particular housing problem was related to trees on the estate.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Interim Head of Environment and Transport.

Appendix A to the above report, will be circulated separately to Members and Reserve Members of the Sub-Committee only. Appendix 1 will be available however, on request and on the Council’s web site at: www.harrow.gov.uk.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Interim Head of Environment and Transport which provided an update on the development of the Transport Local Implementation Plan (LIP).

Officers reminded the meeting that the Council had a statutory duty to prepare and consult on the draft. It was advised that Transport for London (TfL) had issued guidelines to the Local Authorities on the LIP and that some new priority areas such as reducing traffic congestion had been highlighted.

In response to a number of questions, the following issues were highlighted.

·                     The Council would have a certain flexibility in identifying priorities within the LIP by bidding for extra funding in particular areas.

·                     Detailed information on funding had not been received from TfL, however, the draft would be submitted to TfL for comments and any incorrect estimates could then be amended.

·                     It was confirmed that the Local Authority had powers to issue fines to those parking in junctions.

·                     The lack of information regarding parking permission for care workers was noted.

It was agreed that the Sub-Committee review the draft LIP in detail by dividing the document into five areas for Members to scrutinise. A Special meeting would then be held in late April to agree the Sub-Committee’s response to the draft LIP. The Scrutiny Unit undertook to write to Members of the Sub-Committee asking them to choose one of the five areas to scrutinise. It was also agreed that Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Sub-Committee be asked to consider and comment on the part of the draft LIP which referred to the school travel plan strategy.

RESOLVED:  That (1) a Special meeting be held in late April for the Sub-Committee to comment on the draft Local Implementation Plan (LIP);

(2)  the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Sub-Committee be asked to consider and comment on that part of the draft Transport Local Implementation Plan which related to the school travel plan strategy; and

(3)  the report be noted.