Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Lamprecht, Rodin, E Smith, T Smith and Zinkin. An apology for lateness was received from Councillor Brett.

Members of the Forum are invited to identify any personal or prejudicial interests relevant to items on the agenda. 

There were no declarations of Interests with regard to items on the agenda.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 10 December 2009.

AGREED that the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 10 December 2009 be confirmed as a correct record subject to the following amendment,

 

Minute No. 11 (a), Public Session - to read:

 

Residents attending the meeting overwhelmingly agreed that local consultations had not been carried out in regard to the proposals to relocate the Palmers Green Library and that the borough-wide consultations had not mentioned Palmers Green Library.

NOTED with regards to minute number 7, re Ladderswood Estate developments, the following update was provided by Suzanne Johnson, Planning and Regeneration Officer, including the following points:

 

 

The Enfield Core Strategy: Submission Version (2009) sets out the planning policy position for the redevelopment of the Ladderswood Estate including the planning framework for the Ladderswood Estate and New Southgate Industrial Estate redevelopment which is as follows;

"Partial redevelopment of the New Southgate Industrial Estate to link with redevelopment at Ladderswood Estate and facilitating improvements to the quality of the remainder of the estate"

 

Once the Core Strategy is adopted, later in 2010, planning applications will be required to comply with the policies set out in the Core Strategy.

 

The Draft New Southgate Masterplan also sets out information and guidance on the redevelopment of the Ladderswood Estate. This is available for public consultation until 9 June 2010 and will be finalised once the Core Strategy is adopted. The Masterplan is required to be in line with the policies in the Core Strategy. Residents can view the masterplan and respond via the website at www.enfield.gov.uk/placeshaping or contact Suzanne to receive a copy of the document.

 

In November 2009 the Council agreed that the Ladderswood Estate could be demolished and rebuilt. The redevelopment of the Ladderswood Estate will also include building on the land currently occupied by the New Southgate Industrial Estate (this is in compliance with the Core Strategy policy set out above). The Council are working with the affected businesses to help them relocate to alternative premises, and where appropriate the Council will be paying compensation in accordance with statutory requirements. Where the leases are being renegotiated businesses are being offered the opportunity to stay on the industrial estate until at least 31st December 2012. The New Southgate Masterplan also sets out the requirement to provide some commercial floorspace as part of the Ladderswood redevelopment scheme.

To receive a brief update on local policing.

RECEIVED an update from Inspector Ian Clark on local policing issues across the Bowes, Southgate and Southgate Green wards.

 

NOTED

 

Bowes

 

Currently 51% reduction for the last 3 month period and ward commitment to borough Operation Bumblebee.

 

Operation Bumblebee - 22^nd February for 4 weeks

 

Centrally provided - Dedicated teams of detectives, TSG (uniform & plain clothes), dogs (general and specialist search), ANPR, ASU, Marine Support Unit, Traffic.

 

Local Support – Borough Support Unit, extra custody facilities 24/7 and investigative support, intelligence unit, Safer Neighbourhoods

 

Burglary currently down 7% - 2499 offences (MPS + 3.8%)

 

Road Safety Review

 

We have had a number of ANPRs, speed gun assessments, road tax reviews, posted warning letters about parking on corners (yellow lines still pending Warwick Road) etc. We have discussed the issue with LBE Road Safety Unit and with Councillors at CAPE, the reality is this ward will remain very congested and as a rat run for probably two year whilst roads works continue, This priority is now closed.

 

Create Youth Panel/Engagement

 

I am pleased to announce that after persevering with have now established a Youth Panel with 8 committed attendees. They are currently working on the below projects:

 

-          Create a newsletter

-          Prepare for a Q and A session for local MP and David Burrows

 

They have also contributed to the recent consultation.

 

This priority is now closed.

 

Other business

 

We have just completed a week’s consultation where approx 150 residents have raised their issues with the ward. As a result two new ward priorities will be set through CAPE.

 

Southgate Ward

 

Ward priorities

ASB Southgate Circus

ASB Highlands Village

 

DRUGS Search Warrants

In February we executed a drugs warrant on the Ward. Three people were arrested and received PND’s.

 

In February we also executed a warrant in conjunction with EDF energy. A meter was found to be tamped with and bills had not been paid since 2006.

 

Arrests

A number of arrests have been carried out on the Ward including one for possession of cannabis, one for criminal damage to a motor vehicle and one for carrying an offensive weapon.

 

Southgate College

Two arrests have been made involving college students:

One for GBH with intent

One for robbery

 

Five students have been excluded from the College for a robbery on another student. All five students were local gang members.

 

A knife arch has been carried out at the College, in addition to a knife amnesty whereby two weapons were surrendered.

 

There has been two weeks of random searches carried out for weapons, in addition to organised talks on knife crime, gangs and drugs.

 

Schools & Clubs

PSCO Tether has been liaising with out Primary Schools to promote the Community Help Point Scheme.

 

PS Garnett and PSCO Tether attended the 6^th Southgate Beaver Group based in Walkers Cricket Ground and spoke to them about their role in the community.

 

Community Day

PSCO Tether has been liaising with the Synagogue in Old Farm Avenue to arrange a Community day  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive a presentation from the Council’s Co Director of Education, Children’s Services and Leisure on the relocation of Palmers Green library.

 

RECEIVED an update on the relocation of Palmers Green Library from Andrew Fraser, Co Director, Education, Children's Services and Leisure, including the following points:

 

The Council wished to modernise its library services and was looking for opportunities to increase the number of users by moving libraries to places people frequented more, particularly shopping centres. Such an opportunity had been identified in Palmers Green.

 

When the M&S Simply Food shop had become vacant, the Council moved quickly and had acquired the lease. A planning application for the change of use from retail to public library was to be determined by Planning Committee on 16/3/10.

 

In comparison to the present Palmers Green Library this new library would provide a 40% increase in public space and it would be able to provide all the services currently provided plus additional services, including community rooms.

 

The new library would have a ground, first and second floor, but the second floor was much smaller and would include less public space other than a further community meeting room.

 

The new library was about 400 metres away from the current site but was in a place with a lot more passers by.

 

The new library would have level access and parking at the rear.

 

It was expected that the new library would have a homework club, wi-fi access, computers and more.

 

Questions and comments were invited from attendees, summarised below:

 

Consideration had been given to provide escalators.

 

Local traders’ regretted the subsequent loss of retail space in Palmers Green; losing a potential shop and gaining a library was not an advantage and was unlikely to attract more customers to the area.

 

Councillor Charalambous advised that the majority of residents he spoke to were opposed to the library relocation and did not feel consulted. The Council owned the freehold on the current building, but would have to pay a 25-year lease on the ex-shop. Library users would be competing with shoppers for parking spaces in Lodge Drive car park.

 

An attendee welcomed a new library, especially if it would provide the opportunity for regeneration of the area.

 

Councillor Kaye, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture, Olympics 2012 and Voluntary Sector, who had responsibility for the Library Service felt that the new library would take the service into the 21^st century. Councillor Kaye commended the relocation of Weir Hall and Merryhills libraries and reported that in its first year Oakwood Library membership increased by 700 per cent and usage of the new Fore Street Library has increased by 80 per cent. All of the experts in library provision point to other towns and cities in the UK where placing libraries in town centres or high streets increase the footfall. It has worked elsewhere in this borough and it will work in Palmers Green too. 

Councillor Georgiou questioned plans for the future use of the current Palmers Green Library site, whether the same level of free parking would be available and confirmation as to whether the site would be used  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive a verbal presentation from Liam Mulrooney, Traffic and Transportation Section Manger on Enfield’s proposed Greenways Network.

RECEIVED a brief presentation from Liam Mulrooney, Section Manager, Traffic and Transportation.

 

The Council plans to improve cycling facilities by developing a network of Greenways - routes for both walking and cycling - through the parks, green areas and quieter roads in the borough, primarily for leisure.

 

Questions and comments were invited from attendees, summarised below:

 

The Greenway Network was a London wide initiative aimed at increasing the levels of walking and cycling throughout the capital.

 

Clarification was sought as to the financial implications and time frame for the proposed network.

                                                                        ACTION: LIAM MULROONEY

 

Enfield had applied for special funding from the Mayor of London, but had been unsuccessful.

 

In response to a question about the decision making process, it was advised that the application had been approved by Cabinet in principle, and consultation was due to take place shortly on those routes that have been designed in outline.  

The improvements to the Bowes stretch of the North Circular Road will include a separate cycle track.

Surveys would be carried out to monitor collisions and injuries following development of the routes.  These will be compared to existing accident statistics.

Liam Mulrooney concluded that he welcomed local knowledge and would appreciate any comments on the proposal.

(i)         Issues notified on the evening.

 

(ii)        Other issues from the floor.

Questions and comments were invited from attendees, summarised below:

 

A resident expressed dissatisfaction that the Council’s Waste Services telephone message advises that if their rubbish collection had been missed it would be collected before 4pm. This was not the case.

 

A resident made a statement with regards to the planning/housing issues in the south wards.

 

 

 

Meeting dates for the 2010/11 municipal year to be advised following the Annual Council meeting on 26 May 2010.

The meeting calendar for the next municipal year will be agreed at Annual Council in May, following the Council Elections.