Issue - meetings

To consider any other items put forward for discussion. 

1.            Electric Vehicle Charging Points

The Climate Action Plan indicated that there would be 250 additional charging points in the borough by 2025.  As demand increased the Council will install more points.  There is a project to provide charging points in lamp columns. People can lodge an expression of interest via the Council’s website: https://new.enfield.gov.uk/services/roads-and-transport/electric-vehicle-charging/. Rapid charging is part of the solution and may be provided in supermarket petrol stations and in town centre locations.  There was also a requirement in the London Plan for developers to provide charging points in new developments.  Further information could be provided at a future meeting of the forum.

2.            Whitewebbs Park

Sarah Cary reported that the Council was close to making a decision on the future of the golf course in Whitewebbs Park, but an announcement had been held back due to purdah restrictions.  A report would be back to a future meeting of the forum. 

To consider any other items put forward for discussion. 

1.            Enfield Town Planning Application 

NOTED

1.            Concern was expressed that there would not be another opportunity to discuss the Enfield Town Planning Application at a forum meeting. 

2.            So far there had only been an opportunity to consider the outline, and not the detailed application.  This application was worth over £1.5 billion and would have a huge impact on Enfield Town Centre and could set a template for development across the borough.

3.            The Chair agreed to take the comments on board and would follow the process established for the referral of planning applications for discussion at Environment Forum meetings. 

4.            That there were other means for raising questions about planning applications including questions, queries, deputations and planning panels. 

5.            Concern that it was more effective to look at and shape applications at an early stage before they were finalised.  The forum members had a large amount of expertise which could be used to influence early decision making. 

6.            The Chair greatly appreciated the informed knowledge and contributions from the forum representatives but regretted that the forum could not be a replacement for the former Conservation Advisory Group (CAG).  The former members of CAG could continue to meet up, but the Council no longer had the resources to provide the officer support that they had been able to supply in the past. 

7.            All comments made on planning applications at forum meetings were minuted and fed back to planning officers who would take them into account when making recommendations on planning applications. 

8.            The Environment Forum had a broader remit to cover many different  kinds of environmental issues.

9.            The former CAG members had discussed the possibility of continuing to meet as CAG but felt that without officer input it would not be so effective and that they could have more influence through attending the forum. 

10.         There was support for the suggestion that Governance should be asked to reconsider and to allow further consideration of the Enfield Town application at the forum. 

To consider any other items put forward for discussion. 

Clarification was sort on the length of time that planning applications could apply. These lasted ad infinitum.  Some minor amendments to the 13 year old Tottenham Hotspur application were queried.  Andy Higham agreed to respond. 

More detail on future landscape plans was requested. 

Concern that too much time was spent on issues other than planning applications.  Other members said that they liked the variety of issues discussed and would not want to change this. 

To consider any other items put forward for discussion. 

1.            Heritage Lottery Funding for Heritage Projects – the scheme has been paused due to the Covid situation.  The Council has however received some additional funding to help support cultural venues including the Dugdale Centre and Forty Hall. 

2.            S106 Expenditure - queries should be addressed to Sarah Cary or Vincent Lacovara.