Agenda and draft minutes

Residents were welcomed to the meeting and the Councillors introduced themselves. 

For absence: PC Aspinall

PC Clauson reported on local crime levels.

PC Sewell then outlined Neighbourhood Watch Programmes. These worked best when they were limited to a very few houses, perhaps five each side of the coordinator; Barnet therefore had almost 1000 coordinators. Some had installed CCTV looking over their sector of the street; he confirmed that there were no data protection objections to this, provided appropriate precautions were taken to keep the data secure.

In discussion, police advised residents always them if they observed something, on 999, 101, or the local teams number - which went to their mobile when on duty-  as appropriate;

020 8721 2691 for Turkey Street

020 8721 2690 for Enfield Lock

Councillor Pite outlined the project being run by the Over 50s Forum to try to identify lonely older people and to offer them free membership of the form. 80 had signed up, and been offered meetings, school concerts and other events. This had originally been founded by the Enfield Residents Priority Fund, but was now funded by the Big Lottery.

Kate Anolue, a former Mayor of the Borough invited residents to join the regular walk in Albany Park at 0900 every Sunday.

Councillor Pite noted that this had been agreed by the council in the summer, following a review by a government inspector. It covered housing, jobs, transport, land use and investment.

The key issue for the local community going forward was progress on the Northern Gateway Access Package, which was intended to ameliorate transport problems and in particular the unacceptable level of heavy goods vehicle traffic in Bullsmoor Lane. If the government was to be persuaded to make significant changes it was necessary to build a very firm evidence base and this was in hand. Joan Ryan MP had met the Secretary of State for Transport, before the recent change of government, and he had shown willingness to commission further work; but it would be necessary to see how the new Secretary of State responds. In discussion, residents stress the importance of making progress.

One resident objected to the 12-hour length of the bus lane restriction in Bullsmoor Lane; he thought that peak hours only was sufficient.

a.         Difficulties in contacting the council

A number of residents raised the problems they had had in contacting the council mended by phone. Councillors fully recognised that service levels had been unacceptable. Councillor Lemonides said that since May he had responsibility for customer service, and he had urgently taken action to increase the staffing of the contact centre. This was largely with permanent staff; though they took time to train. However, response times were now returning towards accepted service standards.

b.     Lidl

      Councillor Simon reported that Lidl were aware of the travellers on the car park and were taking legal action to evict them. Their plan was now to refurbish the store and to open it early in the New Year

c.      McDonald's in Bullsmoor Lane

       A resident said they had undertaken works which he suggested did not comply with the original planning permission.

d.     Turkey Street station and the Brook

       Councillor Simon reported that plans were being worked up for improvement in the station area.

A resident reported that the brook between Brookside Gardens and the station was in a very poor state with a lot of dumped material which was now stinking and blocking the stream.

Another resident noted that the team clearing the brook had cut the weeds but then blown a lot of the debris into the brook which would then block it and rot.

e.      Poor compliance with refuse disposal rules

Residents noted that many new tenants were unaware of the rules about the types of rubbish which should go in the various bins. It was suggested that landlords or letting agents (and the council for those it housed into temporary accommodation) should have responsibility for providing information.

Councillors noted that after a bin was rejected the waste team would make a visit to the resident, expensive as this was.

f.       Cycle Enfield

Residents were encouraged to engage with the consultation which was in hand on the Hertford Road North section, from Ponders End to Waltham Cross.

g.     Jubilee Park on the Elsinge estate

A resident said that the nature conservation area in the north-west corner was still being inhabited by rats and should be kept tidier.

These were agreed.

Residents were still concerned by the speeding and parking problems and asked for a further update at the next meeting for Turkey Street ward.

Because there had been such a good attendance at the meeting, and so may issues to discuss, most residents preferred single ward meetings; but the option of occasional joint ones would be retained.

18 October 25, 2015 at Ordnance Unity Centre for Enfield Lock, 1930

5 December 2015 at Kempe Hall for Turkey Street Ward, 1930