Agenda for Southgate Ward Forum on Wednesday, 14th December, 2016, 7.30 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Southgate Methodist Church, The Bourne, Enfield, N14 6RS

Items
No. Item

6.

Introductions

Minutes:

Constituents attending were welcomed by Cllr. Edward Smith and Cllr. Rob Hayward.  Apologies were received from Cllr. Daniel Pearce.

 

The agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the last meeting had been circulated.

7.

Crime update from the local Neighbourhood Police Team

Minutes:

PC Tyler Thompson-Sangster and PC Frank Kerr, who have recently become the designated local neighbourhood police officers for Southgate Ward, introduced themselves.  They reported that burglary overall in Southgate is down although not in Palmers Green.  There are issues over anti-social behaviour by students of  Barnet-Southgate College, particularly in the wooded area adjacent to Groveland's Park, which is accessed by way of the road leading to The Priory.  Rubbish is collecting and there is evidence of the use of nitrous oxide.

 

There have also been some complaints from local residents about anti-social moped riding, bicycles on the pavement and a wallet stolen near Bounds Green Station had been reported to Wood Green Police Station. Residents should phone 101 to report thefts, etc.

 

The meeting was advised that a mobile Police van would be stationed at Highlands village on 20th December if residents wanted to speak to a police officer face to face.

 

Cllr. Smith commented that he would like to resume regular meetings between local residents and the police by re-instituting the CAPE meetings.  He would write to Andrea Clemons at the Safer Community Team at the Council for further advice.

 

8.

Proposed abolition of Enfield Southgate Constituency

Minutes:

Save Our Southgate - Cllr. Smith commented that strong objections have been made by over a 1000 constituents regarding the proposals by the Boundary Commission to break up the current parliamentary constituency of Enfield Southgate district into five separate pieces and join them to other adjacent constituencies. Local councilors, the Council, the local Conservative and Labour parties had objected to dismembering the constituency and aligning parts of it with other local authority districts who are not natural partners in terms of history, transportation and community links, etc. The Boundary Commission was due to publish the representations it had received in March next year and there would then be a further consultation.  Its final recommendations would be published later in 2017.

 

9.

Replacement of Southgate Library

Minutes:

Sally McTernan, the Council officer who now oversees all of the libraries in Enfield, addressed the Forum regarding the relocation of the Southgate Library.  As part of the purchase of the old Minchenden School site, the library has been moved to a new location on the first floor of the main college building.  The first phase- moving - has now been completed and the next phase will be underway shortly which will include new brighter furniture and an improved layout. A plan was shown to the meeting.  She acknowledged that since the library space is considerably smaller than before there will be fewer books.

 

However, there is increased access to libraries across London via the internet.  Books can be ordered on line and will be delivered to Southgate for pickup and can be returned there.  There were some complaints that some people don't use the internet and others don't know what they want to read and go to the library to browse.

 

There were also complaints about the new location, among them:  not easy to access; not child friendly; inconvenient to have to get security pass from kiosk at entrance to college., etc.  However, the decision has been made and is not going to be changed.  Cllr. Hayward recommended that people should continue to use the library and monitor service provision and the ongoing refurbishment and decorating. Otherwise, there was the possibility that the Library would close.  Cllr. Smith commented that there is more space available on the 1st floor which is currently being used by college career centre and that the Council should consider leasing as it appears to be underused. The Council is also looking for volunteers to staff the new library and has approached local residents and some of the students at the College. Any residents who are interested should contact Sally McTernan

 

10.

Upgrade of planting areas around Southgate Tube Station

Minutes:

Transport for London is promising a major refurbishment programme of the bus station and paved/landscaped area around the Tube station.  Cllr. Smith had met with the TfL project team and they had confirmed that local residents and neighbourhood groups would be fully consulted before a planning application was submitted in the New Year. There were complaints about the single Christmas tree provided by the council in Southgate and the fact that there were no street decorations.  It was also pointed out that the local web site Streetlife had posted a lot of complaints regarding the lack of attention being given to Southgate by the council citing a lack of flowers, litter all over the place., etc.

 

Cllrs. Smith and Hayward advised that construction work had begun on the new Premier Inn Hotel near the Tube Station and that this development, when completed, would hopefully inject more money into the local economy.

 

11.

Update on proposed new primary school in Bourneside

Minutes:

New primary school in Bourneside - Councillors reported no plans submitted.  As the site is in a Grade 2 listed area Historic England effectively does have  power of veto, but we would have to wait and see.

 

A new temporary primary school in the grounds of Ashmole School had recently opened and a planning application for a permanent school was due to be considered early in the New Year.  Many of the new pupils would come from the Southgate area and the proposal was warmly welcomed, but it was understood that a number of local residents in Barnet were objecting to the proposals.

 

12.

Local Concerns

This is an opportunity for residents to raise environmental and other matters with their local councillors. Please take the opportunity to email us before the meeting about any particular problems so that we can look into them beforehand. Our contact details are below.

 

Minutes:

Following complaints about difficulties in contacting the Council over issues such as non-removal of fallen leaves; parking problems, etc., the Councillors pointed out that most council business is now conducted on line.  Specific issues of individual concern should be addressed directly to the Civic Centre by going on line via the council’s website (preferably) or phoning.  The Councillors acknowledged that on line communication with the Council was problematic and they felt the transition to the new computer systems had not been handled well.

13.

Date of future meetings

Minutes:

7.30pm, Wednesday 22nd March.