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.
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