Agenda and minutes

PC Denise Thorpe gave a report covering the last three months.

• Burglaries and car crime: theft of and from vehicles, is lower than for the same period last year.

• Most burglaries are taking place between five and six o’clock when residents are still out at work and it is dark.

• PC Thorpe has been taking measures to help us to be more secure:

- delivering notices to houses if they have been left in darkness, making it evident that no one is home,

- delivering notices advising people who have UPVC doors how to lock them securely,

- checking motor vehicles to ensure that valuables are not left on display,

- Checking car doors are locked - they often aren’t. In one road PC Thorpe found three unlocked cars. Residents should make sure that their automatic locking systems are actually working!

·         Graham Smith, Infrastructure Maintenance Delivery Manager, Network rail will be present to answer questions.

·         Written report from Katherine Cox, Stakeholder Manager, Govia Thameslink

Graham Smith, Infrastructure Maintenance Delivery Manager at Network Rail (NR)

answered questions and listened to concerns.

• He is looking to improve the trackside planting near Palmers Green. Trackside clearance is needed for safety but he will make sure it is more sensitively managed in future,

• He is looking into the possibility of some planting to screen the track near the skew bridge in Hoppers Road,

• He is meeting with Cllr. Barry, a representative from Govia and council officers at Winchmore Hill

Station to discuss how the safety of Platform 1, where the waiting room restricts access, can be improved.

• The information on display boards is automated and can be overridden manually if there is a problem. Graham is aware that they are not always accurate and that it is especially frustrating that trains continue to show as running when they have been cancelled. He will look into this and see how it can be improved.

• Graham will look into the matter of a bricked-up window at Winchmore Hill station.

• The work to install ticket barriers at both Palmers Green and Winchmore Hill stations being  carried out by Govia.

Katherine Cox, Stakeholder Manager, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) provided a

written report - attached.

If any one wants to send any further questions to either Graham or Katherine, please contact Cllr. Barry

Update on Crossrail 2

Until October the council had always been told that this new network would have a station at Alexandra Palace where people traveling from Palmers Green, Winchmore Hill and other stations on the Hertford Loop would be able to connect with it.

We then discovered that an alternative route had been proposed that would see Crossrail 2 having no connection to the Hertford Loop.

This information was in an attachment to a lengthy email which did not mention this change. As soon as we were aware of this Both the Labour and the Conservative groups on the council. took every opportunity available to lobby for Alexandra Palace.

The consultation has now closed and the report is expected this spring.

Friends of the park gave an update on the work that is being done there.

• The aim of the Friends is to transform this once neglected space into somewhere beautiful where people come to relax, enjoy and learn about nature, exercise and have fun.

• Massive earth works have been carried out to form the first watercourse that will alleviate flooding and provide a variety of habitats to increase biodiversity in the area.

• Water is now flowing along the water course, the plants that were planted earlier have become established and are flourishing, dragonflies, frogs and newts are already in residence.

• A second watercourse has just received planning permission.

• More wildlife habitats are planned: bat and bird boxes and insect hotels

• Paths have been laid, bulbs planted and features repaired to enable people to enjoy walking through the spinney.

• Future plans include pond dipping platforms, seating and benching, information boards, more pathways and a proper education centre.

• The Friends group has raised money by applying for awards: The Mayor of London’s Big Green Poll got them off to a good start when they won £175 000 last summer. They have also been given donations by local shops and run events to raise funds; details on their web site: http://www.firsfarmn21.org

• A booklet about the history of the park will also be available soon.

• We hope even more people will be inspired to visit the park when the new entrance is ready in March. There is to be a grand opening event one weekend this summer.

• All this work was started by the Friends of the Park who are volunteers with help from the council and Thames 21. If you would like to join or find out more you do so through their web site

• It is an offence to drive over the pavement to park on a private property without a legally constructed vehicle crossover and the council is currently inspecting all the roads in the borough as part of its illegal vehicle crossover enforcement project.

• There are new guidance notes for people who want to construct a parking area and VXO.

• No work should begin on construction until the application has been approved by the council.

• Following the award of a new contract, the costs of constructing a VXO have been reduced. The council does not make any profit from constructing VXOs so this saving is directly passed on to residents.

• One resident said that the notes were very hard to understand and the cost too high.

• Parking areas can damage the appearance of a street.

• Constructing a VXO removes an on-street parking space even when it is not in use.

• On street parking helps to control traffic speeds.

• A summary of the guidance about VXOs was available for residents (attached).

The board meeting for the A105 is being held on Thursday after this forum.

The following points were made:

• David Burrowes has said that following his referendum, the Mayor of London will tell the council to delay further work in order to carry out further consultation.*

• This referendum did not include Bowes ward, only one vote was offered to those households that were consulted and the ‘pro-Cycle Enfield’ side had bold headers raising points against the scheme; the ‘against’ side had no such headers.

• The Council’s consultation was about improving the scheme through resident’ local knowledge - it was not a vote.

• One resident complained that the consultation was biased.

• The council has been shortlisted for an award for this consultation by the Local Government Chronicle.

• Several residents said that the submission to the council from their residents’ association had been written without reference to the members.

• If we do nothing, our roads will soon be gridlocked and there will be nothing in place to alleviate this.

• Obesity is a major problem in Enfield: our reception year children have the third highest rate of obesity in London and six out of 10 adults is overweight or obese. It is estimated that the improvement in people’s health as a result of being more active will save nearly £50 million from reduced mortality alone.

• Cycle Enfield also includes: Quietways and Greenways, Quieter Neighbourhoods and a cheap. Cycle Hire and Loan scheme as well as a range of activities to enable people to learn to cycle or to try bicycles that will enable them to enjoy cycling regardless of disability, health condition or

* The council has since received letters from the Mayor which suggests that whilst some more consultation could be carried out any decisions are in the hands of the council.

Sign up for an Enfield Connected account. An account will:

- make it easier for you to request many of our services online

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Take part in the consultation on the council Budget (closes 29 January) Paper

copies were available

- Since 2010 we have saved £118 million.

- We have to save £17 million this year.

- Further cuts mean we have to save £50 million in the next five years.

- This is more than we currently spend on cleaning our streets, collecting the bins and lighting our streets.

- Annual government funding for vital services has been cut by an average of £700 for every household in the borough.

Take part in the consultation on the New Local Plan (closes 12 February)

20 April 2016

7.30pm - 9.30pm

Friends Meeting house 59, Church Hill, N21 1LE