NOTES: DB

1.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None

2.    UPDATE FROM POLICE

•   Congratulations to the organisers of the N21 Festival.

•   Crime figures:
Burglary is much reduced: two in June from 13 in May.  The main area affected is bounded by Broadwalk, Green Lanes, Bourne Hill and The Green.
Theft from motor vehicles is also reduced.  Number plates are sometimes taken.
Theft of motor vehicles is now rare in Winchmore Hill, the commonest method is to use ‘relay attack’ to open cars remotely.

•   Prevention advice:
Cadets are visiting all houses and delivering advice leaflets.
Do not leave windows and doors open.
If you are away, leave lights on and ask friends / neighbours / relatives to drop by so that it is not obvious the house is empty.
Install HD CCTV
Use signage to make the house less attractive e.g.dangerous dog signs.
Car doors do not always lock when locked remotely - check.
Locking screws for number plates are available form police or online.

•   Sainsbury's
A knife and bag of mobile phone cases has been found in the grounds.
It is the opinion of our local police that the store should lock all their gates.  If any cannot be locked, they should be covered by HD CCTV.
However, this land is owned by Sainsbury’s so any action is up to them.  The original planning permission which was determined by the planning inspectorate, did not have a condition regarding security. It was proposed at the time of the appeal but the inspector did not consider it was necessary and therefore did not include it. 

•   Theft using a scooter
Two young men are riding a scooter and snatching phones.  If seen please record number plates and tell the police.

•   Denleigh Gardens
Residents reported drug dealing in the area.  They think that the CCTV signs were a deterrent.
ACTION: EHu to see if CCTV can be installed again.

3.    PRESENTATION: FIRE SAFETY IN YOUR HOME - Bob Brown (retired fire officer)

•   The more times you take a risk the more likely it is that a fire will start.

•   The fire safety department can provide advice and in some cases will install equipment.

•   Working alarms save lives.
Make sure that are working.
Use a heat alarm in the kitchen and smoke alarms everywhere else.
As a minimum, install one on each floor; one in each room is ideal.

•   Avoid using candles - they have a naked flame and are easily knocked over.  If you must use a candle, make sure the holders are stable and site them away from anything combustible.

•   Keep combustible things away from heaters.

•   Most major fires start in the kitchen.
Do not leave the room if the grill or hob is alight.
If a fire starts:

-   Turn off the ignition,

-   Do NOT move any burning items

-   You can try to smother a fire in a pan with wet towels.

-   If you are not sure, shut the door, get out and call the fire brigade.

•   Walk fire escape routes.
On holiday, check that the fires escape route given is not blocked and that all the doors, including the exit, can be opened and closed.
At home this is also necessary because fire disorients you.  Check alternative escape routes incase your usual route were to be blocked by a fire.

•   When going to bed:

-   Close doors: most residential doors will hold back a fire for about 15minutes.  In this area, the fire brigade will arrive in about 6-8 minutes.

-   Ideally do not lock doors but if you do, make sure you can access the key(s) easily and that you will not drop and lose a key.

-   Turn off what you can.  It is not necessary to take plugs out.  Do make sure all plugs are in good working order.

•   In the event of a fire. 

-   All fires start small. 

-   Whether you tackle a fire is a matter of judgement. 

-   Take care with extinguishing agents e.g. do not use water on an electrical fire.

•   If in doubt get everyone to safety and call the Fire brigade.

4.    PRESENTATION: FRIENDS OF FIRS FARM - Community café project - Toni Guiver (Chair)
Background:
Firs farm is now the largest sustainable urban drainage system in the UK and possibly in Europe.
Three years ago the area was an unused piece of flat land.  Now it is now a beautiful and well used wetland full of wildlife.  It is being well used by local schools and voluntary groups and now also by schools from Barnet; pond-dipping is a popular activity.
Groups of young offenders from Barnet as well as groups of Adults with learning difficulties regularly come to the park to work with the Friends doing useful work and finding a sense of purpose and dignity in their achievements.
Companies also send their corporate volunteers to work in the area.
Monolith signs will soon be installed to provide more information.
The path on the east side is nearly complete so wheelchair and buggy users can walk easily along three sides of the fields.  Once the fourth side is complete, this will form a 1mile circuit.
The fence protecting the young fruit trees has been removed and the ground around the trees sown with wildflower seeds.
Real-time monitoring ….
The council has entered the park of a Living Waterways award and it has reached the final.

Community café project
The long-term aim is to transform the old sports changing rooms and surrounding compound into a vibrant sustainable all-encompassing community space bringing together sports, business, education, nature, volunteering, and recreation.
BUT in the short term, the Friends want to raise funds to provide a temporary community hub building that will provide:

-   A space for people to come together in an inviting and welcoming environment.

-   An inclusive place for people with Dementia or Autism, a safe space, with memory stimulation, and somewhere to, in the words of Alzheimer’s Café founder, Dr. Bere Miesen, "just be”.

-   Specific times when it can be used by people with Autism and their carers

-   Suitable volunteering opportunities for hub users

-   Education  - skills  -health & hygiene for example

-   Somewhere we can hold small fund raising events that will help further improve the sustainability of Firs Farm.

-   Encouragement for people with / without dementia to participate in Firs Farms available exercise activities.

-   “A Place For Us”  - Bring the community together

Toni said, “Looking to the future we envision Firs Farm Wetlands becoming an integral part of our community. The café is just one step towards our vision.  It will be an inclusive space with a memory stimulation area for those members of the community with dementia and a special space for those with autism.
There are a limited amount of safe places, surrounded by nature that can provide an adequate space where you can just ‘be’, we’re hoping to become one of them.”
Friends of Firs farm have applied to the Mayor of London’s CrowdfundLDN which could provide up to £50k for the dementia café.

For more information, to contact or support the Friends of Firs Farm: http://www.firsfarmn21.org

5.    ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
Backgarden developments
DB explained that she would not take part in this discussion because she is on the Planning committee.|
The planning process was explained including the consultation process, pr-application advice, calling in to the committee and what happens at the planning committee.
Residents were advised to look at the rules and regulations that officers and the committee must follow as well as looking at previous cases which can be found on the council web site.
It was emphasised that these guidelines have to be followed because if an application is rejected, the developer can appeal and should the planning inspectorate decide that it has been refused without proper grounds, not only will it be granted but costs can also be awarded against the council.

Lack of visibility exiting right from Downes Court into Hoppers Road
The large vehicles parked at the builder’s merchants block the view of drivers.  This has been raised many times but traffic safety officers say there have been no accidents resulting in personal injury so no action will be taken.

Cars being worked on in Haslemere Road
officers have been asked to investigate this by both DB and EH.

Draft mayor’s transport Strategy
The new draft Mayor's Transport Strategy (MTS) sets out his plans to transform London's streets, improve public transport and create opportunities for new homes and jobs. To achieve this, the Mayor wants to encourage more people to walk, cycle and use public transport.
TfL's public consultation on these plans is now open until 2 October 2017 - take part and give them your views.
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/how-we-work/planning-for-the-future/the-mayors-transport-strategy

Handouts were available on the following topics:

•   Quieter Neighbourhoods

•   Over 50’s cycle ride

•   Fire Safety in Council housing

•   Parking at Chase Farm

•   Changes to train services including timetable consultation.

NEXT MEETING:

7.30 - 9.30pm, Thursday 7 September at The Sanctuary, Palmers Green United Reform Church, Fox Lane, N13 4AL

Please contact councillors about any issues we should include.
Contact details:
Dinah Barry                 cllr.dinah.barry@enfield.gov.uk

Elaine Hayward        cllr.elaine.hayward@enfield.gov.uk

Ertan Hurer               cllr.ertan.hurer@enfield.gov.uk