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Leader Listens to Faith Communities Action Notes – 23 November 2008
St. Edward the Confessor Roman Catholic Church, 700 Finchley Road, London NW11 7NE.
In attendance:
Cllr Mike FreerLeader of Barnet CouncilVanessa GearsonCabinet Adviser No. of Residents:36Faith Community:Roman Catholic
Introduction
The purpose of the Leader Listens meetings is to give residents of the Borough an opportunity to discuss local issues directly with the Leader of the Council. The meeting also allows residents to contribute to Barnet’s policy-making process.The action notes from the meeting will be distributed to residents within the invited polling district. Any issues raised will be forwarded to therelevant officers/service area for action and comment. In addition, residents will also receive the final action notes detailing what action hadbeen taken within six - eight weeks after the meeting.Some key points about the Borough:
•
Barnet is the joint largest borough in London, the 20
th
most ethnically diverse and the 2
nd
most religiously diverse;
•
Barnet has more roads and pavements than any other London Borough;
•
Barnet is experiencing a period of growth due to an intensive house-building programme along the A5 corridor;
•
Barnet's age mix is also on the rise with more under 5’s and over 85’s within the Borough. The Council is challenged to provide services tomeet the diverse needs of this demographic;
•
Barnet has a ₤1 billion cash flow (on par with a FTSE 500 company); and Barnet spends just under ₤700 million on council services eachyear.
IssueResponse from the Leader of the CouncilAction by
Thanks for the introduction of thecommunity parking permit for faith leadersThe Leader noted these comments and explained to the meeting that thepermits had been introduced to assist the work of faith leaders who are often
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IssueResponse from the Leader of the CouncilAction by
which has been very useful.called out to visit members of their community, sometimes urgently. The costof the permit is £40.Concern over limited crossing time at the junction of Finchley Road and Hoop Lane.The Leader explained that traffic lights are not run by the Council but by themanagement company Traffic Control Unit (TCU). Finchley Road is also notcontrolled by Barnet but by Transport for London (TfL). TfL manage the mainroutes within Barnet and often do not even consult the Council whenchanges to traffic systems are made. There is generally a reluctance to alter the phasing of traffic lights because of concerns on the impact of main routetraffic.
ACTION
: Refer to TCU/TfL to request improved traffic light phasing –increase of a second to be suggested and a review of the current timings.TCU/TfLParking penalty notices in Tilling Road(Hendon Way
 
) where there is noControlled Parking Zone (CPZ) -specifically concerns over penalty noticesgiven to residents parking in their owndrives.The Leader commented that it is not usual to ticket cars in driveways unlessthe car is hanging over the driveway, causing an obstruction or blockingpedestrian passage. All Barnet tickets commence with the letters BAotherwise it would be a TfL ticket. A CPZ would not be possible because theHendon Way is one of the busiest roads in London.
ACTION
: The Leader to review the conditions of the resident’s penaltycharge notice when the details are passed on. Environment and TransportService to inspect Tilling RoadResident/Leader of the Council/Dorne Kanareck,Acting Director of Environment &TransportTraffic/parking blockage of Nether StreetThe Leader explained that the kerb build-outs had already been removed onone side of Nether Street (along with Finchley Way, Hamilton Way and ElmPark) in an attempt to alleviate congestion. There had also been a request toremove the grass verges on the Nether Court side but the Council wasreluctant to do this because it would merely reinforce public perception thatNether Street is a main route. The problem can only be resolved by theintroduction of a CPZ which is in current consultation. A CPZ has alreadybeen refused three times by residents.
ACTION
: Status report from Environment and Transport Service.Dorne Kanareck,Acting Director of Environment &TransportFire at Kosher Supermarket on GoldersGreen Road – concerns over renovationsto shop frontage and roof perhaps leadingto change of use application.The Leader confirmed that the building is not owned by the Council so theinsertion of windows and changes to the shop frontage was not an issue for the Council. He assured the meeting that a change of use from a retail unitto housing would not normally be approved, not least because of the loss of 
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IssueResponse from the Leader of the CouncilAction by
employment opportunities. He also explained that planning was not apolitical function. The application of planning law must be the onlyconsideration for members of the Council’s Planning Committees. Memberscannot vote on their personal likes/dislikes. If not, the planning applicant willappeal the Committee’s decision to the Planning Inspectorate which willfrequently overrule the decision if it is found to be faulty.
ACTION
: Leader to refer resident’s concerns to the Planning Department.Leader of theCouncil/ PamWharfe, ActingDirector of Planning, Housing& RegenerationConcerns over the erection of buildingswhich may be considered individualdwellings in residential
 
gardens.The Leader explained that there were strict guidelines for the developmentof buildings in residential gardens and that, where they breached planningregulations, enforcement action can be taken which can potentially lead tothe buildings being removed.Concerns over the rat-run on Llanvanor Road coming off Finchley Road –particularly in the morning. Could speedsigns (such as those in Crewys Road
 
) beput up reminding drivers of the speedlimit?The Leader commented that traffic management is budget limited.Government targets are focused on reducing personal injury accidents andrely on accident data. The roads where people are injured are consideredthe most dangerous and are therefore tackled first. Road humps are nolonger used because drivers have become complacent in using them andthe Ambulance Service is always against their use (quoting a loss of 550lives a year as a result of road humps). When a road is resurfaced residents,councillors and the Police are consulted about their removal. The Council israrely asked to put them back in. The roads classified as the mostdangerous in the Borough are the main routes such as the A41, A1000 andNorth Circular – none of which is controlled by Barnet by TfL.
ACTION
: Environment and Transport Service to review speeds on Llanvanor Road and investigate signage options.Dorne Kanareck,Acting Director of Environment &TransportIssues arising from the planningapplication history for site 698a FinchleyRoad, specifically how had an earlier application missed the deadline to go toCommittee? This led to the developer automatically taking the applicationstraight to the Planning Inspector whoThe Leader confirmed that, as planning consent had previously beengranted, any application that was the same or similar to the approved termsof consent would probably be recommended for approval by planningofficers. This did not mean the Planning Committee had to approve theapplication but, if planning permission were refused, it would almost certainlybe taken to appeal. He reminded the meeting that the planning system isnow decentralised from councillors who legally may no longer pre-determine
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