Agenda and minutes

Members of the Committee and officers present introduced themselves to the public.

Apologies had been received from Councillor Matthews.

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting any personal and prejudicial interests relating to the items on this agenda.

None declared.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2009 be approved as a correct record, subject to changing “item 8” to “item 7” in the last line of item 5 (iii) on page 4.

None raised.

None received.

The Committee noted that a petition requesting changes to the proposed hours of operation of Controlled Parking Zone GA had been received, containing in excess of 50 signatures. The petition, which had been gathered by “NW2 Residents’ Association working together with Mapesbury Residents’ Association”, was in the form of individual statements of support for particular operating times of the CPZ. A total of 79 verified signatures supported an operational time of 10.00 am to 3.00 pm, Monday to Friday. A further 20 signatories were in favour of an operational time of 10.00 am to 6.00 pm. This petition was discussed under agenda item 7, a progress report on Controlled Parking Zones.

Report from the Head of Transportation.

This report informs the Committee of the progress on the Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) implementation programme in Brent, since progress was last reported in July 2009.

Committee members had before them a report from the Head of Transportation on the progress of the Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) implementation programme in Brent. The Committee agreed first to discuss the issue of Zone GA, as this was the subject of a petition as set out under agenda item 6 above.

(i)            Controlled Parking Zone GA

The Committee heard from Chris Elsdale, a resident of Astley Avenue. She informed the Committee that the residents of Astley Avenue and Anson Road were against having the zone in operation between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm, as this would involve significant sacrifices for them. Chris Elsdale felt that this was a contentious issue, on which she recommended that the Committee defer its decision.

Edward Lazarus, a resident of Anson Road, and representing the petitioners, spoke in favour of having the zone in operation between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm, Monday to Friday. He had surveyed the use of pay and display parking facilities in the area, and concluded that the level of use was very low. He added that any obstruction could be dealt with by using the Road Traffic Acts. In general, his view was that residents were in favour of the operation period 10.00 am to 3.00 pm, as a longer period was not necessary.

Also speaking on behalf of the petitioners, Judy Langley informed the Committee that most of the residents she had contacted in the zone could not understand why the 10.00 am to 3.00 pm scheme, properly agreed following consultation, had not already been implemented and she called on the Committee to agree immediate implementation.

Tim Jackson (Head of Transportation) drew the meeting’s attention to the fact that the Committee had already agreed to reduce the operating time of the parking zone to 10.00 am to 3.00 pm, Monday to Friday. There had been consultation of residents, followed by petitions both for and against the new operating times. Tim Jackson’s view was that there were two ways forward – one was to take the view that the situation was in flux, with no overall consensus, and that the issue should be deferred, and the alternative was to agree that the original consultation, which had been undertaken in a controlled manner and consistent with the Council’s standard approach, represented the overall view. He favoured the latter, and recommended that the Committee adopt this approach.

Asked why the residents wanted the hours of operation reduced, Edward Lazarus informed the Committee that extended hours of parking restrictions were a nuisance, particularly in relation to residents hosting visitors.

Answering a question about the purpose of the statutory consultation, Tim Jackson informed the meeting that this was to comply with statute by advertising the Council’s proposals in the local press and capturing the responses of the emergency services and interested residents.

Councillor Van Colle acknowledged that whatever the Committee decided would upset someone. He emphasised that there was a system in place which involved taking account of the results consultation. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The next meeting of the Highways Committee is scheduled for Wednesday 18 November 2009.

The next meeting of the Highways Committee was scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18 November 2009.