·        Follow up on actions arising

·        Results of single ward proposals

Attendees were informed that the issues raised at the previous meeting have either been resolved or progressing satisfactorily.

Officers from the Police Safer Neighbourhood team will be in attendance to address any other police issues residents may have.

Sergeant Jack of the Police Safer Neighbourhood Team (Mortlake and Barnes Common) addressed the meeting on the recent activities of his team.  He conveyed apologies of the newly appointed Sergeant for East Sheen who was unavoidably absent.  The recent activities of the team were related to burglary, anti social behaviour, theft of and criminal damage to motor vehicles, drug dealing and possession.  

Sgt Jack said that while robbery activities in the area were relatively low and concentrated around the train station, the recent robbery incident at Shrewsbury Avenue was considered as a serious one.  Known users of the Common who are at risk of attacks especially when it becomes dark have been advised accordingly.

He added that a burglar had recently been identified and arrested.  A number of warrant executions for raiding properties in connection with criminal activities have also been carried out by the team.  Leaflets containing details of the SNT activities both in the East Sheen and Mortlake & Barnes Common Wards were made available to attendees.  Attendees were advised that the team was located in the Centre House where relevant information about them could be obtained at the reception.

Mr Darren Thornton, Community Development Co-ordinator for Mortlake Community Association gave a presentation on the activities of the Association and the Working Together Group.

The association works with Mortlake Councillors to bring about improvement to the lives of residents of the area.  It runs fitness groups and provides advice on issues such as money matters and personal health checks.  One of the aims of the Association is to keep alive, the historic significance of Mortlake.  Amongst its regular activities are the ‘Positive Living Group that meets on Wednesdays between 12 and 2 pm; provision of advice on getting back to work; and liaison with Patients Advisory Group. 

The group has been set up by the Mortlake Community Association as a Charity in furtherance of its wider objectives.  It consists mainly of professionals working in the area including the PCT and Age Concern.  Mr Thornton appealed to members of the local residents’ association to join the Working Together Group either as an association or as individuals.  The Group had started working on having a community based centre and its office is located at St Mary’s Virgin Church.  His contact details were provided as follows:

Office:    0208487 5500

Mobile:    07828173413

E-mail:    mca1@btconnect.com

The proposal by BAA to operate a permanent rail link from Heathrow Airport to Waterloo and the wider South West of England was discussed.  The proposed service would run on the existing rail tracks from north of Staines through to Waterloo.

Councillors were unanimous in their opposition to the proposal in view of the negative impact of longer barrier downtimes on local commuting especially in White Hart Lane, Sheen Lane and Manor Road.  It was believed that the consultation process had not been properly followed and opinions were expressed that fast train to Heathrow could be taken through other routes (with less disruption).

Borough officers have informed Councillors that:

·         They were working closely with BAA to develop and commission an ‘Origin and Destination’ study for road traffic using the ‘north-south’ crossing routes.

·         The study, to be funded by BAA, will also take account of the effects of increased level crossing closure times on pedestrian and cycle traffic. Unfortunately this study has had to be delayed as a result of the significant road works being undertaken in the area by various utility companies.

·         There is a plan for the study to take place in September once the utility works have been completed and the schools have returned from the summer holidays.

The Victorian water main works due to start in White Hart Lane on 11 May 2009 was discussed.  Attendees were informed that the works have been scheduled for this time to avoid other works in the area, namely Clifford Avenue water main replacement works starting late July and work on Rocks lane scheduled for after the summer holidays and to accommodate requests from traders for the works to be carried out at a less busy time of the trading year.

A major concern that was expressed by attendees was the closure of barriers and its attendant problems on the community.  It was explained however that as a statutory requirement, the level crossing has to be closed to vehicular traffic when the works get to around 75m of the railway line.  

Thames Water and their contractors, Laing O’Rourke would have supervisory staff on site for the whole 12 weeks so if any resident or trader has any queries they should discuss these with them on site.  Work would be undertaken from Mondays to Fridays with work going on into the evening and on occasions there would be weekend working. 

Access to shops and domestic households will be maintained at all times and parking will also be available throughout, although at times some bays on White Hart Lane will be suspended.  Parking permits for residents and businesses will be interchangeable for the duration of works between the ‘ES’ and ‘M’ controlled parking zones.

An attendee informed the meeting that they have spoken with the contractors about the need to clear the entrance to Waitrose during the period and that there were indications that special traffic plates would be provided.

The proposal by the Royal Parks to introduce parking charges in the Richmond Park was raised for discussion because of the spill-over effect of traffic on neighbouring roads.  It was noted that the Council and the Ward Councillors have expressed their opposition to the plan but have no authority on the final decision by the Royal Parks.

Councillor True expressed that the Council’s opposition to the proposal (through the Cabinet Member for Traffic, Parking and Transport) needed to be stronger and made clearer than it had been.  While recognising that the Council presently does not have control over the Royal Parks, he expressed that the Park needed to be overseen by a kind of Management Board that would comprise Councillors from different areas of the Park in order to bring democratic accountability to its activities.

During discussions on the issue, it was recognised that there was problem of parking space in the Park that needed to be resolved in one way or the other.  The suggested solution was the improvement of public transportation to the area.  

The meeting was informed that there were two sets of petitions presently going on against the proposal.  Attendees were urged to attend public meetings where the issue and similar issues were being discussed in order to make their views known.

The proposal by the property developer (Ashill Developments Ltd) to build flats and houses on parts of the former Bowling Green site was discussed.  A local action group (Movement Against Damaging Development) had written to the Council to express their opposition to the proposal.  In addition to the potential loss of recreational/employment use, attendees expressed the view that developing the site into housing units would add to the existing parking problems in the area.

In view of the size of the proposed development, some Councillors have planned to do further consultations with local residents on what they would like to see in the area. 

Councillor Stanier informed the meeting that a large public meeting had recently been held on the proposed development (in the same venue) where residents had the opportunity to express their views.  A representative from the brewery, Susan Kramer, MP, Ward Councillors and representatives from Mortlake organizations were present at that meeting.

While attendees were opposed to planning proposals that could bring brewing in Mortlake to an end (which had been on for about 198 years), it was important not to confuse the proposed development of the former Bowling Green site with the Watney’s Mortlake Brewery and that the two sites have different ownerships.

Some attendees spoke about benefits of regeneration that the proposed development would bring to Mortlake, which is recognised as a deprived area.

Attendees expressed dissatisfaction over the level of increase in Council Tax which they consider to be disproportionate especially when compared with neighbouring Wandsworth Borough. 

Councillor Stanier explained that one of the reasons for the increase was because the Council gets one of the smallest grant settlements in the country and this year, has just received one of its worst ever grant, having been disadvantaged by the formula of funding allocations adopted by the Central Government. 

In an explanation of the funding formula to attendees, Councillor True said that:

·         Funding allocations are based on indices of deprivation

·         Councils get less funding when they are perceived as being prosperous

·         Inner London Boroughs tend to be more favoured than outer London Boroughs

·         The formula for Richmond Borough was unlikely to be the same as Wandsworth Borough

The impact of the increase in Council Tax on different categories of residents was discussed extensively.  Councillors offered to visit residents of St. Mary’s Grove (who made representations to the meeting) to offer more explanations whenever they are invited.

This is a new item introduced to Area Consultation Meetings. Councillors will be consulting attendees to identify the three most important issues in your ward.

It was agreed that attendees should communicate issues they consider to be deserving of priorities within the community to their Ward Councillors.

a.   Following the £40,000 spent on the East Sheen CPZ consultations in 2007 and 2008, what progress has been made in:

a) making some residents' bays dual-purpose?

b) securing an accurate address database?

c) introducing "do not park across driveways without authorisation" signs?

 b.   Why are the solar panels on some of the new parking machines facing north east doesn't this impair their efficiency?

a)         Progress on East Sheen CPZ Consultation

In answer to a question on the recent East Sheen CPZ Consultation exercise, Councillor True explained that formal advertisement of the proposals to introduce a shared-use parking bays in the CPZ has been scheduled for Friday 24 April 2009.  The results of the consultation would be reported to the Transport Consultative Group in May and if approved, are expected to be implemented in July 2009.

b)         Effectiveness of the Solar Panels on Parking Machines

A concern had been raised by a local resident that some of the solar panels on the parking machines were facing north-east and that that factor could impair their effectiveness.  The response received to that point was read out as:

“Despite it’s name a solar panel does not need direct sunlight to operate as it works from ambient light, even a street light will give a limited amount of power to the panel to collect. The positioning of the solar panel is selected to make best use of the ambient light. Without a specific location it is not possible to report on the positioning of the panel.”

East Sheen -                   -  Wednesday 14 October 2009 at Sheen Lane Centre

Barnes and Mortlake &

Barnes Common            -  Monday 7 December 2009 at Barnes Green Social Centr

East Sheen -                   - Wednesday 14 October 2009 at Sheen Lane Centre

Barnes and Mortlake &

Barnes Common            - Monday 7 December 2009 at Barnes Green Social Centre