Minutes

Monday 11th November 2024

Harefield Library, Park Lane, Harefield

Current committee members

Chairman Gerard Barry

Secretary Paul Daniels

Treasurer Helen Conchar

Other Members Derek and Gillian Kent, Tina Wane, Ian Costan, Tracey, Blake

Apologies

Tracey Blake & Jane Newman

Attendance

55 members signed in

Welcome

Minutes of the last meeting

Monday 14th October 2024

All had received the minutes and they were agreed as a true copy proposed by Derek & seconded by Andy and approved. 

Matters arising from the minutes

None

Chairmans Report regarding LBH letter

GB read out the letter from Sam Strong Head of Housing Management dated 21st October 2024 – This can be viewed by clicking here.

GB asked the members present how we should proceed & if they wished him to stand down as chair of the HTRA.

Vote 1 – Council suggesting that due to perceived constitutional breaches & behavioral issues that GB should stand down as chair of the HTRA.

Who here present want Gerard Barry to remain as HTRA Chair?

Proposed Christine Vote 55 for & 0 against

 

Vote 2 – At some point we have to decide how best to address the council’s attitude towards the HTRA, we want to work with the LBH & our elected Councillors but the council’s approach is that they tell us what to do and how to do it whereas, as residents the council & Councillor’s work for the residents & not the other way around.
If council insist that for them to recognise the HTRA GB must stand down do we sever ties with the council?

Proposed Graham Vote 55 for & 0 against

 

SGM closed 8:05pm

Website

Website– the new website is up and running & monthly meetings and updated will be posted to the website going forward. The new website address is  www.harefieldresidents.org.uk & the new email address for future enquiries is enquiries@harefieldresidents.org.uk.

– A request for the website was to have a print option for any attached documents, this will be put to the website developer to look into.

Action – Gillian Kent

Guests

None for this meeting

Planning/HMO’s

  • Only 4 applications in the past month, 2 of which were tree applications so a very quiet month on planning.

  • Regarding HMO’s in Harefield vicinity there are only 9 registered HMO’s but on the LBH website there are 680 HMO’s registered in Hillingdon, having read the definition of a HMO it reads:

  • At least 3 people from more than one household living there.

  • Tenants share at least one basic amenity such as a toilet, bathroom or kitchen.

  • The building is the occupants main residence.

  • HMO’s require a license and landlords who let a HMO without a license are committing an offence. HMO’s with 3 people or less from different households do not need to register.

  • Be vigilant & if you see a house that isn’t registered but is being occupied by several people then you need to report this to the council, Daniel Lord has been mentioned as a contact at the LBH who deals with HMO’s

  • Concerns over planning changes on properties in Sullivan Crescent where windows have changed from flat to angular windows which are not obscure and now look over a residents property.

It was mentioned that any changes to the planning application must be submitted to the council for approval & these can be checked by the residents on the planning portal at LBH

  • Fr Jim mentioned that he requested for a road sign to be erected to direct people to St Paul’s Church on Merle Avenue, this was posed to Cllr Jane Palmer several years ago but not heard anything since

Action – Paul Daniels to contact Cllr Jane Palmer for update

Health

  • A reminder that there are 22 blood pressure machines in the library for you to loan.

  • Also, a reminder that now Covid, Flu and respiratory viral infections going around so please contact the doctors if you require vaccination.

  • After attending the PPG meeting in October Tracey asked why the meetings and minutes are so private & not sharable where sensitive or private information is not included. The PPG Chairperson and Surgery have now agreed that the minutes will go on their social media website.

  • HTRA can now talk about any subjects that are not deemed private or confidential.

  • Tracey will provide an update in the next HTRA meeting, the PPG next meeting will be in January, if anyone wishes me to ask them anything.

Police/Roads

  • Speeding issues were discussed at the ward panel meeting, the police will address this but comments have been made that as soon as police are seen its posted on Facebook warning people about the speed cameras which is defeating the objective.

  • Next Ward Panel meeting at the Cricket club is 7th January 2025, GB/IC to attend.

  • Overweight HGV’s through the village and through the roads marked “unsuitable for HGV’s” are advisory only and nothing can be done about it other than contacting the hauliers themselves to complain & see if they get the drivers to change their route

 

Events

  • Thursday 28th November Harefield Social Club, a pop up Christmas Market in support of Vasculitis which affects a local resident

  • Saturday 16th November at the Harefield Community Centre- Christmas Market

  • 30th November St Marys Christmas Fair 11am to 2pm & 5pm to 7pm Bingo

  • History Society meets at the Harefield Library on the last Monday of each month, this months talk is on Ruislip Lido, £4 visitors or £10 annual membership

  • Harefield Poetry society on the last Wednesday of each month, next one on 27th November at St Paul 4pm

  • RBL AGM Thursday 14th Nov 7;30pm at the Social club

Traffic (Inc ULEZ)

See Police/Roads

HS2

  • Align/HS2 webinar on weds 13th November 6;30pm to 8pm for an online review of the milestones reached in building the Colne Valley viaduct & the Chiltern tunnel

  • HS2/Align event 3rd December 5-7pm at Harefield Community centre to talk about the work on the viaduct

  • To view the HS2/LBH update please click here 

Planned future works relating to road closures:

  • New Harvil Road at New Chiltern Line Bridge – Night Time Road Closures over 4 Saturday Nights 23/11, 30/11, 07/12 & 14/12 (9pm to 6am)

  • New Road Closure of Skip Lane for Surveys of Utilities & Drainage – 10pm to 5am over 2 Phases between 30/11 and 04/12 (Phase 1) and 07/12 and 08/12 (Phase 2 Contingency Shift)

Environment

  • Medi Parc

Comer homes bought it in 2008, systematically cut the grass, banked the earth & have killed any wildlife that lived there using a method called “site sterilisation”, the area is supposed to be protected but they have been allowed to continue with no action from the council.

The other concern once the planning has gone in there will be challenges in and around Hill End Road with the traffic, the strain on new utility services will be considerable given how close it is to Harefield Hospital & other residential homes.

Contact has been made with Daniel Lord and yet again no reply has been received. It is frustrating that questions are being put in and no replies are received

  • Park Lodge Farm

GB reported that £600k being spend on a solar farm on Park Lodge Farm, GB asked Cllr Palmer why the local Re TRA’s have not been consulted, as you can see from the snapshot below it states on section 18 that “…addition to scrutiny by the residents services select committee” but nothing has been fed back to the residents associations or asked for comments.

 

AOB

  • Tennis courts have been completed and are now usable but at a charge of £5.00 per hour 

Action Points

See above

Next Meeting

Meeting closed 8:55pm

Next Meeting Monday 7th December 2024 – 7:30pm