Wednesday 6 July Enfield Council Meeting: Councillors' Questions

[Warm up] Question 1: from Councillor Neville, to Councillor Bond, Cabinet Member for Environment

“Can he tell the Council whether he is content with the proposed arrangements in the inter-authority agreement, under which Enfield would transfer the Barrowell Green Recycling Centre to the NLWA at nil cost, whilst being obligated under the same agreement for any new household waste recycling centres installed by the NLWA?”

Reply from Councillor Bond

“At the time of writing, I have not signed the inter-authority agreement (IAA), and therefore not agreed it.”

Question 2: from Councillor Lemonides, to Councillor Bond, Cabinet Member for Environment

"Can the Cabinet Member for Environment set out the timing of the decision-making process to purchase the Pinkham Way site?"

Reply from Councillor Bond

“Pinkham Way was first brought to a NLWA meeting on 29th May 2009, through an extraordinary meeting. At the meeting of NLWA on the 24th June 2009, it was resolved that the finance advisor be authorised to complete the site acquisition in respect of 3 sites, including Pinkham Way, which was previously used for landfill.

The sites strategy was again approved at the meetings in September and December 2009, and subsequently the site was purchased by the NLWA.

You will note with interest that all these meetings happened when the Conservatives were the only attendee’s [sic] from Enfield Council.

Question 3: from Councillor Daniel Pearce, to Councillor Bond, Cabinet Member for Environment

“At a public meeting on Friday 17th June 2011, Councillor Achilleas Georgiou, Deputy Leader of the Council, publicly stated that he is deeply opposed to the proposed use of the Pinkham Wood site as a waste treatment plant:

1. Does Councillor Bond share his view?

2. Will Councillor Bond be objecting to the plan by 8th July?

3. In the light of Councillor Georgiou’s opposition to this plan, why did Councillor Bond sign off the Waste Plan on 11th May 2011?”

Reply from Councillor Bond

“I wonder whether Councillor Pearce was listening to what was being said ... [and] what Councillor Georgiou actually said at the public meeting on 17 June.

In his question, he states that Councillor Georgiou ‘is deeply opposed’, but in his letter to one of the local newspapers (22 June), Councillor Pearce writes that Councillor Georgiou has ‘deep concerns’ and criticises his ‘soft tones’.

So was Councillor Pearce really listening to what was being said? Certainly, no one can ever accuse Councillor Georgiou of ‘soft tones’.

However, the sentiments of Councillor Georgiou, and residents, are well understood on the outline planning application for Pinkham Way by the NLWA.

The fact that this planning application is being considered, which Haringey Council’s Planning Committee will decide upon, is down to the following:

1. Conservative-run Barnet Council sold Pinkham Way to the NLWA;
2. Conservative-run Barnet Council intends to park their refuse vehicles at Pinkham Way, freeing up their Mill Hill depot for sale;
3. The option of Pinkham Way being used as a waste management site was first brought to a NLWA meeting on 29 May 2009;
4. The decision to buy Pinkham Way by NLWA from Barnet Council was taken on 24 June 2009;
5. The sites strategy was again approved by the NLWA at meetings in September and December 2009;
6. In 2009, Enfield’s representatives on NLWA were Enfield Conservative Councillors.

The planning application for Pinkham Way would not be here for discussion, if the previous Tory administration had acted against its inclusion. Conservative members must accept responsibility for this.

On the planning application itself, I await the planning report. But, as the Councillor is aware, it is the Planning Committee that will give a view, and it would be inappropriate for me, or the Council, to give them a lead on this.

The challenge to Enfield Conservative Councillors is for them to approach their Conservative Council friends in Barnet, and convince them not to move their depot from Mill Hill, and to offer another site in Barnet, identified in the North London Waste Plan, to manage the authority’s waste.”