Agenda item

Agenda item

Mayor's Report

Minutes:

A report of the Mayor had been circulated with the agenda.

 

The Mayor stated that it had been a privilege to work with the Chairman, Councillor Martins during his first year as Elected Mayor.  They had been to numerous community engagements together.  He concurred with his deputy’s comments about the councillors standing down, all of whom would be missed especially ‘Aunty’ Jackie.

 

The Chairman invited Members to indicate whether they wished to ask a question of the Mayor.  Councillors Bashir, Turmaine, Williams, Smith, Dhindsa and Cavinder indicated that they wished to ask questions.

 

a)      Councillor Bashir referred to the Watford Junction situation and the car park exit.  The report included a reference to possibly opening up the exit on to St Albans Road; the exact location was not clear.  He wondered whether consideration could be given to an exit via The Range.

 

         The Mayor said that as councillors were aware there had been roadworks in that area.  Often when people were stuck in traffic jams they started tweeting, including to him.  Discussions had been held with highways.  The existing exit on to St Albans Road had been used at times but it required marshalls to be on duty.  The council was in discussion with various people about the redevelopment of that whole site.  He agreed that the current situation with the car park was not good enough.  There was a masterplan and one of the key aspects was improvements to pedestrian access with a new footbridge to Watford Junction, opening up access to Tudor ward.  It would require significant investment from Homes England and meetings had been held to try and progress this.  The council recognised there needed to be an improvement.

 

b)      Councillor Turmaine said that efforts were welcomed to reduce anti-social behaviour in the town.  However he wished to raise concerns about reported increase in drug dealing and petty crime in West Watford, both by residents and local business owners.  He asked the Mayor whether he was aware of the situation and if it was related to policing work being undertaken in the town to reduce levels of crime in the town centre.  In addition he enquired if the Mayor would raise it during his discussions with the Police.

 

         The Mayor advised that he was aware of anti-social behaviour and drug dealing in the area.  Chater School had contacted him about issues in the area.  He had been in contact with the school and there had been an improvement.  There was increased policing across the town.  It was the number one issue he always raised with the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Inspector.  He asked them about increasing the capacity of the local police service.  He advised that he had been informed of complaints when people dial 101 and the length of time to get a response.  He stressed that the level of crime in Watford was very low.  The town centre was seeing a significant increase in policing but he did not want this to disperse the problem further out from the centre and therefore there was an increase in policing across the town. 

 

         The Mayor added that the following day he would be holding a Facebook Live session and had invited the Chief Inspector along to respond to questions with him.

 

c)      Councillor Williams referred to a motion in November 2004 by Jill Jenkins and seconded by himself.  The motion urged the council to support Fairtrade and become a Fairtrade town.  He was aware that the town’s Fairtrade status was due for renewal later this month.  He asked the Mayor to confirm that Watford Borough Council continued to support the Fairtrade ethos throughout the town.

 

         The Mayor responded that he was happy to endorse Fairtrade.  The Fairtrade Foundation did a great deal of work to ensure that people across the world received a good price for their products as well as investment in their health and education.  He wished to pay tribute to the Chairman and Councillor Connal for the work they had done for Fairtrade in the town.  Councillor Connal had contributed to getting the council to change its policy and ensure that Fairtrade products were available.  The group did fantastic work and he was always happy to attend their events.  He considered it important the council continued to support Fairtrade.

 

d)      Councillor Smith commented about Watford Central Leisure Centre.  Whilst he had been there for a meeting he had a plastic water bottle.  When he had finished with it he had noticed that there were no facilities in any of the public spaces to recycle it.  He asked the Mayor if he agreed that the council should encourage companies who it outsourced its premises and facilities to, to have easily accessed recycling facilities.

 

         The Mayor agreed and that there were a number of schemes being put in place.  The Portfolio Holder for waste was working on Watford becoming a plastic free town.  More water fountains were to be provided in parks, Cassiobury Park and Oxhey Park.  These were in addition to on-street recycling; progress was being made in the High Street.  The council was working with its partners including SLM, Everyone Active.

 

e)      Councillor Dhindsa said that he was pleased the council had agreed to spend £400,000 on St Albans Road.  In the Labour amendment to the budget this year, the group asked for money for Vicarage Road and Whippendell Road.  He asked the Mayor if he could advise when the council would be spending money on Vicarage Road and Whippendell Road.  Both roads looked very tired.  Vicarage Road was a gateway to Watford for the premiership football club.

 

         The Mayor replied that he would welcome working with Councillor Dhindsa.  He felt that Callowland had benefitted from a proactive councillor who had held many meetings with officers and himself in order to work out a plan for moving forward and discussing with local officers.  The council had excellent officers, including the Transport and Infrastructure Section Head who was very keen to work with councillors.

 

         The Mayor welcomed Councillor Dhindsa to come forward and have the discussions.  He wanted all of the major roads across the town to be roads that everyone could be proud of.

 

f)       Councillor Cavinder referred to a motion tabled by Councillor Williams in January 2017 requiring the county council to address safety concerns about the traffic using the A405.  Following this he had attended County Hall to present a petition on behalf of the local residents. Despite a feasibility study by Kingswood Residents Association, paid for through a grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner, and continual lobbying at County Hall the county council had ignored concerns.  He added that the county council was in the process of making some subtle changes at the entrance and exit to the Vue Cinema complex.  The changes were hardly noticeable and would have little effect.  He asked if the Mayor would join him in condemning this outrageous and unnecessary use of taxpayers’ money and to ask the county council to address the safety concerns that local residents continued to experience.

 

         The Mayor said he wished to pay tribute to Councillors Cavinder and Williams who had campaigned on this issue for a long time.  He commented that residents regularly raised highways issues with him.  There appeared to be a clear disconnect between the county council and local residents on highways matters, including this location and the Dome roundabout. Residents had a strong view that something should happen, often supported by the local council and councillors, but there seemed to be an intransigence or inflexibility by the county council to make these changes.  He agreed with Councillor Cavinder about the £70,000 spent near the Vue Cinema.  It was difficult to work out what that money had been spent on and appeared to be a waste of taxpayers’ money.  Ultimately the county council needed to listen to local residents and be prepared to respond.

Supporting documents:

 

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