The West Area Committee met and agreed to note the status of their Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) budget and the Road Safety & Parking (RS&P) budget, both of which are funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). They also approved a number of grants from their NCIL budget.

Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) Grants

The committee considered a report on their NCIL budget, which can be used to fund infrastructure projects and anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on the area.West - Area Committee Funding NCIL and RSP Update - September 2024

The report noted that they had allocated £438,030 of their total CIL allocation of £1,201,082 to the RS&P budget, leaving them with £763,052 to allocate during the rest of the 2024/25 financial year. £143,078 of this has already been allocated, leaving £619,974 to fund new projects.

The committee went on to consider a number of grant applications.

Hatzola - Emergency Response Vehicle

Elliott Hambling and David Rabson addressed the Committee and highlighted the benefits of the scheme involving the volunteer run emergency services which covers Edgware, Mill Hill and Stanmore.

Councillors voted unanimously to approve a grant of £45,000.

Maxability - Hands on the Wheel Pottery and Ceramics classes

Councillor Ioannidis highlighted the benefits of the scheme.

Despite Councillor Mearing-Smith raising concerns that the application summary was incomplete, Councillors voted unanimously to approve a grant of £17,500

Burnt Oak Nepalese Community - Restart a Heart (RASH)

Shushma Gurung addressed the Committee and highlighted the benefits of the scheme including the volunteer run training on life support skills.

Councillors voted unanimously to approve a grant of £1,756.67 after officers advised them against approving a higher amount than had been requested.

the applicant could monitor the level of demand and further funding opportunities may be explored in future, subject to the six month rule and subject to there being sufficient available funding from the unspent committee budget.

Councillor Clarke suggested that the Council may help promote the work being done by the organisation to help raise public awareness.

Vivian Avenue - Christmas Lights

Councillor Bilbow presented the item.

Councillors voted to approve a grant of £16,745.12 to fund Christmas Lights on Vivian Avenue on the condition

that the lights be utilised for other festivals including Diwali till 2026

Councillor Bilbow left the meeting at 8.09pm.

Colindale Community Trust - IT Support and equipment

Bina Omare addressed the Committee and highlighted the benefits of the scheme which would support over 400 people mainly in the Grahame Park area.

Councillor Ioannidis abstained from the vote due to a pecuniary interest in the applicant.

Councillors voted to approve a grant of £10,625.98, with 4 voting in favour and 1 abstention.

Pavement parking on Algernon Road

The committee considered a report on an issue raised by a resident on Algernon Road in West Hendon, who had requested that the council take action to prevent people urinating against a wall that runs along the western side of the road.

They agreed to ask officers to contact the resident and discuss possible solutions.

Pavement parking outside Lahore Restaurant and the GMB offices

Councillors discussed a request from a resident, Martin Selby, for the installation of bollards on the pavement outside the Lahore Restaurant and the GMB offices on an unnamed road to prevent illegal parking. Mr Selby argued that

It is a very simple and, I suspect, cheap way of preventing an accident, preventing the continuous tailbacks caused by this practice, preventing the noise of car horns being used in response to the delays and I am requesting that the department takes the view this is not a matter for some far-off consultation but an immediate and urgent problem that needs resolving now.

Councillors agreed to ask officers to contact Mr Selby to discuss his request.

Permit parking on Cecil Road

The committee considered a request from the Jain Network for the introduction of pay and display parking meters on Cecil Road to improve parking provision for worshippers attending the Jain Temple.

Councillors agreed to ask officers to contact the Jain Network to discuss their request.