Decision details
Petitions (if any)
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Decision:
5.1 Traffic Calming Measures and Traffic Restrictions on Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Green, NW10
Cabinet NOTED the comments made by Fiona Mulaisho (as Chair of the Kensal Rise Residents Association) in support of a petition containing over 250 signatures highlighting a number of safety concerns relating to the volume and speed of traffic along Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Green, NW10 and seeking additional traffic calming measures designed to improve pedestrian safety and reduce overall volumes of traffic. Drawing attention to the number of personal injury accidents recorded along the road between 2020 – 2023, Fiona Mulaisho advised that whilst welcoming the measures introduced to enhance traffic flow and road signage in the area in support of the Kensal Rise Corridor Scheme the petition was calling on the Council to conduct a more detailed local traffic review and implement additional traffic calming and safety measures along Chamberlayne Road, particularly given the proximity of two local schools in the area and in support of proposalsformulated by local residents designed to provide a practical solution to the concerns identified.
Councillor Nerva (Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care and Local Ward Councillor for Queens Park) also spoke in support of the petition and action being sought by residents to address the concerns identified. As part of the approach outlined, Councillor Nerva highlighted the need to encourage enhanced police enforcement of the existing 20mph zone in the area and also expressed support for the potential establishment of a community roadwatch scheme by local residents in the area working in partnership with the police, along with enhance signage as additional speed management initiatives. Whilst recognising that part of the area had already been included within the wider Queens Park Neighbourhood Traffic Study, Councillor Nerva advised he would also be keen to encourage the involvement of Transport for London (TfL) in a wider review of traffic and transport issues focussed on the southern part of the borough as part of a package of wider measures designed to address the concerns highlighted, including air quality.
In response, Councillor Muhammed Butt (responding as Leader of the Council on behalf of Councillor Krupa Sheth - Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action), firstly thanked Fiona Mulaisho for attending Cabinet and all those who had signed the petition for taking the time to ensure their views were represented and assured residents that the safety concerns raised had been acknowledged with the Council committed, working within available resources, to the enhancement and improvement of road safety across the borough. Given the reference to speed management and enforcement issues he also advised the concerns relating to Chamberlayne Road would be raised with the local police Safer Neighbourhood Team for further review and consideration. Whilst recognising the concerns highlighted and specific measures being sought by local residents, including the installation of speed cameras, Councillor Muhammed Butt felt it important to highlight the limited funding available to the Council to prioritise these measures given the significant reduction in funding TfL were now able to provide under their annual Local Implementation Plan (LIP) programme along with the role of TfL in prioritising and managing the installation of speed cameras, which he advised had currently been paused. Notwithstanding this position, Councillor Muhammed Butt advised that the Council would continue working with TfL to highlight the concerns identified and encourage consideration of the area as a priority once the programme resumed, including roll out of an e-bus fleet. Alongside this, the Leader advised that the Council would continue to investigate a number of improvements in the area including the introduction of new road markings and signage to improve visibility of pedestrian crossing points and make drivers aware of the need to slow down and observe the 20mph restrictions, with a further assessment of accident data in considering options for funding as part of the 2025-26 programme of traffic safety works also proposed.
5.2 Installation of Pelican Crossing between Kenton Road, Kenton Lane & Woodcock Hill
Cabinet NOTED the comments made by Gail Hovey (Science College Project Manager at St Gregory’s Catholic Science College, Kenton & Secretary Kenton Area Traders’ Association) in support of a petition containing 657 signatures highlighting a number of concerns relating to pedestrian and road safety and supporting the installation of additional safety measures, including a pedestrian crossing at the junction of Woodcock Hill, Kenton Lane and Kenton Road. In advising that the petition was supported by Councillors Hirani & Maurice (as local ward councillors) and a number of schools and members of the local community in the surrounding area, Gail Hovey advised of her school’s active involvement in the TfL Travel for Life scheme for which they were due to achieve Gold Accreditation by the end of the academic year. Reference was also made to an extract from a letter written by Year 11 pupils to the local MP detailing concerns relating to the safety and confidence of pupils and pedestrians having to cross roads in the immediate vicinity of the school and supporting the installation of a pedestrian crossing at all four of the crossroads at the Kenton Road, Kenton Lane and Woodcock Hill junction. Highlighting recent accident data, members were advised that the petitioners did not feel the current pedestrian crossing serving only one side of the junction sufficiently served all pedestrians due to its placement and confusing road markings.
Referring to the outcome of a recent study conducted by the Council’s Healthy Streets and Parking Team, which had concluded that whilst it may be possible to install enhanced pedestrian facilities in the area these would require additional funding and further consultation with TfL and Harrow Council (given the potential impact on the current road network and buses) Gail Hovey advised the petitioners were seeking a more detailed local study to understand the impact on all road users, including pedestrians.
Whilst welcoming the proposed installation of an additional pedestrian crossing on Woodcock Hill the petitioners felt that this would only address part of their concerns with members advised of the significant number of pupils (24%) attending St Gregory’s Catholic Science College who still travelled by car given concerns about the safety of them using public transport, cycling or walking to school and number of additional pupils (17%) who had advised cycling would be their preferred mode of transport if it was felt safer for them to do so.
In concluding, Gail Hovey advised the petitioners were seeking further consideration of the ways in which pedestrian safety could be improved in the area by implementing additional traffic calming and reduction measures whilst also encouraging the use of more active modes of travel including the introduction of cycle lanes on the wide pavements along Kenton Road and installation of a controlled pedestrian crossing facility to all sections of the Woodcock Hill, Kenton Lane and Kenton Road junction. Confirmation was also sought in relation to the allocation of funding within the Local Implementation Programme (LIP) for pedestrian safety improvements on Kenton Road and whether this was the funding allocated for the pedestrian crossing on Woodcock Hill.
In response, Councillor Muhammed Butt (responding as Leader of the Council on behalf of Councillor Krupa Sheth - Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action) thanked Gail Hovey for attending Cabinet and all those who had signed and were supporting the petition for highlighting the concerns expressed in relation to safety of pedestrians crossing the junction of Kenton Road with Woodcock Hill and Kenton Lane. Whilst recognising the concerns highlighted and specific measures being sought by local residents, Councillor Muhammed Butt felt it important to once again highlight the limited funding available to the Council to prioritise these type of measures, given the significant reduction in funding TfL were now able to provide under their annual Local Implementation Plan (LIP) programme and number of requests being received. The role of TfL in the management and maintenance of traffic signals across London was also outlined which, whilst focussed on the impact and benefits in relation to accident reduction at specific locations would also need to include consideration of the impact on the surrounding road and traffic network and bus journey times.
In response to concerns raised relating to road safety and the absence of controlled pedestrian crossing facilities for all sections of the junction, the Council had secured funding as part of its 2023/24 LIP programme to commission a feasibility study into introducing new pedestrian facilities at the junction which had included pedestrian and traffic surveys as well as modelling to identify potential impacts on network performance. Whilst the study had identified that it may be possible to introduce pedestrian facilities on the three arms of the junction where they were currently absent this would be likely to involve significant utility works on Kenton Lane that could increase delays to traffic and buses on Kenton Road and lead to traffic displacement on residential streets. As a result, a further assessment had been undertaken to investigate the option of providing a single additional pedestrian facility at the junction over Woodcock Hill, which had concluded it would be possible to install these facilities. Further detail would, however, need to be provided following the meeting on the specific use of the LIP funding identified for pedestrian safety improvements on Kenton Road referred to by Gail Hovey during her presentation.
Whilst confirming that the Council would continue to work with TfL in order to highlight the funding priorities and needs across the borough, including the possibility of securing the additional pedestrian crossing facilities at the requested sections of the Woodcock Hill, Kenton Lane and Kenton Road junction it was pointed out that the process could take between 12-18 months to complete, based on a potential public consultation held towards the end of the year meaning any subsequent improvements would be unlikely to be programmed until Autumn 2025. In the meantime, however, he ended by highlighting that the Council would continue to explore the possibility of making further improvements to the road markings and signage at the junction along with the phasing of the existing traffic signals designed to improve the visibility of the pedestrian crossing points and provide advanced warning for motorists of pupils travelling to and from school. Support would also continue to be provided for the school in developing their active travel plan and enhancing active travel measures in the area.
5.3 Objection to the Academisation of Byron Court Primary School
As the final petition to be presented at the meeting Cabinet NOTED the comments made online by Matt Paul (representing the Support Byron Court Campaign Group a coalition of parents and staff from Byron Court Primary School) in support of a petition with over 1300 signatures seeking to oppose and stop the academisation of Byron Court Primary School in response to the school having been inspected by Ofsted in November 2023 and judged by them to be inadequate. Highlighting a number of concerns relating to the inspection process, he pointed out that the final judgement was not felt to reflect the experiences of many parents or a majority of staff at the school with no consideration also given to the context in which the inspection had occurred given the major changes in school leadership, disruption caused by the pandemic and forthcoming changes to the Ofsted inspection process itself.
Of greater concern to the petitioners, however, was the automatic process of academisation introduced by the Government for any local authority school rated as inadequate, which had now commenced at Byron Court and to which almost two-thirds of parents and the majority of staff opposed. In highlighting the lack of any formal influence by parents and staff in relation to this process concerns were also raised in relation to the Multi Academy Trust (Harris Federation) selected by the Department for Education (DfE) to take over the running of the school due to their limited local presence and connection to Brent, approach towards pupil behaviour management and industrial relations. As a result, it was felt the approach adopted would risk the loss of what was felt to be an inclusive and happy learning environment and school community alongside the loss of many staff and ultimately the current identity of the school.
In highlighting that Ofsted had affirmed their commitment , as part of their Big Listen public consultation, to prioritise the interests of children and learners in addition to considering the long-term impact of inspections, the petition was therefore calling for a reinspection of Byron Court School under any new inspection framework, recognising the new leadership structure now established within the school and improvements implemented since the previous inspection alongside new Ofsted guidance (published shortly after the last inspection).
To conclude, Matt Paul thanked Councillor Grahl (as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools) for her support of their campaign which he pointed out had also been backed by the local MP with the petition calling on the Education Secretary to provide the school with sufficient time to make any further necessary improvements. Whilst recognising the legal obligations on the Council, the petition was also seeking support from the Council, as part of their commitment towards promoting and protecting community schools, to support the efforts being made to save Byron Court School based on the following specific actions:
(1) To provide or support the recruitment of additional members of school leadership staff, recognising the immediate lack of capacity and significant pressures faced by existing staff.
(2) To ensure that joint work via the Rapid Improvement Group was both succeeding and also being monitored.
(3) To lobby the DfE and Ofsted to reinspect the school to reflect recent improvements and delay the Academy Order being implemented (which had also been supported by both Barry Gardiner as local MP and the NEU General Secretary) for which there had been previous precedents set involving a number of schools having their Orders withdrawn.
In response, Councillor Grahl (as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools) thanked everyone involved in support of the petition and recognised the level of concerns highlighted in relation to the Ofsted inspection and accompanying process. As a local authority, Councillor Grahl assured the petitioners of the Council’s commitment to seeing all schools excel and the provision of outstanding education for all children across the borough recognising the level of concern and anxiety arising from the outcome of the recent Ofsted inspection and rating of the school as inadequate. As a result, an assurance was provided of the support being provided to staff and parents at the school in order to clarify the process and deliver the improvements identified. The work being undertaken to support these improvements was also highlighted in terms of the Rapid Improvement Group which had been established in September 2022 and had been providing structured support across many areas including Early Years, Safeguarding, SEND, leadership and pupil progress. This had also been supported by the recruitment of new governors and building of additional leadership capacity that would be in place following the Easter holiday period with the Council also continuing to meet regularly with the school’s senior leadership team in order to advise and monitor the implementation of improvement measures. Whilst the aim of these measures had been to support the school in moving forward, the outcome and timing of the Ofsted inspection had unfortunately resulted in the automatic imposition of an Academy Order by the Secretary of State for Education.
In pointing out this had not been a local authority decision, members were reminded of the legal obligation placed on the Council to take all reasonable measures to facilitate and not seek to oppose or delay the academisation process with there being little input over the timing for this or any future inspection. Nevertheless, in acknowledging the injustice felt by many parents and staff, Councillor Grahl advised that she had written to the London Advisory Board, urging them to consider delaying academisation in order to allow time for the school to embed improvements and be re-examined with disappointment expressed at the lack of response and decision of the Board to proceed despite the widespread opposition to the academy order.
Furthermore, Councillor Grahl expressed her concern at the way in which this process had highlighted what she felt to be the undemocratic and counteractive nature of current education policy and lack of trust in the current way the Ofsted process operated both in terms of pressure on staff and the use of singe word judgements to assess the running of schools which was no longer felt to be fit for purpose. As a result, she highlighted her support for the abolition of these single word judgements and complete overhaul of the inspection regime including the forced academisation of schools, on which she would continue to lobby for a change in legislation and approach.
Whilst recognising the role played by academies in delivering education across Brent and excellent relationship with those academies already operating in the borough, Councillor Grahl advised the Council was also aware of the legitimate concerns about how the process affecting Bryon Court would affect the ethos, character and inclusive nature of the school. As a result, she advised assurance would continue to be sought from the new academy trust on how these concerns would be addressed with the Council continuing to be a strong advocate for both inclusivity and good terms and conditions for staff moving forward.
In concluding her response, Councillor Grahl assured the petitioners and campaign group of the Council’s full commitment, despite the current academisation proposals, to support the work relating to the ongoing improvement of Byron Court School recognising its unique character as a community school in offering a safe, happy and fulfilling education for its pupils.
Publication date: 12/04/2024
Date of decision: 08/04/2024
Decided at meeting: 08/04/2024 - Cabinet