Decision details

Decision on whether to remove, amend or make permanent 5 trial Healthy Neighbourhood and 30 School Street schemes.

Cabinet noted the comments made by Councillor Kennelly who had requested to speak at the meeting on Healthy Neighbourhoods.  In addressing Cabinet, Councillor Kennelly thanked the Lead Members and all officers involved for their response in terms of the recommendations within the report and work to engage with local residents.  Whilst highlighting the importance in promoting sustainable active travel and healthy neighbourhoods as part of the Council’s wider approach towards tackling air quality and the climate emergency, he pointed out the need to ensure local residents were properly listened to and their views taken into account in the development and introduction of any schemes moving forward.  Having recognised the lessons learnt, particularly given the views expressed by local residents within his ward, Councillor Kennelly felt that whilst change was supported the future approach towards  developing and delivering Healthy Neighbourhood needed to be focussed around an engagement process on active travel schemes designed to deliver a cleaner and greener environment across the borough.

In responding to the comments raised, Councillor Butt (as Leader of the Council) also drew attention to written representations submitted by the Brent Cycling Campaign relating to a number of concerns regarding the consultation, design and implementation of the Healthy Neighbourhood proposals and content of the report due to be considered by Cabinet.  It was noted that these had been referred on to the Lead Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning for direct response outside of the meeting.

Members also noted that a number of minor corrections had needed to be made to the evaluation monitoring reports which had resulted in an adjustment needing to be made in the consultation figures for the Tokyngton and Wembley Central ward set out within Appendix A of the report officer.  The changes were as follows - Responses from roads where modal filters were installed (London Road and Tokyngton Avenue) a total of 21 (not 18) responses were received. Of these 6 (29%) (not 4 - 22%) supported the scheme and 15 (71%) (not -78%) did not).  Members were advised that the amendments had no effect on the overall outcome from the consultation or recommendations within the report.

Having considered the comments made, Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To note the outcome of the scheme assessments and approves the officer recommendations in Section 4.0 and Appendix A of the report.

(2)    To authorise the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment:

(a)    to progress Statutory Notifications and consider responses to the Statutory Notifications before making experimental and permanent traffic orders regarding the Healthy Neighbourhoods and School Streets schemes that are referred to in the report;

(b)    to make any necessary Traffic Management Orders involving experimental and permanent traffic orders regarding existing and forthcoming Healthy Neighbourhoods and School Streets schemes that are referred to in the report;

(c)    to revoke and implement changes to existing Healthy Neighbourhoods and School Streets schemes that are referred to in the report.

(3)    To note that a further report would be presented to Cabinet to agree the future approach to developing and delivering Healthy Neighbourhood and School Streets schemes.

(4)    To note that a further policy report would be presented to Cabinet for approval relating to the use of CCTV enforcement cameras and exemptions.

(e)    To note that development and implementation of future schemes would depend upon future funding being made available for that purpose.