Agenda and minutes

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting on Thursday 22 June 2017 be approved as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Stephen Curran (London Borough of Hounslow) and Councillor Stephen Cowan (London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham).

The Chair welcomed Councillor Sue Fennimore who was attending to represent London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Councillor Katherine Dunne who was attending to represent the London Borough of Hounslow.

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary, personal or prejudicial interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

There were no declarations of interest from Members.

The Chair advised that he had received four requests to speak in relation to Agenda Item 7 (West London Orbital Rail), which he agreed to take prior to consideration of the item.

Councillor Butt, as Chair, welcomed Jules Pipe (Deputy Mayor Planning, Regeneration & Skills) to the meeting who had been invited to provide an overview on the current review of the London Plan.

Jules Pipe thanked the Board for inviting him to the meeting and began by reminding Members of the purpose of the London Plan which was designed not only to bring together the Mayor of London’s strategies relating to housing, transport, economic development and environment but also to provide an overarching spatial planning framework for each of the 33 London Boroughs Local Plans.

The draft London Plan would shortly be open to a 3 month formal consultation process, due to open on 29 November 17.  This would then be followed by a formal Examination in Public to be undertaken in Autumn 2018, with the Inspectors report anticipated in Spring 2019 prior to the final Plan then being submitted for formal approval and adoption in Summer 2019.

The draft Plan had been designed to provide a strategic focus on the key challenges faced across London with policies aimed at driving positive change and growth.  In response to feedback received, the Plan would contain more of a focus on planning issues and clarity around implementation than previous London Plans.  The aim had also been to make the document more accessible in order to increase engagement in the process for developing the Plan.

In terms of an overall approach the Mayor was keen to encourage more economically and, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth with some of the key themes and policies highlighted as follows:

·                more positive view on the promotion of mixed use activity e.g. identification of industrial land and brownfield sites that could be better used for housing; examining options for housing and industrial activity to co-exist in certain locations with a focus on maintaining floor space capacity rather than the footprint of the original activity; relocation of industrial activity to more appropriate locations |(without seeking to disrupt the economy or erode the critical base of industrial land); support for safe tall buildings.

·                support for town centre developments and seeking to encourage housing developments adjacent to transport links with the intensification of housing development on TfL and other public land.

·                In terms of housing development the aim was to optimise density through a design led approach whilst also encouraging more smaller scale housing developments in appropriate locations.  Whilst continuing to collaborate with neighbouring authorities across the South East the aim would be to deliver the growth and new homes that London needed within the boundaries of London.  In addition the Plan would include the strategic target of 50% affordable housing with a commitment to review the current 35% threshold for viability with a view to increasing this in future..  At the same time there would be an aim to ensure that all new homes were of good design and quality which met the decent space standards.

·                Continued development within Opportunity and Intensification Areas but with these grouped, where possible into growth  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

This paper provides an opportunity to comment on a draft West London Skills Strategy and further information on shaping the development of the London Skills Strategy.

Dan Gascoyne (Director, West London Alliance) introduced the report seeking views on the draft West London Skills Strategy and how the strategy could be developed to assist in influencing the London Skills Strategy.

The draft Strategy had been attached as Appendix 2 to the report and included a summary of the key issues and challenges facing the West London skills system.  The Strategy also contained a series of priorities and themes under which a range of activities had been proposed, which were focussed around the creation of a skills system that took a whole system approach; supported inclusion; worked in partnership with employers and businesses; and was focussed on getting the basics right.

Members noted that the Strategy document also contained a detailed analysis of the characteristics of the West London skills system.

In addition the Board was presented with a set of Joint Principles (Appendix 1 of the report) outlining how it was proposed to work with the Mayor of London, Greater London Authority and London’s other sub regional partnerships in order to establish a coherent, locally relevant and deliverable skills strategy for London, which the Board was also invited to comment on.

Jules Pipe (Deputy Mayor Planning, Regeneration and Skills) noted the strong overlap between the key themes and priorities within the draft West London Strategy and those also being developed as part of the draft London Skills Strategy, particularly relating to a focus on the skills offer available.

The Board noted the work undertaken to date on development of both draft Strategies along with the timetable established by the GLA for activities related to development of the London Skills Strategy, which would continue to be closely linked to work with the sub-regional partnerships.  The potential date identified for a West London sub regional consultation event had been 24 November 17.

It was RESOLVED:

(1)     to note the shared principles for joint working, as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report;

(2)     that the draft West London Skills Strategy document, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report, be endorsed and used as the basis for seeking to influence the draft London Skills Strategy;

(3)     that the West London Skills and Employment Board be requested to commence more wider engagement with key stakeholders on development of the final strategy, linking in as necessary with the consultation being undertaken on the London wide Strategy through the GLA and with individual boroughs.

This report provides leaders with an update and proposed next steps on work to deliver a West London orbital Railway, following their meeting with the Deputy Mayor for Transport in July 2017.

Prior to considering the report the Chair advised that he had received a number of requests from local councillors in Brent and also a member of the public to speak on this item.  In accordance with the Rules of Procedure for the Board he had agreed to allow these representations and he welcomed the individuals to the meeting.

The following representations were noted by the Board:

1.         Councillor Neil Nerva (Brent local councillor - Queens Park ward and member of Brent Public Transport Forum) thanked the Chair for allowing him to address the Board and highlighted what he felt was the exciting stage the Orbital Rail proposal had now reached based on the commissioning of the feasibility study and consideration of the final draft by the Board.  He took the opportunity to highlight the potentially significant benefits which it was felt the proposal could unlock in terms of not only employment but also housing growth across the sub region which local councillors and individual boroughs had been lobbying for over a number of years.  Whilst recognising the challenges still needing to be addressed in relation to funding and delivery of this type of orbital transport infrastructure project he was keen to ensure that the progress achieved in getting to this stage was now maintained and the project moved forward as quickly as possible.  Examples of areas that could be considered included the potential use of existing decommissioned rolling stock and development of a wider communication and engagement plan.

2.         Councillor Lia Colacicco (Brent local councillor - Mapesbury ward) welcomed the feasibility study which had demonstrated the proposal to be technically feasible as well as representing strong value for money.  She also highlighted the strong potential regeneration, environmental and social benefits the project would deliver in terms of providing improved options and capacity for orbital journeys that would not require cars and would also improve local transport connections with existing TfL services.  A request was also made for the options being considered to include the provision of a station at Dudding Hill.

3.         Councillor Shafique Choudhary (Brent local councillor - Barnhill ward) highlighted the strong passenger demand and technical case for the line that had been identified within the final draft feasibility study.  In addition he also highlighted the importance and potential benefits of the project for resident from across the region and congratulated the officers and the Board for the attempts now being made to move the project forward.

4.      John Cox (local resident) again welcomed the progress made on an project he advised he had been campaigning on for a number of year.  Subject to the outcome achieved, he felt the scheme had the potential to be used by a range of operators given the potential access to new services on both Crossrail and High Speed Two.  He was also keen to ensure that an effective communication and engagement strategy was developed in order to address any negative comments or objections as the scheme was developed.

The Chair thanked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

At its meeting on 22 June 2017 the Board requested a shared west London response to the Mayor’s Transport Strategy (MTS) that is currently being consulted on. The draft response is contained within appenxin one to this report.

Luke Ward introduced the report presenting a draft joint West London response to the Mayor’s Transport Strategy (MTS) as requested by the Board at its meeting on 22 June 17.  Members views were sought on the draft response prior to it being finalised for submission.  The response had been drafted to include reference, as requested by the Deputy Mayor for Transport, to the West London Orbital Rail line.

The following comments were raised by members of the Board on the draft consultation response:

·                Encouragement of Active Travel: It was recommended that the final response include reference to advice from the Chief Medical Officer on the need to encourage at least 30 minutes activity a day, which London Councils were also supporting as part of their submission on the MTS;

·                Healthy Streets and Healthy People – London Wide Cycle Network: a need was highlighted to emphasis the more limited level of funding provided to develop the cycle infrastructure across North West London and the focus needed on the network in this sub region and across outer London as a whole with specific reference to the potential for improving access along the Thames Pathway within the sub region;

·                Healthy Streets and Healthy People – Reduction in road danger and improving personal safety and security: support was expressed for the draft response not taking a view at this stage on use of motorcycles in bus lanes;

·                Healthy Streets and Healthy People – Reducing Crime & Fear of Crime: support was expressed for the response including reference to bicycle theft and for the clear position taken on provision of good quality parking;

·                Healthy Streets and Healthy People – Reduction in emissions: the Board felt the response should highlight the need for a more detailed timeline to be included around the introduction of a London wide ULEZ;

·                Healthy Streets and Healthy People – protection of natural and built environment: the Board supported the need identified to highlight flooding as a key issue in relation to the impact of weather events;

·                New Homes & Jobs – Good Growth: Board members were interested to note the reference to management of waste through a pipe network, as a means of reducing the need for waste vehicles in development areas;

·                In addition Members felt there was a need to clarify reference within the MTS to London Buses as a cause of road deaths.

Subject to consideration of the above comments, it was RESOLVED that the West London Growth Directors should be authorised to finalise and submit the collective West London Alliance response on the MTS ahead of the deadline on 2 October 17.

West London boroughs, through the WLA with Ealing as the lead borough, is commissioning a number of Programmes supporting the Unemployed people with barriers to employment gain sustained jobs. This report prives an update on the Develovled Work and Health Programme and the Social Impact Bond.

Paul Najsarek (Chief Executive, London Borough of Ealing) introduced the report providing an update on the Work & Health Programme commissioned through the West London Alliance and being led by Ealing.

The Board noted:

1.         the progress outlined on the procurement of the Devolved Work & Health Programme with three providers having been shortlisted.  In line with the agreement of the Board, Ealing had been delegated authority to agree the final award of contract with the Board keen to invite the successful provider to attend their next meeting.

2.      the progress in developing proposals to establish a Social Impact Bond (SIB) focussed on getting drug and alcohol addiction service users into work involving the provision of an Individual Placement Support (IPS) service, also being led by the London Borough of Ealing.  As part of the process an application had been submitted as part of the current bidding round for funding under the Life Chances Fund, on which partners were currently being consulted in order to secure the necessary match funding, should the bid be successful.  In order to put in place the SIB and associated IPS service a series of procurement exercises would need to be conducted, which it was proposed be delegated to Ealing as lead borough.

As a result of the update, it was RESOLVED that

(1)     once appointed, the successful provider selected to deliver the devolved Work & Health Programme should be invited to attend a future meeting of the Board in order to outline their delivery model.

(2)     the establishment of a Social Impact Bond be agreed, subject to the successful securing of funding contributions focussed on Drug and Alcohol Service Users getting back into work.

(3)     authority be delegated to the Chief Executive at Ealing to lead the procurement of the Social Investment Partner and Delivery Partner for the IPS employment service for Drug and Alcohol Addiction Service Users, and once all funding contributions had been secured to make the award with the Board to be receive regular updates as the procurement process progressed.

The Board is asked to review and approve the West London Economic Prosperity Board Forward Plan.  

Luke Ward (West London Alliance) presented the Board with a Forward Plan of work which had been developed to assist Members in planning activity to be undertaken at future meetings.

The Board noted the Forward Plan and initial list of items identified for the next meeting in November.  In terms of proposals for future items it was also suggested that Val Shawcross (Deputy Mayor for Transport) should be added to the list of external speakers for a future meeting.

Members noted that the next meeting was scheduled to take place at 10:30am on Tuesday 21 November 2017.