Agenda item

To hear any deputations, agreed in accordance with Standing Order 32.

NOTED the following deputations received at the meeting:

·                Joel Davidson, on behalf of the Brondesbury Park Residents Association objecting to the Local Traffic Neighbourhood proposals in their area.

·                Mark Falcon, on behalf of Brent Cleaner Air Campaign highlighting their support for the principles and objectives behind Brent’s Active Travel Programme alongside the need for effective local engagement and monitoring.

·                Charlie Fernandes, on behalf of the Brent Cycling Campaign highlighting their support for Health Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.

The Mayor advised that he had accepted requests for three deputations to be presented at the meeting on the subject of Healthy Neighbourhoods.

The first of these had been from Joel Davidson on behalf of the Brondesbury Park Residents Association.  The second from Mark Falcon, speaking on behalf of Brent Clean Air Campaign and the third from Charlie Fernandes, speaking on behalf of the Brent Cycling Campaign.

The Mayor advised that unless otherwise indicated by Members, he intended to allow each of the nominated speakers up to five minutes to present their deputations.  He would then allow Councillor Tatler, as Lead Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning up to five minutes to respond on the deputations received.

As no issues were raised on the approach outlined, the Mayor moved on to welcome Joel Davidson to the meeting and invited him to present the first deputation on behalf of the Brondesbury Park Residents Association.  The following issues were highlighted as part of the deputation:

·                The Brondesbury Park Residents Association felt that the Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes were being pushed through undemocratically by the Council, with local people not having been consulted or engaged before implementation.  The approach towards the concept of “retrospective consultation” was deemed unacceptable and unsatisfactory by local residents in the area;

·                Concerns were also highlighted in relation to the design of the schemes based on what was felt to be “anecdotal data”, with schemes elsewhere across London also causing similar concern, for example in Ealing, Hackney and Islington.  In Wandsworth and Redbridge, this had led to local authorities reversing decisions to implement the schemes;

·                It was also felt the schemes would make traffic, and therefore air pollution, along main roads in the Brondesbury Park area, such as Kilburn High Road, Salisbury Road and Chamberlain Road worse, with a number of local schools also likely to be adversely affected by the increase in traffic;

·                Highlighting that Brent had one of the largest percentage of daily trips by public transport and one of the lowest percentage of daily trips for motor vehicles in London, the Resident Association felt this weakened the case for introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.  Moreover, it was also felt there was a need to recognise that air pollution levels had reduced as a result of the pandemic.  As such, the need for such measures was deemed questionable, especially as it was felt the use of road closures and barriers in local areas would not prompt residents to move to alternative modes of travel;

·                Low Traffic Neighbourhoods were also felt to discriminate against those with mobility issues, the elderly and tradespeople, all of whom struggled to travel without the use of motor vehicles;

·                Whilst highlighting that Resident Association remained keen to improve their local environment and were supportive of the efforts being made to encourage more active modes of transport such as walking and cycling, it was felt this could be achieved and coexist alongside motor vehicle use.  The approach would, however, require a joined up approach and dialogue with local residents rather than schemes being pushed through without the necessary level of engagement.  In concluding, the Council was asked to consider withdrawing the current proposals in order to properly engage with residents on how best to improve their local environment.

The Mayor thanked Joel Davidson for his deputation and then welcomed Mark Falcon, to the meeting who was invited to present the second deputation on behalf of the Brent Clean Air Campaign.  The following issues were highlighted as part of the deputation:

·                Outlining the role of Clean Air for Brent in campaigning to improve air quality and their work in supporting the Council’s Air Quality Scrutiny Inquiry, members’ attention was drawn to the impact which air pollution was having across the UK.  Not only was it a major cause of deaths, estimated at over 40,000 per year, but it had also been estimated to cost the NHS 20% of its annual budget with its impact on health having a disproportionately worse impact on the vulnerable as well as being recognised as a “national health emergency”;

·                In London, the biggest cause of air pollution had been traffic, with motorists themselves being amongst the worst affected by air pollution;

·                In terms of healthy neighbourhoods, he felt it important to highlight that it was national government policy to promote active travel, which had in part been in response to the pandemic with local authorities expected, as a condition of the funding attached, to implement the necessary changes quickly and efficiently.   This included the reallocation of road space to support walking and cycling, use of filters to restrict motor vehicle access, encouraging walking and cycling to school and reducing speed limits;

·                There was strong evidence that the promotion of active travel could change travel habits with it estimated that 60% of all journeys could be undertaken via alternative means, with a focus on the school run a priority;

·                The wider public health benefits of healthy neighbourhoods were also highlighted, alongside the aim to tackle air pollution, respond to the pandemic and the climate emergency;

·                In summing up, members were advised that whilst wanting to avoid increasing traffic on main roads or making it more difficult for those vulnerable members of society who depended on their cars, the Brent Clean Air Campaign were supportive of the principles and objectives behind Brent’s Active Travel Programme.  Evidence from existing Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes had shown they were effective in changing behaviours but this would require effective local engagement, supported by the necessary evidence and ongoing monitoring and evaluation throughout the consultation trial period.

The Mayor thanked Mark Falcon for his deputation and then welcomed Charlie Fernandes, who was invited to present the third and final deputation on behalf of the Brent Cycling Campaign.  The following issues were highlighted as part of the deputation:

·                Outlining the role of Brent Cycling Campaign in support of the active travel programme, members were advised that the campaign group had been approached by many local residents who were in support of healthy Low Traffic Neighbourhoods having witnessed the benefits of less cars being on the road during the lockdown phase of the pandemic.  The view expressed was that residents were keen to see these schemes becoming fully operational, with the Council thanked for their efforts in introducing them during such challenging times;

·                Whilst recognising and supporting concerns about the lack of prior public consultation, it was felt that consultations generally had low engagement with only those against tending to make themselves heard.  Trialling schemes was a more natural way to experiment, providing residents with the opportunity to experience the benefits or to suggest adjustments as the trials progressed;

·                It was also pointed out that a majority of Brent residents were highly dependent on public transport, prior to the national lockdown. With the current advice being to avoid public transport, where possible, it was felt the scheme had a real opportunity to promote and encourage alternative travel options for those with and without access to cars;

·                Recognising the comments made during the previous deputation, members were once again reminded that Brent suffered from one of the worst levels of air pollution in London, and had some of the highest levels of health inequality. It was felt healthy neighbourhoods would go some way to alleviating these concerns.  In restricting rat running, the schemes could also result in quieter, safer and more inclusive neighbourhoods as community spaces for all;

·                Whilst supporting the need for progressive and urgent action, the campaign were also keen to ensure the use of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods were only seen as part of an overall solution.  In their view, the provision of protected cycle paths also remained a key priority on main roads in order to provide the necessary connections between low traffic neighbourhoods and low traffic town centres and other destinations and in enabling active travel and enhancing the quality of life for local residents.

The Mayor thanked Charlie Fernades for concluding the deputations and then moved on to invite Councillor Tatler, as Lead Member for Regeneration Property and Planning to respond to the comments raised.

Councillor Tatler thanked all three of the deputations and advised the Mayor that rather than address the issues raised at this stage she intended to provide a more comprehensive response once the petitions due to be presented under the next item had also been considered.  Before moving on, however, she also took the opportunity to thank all officers involved for their efforts in arranging the Extraordinary Council meeting at short notice and in the midst of an ongoing public health crisis.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Tatler for her initial response and advised that as there were no further speakers he would move on to the next item.