Agenda item

This report provides an update on the development of the Green Neighbourhoods pilot project which formed a key tenet of the council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency 2022-24 Delivery Plan.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)      To agree the Green Neighbourhood Action Plans for Church End & Roundwood (Appendix A) and Kingsbury (Appendix B), summarised in section 5 of the report.

(2)      To note the results of community engagement activity undertaken from July to October 2022, outlined in section 4 of the report and detailed in Appendix C of the report.

(3)      To agree the proposals for future engagement with communities in the Green Neighbourhood areas, summarised in section 6 of the report.

Councillor Krupa Sheth (Cabinet Member for Environment. Infrastructure & Climate Action) introduced a report that updated Cabinet on the development of the Green Neighbourhoods pilot project which formed a key tenet of the council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency 2022-24 Delivery Plan. The report also provided Cabinet with an opportunity to review the area-specific action plans which had been developed to support the project and approach outlined following community engagement.

In considering the update and approach outlined, Cabinet recognised and noted the progressive and pioneering approach being taken towards tackling the climate and ecological emergency through the delivery of Green Neighbourhood pilots (the first phase being Church End & Roundwood; and Kingsbury).  Members were advised that the aim was to focus the Council’s resources in the pilot areas identified in order to test how they could become as environmentally sustainable as possible and to inform how the whole borough could be net zero and more biodiverse by 2030 based around as positive and transformative an approach as possible in order to deliver changes that would engage and benefit local communities and residents and encourage more sustainable behaviours.

In terms of community engagement and consultation, Members noted that having completed the first phase of engagement a number of themes had been identified including a focus on enhanced green infrastructure and biodiversity; sustainable travel infrastructure; recycling and reuse and the need to address wider environmental concerns such as anti-social behaviour and fly tipping, which had subsequently led to a number of distinct overall ‘visions’ emerging for the approach in the pilot areas.  Moving forward, it was proposed that the next phase of community engagement would commence in the two pilot areas from February 2023 with the objective to start co-producing those projects that would be co-delivered with the community, and to consult with the community on council-led infrastructure projects to ensure local stakeholders were supportive of scheme design and encouraged to participate.

In commending the progress to date, Cabinet welcomed the initial pilot areas and action plans identified, which it was felt would complement wider infrastructure development and improvement in those areas.  Members also expressed support for the community engagement process, highlighting particular enthusiasm within schools seeking to act as a catalyst for change in their local communities and were keen to recognise the links also established in relation to Public Health and the opportunities to tackle health inequalities within the action plans for each pilot area, including the focus on in encouraging more active forms of travel.

Having noted and commended the extent of community engagement in development of the Green Neighbourhood areas and action plans, Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)        To agree the Green Neighbourhood Action Plans for Church End & Roundwood (Appendix A) and Kingsbury (Appendix B), summarised in section 5 of the report.

(2)        To note the results of community engagement activity undertaken from July to October 2022, outlined in section 4 of the report and detailed in Appendix C of the report.

(3)        To agree the proposals for future engagement with communities in the Green Neighbourhood areas, summarised in section 6 of the report.