Agenda item

This report provides an update on the development of the Brent Active Travel Implementation Plan 2024-2029 (ATIP), including details of the feedback received from the recent public consultation and stakeholder engagement exercises on the draft plan and makes recommendations for minor additions/changes to be made to strengthen the plan, prior to adoption.

Cabinet noted the comments made by Councillor Long, who had requested to speak in relation to the Active Travel Implementation Plan, in order to highlight concerns regarding provision designed specifically to prioritise the safety of pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities, in encouraging walking and not only cycling as an active mode of travel.  Highlighting issues relating to street clutter (including street signs, furniture and EV charging points) as well as current operation of the dockless bike scheme and contractor and lack of consultation with the Brent Connect Consultative Forums and Brent Disability Forum, Councillor Long advised she was keen to ensure the Plan was subject to ongoing scrutiny taking account of the safety and needs of pedestrians recognising their contribution towards encouraging more active forms of travel.

Having noted the comments made by Councillor Long in seeking to represent the needs and interest of pedestrians Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve:

(a)    the minor amendments proposed to strengthen the plan following consultation feedback, as detailed within paragraph 3.4 of this report.

(b)    to adopt the final version of the Active Travel Implementation Plan incorporating the amendments under (a) above, as detailed within Appendix A of the report.

(2)    To note the feedback received and suggestions made by the public and various stakeholders as part of the recent public consultation and stakeholder engagement exercises on the draft plan, as set out in the Community Consultation Report attached as Appendix B to the report.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Tuesday 4 June 24

Prior to the discussion, Cabinet noted the comments made by Councillor Long, who had requested to speak in relation to the Active Travel Implementation Plan, in order to highlight concerns regarding provision designed specifically to prioritise the safety of pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities, in encouraging walking and not only cycling as an active mode of travel. Highlighting issues relating to street clutter (including street signs, furniture and EV charging points) as well as current operation of the dockless bike scheme and contractor and lack of consultation with the Brent Connect Consultative Forums and Brent Disability Forum, Councillor Long advised she was keen to ensure the Plan was subject to ongoing scrutiny taking account of the safety and needs of pedestrians recognising their contribution towards encouraging more active forms of travel.

Councillor Krupa Sheth (Cabinet Member for Environment and Enforcement) then introduced the report, which provided an update on the development of the Brent Active Travel Implementation Plan 2024-2029 (ATIP) and included details of the feedback received from the recent public consultation and stakeholder engagement exercises on the draft plan. The report proposed some minor additions / changes to be made to strengthen the plan prior to adoption.

In considering the report Cabinet noted that over 650 people from a wide range of locations and backgrounds had been engaged and responded to the consultation, and the Council had listened carefully to that feedback.  The plan had identified measures and interventions that would be prioritised by the Council to enable more people to walk and cycle and aimed to address barriers to active travel by making Brent’s streets safer and more inclusive for walking and cycling, including improving the quality and visibility of walking and cycling infrastructure and equipping communities with the skills and means to walk and cycle.

In addressing the comments raised by Councillor Long, Councillor Krupa Sheth advised that pedestrians were at the heart of the plan and reminded Cabinet of the additional investment provided on footways and to declutter Brent’s streets. She and the Leader had also written to the current operator of the dockless bike scheme (Lime) to express disappointment in the service being provided and advised that the Council was looking to strengthen the Memorandum of Understanding to alleviate the issues being experienced, which also included discussions on a London wide basis and encouraged members to continue reporting any concerns or issues being experienced so they could be addressed.

In considering the report, members emphasised the need to be aware of the context within which the strategy had come forward including the Government’s limited approach towards tackling the climate emergency and concerns regarding air quality.  Cabinet therefore commended the development of strong policies for active travel and climate action, and particularly highlighted the success of the Council’s School Streets Policy which had received positive feedback from local residents and which they felt represented a good example of how different ambitions around behaviour change, climate action and keeping communities on board could be balanced.

As well as the improvements this plan could make to air quality within Brent, members also emphasised the impact this plan would have on increasing overall levels of exercise across the borough, including amongst school-aged children, and were pleased to see those health and wellbeing measures incorporated into the plan. The plan would also help to encourage buying local so would result in improvements to the local economy.

In highlighting the need for appropriate support from TfL, Cabinet heard that officers had regular conversations with TfL to ensure cycle highways were being reviewed, to request safety improvements around junctions, and to encourage investments into roads and pavements to ensure a safe pedestrian environment. Cabinet committed to doing as much as possible within the resources available to support residents in the borough to participate in active travel, including for disabled individuals.

In concluding the discussion, Cabinet thanked those who had taken part in the consultation and, having noted the comments made by Councillor Long in seeking to represent the needs and interest of pedestrians RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve:

(a)    the minor amendments proposed to strengthen the plan following consultation feedback, as detailed within paragraph 3.4 of the report.

(b)    to adopt the final version of the Active Travel Implementation Plan incorporating the amendments under (a) above, as detailed within Appendix A of the report.

(2)    To note the feedback received and suggestions made by the public and various stakeholders as part of the recent public consultation and stakeholder engagement exercises on the draft plan, as set out in the Community Consultation Report attached as Appendix B to the report.