Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 4, Town Hall, Upper Street, N1 2UD. View directions
Contact: Ola Adeoye 020 7527 3044
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillors Khondoker and Hamitouche. |
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Declarations of Substitute Members Minutes: Councillor Gill substituted for Councillor Hamitouche. |
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Chair's Report Minutes: The Chair reported on announcements that day from the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, meetings he had held since the previous meeting, and arrangements for the next Environment and Regeneration Meeting to which various interest groups would be invited. He welcomed Councillor Champion in her new role as member of the Executive
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Declarations of Interest If you have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest* in an item of business: § if it is not yet on the council’s register, you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent; § you may choose to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest that is already in the register in the interests of openness and transparency. In both the above cases, you must leave the room without participating in discussion of the item.
If you have a personal interest in an item of business and you intend to speak or vote on the item you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent but you may participate in the discussion and vote on the item.
*(a) Employment, etc - Any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain. (b) Sponsorship - Any payment or other financial benefit in respect of your expenses in carrying out duties as a member, or of your election; including from a trade union.
(c) Contracts - Any current contract
for goods, services or works, between (d) Land - Any beneficial interest in land which is within the council’s area.
(e) Licences- Any
licence to occupy land in the council’s area for a
month
(f) Corporate tenancies -
Any tenancy
between the council and a body (g) Securities - Any beneficial interest in securities of a body which has a place of business or land in the council’s area, if the total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body or of any one class of its issued share capital.
This applies to all members present at the meeting.
Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting PDF 92 KB Minutes:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2020 subject to the correction be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.
Matters arising
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Order of Business Minutes: The order of business would be as per the agenda. |
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Public Questions For members of the public to ask questions relating to any subject on the meeting agenda under Procedure Rule 70.5. Alternatively, the Chair may opt to accept questions from the public during the discussion on each agenda item.
Minutes: None |
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Living Streets - Presentation Minutes: The committee received a
presentation from David Harrison of Islington Living Streets, a
copy of which was interleaved with the
agenda.
·
70% of households in Islington do not own a
car, however Islington’s roads are
vehicle friendly with the result that children no more play in the
neighbourhood streets.
·
Although walking in the borough accounts for 42% of
all trips, it is noticeable the increase in short trip journeys by
cars, leading to high carbon emissions and air pollution. Resident
inactivity results in high levels of obesity, social isolation and,
worryingly, one of the worst child pedestrian casualty rates in
western Europe.
·
In order to address the above consequences, the
meeting was advised of the need to
reduce car use and alternatively provide more investment for
sustainable modes of travel across the borough. The meeting
was informed that Islington Living
Streets welcomes Islington’s Transport Strategy.
·
Members were advised of the 3 elements to any behaviour change programmes
– (1) price mechanism, (2) bans and (3) making major
infrastructure changes.
·
Although public health messages are useful, their
effectiveness in terms of behaviour changes is limited as such
messages are dwarfed by the amount spent
on advertising, especially by the motoring industry.
·
Evidence shows that employing price mechanism to
address behaviour changes is welcome and effective. With the
congestion zone and the Ultra-Low Emission Zone there have been
13,500 fewer cars per day. Introducing car parking charges and the
workplace levy will have an impact on car use.
·
The Meeting was advised
that any proposal to ban vehicles in certain areas or roads is
beneficial to the environment in terms of air quality/vehicle
emissions and will result in an increase in walking and cycling
and, importantly, reinvigorate town centres and shopping
areas.
·
Significant infrastructure changes have brought huge
benefits to residents and the environment. The introduction of
cycle superhighways and the pedestrianisation of town centres/shopping areas
continually attract more walking by residents and visitors,
especially as evidence shows that 22 % of all car trips made by
London residents are under 2km.
·
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) will result in
residents being active and increase life expectancy. David Harrison
welcomed the council’s effort as
over 51,000 households in the borough are no longer living in areas
with dangerously high levels of air pollution.
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Members were advised that
despite resistance, improving a street for walking and cycling has
resulted in an increase in footfall and has had no impact on
businesses with the number of empty shops falling to 17%.
Also evidence shows that cyclists and
residents who walk to shops tend to spend 40% more than those who
drive into these high streets.
·
The meeting was informed
that although traffic levels have fallen by 56% or 10,000 fewer
vehicles a day, there has been a slight increase in traffic on the
two main roads bordering the LTN areas. · In response to a question about lack of funds, David Harrison acknowledged the challenge, however noting that investing in ... view the full minutes text for item 341. |
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Air Pollution Update PDF 565 KB Minutes: Andrew Ford, Environmental Pollution Policy & Strategy Manager gave a presentation to the Committee, a copy of which was interleaved with the agenda, and responded to questions. The main points were as follows:
·
Islington is designated an air quality management
area. Its N02 levels exceed the EU
limits across in over 60% of the borough. Air quality is monitored around the main roads
especially in south of the borough and in and around
schools.
·
Overall pollution levels are falling in the borough
and are likely to continue to do so as a result of current actions,
particularly as many of the actions to tackle the climate emergency
dovetail in with the actions to reduce air pollution. However, the
Council is keeping an eye on ‘new’ sources of pollution
such as commercial cooking which has been highlighted in recent
research.
·
A combination of policies have been introduced at
national, London-wide and borough level to influence air quality
with the Government launching its new Environment Bill just before
the General Election with a view to it coming back to Parliament on
the 30th Jan 2020. The Bill will affect many areas that
the committee deals with but in terms of air quality there are
updates to the Clean Air Act and Smoke Control Zones as well as new
powers around canal boats etc. There is much more of a focus on
PM2.5 than previously and although the Council is currently meeting
the UK/EU targets for PM2.5, this is not the case with the World
Health Organisation limits
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The introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone
(ULEZ) in April 2019 resulted in a 30% reduction in N02 emissions.
The meeting was informed of plans to strengthen the LEZ (Lorries,
Vans and Buses) and ULEX by October 2020 and October
2021.
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Further measures have been introduced in order to
reduce air pollution and the Council continues to work with other
boroughs, TfL, and the GLA to improve air quality.
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Local programmes to mitigate poor air quality
include the introduction of Air Text which forecast high pollution
to enable subscribers to take action to avoid exposure, air quality
audits near schools, the promotion of walking and cycling,
anti-idling events and car free days. The meeting was informed that
Council officers are working in conjunction with the Whittington
Hospital regarding Clean Air Hospitals.
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With regard to the Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM)
monitoring programme, a pan-London Project, members were advised
that this relates to the use of heavy machinery, heavy construction
vehicles and generators being used on construction sites as there
is a recognition that it is a significant contributor to
London’s air pollution. · New pollution modelling released by the GLA continues to show that large parts of the borough do not meet the UK/EU pollution targets for NO2 (Nitrogen Dioxide) and its air quality map particularly highlights that TfL roads are major sources of air pollution and they show high air pollution concentration. However, the modelling also shows that by 2025 the vast majority of Islington ... view the full minutes text for item 342. |
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Road Safety: Vision Zero - Presentation (To Follow) Minutes: Head of Traffic
gave a presentation to the Committee, a copy of which is interleaved, and responded to questions. The main
points were as follows: · Vision Zero aims to reduce road danger, working towards the elimination of road traffic deaths and serious injuries by reducing the dominance of motor vehicles on London’s streets. · London remains at the forefront of this approach, with the Mayor of London setting out his goal to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from London’s transport network by 2041. · Members were informed that achieving Vision Zero in Islington is set out in both the Mayor of London’s Vision Zero Action Plan and the draft Islington Transport Strategy. It supports promoting or introducing safe speeds, creating safe streets, introducing safe vehicles and changing behaviour. Members were advised that the Draft Islington Transport Strategy had been out for public consultation in the summer of 2019. · With regard to safe speeds, the meeting was informed that the aim is to maintain a borough-wide 20 mph speed limit; working with the police to enforce and raise awareness, and to continue to campaign for a change in legislation to allow local authorities to enforce speed offences and other unsafe driving which is presently the sole responsibility the Police. · On the issue of safe streets, the Council aims to target action against the sources of road danger, including enforcing existing weight restrictions on Islington Roads. Other initiatives will include banning lorries and HGV’s weighing 7.5 tonnes or more; improving safety at dangerous junctions and seeking opportunities for transformational changes at key junctions. · The meeting was advised that initiatives such as reducing the danger posed by lorries through the implementation of Direct Vision Standards for HGVs over 12 tonnes and gaining Freight Operator Recognition Scheme accreditation for the Council’s fleet will ensure that safe vehicles ply Islington Roads. In terms of safe behaviour, the Council will continue to offer free cycling training to all Islington residents including school children, and deliver school streets or similar interventions at all schools in the borough so as to encourage walking and cycling. · In terms of implementing safe speeds, Islington is the first London borough to have 20mph speed limit on borough roads which is enforced by the police since 2014. Members were advised that although the Council has 19 fixed speed cameras in place to enforce the 20mph speed limit, it is only the police that can enforce any breach. Members were informed of the Mayor of London’s commitment to introduce the 20mph speed limit on all roads managed by TFL in Islington by 2024, which was to be welcomed Martijn Cooijmans said. · Actions to implement safe streets include the removal of some of London’s gyratory road schemes such as the Archway gyratory, Highbury Corner and the Old Street roundabout. Members were advised that feasibility studies are presently underway in conjunction with Transport for London on the Kings Cross gyratory and the Nag’s Head gyratory. Additional initiatives to improve streets have been to implement ... view the full minutes text for item 343. |
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Scrutiny Review - Environmental Behavioural Change - Street Environmental Services PDF 704 KB Minutes: John Mooteealoo, Head of Street
Environment Services (SES) gave a presentation to the Committee, a
copy of which is interleaved, and he responded to questions. The
main points were as follows:
·
Members were informed that since 2005, SES in
conjunction with Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Great British
Spring Clean-Ups, have organised community clean-up
events.
·
In addition to the above, key partners, council
services and stakeholders including volunteering and faith groups
have participated in various events around the borough which take
place from March to April.
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The Manager informed the meeting that the
Council’s Compliance Team continually engages the public
reinforcing the messages of doing the right especially with litter
disposal or dog fouling.
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The meeting was informed
that the SES eam took part in a
successful trial for reducing the anti
social behaviour of chewing gum with a specialist Behaviour
Change group. The campaign around transport hubs including
Farringdon Station and a high street bus stop led to a reduction of
gum littering by 48%.
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A tool kit developed by Mars Wrigley in partnership
with a social enterprise called ‘Behaviour Change’
includes a range of free and unbranded materials designed to tackle
gum litter in the UK .
·
Waste enforcement remains an important function of
the Compliance Team who carry out enforcement actions and campaigns
to reduce the antic social problem of fly tipping. In addressing
fly-tipping the efforts of SES and the
Compliance Team has helped alleviate the issue around some
problematic hot-spot locations across the borough.
·
Members were advised of a new trial named the
‘CSI Tape Pilot’ which
commenced in February. SES have selected 5 sites known for
incidents of fly tipping which will be cordoned with the CSI tape,
leaving the materials in place for three days before it is
removed. The aim of the pilot is to
look out for behaviour change around these fly tipping sites over a
12 month period.
·
Members were advised that with
regards to dog fouling incidents, a new trial has been
launched within the St Georges Ward to tackle this anti-social
problem. In response to a question on the effectiveness of the Keep
Britain Tidy’s ‘
We’re Watching You’ poster, which is attached to every
bin, the meeting was informed that evidence from other pilots had
shown that it had led to a reduction in dog fouling.
·
With regard to the image on the poster, a member
welcomed the initiative and was interested in the outcome but was
concerned that images like this with prying eyes could be traumatic
especially to young people.
·
In response to a request for more information on the
success as a result of the Keep Britain
Tidy’s ‘We’re Watching You’ poster, the
Executive Member Environment and Regeneration agreed that it will
be shared with the committee. The Chair thanked the Manager for his contribution.
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