Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Cllrs Clarke and Graham

Cllr Heather as a Substitute for Cllr Clarke

No Declarations of interest were made

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting on 8 October 2024 were agreed with the below amendments:

-        To note Cllr Heather as present

-        That Cllr Russell’s concerns that their questions about littering fines had not been adequately addressed. They specifically asked about the impact of fines on people with very low incomes and the potential conflict of interest, as those issuing the fines are paid from the revenue generated by them. Cllr Russell requested that this concern be formally recorded.  

The Chair updated the committee on several events and activities. A joint meeting with the Corporate Resources and Economy Scrutiny Committee, focusing on Thames Water, was to be held on January 23rd at 7:30 PM, with further details shared prior to the event. Although Rosie Appley, the Nature Neighbourhoods Project Coordinator, was unable to attend the meeting this evening, it was hoped she would join in the future. The Local Access to Nature event took place on November 23rd from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM at the Hill Drop Community Centre in Tufnell Park.

Additionally, the Town and County Planning Association organised two notable events: an online session on Introduction to Planning for Climate Change on December 2nd, which covered how the planning system can support climate mitigation and adaptation at the local level, and the Green Infrastructure Partnership Conference on December 10th, focusing on local innovations and their potential for national transformation. The Clerk circulated the relevant details for these events after the meeting.

Public Questions were taken after each Agenda Item

RESOLVED:

This item was deferred to a future meeting

The presentation covered the Islington Bloom initiative, which has been running for over 20 years. It is a year-round campaign aimed at creating a greener, cleaner borough, with the support of Islington Gardeners. The programme has evolved into a joint effort, involving community groups, businesses, and residents. The competition has three levels: Islington in Bloom (local), London in Bloom (regional), and RHS Britain in Bloom (national). Islington in Bloom focuses primarily on the local competition, encouraging individuals, schools, businesses, and community groups to participate, whether they have large gardens or small spaces like balconies.

The benefits of Islington in Bloom include beautifying the environment, providing opportunities for wildlife, promoting health and well-being, and fostering a sense of community pride. It also offers educational opportunities for people to learn gardening skills and engage in food growing. This year, the initiative introduced a series of gardening lectures and workshops, covering topics such as wildlife gardening and biosecurity. The newly introduced Grow Show was a major success, drawing over 500 attendees. Partnerships with local organisations, such as Octopus and Black Roots, were also highlighted, and the competition was supported by numerous sponsors, including Camden Garden Centre.

The competition faced challenges such as fluctuating funding and administrative barriers but continued to grow in popularity. Future plans include increasing participation, expanding workshops throughout the year, and moving the Grow Show to a larger venue at Caledonian Park. Additionally, efforts to improve the entry system and explore the development of a mobile app for community nominations are underway. Despite these challenges, Islington in Bloom achieved significant success, winning gold awards and recognition for its contributions to health and well-being.

The discussion addressed various aspects of community engagement and gardening initiatives in Islington, focusing on demographics, council estates, youth involvement, and program sustainability. It was acknowledged that detailed demographic data on participants in gardening competitions had not been systematically collected, partly due to concerns that more complex entry requirements could deter participation. However, the importance of understanding demographics was emphasized as a means to enhance inclusivity and broaden engagement. Efforts are being made to map participation, promote the cultural relevance of gardening, and ensure that all communities in the borough can access and benefit from these initiatives. Partnerships with community organizations and tools like location mapping have been instrumental in increasing reach and identifying areas for improvement.

The council highlighted its ongoing efforts on estates to support community gardening. A dedicated housing community gardening team plays a central role, assisting residents by organizing gardening groups, providing planting schemes, and maintaining green spaces. For those less inclined to garden, the team ensures pleasant, accessible spaces are available. These initiatives have successfully revitalized neglected areas and empowered residents to manage them sustainably. Specific projects, such as those funded through Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy allocations, were praised for their significant impact on estates like Andover and Six Acres. These efforts reflect a commitment to creating greener, more connected communities across the borough.

Youth involvement was recognized as an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

A deputation was received from the Islington Environmental Alliance. This outlined concerns about the environmental impact of incineration and the need for urgent and strategic changes in waste management practices. It was highlighted that burning one tonne of mixed waste produces roughly one tonne of greenhouse gases, with emissions from a local incinerator rivalling the total emissions of an entire borough.

Recent reports had shown that incineration is now the dirtiest way to generate power in the UK, prompting the Committee to call for a shift away from this practice. Additionally, there is a statutory target to halve residual waste by 2042, yet local recycling rates have remained stagnant at 30% for years, despite most black bag waste being recyclable or compostable.

The NLWA current allocation of resources was critiqued for being disproportionate to its stated priorities. While a billion pounds is being spent on a new incinerator with increased capacity, less than 1% of the budget is dedicated to waste reduction and recycling initiatives. Suggestions were made for the Authority to take a more active role in promoting waste prevention, repair, and reuse, as well as to include measurable targets for reducing residual waste and greenhouse gas emissions in its strategy.

Proposals for improvement included the formation of a circular economy team to collaborate with local communities, conducting citizens’ assemblies to gather input on waste reduction strategies, and implementing comparative local performance metrics to encourage recycling and waste reduction. Practical measures such as traveling food waste workshops, improved recycling facilities for flats, expanded lists of recyclable materials, and support for repair services like clothing and equipment fixes were also discussed.

The need for advanced sorting technologies to extract recyclable and compostable materials from black bag waste was emphasised, along with establishing reuse shops in every borough to replace the gap left by shuttered initiatives like Bright Sparks. The Environmental Alliance criticised the misleading portrayal of incineration as a sustainable solution and called for an honest acknowledgment of its environmental costs.

Councillors raised concerns about stagnating recycling rates, particularly on council estates, where infrastructure like waste chutes poses challenges for separating recyclables. The deputation acknowledged these difficulties but called for more radical thinking to make recycling easier for residents in dense housing, such as implementing collection systems modelled on delivery networks. They argued that initial investments to improve recycling accessibility could lead to long-term cost savings, as recycling is cheaper and less environmentally damaging than incineration.

Questions were also raised about waste from private deliveries and excessive packaging. The deputation stressed the need to engage with companies and encourage sustainable practices. On food waste, they suggested that redistribution to address food insecurity and expanding food waste collection programmes could be effective strategies. Members also discussed how cultural and practical barriers, especially for elderly residents or those in high-rise flats, need to be addressed through tailored support and better infrastructure.

The discussion reinforced the need for systemic change, emphasising collaboration between councils, community groups, and residents to promote reuse, repair, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

RESOLVED:

That the Work Plan 2024-25 was noted.