Agenda item

Councillor Webbe, Executive Member for Environment & Transport presented the Q4 Performance Report which set out the corporate performance indicator suite for 2018/19, together with a progress update for indicators relating to Environment.

The following points were made:

·         In response to concerns that electric charging points being used by taxi drivers, the Executive Member for Environment and Transport acknowledged that where the Council commissions a company to install charging units, the units are available to be used by all as compared to units provided by the Council. Members were informed that as more taxi cabs are encouraged to switch to cleaner energy it is important, as well as the Council installing appropriate electric charge points, other neighbouring authorities increase their supply of electric charging points.”

·         The fall in household recycling rates is due to high contamination levels and the strict tolerance criteria determined by North London Waste Authority, however the Council recognises more needs to be done in terms of public awareness and education especially with regards to nappy disposals and food waste. Members were reminded that despite the cuts to the council and loss of personnel such as recycling ambassadors, Islington has the fifth highest recycling rate of the twelve inner-London Boroughs. In addition, the meeting was informed that residual waste per household remains the second lowest of all 32 London Boroughs which was to be welcomed.

·         In response to a suggestion for communal bins on housing estates to be redesigned considering the present ones are not suitable recycling containers, the Executive Member indicated a full review of the recycling arrangements for all Council housing estates had recently been undertaken and redesigned accordingly. The Executive Member agreed that where specific concerns persist that this would be looked into. The Executive Member also acknowledged that the Service has recently introduced bins with reversible lids which tends to discourage the use of black bin bags. Members were reminded that the Committee would in the next few months be receiving an update on the 82 recommendations from its review exercise on household recycling.

·         On the issue of monitoring of air quality outside schools, a request for data to be included in future performance indicator measures, the Executive Member for Environment and Transport advised that this could be made available on an annually basis especially as the information is collated by the Mayor of London. The Council’s own data from the monitoring tubes positioned outside every school in the borough would need to be verified before being presented. Members were assured that this would be available from next year.?“

·         The Executive Members also indicated that information relating to number of trips by buses, cars and cycling in the borough would be available for consideration at future meeting. A request for information relating to the number of people killed or seriously injured on the borough roads each year would also be made available for members to analyse the trends.

·         In response to a member’s observation of potential trip hazards to pedestrians as a result of car users running cables across pavements to charge vehicles, the Executive Member indicated that the Council expects residents to act responsibly, however any observations should be reported to the council who will take action immediately.

·         In response to the fall in the number of leisure visits, Corporate Director Environment and Regeneration acknowledged that the closure of Highbury Pool has been a factor, however following the surveyors report confirming that there was no structural damage to the building from the fire incident, plans are in place to reopen the complex in December 2020 or January 2020.

·         A request for details about percentage of appeals won by the council at the Enforcement and Traffic Tribunal was noted by the Executive Member as it will demonstrate the quality and fairness of the Council’s parking service.

RESOLVED
That the report be noted.