Agenda item

Theme for the meeting: Transport

The Committee received a presentation from Will Umney, Team Leader for Transport Planning, on Net Zero Carbon Transport Workstream. The following key points were raised in the discussion:
 

• In compact cities, the effective local transport of people, products and materials was central to a circular economy, enabling local goods and material flows. This in turn supported smaller scale transport options for goods and effective local public transport options, reducing energy and resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and improving local air quality.
• Islington’s transport networks made a significant contribution to the borough’s CO2 emissions (116,000 tonnes in 2019) contributing towards climate change. The elimination of transport related emissions would support the achievement of the Council’s goal of tackling climate change by achieving net zero carbon emissions in Islington by 2030.
• People targets and initiatives: to achieve 90% of all trips being taken by active and sustainable transport, a 4.6% reduction in private car ownership, a 9.2% increase in trips by public transport, and 93% of residents to live within 400m of the strategic cycle network.
• Goods targets and initiatives: to achieve a 10% reduction in freight traffic in the morning peak-time
• Materials and procurement: Reuse of materials, adopt a progressive procurement approach for investment into the public transport system to support local supply chains and leverage maximum social value.
• Last Mile Deliveries: Identify micro distribution hubs to provide space for local couriers for last mile deliveries; Promoting cargo bikes as a first choice alternative to vans for last mile deliveries; Increase Out of Home delivery options including parcel lockers.
• The Council wanted to enable employment growth and increased economic activity within the borough. It was, however, recognised that an economic development model built on perpetual growth presents significant challenges to the Council’s Net Zero Carbon 2030 commitment and to the borough’s transport system. The Council wanted to meet the twin challenges of building a fairer Islington and tackling climate change by building a green economy that will provide green, low carbon jobs, including the transport sector.
• Officers responded to concerns over e-bikes and cycle hire providers; explaining that the Council was trying to work with the providers to mitigate issues such as dumping of the bikes and irresponsible use. As well as looking at a pricing structure for these in which there would be an update in due course. Cllr Champion also explained that these types of bikes were a very well used service, but the concerns raised were very valid.
• Questions arose over the use of parcel lockers, including not wanting these to be at the expense of pavement space or an unused service. Councillors suggested that these should be installed in places where there was business interest or public buildings such as libraries, which could produce an income stream. Officers explained that concerns were already raised over loss of highway space and accessibility issues surrounding parcel lockers, but these would be placed in areas they were needed and did not cause a nuisance.
• Officers reiterated that driving had a huge impact on the environment, and therefore, the promotion of active travel and creating a physical environment was important in making the use of motor vehicles less attractive. Officers further explained that they were developing an action plan on active travel to consider how unused parking spaces could be used.
• Councillors had concerns over the use of bike hangars. Officers explained there had been increased delivery of bike hangars which came with increased operational challenges. Software was being developed to aid this management to make it more seamless and if anyone saw an empty or unused bike hangar to contact them.
• Councillors explained their concerns over the last mile initiative and how this could cause increased noise pollution and only non-mortised vehicles should be used for this such as McDonalds use of only bikes for deliveries locally as moped users had increasingly become irresponsible. In response officers explained that in Hackney the Amazon micro distribution hub used the building they already had so this had not created further noise pollution but would investigate the impact of these on residents.  They were also trying to tackle bad behaviour of mopeds and that McDonalds exclusively using push bikes for deliveries had been successful.
• Councillor Champion lastly explained that the Council were trying to encourage research into the use of cargo bikes, which could hold up to 100kg, all over London.

Resolved:

That the report be noted

ACTIONS:

Officers to find out the percentage of bike hangars in use and update Councillors