Agenda item

Councillor Webbe gave a presentation on the work of the Environment and Regeneration Directorate. A copy of the presentation would be interleaved with the agenda.

In the discussion the following points were made:

·         Fuel poverty was a key priority. Work was taking place to improve the energy efficiency of homes.

·         An innovative high rise insulation project would be starting soon.

·         SHINE (Seasonal Health Interventions Network) worked with the 2,475 vulnerable residents referred in 2015, each one being offered an average of four to five interventions.

·         Energy Services had commenced work on Bunhill Heat and Power (phase 2) which would supply a further 500 council homes. Phase 2 involved extracting waste heat.

·         The diesel surcharge had been implemented to improve air quality in Islington.

·         Work was taking place with neighbouring boroughs and businesses to improve air quality.

·         Four gyratory removal programmes were taking place and there had been a positive consultation response to their removal.

·         There was £2m TfL funding to improve local cycling routes.

·         Smart waste management systems were in place.

·         Recycling rates remained a priority. The rate was currently 32.8% which was the third highest of the 12 inner London borough. The North London Waste Authority target was 50% by 2020.

·         There had been a successful communal food and garden waste collections pilot in Tollington Ward.

·         Islington had one of the lowest residual waste rates of the inner London boroughs. It was important to innovate to reduce this further.

·         The Clean Islington app made it easier for people to report problems.

·         Missed bin collections had halved since taking the service in house in 2013 and work would be undertaken to reduce this further.

·         Islington had won Gold in “London in Bloom” and Borough of the Year with very few resources and a large voluntary effort.

·         There were major projects to extend East Finchley Vaults and Mausolea and a scheme to increase Trent Park burial capacity would start in the summer.

·         Concern was raised about inadequate bin storage on the Andover and Six Acres Estates. Some bins did not fit in the stores and were left outside. Councillor Webbe advised that where problems were identified, improvements were being made. Ward improvement money could be used. A member reported that some TRAs had concerns about a lack of engagement from the council. Concern was also raised that communal recycling bins could be difficult for older people to open. Councillor Webbe would ask officers to take action on the specific bin problems raised.

·         The council was charging supermarkets to pick up and either return or dispose of abandoned shopping trolleys.

·         A suggestion was made that more could be done to encourage cycling i.e. bicycle parking, a scheme to rent out cargo bikes. Councillor Webbe advised that secure cycle storage was provided on many estates and this would continue to be rolled out. Secure bicycle storage would be trialled in Tollington and St Georges. One would be a pavement build out and one would be on the road. Work would take place with TfL. TfL resources were required to improve cycle storage.

·         Concern was raised about the lack of working electric vehicle charging points. As part of the preparations for the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), work was being undertaken and new innovations were being considered e.g. rapid charging points and a servicing model. As the council did not have funding for this, a Londonwide partnership approach would be required.

·         Parks events income would be increased, both through ticketed events and also by considering income generating schemes on a case by case basis. Licensing, planning and the ethical agenda would all be considered. An example was given of a coffee hut in Fortune Street Park.

·         The council already did much smart city work. It was important to innovate and find smarter more efficient ways to undertake tasks and reduce costs.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    That a session on communal recycling on estates, to include identified problems with bins and bin storage and the bespoke solutions put in place to address these, be arranged for a future meeting of the committee.