Agenda item

Resolved: that the report be noted. That officers should provide a written update about funding and projects taking place in Downham ward for Councillor Howard; that information be circulated to all councillors about small sums of funding available for footway improvements; that the ‘easy read’ version of the LIP be circulated to Councillors.

The agenda was changed. This item was considered after the Catford update.

4.1    Nick Harvey (Transport Planner) introduced the report, the following key points were noted:

·         The Local Implementation Plan (LIP) and transport strategy had been in development for a number of months. Consultation had been carried out (which included consultation with the select committee). The final report was due to be considered by Mayor and Cabinet on 6 February.

·         The Committee’s previous comments on air quality had been incorporated into the revised LIP.

·         Officers had considered the Committee’s comments on the air quality targets but considered that it would be preferable to retain achievable targets (based on those proposed by TfL) with the ambition to do better rather than to include stretching targets that might not all be reached.

·         The Committee’s comments on cycling provision on the south circular would be addressed in the upcoming revision of the cycling strategy.

·         There had been 280 responses to the consultation, which had been broadly positive.

4.2    Nick Harvey responded to questions from the Committee, the following key points were noted:

·         Four Healthy Neighbourhood schemes along with one (TfL funded) Liveable Neighbourhood scheme (of 18) would be funded in the first two years of the LIP.

·         It should be possible (dependent on the individual requirements of the proposed schemes) to deliver a further four in the third year of the LIP.

·         A rigorous, data driven approach had been taken to prioritising healthy neighbourhood schemes. The immediate availability of funding from other sources had been taken into consideration in choosing some schemes.

·         Consideration had been given to the distribution of funding between the north and the south of the borough. The south circular provided a dividing line for the north and south of the borough, due this being the boundary of the proposed extended ultra low emission zone planned to come into force in October 2021. The Mayor of London also proposed that the ultra-low emission zone would finish at the south circular. In future years, two healthy neighbourhoods would be chosen from each side of the south circular.

·         A future change in the London Mayoralty would have an impact on the delivery of the LIP. However, it was unlikely that a future Mayor’s priorities would be radically different from the existing priorities.

4.3    In Committee discussions the following key points were also noted:

·         The Committee welcomed the report and commended officers for their work.

·         Members were concerned that there should be an equal distribution of funding and projects between the north and the south of the borough. However, there was a difference of opinion amongst the Committee about the perceived and actual levels of funding for projects in the north and the south of the borough.

·         Some members were concerned that distributing LIP funding too widely (especially given the significant reductions in funding over time) would result in reduced levels of impact.

·         The Committee noted that evidenced pre-existing levels of community support could be beneficial in the prioritisation of future healthy neighbourhood schemes.

4.4    Resolved: that the report be noted. That officers should provide a written update about funding and projects taking place in Downham ward for Councillor Howard; that information be circulated to all councillors about small sums of funding available for footway improvements; that the ‘easy read’ version of the LIP be circulated to Councillors.