Agenda and minutes

Venue: Ground Floor Meeting Room G02A - 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH. View directions

Link: Livestream/Video (YouTube)

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

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    Minutes:

     

    Councillor Tom Flynn gave apologies for lateness.

2.

Notification of any items of business which the chair deems urgent

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    In special circumstances, an item of business may be added to the agenda within five clear working days of the meeting.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

3.

Disclosure of Interests and Dispensation

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    Members to declare any interests and dispensations in respect of any item of business to be considered at this meeting.

    Minutes:

    Councillor Radha Burgess declared that she lives near Champion Hill, which is an  area under discussion in the School streets and low emission neighbourhoods item.

     

    Councillor Richard Lemming declared he championed and helped design the Healthy Streets Dulwich initiative, which is also under discussion in the School streets and low emission neighbourhoods item.

4.

Minutes

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    To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the open section of the meeting on 4 December 2019 and 20 January 2020.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    The Minutes of the open section of the meeting on 4 December 2019 and 20 January 2020 were agreed.

5.

Carbon Reduction Strategy

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    Councillor Richard Livingstone, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and the Climate Emergency, will provide an update on progress and the engagement plan.

     

    The document referred to in the meeting is enclosed.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

     

    Councillor Richard Livingston and the Director of Climate Emergency, Chris Page, provided an update on the Climate Emergency strategy development, and tabled a paper.

     

    The chair invited questions and the following points were made:

     

    ·  In a response to a question on how the strategy will promote changed behaviour the lead cabinet member said that this will be achieved through promotion and winning people’s hearts and minds. Engagement and communication will be critical. There are examples of this; over the last year construction companies are recognising that if they want business they will need to change how they design and build. There are also residents who are understandably preoccupied with meeting basic needs such as food and housing so it will be important to make the strategy tangible, for example by referencing flooding and air quality.

     

    ·  The cabinet lead said there is an intention is to integrate the wider ecological emergency, including biodiversity loss, into the climate emergency strategy, while keeping the strategy focused. This was also put forward by the Partnership Planning group.

     

    ·  When asked if the Partnership Planning group will involve the Business Improvement Districts (BIDS) the Climate change Director said that there will be engagement with larger organisations, however the Partnership Planning groups  is more led is by local residents and community groups.

     

    ·  The Climate Change Director said a technical study is being commissioned to look at where carbon is being produced and where the strategy can make most difference.

     

    ·  A member commented that the links between social and environmental justice are very important and asked if the council have a programme to tackle this, for example via air quality. She asked if the council will be recognising that those that contributed the least to emissions are frequently the people who experience most harms, and vice versa, and if there was a programme that  links deprivation and the targeting of resources to those in most need.  The Director of Climate Change said officers are collating emissions data and there is an intention to overlay this with deprivation.

     

    ·  A member referred to a ‘Virtual Twin’ AI programme, where the boroughs data can be imputed then recommended actions are generated.

     

    ·  The cabinet lead and Climate Change Director gave assurances that there will be outreach with a comprehensive range of residents, not just the already converted, and this will include the most disadvantaged groups.

     

    ·  A member raised concerns about the number of trees being felled and the amount of carbon in mature trees that is consequently lost. The cabinet lead said that mature trees are not felled unless absolutely necessary and whenever trees are removed more are added.

     

     

6.

Green energy on estates & Community Energy

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    Afsheen Kabir Rashid, CEO of Repowering London,  and Chair of Community Energy England,  will present on Community Energy and opportunities for Southwark with the end of the Feed in Tariff (FiT).

     

    The presentation given at the meeting is enclosed.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Dr Afsheen Kabir Rashid provided a presentation on Community Energy.

     

    The presentation outlined how community led renewable energy is based on facilitating a decentralised model of empowering communities and community benefit companies.  As well as the more obvious benefits of carbon reduction there are also the social benefits that come from visible solar projects in the community and the cooperative model that is used, and the ability of local community energy projects to mobilise and enthuse people.

     

    The Repowering London highlighted these actions and opportunities to improve viability:

     

      The new finance model allows for a mixture of capital investment

      Carbon Offsets have been used to pump prime schemes in other local authorities

      Community buildings, such as schools and community centres, can be good sites for solar schemes as energy use is in the day, improving economic viability, and the social outcomes from working with school children are also high.

     

    The chair invited the cabinet lead, Councillor Richard Livingstone, and officer lead, Martin Kovats, Community Projects Manager, to update the Commission on Community Energy. Councillor Richard Livingston said that introducing Community Energy has posed challenges with the end of the Feed in Tariff. Community Projects Manager said three pilots were conducted and the evaluations concluded that they were not viable, when measuring solely economic benefits, and excluding intangibles. Officers are now looking more broadly as housing estates. Councillor Richard Livingston added they are looking at other sources of investment e.g. SIL, Carbon Offsets to improve viability.

     

    Members noted that Hackney has many schemes and asked if this a result of more political will and investment Dr Afsheen Kabir Rashid said that these were small schemes dating form 2015. More recently they have been working in Lambeth and Kensington, and now the City of London. She advised that there is a need for collaborative relationships with councils and residents as these are long term projects spanning 25 years. She advised the council to consider schools, leisure centres, and local business as they are a good fit with the new finance model as consumptions of electricity matches energy generation. Southwark in a good place initiate schemes and once one project is in place it is easier to scale up.

     

    Councillor Richard Livingston indicated that he could come back with a report in September on next steps.

7.

Movement Plan

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    An update on the delivery of the Movement Plan will be provided.

     

    The presentation given at the meeting is enclosed.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    A presentation was given at the meeting by Pip Howson, Team Leader Transport policy, and Simon Bevan, Director of Planning on both the Movement Plan and items outline under item 8:

     

    ·  A Liveable Neighbourhood pilot around South Bermondsey station and the Bonamy & Bramcote Estates

     

    ·  Dulwich Healthy Streets

     

    ·  Walworth Low Emission Zone.

     

    ·  Champion Hill Area

     

    The chair then invited questions.

     

    Members asked about the process for choosing initiatives that will deliver the Movement Plan. Officers said that they welcome contact from groups and local people. Dulwich is a community led scheme; officers have been working with local people for 5 years; officers wanted a Cycleway and residents were concerned with emissions. Different funding programmes come along that fit different criteria for initiatives. Walworth Low Emission Zone was able to meet funding criteria as was the Bonamy & Bramcote Estates scheme. Officers said the Movement Plan provides more of a strategic overview .Officers said that projects do need to bring various different strands together to realise an initiative.

     

    A member asked how indices of deprivation influence decision making and how a school on a red route might benefit from a programme to reduce emissions and increase active travel.  Officers referred to a work in Camberwell, and emphasised that they work with different groups to ensure all voices are heard. Officers said that busy road and junctions do pose problems. Officers said the Movement Plan is about equity, and in bringing plans to Cabinet officers will be utilising evidence and community views to enable good decision making.  Members agreed with the importance of working with communities, but in addition to this highlighted the importance of the Movement Plan having a more strategic focus that drives an operational plan, alongside with working with the community.

     

    Members pressed the point on criteria used to make decisions and asked if Public Health information on deprivation, public transport availability, obesity, illness, air quality, etc.  will be used to make decisions. Officers said when schemes utilise external funding the criteria is set externally, however the council set certain criteria internally. The Director of Planning commented that officers can take away the point about the importance of transparent criteria when prioritising schemes. Members emphasised the importance of an overall strategic plan, that is driven by data on need, and which sets out how the aims of the Movement Plan will be delivered.

     

    A member asked if schemes on major roads, particularly those with schools and hospitals are prioritised. Officers indicated that the shift in thinking around car parking is helpful. The plans for the Old Kent Road scheme are due to be completed soon. The council is working with TFL. A recent draft was presented by Sally Crew, Transport Policy lead, to an encouraging reception by TFL, where it was praised as a bold design. The scheme includes a Liner Park, which has already been granted planning permission. Officers said the scheme will reduce traffic and increase active travel, including cycling.   The scheme aims to deliver by 2030, with major  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

School streets and low emission neighbourhoods

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    Officers will provide and update on school streets and low emission neighbourhoods including:

     

    -a Liveable Neighbourhood pilot around South Bermondsey station and the Bonamy & Bramcote Estates

    - Dulwich Healthy Streets

    - Walworth Low Emission Zone.

    -Champion Hill Area (a monitoring study is enclosed)  

     

    David Smith, grassroots South London air quality campaigner who blogs, tweets and campaigns as Little Ninja will contribute to the discussion.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    This item is minuted under item 7.

9.

Waltham Forest visit

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    Commission members recently visited Waltham Forest to look at the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and Mini- Holland scheme.

     

     A presentation given at the end off the visit is enclosed.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    The presentation was noted following the visit on 10 February by Commission members.  

10.

Review: Carbon Reduction Strategy

11.

Review: Air Quality

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    A report on SELCHP emissions is enclosed. Further comment on this has been sought from Air Quality colleagues.

     

    A report on the percentage of car parking spaces in the borough is to follow.

     

    A presentation setting out headlines for the scrutiny review report on Air Quality is enclosed, for discussion,  and to assist the Commission in scoping out the final report and recommendations.

     

    Information on Our Bike / Peddle my Wheels, cargo bikes is enclosed to inform the review.

     

    Jeremy Leach has provided notes on the Transport taken from a recent CAT report.

     

     

     

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    The headline report was discussed, with members making the following comments and undertaking to make more detailed comments via email:

     

    ·  Importance of a positive vision;

     

    ·  Ensuring traffic reduction on side roads, through schemes such as Low Traffic Neighborhoods,  also reduce  traffic on main roads;

     

    ·  Public transport improvement to bus routes with TFL ought to be prioritized.

     

     

     

     

12.

Work Programme

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    Minutes:

    Members requested that officers provide the outstanding reports on Carbon offsetting and car parking in order to inform the final reports.