Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 150 KBVenue: 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH
Contact: Julie Timbrell
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Apologies
To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillors Bethan Roberts , Sabina Emmanuel and Leo Pollak.
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Notification of any items of business which the chair deems urgent
In special circumstances, an item of business may be added to an agenda within five clear working days of the meeting. Minutes: There were none. |
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Disclosure of Interests and Dispensations
Members to declare any interests and dispensations in respect of any item of business to be considered at this meeting. Minutes: There were none. |
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Minutes
Supporting documents: Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 7 May 2024 were agreed as a correct record. |
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London Wildlife Trust: Centre for Wildlife Gardening
Diana Wallace and Jane Lilley will present on volunteering and learning sessions at the Centre for Wildlife Gardening and the ‘Nature in Mind ‘project.
Minutes: The chair welcomed Diana Wallace, Community Learning and Engagement Officer and Jane Lilley, the acting Head of Learning and Engagement, and invited them to present on volunteering and learning sessions at the Centre for Wildlife Gardening, base in East Dulwich, and the London wide ‘Nature in Mind ‘project.
Wildlife gardening
Diana Wallace, Community Learning and Engagement Officer, explained there are various session held at the Centre for Wildlife gardening in East Dulwich These include schools, as well as sessions for people with learning disabilities, and older people. There are also dedicated volunteers. Wildlife gardening is particularly special as people observe nature unfolding. People with autism in particular benefit.
‘Nature in mind ‘.
Jane Lilley, the acting Head of Learning and Engagement, explained this happens in Walthamstow. The project works with people on the CAMHS green list while waiting further mental health care. There are two age groups (under and over 11). The sessions are good for life skills, using skills (practical and personal) and providing a perspective. Sessions are often not taken up by schools as wildlife is not part of the curriculum.
The chair then invited questions and the following points were made:
· A member asked how the London Wildlife Trust work with a diverse demographic? The staff explained that there are many nature reserves and there can be different barriers at each one. The London Wildlife Trust have started a paid traineeship.
· One issue can be the background of London residents and if nature has not been introduced by parents and grandparents, which can be more likely in an urban environment. This can mean that young people are less familiar with wildlife and so there is a focus on family learning. Children often go home with enthusiasm, which the Wildlife Trust hope is infectious, and it often is.
· The was a comment that green spaces are not perceived as for all. The London Wildlife Trust staff agreed and said that they reach out as stewards of this land to welcome all the community. The conduct outreach to work with mosques, the Spanish and Latin American community, and go to Children Centres. There is a lot of outreach.
· The Centre for Wildlife Garden is based in East Dulwich and was fought for by local people and now run by London Wildlife Trust as well as other sites across London, and woodlands in Southwark.
· Members asked about links with the local authority as many primary schools are still maintained. The London Wildlife Trust conduct outreach to local schools, e.g. Brunswick and family centres.
· Members asks how Southwark might have a Nature in Mind project in Southwark and the London Wildlife Trust said that the organisation would like to see them everywhere.
· There was a discussion on encouraging wildlife with its messiness and the advantages of wildlife networks. It was noted that Lambeth Council stopped spraying pesticides, and promoted interest in volunteer plants and also encouraged No Mow May, with a mown strip to indicate this is deliberate. The London Wildlife ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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Healthy Weight
Public Health will provide a presentation on the Healthy Weight Strategy with particular reference to active travel and green spaces, in order to support the review
The following officers will present: · Sangeeta Leahy, Director of Public Health · Gillian Boundy, Senior Public Health Programme Manager – Place and Health Improvement Supporting documents: Minutes: The chair invited Public Health officers to provide a presentation on the Healthy Weight Strategy with particular reference to active travel and green spaces, in order to support the proposed review on Environmental Health : the health and wellbeing impacts of active travel.
The following officers presented:
• Sangeeta Leahy, Director of Public Health • Gillian Boundy, Senior Public Health Programme Manager – Place and Health Improvement
The chair invited questions and the following points were made:
· A member commented that given inactivity is so linked to income deprivation and poor housing are we tinkering round the edges and putting the cart before the horse by focusing on activities rather than tackling the causes of deprivation. Officers agreed that this is very much about deprivation, and this is why the partnership approach is about Public Health being part of housing and planning health interventions focused on those areas, including council housing and specific programmes. Public Health is very much focused on the wider determinants of health and inequality.
· There was a discussion on poverty and cultural sensitivity. Public Health spoke about delivering culturally specific activities, so for example programmes tailored to the Latin American community and older black men, which provides tailored information on diet and exercise. Public Health are also working with black majority churches and have co designed a programme as it is recognising these are community leaders. Public Health have also worked with pregnant women. The approach is focused on keeping in mind what is suitable with different groups, for example people living with food insecurity and how to provide culturally appropriate information on diet and meal preparation. There is also work with schools.
· Members commented that some demographics are less likely to walk and cycle, and there can be cultural as well as practical barriers. One issue is that if people in a small flats and cannot store a bike. The Public Health director said there are lots of barriers based on gender, class, age, ethnicity etc. The approach is to work with groups over time to find out what they want. One example was that an older group of men wanted a dedicated gym class so they would not feel self-conscious.
· Public health were asked if there was a causal relationship between obesity and deprivation or are there other underlying factors. Officers referred to diagrams in the presentation and how different factors interacted. Deprivation is a strong factor , but it is possible to be wealthy and obese.
· Members asked about the School Superzones and how these can be enhanced and increased. Officers said that the Superzones is being formally evaluate by GLA, and the council expect to get feedback in terms of what is working well and not so well. Public Health also draws on national research.
· One member commented that some people are exhausted from working and in those situations cycling and walking is the last thing on their minds. Another member spoke about how active travel has the advantage of being possible ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Scrutiny review: Environmental Health-the health and wellbeing impacts of active travel and improved access to nature
This item will consider the proposed scrutiny review topic of ‘Environmental Health: The health and wellbeing impacts of active travel and improved access to nature and how these can be extended through our borough’.
Jack McKenna, Senior Public Affairs Manager UK and Ireland, Lime will present. A paper is enclosed. Supporting documents: Minutes: The chair explained that this item will consider the proposed scrutiny review topic of ‘Environmental Health: The health and wellbeing impacts of active travel and improved access to nature and how these can be extended through our borough’.
Members were invited to make any comments on the review scope, listed under item 10.
Lime
The chair welcomed Jack McKenna, Senior Public Affairs Manager UK and Ireland, Lime, and invited him to provide a summary of the paper circulated with the agenda.
Members were then invited to ask questions and the following points were made:
· Lime is seeing a 50% growth in routes in Southwark, and that is in large part because of the flexible street parking policy.
· The majority of journeys are by commuters and consistent users – these are early morning on office days and last mile journeys, including to train stations. Many users are using passes.
· There are two types of parking for Lime EV E-Bikes and scooters: considerate street parking (Flexible Parking Zone) and set bays (Mandatory Parking Zones). Different boroughs have different rules. In Southwark parking is on bays in high use areas but in other areas people just need to park considerately on the street. The users have to provide a photo to show how they have parked.
· Inconsiderate parking is dealt with by Lime through progressive sanctions. Lime has to comply through a Service Level Agreement with Southwark Council’s conditions. Lime meet with officers to discuss performance. 92% of bikes are considerately parked.
· Members spoke about the pros and cons of street parking. The impact of bikes discarded on pavements and bad parking can mean cluttering the pavement up and reducing accessibility for the mobility impaired, buggies, and wheelchair users. However, the advantages of flexible street parking are that women in particular feel safer being able to start and finish a journey close to home.
· Lime said that park-ability is key. Mandated bays are very expensive to provide full coverage. The problem is that an inadequate number of bays also can lead to overcrowding, and this can result in swapping one problem for another, but reduce usability. Data shows that people will not take a bike if they cannot locate one close by.
· A member spoke about e-bikes becoming a disincentive to walkers in parks or concern about danger of collisions with children. Lime said it is possible to look at limitations being imposed in certain areas via Geo Fencing. Elephant Park and Burgess Park were mentioned as problematic areas. The geo fencing technology is very flexible but must be mandated by officers. The max speed 15.8 Km / hour, and this can be reduced. Lime encouraged members to get in touch regarding concerns.
· There was a problem about hacking Lime Bikes; a hardware upgrade had addressed this. Lime work closely with the police and will hand over details and help identify people committing crimes.
· The electric source is fully renewable, and it is possible for Lime to change batteries on location which ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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Biodiversity policies planning briefing
Planning officers have provided the enclosed briefing to note. Supporting documents: Minutes: A briefing has been provided by Planning officers, to note. This was requested to provide clarity for the Biodiversity review. |
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Scrutiny review: Biodiversity draft report
A first draft of the scrutiny review report on Biodiversity is enclosed.
The London Climate Resilience Review is enclosed. This was commissioned by the Mayor of London and published last week. Relevant recommendations are highlighted in the table that starts on page 29. Supporting documents: Minutes: The chair explained that the first draft of the report is enclosed, with a final draft report due to come to the next meeting, in order to give adequate time to hear from the commission and officers, as it is a large report.
The chair invited members to provide comments or suggestions on how to improve the report, and the recommendations, in particular, and to send these by email. |
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Work programme |