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CALL IN: Crystal Palace & South Norwood Low Traffic Neighbourhood - Confirmation of Decision

The Scrutiny & Overview Committee is asked to confirm whether or not it wishes to refer the key decision 6520SC on the Crystal Palace and South Norwood Low Traffic Neighbourhood to the Cabinet for reconsideration, based on the concerns agreed at the Committee meeting held on 23 March 2021.

Minutes:

The Chair of the Committee explained that the meeting had been arranged to reconvene to confirm the decision made by the Committee on the call-in request on the Crystal Palace and South Norwood Low Traffic Neighbourhood key decision. At the meeting on the 23 March, the Committee decided it would refer the decision back to the decision maker, which in this instance was the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Croydon. However, the Council’s Constitution does not permit this outcome from the consideration of a call-in. The Constitution provides three options for the Committee, which are:-

1.    That no further action is necessary and the decision can be implemented as originally intended.

2.    To refer the decision to the Cabinet for reconsideration, outlining the nature of the Committee’s concerns.

3.    To refer the decision to Council, if it is considered that it was not in keeping with the budget and policy framework.

As the Committee had previously concluded at its meeting on 23 March that the decision taken by the Cabinet Member was within the budget and policy framework, the option of referring the decision to Council was discounted.

 

The Chair asked the Committee to confirm whether it wanted to refer the decision to the Cabinet for reconsideration. The Committee agreed that it would refer the decision to the Cabinet based on the grounds outlined in paragraph 2.5 of the Committee report, which had been previously agreed at the meeting on 23 March. It was agreed that no further considerations would be added.

 

RESOLVED: The Committee agreed to refer the decision to the Cabinet for reconsideration based on the following concerns:-

1.  The Committee was concerned that the lack of clarification on the baseline data sources to be used for the experiment would make it difficult to quantifiably demonstrate the potential benefits arising from the experiment to the local community.  As such that further work was needed to identify and refine the quantifiable data sources that would be used for the project. Additionally, in order to build public trust, confirmation of these data sources had to be made publicly available, prior to the start of the experiment in South Norwood & Crystal Palace.

2.  The Committee was concerned that it would be difficult for the public to have confidence in the benefits arising from the experiment without clearly defined success criteria. As such urgent work was needed to define a framework by which the success of the scheme would be assessed. This needed to be completed and made publicly available prior to the start of the experiment in South Norwood & Crystal Palace.

3.  The Committee was concerned about the potential impact the experiment may have upon the roads surrounding the LTN, particularly in regards to air quality. As such any monitoring installed as part of the experimental scheme needed to include the wider area.  Additionally, given the potential negative impact on the air quality in the surrounding roads, mitigation needed to be identified as a matter of urgency, should there be a significant deterioration in air quality.

4.  The Committee was concerned that the level of engagement with Bromley Council to date had not resulted in an agreed way forward for the experiment, which was likely to result in a detrimental impact for those Bromley residents living closest to the scheme. As such further engagement with the London Borough of Bromley needed to be prioritised, to ensure that the appropriate mitigation was in place before the start of the experiment.

5.  Although reassurance was given about the level of consultation that would be undertaken throughout the experiment, it was agreed that the engagement strategy for the Crystal Palace & South Norwood LTN project needed to be made publicly available as soon as possible.

6.  In light of concerns raised about during the meeting about the level of signage used during the previous temporary scheme, there needed to be an ongoing review of the signage used during the life of the experimental scheme.

7.  The Committee had a concern that it would be difficult to reduce congestion on residential roads while route-finding apps continue to include these roads as potential route options for motorists. As such the Committee would ask the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Croydon to give a commitment to working with other London boroughs to address the issue of route finding apps directing motorists through residential streets.

8.  In light of the above concerns, it is requested that the Cabinet Member provides two updates to the Streets, Environment & Homes Sub-Committee. Firstly, before the start of the experiment to provide a response to the concerns of the Scrutiny & Overview Committee. Secondly, at the conclusion of the experiment to provide an update on the outcomes.

 

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