Agenda item

The attached report presents to Cabinet, the results of an informal consultation, which sought the public’s view on the possible introduction of 13 new Healthy School Streets under Experimental Traffic Management Orders (ETMOs) for a maximum period of 18 months. 

The table in the report provides a summary of the number of schools, streets and wards affected.

The Executive Mayor delegated to the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Lynne Hale, the power to make the decisions set out in the recommendations contained within this report. The Deputy Mayor is recommended to agree to the following subject to compliance with statutory requirements:

RESOLVED: To

i. That the following 10 Healthy School Street schemes are agreed for implementation under ETMOs, with proposed amendments to HSS 17 and HSS 20 schemes as detailed in this report:

If the above recommended school streets are agreed to proceed, the Deputy Mayor is recommended to agree the following to ensure that the experimental schemes progress smoothly during the 18-month trial period:

       i.          Provide the relevant delegated authority to the Road Space Manager, Sustainable Communities Division to make the required ETMOs which will be valid for a maximum period of 18 months. The first 6 months will serve as the statutory objection period.

      ii.          Authorise officers to implement relevant parking, waiting and/or loading restrictions required to support the successful operation of the experimental school street schemes.

    iii.          Authorise officers to install the relevant equipment that allows the collection of traffic and air quality data for the 10 School Street sites.

With reference to Minute No. 102/22 above, Executive Mayor Perry had declared a personal interest in respect of this matter, left the meeting and took no part in the discussion or decision thereon.

Whilst the Executive Mayor did not have a pecuniary conflict of interest, he had removed himself from any decision-making role in it to avoid the perception of bias and therefore delegated to the Deputy (Statutory) Executive Mayor, authority to take this decision on his behalf as she saw fit.

Deputy (Statutory) Executive Mayor, Councillor Lynne Hale (Vice-Chair, in the Chair)

Cabinet considered a report, which presented the results of the informal consultation, which sought the public’s view on the possible introduction of 13 new Healthy School Streets under Experimental Traffic Management Orders (ETMOs) for a maximum period of 18 months.

It was noted that the consultation had been carried out between 28 September and 19 October 2022 and the report contained a table, which provided a summary of the number of schools, streets and wards affected.

It was reported that the informal consultation had been undertaken across multiple channels, including distribution of 10,645 letters and messaging on the Council’s website and social media channels however, the Council received a low return rate, with only 1,020 responses received from those within the consultation area (representing a 9.6% response rate).

The importance of community feedback was recognised and to ensure the Council was listening to the community, the recommendation was that the proposed schemes be taken forward as experiments to allow the community to assess the “real” impacts of the schemes.

Although, the Council had consulted on 13 Healthy School Street schemes, officers were recommending to the Executive Mayor that only 10 Healthy School Street schemes be taken forward for implementation (with amendments made to two schemes), with three schemes not being taken forward, as listed in the tables in the report.

This recommendation was being made following comprehensive analysis of the consultation responses received, together with the Council’s assessment on the anticipated benefits of the schemes.

The Deputy (Statutory) Executive Mayor said the report set out a clear rationale for progressing with these ten schemes on an experimental basis and that the Council would continue to monitor resident responses during the implementation and amend as needed.

As Deputy Executive Mayor, and on the basis set out in the report, she was happy to agree the recommendations on the Executive Mayor’s behalf.

Accordingly, the Deputy (Statutory) Executive Mayor, in Cabinet, RESOLVED that:

1.            The following 10 Healthy School Street schemes be agreed for implementation under ETMOs, with proposed amendments to HSS 17 and HSS 20 schemes as detailed in this report:

Reference:                Scheme Name

HSS14                        Elmwood Schools (Infant & Junior)

HSS15                        Harris Academy Crystal Palace

HSS16                        Harris Academy Invictus

HSS17                       Harris Academy South Norwood, Beulah Hill Campus (as amended)

HSS18                        Kensington Primary & Norbury High

HSS19                        Minster Schools

HSS20                        Oasis Academy Byron (as amended)

HSS21                        Rockmount Primary

HSS22                        St. James the Great Primary

HSS24                        St. Peter's Primary

2.            The Council’s Road Space Manager, Sustainable Communities Division, be authorised to make the required ETMOs, which would be valid for a maximum period of 18 months (the first six months would serve as the statutory objection period.)

3.            Officers be authorised to implement relevant parking, waiting and/or loading restrictions required to support the successful operation of the experimental school street schemes.

4.            Officers be authorised to install the relevant equipment that allowed the collection of traffic and air quality data for the 10 School Street sites.