Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Placemaking and Housing. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment, and Transport and Deputy Leader of the Council.

To agree the changes to the processes and policies related to the School Streets, and the new batches of the School Street programme until 2027/28.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport, and Deputy Leader of the Council introduced the report, which sought approval of the proposed School Streets Plan, which set out the recommended plan for delivery of School Streets in Haringey until 2025/26.

The Cabinet Member highlighted the following achievements and benefits of the School Streets programme:

-       The borough had one of the most successful School Streets programmes in London with 23 School Streets and one of the fastest growing programmes.

-       The need to protect early educational establishments from traffic volumes and improve safety on the road and Streets for children and young people. The highest number of accidents occurred for children under the age of 12 during School drop off times.

-       Significantly accepted programme in Schools and the community. Acknowledgement of the additional protections that the School Streets programme provides to health and wellbeing.

-       The aim was to continue the programme until there was a School Street outside every educational establishment in the borough.

-        Delivering the aims of reduced traffic volumes outside Schools reduced oxide levels.

-       Increase in walking and cycling.

-       Aim to have healthy Streets and healthy School zones, for Schools that were not able to have a School Street i.e. those on a main road.

In response to questions from Cllr das Neves, and Cllr Cawley – Harrison, the following information was noted.

-       The Council’s Active Travel team worked closely with Schools and 100% of Headteachers, that have received School Streets, were in support of them.

-       School Streets were part of the hard infrastructure of tools to improve the environment and air quality in the borough. The Active Travel team were part of the soft infrastructure of the Council taking forward initiatives to improve air quality in and around Schools which involved parents and carers. The success of the schemes was underpinned by upfront engagement , in line with Haringey Deal principles, to identify any early issues and resolve any legitimate concerns that Headteachers, staff, parents and carers had. This way of working would be continued for the forthcoming schemes.

-       With regards to meeting the future funding requirement for an increased Schools Streets programme, this was through 50% capital funding and 50% external funding. The Council were confident in securing the expected external funding through external sources such as the Mayor's Air Quality Fund and government public health funding. The Council were further expecting to exceed the forecasted receipt of external funding required.

-       The 18-month period of the School Streets scheme was an experimental traffic order and had allowed the Council to adjust a scheme based on feedback. This report was proposing that the schemes were designed up front and implemented based on the community feedback received. The newer process was commented to be more inclusive as it allowed the Council to seek the views of the community beforehand, and allowed a smoother, quicker deployment of the School Street.

-       With regards to including Christchurch Road in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10