Verbal update.
Minutes:
The Panel received a verbal update on the Crouch End Liveable Neighbourhoods scheme from Peter Watson, Programme Manager Highway Major Events. The following was noted:
· The Project commenced last November and included significant consultation work and workshops with both residents and Members.
· The key aim was to engender modal shift away from cars towards using public transport. In order to do this vehicular traffic was restricted and a bus gate in operation on Priory Lane.
· As part of the justification for the trail scheme it was noted that 80% of the traffic going through Crouch End did not stop there and instead vehicles were using Crouch End as a commuting artery.
· Part of the purpose of the trial was to iron out any issues that arose around communications. The Panel were advised that following the two-week trail, around 3000 comments were received through the website. At the time of the meeting, officers had responded to 800.
· The Project Board, at its most recent meeting, had agreed to undertake additional communications work and officers would be going out to the public with a consultation exercise on the next stage of the scheme. Officers advised that there were no plans at present to install another bus gate in the second stage of the project.
· In response to a request for clarification on timescales for the communication exercise, officers advised that they were constrained by the recent announcement of a General Election and anticipated this being concluded by the end of January. In addition, there was also a pre-election period scheduled for 23rd March for the Mayoral election and it was noted that this would also determine when the second trial period could take place.
The following points were raised in discussion of this agenda item:
a. The Panel sought assurances about whether any measurement of air quality was taken before and after the trial period to assess its impact. In response, officers advised that 26 sites were monitored across Crouch End over a twelve month period to develop a baseline from which to measure any improvements to air quality.
b. In response to a question about the level of concerns raised by residents following the trial period and whether the Council was considering cancelling the project, officers acknowledged the concerns raised by residents and suggested that the scheme was always likely to cause some upset because of the impact on traffic flow. Officers also highlighted that Haringey was the only borough awarded funding who were able to complete the whole two week trial period. Both Newham and Tower Hamlets had to cancel similar schemes due to concerns over safety. Enfield and Waltham Forest undertook borough-wide closures, whereas Haringey’s was targeted to a specific location.
c. Officers advised that they would be examining all of the feedback to examine where improvements could be made and how some of the biggest concerns might be mitigated. Officers suggested that one of the key learning points was around residents feeling that they had not been properly engaged. Officers suggested that despite sending out thousands of leaflets, there were some concerns about the extent to which people read the communications literature. The Cabinet Member advised that she had circulated a 3 page list of all of the consultation work undertaken as part of this scheme to Members last week. Furthermore, officers had engaged with all of the local business owners face-to-face. Nevertheless, the Cabinet Member acknowledged that more needed to be done next time to ensure that residents were fully aware of what was happening and when.
d. The Panel advocated that more consultation and engagement needed to be done about the closure of Middle Lane as a bus stop. The Panel also requested further information around the outcomes from the scheme as well as the impact on air pollution. Officers agreed to circulate a briefing on the Crouch End Liveable Neighbourhoods to the Panel outside of the meeting. (Action: Ann Cunningham).
e. Cllr Emery enquired whether a Councillor from Muswell Hill Ward could be placed on the project board due to the impact the scheme had in Muswell Hill. The Cabinet Member advised that she was going to hold a meeting with ward Councillors from the neighbouring wards about the communications programme going forwards and how this would be communicated to residents.Concerns from Muswell Hill ward Councillors would be picked up at this meeting. (Action: Cllr Hearn).
f. In response to a question around the costs of the two week trial, officers advised that the cost was £187k, with most of the cost being due to staffing costs.
g. The Chair requested that officers circulate copies of the responses to any FOI requests that had been received in relation to the Crouch End Liveable Neighbourhoods. (Action: Ann Cunningham).
h. The Cabinet Member advised Panel Members had four days left to respond with feedback on the two week trial period.
i. The Chair requested that Team Noel Park be added to a future agenda meeting and that the Cabinet Member be invited to attend. (Action: Clerk).
RESOLVED
The Panel noted the update.